Day 18

 The Demands of Doctrine

 

And what saves us from narrowness and a little view of the Church which denies its catholic nature and destiny is the preaching of missions.

Are we apostolic?  Then be apostolic.  Are we catholic?  Then be catholic.  Are we holy?  Then be holy, giving ourselves to God’s purpose and separating ourselves from the world’s small heart.

Consider another missionary doctrine: the teaching of sin.  Men are sick, separated from the Source of Life.  They live for the things of this world which have meaning, but not enough meaning.  Man, torn lose from God, is less than man and works out his own destruction.  Separated from God, he comes under the dominion of idols.  Let me list some of these idols:

The semi-divine figure of a national leader.

A worship of the future so that the precious things of the present are sacrificed to the ever-fading future.  For the sake of a just future, men are ruthless and unjust today, denying others any human rights.

Nationalism for which millions give their lives

Idol of success or fame which leads us to admire public figures even though they may be liars or adulterers.

Material success, so that we run like mad for a goal which brings neither peace, inner security or happiness.

“Either God or an idol,” said a great Christian.  Godlessness is the evil that grips the world, the great enemy…

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