 | Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?” (2 Kings 20:16-19). |
Sometimes Facebook is so detrimental to my Christian vision. Post after post causes me to see how so many young, confessing Christian 20- and 30-somethings are getting so, I'll say it, domesticated; that is, their assuming the cultural position of comfort, upward mobility, adverse to risk, non-follow-through with prior Christian callings, "I believe this is what God wants for mes," and "God told mes" and now ready to settle for an ordinary life, heck an ordinary church-life. Striving for it actually.
Don't get me wrong, I fully realize that an ordinary life is more in line with God's called will, but I mean here by "ordinary" is "what's socially and culturally expected" and "how can I raise a family unless . . .?" and just plain, fitting into the realm of American life and contemporary church-life. This somewhat saddens me . . .
I keep thinking it must be hard to apply what John wrote in 1 John 2:15-17:
Don't get me wrong, I fully realize that an ordinary life is more in line with God's called will, but I mean here by "ordinary" is "what's socially and culturally expected" and "how can I raise a family unless . . .?" and just plain, fitting into the realm of American life and contemporary church-life. This somewhat saddens me . . .
I keep thinking it must be hard to apply what John wrote in 1 John 2:15-17:
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." |
Hard to apply when it doesn't look like the world around the 20- and 30-somethings is passing away, but needs to be planned for for family, security, and eventually, retirement (a wholly unbiblical concept bytheway--sorry to all my good and faithful friends who are retired).
I feel like we are living at a time somewhat like the king of Israel that was told destruction was coming, but humbled himself just enough to forestall judgement during his days and passed it on to his sons (when destruction did, eventually come). "O, Lord, just not in my days, let the destruction come, during another generation because its my turn, our turn to live and enjoy life."
Two years ago, I listened to a former president of Crown College (my alma mater) answer the question: "What aren't we training our future Christian leaders that we should be training them for?" Without hesitation his answer: "We are not training them to endure persecution."
As I have now turned 61 and heading into my last stretch, I am more and more realizing how lulled as Christians, we, especially the young, the up and coming Christian and church leaders, have become. How settled we are, planning, striving at being lulled. Just not in our generation, O Lord, not in ours. It's our turn to enjoy life.
I feel like we are living at a time somewhat like the king of Israel that was told destruction was coming, but humbled himself just enough to forestall judgement during his days and passed it on to his sons (when destruction did, eventually come). "O, Lord, just not in my days, let the destruction come, during another generation because its my turn, our turn to live and enjoy life."
Two years ago, I listened to a former president of Crown College (my alma mater) answer the question: "What aren't we training our future Christian leaders that we should be training them for?" Without hesitation his answer: "We are not training them to endure persecution."
As I have now turned 61 and heading into my last stretch, I am more and more realizing how lulled as Christians, we, especially the young, the up and coming Christian and church leaders, have become. How settled we are, planning, striving at being lulled. Just not in our generation, O Lord, not in ours. It's our turn to enjoy life.
| If these blogs and teachings benefit you in some way, please consider supporting the ministry of Christ Presbyterian Church in The Hill. Our church plant and ministry in the Hill is dependent on the kind and generous financial support from outside the Hill. The Hill is one of Connecticut's poorest and under-resourced, self-sustaining neighborhoods; we will be dependent on outside support for some time. Please consider supporting us with a one time donation or join us as a financial partner in ministry. You may donate online through our website or send a donation to our anchor church marked for CPC in The Hill @ 135 Whitney Ave, New Haven, CT 06510 (checks are to be made out to Christ Presbyterian Church or simply CPC; and in the memo please indicate Hill/CA). For more information or to receive our Hill News Updates, please contact me, Pastor Chip, through this email address: ChipCPCtheHill@gmail.com. |
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