September 9

Posted on Sep 9, 2023

Historian Arnold Toynbee, in an essay titled Christianity and Civilization, presented at Oxford University, said: “Democracy is another leaf from the book of Christianity, which has also, I fear, been torn out and, while perhaps not misread, has certainly been half emptied of meaning by being divorced from its Christian context and secularized; and we have obviously, for a number of generations past, been living on spiritual capital, I mean clinging to Christian practice without possessing the Christian belief, and practice unsupported by belief is a wasting asset, as we have suddenly discovered, to our dismay, in this generation.” The solution is not to try to reinsert Christianity into democracy, but proclaim salvation to sinners. We need to follow our Lord’s example: “Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come” (Heb 13:12-14). It is divine power the evangel needs, not popularity.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 26-28   Memorize: Romans 5:15