I would be considered as in the mix of the Christian brands known for our conservatism. There are factors within these ranks of which I both adhere as well as find myself deeply committed. The God-inspired Bible, the Trinity, and the magnificent call of God for all to be baptized into His Son for the forgiveness of sins would be a few.
There is a glitch. Our conservatism is being worn as a badge of Heaven's authenticity to make a statement that, We are in. The implication is that those not like us are out. But there is found a gaping hole. Such religious posture can be (and is) held without the firm foundation of knowing Jesus.
Not so strangely, this mis-belief perpetually costs the church effective advancement into the dark world.
This is an essential rub against the self-assurance that we have done everything God asked to be saved. We can rattle off steps to be saved. We can hold our Bibles high in confidence of both it...and us. While these and other concepts sound good to ourselves, it lacks a factor. No. It lacks THE factor.
Being a conservative Christian isn't enough. Many have paraded a handy belief system that sounds good in rehearsal among ourselves. Yet we are often found to lack the spiritual drive to take such conviction to the streets. And, why is it that such church bravery doesn't translate into evangelistic outreach?
The reason is clear. There doesn't seem to be an over-load of Jesus. Frankly, for those who stand most rigid among us, such arguments are not built around knowing Jesus.
Not knowing Jesus would explain why most conservatives carry deep and vocal opinions; yet usually such bold ideas are mainly expressed in Bible-class settings and not out in public. The absence of Jesus causes us to hide; hide in our doctrine and hide from the responsibility of outreach.
Our bent on just believing what the Bible says is a correct goal. It is the Bible that calls all to believe in Jesus with heart; not just with the mind. It is Jesus who said that he had a problem with church leaders who were enamored with functioning from the Bible and, yet, refusing to have a relationship with him.
He sounds serious. I think he is.
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him (Jn 5:39-43).
1 comment:
Restorationism has largely focused on institutional identity: work, worship, organization, and terms of membership. All of that is fine but what of zeal and love, compassion and evangelism. Let us not forget personal restoration into the image of Christ -- "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
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