“True believers are always represented as mixing in the world, doing their duty in it, and glorifying God by patience, meekness, purity, and courage in their several positions, and not by cowardly desertion of them. Moreover, it is foolish to suppose that we can keep the world and the devil out of our hearts by going into holes and corners. True Christianity and unworldliness are best seen, not in timidly forsaking the post which God has allotted to us, but in boldly standing our ground, and showing the power of grace to overcome evil.”
J.C. Ryle, Practical Religion, page 293.
With all that is going on in the world, and more importantly the “Christian” world, this message needs to be LIVED more than ever. I recently watched Jennifer Knapp discussing her Lesbianism on Larry King. If only there had been another guest who bravely lived and could discuss from experience what Ryle is talking about it here it might have been a different dialogue completely.
I wholeheartedly agree. I will admit that the last few weeks have been a battle. I saw the Jennifer Knapp video too — although, I didn’t watch the whole thing. I was disappointed to say the least but I encouraged myself in the Lord. How the enemy of our souls would have us believe that the church is impotent and powerless! Nothing could be farther from the truth. The bride of Christ will not go out in a whimper but in a blaze of glory! The power of the Gospel cannot be contained or blotted out!
So onward and upward it is for us!
“Practical Religion.” Sounds like a book I’d like to read! Having recently moved from an extremely closed Christian community, I am learning the importance of living in the world in the power of Christ. That quote sums it up well. Matches with one of my favorites from Oswald Chambers, “If we cannot live in the demon-possessed valley, with the hold of God on us, lifting up those who are down, by the power of the thing that is in us, our Christianity is only an abstraction.”
Thank you so much for the great thoughts. I am enjoying reading back over your posts. 🙂
Hi Sarah!
First of all, thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. It is an absolute pleasure to meet you!
Secondly, thank you so much for sharing that Oswald Chambers quote. It certainly captures the nature of the challenge. I’m thinking of all the examples that God has left for us in the Bible. Believers who understood that we are in the world but not of it. Daniel and Joseph come to mind. And, no matter how alone we feel, we can be assured that there are others who are with us. (1 Kings 19:18).
Have a beautiful and blessed day!