Brethren, I wish it were more common, I wish it were universal, with all [Christians] to have family prayer. We sometimes hear of children of Christian parents who do not grow up in the fear of God, and we are asked how it is that they turn out so badly. In many, very many cases, I fear there is such a neglect of family worship that it's not probable that the children are at all impressed by any piety supposed to be possessed by thier parents- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892).
There seems to be great concern among today's theologians about the loss of young believers to other religions or other worldly pursuits. While this apparent loss of generation X,Y & Z is cause for concern it might do us well to consider Spurgeon's comments above. Maybe just maybe the current generations are following the natural paths laid out before them by the parents, grandparents & so on. In this case the great blessing is that they are willing to turn away from what they were not taught and seek that which should have been.
I love this quote!
"If you are not presently being transformed by the Gospel you are disqualified from ministry [the work of all true believers]" - Orlando Costas
Was Jesus funny?
An interesting perspective none the less. I really enjoyed the "rocky" part. I've heard this before but still a little tough to swallow.
What's your mark?
"The certain mark by which a Christian community can be recognized is the preaching of the gospel in its purity." - Martin Luther
Are you an alien?
Early Christians had a distinctive view about where and how they lived? Does our current Christian community hold to this high standard?
Letter to Diognetus (100-150 A.D.)
For Christians are not differentiated from other people by country, language or customs; you see, they do not live in cities of their own, or speak some strange dialect, or have some peculiar lifestyle…They live in both Greek and foreign cities, wherever chance has put them. They follow local customs in clothing, food, and the other aspects of life. But at the same time, they demonstrate to us the wonderful and certainly unusual form of their own citizenship. They live in their own native lands, but as aliens; as citizens they share all things with others; but like aliens, suffer all things. Every foreign country is to them as their native country, and every native land as a foreign country. They marry and have children just like everyone else; but they do not kill unwanted babies. They offer a shared table, but not a shared bed. They are at present ‘in the flesh’ but they do not live ‘according to the flesh’. They are passing their days on earth, but are citizens of heaven. They obey the appointed laws, and go beyond the laws in their own lives. They love everyone, but are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death and gain life. They are poor and yet make many rich. They are short of everything and yet have plenty of all things. They are dishonored and yet gain glory through dishonor. Their names are blackened and yet they are cleared. They are mocked and bless in return. They are treated outrageously and behave respectfully to others. When they do good, they are punished as evildoers; when punished, they rejoice as if being given a new life. They are attacked by Jews as aliens, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them cannot give any reason for their hostility. To put it simply – the soul is to the body as Christians are to the world. The soul is spread through all parts of the body and Christians through all the cities of the world. The soul is in the body but is not of the body; Christians are in the world but not of the world.
Letter to Diognetus (100-150 A.D.)
For Christians are not differentiated from other people by country, language or customs; you see, they do not live in cities of their own, or speak some strange dialect, or have some peculiar lifestyle…They live in both Greek and foreign cities, wherever chance has put them. They follow local customs in clothing, food, and the other aspects of life. But at the same time, they demonstrate to us the wonderful and certainly unusual form of their own citizenship. They live in their own native lands, but as aliens; as citizens they share all things with others; but like aliens, suffer all things. Every foreign country is to them as their native country, and every native land as a foreign country. They marry and have children just like everyone else; but they do not kill unwanted babies. They offer a shared table, but not a shared bed. They are at present ‘in the flesh’ but they do not live ‘according to the flesh’. They are passing their days on earth, but are citizens of heaven. They obey the appointed laws, and go beyond the laws in their own lives. They love everyone, but are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death and gain life. They are poor and yet make many rich. They are short of everything and yet have plenty of all things. They are dishonored and yet gain glory through dishonor. Their names are blackened and yet they are cleared. They are mocked and bless in return. They are treated outrageously and behave respectfully to others. When they do good, they are punished as evildoers; when punished, they rejoice as if being given a new life. They are attacked by Jews as aliens, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them cannot give any reason for their hostility. To put it simply – the soul is to the body as Christians are to the world. The soul is spread through all parts of the body and Christians through all the cities of the world. The soul is in the body but is not of the body; Christians are in the world but not of the world.
The value of a church service
How can [we] sit at ease in a church with the world around [us] so damned?
- Leonard Ravenhill
While I see no flaw in Ravenhill's perspective I would simply like to add a little of my own. "Does God sit at ease in a damned world with only a damned church?"
My point here is this. If the church fails to be what God instructed it to be then we are certainly damned. If the church fails to lead a damned world to the life giving knowledge of God then the church is as damned as the world to which it was sent. The only way for the church to effectively change a damned world is through Jesus Christ. For He is the Way to God's Truth and Life- and He alone!
So remember this the next time you "go to church"- How can you changed a damned world if your worship in a damned church? It's not about you it's about HIM!
Make War!
A profound line "He didn't save us for nothin". We must make war against those things that set themselves up against our Sovereign God. Ironically most of things are found in us. It's not just about fighting Satan it's about fighting ourselves. We must make war on the old self allowing God to reign sovereign in every area of our life!
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