Spurgeon on the Down-Grade
September 16, 2007 by Ingrid Schlueter
I was reminded yet again this morning what a spiritual battle Christians are in. Our greatest opponents will not be atheists, humanists, agnostics, homosexuals, abortion supporters, evolutionists and the like. The greatest enemies of those who truly follow Jesus will be those from the religious community who will despise your single-minded dedication, your commitment and your refusal to compromise. They will mock you at every turn, accuse you of assuming some sort “prophet’s” role when you point to the Scriptures, and basically chew you up and spit you out. We are not wrestling against flesh and blood in the battles for truth in the church. We are wrestling against darkness that portrays itself as light very effectively. We would all do well to remember that. But as Luther wrote hundreds of years ago, “the body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever!” Amen. Here is what C.H. Spurgeon, who also did fierce battle against those who would pollute the Gospel, wrote about the “Down-Grade” in his day. May it encourage us this Lord’s Day.
“The greatest enemies of those who truly follow Jesus will be those from the religious community who will despise your single-minded dedication, your commitment and your refusal to compromise.” This is a quote worth keeping because it is ever so true. But it’s just prophecy being fulfilled.
The greatest enemies of the Church are hypocrites inside it just as America’s greatest enemies are also hypocrites within our political system. Truth is never popular however you point it out.
It’s amazing to think that back then they actually had to leave home to go to the theatre and indulge in all the worldly pastimes. Now they are all in our homes!! And how much greater is the danger of being polluted by them.
There will always be angels of light masquerading as Gods’ messengers and we must be on our guard. Be glad that He has given us eyes to see in a dark and dangerous time.
God bless, Vince.
What an irony that they used to leave their churches to go to the theater and now the theater IS most churches…! Wonder what Spurgeon would think of that!! Wendy
Satan’s schemes haven’t changed much. The difference being that the churches aren’t being emptied, but filled for the … church and stage, cards and prayer, dancing and sacraments… which we have all seen examples of.
“Lacking bread, they feed on ashes” what a heartbreaking truth in many churches today.
Thank God for The Bread of Life, Jesus Christ and His Word which we can feed on.
“Our greatest opponents will not be atheists, humanists, agnostics, homosexuals, abortion supporters, evolutionists and the like. The greatest enemies of those who truly follow Jesus will be those from the religious community… We are not wrestling against flesh and blood in the battles for truth in the church. We are wrestling against darkness that portrays itself as light very effectively. ”
Amen. Very well put.
Truly a sad state to see that the worst enemies are the hypocrites in the churches. It’s as if the enemy purposely sent tares in to infiltrate and weaken the churches.
What is tragic, we think we have seen great abominations in our time, but when people were seeing troubles over a hundred years ago, what would they think of today’s mess?
How much worse will it get before judgment comes?
Only God knows when the appointed time is, but for those of us in our time who are grieved over the mess we are witnessing, it’s quite difficult.
Wow either time hasn’t changed or history is repeating. I wonder what Spurgeon would think if he were alive now seeing that what he wrote back then applies so well to what is happening nowadays…I don’t know if because we are less technological here in my country (meaning pastors/ministers/priests/etc don’t have blogs or anything of the like) the sort of things that are happening in the US have yet to happen here, or perhaps they do but because of the lack of “publicity” we just don’t know its happening…
When Jesus walked the earth He only had venomous words for one group: the religious people. Who wanted to kill Jesus at every turn? The religious people. Nothing has changed, if you are a true servant Jesus they’ll want to kill you too. The spirit of their father lives in them and they want to do his will. I guarantee you if Jesus walked into one of today’s mega churches and told the CEO, oops I mean “senior pastor” to sell everything, give the money to the poor and follow Him, their response would be the same as their fathers before them “STONE HIM!!”
~D
Time to take a test!
*** who love Truth more than a lie ***
Do you love the truth?
WHO is the exception to this command?
1Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Penned by Peter, commanded by God, CHRISTIANS were to honour CAESAR. Bloodthirsty, self aggrandizing CAESAR!
So, WHO is the exception? BIBLICAL answer please.
There are no exceptions to God’s COMMANDS, BUT Americans MAKE King George III the exception.
So, King George III irritated, and aggravated the colonists…YES?
Where did that come from?
Pro 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
That irritation and aggravation CAME FROM GOD,
HE SAYS SO!
WHY…?
A test, would the ‘Christian’ colonists BELIEVE and OBEY God’s Word or not.
NOT!
So, King George III became an ENEMY…YES?
So why WASN’T this command obeyed?
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you
You are caught in a trap!
A STUMBLINGBLOCK is a trap, set to catch those who DO NOT love and OBEY God’s Truth.
The foundation of an entire nation is a STUMBLINGBLOCK.
WHY?
He STILL tests saints, WHOM will they believe?
ARE THEY TRULY SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD?
A test, a test that ‘Christians’ to THIS DAY, can NOT pass.
Thus, ANYONE who teaches that the colonists did RIGHT, teaches and loves a LIE more than the TRUTH.
Teaches evil as good
Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
IF you think ANYTHING CHRISIAN was begun at the point of a gun, you have FAILED the test
In the service of the TRUTH, the LIVING WORD, JESUS CHRIST,
Craig
Craig,
To more effectively protest what you maintain is our country’s apparently evil founding, my suggestion is that you:
1. Renounce your American citizenship immediately. The country was founded in evil at the end of a gun, according to you. How can you possibly stay in such a place?
2. Immediately cease to exercise your right to free speech by posting on weblogs, a right paid for by the blood of soldiers who provided us with these freedoms. Likewise give up all the other freedoms you enjoy under the Bill of Rights.
3. Apply for citizenship in a country that isn’t hypocritically maintaining it was founded on Christian principles. Iraq, Afgahnistan, North Korea, Iran come to mind.
These steps will make you a far more consistent proponent of your viewpoint and you will not be tempted to enjoy the God-granted freedoms of being an American while steadfastly denying our Christian roots.