Thursday, June 03, 2010

Passionate About Nothing

The following is a quote from the book "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. My daughter was reading this book for her book club. She gave me a copy of my own after she saw me reading hers. 

On page 111, Donald Miller says:
“A friend of mine, a young pastor who recently started a church, talks to me from time to time about the new face of church in America—about the postmodern church. He says the new church will be different from the old one, that we will be relevant to culture and the human struggle. I don’t think any church has ever been relevant to culture, to the human struggle, unless it believed in Jesus and the power of His gospel. If the supposed new church believes in trendy music and cool Web pages, then it is not relevant to culture either. It is just another tool of Satan to get people to be passionate about nothing.”

I Peter 1:13-19 says (ESV): 13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Hebrews 2:3-10 (ESV): 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

5 Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, "What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.“ Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his controlAt present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.  9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Enough said.

1 comment:

Steve Thorson said...

It seems to me, Jerry and Judi, that there are lots of people who are both post modern and passionate. Passionate about believing that intolerance is the worst evil, and loyal to institutions that promote are likewise committed to combating intolerance. I believe some form of tolerance, or forbearance, is essential. We must love and that love must permeate everything we think, do and say. And that love demands that we not force everyone to agree. So there is that kind of tolerance. But the tolerance some are passionate about says that there is no absolute truth, and any conversation that makes someone feel uncomfortable or perhaps even "wrong" is out of bounds. It's gospel without law, and that's not God's way.