To be saved from a wayward generation
Jul 26, 2019 9:07:47 GMT -5
John, frienduff, and 1 more like this
Post by PG4Him on Jul 26, 2019 9:07:47 GMT -5
Growing up as a Gen Xer in America I know a thing or two about backwards generations! This passage was one of the first things in Scripture that resonated with me after I met Jesus...
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
— Acts 2:38-47
Well that’s awkward. He told them to save themselves from a generation. This whole passage came alive for me the first time I read it clearly at age 17. Plenty of people in my generation are saved to the hilt while they do nothing — nothing — from this passage. Plenty of church members attend every Sunday for powerful worship and then go home to do nothing from this passage. I was sick to death of saved Christians who did nothing useful, and I was willing to do whatever it took to be different.
Let your light so shine that others may see your good works and glorify the Lord? What good works do we show an untoward generation? What? We can’t because we’re too weak and overwhelmed? We can’t because it’s too hard? We can’t because we’re busy working two jobs? Why can’t we? Come on, I need an answer, why can’t we???
Maybe the simple truth is that we like our generation. We really do like Chandler Bing’s humor, Madonna’s music, Calvin Klein’s fashion, and the 90210 lifestyle. We feel a stronger kindred connection with the characters on Boy Meets World than we do with Christian saints beyond our cultural bubble. Nothing to save ourselves from around here! In the world not of the world, eh?
Ah but I’m forgetting... this is not the proper context of Peter’s words in Acts 2. When I grow in my knowledge, I shall come to understand the complexities of this passage, and I will lose my silly myopic view of the word generation. We sure dodged a bullet there!!
Maybe if we want the Lord to add daily to the church, we should try what they did in Acts...
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
— Acts 2:38-47
Well that’s awkward. He told them to save themselves from a generation. This whole passage came alive for me the first time I read it clearly at age 17. Plenty of people in my generation are saved to the hilt while they do nothing — nothing — from this passage. Plenty of church members attend every Sunday for powerful worship and then go home to do nothing from this passage. I was sick to death of saved Christians who did nothing useful, and I was willing to do whatever it took to be different.
Let your light so shine that others may see your good works and glorify the Lord? What good works do we show an untoward generation? What? We can’t because we’re too weak and overwhelmed? We can’t because it’s too hard? We can’t because we’re busy working two jobs? Why can’t we? Come on, I need an answer, why can’t we???
Maybe the simple truth is that we like our generation. We really do like Chandler Bing’s humor, Madonna’s music, Calvin Klein’s fashion, and the 90210 lifestyle. We feel a stronger kindred connection with the characters on Boy Meets World than we do with Christian saints beyond our cultural bubble. Nothing to save ourselves from around here! In the world not of the world, eh?
Ah but I’m forgetting... this is not the proper context of Peter’s words in Acts 2. When I grow in my knowledge, I shall come to understand the complexities of this passage, and I will lose my silly myopic view of the word generation. We sure dodged a bullet there!!
Maybe if we want the Lord to add daily to the church, we should try what they did in Acts...