I’ve come across a great blogging series about Christian blogging, it is a great tool for all of us to read:
Here are some thoughts I have as to why we should be blogging. This is more essay-ish than my normal posts — but it is shut up like fire in my bones — here it is! You will see the influence of Peter Marshall, I immerse myself in his writing.
The Progress of Science is stunning. I’m amazed at how much we’ve learned in science in the last years. We can be found anywhere through the use of cellphones. The computer doesn’t even amaze us anymore. Satellites can zoom in on a license plate and see people sleeping in buildings. Guns can shoot through walls as they see the beat emanating from a human heart even through 12 feet of concrete. The number one brand name in the world, Google, didn’t even exist ten years a go. People not only play video games but can play them against people around the world. We can have artificial hearts and receive organs from animals. All of this since most of us were born!
Yet we would all agree that the progress of science has far surpassed that of our own morals and ethics. We haven’t grown in morality or ethics at all, in fact I believe we’ve digressed greatly.
Peter Marshall said in his famed sermon, Research Unlimited:
but unfortunately we have not improved ends
We have better ways of getting there,
but we have no better places to go.
We can save more time, but we are not making
any better use of the time we saved.”
Where are the great advances of the spiritual world? Why are they not evident?
Slashdot , Gizmodo , and Engadget are well read as we have to “stay up on” the latest trends in technology!
Where is the spiritual progress? If great things have happened in our world in the spiritual sciences then they are either being kept secret, we’re ignoring them, or we have to conclude that we are largely stagnant in our learning about Christ and his promises.
What a disservice to mankind! The more science we have, the more we need moral-building religion and the ethics it teaches!
The more scientific discovery we make, the more we are forced to look into the face of the depravity of mankind as every deviancy and perversion is put on display and glorified. The more widely we communicate the more widely do arguments over trivial items proliferate. One look at the blogosphere is evidence if the depravity and anger of man!
That is why people who once acclaimed the blogosphere now bemoan its use to discuss the most vile of topics and false teachings about Christ. We now stand at a place where we must make spiritual and moral progress if the very fabric of our society is to stay intact
We must look at the real problems!
Selfishness….lying…greed…slander…lust pretending to be love…materialism…jealousy.
Our society has changed so tremendously but the human problems from the beginning of time remain untouched by society as a whole. We’d rather run out and help the big splashy crisis in the headlines while ignoring the starving, uneducated child down the street. What about the lonely elder sitting in a retirement home with no visitors?
Let’s commit to spiritual discovery. Let’s look at the scientific method used by scientists. Wikipedia defines it as:
Scientists patiently test a hypothesis under varying conditions in a multiplicity of ways. They journal and observe with an open mind, observe, and report the results.
What if men and women from all walks of life determined to test these hypotheses?
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
Matthew 7:7
7“(A)Ask, and (B)it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 6:33
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
5But if any of you (N)lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and (O)it will be given to him.
6But he must (P)ask in faith (Q)without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, (R)driven and tossed by the wind.
Every person on this planet could conduct such experiments!
We would get a journal (I love them!) and document all money that came in and all of the money that we paid in tithe — whether we tithed on net or gross salary. We would then document all of the blessings and providence of God. Hundreds and thousands of Christians testing God in this — he says to “and try me now in this.” What would the results be?
Scientists and explorers over the years have sacrificed their bodies to prove the veracity of their beliefs. There have been some Christians who have done this thing — not many but some. George Mueller who ran an orphanage in London and refused to tell anyone of his needs. It was often meal to meal but he always had food as he journaled God’s providence. Indeed, some modern studies have begun to be done that show a correlation in healing and prayer but this only hits the tip of the iceberg.
Is being a Christian just about the afterlife or also about the present life too?
There are those who have truly sought him throughout the ages. The apostles, Corrie ten Boom, Peter Marshall, George Mueller, Billy Graham and so many more. They were overwhelmed by what they found as they truly sought Him!
Scientists have given up their health, money, and lives in pursuit of scientific discovery that is only for this life. What are we doing to learn more about riches that do not go away and treasures that do not rot?
Will you become a researcher? Will you stand up and open mindedly research the promises of God? Will you report your findings? What a great use for a blog!
Note to the Reader: This is an exhortation for you to think. God is God whether we think He is or not. His Word is infallible. His message is true. You must know that I believe that and understand the fact that I believe that we as modern Christians are falling far short — myself the chief!
Today’s Prayer:
Lord, we are humbled by our focus on the temporal and ignorance of things eternal. I am so sorry when I am focused on my daily needs that I forget about Your divine providence. I want to be a researcher of the unbounded providence of the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to notice, observe and spread the news that you are the best way to live not just the best way to die! I want others to know that you are astounding, matchless, incredible, wonderful, perfect, holy, stunning, and necessary for a good life. You are my king and I exalt you with all I am and have. Though no one read these words, you do. I honor you with all that I am and all that I have. Guide Christians as we learn about this new way of communicating. Guide us and keep us in the center of your will. May we all ask you — What do you want me to today? What are you telling me today. Here I am Lord, send me. I am listening and watching. Guide me this day and lead me in Your way. I love you, my Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
You sure can lay it down. I feel convicted from reading your post. I have always heard praise reports in church about God answering people’s prayers. I have often asked of God for things myself. However, I find that many times I do not thank God for the Blessings that I receive. You are exactly right when you say that faith in Christ is not just good insurance for when we die. God wants to help us in our lives now.
Have you ever heard the story about the man that goes to heaven and is show a room full of boxes? I will give the he short and sweet version. Man goes to heaven. Man meets God. Man sees a room full of boxes. Man finds box with his name on it. Man asks to see what is in the box. God says “OK”. Man opens box. Inside the box are all of the blessings that God had for the man, but the man never prayed for them. Man is depressed and wishes that he had prayed.
The moral of the story being that the man found out that life would have been much easier if he had just listened to the passages in the Bible that you just pointed out stating that if we ask then we shall receive.
I hope that many read your post and take you up on the keep a journal challenge.
God Bless.