Presbyterian Devotions: Calloused Hearts

Christian hypocrisy is alive and well in the Bible Belt.

Matthew 13:15 ‘For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'

Not exactly ‘Gentle Jesus, meek and mild’ stuff, is it? I wager that if Jesus was to step into a mainstream church pulpit today and preach what was on His heart, the congregation would be squirming in the pews and vow never to return again. To call religious and spiritual people callous is a bit disconcerting and yet that is precisely the kind of Christians we are raising in the Western Church today.

Okay, so you were looking for a word of encouragement or an affirmation of God’s blessing in this devotional, but the pastor is now meddling with the spiritual comfort zone most people have created for themselves. I’ve heard people talk the talk for years and they live deluded Christian lives. I’ve seen countless people busy themselves with other things, but as far as Sunday worship, Bible study, or prayer are concerned, you would think you were asking them to move a mountain!

Oh they are full of good intentions, but we all know that the pathway to Hell is paved with good intentions. I just wish that Jesus was around in the flesh and that those who constantly make excuses could meet Him face to face. Then I wouldn’t get shot down as being the messenger of His words. Jesus could take the flak for Himself.

So the challenge for us all is this: what are we going to do about our calloused hearts and self-centered excuses in the Western Church? When are we going to start living as Christians instead of wannabe followers of the Faith?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are not always meek and mild; in fact in the Gospels You are very confrontational and fiercely straight-forward. Somehow we have mixed up our ideal image of You and have begun idolizing ourselves in the process. Revive our faith! Reclaim our souls! Restore us to God! Get rid of our good intentions and replace them with real commitment. In Your Holy Name, we fervently pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s devotional, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Presbyterian Devotions: Caledonia

2 Timothy 2:16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

Yesterday, Evelyn and I received a letter from a long-standing friend in Scotland. The writer was informing us of what was happening in the town that we served and ministered to for nine years. She was keeping us up to date on people that we knew, and of events that we once participated in. At the end of the letter, she once again asked us to come back to Scotland. The Scottish people need strong ministers, she opined, because we’re losing our Christian faith.

I’ve watched this happen to Scotland ever since we left. What was once a strong Christian country has become a secular, humanistic nation. Gone are the days of Scottish churches raising amazing missionaries like Mungo Park, David Livingston, Mary Slessor, and Eric Liddel. Instead, the churches are declining and Scotland is sadly becoming a godless nation.

I would love to go back on a mission to rekindle the faith, to replant churches, and to raise a new generation of fearless Scottish Christians, who could win Caledonia for Christ again. But it seems that the line in the sand is being drawn here in America. To me, the United States is the last, great hope of keeping Western Christianity alive.

I believe that godless chatter has made Scotland more and more ungodly. It sounds harsh, but sometimes reality is that way. My work over here is to consolidate faith and strengthen the local church because one day, Christian missionaries may be raised up amongst us who will go over to Scotland to reclaim that precious kingdom for Christ. That is one of my deepest hopes for the future.

So this morning, I humbly ask us to pray for Scotland and its cherished people.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, in the midst of these godless times, raise up Christian leaders and missionaries whose hearts are on fire for You. We pray especially for Scotland and its entire people. We ask that You will send revival to the church, faith to the fearful, and hope to the helpless. Turn the tide of secular humanism and allow that dear nation to rekindle its Christian love and service to Your Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.