"BACK TO THE BIBLE"
by Charles Hodge

Patience, compassion, acceptance are wonderful -- up to a point. People can sin/err in two ways...

(1) They can have a sweet attitude yet do the wrong thing. Uzzah testifies with this. David was bringing the ark back without consulting scripture. He opted for the Philistines' practice of a new cart! Matthew 7:1-23 is frightening "...many think they are super-righteous." Jesus said He "never knew them." There is more than a "nice attitude" in faithfulness.

(2) Others do right things but for the wrong reasons. Too many think worship is "going through the motions." Jesus damned the Pharisees for such. Worship is "spirit and truth." Faithfulness demands BOTH the heart and hand.

Cecil May observed, "They will not long do the right thing with wrong reasons." POW! Brethren come Sunday AM but not PM. They refuse to attend gospel meetings. The question is not, "Why will they not come Sunday PM?" but, "Why did they come Sunday AM?" People do not attend PM because their hearts were not right Sunday AM!

We have no commitment level! We assemble only when it is convenient, exciting and entertaining. God only receives our "crumbs." You cannot build a church on "oncers." Jesus bids us die. He demands our love, life, all. Tragically, we have taught ourselves, our children, "choice"...not obedience. Our "choice" is simply, "obedience." King Saul was the original "Pro-choice." He decided based upon choice -- not obedience. He failed so miserably.

We need to go back to the Bible simply yet profoundly. Culture is determining us far more than scripture. Our church buildings must not become our tombs.

 

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