Spread the Fire - March 2008 - (Page 21)

than anything, people need human companionship. As relationships of trust develop, they may open up to spiritual help; however, if they are never open to spiritual help, love them anyway. UNDERSTAND ThE 5.BETWEEN mORALITYRELATIONShIp AND TRUTh Our culture is rapidly moving away from the notion of any absolute truth. People see truth and morality as subject to the changing whims of those in positions of authority and influence. Westerners have usually been taught to value tolerance more highly than truth. j “TOO mANY ChRISTIANS CONFUSE ThE CAUSE OF ChRIST WITh ThE WAY OF ChRIST.” If Christians are convinced that God has revealed Himself and His way in His Word, we must place limits on this new tolerance in the interest of truth. Truth is not meant to be applauded but to be nailed to crosses. And we had better know what that truth really is not only by knowing the scriptures but also knowing the character and person of God, the word and the spirit of the Bible. The church must understand the big issues competing for the minds and hearts of people. DEvOTE mORE OF 6.ChANGING pEOpLE YOURSELF TO RAThER ThAN ChANGING pOLITICS. When it comes to moral issues, many believers find it difficult to distinguish their responsibility as believers from their responsibility as citizens. Too many Christians confuse the cause of Christ with the way of Christ. In practical terms, Christians should be wary of publicpolicy debates that are issue-oriented rather than people-oriented. I have often observed that those who get caught up in the political aspects of a moral debate wind up adopting a “we-they” attitude at the expense of losing humility, tenderness and integrity. This creates a wall between the church and those we want to reach and causes them to react to our politics first rather than to Jesus Christ. While I do not oppose working through the political process to under gird morality, realize that politics has only a limited, temporal effect. The gospel is not ultimately about changing laws, but about changing lives. His Kingdom is not of this world. Jesus said, “If (it) were, my servants would fight.” (John 18:36 KJV) Recently, I heard a powerful testimony from an elderly woman who had joined her husband, a psychiatrist, in a lifetime of service to his clients by opening their home to them. “The kitchen must be the center of love,” she said, “for Jesus is known in the breaking of the bread.” Those are convicting words for those of us who perceive open homes, unhurried conversation, and table fellowship as nostalgic elements of another generation of Christians. What good is it to march off to fight in the culture war, but on the way, pass by the poor man, Lazarus, at our gate? S TF - 2 1

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Spread the Fire - March 2008

Spread the Fire - March 2008 Contents In the River Save Sex? Simon’s Story The Key To Overcoming Lust It’s Time for the Double Blessing International Itinerary Resource Center Catalogue Upcoming Events Visitor Information

Spread the Fire - March 2008

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