Fickle Christians of any age might learn a few things from our age.
I think the worst thing so many modern Christians do is give away only half their heart to the Lord. Who knows who gets the other half...
The idea of “idolatry” doesn’t really ring true for me when you hear arguments worrying to death the notion that “movies are idols,” “cars are idols,” “success is an idol.” It seems that at some point idols are idols.
However, the degree of self-focus in our culture makes one readily agree that today’s Christians are weak. And that is because they are so weakly committed to the Lord.
Maybe they’re just poorly led, though.
“I think the worst thing so many modern Christians do is give away only half their heart to the Lord”
Bohhoeffer, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”
K and I were watching “Twelve O’Clock High” the other day and in one scene Gregory Peck has just taken over a B-17 squadron that has been suffering major losses and defections at the beginning of the U.S.’s entrance into the war. His statement to the airmen at the first meeting was to the effect he recognizes one of their problems. They are concerned about surviving the bombing runs and getting back to the base in one piece. So he says to the 20 year olds, you have lived long enough, from this moment on consider yourselves dead, now you don’t have that to worry about and can focus all your attention on the mission.
We can learn from that.
However, the degree of self-focus in our culture makes one readily agree that today's Christians are weak. And that is because they are so weakly committed to the Lord.
You make a good point. And all we can speak from is our own experience. My experience is that when my eyes and heart were turned toward an understanding that everything was by His hand, I actually wanted to be a better Christian. When I embraced the belief that His perfect creative control, including all my faults and rebellions and sins, were part and parcel of His plan for my life, I desired to overcome them.
Recently there was something I wanted very badly and I wasn't getting it. One day my husband said to me, "You must be doing something wrong." I was shocked. Me? What am I doing wrong?
And he said, "God hasn't given you your heart's desire, has He?"
I was struck by that remark, and I realized I was doing something wrong. So I corrected it and worked harder. And now I'm getting my heart's desire.
And this "behavior modification" advice came from the most devout, dogmatic, black-and-white Predestinarian I've ever known.
I believe every moment of this experience in my life was scripted by God, as each person's life is likewise scripted. And knowing this is a remarkable, tangible impetus "to will and to do of His good pleasure."
Maybe they're just poorly led, though.
Tell them, Pastor, who is leading them...
"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." -- Isaiah 30:21