Sunday, November 20, 2005
Sunday, November 13, 2005
American Christianity
As a person I am very pessimistic. As a Christian, and in my faith, I am very optimistic. In American Christianity, I am optimistically pessimistic!
Am I the only one fed up with American Christianity? There are little pockets of true faith, but the majority…..oh man!
I found a book I read in college, The Democratization of American Christianity, Nathan O. Hatch. http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0300050607/ref=sib_dp_pt/104-1087011-7119157#reader-link
I can’t remember it very well, but I’m going to dive into it again. On one of the first pages it has this quote…
“Tendencies, which had found no political room to unfold themselves in other lands wrought here without restraint…Every theological vagabond and peddler may drive here his bungling trade, without passport or license, and sell his false ware at pleasure. What is to come of such confusion is not now to be seen.”
Philip Schaff, The Principle of Protestantism, 1844
I think we know now where we have come….
Am I the only one fed up with American Christianity? There are little pockets of true faith, but the majority…..oh man!
I found a book I read in college, The Democratization of American Christianity, Nathan O. Hatch. http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0300050607/ref=sib_dp_pt/104-1087011-7119157#reader-link
I can’t remember it very well, but I’m going to dive into it again. On one of the first pages it has this quote…
“Tendencies, which had found no political room to unfold themselves in other lands wrought here without restraint…Every theological vagabond and peddler may drive here his bungling trade, without passport or license, and sell his false ware at pleasure. What is to come of such confusion is not now to be seen.”
Philip Schaff, The Principle of Protestantism, 1844
I think we know now where we have come….
Sunday, November 06, 2005
A letter from the past....
33 A.D.
My Friends in Christ,
I wasn’t sure why I was doing it, but climbing the tree was the best thing I ever did! I can’t believe that I had spent my life before Christ thinking that all I ever needed was money in my pocket and food on my table. Meeting Jesus was the best thing that could ever have happened to me!
I wish I could describe to you the change that happened in my life that day. Realizing that someone cared enough about me to come to my house and take an interest in my life would have been enough. It’s kind of lonely being a tax collector. But, Jesus went beyond that. He told me about the love of God and how the Father wanted a relationship with me.
It was hard to find out that they had treated Him so badly when they crucified Him on the cross. But I know now that it was the plan all along. He is close to me now, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
My friends, let me give you some advice:
The most important thing in this life is Jesus. I know that now. I spend my time away from the office reading Scripture, praying and fellowshipping with other followers. And, when I get the chance, I’m always looking for opportunities that would allow me to tell someone else, who might be in a tree somewhere, about the joy of living for Jesus.
Also, let me tell you this. There are a lot of people who don’t believe that anything good has happened to me because of my past life. I don’t let those people bother me. I just say a little prayer for them and go about my business.
If tomorrow doesn’t come for me, I know that I have lived my life finding out the most important secrets of all! I can pass from this life, knowing that I’m passing into eternity because of Jesus Christ.
God bless you all,
Zacchaeus
My Friends in Christ,
I wasn’t sure why I was doing it, but climbing the tree was the best thing I ever did! I can’t believe that I had spent my life before Christ thinking that all I ever needed was money in my pocket and food on my table. Meeting Jesus was the best thing that could ever have happened to me!
I wish I could describe to you the change that happened in my life that day. Realizing that someone cared enough about me to come to my house and take an interest in my life would have been enough. It’s kind of lonely being a tax collector. But, Jesus went beyond that. He told me about the love of God and how the Father wanted a relationship with me.
It was hard to find out that they had treated Him so badly when they crucified Him on the cross. But I know now that it was the plan all along. He is close to me now, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
My friends, let me give you some advice:
The most important thing in this life is Jesus. I know that now. I spend my time away from the office reading Scripture, praying and fellowshipping with other followers. And, when I get the chance, I’m always looking for opportunities that would allow me to tell someone else, who might be in a tree somewhere, about the joy of living for Jesus.
Also, let me tell you this. There are a lot of people who don’t believe that anything good has happened to me because of my past life. I don’t let those people bother me. I just say a little prayer for them and go about my business.
If tomorrow doesn’t come for me, I know that I have lived my life finding out the most important secrets of all! I can pass from this life, knowing that I’m passing into eternity because of Jesus Christ.
God bless you all,
Zacchaeus
