Christian Message Boards: bornagain Christians and sight-seeing

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Posted by Eden (Member # 5728) on :

As a bornagain Christian who is asked to be "in the world but not be of the world", what should a bornagain Christian's stance be when he or she goes to China and sees some of the magnificent temples and buddhas, or he or she goes to Egypt and sees all of Hamite Misr's temples to its Hamite gods.

Am I supposed to still admire them, and if so, for what, if only Jesus is the Son of God and His Father YHWH is the Creator of heaven and earth.

What therefore should the attitude be of a bornagain Christian when it comes to sight-seeing the world that he is "in" but is not supposed to be "of" anymore?

eden

Posted by Caretaker (Member # 36) on :

I believe that one can appreciate the edifices of man's efforts, without worshiping them. When the Lord God dwells within our heart we only need to turn from the towering structures to the mountains, skies, majestic oceans, or to look at our own hand to appreciate how much greater is God's creation.

I wrote this as an exercise in contrast/comparison, with unusual rhyme and meter. It won third place in a poetry competition and was published in a national writers journal.

The Poet

His paintings shaped the face of the moon and stars,
Rhythm to the woodpecker chirp to the cricket,
Shimmer to the tree the down in the thicket,
Cutoff in our blindness cell without bars.

His love filled the oceans, rivers, and streams,
Gills to the fishes croak to the frog,
Ripple to the waves the hollow to the log,
Evil clouds in the heart fear in our dreams.

His majesty shaped the mountains, valleys, and hills,
Flight to the eagle whoop to the crane,
Mist to the meadow thunder's refrain,
Gilded jealousy seeking cheapened thrills.

His joy colored winter, spring, summer, and fall,
Hop to the bunny hoot to the owl,
Snow to the treetops drops on the bough,
Shriveled soul huddling behind stone wall.

His poetry moves the heavens, the earth, and its core,
Firefly's light and coyote cry,
Shimmering sunlight comet in the sky,
Disparaging heart we cry out for more.

©1999 Drew D. Montgomery