"Most Christians in our culture live like everyone else. There is little distinction between our lives and the lives of the pagans down the street. We wear the same clothes, watch the same movies, read the same books, send our children to the same schools, and sign the same divorce decrees as everyone else. Furthermore, there ought to be a sign posted in every Christian bookstore that reads, “The views expressed in these books do not necessarily express the views of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” I’m not saying, don’t read Christian books. I’m just saying, read them with discernment."
Voddie Baucham
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8 comments:
I don't think our primary differences should be exterior. The difference is a new heart that wants to please God. When a group of people start to go around living "the right way" and telling everyone else to do the same all they accomplish is to cut themselves off from any real evangelistic opportunity, all the while missing point. We are to know our culture and engage our culture. Become all things to all people, not conform all people to a religious way of life.
Should there be external differences? Yes, but those differences will arise naturally from a heart that has been transformed, rather than from a set of unspoken rules that many churches push on their congregations for appearences sake.
Read them with discernment? Shouldn't everything in life be "read with discernment?" Doesn't that go without saying?
"The views expressed in these books do not necessarily express the views of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
Directly mentioning Jesus, especially as our Lord and Savior, would probably be too direct for most Christian family bookstores to accept in a visible area.
We certainly are a rag tag bunch of rebellious children...that's for sure.
And yet he loves and forgives us. And is able to get done what He wills to get done in this sin-soaked world despite all of our foolishness.
Thanks, Wayne.
Jonathan -
I agree with you.
I have heard Voddie preach this sermon. The main point he was talking about through this short quote is how much some Christians look just like the rest of the world and there is no discernable difference.
Dressing very provocatively, watching R-rated and soft porn (to full blown porn) movies, reading trashy nobels or magazines, divorce rate equal to or higher than the secular world, etc.
There will be a difference between Christians and the world and, like you say, will come from a transformed heart that longs to please the One who saved us from wrath.
The 'reading with discernment' portion is based on everything in 'Christian' bookstores that tries to pass as Christian. 'The Shack' being one example. Some people believe that just because its in a Christian bookstore, it must be Christian. The heresy in most Christian books stores can be very deceiving as a wolf in sheeps clothing.
I just want to shine the light of Jesus, even more.
What's the deal with the book, "The Shack"? I have heard some Christins say it a great book and others that it's not right. I'm ignorant about the whole thing.
Wayne,
We're definitely on the same page, but I would like to point out that those people you mentioned are probably not true Christians anyway (the product of a modern church pushing a decision theology rather than a discipleship theology).
Can a heart that longs to please God do what you described above? I definitely believe in a sanctification PROCESS...change over time, but there is a noticeable change. You can't meet Christ and come away unchanged.
I think Voddie is describing the difference between the visible church and the real Church.
P.S. The Shack is a theological nightmare.
The Shack is filled with doctrinal and theological errors and heresies. Michal Youseff (sp?) wrote about it; a condensed version was his 13 heresies of the Shack.
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