November 17, 2015 – PaulThompsonBlog

I’m enjoying the reading of J.C. Ryle’s book “Holiness”. WOW.

“Of all the foolish things that parents say about their children there is none worse than the common saying,

‘My son has a good heart at the bottom. He is not what he ought to be; but he has fallen into bad hands. Public schools are bad places. The tutors neglect the boys. Yet he has a good heart at the bottom.’

The truth, unhappily, is diametrically the other way. The first cause of all sin lies in the natural corruption of the boy’s own heart, and not in the school.”

There’s a lot in this short excerpt. And Ryle has a lot more to say.

But get this…

parents say foolish things to defend their children
this was published in 1877
to say our children have ‘good hearts’ is to disagree with Scripture
public schools never have been designed to teach holiness
public schools were neglecting our boys long before today
by ignoring our own child’s spiritual condition is to put him and others at risk
- he’s at risk if we don’t understand he has a spiritual bent to evil
- others are at risk of being influenced by his evil heart
humanity has abilities to do grand and noble things in the arts, sciences, literature, medical, etc, but the fact still remains that in spiritual things he is utterly dead.

Let’s agree: This is a matter of serious importance and it is a global debate that is in full swing. And it appears most of us don’t know how to fairly debate anything. It works like this…

“My opinion is better than your stupid opinion.” or “Let’s just agree to disagree.” I don’t like saying or hearing this kind of jargon in matters of serious discourse. True; there are sometimes stupid opinions and there are times when we agree to disagree. But neither of those conclusions work in this one.

There’s a popular argument I want to address in a future post on this matter that I’m hearing. “Jesus was a refugee”! I’ll hold my opinion close at hand right now on the right and wrong of that statement. (I fear it will get me off track of the starting place I have here.)

There are only a few places in written/spoken media that is not committed with both feet in one camp or another on the refugee issue.

We (Christians) are so quickly and easily divided at times.

There is no doubt the global scene is tragic at many levels and in all places around the world.

This kind of situation calls for us to be careful in what we do and how we say what we say.

And it shows me how little I understand some things at times. Here’s something that is causing me to process and meditate on.

JURISDICTION: This seems to be more a question of jurisdiction than compassion. The church should know her jurisdiction and give attention to all within her duty (even to the ends of the earth).

The church is not granted jurisdiction of public safety, it’s not the churches job or duty, that is given to the state (secular government) by God, who has the jurisdiction to give it to the state (secular government). The jurisdiction of the church is preaching the gospel, prayer and to give aid to widow/orphan/poor, those in great need. If the state brings them – the church cares for them.

Personally, I don’t want a state to bring non-vetted or under-vetted residents; but if the state were to be so foolish to do so then this church stands ready to help all residents the state recognizes.

This kind of day reminds me of how important it is that I understand God’s order and jurisdiction he gives for our benefit and we are in a better place to advance His gospel when we submit to His order.

To be clear, I do think that there are stupid opinions at times. And I agree that you are free to disagree with mine.

Articles from November 17, 2015

Public Schools are…

My opinion is better than your stupid opinion

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