“I can speak of what God has given me; that I know.”
– Pieter Witese, Martyrs Mirror, p. 548-549
Let me introduce you to my deity.
Some people talk about God from personal experience. Others speak theoretically about God, as if they never expect to know for sure. The silliness of that approach becomes more obvious when you substitute your own name, or the name of your best friend, in place of God’s in these discussions. Do you “have faith” that your best friend is a Korean-American lawyer, or is your best friend really a Chinese-American lawyer? Philosophical beliefs about “your reality” won’t change the country his ancestors came from. Continue reading “Let me introduce you to my deity.”
Real Christians don’t dance.
“So is this it? This is what it comes down to: real Christians don’t dance? Moses parted the water for this? Rahab tucked the spies away in her closet for this? Jael drove a tent peg into the head of Sisera for this? Jesus died and rose again, martyrs were sawn in two, and the Church has prevailed for almost two thousand years against the gates of hell so that Christians today can live out this ever important testimony to a waiting, watching world: real Christians don’t dance? ” (more…)
— John Fischer, Real Christians Don’t Dance
The midwife of mercy
“Prayer is the midwife of mercy, that helps to bring it forth.”
– Matthew Henry
Regard not the joy and pleasure of this world.
“Take heed to yourself, that you abound with this precious Spirit ; for of that with which one is filled He will bring forth. Regard not the joy and pleasure of this world…”
– Joris Wippe, Martyrs Mirror, p. 584-588
They are already too wise in themselves.
“They are already too wise in themselves, already helped, who so openly forsake Christ, in avarice which they style only industry, in pride which with them is only neatness, in adultery which they term only friendship.”
– Valerius Schoolmaster, Martyrs Mirror, p. 726-731
Practical Atheism 101
Most people, despite their religious beliefs, are practical atheists. They can make plans without him, meet their needs without him, live the essence of their lives without him. Their prayers give them away. They cheerfully talk to God as if they didn’t really need anything. They may pray for God to heal a sick friend, but in their hearts, prayer is secondary to medicine and not really important at all. When sickness strikes home and medicine doesn’t stop it, their actions may begin to line up with their doctrines. Then their prayers might become prayers of desperation, the kind God can answer. At last they mean what they pray.
Here I forsake all.
“Here I forsake wife and children, house and home, body and life, for the faith and the divine truth.”
– George Raeck, Martyrs Mirror, p. 646
All ye in come free
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.”
Continue reading “All ye in come free”
O my beloved wife, I commend you…
“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