The similar phrase 'Worldly Christianity' is one used by Bonhoeffer. It's J Gresham Machen that I want to line up most closely with. See his Christianity and culture here. Having done commentaries on Proverbs (Heavenly Wisdom) and Song of Songs (Heavenly Love), a matching title for Ecclesiastes would be Heavenly Worldliness. For my stance on worldliness, see 3 posts here.

Second Sidcup

So on Sunday it was back to Sidcup, this timei n the car with all the family (except Rhodri). We left early in case we hit the London Marathon. We did see some runners but it wasn't a problem for us. Sad to see the Lord's Day used for this.
I preached to about 70 in the morning (from Ezekiel 1:1-3:15) and around half that in the evening (on the red heifer mentioned in Hebrews 9). The sixties chapel is quite large and so the people are dwarfed rather. I am not used o being so far from my congregation. You have to be a little less interactive in such circumstances. The congregation is on the older side but active older rather than decrepit older. There were a few children and I spoke to them referring to what I'd read about Gavin Peacock the day before. Another peculiarity was the use of GEORGE to accompany the hymns. I've done that once before. It works okay. Another oddity that morning was the presence of on duty community police officers - something they like to do from time to time.
We had lunch and tea with our good friends the Barns. They were members with us for years. They chose to move to Sidcup for more affordable housing but with a fast train route to London Bridge (for Rick's work). I really admire the way they have got stuck in there, even though they would not see eye to eye on several things (they are postmillennial and he is premillennial for a start). The pastor Stuart Pendrich and his wife Jean joined us for tea and we enjoyed chatting. Both Scottish, Jean is a swimming instructor. Their oldest daughter and her husband are adopting a child and they were explaining the whole difficult process. Another couple in the church gave up the process was so difficult. They also spoke about their son who has been studying for some years in the States in Baptist University and that was interesting too.
And so home to bed after a long but very enjoyable day of Christian fellowship.

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