surrounding

Today was Bible study at work. I just love this time of the week. I get to spend time in God's word with people who love just like I do. People who believe just like I do. People who love God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit just like I do. I am so blessed. We are so blessed.

Right now I'm in my bedroom listening to equip.org, the Bible Answer Man, answer questions from callers about the Bible.

This morning I woke up by the radio and Dr. J Vernon McGee talking about a chapter in Joshua.

At work I listen to praise music on my computer while I work.

I am so blessed. I just shake my head at the wonder of all the blessings. Why was I born in the United States instead of somewhere else? Why am I able to get such a good job - one that  I enjoy? Why did I have two beautiful healthy children and so many perfect grandchildren?

The reason I started to write this entry is because I just read something that answered a concern I've been having. The world is becoming a scary place. One where people are supposed to die instead of be a burden. One where babies are killed because they are inconvenient. One where anything goes and what is wrong is right.

On Facebook I have 'liked' the Gospel Coalition and they posted an article: Southern Baptists, I Have a Feeling We’re Not in Zion Anymore by Trevon Wax http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2012/06/05/southern-baptists-i-have-a-feeling-were-not-in-zion-anymore/?comments#comments

Over against the first option that maintains numbers at the expense of convictions, we ought to take advantage of the opportunity for the light of true Zion to shine forth ever brighter in the darkness of Babylon. Just think! In a day and age where cohabitation is normal, the president affirms same-sex marriage, and the pressure is on to celebrate all kinds of sexual expression, Christians can seem extraordinary by simply living what was once ordinary Christian morality. By cherishing once-common things, such as marriage between a man and woman for life, and core Christian doctrines, such as the exclusivity of Christ for salvation, Christians have the opportunity for our ordinary obedience to shine even brighter in a pluralistic world that bows to Aphrodite.

Over against the second option that turns inward and insular, we have the opportunity to lay aside our differences, unite around our common confession, and lock arms for the cause of Christ and His kingdom. When we look inward, we see all the things that divide us. When we look outward to an increasingly hostile culture, we see all the things that unite us – our belief in the gospel, our Baptist distinctives, and our submission to the authority of God’s inerrant Word.

Time is short. The Evil One’s specialty is to sow seeds of division, spread discord, and create enmity between brothers. The only way to push back is to display open friendship and trust, to unite on the gospel and its power to save. When we do engage in debates about theology and strategy (and doubtless, we should), we will keep them in perspective as we seek to be ever faithful to our higher calling of fulfilling the Great Commission.

This is no time for us to be like Elijah, cowering in the corner convinced we are alone and need to retreat. Our God is the God of Mount Carmel. He will not be forever upstaged by idols.

We need to be just like the first Christians. People will know us as Christians by the way we live, by the way we talk, by the way we love and by the way we work. :)