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.

Midweek Meetings April 29 and May 6 2020


Behind again. In these strange days it is easy to lose track of time. Both of the last two midweek meetings have again been on zoom and have gone okay. For one we looked at James 1:4-6 in a head on confrontation of the situation - Count it pure joy in this trail knowing it feeds perseverance. The second was a more oblique approach looking at Acts 11:24 and Barnabas. That was inspired but not based on a sermon I read recently by Andrew Fuller. The prayer times were okay though a little slow to get going the second time.
Extract 1
Facing this trial then - it is part of the warp and weft of much of our life in Christ.
In the Geneva Catechism Calvin wrote this
The greatest need which a man ever has of the spiritual doctrine of our Lord is when his hand visits him with afflictions, whether of disease or other evils, and especially at the hour of death, for then he feels more strongly than ever in his life before pressed in conscience, both by the judgment of God, to which he sees himself born to be called, and the assaults of the devil, who then uses all his efforts to beat down the poor person, and overwhelm him in confusion.
And therefore the duty of a minister is to visit the sick, and console them by the word of the Lord, showing them that all which they suffer and endure comes from the hand of God, and from his good providence, who sends nothing to believers except for their good and salvation. He will quote passages of Scripture suitable to this view.
... if he sees them overwhelmed, with the fear of death, he will show them that it is no cause of dismay to believers, who having Jesus Christ for their guide and protector, will, by their affliction, be conducted to the life on which he has entered. By similar considerations he will remove the fear and terror which they may have of the judgment of God.
If he does not see them sufficiently oppressed and agonised by a conviction of their sins, he will declare to them the justice of God, before which they cannot stand, save through his mercy embracing Jesus Christ for their salvation.
On the contrary, seeing them afflicted in their consciences, and troubled for their offences, he will exhibit Jesus Christ to the life, and show how in him all poor sinners who, distrusting themselves, repose in his goodness, find solace and refuge. ...
That is what I am trying to do with this passage tonight.

Extract 2
There was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War called John Eager Howard. In 1781 he was wounded in a bayonet charge in South Carolina. He went on to be a politician serving in the national senate. The Southern Army commander Major General Nathanael Greene famously wrote of Howard that he was "as good an officer as the world affords. He has great ability and the best disposition to promote the service .... He deserves a statue of gold no less than Roman or Grecian heroes." You could say the same of Barnabas. He was good and he deserves to be remembered more than Caesar or Alexander the Great.
To be good we need to see at least four things in our lives.
1. We need to follow God
2. We ought to have a good effect on others

3. We ought to be incorruptible
4. We ought to be generous, positive, kind or whatever else is good

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