Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Danger of Forgetting
I have just began reading THE GREAT EXCHANGE by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington. The foreword was written by Sinclair Ferguson, and in it he wrote of the similarities the Church of Luther's day has with the western Church of today. Here is an excerpt from the foreword:
"The church of the Middle Ages was marked by several obvious characteristics. There was a strong emphasis on influence and power. One index of this was the way in which church leaders sought -- and gained -- social and political leverage and enjoyed having a voice at the table of the affairs of this world. Another was the rise of what we call 'megachurches' (which they called "cathederals"). Here well-known and influential pastors (whom they called "bishops") exercised great influence in their society. The model to which young ministers were encouraged to aspire was not faithfulness to the gospel, but success. In these churches the "quality of worship" was thought to be outstanding (stunning acoustics, magnificent musical performances beyond the ordinary). It was also a world where the image dominated the Word, where people -- so it was thought -- would not listen to preaching, and so drama became the order of the day, whether in the colorful liturgy of the services or in the famed medieval mystery plays. And, to some degree, if one wanted health, wealth, and (especially eternal) happiness, these, too, the church could provide, for it had men who possessed charismatic gifts. Indeed, from the extraordinary power in their hands one could receive forgiveness, and from them, or at least from objects they possessed, one could seek even physical healing.
But something was sadly absent from all of this, as Luther, who was once part of the whole system well knew. The true message of the cross was lacking, and it's true meaning obscured."
I find Sinclair Ferguson's insights to be rather profound and the comparisons of the modern western church to the church of Luther's day to be convicting. The modern church in the west has forgotten it's church history, and thus we are repeating it's errors from days gone by. It looks cooler and is more cutting edge, but it's as empty and void of the true gospel as any Catholic liturgy ever could be.
Romans 8:28
__________________
"The church of the Middle Ages was marked by several obvious characteristics. There was a strong emphasis on influence and power. One index of this was the way in which church leaders sought -- and gained -- social and political leverage and enjoyed having a voice at the table of the affairs of this world. Another was the rise of what we call 'megachurches' (which they called "cathederals"). Here well-known and influential pastors (whom they called "bishops") exercised great influence in their society. The model to which young ministers were encouraged to aspire was not faithfulness to the gospel, but success. In these churches the "quality of worship" was thought to be outstanding (stunning acoustics, magnificent musical performances beyond the ordinary). It was also a world where the image dominated the Word, where people -- so it was thought -- would not listen to preaching, and so drama became the order of the day, whether in the colorful liturgy of the services or in the famed medieval mystery plays. And, to some degree, if one wanted health, wealth, and (especially eternal) happiness, these, too, the church could provide, for it had men who possessed charismatic gifts. Indeed, from the extraordinary power in their hands one could receive forgiveness, and from them, or at least from objects they possessed, one could seek even physical healing.
But something was sadly absent from all of this, as Luther, who was once part of the whole system well knew. The true message of the cross was lacking, and it's true meaning obscured."
I find Sinclair Ferguson's insights to be rather profound and the comparisons of the modern western church to the church of Luther's day to be convicting. The modern church in the west has forgotten it's church history, and thus we are repeating it's errors from days gone by. It looks cooler and is more cutting edge, but it's as empty and void of the true gospel as any Catholic liturgy ever could be.
Romans 8:28
__________________
Monday, February 8, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Second Worst Day of my Life
Two years ago today the doctor gave us the terrible news that my dad's cancer was not only back, it was terminal. Five days later he was in heaven (that was the worst day of my life BTW). I miss him terribly and wish everyday that I could talk with him, and get his advice on any number of subjects. Life doesn't soften it's blows, but those blows are softened by God's grace and the hope that is particular to those who are the children of the most High God.
Romans 8:28
Romans 8:28
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)