Saturday, July 07, 2007

DO YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE?

John Angell James (June 6, 1785 - October 1, 1859) wrote this.I look at the church today and think, this is what is needed to be heard, today.

"For I have given you an example that you also should
do just as I have done for you." (John 13:15)


It has long been my conviction, that there is a great
deficiency in evangelical churches--of the practical
enforcement of Christian duties in detail; especially of
what may be emphatically called the Christian virtues
--the passive graces of the Christian character, the
exercise of brotherly kindness and love.

It is not so acceptable to have all the special and difficult
duties of the Christian's life, or man's conduct to his fellows,
set clearly before the understanding and enforced upon the
conscience. Men do not like to be followed through all the
labyrinths of the heart's deceitfulness, beaten out of every
refuge of lies, and made to feel the obligation to love where
they are inclined to hate; and to forgive where they desire
to revenge.

And we ministers pander too much to this taste. The pulpit
has not done its duty. We have preached to the intellect, to
the imagination, and to the taste--but not enough to the
heart and to the conscience. In our endeavor to please, we
have not been sufficiently intent upon the greater object--to
profit. We have not preached justification too much--but
sanctification too little. We have urged faith--but not love. We
have descanted upon the evil of licentiousness, and falsehood,
and dishonesty, and covetousness--but have said far, far
too little about malice and bitterness. We have urged men to
zeal and liberality--but not enough to humility, forbearance,
and forgiveness. We have rightly led men to view the cross of
Christ--but we have not sufficiently urged them to take up their
own cross. We have properly entreated them to view Jesus as
their Righteousness--but not sufficiently as their Example.

O, Christians . . .
study that wondrous character,
contemplate that illustrious pattern,
dwell upon that beautiful model,
until the frosty incrustations of your cold, hard
heart have all melted, like icicles before the sun!

How wonderful and how ennobling is the conception, and what an ambition should it raise in the mind of the Christian, to consider and say, "Men may see something of God in me!" Yes, we
can teach them what God is, as to His moral character, and let them see in 'our merciful disposition' a ray of the infinite sun of His own glory.

These sweet relentings of our nature, these soft and genial currents of our soul, these effusions of love--these, we can remind them, are but the overflowings of His goodness, His own love, into our hearts, and the reflection of His infinite mercy to us.

"The one who says he abides in Him should walk
just as He walked." (1 John 2:6)


"Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example,
so that you should follow in His steps." (1 Peter 2:21)

10 comments:

mark pierson said...

Cristina, could you please reproduce this at bluecollar whenever it is convenient for you? This was great.

Mark

Theresa's Notes said...

What a wonderful post, again :) Keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

I'm not advocation Amy Grant, but when I was in my teens I used to listen to her. She had a song called Father's Eyes. We see others through His eyes that we may be seen as children of God.

Sis. Julie said...

I've been hearing alot of preaching lately of how the pulpits are lacking in the preaching of some things in churches today. I think God is trying to get the church's attention about some things. I only would that pastors would wake up and realize they are the reason for the church being in the state its in. How can people know what is sin if its not named from the pulpit. How can the Christian know how to live for God if they aren't in church first of all and then secondly if the pastor isn't teaching them from the pulpit. May God help our pastors (thank God I have one that preaches sin and names it and also teaches us how to live for God) to do what they need to be doing....preaching the WHOLE counsel of God!! Great post Sis!!

TO BECOME said...

Wonderful Post. Christ is our example and we need to be following that example. Preacher Preach the whole council of God. People need to hear and then do. Thank God for men who do this. Those that don't are going to have to give an account one day on the things they preached. connie from Texas

Baptist Girl said...

Mark,
Thank you. *s*

Thersa, thank you also. S*S

Sarah,
I remember that somg too, when I first becamea a christian I thought the words were so beautiful. We sure would see folk differently if we seen them though His eyes more often.

Julie,
well said!

Connie,
Amen sis!

Unknown said...

Wonderful scriptures here! Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment. I haven't had much time to visit blogs lately, but just caught up with you here on some of your latest posts. Good job!

Anonymous said...

Cristina, would you mind e-mailing me at angelmom@swbell.net

Thanks!

Beverly said...

I was just thinking of you, Cristina, when your comment came through on my blog. So we were thinking of each other at the same time. I really appreciated this quote. I am also spurred on to re-read Female Piety by J.A.James. Thanks for this!

Baptist Girl said...

Hey Pam,
Thank you. I always enjoy your site.

Gayla,
E-mail is on it's way.

Beverly,
lol, Looks that way.Your welcome. Enjoy your time off.

Cristina