That very church which the world likes best is sure to be that which God abhors.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that the churches or ideologies that are most popular or appealing to people are often at odds with true spiritual values.
Charles Spurgeon's quote implies that the institutions or belief systems that gain widespread popularity may not align with divine principles. It reflects a critique of superficiality and the tendency for people to gravitate towards what is comfortable or socially accepted, rather than what is morally or spiritually sound. This suggests a caution against conforming to societal norms that may conflict with genuine faith.
In practice
In a sermon about authenticity in faith, this quote could serve as a reminder for congregants to seek genuine spiritual experiences.
Amusement should be used to do us good “like a medicine”: it must never be used as the food of the man...Many have had all holy thoughts and gracious resolutions stamped out by perpetual trifling. Pleasure so called is the murderer of thought. This is the age of excessive amusement: everybody craves for it, like a babe for its rattle.
When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honor to trust Him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle.
It is far easier to fight with sin in public than to pray against it in private.
You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.
After faith comes repentance, or, rather, repentance is faith's twin brother and is born at the same time.
["All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant."] The original Hebrew word that has been translated "paths" means "well-worn roads' or "wheel tracks," such ruts as wagons make when they go down our green roads in wet weather and sink in up to the axles. God's ways are at times like heavy wagon tracks that cut deep into our souls, yet all of them are merciful.
Passion must be concealed in a society where cold reserve and indifference are the signs of good breeding.
You don't have to love animals to recognize that it is immoral and unjust to exploit them. But if you do love animals, but you continue to participate in their exploitation, you need to rethink your idea of what love means.
Human beings are inherently misled into subjective fantasies, but there's a saving grace. We all have different delusions. Other people don't necessarily share yours, and hence they will help you penetrate yours through the miracle of criticism!
The great act of faith is when a man decides he is not God.
We don't need legitimacy. We exist. Therefore we are legitimate.
What white woman, however lonely, was ever captive or insulted by me? Yet they say I am a bad Indian.
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