“You must be born again. You must be born again. You must be born again. There was something wrong with your first birth so you must be born again.”
— Morris Venden, Retired pastor, teacher and author to a group of Pacific Union College theology professors and students during the tensions of the Ford controversy in 1978-79.
A group had rented a facility off the campus (“so everyone can have freedom to speak their conscience”) and organized a “symposium” with each religion teacher given opportunity to present a “scholarly paper.” After a series of presentations of papers 20-30 pages long parsing the Greek and Hebrew, Morris Venden, at the time the college church pastor and teacher of one class, presented a 2 ½ page paper that began with the words above. For those of us present it was a simple and profound reminder that true Christianity is not about how smart or clever or deep you are but about how much we all need a complete change of heart and attitude before our awesome God.
I’d like to share two practical observations:
(1) For one to be born in less than 9 months is premature. But this is happening to many born-again Christians today. Proper timing, therefore, is necessary.
(2) Being a man, I will never experience the pangs of birth- but I know that pain is always associated with birth. Born-again Christians will suffer the pains of being persecuted by their loved ones. But after the pains, a great reward- just ask the mothers!
deseo mas informacion de las cosas esperituales
Buenas Alex, no estoy segura si has resivido respuesta con respecto a la information que dejaste. Dime, si la information la deseas en Español o Ingles
I would like to read that 2 1/2 page paper by Morris Venden. It sounds like something written that was very significant. I’m an MDiv. student and am in need of the straight truth, short and sweet. If you know where I could read it, please let me know.
Trudy, (a former student of my most loved Pastor, Morris Venden)
Hey Trudy…
You asked for short and sweet.
Here it is.
1. God is love
2. Jesus saves
3. The Holy Spirit wants to fill you now
Everything else beyond that is commentary. Helpful in some cases but just commentary.
Doug Cooper
.I am working hard to find podcasts or tapes of Morris Venden Sermons. Would you by any chance know where I can find them. Thank you, Maris HOdges
Dear Maris,
Thank you for your interest. Good news, I found some Morris Vendon podcasts! Click on this link: http://www.allaboutjesusseminars.org/podcastlist.php. It starts off with several of his son, Lee Vendon, but if you scroll down you will find a some of Morris as well.
thanks for the url! i got some to download but some wouldn’t. miss that man!
I have about 20 of his sermons from the 70s, 80s some from reel to reel, prayer meetings. Most from PUC. solohoh@yahoo.com
American Christian Ministries has a few that you might like. Call them as they may be special order.
I also have sermons of Pastor Venden’s from the 70′s at the PUC church. They are on cassette. I hope to put them on CD if I can’t find them to purchase. Write me for a title list if you like. GW