“How shall we then live?”
The role of the church as a vehicle for a balanced life

We feel that all human beings, whether leaders or members of a congregation, are “earthen vessels” [pots made of dirt], full of the many human tendencies which may be hurtful to ourselves and others. The records of the early church clearly demonstrate that even those closest to Jesus and to the leaders that he left to help build his church were similarly imperfect.

Therefore, it is important that we “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling,” realizing that we are imperfect pots who often need to be broken and reformed to become what God wants us to become.

As Brother Lawrence said in “The Practice of the Presence of God,” when he had failed in some way, “I’m sorry, but I can do no better unless you help me.”

Therefore, as we try to follow his commands, we do so with humility, realizing that we are in great need of the Lord’s help to become what He wants us to become. We feel that as we practice His Presence, the Lord will be able to change the things in us that we cannot change in ourselves.

Christians do not consider themselves to be better than others; we just feel that we have access to the Only One who has the ability to bring “Peace on Earth, Good will toward men.” Other religions and philosophies are built on mere words and mere humans, and don’t seem to have the elements necessary to change the world for the better, as history amply illustrates.

Christians have certainly have been imperfect members of an imperfect world. However, at least in the evolving of the free western societies and particularly the development of our concepts of freedom in the United States, we have given the world the possibility for respect for each other.

We have modeled the possibility of equal treatment of all groups, and especially women, which has not been realized in the more rigid structures of most of the world’s cultures - whose tribes and clans and groups seem bent on fostering hatred for each other.

Those who truly follow Christ, and those who have been influenced by our giving culture, must work to follow the imperative that we are to “love our neighbors as ourselves.”

Therefore, many in the “Christian Culture” have given much of their time, their money, and their lives to provide for those in need around the world, far more than any other culture in history.

Even though the world seems to be deteriorating as we watch, Christianity proclaims  that “In the world ye shall have tribulation. Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!”

 

 

Bowling Green Chapel
            -Bowling Green, VA-

“The Practice of the Presence of God”