Here is a book report I scribbled out for Danny Chooks the other day:
What is man without God? Nothing. What is man with God? A saint. Many people would agree with both these statements, however what may surprise you is that many of the people you survey will not have the prerequisite knowledge to define where they are in this spectrum. There is a schism in the church today. It proves to be deep and virulent pulling many a soul into the depths of an eternity marked by weeping and gnashing of teeth (Hebrews). This is just a trifle of the terrifying points that William Wilberforce makes in his book, Real Christianity what I intend to summarize in the following paragraphs is how, as in the 17th C. of Wilberforce, and inadequate knowledge of the intrinsic truths of our salvation are acting as a millstone around the necks of many who profess to know Christ but are far from Him.
Wilberforce is quick to point out that many a man can appear to be acting in the pretense of good character but is in fact operating under a the control of avarice and vanity, which manifests itself differently within the social strata of any culture. Furthermore, Wilberforce burns away the cultural fog many of us live under, he states that man is so depraved that he cannot always see the lies with which he leads himself astray. For example many of us will agree that murder is a clear offense deserving of penal action, but how many of us would agree that offbeat humor is something worthy of damnation. In my opinion, and Wilberforce's, many would not draw the right conclusion; men and women dabble in many minor sins and explain them away as mere trifles that merely are the result of an individuals inability to be perfect all of the time. To me the perfect example of this is the entertainment that we harbor in our lives, we watch movies that depict gross acts of sin and soak it in as if it is the very thing the fuels are being. We live vicariously threw the entertainment we enjoy! We would "never" murder someone, but yet we relish the ability to watch others do so. Oh how we should shudder at the the fact! But no we let it entertain us!
Now for the point of most fear. Many who have lived their whole lives in the body of the church may find that upon arrival before the judgement seat of Christ that they never knew the one they professed as savior. Oh the very thought how it pierces the spirit! I may argue here that anyone who disagrees with me on this point is not listening to the whispers of Holy Spirit. Anyone who has been in ministry long knows well enough the poor souls who come on sunday for the Lord, but live the week at the behest of all that is carnal but who would earnestly press that they are sons of glory.
What then are we to do? Wilberforce draws a line of distinction between what he calls cultural Christianity and authentic faith. He states that there are many who profess Christ but do not pursue Christ and this is the paradigm that must be overcome. Wilberforce states that to do this we must educate others about the basics of the gospel and that out of this knowledge we will act as God's agents in lifting the veil of darkness that leaves many blind to the decadence that they avow does not exist in their lives. However, we must not forget that it is God alone that moves the hearts of men, and that we are merely the tools He uses for His glory; though what a privilege it is to be of use to the Lord of all creation.
Hence we must draw the line in the sand. Will we pick up our crosses and follow the Lord and lead others on to glory or will we bask in the revelry of self glorification and become a stench to our Lord? This was Wilberforce's motivation in writing and may it be our motivation as we move forward in the brevity of life.
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