Things I Think…
1. I wonder what the vast majority of Christians who live in other countries think about how the church here sees America as “God’s time clock”… actually I don’t have to wonder too much, because they tell me…and it’s not complimentary…
2. Legislating morality only works when those governed have a general agreement on what is moral. Most of the culture agrees that murder is immoral…but supports gay marriage and abortion rights…thus leaving opponents of such with the need to change hearts through the Gospel…
3. There was a time when the church believed in the transformational power of the Gospel…I guess we were simpletons then…
4. It is a Reformational principle that the law cannot change the heart…but imposing the law makes us feel powerful, while living the Gospel is dying to self…
5. Between Covid 19 and the political wars I’ve never felt so estranged from…almost everything and everybody…
6. Ignorance and passion are a deadly combination…
7. Sometimes I have a sinful urge to start the rumor that a Costco card is the mark of the Beast…
8. Trump will not be impeached…the only sin conservatives hold pastors and politicians accountable for is gay sex…crowd size matters…
9. While I wait for repairs to my car heater I can affirm I’d rather be too hot than too cold…
10. Loyalty to Christ will make you disloyal to any earthly party or power…and the followers of the same…
I think too many American self-identifying Christians hold to a form of godliness but deny the power therein. Most of us, myself included, are hollow shells of what the gospel promises. That is not the fault of the gospel, but of those who handle it, package it, model it, and proclaim it. So-called revival will be an embracing of Christ and his gospel without the trappings of our sociological, cultural, financial, and political orientations. To this point, many Christians think those things go with the gospel like tea and lemon when in Kingdom reality they go together like tea and concrete.
thanks for your steady drumbeat for sanity and the Faith.
fil,
Well said, my friend.
We are hollow shells indeed…but seeking to be filled…
#2-People will not go to heaven because they left a lifestyle; it will be because they had a truly life-changing encounter with Christ. As to lifestyle issues within the church, the Bible provides plenty of guidance; but as to those who are outside the church, I truly believe the priority is sharing the Gospel. We have forgotten that Jesus changes lives from the inside out. We have a church in my area that, back in the 90s when the AIDs crisis was so intense, began a food ministry to those who were shut-in due to the disease. It gave them more credibility in the non-believing community than anything they had ever done. Times have changed, and they continue to participate in other socially-relevant ministry, but if you mention the name of this church, people remember them. And, many came to faith because of their ministry to the “least of these.”
Brilliant observations, such as the following, are what separates this blog from the pack:
“4. It is a Reformational principle that the law cannot change the heart…but imposing the law makes us feel powerful, while living the Gospel is dying to self…”
I’ve been feeling irritated and a little estranged from everybody so I started knitting folks colorful cotton dishcloths and mailing them to people. A professor I had an argument with about BLM… she sent me a book and I sent her a pack of dishcloths. We don’t agree about everything but we are reconciled. Some older church ladies I felt I’ve ignored… dishcloths. Neighbors I haven’t been too neighborly with… dishcloths. My pastor’s wife who probably feels we abandoned the parish… She’s dropped off homemade bread at our door and I’ve given her… a bright blue dishcloth.
Makes me happy. 🙂
Xenia,
It makes me happy, too. I give smiles and “how are yous?” I have a co-worker who is actually bewitched by anti-vaxxers, and she has alienated colleagues because she is a science teacher. I continue to smile, to ask how she is when I see her on campus . She is still a human being.
5 and 7, despite some estrangement from some Christian friends, I sense a common bond with some here. Also, I am pretty sure someone has already went there with almost any card on their facebook/twitter feed.
It’s in the twenties up here, the snow is turning to ice and i don’t like being too hot OR too cold, – the icy cold feels like death and the super heat feels like a glimpse of hell…
That said, praying here for all who are tested and discouraged…
That is most of us, i suspect
God keep
Em…my home state of Minnesota is notorious for hostile/too cold weather…
-42F this morning in northeastern MN.
Yes, there are people who live there!
Our low was +42 F and I am freezing.
Dan, there is no such thing as minus 42 degrees! ! ! 😉
holy (or unholy) cow
“– the icy cold feels like death and the super heat feels like a glimpse of hell…”
Yep. Awaiting the next storm and cold arctic air masses, but -42? that’s insane. the coldest I’ve been in was -25 and I thought that was off the chart.
I remember the first time it took a significant dip below zero. It was Sunday morning and -17, Most people made it for church. Later that day it got up to +12, so I went out and split some wood. Twelve degrees never felt so warm!
I think I have experienced -30F to -40F in central MN while in college back in 1996. Living in Georgia now and having (kinda) become used to oppressive heat all summer, anything below +20F feels terrible. I’m sure the folks, or person, that lives in Cotton, MN (where the -42F took place) cries tears of sympathy for me….haha!
5. Between Covid 19 and the political wars I’ve never felt so estranged from…almost everything and everybody…
Preach it, Phoenix Preacher
You know what I just read again, “Sicario”
The redemption of that man through Jesus’ working and the help of some others inspired me.
Don’t forget it
My posts to Open Blogging aren’t getting through, so I thought I’d post here.
I appreciate the comments of Xenia and BOC, a lot.
I think sometimes we put too much focus on national issues. Believe me, they’re important for all of us.
But there are lots of things we can do in ourcommunities.
Regarding the black church, Pew Research just released a study about the Black church. It said most church folks pray before making big decisions and they consider fighting racism to be very important.
I think perhaps this shows what Duane said — most folks don’t vote all liberal or all conservative, despite what everyone’s trying to say.