Required reading
The attraction of the cross by Gardiner Spring (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 21 (The sinner's excuses refuted by the cross).
My summary
This week Spring answers a number of objections to Christianity made by unbelievers.
The objections include:
(i) they see that men differ a lot on Christian doctrines;
(ii) they have no time;
(iii) they have known very many excellent people who were not Christians;
(iv) they see that Christians do not live up to their profession;
(v) they shall not hold out if they undertake Christianity;
(vi) their companions and friends are not Christians;
(vii) they know not if God will accept them;
(viii) they cannot become a Christian (it is impossible).
What grabbed me
A good chapter.
I particularly liked Spring's answer to the objection that there is no time to be a Christian: 'There is another class of persons who allege as the great reason for not becoming Christians, that they have not time. This reason is fatal to piety, if it is true. Religion requires time. It requires fixed and steady thought. It can never be obtained by a slight and cursory view of its importance, nor without drawing toward it the warmest affections of the heart. If there is any man who has no time to attend to it, I see not but his prospects for eternity are dark and gloomy to the last degree. Time is unspeakably precious. It is the gift of God, and no wealth of the world can purchase it. A dying queen once exclaimed, " Millions of money for a moment of time! We may well pity the man who has no time to become a Christian. It would be strange if God had so ordered the affairs of men that they have not time for all that' he requires of them. He does require them to repent and believe the Gospel ; and he never would have required this, on such fearful pains and penalties, without giving them time to attend to this great duty. He has told them that the great business and end of human life is to fear God and keep his commandments ; and, whatever else they pursue, to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. '' He has given them time for this object more than for any other purpose in the world. He knows their earthly wants and has given them time for these; and he knows their spiritual wants, and has given them time for these. If men will devote all their time to the pursuits of earth, and have none left for God and eternity, they do it in opposition to his commands and counsel, in violation of the wise arrangements of his providence, and at their own peril. I say they do this in violation of the wise arrangements of his providence. Men who conscientiously devote time to this great work, have never found that it interferes with other duties, but rather prepares them for, and assists them in, performing other duties, and secures the divine blessing upon the work of their hands. They save time by devoting a due portion of it to the concerns of eternity. The true difficulty with those who complain that they have no time for the business of religion is, that they have not just impressions of the importance of religion. Men always find time for what they think the most important; and whenever the duties of religion appear to them the most important; they will no longer plead that they have no time to attend to this great concern.'
God is indeed worthy of our time.
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 22 (The cross rejected, the great sin) and the Conclusion.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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