When I was growing up in the distant past, some of the most often sung songs were those about the blood of Jesus. Who can remember singing, "Washed in the Blood," or "There's Power in the Blood?" I remember. It seems like yesterday when I first sang, "What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus." Today's church culture is different from that day. Talking about the blood of Jesus seems to be politically incorrect, or maybe it is, theologically incorrect. And, when it comes to singing those old songs about the blood of Jesus, many folks find other songs which are less offensive to this generation of "Gimme' the feel-good religion."
In a culture where the entertainment industry keeps us knee deep in violence and bloody images, it seems strange that today's church leaders and go-ers have such an aversion to blood. Action movies with intense violence and graphic more real than life imagery are the big buck makers. But, have a preacher throw out a sermon that gets a bit graphic about Jesus dying on the cross and parishioners have a meeting at the door to remind the preacher that children are present. I do not remember being undone, upset, and unable to sleep because I heard some preacher preaching on the blood of Jesus, but I do know it often penetrated a rebellious heart and put it under conviction which was a good thing.
Maybe we have thrown out the baby with the bath water when we avoid any mention of the blood of Jesus Christ. Most folks can quote I John 1:8-9, but seldom attach the last part of verse 7 to it. It reads, "...and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." It would seem that something so important and so powerful would get more attention than it does. It may be difficult for some to dig out how it works, but the digging will be well worth the effort.
In a culture where the entertainment industry keeps us knee deep in violence and bloody images, it seems strange that today's church leaders and go-ers have such an aversion to blood. Action movies with intense violence and graphic more real than life imagery are the big buck makers. But, have a preacher throw out a sermon that gets a bit graphic about Jesus dying on the cross and parishioners have a meeting at the door to remind the preacher that children are present. I do not remember being undone, upset, and unable to sleep because I heard some preacher preaching on the blood of Jesus, but I do know it often penetrated a rebellious heart and put it under conviction which was a good thing.
Maybe we have thrown out the baby with the bath water when we avoid any mention of the blood of Jesus Christ. Most folks can quote I John 1:8-9, but seldom attach the last part of verse 7 to it. It reads, "...and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." It would seem that something so important and so powerful would get more attention than it does. It may be difficult for some to dig out how it works, but the digging will be well worth the effort.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment