Considering our need for revival, and our need for the determination and the grit to see it through, this hymn is suitable to the occasion, don’t you think? Onward, Christian Soldiers, sung by the Sanctuary Choir at First Methodist Houston.
(Shout-out to Methodists: Asbury University, where they’ve announced that they’re shutting down the revival, is your college, folks! If you’ve got anything to say to them about this, now’s the time.)
Europe’s neglected churches are being filled again–by new Christians who have converted out of Islam, according to a recent report by Fox News ( http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/03/21/muslim-converts-breathe-new-life-into-europe-s-struggling-christian-churches.html ).
This is exceedingly good news–but is it true? You know Muslim authorities aren’t going to talk about it: ditto secular humanist noozies who are embarrassed by religion in general and Christianity in particular.
In recent years organizations like Voice of the Martyrs have reported more and more conversions to Christianity inside Muslim countries, where to do so usually means persecution or even death. Anyone who leaves Islam is considered fair game to be killed.
Nevertheless, they leave. And in what numbers, and for how long, and with what effect–well, who knows?
So is it true? Behind all the grim stories of rape and violence, does the Muslim invasion of the West have a key element that hardly anyone has noticed? Is God using this to advance the Kingdom of Our Lord Jesus Christ?
It just might be, you know. It just might be. He does love to work in unexpected ways.
And if the stories are true, our family in Christ is getting bigger–and we have some fatted calves to kill.
I know I’ve posted this before, but I need it today. And boy, if there ever was an age in which wholesale Christian revival was needed, it’s this one.
One of my chess buddies has suggested to me that I’d be healthier and happier if I stopped covering certain kinds of news stories, although he would miss reading them. He has a point there. But I feel it’s my duty to sound the alarm–and if no one’s listening, well, God won’t blame me for that.
Anyhow, here’s a hymn to give the soul a nice, vigorous rinsing.
You wouldn’t believe some of the stories I don’t cover.