Read this today. Agree or disagree? Why or why not?
The word of God has been so thoroughly tamed that as peddled in the churches there is nothing scandalous, strenuous, or revolutionary about it. It is not even difficult. It is easier to join a Christian church than it is to join Rotary. Whereas in some eras of its history, Christianity was threatened by persecution, in our own American culture, it faces an opposite threat which lies in its very success. Christianity is dying, not of persecution or neglect, but of respectability.
... W. Waldo Beach (1916-2000), The Christian Life
i think it is dependent on the church. of course there are some churches where the pastor reads two verses and busts out a 45 minute watered down, out of context sermon from it. however, there are definitely Bible teaching, Bible based churches that do emphasize the radicalness (it's a new word) that is God's Word. of course much of what he is saying is true within the context of america. praise God that he is living, active, and blessing other countries around the world.
ReplyDelete"The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined." (Soren Kierkegaard, 1813-1855)
ReplyDeleteOh Soif! That is an awesome quote. It reminds me of a line in a book I am reading, The Hole in Our Gospel by R. Stearns.
ReplyDelete"We have shrunk Jesus to the size where He can save our soul but we now don't believe He can change the world."