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 On
a popular News program some one mentioned the exact time of the
equinox, and another asked, “Who determines such matters? ”The
answer, with a half-laugh, “God.” On a TV variety show one
actress complimented another and asked, “How do you keep so
slim?” She answered, “I pray a lot.” And the radio keeps
on playing, “Put your hand in the hand of the man from
Galilee.” What does it mean? That the world has finally turned
to God? I think not!!
And
even as I write this I realize that the general rejection of
traditional “religion” and the search for more genuine
standards may — perhaps has — led some to examine anew the
solution of revelation. Some who read the Bible will be
convinced that here is TRUTH, and step by step they can be led
to become genuine Christians. For every little move in the right
direction I am thankful. I do not expect a complete change at
once, nor do I ask that MY traditions be accepted or equated
with Christianity. But it takes far more than religious “fad”
to make Christianity.
I
can hear it now! “Who are you to say what is the “right”
direction, or what is “genuine” Christianity?? Of course I
did not say that; but we must excuse the outburst, for these
new-corners to religion are a sensitive lot. They seem convinced
that anything from the ante-hippy era is “tradition bound”
and hypocritical. And far more detrimental to an acceptance of
divine truth is the subjectivity that is almost universal in the
new jet set. They regard man as his own ultimate authority, and
look within themselves for the answers. We should
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expect this
from our present godless society, and realize that the road back
to a dependence upon the Bible as God’s revealed will is long
and difficult. This argues for patience on our part, and giving
more attention to “evidences” and reasons for accepting God’s
Word; but it certainly doesn’t justify an abandoning of long -
established practices while the new gener- ation experiments with
its soul-searching.
A
certain type of religion is the “in” thing now. “Rock”
festivals open with prayer; “Jesus Saves” has been lifted
from the lowly status of highway defacement, to the “noble”
position of banners in a parade for revolution; “Jesus,
Superstar” is a dramatic success. The Christian who finds
solace in such things is “hard - up for comfort.” An indul-
gence in faddish practices in “worship” (and some
churches have already made such concessions, especially in their
“youth fellowships”) may actually indicate our own
subjective approach to the service of God.
Change
in customs is not a bad thing. When solidly based upon God’s
revealed will it may simply reflect the inevitable changes of
time and circumstances. A group of young people, recent converts
to Christ, and untaught (not to say unbound) in the conventional
practices of worship, may hit upon expedients for carrying out
God’s commands that are very different from our methods. But
it must be authorized worship, objectively determined. ”Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord———” (Matt.
7:21)
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