Win Christ

In which is illustrated a few things about men (of all ages), the fickleness of love, and our unashamed lust after self-fulfilling, rather than God glorifying.

Just think about it for a bit. It will come to you.

Today a Sunday school student made a mistake reciting a verse from Luke 2 in the Christmas program. It made me think a little more about the implications of the goodwill of God in sending His Son. The erring lad quoth thus:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, and [God will be towards men].

It wasn’t kosher, but it was good.

Merry Christmas!

Am enjoying the words of acclaimed commentator Thomas Newberry on true Christian shepherding and ministry. I appreciated them almost as much as I have his study Bible.

“True ministry is not the setting forth of our own thoughts, nor the opinions of others, but receiving of the fullness of Christ and giving it out to others.”

“The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 3:21 from the ESV

The distinguishing mark of this age is self-sufficiency. Larger incomes, more goods, and greater pleasure are all common-place in our day. However, with this self sufficiency comes the danger that we no longer consider ourselves needy for God. This was the case in the church at Laodicea. God has become viewed mainly as a proprietor of things, and His relevance to life reduced to the immediate obviousness of His blessings. As John Piper exclaimed, we have been guilty of “exalting gifts above Giver.”

Christianity has deluded itself with hype, sensationalism, societal enchantments, and social gospel. Not only have we been deluded but we have deceived others into believing the gospel to be about monetary and physical things. We appreciate God as the bottomless well of blessing, but no longer have tongues parched for the Living Water! So many live life shriveled and withered without the practical reality of having a dependent relationship with God through Christ Jesus

American Politics, Christian Conservatism, and the Onus of the Almighty

I have a lot of American friends involved in this years presidential campaign. And honestly, I hate to think of the resources which Satan has cleverly diverted from the gospel in the name of the American elections and political agenda. While many Christians are campaigning for conservatism between now and November, it is projected that 2,000,000 Americans will die. Every Christian political campaigner who knocks on 30 doors, will encounter 1 individual who will enter eternity before the next election. This means that if an average of 150 homes are visited, 5 of these people will meet God in judgment this year. It’s just 5! But before 2012 that will be 20. And for every commitment obtained, its’ just that- one commitment, one vote.

No souls.
No eternal rejoicing.
No salvation from the leaping flames of hell.

Four years from now, you will have to convince the same people to be conservative again. They will vote conservative now, even though they may still be living liberally in sin. Every soul reached for Christ will still be saved in 2012! Consider your obligation on account of 5 or 20 souls. On pain of sounding sacrilegious- and believe me I say this in the utmost fear of God- if Jesus Christ were to be here today might he not amend his question of ultimate purpose to ‘what shall a man be profited, if he win the election, but lose souls?’ What if we win a few votes for conservatism, only to lose the voters in the liberal judgment of God for eternity? Will God hold us blameless? Christians in America, let’s get on with the real agenda!