(From the Backseat)–”Are we There Yet?”
Thinking on the enormity and depth of God’s grace: Is our church at a point where we would sincerely and eagerly welcome a lost person to one of our gatherings when that person vividly, physically and audibly displayed the fact that their soul was sin-enslaved? Where their cynical, God-hating & rebellious words, and their actions cried out that they were being rent apart by evil? Would the skin-crawling revulsion we felt be sourced from a love for God & His holiness, or by a sense that we were NEVER THAT depraved? Would we repent of the part of our revulsion that was borne of hatred and pride?
Would we fly to such a newcomer and welcome them with sincere and genuine love, or would we inwardly hope that maybe next time “they’ll clean themselves up a bit” before they visit (if at all)? Would we remember that maybe we once had more “acceptable” sins, or at least a better facade, but that at one point, regardless of appearance, we were as lost as they were? Would we continue to welcome such a one to our services and events, loving them and evangelizing them, and praying for them even if other churches began to wonder about our “testimony” in allowing such a person to be among us?
After their time with us, if they left and their lives were essentially the same, would they be able to honestly look back at their interplay with us and admit that they had been exposed to God’s love and His saving truth?
Are we there yet?
Are we What we Ought to be as the Church?
Doing some reading…
The test of a congregation, apart from personal holiness, is how effectively members penetrate the world. American churches are filled with pew-sitting, spiritual schizophrenics, whose belief and behavior are not congruent.
The Disciple-Making Pastor, Bill Hull
The Blessings of a 23 Year Old Bicycle
In the spring of 2007, I stopped at a garage sale (something I am highly unlikely to do), and purchased a 1988 Fuji Sport 12 (12 speed) bicycle for $2.
That Fall, I made a new friend(an OPC pastor) who introduced me to Road Cycling. I described my bike to him, and he said, “so when can you ride?” Cracked 23 y.o. gumwall tires and all, we went for a 15 mile ride, and I started getting hooked. We rode throughout the Fall, and the next Spring he encouraged me to start training for a “Century”–a 100 mile ride. (more…)
Hey Haters! Yeah I Mean You…
Been listening to a man named Steven Furtick. Why, (using his own words) if you critique or question him (or others like him) are you then seen as a “hater?” Can we ask questions, and critique ideas without being described as committing ad hominem attacks on those whose ideas we question? Not in his world. (I bring up the matter of “personal attacks” because generally the use of “haters” connotes the notion that in opposing someone’s argument, you are “hating” them).
“Hey Haters…” (more…)
Is This a Snapshot of Fundamentalism, or the Brand of ‘Fundamentalism’ Which Makes Some Want to Leave?
At our church, I try to live and teach an idea of fundamentalism that includes a willingness to be separate from sin and worldliness on a personal, family and church level. Also, I try to live and teach a fundamentalism that sees the purity of God’s truth, His Gospel and His church as being important enough to be careful about fellowship with other Christian entities, churches and individuals. This caution can and has included a willingness to separate from or limit fellowship with what we thought would damage, dilute or put into question the purity I mentioned above.
The applications of these ideas are going to work out differently in each person’s life and church differently. The danger comes when we (in the name of fundamentalism or in the name of something else) begin to see (more…)
Lookin’ fer a Faaight…
I was manning the booth our Church had at the Hudsonville Fair last week when I was approached by one of the vendors in the building. This person’s booth had 666 “secrets” banners, other references signs, banners, brochures and books referring to the mark of the beast, and other prophetic issues. The person’s shirt sported a (homemade?) ribbon announcing (more…)
A fine example of “begging the question” or petitio principii
This is a fine example of the logical fallacy of petitio principii or “begging the question.” In order to garner support and sympathy for one’s own argument, he resorts to labeling his own argument with superior terms–in this case the word “responsible” was chosen. Thus in this case, the opponent’s argument whatever it is, is not the “responsible” or more desirable view. At this point, the author’s argument itself should lose credibility in the reader’s mind because he cannot properly defend his own POV, nor fairly label his opponent’s argument.
The value of our own statements and arguments depend upon our willingness to be honest brokers in our discussions.
Prosit!
Book to consider for young Christians…
Take a look at this book–how can we help the young people coming up in our churches?
http://prpbooks.com/blog/2011/08/5-free-copies-of-growing-up-christian/
Borrowing a Great Post…
This lyric was posted elsewhere–penned by William Cowper (known by many for the Hymn There is a Fountain Filled With Blood).
Dear Lord! accept a sinful heart,
Which of itself complains,
And mourns, with much and frequent smart,
The evil it contains.
There fiery seeds of anger lurk,
Which often hurt my frame;
And wait but for the tempter’s work,
To fan them to a flame.
Legality holds out a bribe
To purchase life from thee;
And discontent would fain prescribe
How thou shalt deal with me.
While unbelief withstands thy grace,
And puts the mercy by;
Presumption, with a brow of brass,
Says, “Give me, or I die.”
How eager are my thoughts to roam
In quest of what they love!
But, ah! when duty calls them home,
How heavily they move!
Oh, cleanse me in a Saviour’s blood,
Transform me by thy pow’r,
And make me thy belov’d abode,
And let me rove no more.
[En passant, the original poster's weblog ]
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