Labels:text | newspaper | font | printing | black and white | publication | screenshot OCR: The BE STILL .... AMERICAN Church From newborn's cry to life's last sigh Back in 1980, it was efforts. Many feel that the whole world has to be just The fleeting moments pass him by; estimated that, in the like us .... and this includes what many perceive to be And he is apt to worry -- United States alone, there America's "spiritual colonies". were over 1,200 differing He's always in a hurry -- Most of this attitude encroaches upon our religiousbodies, all claiming thinking rather subtly. We comeniently forget that the And can't recall the Secret that One whispered in his ear, PSALMS to be led by Christ. As "Law" originally went forth out of Jerusalem, and that When first he saw the light of day, and felt the chill of fear: 46:10 saddened as I am by this the Kingdom is a "mountain" into which all nations "Be Still .... and know that I am God". state of division, I am none- flow. (Isaiah 2:1-3)(Acts 1:8) We forget that a eunuch the-less grateful to the Lord brought the gospel to Ethiopialong before we ever did. that He has blessed us here (Acts 8) We tend to patronize teachers from foreign He runs the race with quickened pace, in the U.S. with a assemblies, as if they could not possibly have anything Accelerates through time and space; Constitution that protects to offer us here in the "Christian Heartland". We can't our civil rights to worship imagine Russia or China having their own"Bible-belt", A blur across the screen -- pretty much as we please. now can we? In essence, we have forgotten that it is In every single scene -- November seems to be the Jesus who is the real world leader! by William J. Reed politically correct time of We tend to cast the church of Christ in much Not knowing all the answers or the questions he would ask; year to be extra thankful for too secular a light. We have made it: too small; too Engulfed in all this rushing-on -- in all, but just one task: such things. In this country, we really do have a very capsulated; too earthy, too much a garnish sitting next "Be Still .... and know that I am God". rich religious heritage; one that still succeeds in to the turkey and cranberry sauce. We have, perhaps, supporting many of the godly ideals that most devout unconsciouslytried to make the "cause" of Christ serve people do agree upon. There is still a great deal to be our national "interests", instead of our "interests" the He muscles through his daily grind, 14:34) said for any nation that generally seeks God (Proverbs "cause". So haunted by what's left behind: The Ruler of God's "holy nation" (1 Peter Having said that, I feel constrained to point- 2:9) really does discriminate upon the basis of religion. The pinch of failure's foment -- out som e contradictions in this traditional approach At America doesn't, but God does, And ... hold on to your His cringe in crucial moment. the risk of sounding un-American, the Lord's churchis uppers .... His Kingdom is a monarchy, not a He ben ds his back in hopelessness, and drowns his hands in simply not one of our "national treasures". While it is democracy! In this, the authority of a congregation's true that any given country might become a precious elders (Acts 14:23) does not proceed from the tears. "jewel" to God, we need to appreciate the fact that the individual or the majority, but from God (Acts While scratching up for every inch, he laughs at what he hears: church of Jesus Christ is not "owned and operated" by 20:17,28) Our way is to worship at the church of our "Be Still .... and know that I am God". any particular nation Simply put: The church is not choice, but Jesus' wayis to worship in a church of his American Never has been. Never will be. In this, there choice! (Matthew 16:18)(Galatians 1:6-9) In the is always a temptation to superimpose the ideals of Judgment, one will not have the right to be wrong Then, as the flame of life burns low, "Old Glory" upon the Glory of God about religion. (Matthew 7:21-24) Yes, America still He yields to where he has to go; During the past two centuries, not only have stamps its coins with "In God We Trust". Christians, we seen the U.S. become a major player in world however, stamp this upon their very hearts and soul s! As Sheol opens wide -- affairs, but we've also been witness to America's I'm thankful to live in a country where I can And swallows-up his pride -- growth in becoming a major "launching pad" for freely write stuff like this. However, I'm even more evangelism into foreign countries. This kind of success thankful to serve a Lord who freely gives me stuff like A Mighty One repeats the thing He's said so oft before; can often breed arrogance, instead of humility. The this to write. Thanksgiving Day can be every day for a And weeps, because one listened not, till He had shut the door .... political philosophies of The Marshall Plan have had a Christian. Our national holiday this month is just "Be Still .... and know that I am God". growing effect on our perspective towards people who American"gravy" for a perpetual Christian"entree". have come to Christ through various "homegrown"
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