Spurgeon on Islam
Published December 2, 2011 | 
We discussed some weeks back how Jesus did not condone the use of force in promoting Christianity (sermon is here). As well, we have been studying the doctrines and beliefs of Islam with the teens on Sunday night. I found this quote from Charles Spurgeon, preached in 1857, to be surprisingly relevant to the intersection of those two topics (and with a subtle reference to the first advent of Christ too — how seasonal).
Mohammed "bearing the sword"
Mahommedans’ religion might be sustained by scimitars, but Christians’ religion must be sustained by love. The great crime of war can never promote the religion of peace. The battle, and the garment rolled in blood, are not a fitting prelude to “peace on earth, goodwill to men.” And I do firmly hold, that the slaughter of men, that bayonets, and swords, and guns, have never yet been, and never can be, promoters of the gospel. The gospel will proceed without them, but never through them – Charles Spurgeon (found at this link).
We need to be careful to promote Christianity with a Christlike spirit. This is not always easy in a culture that is hostile to the truth. But it is the will of God. Engage faithfully in the battle, with resolve and compassion.
2 Corinthians 10:4–5 — for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Ephesians 6:12 — For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Declaration of Thanksgiving
Published November 22, 2011 | Over the years I have made it a habit to read the presidential proclamation which set aside the last Thursday of October as a day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the
heavens,” as it was declared by Abraham Lincoln 148 years ago. I trust you will be blessed as I am to read this during this season of Thanksgiving.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States
A ProclamationThe year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United Stated States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
Abraham Lincoln
The | Status | Tweet | Wall Post | Disconnected World
Published November 3, 2011 |
I am having difficulty explaining this in a short way, but will give it a shot. Forgive me if it is longer than the 140 character limit of a “Twitter Tweet.”
Since the 1980s, there has been an onslaught of technological advances that have affected our connection with the world in which we live; our connection to our immediate real-world
neighborhood and community. We have moved away from direct, face-to-face contact with people and have allowed technology to become the go-between. The front porch conversation that we see on the Andy Griffith Show is totally foreign to our culture. It is not unusual to see two people in a restaurant “dining together” and each person is staring at their cell phones while ignoring one another. We don’t shop at the marketplace and meet real people anymore, but do so by pointing and clicking and having the package arrive on our doorstop.
We find it much more convenient to text or email rather than call, or easier to call rather than to visit. We have even found ourselves satisfied at clicking “like” rather than saying to someone, “Hey, I love that picture you just posted. When did you go there?” Unfortunately, I can spend my whole day “liking” people’s status update, wall-posts, pictures, or comments on Facebook and pretend or feel like I just had a day of meaningful interaction with all of my friends.
The convenience has evolved and the form factor has become smaller. Handheld mobile devices have made it even more convenient.
I have allowed myself to become seduced by convenience and have put my comfort above people.
Due to the nature of the technologies, e.g., text messaging, Facebook status posts, email, wall posts, etc., we have lost the ability to dialogue sensibly. Millions of Twitter posts are made each day, all within the 140 character limit. This means that people are communicating entire thoughts in just a few characters. No longer do we endeavor to be thorough and explain in a comprehensive manner. Our world is challenging us to be as brief as possible.
Think about the use of the word “okay.” Okay which has historically been accepted as just two letters, “ok,” now has been shortened to just one letter, just “k.” Incredible! In a text to my wife, I found myself being too lazy to type the extra “O” in “OK.”
We have become people that are desensitized and have lost touch with our neighbors and we suffer from meaningful dialogue. The cell phone text/email/chat has invaded our lives and is here to stay. Because of media, we have come to know celebrities or YouTube strangers better than our neighbor, or as Brian recently shared, we know how to get around Jerry Seinfeld’s apartment better than the guy next door.
Having painted this picture, we can’t help but wonder how this effects the Gospel. How can we share the Gospel narrative when the world expects message brevity? Also, as we become more and more disconnected, the places for sharing the Gospel become more difficult to find. Somehow, we have got to find ways of becoming more connected with people. There are no easy answers to this growing disconnect. We at least need to reflect upon the effects it is having in our body and find ways to engage people in non-technological ways, face-to-face.
May the Lord grant us wisdom to navigate in this new world.
Think about it, as I am typing you this message, I realize that my trying to communicate this to you has taken the way of what is most convenient, a blog post. ”Hope that’s k with u”
- Allen
Posted in Cultural Issues, Gospel, Ministry, Witnessing | 
communication, facebook, gospel, tweeting, twitter, witnessing | 
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