ShieldsGroup…

Sometimes I read a blog post and say, “Wow — I wish I had said that.”  Such is this post.

When I do marital counselling, I try to teach the couple to value one another’s differences.  If they can learn to do that, then they can synergize and see the marriage become greater than the sum of the two.  It’s the same in the church.

Unfortunately, the tendency of human beings to be extremists in their thinking causes the two positions noted in Stetzer’s post to alienate one another rather than cherishing one another.  The result — stagnancy.  It must feel luke-warm to Jesus.

In my visits to churches I’ve encountered many individuals who …. made “a decision for Christ,” and now are active in programs that keep them busy–but they are not blessed.  Others I’ve met boldly confess that they “grew up Christian” and are following the tradition of their Christian parents and regularly attending church.  “After all,” they tell me, “we were taught that going to church is the right thing to do.

“…. They know the verses, but they do not know Him; whom to know is life eternal.

“It is little wonder then that many are disillusioned with Christianity.  They have yet to realize that salvation is not a plan, not in scripture verses, not in ordinances, and not in a scheme of theology.  Salvation is not a decision and not a pronouncement of an evangelist, a pastor or a teacher.”

~Paris Reidhead in Getting Evangelicals Saved, p. 19.

I recently came across a well-thought-out summary of flaws in the US News and World Report college ranking system.  It’s longer than most people will read (nine pages), but if you’re choosing a college based on US News and World Report college rankings, you might want to read the summary before you spend $30,000 a year on an education.

As I’ve always said, a college education is only worth what you make of it.