«O escândalo da Cruz» - Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899 – 1981)
Autor: Pr. Hercules | Publicado: 2011-09-30T07:55:00-07:00

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Houve tempo em que era verdade dizer que as multidões reconheciam a veracidade do Evangelho. . . mas deixavam de pô-lo em prática. Pode ser que foram além e se opuseram às suas exigências morais e éticas mais estritas. Mas assim mesmo lhe estavam pagando tributo e erguendo barricadas de defesa para o pecado e a fraqueza delas mesmas. Naqueles dias o Evangelho era reconhecido como algo que apresenta o melhor modo de vida. . . Essa foi a situação eutrora. Já não é assim, porém. . . a atitude geral para com o Evangelho mudou completamente. . . hoje ele está sofrendo ativos ataques e oposição. Na verdade, chegamos a um estágio ulterior àquele; ele está sendo ridicularizado e menosprezado. A pretensão, hoje em dia, é que o Evangelho é uma coisa que nenhuma pessoa instruída e razoável pode aceitar ou crer. É posto na categoria de folclore e superstição. . . Tudo isso pode ser provado, contesta-se, pelo avanço do saber, pelo resultado dos descobrimentos científicos, e pela luz que a psicologia lançou sobre a natureza humana e seu estranho comportamento. Certos aspectos do ensino moral do Evangelho são aceitos e elogiados, havendo, contudo, quem rejeite até isso, mas, quanto às reivindicações centrais do Evangelho . . .todas estas coisas são rejeitadas com desdém e sarcasmo.Segundo o homem moderno, a salvação deve ser buscada no pleno uso das capacidades e poderes humanos que podem ser exercitados pelo saber e pela educação. O homem deve salvar-se a si próprio; o homem pode salvar-se a si próprio. . . E se alguém se aventura. . . a dizer que o Evangelho é a única esperança da humanidade. . . aos berros lhe dirão que ele é lunático ou doido.Todavia, é precisa e exatamente isso que afirmamos hoje, como Paulo o fez há tanto tempo. . . Não hesitamos em proclamar que a única esperança dos homens está em crer no Evangelho de Cristo.