Hebrews by George H. Guthrie

Author:George H. Guthrie [Guthrie, George H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bible Study & Reference, Biblical Commentary, Christian, Commentaries, New Testament, Reference, Religion
ISBN: 9780310866251
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2009-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

A THIRTY-SOMETHING BUSINESSWOMAN prays a prayer after her friend shares the gospel over tea and cake. Yet, she begins to drift from the church and Christianity after two months of sporadic involvement, disillusioned with the church’s teaching about topics such as giving, Satan, judgment, and the church’s stance on certain social issues. A prominent black pastor leaves his church to become a Muslim, stating that Islam has become the real impetus for social change in the American black community. A young woman of the Third World faces terrible persecution from family and the government as a result of her conversion to Christianity. Under pressure she finally recants, returning to her former religion. A child goes through confirmation class at twelve years of age and seemingly is committed to Christ in the teen years but falls away as an adult, adopting an eclectic mix of New Age spirituality, philosophy, and naturalism.

Such scenarios are all too common in the church today. Anyone engaged in Christian ministry has certainly struggled with the pain and confusion of seeing those who have come into the church suddenly turn and walk away as if their professions of Christ were meaningless. Some of us have family members who, to our horror, have renounced the gospel, shaming the crucified Lord. Others, perhaps, are walking now alongside a person who has drifted dangerously close to the chasm of apostasy. How are we to respond? To those who have fallen or are close to falling away we should offer strong warnings in line with Hebrews 6:4–8. For those who have come into the church, joining our communities of faith, we should offer strong nurture in doctrine and relationships. For any of us who have struggled to throw off spiritual mediocrity and maintain passion about Christian commitment, we should offer encouragement, pointing to God’s applause of our works in ministering to the saints.

The rhetorical power of a negative example. I have a confession to make. I used to drive through train crossings—when the barriers were down and the red signal lights were flashing. I developed the habit when I first lived in Fort Worth, Texas, a city crisscrossed with railroad tracks. My trek across town would be irritatingly interrupted when the black and white striped bars lowered in my path and the red lights gave a flashing, dinging caution that a train was on its way. I noticed, however, that often the train was distant, slowly making its way toward me; its ominous whistle cried a warning that seemed somehow irrelevant for me at the moment. Thus I would maneuver around the bar blocking my side of the road and be on my merry way.

This irresponsible practice came to an end with two confrontations. My wife-to-be, Pat, made known to me in no uncertain terms that this behavior was unacceptable. Pat has always had a healthy fear of trains. Further, in a period of about six months I read in the newspaper of numerous fatal auto accidents at train crossings. Photos

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