Supply Lines

               There are reports from United States intelligence agencies that Russian troops may be running low on food and gas. It is also reported that the mud from a Spring thaw could inhibit their supply lines. Let us pray that God brings the rains and the mud.
                Supply lines.....that's why I bring this up. Christians have supply lines also.....and I have posted on it a few times over the years. Only two days ago....as my wife and I were on a drive.....I lamented how I deeply missed the Christian bookstore that was once there. For all intents and purposes....Christian bookstores....brick and mortar....are a thing of the past. There are too few to make a difference.
                Somewhere early on in these posts there is a comment on how Christian bookstores had become mostly trinkets and music and wall decorations. I was correct on that....and it was lamentable....and I certainly never hoped that they would just close up....but I did not consider what would happen if they indeed did close up.
                 Readers here may wonder what the big deal is....but books are a big part of my life. We owned a Christian bookstore twenty years ago....and I know the importance of not only providing good Christian literature to the church.....but having this done where anyone who would never....ever....consider going out of their way to find a Christian book....might stop in the store just like they would stop in any other store....to if nothing else browse....for that is exactly what I did in 1982.....browse....while my wife was in Penney's.....not even knowing what a Christian bookstore was....and walking out of that store on that day....with Josh McDowell's powerful apologetc work....Evidence That Demands a Verdict!
                 I know what you are thinking....that you can order any book on the Internet....and have it sent right to your doorstep....but consider this....first of all it made us lazy.....and contributed to the demise of the bookstores that we needed. Oh....I could tell you stories on that. I'll tell you one.....our local fine Christian bookstore...this about six or eight years ago....I knew the owner....who was struggling to keep the store open....a man stopped in one day and the owner spent forty-five minutes describing the different Study Bibles....the man then said that he didn't want to buy one but was going to order it online to get the cheaper price....the store went out of business.
                 Secondly....we are in the habit of reading only what our own group of Christians read. We don't even know that there are other interpretations out there. So if we are in fact Christians in a swamp of nonsense doctrine.....we are stuck there and will never get out.
                 The third point I already mentioned.....what about everyone else who needs what we so lightly just order up on the Internet for our own benefit?
                 OK....point made I hope. These stores were a major part of our supply lines in the church.....for decades! That supply line is cut.....not mired in the mud....cut....and we as a church are floundering. Billy Graham's crusades which for a half century were almost a staple on television....are gone....another supply line cut off.
                 The American megachurch....which every city of any size has.....might be considered by some as a supply line....but these churches by-and-large....recruit....not evangelize. They are in sales....not salvation. People who still have family values are lured in by the impressive building and the magnificent sound system and the entertainment and the safe space and comforting sermons....and to have their children taught....when once again if they were not lazy....they would have been doing that themselves all along. The church then finds itself in the position where it is difficult if not impossible.....if they even cared anyway....to preach the cross....and the blood....and repentance....and the cost of discipleship....and to warn....and nearly impossible to warn these conservative folks....to turn away from....or even be careful of false prophets....even false prophets in politics….for if they are offended then they will just find another megachurch.