Paganism

​There is a tendency among those who call themselves Christians to belittle or make light of the convictions of people devoted to animate and inanimate objects. It is as if those who consecrate themselves to Mother Earth or who view themselves as gods are less genuine somehow in their convictions.  It is in devaluing their convictions that we lose any right to be heard.

Meditation
Luke 12:29-31-- Don’t keep striving for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you.
 
What makes the Christian unique from the pagan is not validity of conviction.  We have no right to say we are more sincere than another is.  The issue is not how passionate one runs but rather who or what one is running after. What makes Christianity unique is that God reached down to us and through His awesome Son saved us!  We do not impress Him or make the God-team by our efforts.  We become His children by recognizing our inadequacy (sin), our need for forgiveness and the justifying grace that can only come through a perfect Mediator.  We let go of this kingdom in which we exist for His kingdom we pray will come.  It is this journey of letting go and trusting God, which makes us distinct from pagans. 
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What man-made religion or hedonistic constitution produces salvation from sin? The pagan may seek escape from a painful reality.  He may worship life and believe in cyclic renewal or regression but he cannot escape dirt.  Only the Maker of dirt can redeem and wash whiter than snow the sin-tainted, pride-mangled, deteriorating matter wrapped around an eternal soul.  To fight over whose convictions are genuine is like grabbing smoke.  Let pagans have their say and honor their right to clasp whatever they value.  Then walk with integrity after the Lover of humanity.  By seeking to love Him, by living to know Him, you may very well be used by God to help another see the Light.  The most effective witness is not the one who uses the loudest megaphone but rather the one who holds and obeys the still small voice.  
 
Inspiration
There is in our midst today a strong revival of pagan spirituality.  Many are using the terms of Hinduism or Buddhism to expound Christianity, and they end not in expounding Christianity at all, but in expounding the very human experience of consecration, which is not peculiar to Christianity.  The peculiar doctrine or gospel of the Christian religion is entire sanctification, whereby God takes the most unpromising people and makes saints of them.—Oswald Chambers in Christian Discipline
 
©2001 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)