Partly Right
Theme of the week: The Truth About the Good News
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: "So I have made you despised and humiliated in the eyes of all the people. For you have not obeyed me but have shown favoritism in the way you carry out my instructions." (Malachi 2:9) Dig Deeper: Malachi 2:4-9
The anti-theist storyline is quite a revision of history. However, it would serve God's reputation and our credibility well to make the same confession once voiced by Tony Campolo: "We have met the enemy and they are partly right." Jesus once said that only the truth can set us fully free to be his people (John 8:32). The painful truth is that atheism has a foothold today in part because there have been many times in history when people of Christian faith (or marching beneath some other religion's flag) have sinned boldly against God and people. Whether by ignorance, pride, greed, or some other deadly sin, they have repeated the very atrocities by which ostensibly religious people crucified Jesus because he threatened their institutional power or personal throne.
Over the centuries, Christians have at times been racially, sexually, politically, and socially bigoted in ways contrary to the full counsel of Scripture. We have sometimes looked to our own interests more than to the character of Christ or the needs of the world God so loves.
At the same time, if we allow the anti-theist's rewriting of history to stand unchallenged, we will sacrifice truth, imperil the future, and cripple our ability to present the evangelistic witness still so needed in our day.
—Daniel Meyer in Witness Essentials
My Response: Which corporate sin do I believe most hurts the Church's witness?
Thought to Apply: The world observes the behavior and life of the church. When the church acts no differently than the world, it loses its credibility and authenticity.—J. Hampton Keathley III (pastor)
Adapted from Witness Essentials (IVP, 2012) by permission. All rights reserved by the copyright holder and/or the publisher. May not be reproduced.
Copyright © 2012 by Christianity Today/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
 share this page
Lord, help me to see the truth as you see it, so that I can have courage to share my faith.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for Canadian Orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
RSS Feed
