August 12, 2018

HYMN OF THE DAY

Hark! How the Gospel trumpet sounds!
Christ and free grace therein abounds;
Free grace to such as sinners be,
And if free grace why not for me?

The Saviour died and by His blood
Brought rebel sinners near to God;
He died to set the captives free,
And why, my soul, why not for thee?

Thus Jesus came the poor to bless,
To clothe them with His righteousness;
That robe is spotless, full and free,
And why, my soul, why not for thee?

Eternal life by Christ is giv'n,
And sinful men are raised to heav'n;
Then sing of grace so rich and free,
And say, my soul, why not for thee?

Tune: When I Survey, #115

FEEDING SHEEP, OR AMUSING GOATS?

An evil is in the 'professed' camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most shortsighted Christian can hardly fail to notice it. During the past few years this evil has developed at an alarming rate. It has worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments!

The devil has seldom done a more clever thing, than hinting to the Church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them. From speaking out the gospel, the Church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses!

First, providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the Church. Where do entertainers come in? The Holy Spirit is silent concerning them. Were the prophets persecuted because they amused the people, or because they confronted them? The 'concert' has no martyr roll.

Second, providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life of Christ and all His apostles.

When "many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him," I do not hear Him say, 'Run after these people, Peter, and tell them we will have a different style of service tomorrow; something short and attractive with little preaching. We will have a pleasant evening for the people. Tell them they will be sure to enjoy it! Be quick, Peter, we must get the people somehow!'

No! Jesus pitied sinners, sighed and wept over them, but never sought to amuse them!

Lastly, the Apostles did not cease from preaching Christ. They had no time for arranging entertainments. Scattered by persecution they went everywhere preaching the gospel. They turned the world upside down; that is the only difference from today's church. The need of the hour for today's ministry is earnest spirituality joined with Biblical doctrine, so understood and felt, that it sets men on fire.

Lord, clear the Church of all the rot and rubbish the devil has imposed on her, and bring us back to apostolic methods! - Archibald Brown (1889)

I read this story, and I thought how we will sell our interest in Christ for much less.

A number of young men were sitting together in a country store one evening, telling what they did not believe, and what they were not afraid to do. Finally, the leader in the group remarked that, so far as he was concerned, he would be willing at any time to sign away all his interest in Christ for a five-dollar bill. "What did I understand you to say?" asked an old farmer, who happened to be in the store, and who had overheard the remark. "I said that for five dollars I would sign away all my interest in Christ, and so I will." The old farmer, who had learned to know the human heart pretty well, drew out his leather wallet, took there from a five-dollar bill, and put it in the storekeeper's hand. Then calling for ink and paper, he said: "My young friend, if you will just step to the desk now, and write as I direct, the money is yours:" The young man took the pen, and began: "In the presence of these witnesses, I, A____ B____, for the sum of five dollars received, do now, once for all, and for ever, sign away all my interest–" Then he dropped the pen, and with a forced smile, said: "I take it back, I was only fooling." That young man did not dare to sign that paper. Why? He had an accusing conscience. – Milton Howard

BY GRACE ALONE

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).