Fear God, Honour the King

At this time of the year when the sacrifice of those who fought and died, in the struggle against Fascism, Nazism and tyranny, is remembered J. Sidlow Baxter has some interesting and thought provoking comments to make upon the later part of 1 Peter 2:17. The whole verse reads: Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

J. Sidlow Baxter highlights the fact that honouring the civil power must always go alongside fearing God. When patriotism is separated from the fear of God evils such as Fascism and Nazism result.

What is an Evangelical?

Sidlow Baxter is especially known for his epic work entitled "Explore the Book", which is a comprehensive overview of the Bible.

In another of his published writings he makes mention of what an Evangelical is. He indicated that he was happy to be identified as an Evangelical in distinction to all too many leaders in the organised church who doubt or deny precious tenets of our historic Christian Faith.

By using the term "Evangelical" Sidlow Baxter indicated that those who do so believe the five following persuasions:

The philosophies of world religions

Read this today in J. Sidlow Baxter's, Awake, My Heart:

The distinctive messages of the world's various religions and philosophies have been epitomised as follows:
Greece said: Be wise, know yourself;
Rome said: Be strong; acquit yourself;
Confucianism says: Be superior, correct yourself;
Shintoism says: Be loyal, suppress yourself;
Buddhism says: Be disillusioned, annihilate yourself;
Hinduism says: Be absorbed, merge yourself;
Mohammedanism says: Be submissive, yield yourself;
Judaism says: Be holy, conform yourself;
Psychology says: Be self-confident, fulfil yourself;
Materialism says: Be acquisitive, enjoy yourself;
Communism says: Be collective, secure yourself;
But in characteristic contrast to all these Christianity says: Be Christlike, give yourself for others.

'Awake My Heart' by J. Sidlow Baxter

Awake, my heart, in joyful days

To Him who blesses all that days.

His lovingkindness crowneth thee

With daily mercies rich and free

Awake, to worship with the morn,

And consecrate the day new-born.

Again at eve in prayer be found,

As shadows curtain earth around.