Posted by
admin on July 8, 2010 at 12:43 pm.
If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim 3:15-16).
I still recall the pictures in my 6th grade Social Studies book of the ruins of ancient Greece and Rome. They are among only a very few places in the world where pillars are left standing, even when the building they were supporting was destroyed, although the same might be said in our day of the Church!
Paul describes the Church in this passage as “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” Its purpose is to be the place where the Truth is sought and found. Sadly, though, the Western Church is more concerned with impressive “pillars” than it is with the promotion of the Truth. It’s no wonder that we are making no difference in the world at large – we’re concerned about the wrong things! The pillars at the Parthenon in ancient Greece are impressive, but they don’t support a building! They are a relic of a bygone era, and many in our world think of the Church in the same way.
But it is not the pillar that will set people free. Jesus told us that it was the Truth (John 8:32). The Church’s job is to proclaim the Truth, to stand for the Truth in a world that has chosen to believe a lie. The freedom that Christ wants to provide for us is not a magical thing, as if simply by attending a Church we could be freed. Freedom is an internal thing that comes as we read, listen and apply the Truth to our hearts. The Church is that assemblage of believers that are also committed to the Truth. Their love and support of one another is what will attract the world to the Truth – not the fancy programs that make the pillars shiny and beautiful (John 13:35).
The Western Church needs to return to the Truth. It is the Truth that attracts many to Christ in places where there is severe persecution – not the programs or the impressive edifice. But here in the West, the more we try to preserve the “pillar” the more the “building” will crumble around us. Pretty soon, just like in ancient Greece and Rome, all that will be left will be some beautiful pillars.
Posted by
admin on April 6, 2010 at 3:42 pm.
Having a form of godliness but denying its power. (2 Tim 3:5)
Bob Barker, the long-time host of “The Price is Right,” always closed his show with an appeal to control the pet population by having our pets spayed or neutered. By doing this, of course, the pets cannot reproduce more than people are willing to care for them. At least that’s the theory.
My son sings in a choir at a state university. His choir director is an evangelical Christian and has the responsibility of choosing the music that the students sing in the choir, but has certain guidelines to which he must adhere. Classical music and spirituals (especially) owe much to the Judeo-Christian heritage, and this director can choose songs that reflect this heritage – so long as they do not mention the blood of Christ. The songs have effectively been neutered.
The reproductive power of the Gospel is in the blood of Jesus. How interesting that those who are seeking to keep American Christianity from expanding can see this, while many churches do not! Without the blood, we have no distinctive message because it is the blood that buys us forgiveness. It is the blood of Jesus that satisfies the wrath of God and allows us access into the very throne of heaven. In the words of Robert Lowry “nothing but the blood” can wash away our sin.
This is why the unofficial national hymn in America is “Amazing Grace” – because it doesn’t mention the blood. John Newton, the author of that song, would roll over in his grave (except that he’s not there!) because the whole essence of the grace he received was through the blood. I doubt that he ever dreamed that his great poem would be divorced from the blood of Christ that inspired it. But it has.
I am a believer in Christ only because of the death (the blood), burial and resurrection of Jesus. Without these I have no hope, but with them, there is power to change a dying world, and an assurance that I will stand redeemed before Him one day. In the words of Andre Crouch, “The blood will never lose its power.”
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Posted by
admin on February 6, 2010 at 11:29 pm.
Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)
A while back I read a tract which asked the provocative question, “Does God do anything in this world apart from prayer?” At first it was tempting to observe the lack of prayer in the churches of America today and conclude that He must –otherwise He would be doing precious little! But the more that question marinates in my mind, the more I am inclined to believe that He does not. He moves the hearts of His people to pray, prompting His actions.
As much as it grieves me to say it, this could be the answer to the decline of the Church in America today. The attraction of most churches today has less to do with the solid exposition of the Scriptures (and obedience to it) than it does with the entertainment brought by contemporary bands and “worship teams.” This entertainment has replaced the activity of God in the lives of people, because it is so much easier to entertain than it is to feed them with the Word. Feeding them requires prayer; entertaining them does not.
The verse quoted above seems to confirm that the answer to this question should be, “No, He does nothing apart from prayer.”This is not to say that He is not a sovereign God or that we command Him rather than be commanded by Him. He prompts His people to pray; then He acts. (And, as with Rhoda in Acts 12, we then are usually surprised!) It is no wonder then that the Psalmist calls our prayers, “the glory of all His saints” (Psalm 149:9).
We at the Oak Ridge Alliace Church believe in the power of prayer and have chosen to meet together for prayer several times a week. We meet Monday thru Friday mornings at 6:30 am and Wednesday evenings at 7 pm for prayer. We encourage you to go forth with us in prayer. For more information on the Missionary Alliance Church meeting in Oak Ridge Tennessee please call us at 865-483-0606. We are looking forward to praying with you.
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Posted by
admin on January 25, 2010 at 2:46 am.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69 NIV)
It’s easy to forget in the ministry of Jesus that He also faced the attrition of His following. In John 6, after He spoke so clearly about being the “Bread of Life” many of His disciples left Him. There were several hard teachings in this passage that they stumbled over. Among them,
- The connection between Jesus and the manna that sustained the Hebrews in the wilderness. As it came down from heaven, so did Jesus. As it nourished them, so does Jesus.
- That we must “eat” His body and “drink” His blood. These are obvious metaphors that describe the assimilation of His life and teaching into our lives.
- That what we do with Jesus determines whether or not we inherit eternal life.
But it is interesting to read the response of Peter when Jesus asks him if he also would leave. Rather than taking his cue from the crowd that was leaving, Peter chose to stick with the One who would show him the way to eternal life.
We face the same issues in our day. Many people struggle with the exclusive nature of Jesus’ teachings, and so they turn from Him and His Church. Many are unwilling to assimilate His teaching into their lives – the relentless assault of the world’s values is too difficult to overcome – so they turn away from Him. Many in our day struggle with the idea that Jesus is the eternal Son of God – that He actually existed during the time that Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt. These things are too supernatural to believe. So they fall away.
Peter seemed to understand that following Jesus was not a matter of joining the popular band wagon. He chose between those that followed until the going got tough or until Jesus quit making them feel good and eternal Truth. He followed because he could trust Jesus’ “words of eternal life.” He became a real “disciple,” not just a “convert.”
