"One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper was not hostile; he was not opposed to them, but his inn was crowded; his hands were full; his mind was preoccupied. This is the answer that millions are giving today. Like a Bethlehem innkeeper, they cannot find room for Christ. All the accommodations in their hearts are already taken up by other crowding interests. Their response is not atheism. It is not defiance. It is preoccupation and the feeling of being able to get on reasonably well without Christianity."~ Billy Graham ~
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A lot of things come to my mind...
I think I'll just ramble and let my thoughts lead me...
Revelation 3:14-18 is one thought...speaking to the church of Laodicea"..you are neither cold nor hot..."
"you say I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing"-and do not know that you are wretched , miserable, poor, blind, and naked-..."
Think about it...this is written to the church...if this is the case what about the unbelievers around said church? Do they even have a chance? How will they ever see their own need?
We are so insulated from suffering here in our culture...we are so busy collecting goods for ourselves and trying to be someone that everyone will like...we are so conditioned to accept evil... even death is a cleanly packaged event for most of us ...we do not have to care for own dead...and we are so, so busy... we don't recognize our own need for a Saviour.
All of these things condition our minds...we are blissfully unaware of our sinfulness, our inability to please God, of God's holiness and perfection.
The unsaved in our society are inoculated against Christianity...they get just enough of our easy believism vaccine and the mega church mentality along with christian TV and radio all alluding to (and sometimes actually saying)the idea that "Christians can be cool and have fun too---just like the World"
Who is copying who here?
And what about half hearted Christian neighbors and friends?
How do they ultimately affect the world for the Kingdom of God?
People think it's just a gimmick. Christianity is something to fill someone's time like a hobby.
I have been guilty of this same busy, shallow existence, at times.
Please forgive me Lord for all the times I didn't see my own sin, for all the times I have turned people away from you by not truly living the Kingdom.
I want to lose the busy, time-wasting activity and focus on the really important things... I want my children to be so consumed by You that nothing else matters...
Sunydazy


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• Dec. 5, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
it is true many think it is a gimmick. I have in laws like that. It breaks my heart. This is a great post. Thank you so much for writing. Laurel Wreath

• Dec. 5, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Nic @ http://nicsplace.blogspot.com
The unsaved in our society are inoculated against Christianity...they get just enough of our easy believism vaccine and the mega church mentality along with christian TV and radio all alluding to (and sometimes actually saying) the idea that "Christians can be cool and have fun too---just like the World" That is SUCH the truth. There are so many churches out there - you've heard of them and other's you've seen on TV - where you really can't tell the church from the world. If the world can't see Christ in us, why do they want to be like us? We can still have fun but we don't have to do it the way the world does it. Thank you for telling the truth of that in this week's IOW post. :)

• Dec. 6, 2006 - Christ In Christmas
Posted by AmyD
I am feeling that here too! We have an advent calendar where each day until Christmas the kids put up one piece of the nativity scene, and on the last day, the baby Jesus. My youngest was showing it to her neighbor friend and the girl told her they have one too, with a tree and ornaments. But the girl wanted to know why ours was a "barn". My daughter explained it was a manger scene with Jesus. The girl wanted to know what Jesus had to do with Christmas. My daughter, in her six year old wisdom, simply said that Christmas is Jesus' birthday and Jesus' name is in the word Christmas. "We can't have Christmas without Him!" My hope is that since this girl's family does not go to church, or let her go with anyone else's family, that she will at least grow up and remember the things my daughter talks about, that she has learned, and will want to learn more herself.

Labels: In Other Words