Thursday, May 07, 2009

Dangers of "Fruitfulness" Without Holiness

Every Bible teacher should read Michael Oh's short article "The Danger of “Fruitfulness” without Purity: Thoughts on Personal Holiness and Ministry by a Younger Leader" . We have an endemic issue of talent substituting for personal holiness.

"Years ago, I asked Jim Downing, one of the patriarchs of the Navigator work, “Why is it that so few men finish well?” His response was profound. He said, “They learn the possibility of being fruitful without being pure. God is slow to remove his hand on a man he has anointed. One day that man may sin, then experience God’s blessing. Then it happens again and again and he begins to believe that purity doesn’t matter. Eventually, he becomes like a tree rotting inside that is eventually toppled by a storm.”

Let us guard our purity and inner life, that we might teach to change lives!

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