The Way Things Are
We American Christians find ourselves living under strange conditions. A country settled by Christians, yet so lacking in any visible proof. Our ansestors and and ourselves have committed a sickening crime. We have watered down the Gospel that transforms the world into the “gospel transformed by the world”. It seems that every sin we commit is exused by the “way things are”. What ever happened to changing “the way things are”. What is the bigger crime, I ask? That our fathers and their fathers let this country slip through their fingers or that our generation seems to think themselves unable (or unwilling) to set things right. Mere men say that they can’t afford to change, that its economicly impossible to live right in God’s eyes–Reedemed Men should know better. God can feed the sparrows, but he would let His own starve? The more I hear the “I can’t afford to” exuse, the the more upset I get. The Lord plainly taught that man cannot serve God and mammon. It seems many don’t take him very seriously.
November 7th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
amen!
November 8th, 2006 at 10:54 am
No, they don’t take him very seriously at all. One wonders how we can have so many murmurers left when they all perished in the desert before arriving at the promised land. But there’s always a new crop.
Americans are very busy murmuring about the rights they want to have, even if it means crushing the skulls of their young. Politicians are very busy working up ways to tax rights they “give” us. “Rights” are the new mode man has come up with to expiate sin. We have a right to something so it can’t be sin. We can define our rights, so we can define sin. Then we don’t need God very much, do we? Then maybe he’ll go away and forget all about Judgment….
Come see me; I have lots of longwinded posts on these things!
November 8th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
Ugh, what nonsense. I especially hate hearing “I can’t afford to” when it comes out of a woman’s mouth in regards to remaining at home serving her family rather than working a job outside the home and giving her children over to be raised by strangers. Where indeed is the trust in the Lord’s provision as He promises in His Word? There is an epidemic lack of faith among Christians that extends into every arena of life. I believe that eople have lost sight of what “Lordship” and “Sovereignty” mean. How can we live fully IN Him unless we surrender all TO Him? I look at the persecuted believers in other countries who have done that, and even ask that we not pray for them to be delivered from their trials because it strengthens their faith. Perhaps one day soon He will allow His people to be tested in such a way in this country. I’m reading Bradford’s Plymouth Plantation and every page is filled with references to the Lord’s will and direction and faithfulness. When are we going to get back to our roots? We need to teach our children the truths of God’s word and His work in the founding of this country and in this way prepare future generations to take back what has been lost. I know you and Leah are doing that with your sons already, and I pray that He will give you wisdom and fortitude to continue! Great post!
November 9th, 2006 at 6:43 am
Mrs B
Your on to something with your thoughts on “rights” and sin. We have a long way to go in ridding or culture of the rationalistic “endarkenment” thinking and replacing it with thinking based solely on God’s Word and Law. American Christians seem to have a perfect grasp on their own “rights” while forgeting about the Crown Rights of Jesus Christ.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:54 am
Emily
Good to hear from you! We are praying for little one wrote about and are glad to hear things are looking up, Praise the Lord.
Thanks for your thoughts. I agree, it is a shame to hear our Sisters use exuses like that. One example tyhat always comes to my mind is Covenant children. We believe that God has commanded His poeple to be fruitful and multiply. That children are blessing that we should accept and not try to cut off. If someone disagrees with me, thats fine. If the argument comes from God’s Word, I’ll be happy to listen and consider the argument. What burns me up is the folks who say, “You know the Bible might say that..but……it just wouldn’t work for me becouse we don’t have alot of money or a big house”or whatever. In my experience, God has never let me down, I have never starved nor have my family. I don’t worry myself with such foolish notions. The problem with God’s promises are, that we have to believe them.
November 9th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
Congratulations on your recent addition to your quiver! I had enough time to quickly read your delivery post but never took time to respond.
I hear your frustration and am currently doing some serious soul searching myself. I have been reading through Kings and Chronicles lately and it makes me wonder how many idols and high places I am clinging to because I don’t trust the Lord to work things out if I do purge my life of them. I believe over a long period of time the Lord has been revealing areas of my life that needed reform and I am okay with that. However, when he reveals an area that needs reformed, is it okay to submit to reformation on a very long time schedule because I think I can’t afford it right now and want to secure my security by human means? Did that make any sense?
November 10th, 2006 at 6:52 am
Hi Justin
I think I understand your question. First I hope I’m not comming across as saying that any change can be done instantly. In prior posts I’ve stressed the importance going slow and that many changes are by necessity multigenerational ones. My problem is with those who refuse to see the need for change, or when do; make exuses for not acting at all. Every area is different for every person. Some things can be changed right away and should be. Some things, becouse of past choices we have made, may well take a couple of generations to correct. So long as we are on that track, I’m happy. The fact that you bothered to ask such a question is proof that you are on the right track.
November 10th, 2006 at 7:36 am
Scott,
No, I did not think you came across as saying that change can be done instantly. My point, which I believe is in agreement with you, probably would be better expressed like this: What change we can do immediately should be done immediately. If we say we can’t because it is not affordable right now, but in reality we just won’t because it is not convenient or comfortable right now, God won’t be deceived or pleased with our slowness to comply with His reform. I did not mean to sound as if you were accusing me but I was potentially accusing myself.
Keep telling it like it is, brother!
Justin