I drive while my 25yo daughter has music on, but really spends the time chatting with me. While we have never had family devotion and rarely attend church together, we talk about theology and God multiple times daily. So, without any attempt to swerve into it, God comes up all the time with all my kids and wife. We also frequently discuss politics.
Everybody in my nuclear family is HIGHLY opinionated, and thanks to the Blessed Trinity, fundamentalist Christians to the core. It has been a marvelous Gift of God that while never structuring "religion" into my family, everyone of my kids and wife just bubble over with excitement and SERIOUSLY thought out opinions on Scripture, Godly living and so on. Why God has chosen to bless someone like me who as head of household put so little effort, time or care into the Church or even God's service with such strong a strong vibrant Christian nuclear family is amazing to me. Unfortunately, my or my wifes extended family is probably not saved, despite my trying, with perhaps one exception.
When I drive alone, I search for McArthur, or Sproul or other theology types. Failing that I go to a conservative political talk radio. I really need to get on one of those CD lending libraries. Very little contemporary Christian music attracts me, and much positively repels me. Often it is in fact the very message, and not the music, that angers me. Where are the songs ablut God's JUSTICE, about REPENTANCE? "Come just as you are?" Are you kidding me???? Unconditional forgiveness is NOWHERE taught in Scripture, it is the modern invention of Laodicea. The Gospel is REPENT, THEN be Saved. Sure, the Holy Spirit makes you repent, but still REPENTANCE, and a contrite broken heart comes BEFORE salvation. And what is expected BEFORE you forgive your brother 70X7 times?
"IF my brother ASKS for FORGIVENESS..."
So where in the Scriptures are we taught that we MUST forgive the unrepentant????
The ignorant, yes "Forgive them Father, for they KNOW NOT waht they do." Those soldiers were following orders. Not to take vengeance, of course not "Vengeance is MINE, sayeth the Lord." That someone may, from the desire of his heart CHOOSE to forgive, sure as Stephen said while being stoned in Acts "Father, hold not this sin against them."
But modern Christian songs seem full of the "unconditional surrender" message which is simply NOT Scriptural! Yes God is Love. But He is also JUSTICE, a Jealous Gad and an All Consuming Fire. Everybody likes to pick a Psalmd here or there to set to music. But what about the imprecatory Psalms where David prays the skulls of his enemie's children be dashed on stones? Have THOSE psalms and prayers for the DESTRUCTION of God's enemies suddenly dropped out of the Canon?
Most modern Christianity preaches half a Gospel, and the songs reflect that. Most preaching and songs on Christian have become repellent to me. They look like salt, and taste like chalk. Most Christian preachers have become ashamed of half the Gospel. My current denomination, the PCA, is begining a slide towards the same garbage. It nauseates me. I am in good company, it nauseates our Lord such that He will vomit it our.
JR
