Practical Living
There is one part of Christianity which can never be confused; that is the practical outworking of the doctrines which we hold as the revelation of God's will for us. An unbeliever may bring forth an argument against a doctrine, but he can never argue against a holy life, except to hate it and say that the one who is living it is missing the sinful joys which the world holds to be paramount.
In addition to the great doctrinal teachings concerning redemption which are found throughout the Word of God, there is the very practical teaching that there is no contradiction between human effort and humble dependence upon the help of God. This theme is supported by many parallels through the history of men of faith. It may be true, and the skeptics have not failed to bring it up, that our forefathers appointed a day of fasting and prayer in time of pestilence, while in our own day an immediate survey of the sanitary system is made. Any antithesis between the two methods of approach is a false one. It is true that the development of civilization gives us an increasing knowledge of such matters as the method of the spread of disease, but that in no wise lessens our utter dependence upon God.
The right arms of the Scottish soldiers were strengthened, not weakened for battle as they knelt in prayer on the field of Bannockburn. Oliver Cromwell spoke truly when he declared that his army did not become uniformly victorious until he had gathered into its ranks men of faith "who made a conscience of all they did." And who, in World War II, would dare to say that the ardent faith and daily prayers of General Montgomery had benumbed his energies or weakened his activity? The old gibe that Christianity is "dope" is notoriously untrue. To depend on God is far from paralyzing to the energies of man. It is instead the greatest possible incentive to activity, courage, and endurance.
There is not contradiction between the word, "Trust the Lord and keep your powder dry," and the Biblical word, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God" (Ps. 20:7). There may be many people who have more confidence in tanks and airplanes than they have in God, but the Christian knows that the Lord is the one who rules and overrules. Our trust is in Him.
1. Is it a comfort to your daily situations that the Lord has dominion over everything? If yes, what about this doctrine is your comfort? If no, why not?
2. Dr. Barnhouse seems to be proposing that faith is far more momentous then any earthly power, is that true?
