Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday April 4, 2008

I have been toying with a few lines from a poem and getting comments, most of which I found intriguing in that the comments were from men who fancy themselves to be "somebodies."

Later in the article I will give the author's name and credentials, but for now the lines:

"Wherever God erects a house of prayer,
The Devil always builds a chapel there:
And 'twill be found, upon examination,
The latter has the larger congregation."

Lines from "The True Born Englishman."

Some of the comments:

"Sounds like sour grapes from the pastor of a small church." This from a pastor of 68 people who is really setting the woods on fire.

"Must be an overall failure at spiritual things."

"All pastors of small churches are jealous of those of us who pastor large ones."

I could go on, but to no purpose.

The author of the poetic lines was one of the most famous Christians of his or any other time, he had an understanding of things spiritual far surpassing his critics then or now and his books still sell enough each year that most author's could live well off the royalties. During his life he was a champion of Baptists who were then called "Dissenters" and was put in the pillory and the Newgate prison.

Many have read his most famous book and thought, "What a tale for a young man to read." Others with more insight understood that his adventure tale, based on the true story of Alexander Selkirk is the journey of a shipwrecked man who discovers himself, civilization and God.

I make the above remark about the author of Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Dafoe, to point out again, that as long as person believes the lies about his false self, he/she will never discover his/her true self. While stranded on the desert island, Crusoe is faced with making do with none of the trappings of nice society, to accept the help of the heathen Friday, whom is eventually converted, yet clothed in a mere loincloth Crusoe recognizes the truth of one of my pet subjects, "The highest life is lived above the mad rush to get and hold mere trinkets." A true hunger brings out the search for and acceptance of the sufficiency of Christ working in the inner man in touch with the creator.

Larry Lilly Copyright (C) 2008 Use with credit

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