"Why do people choose the substitute over God himself? Probably the most important reason is that it obviates accountability to God. We can meet idols on our own terms because they are our own creations. They are safe, predictable, and controllable; they are, in Jeremiah's colorful language, the 'scarecrows in a cornfield' (10:5). They are portable and completely under the user's control. They offer nothing like the threat of a God who thunders from Sinai and whose providence in this world so often appears to us to be incomprehensible and dangerous . . . [People] need face only themselves. That is the appeal of idolatry."
- David F. Wells
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
From Ray Ortlund.
Congratulations to the entitled, for they grab what they want.
Congratulations to the carefree, for they shall be comfortable.
Congratulations to the pushy, for they shall win.
Congratulations to the greedy, for they shall climb the food chain.
Congratulations to the vengeful, for they shall be feared.
Congratulations to those who don’t get caught, for they shall look good.
Congratulations to the argumentative, for they shall get in the last word.
Congratulations to the popular, for this world lies at their feet.
The gospel is more than handy tips for improving our lives this week. It is a new outlook on everything, illuminated by God’s promise of a glorious future renewing the entire creation through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
But God is not the only one making us promises. The world has its own version of events, its own eschatology, its own promises of reward. We must choose. And either way, we will be living by faith.
But have you ever met one person who believed this world’s unBeatitudes and came to the end a satisfied, radiant, wise person? Even one?
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Comments on "The UnBeatitudes":
2. Bill
- 10/04/2011 10:03 pm CDT
Hi Michele,
Hmm. If you get a chance, could you try the search again? It should work - I just put the word "Bully" in it and got back a lot of posts.
Here are some:
http://thinklings.org/posts/babies-vs-bullies
http://thinklings.org/posts/bullying-is-still-evil
http://thinklings.org/posts/silent-victims-lonely-hearts
http://thinklings.org/posts/resources-fortthe-bullied
http://thinklings.org/posts/more-about-bullying
http://thinklings.org/posts/how-would-you-help-this-child
Leave a Comment:
Hi Thinklings,
This is completely off topic; An unsaved friend of mine just wrote me a long letter describing her experience of being bullied as a kid. She's trying to sort it out in her head why this happened year after year. I remember you guys did at least one post on bullying. Nothing comes up when I search it. Can you help?