Spiritual Perspective
While there are many resources, books, web pages devoted to spiritual life, here we are devoted to spiritual preparedness for uncertain times. Spiritual preparedness is not just about preparing for rough times ahead – it is also about preparing for leadership. The power of God working through a penitent and obedient spirit is nothing short of breathtaking.
May we all strive to be such people – Soli Deo Gloria!
October 1st, 2009 – The World We Live In
“They that never felt the real influences of religion upon their own souls, will not believe that others do feel them. Serious piety is become the ludicrous subject with which the wanton wits of this atheistical world sport themselves.”
~ John Flavel
Pilgrim Paraphrase: Those who are not saved don’t feel it or understand it. They don’t believe it and they don’t believe you. Expect to be ridiculed.
How do you describe the indescribable to people who can’t relate to what you are talking about? Between those who belong to the Savior, there is no need to explain it. That relationship is as real to them as it is with any of their family or friends yet it is so very, very different. To borrow some lyrics from The News Boys, ‘..its just a little hard to explain.’ To the unchurched, that comes off as a little wierd. In the quote above, the Puritan John Flavel is making a great point that you should expect to be ridiculed for your beliefs. But there is a reason for it.
Romans 12:2 – Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
In this verse, my favorite, Paul is basically saying you will only have the capability to understand God’s will (and in the process, God) only after the renewing of your mind and subsequent transformation (in other words, regeneration). The unsaved are not going to understand these things without God’s help. And of course, humans are quite fond of ridiculing what they don’t understand. While this is difficult to accept, it should challenge us to be more patient with the unregenerate, to be willing with kindness and in love to absorb some of their slings and arrows and nudge them gently towards The Truth. Our Master is a great example of this. While on Earth Jesus blistered institutions (like the Pharisees and Saducees) but he was tender and patient with individuals. A great example of that is Zacheus (Luke 19).
So be patient and kind to the unsaved, and expect them to make fun of you. Their mind doesn’t work right. Pray that God will help them with that… 
