“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and
meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to
keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one
Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith,
one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and
in you all” Ephesians 4:1-6.
Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts
Friday, February 26, 2016
UNITY OF THE CLIQUE?
Labels:
Brethren,
Carnal,
Christ Jesus,
Christianity,
Compromise,
Denominations,
Ecumenism,
End Times,
God,
Gospel,
Grace,
Holy Spirit,
Love,
Religions,
Salvation,
Unity,
Wisdom
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
THE DECLINE of CHRISTIANITY?
[…I am obliged to
say plainly, that I fail to see that all the external improvement of the last
forty years, is accompanied by any corresponding growth of practical holiness!
There is no decrease in the total idolatry of recreations, or the extravagant expenditure
of money, or self-indulgence of all kinds. On the contrary, there is far less
repentance, faith, holiness, Bible-reading, and family religion! If this state
of things is not a most unhealthy symptom in the condition of a Church, I know
not what is! …The leading idea of many minds in this day appears to be, that it
does not signify much what a man believes or teaches about what are commonly
considered the principal verities of the Christian faith. A wave of extravagant
liberalism in religion, as well as in everything else, is sweeping over
England. Concerning the Trinity, the Divinity of Christ, the atonement, the
Person and work of the Holy Spirit, conversion, justification, the inspiration
of Scripture, the future state, and the like—it seems to be agreed that men may
believe as much or as little as they please, and nobody is to find fault. The
only question you are to ask is, whether a man is 'earnest, sincere, and
zealous,' and if he is, you are not to ask anything more. It is thought very
narrow and illiberal to say that any opinion in religion is false, or that
anybody is unsound in the faith. Distinct and positive statements about
anything in Christianity are thought downright uncharitable. All the old dogmas
are to be held back, and never to be put forward in a solid, tangible state—or
to be put forward in such a foggy, misty manner that, like a half-developed
photographic plate, they are never to come out distinct, sharp, and clear. I
challenge anyone who observes closely the pulpit utterances of this day, or
reads speeches which touch religion, to deny the accuracy of what I have just
said.] ~ (J. C. Ryle, "The Outlook" 1886).
Written in 1886 and addressing the prior 40 years!
Has it gotten better, or worse?
Has it gotten better, or worse?
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