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What does it mean to take Jesus lightly? For a hundred years or more, Jesus has been "damned" with very faint praise. The wisdom of this world gives ground begrudgingly to the Lord of the universe. But the battle is real.
Recent Entries
Making Sense Of It AllJanuary 30, 2012
Where are things headed? Is there rhyme and reason to the endless cycle of summer, fall, winter and spring? Is there a plan in place, or is randomness the explanation?
Suffering Saints
January 25, 2012
We get nervous thinking about it - suffering for the sake of Christ. How necessary is it, and what does it produce in us?
George Herbert on Prayer Meetings
January 21, 2012
Prayer Meetings are a thing of the past. Or so it seems. What has been lost? Maybe more than we realize.
When Fear Is Good
January 7, 2012
NO FEAR, we are told. And the point is well taken. But fear can be healthy, at least when it comes to eternal matters.
Happy, Happy, Happy
January 4, 2012
The declaration of independence holds up the pursuit of happiness as a right. Did you ever consider the reading the bible might be the one source that will never let you down?
The Twelve Signs Of Grace
December 22, 2011
Self-examination is not easy to do. The tendency is to let ourselves off easy. But examine we must, for eternity is at stake.
"Ouch!!"
July 22, 2011
Spiritual pride is hard to detect. Jonathan Edwards gives some tips. The process can be painful, but necessary.
The Solid Rock vs. All Other Ground
May 16, 2009
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
At the turn of the 20th century, P. T. Forsythe spoke at Yale on the state of preaching. In his lecture that covered the influence of modern thought with a corresponding loss of Jesus at the center, particularly the cross, he took pains to distinguish the difference between what true belief was (he called it positive belief) and what was currently in vogue - that is, faint praise.
I will refer to the two categories as "sinking sand" and "solid rock." Forsythe, I'm certain, would approve.
SINKING SAND
We must have a faith like Christ's.
SOLID ROCK
We must have a faith in Christ.
SINKING SAND
We must imitate the religion of Jesus.
SOLID ROCK
We cannot attempt to imitate a Redeemer, or criticize He who judges our conscience. Jesus is our religion.
SINKING SAND
Christ is our supreme example and prophet who showcased the potential of human spirituality.
SOLID ROCK
Christ's eternal person does it all for us.
SINKING SAND
Christ's preaching is emphasized.
SOLID ROCK
Christ preached is emphasized.
SINKING SAND
Christ's perfect human nature is extolled.
SOLID ROCK
Christ's treatment of human nature carries more weight than the way his incarnation of our nature.
SINKING SAND
Christ is the full expression of humanity.
SOLID ROCK
Christ's business with humanity is explored and lifted up.
SINKING SAND
Christ consummates humanity.
SOLID ROCK
Christ redeems humanity.
SINKING SAND
For a suffering world, Christ is its healer.
SOLID ROCK
For a guilty world, Christ is its Atoning Savior.
SINKING SAND
The sinlessness of Christ is the expression of the essential, though soiled, sinlessness of man.
SOLID ROCK
Man's only hope of sanctity is possible only through the Holy One of God.
SINKING SAND
Love is valued but undefined.
SOLID ROCK
Love finds its full value as displayed in Christ, representing holy grace.
SINKING SAND
The divine reality is a calm and mystic presence and the nearness of God is rejoiced over.
SOLID ROCK
God's divine reality is a perpetual deed, and the nearness is a terror except as grace.
SINKING SAND
God's real presence in the world is manifested in mere action, process and movement.
SOLID ROCK
History is a supreme act that consummates the world.
SINKING SAND
Fascination with the way God's presence pervades the world is paramount.
SOLID ROCK
God's redemptive act, and the purpose He is orchestrating is paramount.
SINKING SAND
Jesus is the crowning immanence of the divine presence in the world.
SOLID ROCK
Jesus is the incarnation of the divine will in the world.
SINKING SAND
The world is God's arena, His sphere of energy, where His substance, forces and ideas play.
SOLID ROCK
The kingdom of this world is becoming the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, where His purpose rules.
SINKING SAND
The world is God's organ.
SOLID ROCK
The world is God's creature.
SINKING SAND
The world was created for Christ, or at least Christ's ideal.
SOLID ROCK
The world was created in Christ.
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
At the turn of the 20th century, P. T. Forsythe spoke at Yale on the state of preaching. In his lecture that covered the influence of modern thought with a corresponding loss of Jesus at the center, particularly the cross, he took pains to distinguish the difference between what true belief was (he called it positive belief) and what was currently in vogue - that is, faint praise.
I will refer to the two categories as "sinking sand" and "solid rock." Forsythe, I'm certain, would approve.
SINKING SAND
We must have a faith like Christ's.
SOLID ROCK
We must have a faith in Christ.
SINKING SAND
We must imitate the religion of Jesus.
SOLID ROCK
We cannot attempt to imitate a Redeemer, or criticize He who judges our conscience. Jesus is our religion.
SINKING SAND
Christ is our supreme example and prophet who showcased the potential of human spirituality.
SOLID ROCK
Christ's eternal person does it all for us.
SINKING SAND
Christ's preaching is emphasized.
SOLID ROCK
Christ preached is emphasized.
SINKING SAND
Christ's perfect human nature is extolled.
SOLID ROCK
Christ's treatment of human nature carries more weight than the way his incarnation of our nature.
SINKING SAND
Christ is the full expression of humanity.
SOLID ROCK
Christ's business with humanity is explored and lifted up.
SINKING SAND
Christ consummates humanity.
SOLID ROCK
Christ redeems humanity.
SINKING SAND
For a suffering world, Christ is its healer.
SOLID ROCK
For a guilty world, Christ is its Atoning Savior.
SINKING SAND
The sinlessness of Christ is the expression of the essential, though soiled, sinlessness of man.
SOLID ROCK
Man's only hope of sanctity is possible only through the Holy One of God.
SINKING SAND
Love is valued but undefined.
SOLID ROCK
Love finds its full value as displayed in Christ, representing holy grace.
SINKING SAND
The divine reality is a calm and mystic presence and the nearness of God is rejoiced over.
SOLID ROCK
God's divine reality is a perpetual deed, and the nearness is a terror except as grace.
SINKING SAND
God's real presence in the world is manifested in mere action, process and movement.
SOLID ROCK
History is a supreme act that consummates the world.
SINKING SAND
Fascination with the way God's presence pervades the world is paramount.
SOLID ROCK
God's redemptive act, and the purpose He is orchestrating is paramount.
SINKING SAND
Jesus is the crowning immanence of the divine presence in the world.
SOLID ROCK
Jesus is the incarnation of the divine will in the world.
SINKING SAND
The world is God's arena, His sphere of energy, where His substance, forces and ideas play.
SOLID ROCK
The kingdom of this world is becoming the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, where His purpose rules.
SINKING SAND
The world is God's organ.
SOLID ROCK
The world is God's creature.
SINKING SAND
The world was created for Christ, or at least Christ's ideal.
SOLID ROCK
The world was created in Christ.
