Venerable Benchmarks
Do not remove the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set. Proverbs 22:28
During the 7th century Christianity, from all outward appearances Christianity was flourishing, but there were also things that were disturbing. There were numerous churches and clergy, and there were a lot of people attending church services. They were calling themselves Christians, but the disturbing part of all of this was the Gospel was not being taken seriously.
Some churches had declined from their preeminent beginnings. In the 2nd to 4th centuries the churches in what is now France were successful under leaders such as Irenaeus and Martin of Tours. These Christians in France were known for their self-control, self-discipline, and self-restraint, which served as their witness to Christ. Even St. Patrick expressed a desire to share in their fellowship.
Sometime around the turn of 7th century, spiritual lethargy, moral deterioration, and cultural decline spread throughout the region. Clergy were caught up in politics and materialism. To make matters worse the clergy had abandoned their jobs of making disciples. These pastors had lost sight of the benchmarks that had been established by their predecessors in the faith, and the churches were deteriorating.
This makes one wonder about the current state of Christianity in America. On one hand it seems Christianity is prospering. There any number of things such as churches, seminaries, schools, and colleges that seem to be proliferating and prospering. But on the other hand, the impact of all this “amazing” Christian presence is almost insignificant. All stripes of sinfulness are on the increase. We, who profess to be Christians, are not evangelizing the lost or making disciples. We are satisfied to allow those who do believe they are Christians to be so on their own terms.
Much of the faith that’s being practiced today does not have the ability to bring the goodness and truth of Christ into the issues of the day. Leading up to America’s founding, the faith of Christ was known in every aspect of everyday life. In families, communities, workplaces, the government and laws one was not far from the influence of Scripture. The benchmarks that defined the very foundations of pre-revolutionary colonial society were overshadowed by Scripture.
It’s quite obvious that all of that has changed in today’s world. Although the number of Christians of today number about the same as during the colonial period, the makeup of the faith we assert today has changed dramatically, to say the least. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God has been replaced by the prosperity gospel, and it is this faux gospel that lacks the power set our nation aright for Christ.
Perhaps it is time that we follow the examples of our for
ebears – from Irenaeus to our country’s founding fathers – to spread the true gospel which is the love of Jesus Christ and making it the benchmark of our own lives. We need a revival of God’s people as well as the renewal of our churches.
We need people who will stand up to the sad situation of our faith and work assiduously and unselfishly and address, to those who desperately need to hear it, the power of God’s kingdom.
Will you be counted in that number when the saints go marching out to proclaim Christ’s love and compassion?
During the 7th century Christianity, from all outward appearances Christianity was flourishing, but there were also things that were disturbing. There were numerous churches and clergy, and there were a lot of people attending church services. They were calling themselves Christians, but the disturbing part of all of this was the Gospel was not being taken seriously.
Sometime around the turn of 7th century, spiritual lethargy, moral deterioration, and cultural decline spread throughout the region. Clergy were caught up in politics and materialism. To make matters worse the clergy had abandoned their jobs of making disciples. These pastors had lost sight of the benchmarks that had been established by their predecessors in the faith, and the churches were deteriorating.
This makes one wonder about the current state of Christianity in America. On one hand it seems Christianity is prospering. There any number of things such as churches, seminaries, schools, and colleges that seem to be proliferating and prospering. But on the other hand, the impact of all this “amazing” Christian presence is almost insignificant. All stripes of sinfulness are on the increase. We, who profess to be Christians, are not evangelizing the lost or making disciples. We are satisfied to allow those who do believe they are Christians to be so on their own terms.
Much of the faith that’s being practiced today does not have the ability to bring the goodness and truth of Christ into the issues of the day. Leading up to America’s founding, the faith of Christ was known in every aspect of everyday life. In families, communities, workplaces, the government and laws one was not far from the influence of Scripture. The benchmarks that defined the very foundations of pre-revolutionary colonial society were overshadowed by Scripture.
It’s quite obvious that all of that has changed in today’s world. Although the number of Christians of today number about the same as during the colonial period, the makeup of the faith we assert today has changed dramatically, to say the least. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God has been replaced by the prosperity gospel, and it is this faux gospel that lacks the power set our nation aright for Christ.
Perhaps it is time that we follow the examples of our for
ebears – from Irenaeus to our country’s founding fathers – to spread the true gospel which is the love of Jesus Christ and making it the benchmark of our own lives. We need a revival of God’s people as well as the renewal of our churches.
We need people who will stand up to the sad situation of our faith and work assiduously and unselfishly and address, to those who desperately need to hear it, the power of God’s kingdom.
Will you be counted in that number when the saints go marching out to proclaim Christ’s love and compassion?
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