A Disturbing Trend?

I noticed over the weekend as I was searching the Submission Guidelines of a LOT of Christian magazines (both on-line and paper) what seems to be a trend. To me it is a disturbing trend. Perhaps you have noticed it. Perhaps you are asleep and have not. Wake up to this one my friends!

Over and over, the content desired by these mags was expressed like this: We desire positive, upbeat articles on the grace of God. No judgment.

No judgment.

To me that just smacks of three things:

1. No truth
2. Just chop out a major chunk of Scripture
3. Deny pending reality

Perhaps only the positive sells, but only the Truth will keep you from hell.

This trend brings me nearly to tears. Much as my writing is a business, it must first be the truth, all the truth, and nothing but the truth. Yes, so help me God. God forbid that I should write anything otherwise and if I do, please, please, please, tell me so. This blog is for the edification of the saints. I write as one gifted as a prophet and therefore I am zealous for the Truth and the accurate use thereof. I am fallible and therefore a learner. Thank you for your patience and for speaking the truth in love.

What Puts Christians to Sleep?

I Corinthians 15:34 says to the Christian, "Awake to righteousness...." This suggests some Christians are in a state of "sleep". What is this sleep and what are its causes?


The context of the verse provides the primary answer to the first question. This chapter is all about the reality of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and the saints. The themes of sin and death and righteousness and life are woven throughout. Sleep is acquainted with death and sin. Take a look at I Thessalonians 4:15-17. These verses talk about those Christians who are asleep in physical death and their ultimate resurrection at the Rapture. Going on from there to chapter 5 verse 6 talks of those Christians who are asleep in their sin. The latter need to wake up and be ready with Jesus.


This latter sleep is ultimately caused by sin. It can be recognized by things like:

• Everday life seems perfectly normal. I'm just doing what everybody else is doing. Status quo. In other words, I fit in just fine with the rest of the world.


• A still, small voice of the Holy Spirit telling the conscience that something is wrong. In other words, judgment and conviction are pending.


• Believing that everything you were ever taught, whether by school teachers, parents, or friends, is the absolute, unquestionable truth.

This is what experience shows me. I would like to back it up with Biblical conviction. But first, I would like some input from my readers. Then, I will put it all together and blog some more.

Larry

Why Awakenings - 15 March 2008

Welcome to Awakenings. This is my first blog ever. It is far from my first effort at writing. Most of the time this blog will be on Biblical themes. The name of this blog comes from I Corinthians 15:34 - Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

The goal of these writings is to engage my readers in dialogue that will mutually encourage us to know God in a real way by spending time in His Word and at His throne in prayer. For instance, do you know:

• the Bible is the Word of God our living Lord Jesus Christ and much more than a mere book of words? - Hebrews 4:12, Revelation 19:13
• the time you spend in prayer is only effectual if spent in righteousness and in heaven? - Romans 11:36 - 12:2, James 5:16
• the state you will be found in when Jesus returns? - Ephesians 5:25-27, Luke 18:8

These are the kinds of questions and answers I write about, pray about, and spend time with other Christians talking and encouraging one another about. It is my calling and passion (I didn't realize the latter until an unbeliever of all people told me that!).

Take a few moments to read through my website while you're here. Tell me what you'd like to see, what you'd change, and what you'd like to know more about. These are the things that will help me to be a better writer and a better servant in God's kingdom.