I have been reading a lot of emergent church material lately, and have been thinking a lot about John Eldredge’s new book. I will write about John’s new book someday soon. All I can say for now is this… for me it’s very refreshing to read the greats from the past. It refreshes my soul. The following quote is from Joesph Parker (1830 to 1902) the great preacher of London in the late 19th century.
Regarding Matthew 10:21, he said,
“Do not imagine that goodness is peaceful. Goodness is controversial. It always sends a sword upon the earth and kindles a fire, dividing families. It sets the father against the belief of the child, and the child against the father, and the brother against the brother, and it kindles a great fire upon the earth. We have succeeded now in putting the fire out and have come to the age of courteous civilities and tender regard for one another’s evil habits. The old goodness, the Christ-goodness, fought every day, not with blade of steel but with keener blade of conviction, enthusiasm onto itself that it might win the battle against evil and darkness and corruption.”
Here here!