GERALD COWAN’S PERSONAL PERIODICALS
Number 595 • December 20, 2020
HOW MUCH LIKE JESUS DO YOU WANT TO BE? ARE YOU REALLY LIKE HIM?
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT JUDAS, AND JESUS’ TREATMENT OF HIM?
I’ve been attending church assemblies regularly for about 64 years, been a Christian for 63 years and a preacher of the gospel for nearly 63 years. “What would Jesus do?” was a popular question and saying some time ago, though it isn’t heard or seriously asked much these days. Why? There was a time when I heard people in church assemblies sing, “Oh to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer; this is my constant longing and prayer.” Another favorite song was, “I want to be more like Jesus…More and more like Jesus.” A common ‘invitation’ song was, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.”
I thought, and still think, these songs ought to be the theme of every Christian, sung often in witness of our faith and our relationship to Him and to God. But I do not hear them sung often any more. Why? Is it because we really do not want to be like Him? Do we think Jesus is no longer an effective and satisfying guide and role model for us? Are we afraid the world will shun us if we are like Him and not enough like them? Do we really want to be master of our own life and destiny rather than submit to someone outside ourselves? Maybe we just feel that somehow it would be hypocritical to sing something we do not whole-heartedly attempt to do or to be. Continue reading