Discipleship
Revive Your Conscience: A Tribute to Joy Dawson
We have spent some weeks describing the immense problem of decay of conscience in American culture and other nations. I believe pastors and Christian leaders are primarily responsible for dimming the lights of God’s love and truth in today’s world.
Last week we looked at the role that the media plays in exploiting the “dull lighting” with a firehose of darkness–from the Internet, to our cell phones, television, videos, and even the music play lists we frequent.
It’s easy to point fingers at pastors and media giants–but we must not start there.
Conscience decay begins with you and me.
Wisdom
Right now I’m dealing with some situations that require wisdom.
One involves an individual where advice is crucial. Another may impact the future of a 140-year old organization. A third relates to a book project. And the last one is what I will eat for dinner so I can keep losing a few pounds.
Just kidding on the last one.
But maybe not. We desperately need wisdom in every area of life–especially the big ones.
The Invincible Power of Perseverance
During the 1980’s, I met a Christian leader who was a spokesman for moral renewal. Jerry Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, catapulted into national prominence through starting the Moral Majority.
For years, he was probably the most loved and hated man in America.
One evening he spoke at a rally in Washington, D.C. I don’t remember the details of his speech, but I’ll always remember one line. He said, “The true greatness of an individual is always proportionate to his willingness to endure testing.”
This past week we celebrated the greatest act of perseverance in history–Jesus’ death on the cross. He did so to fill the world with joy–that our sins are forgiven, and that we too can experience eternal life through trusting him.
We must learn to persevere like Jesus to inherit that promise.