I was thinking about an argument I heard Richard Dawkins make once. He basically indicated that the person he was talking to was a Christian, in large part, because they were born in America.
The more I think about this, more more insulting it is.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote his best known book Nachfolge “Discipleship” to try and explain what it means to really follow Jesus.
He was struggling with how his fellow “Christians” in Germany could support the government under the madman Adolf Hitler. He eventually came to the position that he must oppose the Nazi’s as a part of the resistance, for which he was ultimately executed.
In his book, the English title is usually “The Cost of Discipleship,” he makes the monumental statement:
Only the believing obey, only the obedient believe
On this day 70 years ago Ernest Melvin Morrison (“Mel” to his family, “Ernie” to his mom) jumped out of a plane and parachuted into France, it was D-Day.
I am proud to know my family was a part of this momentous fight.
We’ve all heard someone say… “I love Jesus, I just don’t love the Church”
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13
This is, of course, impossible. If you don’t love the church, you don’t love Jesus, you’re not one of his disciples.
Do you attend church for yourself alone?
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
John 12
Philip and Andrew made the introduction, they made the connection between some “outsiders” and Jesus. We need to be doing this too. Are you constantly looking for someone to bring to church, to hear about Jesus, to join your faith family in bringing glory to God? We need to be, all the time, everywhere… hand out cards, tell people what you like about your church, implore them to come, don’t give up, don’t quit… bring bring bring!
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