House Church Talk - then and now

[David Anderson]

    Hi gentle readers. Whatcha doing today? Some very fine weather down 
here in TN for several days. Time to cut firewood.

There is nothing new under the sun, so said the preacher. Eccl. 1:9. 
Compare then and now:

--------------------------------------------------- Then

Isa. 1:12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at 
your hand, TO TREAD MY COURTS? 

Isa. 1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto 
me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away 
with; it is iniquity, EVEN THE SOLEMN MEETING. 

Isa. 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they 
are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 

Isa. 1:15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from 
you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: YOUR HANDS ARE FULL 
OF BLOOD. 

Isa. 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from 
before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 

Isa. 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge 
the fatherless, plead for the widow. 

Isa. 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though 
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be 
red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

--------------------------------------------------- Now

That's What Christians Do Now
By Donald E. Wildmon

In 1973 The Supreme Court said it was ok to kill unborn babies. Since 
then, we have killed more than the entire population of Canada. And it 
continues. A woman's choice? Half of those who have died in their 
mothers' wombs have been women. They didn't have a choice. It is called 
abortion.

Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what 
Christians do now.

First, it was in dingy, dirty theaters. Then, convenience stores. Then, 
grocery stores. Then on television. Now it is in the homes of millions 
via the Internet. It is called pornography.

Me, I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what 
Christians do now.

They call it no-fault. Why should we blame anyone when something so 
terrible happens. Haven't they already suffered enough? Half of the 
marriages in America end this way. The children suffered. The family 
broke down. It is called divorce.

Me, I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what 
Christians do now.

At one time it was a perversion. We kept it secret. We secured help and 
hope for those who practiced it. Now it is praised. We have parades 
celebrating it, and elected officials give it their blessing. Now it is 
endowed with special privileges and protected by special laws. Even some 
Christian leaders and denominations praise it. It is called homosexuality.

Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what 
Christians do now.

It used to be an embarrassment. A shame. Now a third of all births are to 
mothers who aren't married. Two-thirds of all African-American children 
are born into a home without a father. The state usually pays the tab. 
That is why we pay our taxes, so that government can take the place of 
parents. After all, government bureaucrats know much better how to raise 
children than parents do. It is called illegitimacy.

Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what 
Christians do now.

At one time it was wrong. But then the state decided to legalize it, 
promote it and tax it. It has ripped apart families and destroyed lives. 
But just look at all the money the state has raised. No longer do we have 
to teach our children to study and work hard. Now we teach them they can 
get something for nothing. We spend millions encouraging people to join 
the fun and excitement. Just look at the big sums that people are 
winning. They will never have to work again! It is called gambling.

Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what 
Christians do now.

Not long ago, Christians were the good guys. But now any positive image 
of Christians in movies or on TV is gone. We are now depicted as the bad 
guys - greedy, narrow-minded hypocrites. The teacher can't have a Bible 
on her desk, but can have Playboy. We don't have Christmas and Easter 
holidays - just winter and spring break. We can't pray in school, but can 
use foul language. It's called being tolerant.

Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what 
Christians do now.

Yes, all these things came to pass within 30 years. Where were the 
Christians? Why, they were in church. All these things are for someone 
else to deal with. Times have changed. Involvement has been replaced with 
apathy.

But don't blame me. I didn't do anything. I go to church, the minister 
preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.

-----------------------------------------------

Me again...

It does appear that the old way resembles the new way in an uncanny way. 
Much activity with much evil on the side.

Let us then overcome evil with good, knowing that left to ourselves, we 
would be participating in the same things. 

Luke 22:31f And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired 
to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: BUT I, Jesus, have prayed for 
thee, that thy faith fail not.

God help us thus.

        David Anderson