Grassington Congregational Church
Our church is a place for you to find rest, renewed hope, courage and inspiration ...
Grassington Congregational Church
Soapbox
"For it is by his unwarranted favour that
you are saved,
through trusting him; it is not your own doing.
It is God's gift, not a reward for work done".
Ephesians 2 v 8-9.
Learn your lessons well
I can see a swathe of sinners sitting yonderAnd they're acting like a pack of fools.
Gazing into space letting their minds wander,
Stead of studying the good Lord's rules.
You better pay attention,
Build your comprehension,
There's gonna be a quiz at your ascension.
Not to mention any threat of hell,
But if you're smart you'll learn your lessons well ...
Every bright description of the promised land meant,
You can reach it if you keep alert.
Learning every line and every last commandment
May not help you, but it couldn't hurt. First you’ve gotta read ‘em, then you’ve gotta heed ‘em.
You never know when you're goin to need 'em.
Just as old Elijah said to Jezebel:
“You'd better start to learn your lessons well!"
Stephen Schwartz - Godspell
Thoughts for Today
Cowardice asks the question - is it safe?Expediency asks the question - is it politic?
Vanity asks the question - is it popular?
But conscience asks the question - is it right?
And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right.
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Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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The error of "Pick 'n' Mix" Religion
In our
increasingly secular society there is a tendency to dumb
down biblical Christianity and reduce it to a set of
comfortable, sentimental and reassuring beliefs that we wish
were true. So often one hears people make remarks such as:
"It's
not
necessary to go to church to be a Christian"
(Interpretation: I'm too idle to get up on a Sunday
morning).
"Christians
are old fogies and talk a lot of nonsense"
(Interpretation: I don't want to mix with those who might
tell me uncomfortable truths and who might challenge my
unfounded/irrational beliefs and prejudices).
"I
don't want to be associated with a bunch of do-gooders"
(Interpretation: If I accepted the tenets of the faith I'd
have to be generous with my money and time in the service of
those in need, and I might have to show compassion to people
I might not like).
We believe that this
self-regarding and delusional approach to religion is
destructive both to the believers themselves and to society
as a whole.
The search for truth & meaning in life
Our church believes that absolute truth exists and can be discerned. This truth is not our own relativistic truth, but God's universal truth transmitted to us though the Bible study, prayer, debate and contemplation. We believe that without it we are lost souls, both in this life and the next.
Exploring the faith
The church
currently uses study materials produced by Rev Rico Tice who
founded "Christianity Explored". Rico is a Church of England
curate based at All Souls, Langham Place in London and has
committed himself to evangelistic ministry. His driving
article of faith is that all those who fail to embrace Jesus
Christ will go to hell, and that he will face censure at the
final judgement should he fail to challenge unbelievers with
Christian truth.
Only a minority of members at Grassington CC would support
Rico's life view without qualification; but most would agree
that although we Christians are flawed and will thus have to
account for our thoughts, words and deeds before God, we
will not face him alone. Instead will be blessed by the
presence of Jesus at our side speaking passionately in our
defence as advocate and friend.
Love wins
Rob Bell's new book "Love Wins" is currently circulating
within the church and receiving warm reviews. See:
From first to last this has been the work of God. he has
reconciled us men to himself through Christ, and he has
enlisted us in this service of reconciliation. What I mean
is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, no
longer holding men's misdeeds against them, and that he has
entrusted us with a message of reconciliation. We come
therefore as Christ's ambassadors. 2 Corinthians 5 v 18-20.
When you are right, you cannot be too radical; when you are
wrong, you cannot be too conservative.
Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.