Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Monday November 9, 2009

I talked with a friend who over the years has suffered much and while wrestling with the monster of doubt currently affirms that he no longer believes. You won't hear much about this phenomenon in the morning sermon, but it happens more than you may think. Is the man still my friend? Of course.

The battle for the minds of men never ceases as even a glance at history will prove. The arguments from all sides are ignorant, eloquent, scholarly and often pungent and more often pugilistic.

I love the grand philosophical concepts put forth by both sides. Do you know the most powerful argument in favor of Christianity? It's probably not what you think. I asked several people just yesterday and the list I received is interesting and included the veracity of whatever version of scripture preferred, whether or not the literal resurrection of Christ is believed, (which I certainly believe) a to die for position on eschatology, and one "profound" tirade on wine or grape juice. I am NOT kidding. I wish I was, for overall we Christians are losing the battle not only around the world for men's minds, but also around the corner.

A story told by my longtime pastor Dr. Tom Wallace many years ago illustrates a missing link in modern arguments. It seems Bill was the town drunk, (We had our town drunk and a few extra that several area towns borrowed from time to time) and when Bill heard about Jesus he was saved and immediately became sober. One day as he walked past one of his old haunts his buddies began to ridicule him about biblical miracles with focus on Jesus turning water in wine. Bill's ten year old son had enough and with face set and fists clenched screamed out, "I don't know nothin about water and wine, but I know Jesus turned whiskey into food, and beer into furniture and having daddy home instead of in jail"

In our town the story was true many times over. Robert Lewis commenting on the change that’s wrought by the touch of the Master's Hand wrote:

"The way we live should build bridges of proof."

One of the practices in Robert's "bridge of proof" includes the one Jesus put the premium on in John 13:35;

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2009 Use with credit

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