Tantalizing If True

Religious people are accused of harping on fire, brimstone and damnation. They don’t usually. It’s rare to hear about such subjects in most religious gatherings. After all, talking about hell makes church people uncomfortable too, unless you’re talking about people going there whom they don’t know. They may believe in hell, theoretically, but it’s extremely rare to find anybody willing to apply such warnings to themselves. Everybody listening thinks they are already “in.”
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“O my beloved wife, I commend you, and all them that fear God, to the Lord and the Word of His grace.”

- Jan van Hasebroeck, Martyrs Mirror, p. 770-774

As Alexandr Solzhenitsyn said, our goal is not to move society to the left or the right, but to move upwards. The state should reward good and punish evil, allowing us to live quiet and peaceful lives. Many people expect more than that from the state, perhaps because they expect less from God. God wants to supply all our needs, not man, individual or corporate. What is the difference between praying to an idol for food and praying to the government for food, except that the idol ignores your worship and the state might be eager to receive it? Neither one is your God. God’s people may not care for you, but God does.

“Seek for the only joy.”

- Soetgen van den Houte, Martyrs Mirror, p. 646-651

Some of the most refreshing people to spend time with are converted murderers and recovered terminal patients. Someone who used to kill people has no illusions about what a nice guy he is, or what he would be like without God. Someone who was given six months to live has no illusions that he will live forever, or where his life comes from. Neither kind of person wastes as much time on themselves as the rest of us who haven’t yet come to the end of ourselves.

“O Lord, thou art forever in my thoughts.”

- Joost Joosten, Martyrs Mirror, p. 651

In 1948, it was impossible to gather a valid sample of American male sexual practices (“Hello, I’d like to ask you a few questions about your lover”). It would be difficult today. And in 1948, just as now, it was difficult to gather ethical data about the sexual responses of baby boys. Weapon of Mass Distraction provides more information about exactly what Alfred Kinsey did instead. (more…)

Agnostics and others tell me that I need to be more open-minded about religion. Okay. Will this prayer help?

“O God, I praise you. Show me if you’re not there. Make your nonexistence real to me. Thank you, God. I love you.”

“These limbs God from heaven gave; therefore, I will willingly surrender them for his law’s sake.”

- Lauwerens van de Walle, Martyrs Mirror, p. 652-654

“A man who is intimate with God will never be intimidated by men.”

– Leonard Ravenhill