Once again, a Holy Week has found me reading John Keble’s Good Friday sermon, “The World’s Conduct to the Man of Sorrows.” This time a passage stood out to me as an almost prophetic admonition for us today (Emphasis his.):
One very common and very dangerous trial is when notions and practices forbidden by God’s law and His Church are become customary under whatever pretense. . . . These things are now become so common that I suppose it must require Christian courage, something like taking up the Cross, in any one who resolutely sets himself against them on true Church principles. Surely, then, this is a time in which we ought to be much on our guard as to how much we join in the disrespect and scorn with which the world is sure to treat every opinion or person which it calls bigoted. If there be such a thing as Christian truth and a Christian Church, surely they are to be upheld, and we must cling to them in spite of any loss or credit, ease or purpose.
This is more applicable now than when it was preached. Today, standing firm on orthodoxy and against falsehood will get one called a bigot and for many it does risk loss in many forms. But we faithful are to do so anyway.
And, yes, that includes opposing the various falsehoods, pollutions of the gospel, and false gospels pushed on the church and in the church by “social justice” cabals. That is part of carrying our cross. At least that is part of carrying my cross.
And there are many Christians and faux Christians who are joining the world “in the disrespect and scorn” against those courageous faithful who are standing on orthodoxy and against “social justice” errors and falsehoods. These scorners should stop and repent for their own good and for the good of the church and of the Gospel.
Yes, Keble’s admonition is certainly applicable to us in the Anglican Church in North America.
My God grant us all grace and strength to take up our cross and follow Jesus.
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