In one way I am glad I am the age I am (75). Although I bemoan the loss of physical faculty due to the age thing, I am grateful that I came into the kingdom of God at a time when preaching was about God, Jesus, His Word and the kingdom of God.
Most of the time we heard what the Bible says, not what man decided what he wanted it to say. The nearest we got to the razzle-dazzle of today was the monthly area youth rally where we had vigorous singing because the congregation was all young people, a musical item from the Sholing Male Voice Quartet, one member of whom was single and all the girls swooned over him because he was blonde and decidedly handsome.
No, we went to Sunday meetings because we wanted to because we were committed to it. In actual fact, I went to five meetings on Sunday. 10 am Boy Brigade Bible Class. 11 am Morning meeting. 2.30 pm Sunday School. 6.30 pm Evening meeting. 8 pm Youth fellowship. as we were given input in all sorts of ways
During the week on Mondays, I was involved in leadership at Junor Boys Brigade. Tuesday was Christian Endeavour. Wednesdays were Prayer and Bible Study. Thursday was a night off. Fridays were senior Boys Brigade and Saturday was Youth fellowship.
I enjoyed every minute of it as it was establishing me in my Christian walk and building a body of learning which gave me a love for the word of God. There was something worth going for as we were given input from men who were older and more experienced than us.
Today, sad to say, it seems that youth are the ones deemed to have all the knowledge and wisdom and those who do have the knowledge and wisdom are considered out of touch or past their use by date. I find that young people and in many cases, immature people are giving the orders to their elders.
As a result, I believe, the church in many cases is very shallow. The fact is you cannot advise or teach what you have not experienced yourself. We don't hear about holiness anymore because young people have never experienced it.
We don't hear about prostrating yourself before God in repentance because young people have never gone that deep in their walk with God.
We don't hear about all night prayer meetings because we don't need to pray all night because young people have got the programme all sorted.
If in the old days, the older leadership gave a call to prayer we were there because they felt the need for it so we should as well.
Of course, I understand that the church has to move on to keep up with the culture of the day and Paul said that we were to be all things to all men, but I am not convinced that what we dish up today for Christianity is quite what Paul had in mind.
If we lose our identity, we are about as much use as an umbrella in gale force winds and our identity is not in keeping up with culture. It is in being what Jesus wants us to be and what is that you might ask.
Simple. To be a replica of him. Keeping up with culture won't make that happen. Submitting to what he says and to his word will.
Most of the time we heard what the Bible says, not what man decided what he wanted it to say. The nearest we got to the razzle-dazzle of today was the monthly area youth rally where we had vigorous singing because the congregation was all young people, a musical item from the Sholing Male Voice Quartet, one member of whom was single and all the girls swooned over him because he was blonde and decidedly handsome.
No, we went to Sunday meetings because we wanted to because we were committed to it. In actual fact, I went to five meetings on Sunday. 10 am Boy Brigade Bible Class. 11 am Morning meeting. 2.30 pm Sunday School. 6.30 pm Evening meeting. 8 pm Youth fellowship. as we were given input in all sorts of ways
During the week on Mondays, I was involved in leadership at Junor Boys Brigade. Tuesday was Christian Endeavour. Wednesdays were Prayer and Bible Study. Thursday was a night off. Fridays were senior Boys Brigade and Saturday was Youth fellowship.
I enjoyed every minute of it as it was establishing me in my Christian walk and building a body of learning which gave me a love for the word of God. There was something worth going for as we were given input from men who were older and more experienced than us.
Today, sad to say, it seems that youth are the ones deemed to have all the knowledge and wisdom and those who do have the knowledge and wisdom are considered out of touch or past their use by date. I find that young people and in many cases, immature people are giving the orders to their elders.
As a result, I believe, the church in many cases is very shallow. The fact is you cannot advise or teach what you have not experienced yourself. We don't hear about holiness anymore because young people have never experienced it.
We don't hear about prostrating yourself before God in repentance because young people have never gone that deep in their walk with God.
We don't hear about all night prayer meetings because we don't need to pray all night because young people have got the programme all sorted.
If in the old days, the older leadership gave a call to prayer we were there because they felt the need for it so we should as well.
Of course, I understand that the church has to move on to keep up with the culture of the day and Paul said that we were to be all things to all men, but I am not convinced that what we dish up today for Christianity is quite what Paul had in mind.
If we lose our identity, we are about as much use as an umbrella in gale force winds and our identity is not in keeping up with culture. It is in being what Jesus wants us to be and what is that you might ask.
Simple. To be a replica of him. Keeping up with culture won't make that happen. Submitting to what he says and to his word will.