-------------------------<BrethrenVoice>------------------------- [which seeks to be guided solely by the NT Biblical pattern, facilitates free flow of Christian info. To God be the glory!] [eMail Moderator: ben@...] [<GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> archives/read online: http://associate.com/groups/brethrenvoice/ezmlm.cgi] <GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> <4 January 2002> Contents: ------------ 1) <Devotional> "Christian nontheism" - Ravi Zacharias 2) <Christian-life> "Benefits of sickness" - J.C. Ryle 3) <Evangelism> "Building bridges for the Gospel" (Pt 4/5) - John Studebaker 1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> "CHRISTIAN NONTHEISM" Ravi Zacharias Christian nontheism is rampant in our society, and all too often it is preached in pulpits and reciprocated in pews. Tragically, many of us are theoretical Christians, but practical nontheists. We profess belief that Christ is God but live as if God does not exist. This is Christian nontheism: confessed belief contradicting lived life. Now, the Christian nontheist should be distinguished from the struggling Christian—for the latter knows he has fallen short in many ways. But the Christian nontheist is not in that camp. On paper, he lives thinking himself a true believer. This is why this mode is so insidious. The deadliest forms of it are internal rather than external, and subtle rather than overt. Externally, one does all the things expected of a Christian: goes to church, is moral, reads his Bible. But internally there are major gaps. Our thought life is especially susceptible to this danger, for nontheistic habits of thought can be hard to detect and even harder to uproot. So we must be vigilant in considering our thought life. Søren Kierkegaard said, "The remarkable thing about the way in which people talk about God, or about their relationship to God, is that it seems to escape them completely that God hears what they are saying." Now apply this idea to your thought life. Do you think as if God doesn't hear your thoughts? As if only you hear your thoughts? This is thinking as if God did not exist to your thoughts. That is the danger I address here—mentally ignoring God's existence. For the true follower of Jesus Christ, the thought life is driven by a dialogue—a conversation with God. When there is no conversation, in effect one is treated as non-existent or absent. Now be honest. How do you think about God with regard to your thoughts? This ought to be a humbling and sobering question. Humbling in that even in what we consider to be most exclusively our own—our thoughts—God still has a part. And sobering because God knows the presence and absence of thought. The solution to Christian nontheism is candor and repentance. We must be honest with ourselves and turn to him with a sincere cry that He might come near in action and in thought. Let us consider in earnest John Henry Newman's poignant question, "Do you habitually unlock your heart and subject your thoughts to Almighty God?" Learn to truthfully answer yes and destroy Christian nontheism. --- Copyright (p)(c) 2001 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. A Slice of Infinity is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. _______________________________________________________________________ 2) <CHRISTIAN-LIFE> "BENEFITS OF SICKNESS" J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) 1. Sickness helps to remind men of death. The most live as if they were never going to die. They follow business, or pleasure, or politics, or science, as if earth was their eternal home. They plan and scheme for the future, like the rich fool in the parable, as if they had a long lease on life, and were not tenants at will. A heavy illness sometimes goes far to dispel these delusions. It awakens men from their day-dreams, and reminds them that they have to die as well as to live. Now this I say emphatically is a mighty good. 2. Sickness helps to make men think seriously of God, and their souls, and the world to come. The most in their days of health can find no time for such thoughts. They dislike them. They put them away. They count them troublesome and disagreeable. Now a severe disease has sometimes a wonderful power of mustering and rallying these thoughts, and bringing them up before the eyes of a man's soul. Even a wicked king like Benhadad, when sick, could think of Elisha (2 Kings 8:8). Even heathen sailors, when death was in sight, were afraid, and "cried every man to his god" (Jonah 1:5). Surely anything that helps to make men think is good. 3. Sickness helps to soften men's hearts, and teach them wisdom. The natural heart is as hard as a stone. It can see no good in anything which is not of this life, and o happiness excepting in the world. A long illness sometimes goes far to correct these ideas. It exposes the emptiness and hollowness of what the world calls "good" things, and teaches us to hold them with a loose hand. The man of business finds that money alone is not everything the heart requires. The woman of the world finds that costly apparel, and novel-reading, and the reports of balls and operas, are miserable comforters in a sick room. Surely anything that obliges us to alter our weights and measures of earthly things is a real good. 4. Sickness helps to level and humble us. We are all naturally proud and high-minded. Few, even of the poorest, are free from the infection. Few are to be found who do not look down on somebody else, and secretly flatter themselves that they are "not as other men." A sick bed is a mighty tamer of such thoughts as these. It forces on us the mighty truth that we are all poor worms, that we "dwell in houses of clay," and are "crushed before the moth" (Job 4:19); and that kings and subjects, masters and servants, rich and poor, are all dying creatures, and will soon stand side by side at the bar of God. In the sight of the coffin and the grave it is not easy to be proud. Surely anything that teaches that lesson is good. 5. Finally, sickness helps to try men's religion, of what sort it is. There are not many on earth who have no religion at all. Yet few have a religion that will bear inspection. Most are content with traditions received from their fathers, and can render no reason of the hope that is in them. Now disease is sometimes most useful to a man in exposing the utter worthlessness of his soul's foundation. It often shows him that he has nothing solid under his feet, and nothing firm under his hand. It makes him find out that, although he may have had a form of religion, he has been all his life worshipping "an unknown God." Many a creed looks well on the smooth waters of health, which turns out utterly unsound and useless on the rough waves of the sick bed. The storms of winter often bring out the defects in a man's dwelling, and sickness often exposes the gracelessness of a man's soul. Surely anything that makes us find out the real character of our faith is a good. (J.C. Ryle). _______________________________________________________________________ 3) <EVANGELISM> "BUILDING BRIDGES FOR THE GOSPEL" (PART 4 OF 5)* WE ARE GOD'S BRIDGES John Studebaker … When non-Christians encounter us, what impressions do they walk away with? Do they simply see another "religion," or do they encounter a Christianity that is relevant outside the church and makes good rational sense in every area of human life? As Christ took on the context of human flesh, so we must enter into the context of today's world. The basis for our ministry, therefore, is not only found in sharing the truths of the Christian faith, but also in utilizing our own humanity as an actual channel for relating these truths. The early church repeatedly followed Christ's model by building human bridges in order to communicate the gospel within the context of the audience. In Acts 17, Paul shared the gospel with the polytheistic and philosophically-oriented Greeks differently than he did with the monotheistic, traditionally-oriented Jews. He could do this because he had a deep understanding of each culture. Oftentimes in the New Testament, certain individuals were able to build bridges because of common cultural back-grounds. Their very lives and heritage built a natural bridge. Timothy, for example, could easily minister to Greeks in his hometown because of his Greek heritage. At other times, though, there is no apparent common ground, and we have to learn how nonbelievers are thinking and accommodate accordingly. For example, when Paul needed Timothy to accompany him on a missionary trip, he had Timothy circumcised. Why? Because they were going to come into contact with Jews who saw circumcision as very important. Christ Himself clearly took a contextual approach to ministry. In John 3, Christ confronts Nicodemus, a teacher of the law, with some deep theological insights. But in John 4, as Jesus casually converses with the woman at the well about her immoral past, He uses the well as a simple illustration of the "living water" He could provide. In each case, Jesus showed genuine respect for that person's background and mindset by tailoring the gospel appropriately. Likewise, an ambassador for Christ must show utmost respect to the people he is trying to reach, and to their mindset. By demonstrating a deep understanding of culture, we gain integrity and credibility with our audience. The key is that our very lives are the bridges, or channels, for the gospel. When God created man He gave man dominion over the world (Gen. 1:28). God was essentially giving every person the assignment of demonstrating His character on earth. As Christ's ambassadors, He has given each of us specific areas in which we can become channels for His love and truth as we turn these areas over to Him. These areas include our talents, burdens, educational fields, abilities, and spiritual gifts. Whether a person is a homemaker, a dentist, a Ph.D. candidate, or a farmer, he or she needs to do an extensive study regarding how biblical truth provides a foundation for that "platform" God has given. Often He will show a person a specific subculture that only he or she can reach. [To be concluded] ---- * [This data file/document is the sole property of Probe Ministries. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file and/or document must contain the copyright notice (i.e., Copyright (C) 1995-1997 Probe Ministries) and this Copyright/Reproduction Limitations notice.] . ---------------------------<BrethrenVoice>--------------------------- Subscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-subscribe@...> Unsubscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-unsubscribe@...> FAQs/Faith Statement, eMail: <brethrenvoice-faq@...> <BrethrenVoice> Home: www.brethrenvoice.net <eFellowship> Home: http://groups.msn.com/BrethrenChristiansForum/ "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith." 2 Cor 13:5