One of the books I'm reading right now is an abridged version of William Wilberforce's "Real Christianity". Written in Britain in the late 1700's, Wilberforce sought to challenge the understanding of the faith of those who professed to be Christians. It's amazing the similarities between that era and ours. I guess some things never change. I think the term "Christian" is one that is used very loosely and many people who claim to be such have no idea what the real meaning of it is. How sad.
Wilberforce says (regarding many of those who profess to be Christians), "The Bible lies on a shelf unopened. And they would be wholly ignorant of its contents, except for what they hear occasionally in church. Or perhaps they retain vague traces of the truth in their memories from the lessons of childhood....How criminal, then, must this voluntary ignorance of Christianity and the Word of God appear in the sight of God. When God of His goodness has granted us such abundant means of instruction, how great must be the guilt, and how awful must be the punishment, of voluntary ignorance." Later on he says, "Though the Gospel had been predicted, prayed and longed for, announced, characterized and rejoiced in, we scarcely accept this heavenly treasure even when it is poured in our lap in rich abundance. We turn from it coldly or, at best, possess it negligently as a thing of no estimation."
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