Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday March 20, 2007

The Daily Letter usually evokes response to some remark, sarcastic or otherwise. Yesterday's was no exception. The remark by long time pastor, Steve Goens, is a case in point. Steve's remark to me was not sarcastic, but the statements tell worlds about the mind set of modern Christianity/Fundamentalism and may point an insightful finger toward the real problem as to why we are failing to impact our culture. It smells of a longing to reach the world of the heathen within the sound of chapel bell, and a well established chapel bell at that. Notice Dr. Goen's comment:

"I remember talking to a spiritual giant years ago who preached, and asked us to pray that God would lead him to an area, to start a church, but wanted to be sure that there was a Christian School nearby so his children would not have to attend the wicked public schools and would also provide a place for his lovely wife to work. I mentioned that if they had a Christian school in the area they might also have a good church already in place and therefore would not need him to start another. He looked at me and asked me, "Then are you suggesting that I go somewhere and start a church where there are no Christian Schools and sacrifice my children?" I don't think he understood the point I was making."

I am continuing to be known as a 'hard nosed' pastor who asks questions of those who wish to present their work to our people in hope of $$$. I assure you that a man wanting to start a new church and plans to help support the effort with his wife teaching in a Christian School to help pay the tuition is wasting his time and I will not knowingly permit the perpetration of such travesty to occur within the group whom the Lord charges me with the watch care.

Why is this? Years ago I heard a what was then called a "Modernist" preacher state that what we 'Fundies' called evangelism was in reality simply swapping fish from each other's fish tank. Oh were we upset by such a blasphemous slur. Tragically he was too close to absolute truth. Most of us would rather drink coffee with a disaffected Lutheran deacon than to win a drunk to Christ!!

To say that overall we as a group have lost the fervor for true pioneer work is understatement.

Please do not get the idea that this is just a rant. I have put my finger on a very sore spot and I know it. Yet, often painful things should be said, in order to encourage a true pioneer spirit rather than the weak sister idea of building on the foundation of others. I am pretty sure Paul mentioned this very thing.

I really do pray for the Lord to give a large portion of the faith of and grit of C.T. Studd to our current generation of 'Giants.' C.T. wrote:

"Some want to live within the sound of chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of Hell."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit.

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