I thought this was a great post by Bro. Austin Gardner, pastor of Vision Baptist Church in Alpharetta, GA. I hope you take the time to visit his blog. I know you will be blessed and inspired to do more for Jesus
Churches Influenced by the World
” The church has lost her testimony. She has no longer anything to say to the world. The once robust shout of assurance has faded away to an apologetic whisper. She who one time went out to declare now goes out to inquire. Her dogmatic declaration has become a respectful suggestion, a word of religious advice, given with the understanding that it is after all only an opinion and not meant to sound bigoted.
Not only has the church nothing to say to the world but the tables have actually been turned and the ministers of Christ are now going to the world for light. They sit at Adam’s feet for instruction and clear their message with the wise and the prudent before they dare deliver it. But the certainty that comes from seeing and the assurance that springs from hearing—where are they?” –from God Tells the Man Who Cares (p.35-36) by A. W. Tozer.
This quote is probably more relevant now than when it was actually given by Bro. Tozer. The warnings of Paul to Timothy about apostates in the Church and the warnings of Christ to the Church of Laodicea in The Revelation could be placed next to the religion section of any newspaper in America and one can see that the world has truly become an influence on the Church.
Can You Say It and Mean It?
Tragedy was associated with the writing of the words of the famous gospel hymn , “It is Well With My Soul,” and followed closely the composing of the music. H.G. Spafford wrote the poem in the mid-Atlantic over the exact spot where his four children had drowned a few days before. His wife and children were sailing to France on the “Ville du Havre,” one of the largest ships afloat. It was rammed by an English iron sailing vessel and sank to the bottom of the ocean within two hours, killing 226 people. Mrs. Spafford lived, but the four children were killed. She sent her husband a telegram with the words “All is lost.”
Just weeks before this tragic drowning, Spafford had lost everything he owned in the great Chicago fire. And now, if not tested enough, he lost all of his beloved children. As soon as it could be arranged he sailed to Europe to join his wife.
On the way, December 1872, the Captain of his ship pointed out to him the spot where the tragedy had occurred. Here in the dark of night, with a heart heavy with grief and pain, but surging with faith and hope, Spafford wrote these words:
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul!
Philip Paul Bliss, great song leader and composer, wrote the music for this hymn in November, 1876. Two weeks after it had been written, Bliss and his wife were killed in a tragic train crash in Ashtabula, Ohio. It was said by witnesses that Bliss could have escaped, but chose to die by the side of his wife, who was caught in the flaming wreckage.
Can you say it is well with my soul?
Regardless of the SITUATION:
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, ‘It is well, It is will with my soul’.”
Regardless of SATAN:
“Tho Satan should buffet, tho trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul.”
Regardless of my SIN:
“My sin — O the bliss of this glorious tho’t! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.”
Every Day In America
Every day in America…
6 children commit suicide.
13 children are homicide victims.
5,753 children are arrested.
34 children die from accidents.
1,329 babies are born to teenage mothers.
367 children are arrested for drug abuse.
17,297 public school children are suspended. – (statistics from Children’s Defense Fund)
Some sobering and startling statistics. Are we doing all we can to get the Gospel to the younger generation? If we are to follow our Lord and His example, then we must reach the children of America and around the world.
And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
(Mar 10:13-16)
