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The Bible Says
I was drug to church on Sunday morning, Those drugs are still in my veins today; they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin, and if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, America would certainly be a better place.
-- Author unknown. Please join me in saying goodbye … Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend by the name of Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valued lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, and that life isn’t always fair. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in charge). His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Report of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Finally, Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, spilled it in her lap, and was awarded a lot of money. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by two stepbrothers: My rights and Ima Whiner. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. -- Author Unknown “I’ve already done my good deed for today,” said the Boy Scout to his father at breakfast! “What?” exclaimed the father, “before breakfast?” “Yes,” Said the youngster. “When I saw that Johnny’s father was late for the 7:30 train, I turned the dog loose. He made it.”
- Author Unknown Are you still eating even though Mom once burned the biscuits? They didn’t look good or taste good, and had lost most of their food value. “Well,” you say, “I need to eat and besides, Mom didn’t mean to burn the biscuits.” Have you quit going to the doctor because you once read about a ‘doctor” practicing without a license? “Of course not,” you reply. “Some quack isn’t going to keep me from going to a good doctor.” Have you thrown away all your money because someone passed you a counterfeit dollar? The answer is obvious. So now let us apply the same common sense to the spiritual dimension of your life.
It is quite possible that someone may have offended you as he tried to explain being “born again” or “being saved.” Perhaps his way of doing it left a bad taste in your mouth. You may have been wronged, but you can’t just say, “I don’t want anything more to do with becoming a Christian.” You have spiritual needs that are as real as the body’s need for food; and the fact remains -- you still need the forgiveness of sins. Every occupation has people who will use illegal or harmful practices for their own advantage. Isn’t it logical that some of these same people will try to operate under the guise of Christianity? The very fact that Christians usually do not act in a deceitful way makes it that much easier for spiritual quacks to fool people. To classify all Christians as quacks would be big mistake.
As long as there is the real thing there will always be the imitation. You will never see a counterfeit three dollar bill because there isn’t a real three-dollar bill. Since there is reality to Christian faith, there will always be hypocrites or counterfeit Christians.
A friend once said to a nurseryman,”I’d like for you to beautify my yard, but use only those plants that require no care.” “Ma’am,” He answered, “Buy plastic flowers.” As with plants, so with people. There must be cutting and cultivating. The Apostle Peter describes that cutting like this. “Rid yourselves of all malice, and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander.” What of cultivating? Peter continues, “Crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” –- Sowing & Reaping (The Bible Friend, Dec. 1980) p.5 |