Today OC discusses the difference between being principled and having vision. It’s an incredible difference and one with which I am very familiar. Forty years ago I would say I was principled. I was a believer. I had attended seminary in high school. But I believed faith was a private thing, something between a man and his God. Then I met a little Baptist girl who over the last 40 years has taught me that the very nature of our faith is sharing and doing.

 

“People who are totally consumed with idealistic principles rarely do anything.” Every time Jesus always address His church in terms of action. “Go.” “Baptize.” “Make disciples.” The modern church has converted the faith into something you turn to in time of trouble, a institutionalized counselor. We go to church to gather and praise, not because He is worthy of praise but because doing it makes us feel better and gathering with “the saints” gives us increased security. We think people will just “show up” to learn about Him without being shown a different way or invited to come. What a strange notion of church.

 

“A person’s own idea of God and His attributes may actually be used to justify and rationalize his deliberate neglect of his duty. Jonah tried to excuse his disobedience by saying to God, “. . . I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness, One who relents from doing harm” ( Jonah 4:2 ).” We think, “I’m not really going or making disciples, but God is good. He’ll understand. 

 

We are satisfied with a faith that comforts and don’t believe it’s necessary to be stretched or completely changed or sold out for God. That’s sad.

Forty years ago I met a girl who taught me that faith was so much more , that Jesus called us to be completely His, that we were not created for this world, but to point this world to Him. It seems so fantastic, so unbelievable but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?

I pray for all of you that you could be so blessed.

Nick