From a book

From a book

A book I found amid the myriad of books that line the walls of my home entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"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 courage."
Gallico is right religion in all it’s forms has caused grief for far too many people. I am the first to admit that many  who call themselves Christians especially here in North America are really just religious people.
Many who would espouse themselves to be “evangelicals” are not true Christians. They are reading from the bible. The claim to be fundamentalist yet they twist the words of the bible to fit their own beliefs.
In many ways they are a religious version of a secular way of thinking.
The bible over the years has been used to condemn everything from Elvis’s gyrating hips, to rock and roll to. It has even been used to condone the abomination that is slavery.
We see many who call themselves Christians today spouting judgement on people with whom they disagree.
They judge members of the homosexual community and even religious groups both Christian and none Christian with whom the disagree.
This is not true Christianity.
Jesus said of these people,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
                                                                                          Matthew 7:22,23.
What Paul Gallico and many others today are looking for is a faith that is a way of life. One that does not judge but loves. One that offers rest for the 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
Christianity when practised correctly is first a way of life. A life that incorporates the love of God.
The Apostle Paul defining love as,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  
                                                                                     1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13 

The Apostle Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" 
                                                                                                      2 Timothy 3:1-4
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
In Christ however there is hope. There is rest for ones soul. All the individual must do is believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s one and only Son who offers Salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him.
Think about it.