Keeping Things in Perspective: Mere Ordinances vis-a-vis Ordinances of Spirituality
I thought I was ‘a very good Christian’ until I came across these ordinances that Christians were supposed to adhere to in the time of the Puritans. While I dare say I still did not do too badly by the ordinances, the fact that I failed to live up to all of the ordinances means it was providential I did not come into the world in the time of the Puritans. In stated respect, either I would have been ostracized — but then regardless even now I am ostracized meaning I do not even live up to the ordinances that are upheld by the Church Organizations of these times — or not be admitted into fellowship at all. In stated respect, consider that, commencing in 1844, Michael Faraday, the famous scientist was barred from functioning as an Elder in the Sandemanian Church for upwards of 14 years, because consequent on an invitation from the Queen to dine with her at Windsor, he missed Church for a whole week. The church responded, “what sort of ‘backslider’ misses church services for a whole week only so he can dine with the Queen?”