The following reading is taken from a book that was researched over 25 years using stats to back the research. The Newspaper was published in Saskatchewan, Canada and was written about 98 years ago. So, why in the last 98 Years has:
A. Has Worshiping the Trinity become out of vogue? Has our nation improved that much in overflowing honesty, love, kindness, and great homes- that we no longer need to come at the feet of God? Has it really?
B. Was Canada really to be marked as a “God fearing nation.” Meaning– Canadians on the most part respected the Trinity, saw deliverance of some sort. Thought Heaven was worth more than earth. And, found release at the cross of Jesus Christ- either though confession to God or man- from the deep scarlet stains of their sins. (Note: The first commandment is to Love God with everything. Did Canadians and do Canadians do that? Ummmm…the answer is easy to answer.)
C. Why is God now an evil villain? Materialism and the microscope- the final solution? And walking past the thresh-hold of a Church door that worships the Trinity (Father, Son/Jesus, and Holy Spirit) so– unnerving? Boring? Without reality or its own reward?
Sad: And “Oh- How He Loves Us- Oh!”
Book: Fragmented Gods: The Poverty and Potential of Religion in Canada
Author: Prof. Reginald Bibby
Page 11: “Overall, two in three Canadians were sitting there in Churches on that Sunday in 1946… Today, that scene looks increasingly old-fashioned…Two-thirds to one in merely forty years.”
Note: this book was published in 1987. It’s now 2010 and to ask what percentage of Canadians are going to worship the Trinity (Father, Jesus/Son, Holy Spirit) today would be a bit scary and sad.
The Pioneer, Hawarden, Sask. (Newspaper)
April 26 1912
The Sunday School
Lesson 4- Second Quarter,
For April 28, 1912
Text of the lesson: Matt. 5: 1-12
Memory Verses 2-5 Golden Text.
Matt. 5:8- Commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns
“The lesson to-day and the portion from Luke 5 suggested to be read with this and which will be our lesson next week looks somewhat like the same discourse; but, while the subject matter is similar, the words were spoken on two different occasions. This is seen by comparing Matt. 5:1 and Luke 6:17. In the former we read that “He went up into a mountain and when He was set His disciples came unto Him.” and in the latter, “He came down with them and stood in the plain.” Both John the Baptist and Jesus had been preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2 and 4:17), and Jesus had been through all Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all manner of sickness and disease (Matt. 4:23). In Matt. 4 to 7 we have the principles of the kingdom which was then at hand, which was postponed because they rejected it and Him (Luke 19:11,12), but which He will set up on the earth at His coming again in glory. The teaching of these chapters does not set before us a life to be lived to be liked to procure salvation, but a life that can be lived only by saved people, for it is written, “His disciples came unto Him and He opened His mouth and taught them.” (verses 1,2 of Matt. 5) so that those who say that this sermon suits them and is gospel enough for them do not know what they are saying, for His first utterance condemns all pride and self sufficiency, just as the first of the Ten Commandments lays all low in the dust and rings in the whole world guilty before God (Rom. 3:19). There is a wonderful analogy between those beatitudes of our lesson and the petitions of the prayer in chapter 6:9-13, commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer, more correctly the disciples’ prayer, an epitome of all true prayer. Only such as are saved, who have become children of God by receiving Jesus Christ as their Savior (John 1:12 ) can truly say “Our Father who art in Heaven.” John 8:44 [Me: pretty strong words here-wow. Not politically correct]applies to all others. Only the poor in spirit can say “hallowed be Thy name,” for all others prefer to magnify their own …………. unreadable……….. Matt. 4: 14, 15;
“Thy Kingdom”
OK— I’m speaking now to you, fellow-Canadian who have roots somehow that lead back to your ancestors worshiping the Tri-Une God. (Sounds dry? So, I’ll say it this way- The Three Persons as One God; and note that, this God “Is Love” according to the scriptures.) Some of you- your roots can find their way to a Trinity worshiping parent, grand-parent, or great-grand-parent, or even a great-great-grand-parent spanning from today to 100 or more years ago. So, what was wrong with their head? Were they wacky for believing what they were told– In the Trinity there’s love, forgiveness, Life more abundantly, a path marked with suffering and joy, and finally- a hope of going to Heaven by trusting all that Jesus did from the cradle to the grave and then onto Heaven itself?
The Sermon: To me– after reading such a sermon from 1912 (about 98 years ago) it’s kinda hard to deny that there was in Canada at the very least a respect for God. There was a sense in Canadians that there are absolutely things that are right and things that are wrong. There was a sense in Canadians that set in the center of such a small town as Hawarden, Saskatchewan a Sunday School Lesson in the primary diet of their day– their local publication. Yes, the Trinity was seen as important enough to make it into the paper in the form of a Sunday School lesson at that.
In the Sermon I find elements that require one to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to even get anywhere near to living out the “good things” that Jesus’ taught. Even starting with a simple prayer as the disciples prayer format that Jesus’ gave to them beginning with Our Father- for the believer. Note: the author saw clearly enough “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” from John 1:12. The good news. Believe! His plea was that neither the “blessed are the…” and the 10 Commands could save anyone. Only faith in Christ. So, let me ask you again— were our ancestors wrong to be establishing Canadian culture and tying her reference point to an Infinite Personal Reference Point- The Trinity: A Father. A Son who died on a cross. A Person- the Holy Spirit- who is still here to save and lead on.
In the throwing off of (The Father, Son/Jesus/ and The Person- The Holy Spirit) what either your great-great-grand-parents, grand-parents, or parents, or relatives today believed/believe and worship– what exactly have you gained in that? What? Please, tell me Canadians— what have you gained? Jesus said- “What shall if profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul.” What has Canada gained by having you throw-off a history that starts with Adam and goes straight to the Cross of Christ and up into Heaven and wove the truth of it all in and out of your forefathers/and foremothers? What Canada? The wove itself into our laws, laughter, living, and conscience– what Canada have you gained by throwing it all off?
Even antique collectors have a passion for what’s old. What’s unique from the past. What we just can’t get anymore today. I’ve heard more than once people say, “Yeah– they sure used to make that piece of furniture or older cars strong and sturdy in those days.” Is the Trinity no longer worth to look back at and perhaps still “STRONG AND STURDY”? Have They failed to hold up Their end of the deal somehow? Canada- who walked away You or God?
Now, let me say this– Canadian culture has walked away from the narrow path of what Jesus taught, “I am the only way, the only Truth (regarding getting back in synchronization with God and all of life), and the only Life. No man comes to the Father except by me.” I’m not saying this to incite some kind or riot towards other religions and peoples with different beliefs in our country. The good news is just too full of love to do any such thing to any Canadian- once grasped. Rather, when I can pick up a Newspaper from 1912 and find a sermon requiring one to be “born again” from above and look at Two Zero One Zero and see hardly a speck of that– I wonder– how, can anyone in Canada for that matter deny that the Trinity was once important– on the stage– at center of Canadian living? How?
The book I quote was 25 years of serious research. He found that by in the late 1940’s- some twenty some years later from the Sunday School Teaching in the paper- that 2/3 Canadians attended like clock-work a place of worship to put themselves in the path of a Tri-Une God. Then some 40 years later thought it not to retain such a practice and went down to 1/3. And today I wonder if it’s even close to 1/5 or 1/10.
The old furniture so elegant and well built. The old car so sturdy and strong- able to protect life and limb. The Old Tri-Une God– the Ancient of Days– calling,
Jeremiah 6:16 (New International Version)
16 This is what the LORD says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Challenge of the day: turn on your TV to the news, open a Newspaper, pour yourself a hundred drinks or a thousand, smoke some …… So, what you have thrown away and what do you now embrace– what do you see? Well, the news is dismal. The Newspaper has some great tragedy usually on the front page. The booze and drugs give you a buzz that perhaps just lulls you to sleep after about 1-5 hours until you awake to your great life of casting off the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit every day. (No I’m not endorsing this or that here– I’m making a point.)
Father God, there are those who would claim that Canada has not been built on the principles flowing from You — God in Three Persons or Three Persons Infinitely In Such A Unity as to be— God the LORD. Lord, You are not just an old great piece of antique furniture. You’re not just an old great built car from times past. Lord, You are from Eternity and Your Purposes are rooted from before the world ever began. I pray that Canadians everywhere would see– this is a cry– this is a call— this is a plea— this is a prayer— “Call out to God and ask Him how to return to the ancient pathers.” — Father, draw them at very least to take a first step to the “crossroads” of Canadian civilization to ask– are we more “civil” by casting off God and adhering to books that say, “God is Dead.”?
Father, draw them. Lift up Your Son high enough for Canadian society to see— “What nation has ever cast off their god?” Jeremiah. We have in large segments and very large ways. Father help Canada to see more than religion- but, at the heart of it all Intimacy With Christ. As the great song says, “He walks with me and He talks with Me, and tells me I am His own… and the joy we share as we tarry there… none other will ever know.” Song You– Canada’s giver of a nation. Canada’s giver of her borders making her a sovereign nation. You– Canada’s giver of glories from shore to shore all calling out Your name. (Creation is Calling- Song- Best Video Clip I’ve Ever Seen) In Jesus Name I pray for this nation. AMEN
And for those of other religions let them know that Jesus has commanded us to go and love them just as You do and those of other beliefs to do the same- simply Love them– and so, let them not be afraid. In Jesus Name AMEN
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