Do You Want Practical......Part Two

               I hesitated to bring this up....but I've mentioned it before....probably the biggest mistake that R. C. made over his half-century long fruitful ministry. Let me digress a little. It would be hard to impossible to describe R. C.'s influence on the church....and on unbelievers....all over the world.....and it began right here in Pittsburgh.....as R. C. was raised only a few miles from where I was raised. He was one of the brightest lights with which God has blessed His church.....and his ministry still flourishes....and I listen in all the time and still support that ministry. Thank you Lord....for faithful men like this!
               Here is R. C.'s major mistake. He was a huge Pittsburgh Steeler fan....and humorously mentioned them....not often....but occasionally....on his Renewing Your Mind program. We have this difference in the church today on the Lord's Day....and in my opinion you can see the result of the church not remaining faithful on the Lord's Day....in the collapse of America. Coincidentally the NFL started its Lord's Day dominance the same year that Hitler came to power....1933. R. C.'s humor....and basically his endorsement of the NFL....surely must have influenced many Christians to pursue sports on the Lord's Day.
                Spurgeon was not perfect....nor Ryle nor Lloyd-Jones. None of the men were nor are perfect. John Piper surely is not perfect....but oh how they blessed us! Ultimately the responsibility for our knowledge of God's intent in the Fourth Commandment....is ours....and if we just pick some famous minister who gives us an excuse to ignore what we are afraid we might find in God's Word....then we are only deceiving ourselves. Someone like myself....may not have missed this particular truth....but I surely missed many other things....so that my even mentioning this in this post is problematic....in that I have to focus on my own mistakes....but nonetheless....the issue is there.
                So how was your worship service yesterday? Might I take a guess? The preacher smiled as everyone came in to the sanctuary....smiled throughout a sermon in which he gave no warnings....or even any indication that this nation is collapsing....or that Jesus and His holy angels are near....then he gave you a big smile once again as you were departing....to wherever....of which he had no interest anyway. We need the Lord's Day back folks.....not in legalism....but to delight in it....and have that hedge of protection back so that our discernment might return.