INTRODUCTION

REFLECTIONS OF A CHRISTIAN

From the other side of the pulpit.

As a hard drinking, heavy smoking and workaholic 79 year old Christian, it is natural to consider my beliefs and experience.
These are the views of a busy layman who has attended church, at least once a month, for over 60 years.
They are from the other side of the pulpit.

I left school and started farming at the age of 17.
In 1954 I bought my own farm and married Stella. Ten years later I enrolled at university and earned a degree in economics.
In 1970 I was awarded of a medal for research in communal agriculture. I then returned to farming.
I have always been active in civic affairs: chairman of farmers’ association, founder of a buying co-op, 12 years on the national tobacco farmers’ council and the Tobacco Research Board.
These activities required the thorough objective analysis of problems and their causes I have tried to analyse my religious experience in the same way in eleven essays listed below.
As a Christian I am concerned at the serious and steady decline of support for churches. My conclusions are controversial or even provocative, they should be judged by whether the are consistent with the evidence of their origins.

PART ONE: A LONG JOURNEY IN FAITH

Essay 1 WHERE WE ARE
Our wonderful world made by our unseen Creator and His purpose.

Essay 2 HOW WE GOT HERE
Four roots of Christianity and our society.

Essay 3 CHRISTIAN SERVITUDE
50 frustrating years as an Anglican , believing this is how to worship God.

Essay 4 CHRISTIAN EMANCIPATIOM
Revelations of Christian living and fulfilment of my faith in Christ.

PART TWO: THE GREAT DECEPTIONS

Essay 5 MISLEADING PREACHING
Manmade additions in preaching are diversions from Christ’s Teaching.

Essay 6 CHURCHES NEED REFORM
Churches need to discard the deceptions which have been added to Christ’s Teaching.

Essay 7 CLERGY AND LAYMEN
There are fundamental differences between constraints on the lives of clergy and laymen

Essay 8 CHURCH TEACHING
Churches must teach Christ’s Message for living to their young members as a guide for their future lives

Essay 9 THE BIBLE -
The Gospels-God’s Holy Truth through Jesus on how men should serve God.
The Acts if the Apostles reports the power of the Holy Spirit in inspiring the Apostles in their Ministries which founded Christianity. This Power is still there for Christians
The Old Testament reports the pre-Christian scriptures of Judaism.
Christ gave his life to replace these doctrines but they are still revered as holy Truth.

Essay 10 THE TRIUMPHS OF THE PHARISES.
The Pharisees rejected Jesus’ Teaching and prevented most Jews from becoming Christians. Yet their scriptures are revered with Christ’s Teaching in the Bible.

PART THREE
Tragically the majority of western people believe in God but do not worship in church.

Essay 11 REFORMATION NEEDED
Many manmade additions to worship are unacceptable to many modern discerning believers.
Reformation is desperately needed to return to Christ’s simple Teaching to individuals of God’s purpose for their lives.