The Weight of Glory.

The following is a section from a sermon entitled, The Weight of Glory, presented on June 8, 1942 to the Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Oxford, by well renowned author C.S. Lewis, who authored such books as Mere Christianity and The Chronicles of Narnia. In this message to the church, Lewis argues that there are no insignificant human beings, and no insignificant human encounters. That every single human being you meet will spend eternity in either suffering without hope or indescribable glory.

It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor. The load of weight or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken....It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities...that we should conduct all our dealings with one, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. 

 With that being said, should I as a Christian, "bear the weight or burden of my neighbor's glory on my back?" I don't think that Lewis regarded this entire burden to be placed on my individual shoulders. There are so many factors that come into play with a person's salvation. But if I were to ask him what he is getting at, I am pretty confident he would say he is trying to persuade the church to do the work of the ministry (  ). This should be one of the primary focus' of a Christian's thought, and motivation when gazing upon the human race; and gazing upon the Lord's glory when we are supremely focused on Him.

If you would like to download the whole sermon, you can find it HERE.

Private Interpretation

Was really hoping that someone would shoot me some feedback re: "Conversation with Patrick." The thing about street work...you study up & pray up, but it is a fluid situation out there in the real world. I usually pray Acts 4:29 (boldness & filling of the Holy Ghost) and Philippians 2:12-13 because I don't have the power and wisdom needed to get the job done. I am depending on God to work through me as I yield to him and go.

I save audio out on the street for a couple of reasons. One: if someone accuses me of saying something inappropriate, I want a record so I can refute it (or not, depending on what is deemed "inappropriate"). And two:  also opens  a small window of sound into this ministry, and we share it for the edification of the body of Christ.

So guess what? I have to listen to myself and do the audio editing to get something worth sharing on the website. Yep, even the cringe-worthy times when I blow it. Last Saturday I read from Psalm 90:10-12, and kept losing my place. Sheesh!  Or worse, when I am inpatient with a heckler, or when I miss a sound biblical response, like a major one I found with listening to the audio of my conversation with Patrick.

And here I thought someone would call me on it! It was when Patrick was commenting on "my interpretation" of what the Bible says regarding salvation alone in Jesus Christ. So, class, what is the Bible-Believer's response to this statement?

2 Peter 1:20- 21

Yes, taken in context, comparing scriptures with scriptures, etc. If we have anything, saints, we have God's mind regarding the way of salvation. Jesus is indeed THE WAY, and no one comes to the Father but by the one-and-only Savior of sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We cannot encourage one another enough to be Bereans in these last days. Heresy and apostasy abound. The Bible is being questioned and attacked and neglected like never before. It is not uncommon for Pastors, Preachers, and other church leaders to set themselves above the flock and
make themselves un-approachable regarding what they teach and preach. Not so at Iowa Seed Sowers. We're just brothers and sisters in the Lord, and are open to questions, exhortation, and even a rebuke, if warranted (Proverbs 27:5).