While controversy is not always a symptom of a weak or decayed Christianity, the present contentions have been within the church itself; and its holy unity has been rudely rent by trivial disputes. Must not unauthorized schism provoke His displeasure, quench His Spirit, and result in the withholding of the grace without which the church must wither and weaken and decay?
— John MacNaughtan (1807–1884), Presbyterianischer Geistlicher und Moderator
Topics: Church & Congregation, Peace & Rest
Occasions: For Reflection
John MacNaughtan
John MacNaughtan (1807–1884) war ein schottisch-irischer presbyterianischer Geistlicher, der sich 1843 der Free Church of Scotland anschloss und 1861 Moderator der Presbyterianischen Kirche in Irland war. Er stand für die reformierte Orthodoxie sowie die damalige Erweckungsbewegung, geriet jedoch 1846 durch seine Verteidigung von Spendengeldern US-amerikanischer Sklavenhalter an die Freikirche und scharfe Angriffe auf Frederick Douglass in die Kritik. Heutigen Bibellesern begegnet er als Vertreter einer traditionsgebundenen, christuszentrierten Kanzelverkündigung des viktorianischen Protestantismus.
All quotes by John MacNaughtan (3)
The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.
Tim Keller
The Church is not a cultural club, but the family of Jesus.
Pope Francis
The Bible in the pulpit must never supersede the Bible at home.
John Charles Ryle
In essential unity; in nonessentials liberty; in all this charity.
Rupertus Meldenius
Henry Ward Beecher
Philip Yancey
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
In a congregation, every person must be able to be as their heart truly is.
Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf