Not a Time for Weak-Hearted Pastors or Preaching

Years ago Matilda C. Edwards wrote the following, which is as good a comment as anything I could say:

The Church and the World walked far apart
On the changing shores of time,
The World was singing a giddy song,
And the Church a hymn sublime.
"Come, give me your hand," said the merry World,
"And walk with me this way!"
But the good Church hid her snowy hands
And solemnly answered, "Nay,
I will not give you my hand at all,
And I will not walk with you;
Your way is the way that leads to death;
Your words are all untrue."

"Nay, walk with me but a little space,"
Said the World with a kindly air;
"The road I walk is a pleasant road,
And the sun shines always there;
Your path is thorny and rough and rude,
But mine is broad and plain;
My way is paved with flowers and dews,
And yours with tears and pain;
The sky to me is always blue,
No want, no toil I know;
The sky above you is always dark,
Your lot is a lot of woe;
There's room enough for you and me
To travel side by side."

Half shyly the Church approached the World
And gave him her hand of snow;
And the old World grapsed it and walked along,
Saying, in accents low,
"Your dress is too simple to please my taste;
I will give you pearls to wear,
Rich velvets and silks for your graceful form,
And diamonds to deck your hair."
The Church looked down at her plain white robes,
And then at the dazzling World,
And blushed as she saw his handsome lip
With a smile contemptuous curled.
"I will change my dress for a costlier one,"
Said the Church, with a smile of grace;
Then her pure white garments drifted away,
And the World gave, in their place,
Beautiful satins and shining silks,
Roses and gems and costly pearls;
While over her forehead her bright hair fell
Crisped in a thousand curls.

"Your house is too plain," said the proud old World,
"I'll build you one like mine;
With walls of marble and towers of gold,
And furniture ever so fine."
So he built her a costly and beautiful house;
Most splendid it was to behold;
Her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there
Gleaming in purple and gold;
Rich fairs and shows in the halls were held,
And the World and his children were there.
Laughter and music and feasts were heard
In the place that was meant for prayer.
There were cushioned seats for the rich and the gay,
To sit in their pomp and pride;
But the poor who were clad in shabby array,
Sat meekly down outside.

"You give too much to the poor," said the World.
"Far more than you ought to do;
If they are in need of shelter and food,
Why need it trouble you?
Go, take your money and buy rich robes,
Buy horses and carriages fine;
Buy pearls and jewels and dainty food,
Buy the rarest and costliest wine;
My children, they dote on all these things,
And if you their love would win
You must do as they do, and walk in the ways
That they are walking in."

So the poor were turned from her door in scorn,
And she heard not the orphan's cry;
But she drew her beautiful robes aside,
As the widows went weeping by.

Then the sons of the World and the Sons of the Church
Walked closely hand and heart,
And only the Master, who knoweth all,
Could tell the two apart.
Then the Church sat down at her ease, and said,
"I am rich and my goods increase;
I have need of nothing, or aught to do,
But to laugh, and dance, and feast."
The sly World heard, and he laughed in his sleeve,
And mockingly said, aside --
"The Church is fallen, the beautiful Church;
And her shame is her boast and her pride."


As I was typing this, I realized again the difference between Word and World is one 'l' of a difference...
(same as with God and Gold, by the way.)

[ November 25, 2002, 07:38 PM: Message edited by: Helen ]

 

Helen so true it is and do you know what the older folks in my church have told me?... When they attended school that the Bible was required reading in churches and homes. Can you guess what was second on the list?... Pilgrims Progress... Those who have read it know and those who have not never will... Then again the church was never meant to walk with the world... Just ask John Bunyans Christian! ... By all means if those who read this have never Pilgrims Progress by all means do!... Brother Glen

 

...and some complain if they have to sit in church past noon.

 

Hi John3v36;
They say you never know what you'll do in a situation where you could loose your life for your faith. Peter didn't. Even though Christ himself told him in advance, what he would do. I hope, I would have the confidence of faith like a certain student here in Colorado did when asked if she believed in Jesus, while a gun was pointed at her head. She knew that if she said yes, she would be dead.She did say yes.The effect her testimony had on her fellow class mates.Prase God for that little girl.
Romanbear
peace

 

I was so saddened to hear about this latest killing of a Missionary. I know the Bible says the believers will be persecuted and killed for His name but it is still sad to me.
She was so young and making such a tremendous diference there for God's Kingdom.
I could only hope to be half as brave as she had to have been. May God bless her and her family!
In Christ Angie

[ November 26, 2002, 10:13 PM: Message edited by: Angie Miller ]

 

hey John3v36; like that verse btw, heard about the
girl getting killed,then read your link,now my thoughts,scary considering i am in process of getting passport,just got to remember whose in charge,don't know where i'll go, but i'll go where He leads,really sorry to hear such things,don't rightly know what to say ,but God bless the family
& the seed that has been planted.......bill

 

has anyone ever read a book called "Through Gates of Splendor"?