Category Archives: religion

To What End?

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I can play the guitar and sing songs that praise God.  But to what end?  With the simple flick of a switch, men can listen to much better quality of music than I can produce.

The simple days are gone.  The days when a man might sit near the fire and entertain his loved ones with the music he can make, are gone.  They won’t come back in my life time.  If, indeed, they ever come back among men.

I could stand on a street corner and preach the word of God, in what variety of means might come to my heart.  But to what end?  Shall the steel of the passing cars hear my words and repent?  Not many read lips.  And their passing is far too quick to gain more than a simple word, as they speed by.

The simple days of inclusion are gone.  Now is the day of isolation.  And just think what this isolation is breeding.  Those in control of mass media hold the attention of the general public.  Gone is the day when a man might affect the passing public with the Gospel.  It’s gone.  And it’s not likely to return in my life time.

I could sing.  I could preach.  I could dance for them.  But to what end?

And I can write (as some might call these works).  But to what end?  Every article I post, stands in direct competition with a million others.  Every post I post falls into the pile of “interesting things”.

But there is something I can do that is viable.  There is something I can do that never fails to produce.  I can worship the Living God in Christ Jesus.

These simple things will never fade, not in this life or the life to come.

God alone knows the slices between men that penetrate to understanding.  He alone can penetrate the steel of a car.  He alone can whisper over the loudest stereo, and be clearly heard.  He alone can dance before them with entrancing creation.  He alone can write on our hearts!  He alone knows how to obliterate the noise of man.  He alone can drive a man to his knees in convulsive sobbing at the wickedness of the man’s heart.  And when He appears, then comes Life!

Prayer, direction of the will, that certain “listening” to what is, and obedience to what I know is holy,  these things I can do.  And they will never fail to produce that bounty that God deserves to have for the Life He has promised and delivered to those who love Him.

 

Successful Christianity

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What characterizes a successful Christian?  He has something that’s rather rare.  Something that many, apparently, never even know exists.  And it must be rare because all the Christians are still trying to find it.  That in itself, makes this a worthwhile post.

He’s a detriment to the Christian publishing business.  He’s simply not that interested in mainline Christianity.  He doesn’t need “how to” books, he’s already doing it.  He doesn’t need someone to provoke inspiration, he can’t shut it off.   But this in itself doesn’t make him a successful Christian.

It’s highly likely he does not have a lot of friends.  Though he is the one steady enough to confide in.  People rarely seek him out.  He just doesn’t play well with others.

He hates no one.  But he also trust no one.  And over time that becomes rather obvious.  Still, no “pin the tail on the donkey” here.

The successful Christian knows where his Bible is at all times.  He may or may not be able to quote you chapter and verse.  But you’ll find him busy doing it.  Yet this isn’t what sets him apart from the rest.  Many fall into legalistic adherence to the Word.  Many!

What is it that has cut him away from the larger portion of the flock?  Why is this one successful, while the others flounder about? 

If he has no interest in the things of mainline Christianity, how can he be called successful?  And if the successful Christian can’t memorize chapter and verse, what was the use of their notation?

Two really good questions.  But I’ll let the reader answer for himself.  When you finally realize the answers, you’ll be amazed.

The successful Christian understands the meaning of the name “Christ”.  And he realizes, with stark nakedness, that he does not own this understanding, because he studied.  He realizes that Christ knows him, and he knows Christ because of the merciful introduction from the Father.

In the successful Christian’s mind, he has only one thing that he can call his own.  To whatever extent a person owns this, he is a blowout success.

(watch for caveat.)

A successful Christian is always looking for opportunity to obey (bingo!).  This is the only item of Christianity we can own.  Everything else comes from God.  Obedience comes from mastery of the will.

(Slow down please.  Caveat ahead.)

Though it must be said that no man masters the will, without the direct guidance of Christ Jesus.  The successful Christian has made up his mind to dedicate himself to mastery.  The mutual work of Christ Jesus and man comes to a head in the man’s will.

You know the really sad part about this entire writing, is that I felt it necessary.

By His Grace

Sweet Dreams are Made of These

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I was at a truck stop scanning in my papers while I listened to a song that was playing.  The song is “sweet dreams are made of these”, by the Eurythmics.

I’ve heard that song hundreds of times before.  But the power of what she was saying dawned on me like the rising Sun.

Everyone is looking for something.  That must mean we are all compelled to search.  And she’s right.

The variety of religions in the world range from obedience to what they call holy law, to the abuse of self and others.  Regardless, men search as a compulsion.  This is proof that there is something to be found.  Even the atheist searchs diligently to disavow the search.  But his activity proves there is something to be disavowed.

How happy then is the one who finds it?  How secure in his way, does his life become?  And what great peace should overshadow him 24 /7?

Christ is the answer.  He is the one that is provoking the search.  The errant things men do are caused by their misunderstanding. 

If you would have what everyone is looking for, search diligently into the things of Christ Jesus.  You are compelled to search. Why not search what is true?

If a man can’t find the truth he’ll create his own series of lies.  But I testify that the Living God is alive among his people in Christ Jesus.

By His Grace

I Don’t Understand Why

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Why do your people love good works, yet turn away from the man who gives You open praise.  I don’t understand why the public proclamation of the Holy One’s name is such an abomination to the ears of Your people.

I don’t understand why it is apparently an impropriety  for a man to give praise to God in public.  Even if it is spoken in the hearing of those who say they believe, it is not received with mutual joy.  I don’t understand, Sovereign God.

But Who am I to voice my lack of knowledge?  You have spoken of this profusely.  Why do the people who call themselves “of God”, refuse the joyful words you send?  As they have killed your prophets, and stoned those you have sent to them, so they ignore the praise you deserve.

Is this too harsh a conclusion for me to own?  I do not intend to judge, I intend to understand.  Therefore let my assessment be heard in the Holy Court of my God

Is it because religion has taken the place of faith?  Is this why they respond to the joy of Your Holy Spirit as if the man is insane?  “Are you such a fool as to not realize it is inappropriate to speak of God here?  Such lips are exclusively used in church.  Speak here with your “outside” voice.”

I find it impossible to understand.  And so I present my consternation to You, Great Sovereign God of eternity.

By His Grace

The Illegitimate Son

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What does the world think of Jesus?  If you ask them, you may receive a relatively appropriate and coherent answer.  But if you watch what they do and listen to what they say, you will receive an entirely different response.

To the world, the Lord Jesus is like the ugly, illegitimate child who fell into wealth.  He is such a horror to the family of men that they use his name as a cuss word.  But let a need arise, and they have no shame to go knock on his door.

The way he lived his life is so hideous, that neither he nor followers are welcome at joyous occasions.  And if the name of this illegitimate son is mentioned with affection, the speaker is considered less than sane.

But don’t assume the world has no compassion.  They will often display the book he wrote, as a mother may place a child’s finger painting on the refrigerator door.

He is much like the child of embarrassment.  They will celebrate his birth and death, but they will give no heed to his life.  He was born in the family of men.  But they would really rather just forget about him.

It is actually quite comfortable to men to think that this son is the Son of God.  Better he be loved by God than welcome in society.  “Let’s leave him in heaven, he has no place on earth.”

As for being an illegitimate child, no one can say how this happened.  For at the time of his conceiving, there was no union between God and man.  “It is better”,  they say,  “to simply avoid the entire subject.”

By His Grace

THE Persistent Question

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A persistent question begs entrance to my soul.

Light is the knock of its perfect fingers on my door.

Yet knock it does, and this all day and night.

Answer, O soul of mine!  Answer that your choice might be known.

 

Share with me, the question.

Share an answer according to proof.

Question yourself, as He demands do I.

Let us face eternity, from the wilderness side of the River.

 

Does our faith produce religion or transformation?  Given the question, we all know the right answer.

If all we want is to be acceptable or elevated among men, then let our faith produce a religious man.

But if we have set our mind toward the love of the Father, then let us endure toward transformation.

 

Millions make no choice at all, in regard to either of these.  They ignore the question completely.

They choose, instead, to embrace the things of this world.  To whatever degree their conscience allows.

They make no choice at all.

As if a shadow in the dark, they meld into the variety of ways the world offers each man to live.

But those who have heard of Christian faith make a choice.

 

If Christ Jesus’ death and resurrection mean only religion to a man, that is what he will become.

If He suffered and was Glorified for the sake of transforming all men into His Holy likeness,

Then let the change begin.

If the latter is our choice, then where is the proof?  Are we but misguided religious Christians?

Do we think we will fool the Living God, forever?   He who loves the world, stands at odds with Heaven.

 

This world, and everything in it, will pass away with a fiery blast.  Nothing will remain but what the man has become.

What will we say?  What will we testify; by virtue of what we have become?  Where will we stand?

For, once this world is gone, all that remains will be Holy, Holy, and Holy.

Will we find that we have endured to the death of desire, or succumb to the great lies of this world?