Rest for your soul
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
The other day my wife and I attended an event near to where we live. We’d attended the same event a year earlier. This time however security was much higher. The result no doubt of events thousands of miles from where we were, the Manchester, and London attacks. Where misguided individuals murdered innocent men women and children.
The two incidents as tragic as they were are a symbol of our times and not limited to terrorism.
If statistics are correct more people died because of gun violence in the United States in the first part of this year 2017 than because of all violent crimes in all of the United Kingdom in the previous two years. Including terrorism. According to Gun Violence Archives. Org. 6,453 people have died in the United States because of gun violence between January and June of this year 2017.
While the United states can arguably be said to be the most violent of all western nations it is not alone. Violent crime, murders, robberies, sexual assaults and other vicious crimes are everyday occurrences in every country.
The people who commit such crimes have little or no fear of reprisal. Jail terms, even the death penalty means nothing to them.
And while I firmly believe Christianity has the answer to the problem. I believe many calling themselves Christians have become of no effect. They have become “religious”. That is to say, they know what to say and how to act in church and around other Christians. But they are really just a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13.
Many claiming to be Christian have lost their saltiness. They have turned the truths Jesus and the apostles taught into religious do’s and don’t. Even worse they do not put into effect the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in their lives.
In many cases those claiming to be Christians are religious copies of the world and people want nothing to do with it. People especially young people are looking for more.
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.”Billy Graham
In 1958 John B. Harrington wrote a book called "Essentials in Christian Faith" it could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948. It states,
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency and courage."
The people who join terrorist groups, and inner city gangs are looking for meaning in life. They are longing to belong. They are longing for love and acceptance of others. For purpose in life.
Sadly most of the time they are not finding it in the one spot they should be finding it, the Gospel of Christ.
They are not finding it because those calling themselves Christians are not living a Christian life and lifestyle.
Those in the world are looking at many calling themselves Christians and saying to themselves “I live a better life morally and ethically than they do. Why should I become a Christian?”
As Christians we need to be looking carefully at our life and lifestyle. Francis of Assisi wrote,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
I know I, and other followers of Christ like me have found those words to be true. However those seeking rest for their soul will never find it if those calling themselves Christians are not living it.
Please think about it.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
The other day my wife and I attended an event near to where we live. We’d attended the same event a year earlier. This time however security was much higher. The result no doubt of events thousands of miles from where we were, the Manchester, and London attacks. Where misguided individuals murdered innocent men women and children.
The two incidents as tragic as they were are a symbol of our times and not limited to terrorism.
If statistics are correct more people died because of gun violence in the United States in the first part of this year 2017 than because of all violent crimes in all of the United Kingdom in the previous two years. Including terrorism. According to Gun Violence Archives. Org. 6,453 people have died in the United States because of gun violence between January and June of this year 2017.
While the United states can arguably be said to be the most violent of all western nations it is not alone. Violent crime, murders, robberies, sexual assaults and other vicious crimes are everyday occurrences in every country.
The people who commit such crimes have little or no fear of reprisal. Jail terms, even the death penalty means nothing to them.
And while I firmly believe Christianity has the answer to the problem. I believe many calling themselves Christians have become of no effect. They have become “religious”. That is to say, they know what to say and how to act in church and around other Christians. But they are really just a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13.
Many claiming to be Christian have lost their saltiness. They have turned the truths Jesus and the apostles taught into religious do’s and don’t. Even worse they do not put into effect the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in their lives.
In many cases those claiming to be Christians are religious copies of the world and people want nothing to do with it. People especially young people are looking for more.
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.”Billy Graham
In 1958 John B. Harrington wrote a book called "Essentials in Christian Faith" it could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948. It states,
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency and courage."
The people who join terrorist groups, and inner city gangs are looking for meaning in life. They are longing to belong. They are longing for love and acceptance of others. For purpose in life.
Sadly most of the time they are not finding it in the one spot they should be finding it, the Gospel of Christ.
They are not finding it because those calling themselves Christians are not living a Christian life and lifestyle.
Those in the world are looking at many calling themselves Christians and saying to themselves “I live a better life morally and ethically than they do. Why should I become a Christian?”
As Christians we need to be looking carefully at our life and lifestyle. Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do
may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi
Francis also reminds us,
“We have been called to heal wounds,
to unite what has fallen apart,
and to bring home those who have lost their way.”
Francis of Assisi
At the start of this article I quoted Jesus as saying,“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
I know I, and other followers of Christ like me have found those words to be true. However those seeking rest for their soul will never find it if those calling themselves Christians are not living it.
Please think about it.
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