Archive for July, 2008:
Men: “Few in the Pews”
Wow. Much thanks to Anthony Bradley for drawing attention to a recent article in USA Today on the glaring lack of men in church. I told you all that I was not crazy, that this is not an imagined problem. Anthony has been harping on it for years, and I’ve been writing about it for months. It’s sad to see that the majority of responses are either “You’re crazy, there is not problem,” or “That’s the way it should be, women are finally getting their due.” The pendulum swinging too far in the other direction is still too far. When will people actually respond to this problem instead of merely reacting to it? This article is jam-packed with some very disturbing statistics about the plight. Here are a few excerpts: Read more »
Spurgeon on Election
From Morning and Evening, Daily Devotions:
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me.” - John 6:37
This declaration involves the doctrine of election: there are some whom the Father gave to Christ. It involves thedoctrine of effectual calling: these who are given must and shall come; however stoutly they may set themselves against it, yet they shall be brought out of darkness into God’s marvellous light. It teaches us the indispensable necessity of faith; for even those who are given to Christ are not saved except they come to Jesus. Even they must come, for there is no other way to heaven but by the door, Christ Jesus. All that the Father gives to our Redeemer must come to him, therefore none can come to heaven except they come to Christ.Oh! the power and majesty which rest in the words “shall come.” Read more »
The Threat of Grace
Societyvs:
Thus the reason I point to the idea Christian responsibility has weak moral foundations. Following the teachings – and I mean everything Jesus taught – is simply – a choice. It has no links to nothing in terms of one’s salvation (which is something outside them altogether). Nothing they do will mean anything – since it only matters what Christ did for them. That is the type of responsibility no parent would dare teach their child. It means your actions mean very little in the large scope of life – they are taken care of ahead of time (and are not important because of someone else’s righteousness being added to you). If we started teaching children this level of responsibility – this world would go to hell in a handbasket.
It is not enough to rely on choice or ‘want’ in this matter – this is a matter of correct standards being taught to everyone so they can rightly take their place in the kingdom of God. We teach people a ‘cop-out’ – well you call this a ‘sin stained world’ – it will only get worse.
I happened to be reading Tim Keller’s The Reason For God today and… well… he responds to this problem significantly better than I do, so I will let his words speak for themselves. Read more »
Religious Legalism and the Army Chaplaincy
I was sitting in class, only about two hours after my last post, when a guest speaker told a story that was the exact opposite of my last post’s topic. I just have to share it with you all.
The guest speaker was a Battalion Command Sergeant Major (CSM). He has won multiple combat medals and honors, and has achieved the highest enlisted rank short of Sergeant Major of the Army (which can only be held by one person at a time). He was explaining the senior enlisted perspective on Chaplain support for units. It was greatly encouraging and more than a little entertaining. At one point he told a very personal story to emphasize just how much a Chaplain can affect the soldiers in their unit. Read more »
Posts
