Friday, November 21, 2008

Glamor Instead of Glory

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

I found today's meditation very thought provoking to say the least. Tell me what you think!


One ominous sign in the social structure that surrounds us is the false attitude toward anything that can be called "ordinary." There has grown up all around us an idea that the "commonplace" is old-fashioned and strictly for the birds!

This existing mania for glamor and contempt for the ordinary are signs and portents in American society. Even religion has gone glamorous!

In case you do not know what glamor is, I might explain that it is a compound of sex, paint, padding and artificial lights. It came to America by way of the honky-tonk and the movie lot; got accepted by the world first, and then strutted into the Church—vain, self-admiring and contemptuous. Instead of the Spirit of God in our midst, we now have the spirit of glamor, as artificial as painted death!

Say what you will, it is a new kind of Christianity, with new concepts that face us brazenly wherever we turn within the confines of evangelical Christianity. The new Christian no longer wants to be good or saintly or virtuous!

Renewed Day by Day: Volume Two – A.W. Tozer

8 comments:

Pastor Kraig L. Pullam said...

McGhee, this is powerful stuff!!! I concur with all that is said (written) here; we often contemplate and criticize the simple and write it off as being mundane and irrelavent. I have even found myself guilty of this at a younger age; being new to ministry. I would like to see and read more of this!!! Thanks!

Pastor Lance A. Mann said...

Dr. McGhee, thanks as always for the nuggets of wisdom that you seem to consistently bring to our attention to assist us in becoming better children of God.

Lance

Anonymous said...

Pastor,

2 Thess.2:15; is a wonderful Scripture of how Pauls tells the Thessalonians believers to maintain and stand fast in their faith.

Although there are new waves of Christianity entering into our churches and in our world, we as Christians leaders must continue to preach & teach the Word of God as we know it and never lose sight of what God expects of us.

Thanks for your words of wisdom.
MJJB

Anonymous said...

Pastor, as always you provide us fuel to stimulate our minds. This subject sent me back to my younger years. Growing up in the Pentecostal church, the ordinary, plain and conservative ways were how we were expected to live. At a young age that way of thinking was considered “not cool”. So, you waited to become old enough to separate from the church to live what you thought was a “hip” life. Well, for me being away from the church for a number of years recalibrated my mind and flushed out some of the Pentecostal traditions that did not make much sense to me. Once we found Greater St. John and listen to the preaching and teaching we started understanding that the “ordinary” was the only way to live. Although the Pentecostal faith provided me a foundation for my life, the combination of Baptist and Pentecostal teachings has given me a renewed mind that absorbs the Bibles lessons you teach us each week. If we all remember what Romans tells un in chapter 12, verse 2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Our behavior should not be influenced by the superficial, temporary ways of this world, all that nonsense will result in a wasted, life that will be one big regret.

Brother Armstrong
customs

Clinton Smith said...

Wow! This is good stuff!

Fitts said...

McGhee,

This is good stuff! We must guard our hearts from vanity (meaningless). I'm reminded of the Psalmist prayer in Psalm 119 "keep my eyes from looking at vanity".

Great post!

DeAntwan

HALLELUJAH said...

Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

With that said we must be so vigilant to the past, what worked then will work now. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Thoughtful Post!

GOD Bless~~~

Rev. Barney said...

What a thought! I liken comtempary christianty to eating frost flakes or some other sugary breakfast ceral, it taste good going down, but there is no substance to it.

Give me that old time religion, give me the beans of life, something that will stick with me in the midnight hour.

I believe this wave that is sweeping our churches starts at the top. Look at it in terms of your home. Nothing getting into your house unless you let it in.

So it is with the church. I hear the Lord saying to all His preachers, all His gate keepers, "Watchman, what of the night?"

We may think we are having church because of the bright lights and the glits and glamor of it all, but only time will tell. Thomas Paine put it this way, "Time makes better converts than reason."