Below Standard!
"Evangelical Christianity is now tragically below the New
Testament standard.
Worldliness is an accepted part of our way of life.
Our religious mood is social instead of spiritual.
We have lost the art of worship.
We are not producing saints.
Our models are successful businessmen,
celebrated athletes and theatrical personalities.
We carry on our religious activities after the methods of the
modern advertiser.
And scarcely anyone appears to care!"
--A.W. Tozer
Testament standard.
Worldliness is an accepted part of our way of life.
Our religious mood is social instead of spiritual.
We have lost the art of worship.
We are not producing saints.
Our models are successful businessmen,
celebrated athletes and theatrical personalities.
We carry on our religious activities after the methods of the
modern advertiser.
And scarcely anyone appears to care!"
--A.W. Tozer
posted by kennyo at 10:49 AM
5 Comments:
Tozer said that years ago.
He would be appauled at what's going on in our churches today if he were alive. But then again, he would probably not be too shocked since he saw it coming.
Scripture says:
1 Cor. 6:9-10: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
But today's christians say...
"Okay, okay, we won't do those things, but can't we just look really cool like them, dress like them and speak like them..? After all, we need to be able to relate, be relevant right? So what better way than to get the piercings, do the hair, wear the clothes, speak the lingo".
I'm confused...Why would you, as a Christian want to present yourself in anyway that might convey to others that you identify with those mentioned above?
I get weary looking at this stuff. Sometimes I almost feel physically sick. Not because I am so spiritual but because if these accusations against the present day church from men like Tozer, and others are true, then we are in really really BIG TROUBLE.
"I'm confused...Why would you, as a Christian want to present yourself in anyway that might convey to others that you identify with those mentioned above?"
To reach them? Isn't that what Jesus did? Didn't he eat with tax collectors and prostitutes? That's not exactly the definition of avoiding the appearance of evil - because the religious folks of his day accused him of associating and identifying with sinners. He was more concerned with reaching the lost than whether or not he caused other believers to stumble, though.
I'd rather not make anyone uncomfortable, but as Jesus showed us, sometimes it's unavoidable and sometimes it's acceptable if the end result is for the greater good.
I suppose the conclusion must be, 'in the world but not of it.' I read an article of a Cincinnati baseball player who had been drafted as a player but in his foolishness was drawn into a crack cocaine addiction. During that time he had multiple tattoos done. Those tattoos did not make him evil. His heart of rebellion was evil and the tattoos followed. His subsequent relationship with Christ changed that heart and he is now a testimony of Christ's power to save. He and his tattoos. Do not interpret this story as saying that a tattoo is a sign of rebellion but it can be and in many cases is. Nor is drinking alcoholic beverages sinful but the excessive use is and its use even in moderation can be sin if one carelessly allows it to cause a weaker brother to stumble. The heart is the barometer of a man's relationship to His creator and the wellspring of his life. Actions reflect the condition of that heart. I pray we are only interested in God's glory and mens' hearts before Him. The more important question remains not where the man is but where I am. If I love my neighbor I will tell him the truth and hopefully he will be set free by it. If I tell a man he is not destroyed by and indeed destroying others by his sin, I am not loving him. If I need to look like a sinner to do that, well it seems I am more interested in appearances than I should be. The condition of the heart before God is the issue. The Holy Spirit works through the humble heart not external appearance. A heart that does not put Christ at it's center, either the believer or the non believer (who will not put Him there anyway) is sinning.
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