Romans 12:19, "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord."
There are few things that are more painful to me than to find out that I was betrayed by someone who I thought I could trust. Or to find out that someone who I thought was my friend was saying slanderous things about me behind my back. Or that they were falsely accusing me of something. When it happens, my knee jerk reaction is to either lash out in revenge or set the record straight in a way that I will put them in their place.
Of course, the greatest example of someone who was wrongfully accused was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The accusations brought against him were completely false and yet he allowed himself to be punished wrongfully in order to save us. But there's another great example of a man who was wrongfully accused, Joseph.
You may remember the story of Joseph, how he was sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt. He was bought by Potiphar. His wife had a crush on him and tried to seduce him. When he refused, she accused him of trying to sexually assault her. It was bad enough that she falsely accused him, but she accused him of the very thing that SHE was guilty of.
Sometime later, Joseph has the miraculous day where he wakes up in the prison, but goes to bed in the palace. In one day he went from being a prisoner to the prime minister of Egypt. He was the second most powerful man in the world at that time.
One thing I find interesting about the story of Joseph is that there is no indication that he ever attempted to set things straight. He certainly could have. Nothing is said about whether he went back and dealt with Potiphar and his wife. But we do know how he dealt with his brothers who had done such a hateful thing to him. Genesis 50:19-20 must have sounded like beautiful music to his brothers:
"But Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving many lives."
God had actually used the evil actions of his brothers to save the lives of the people of the near east; which ironically, included them, and possibly Potiphar and his wife (assuming they were still alive).
But you may ask: Is God really using the injustice done to me for good? Romans 8:28 says that God works in ALL THINGS (my caps) for the good to those who are called according to his purpose. So the answer is, yes. He is using everything to mold and shape us into the image of his son, who:
"when they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."(1 Peter2:23).
Sometimes when these things happen, and we are slandered and unjustly accused, God may be orchestrating events in order to position us to be used in a mighty way for his glory. It was certainly the case in Joseph's case. And he could see that the sovereign hand of God had been moving in order to put him in the place where he would become the ruler of Egypt. It does happen, and it's not uncommon. But if we allow ourselves to be eaten up by bitterness, unforgiveness, and a desire for revenge, we will completely miss out on what God may be doing. I recently heard someone say that we must be in a position that God is able to work in our lives. And that means having our hearts and minds in tune with him.
I don't believe that it means pretending that it doesn't hurt. Some things hurt! And they hurt bad! But it does mean that when it hurts really bad, that we cry out to our heavenly Father and give it to him in surrendered trust. Don't focus on trying to get justice through your own efforts. Let God, "who judges justly", do what he is going to do and let him implement his own plan.
The most important thing is if we do allow God to handle the situation in the way he wants to, we will come out on the other side looking more like Jesus. And if we look more like Jesus, we become much more useful servants to our Lord and Master, and God may implement a greater plan than what he had us doing before.
Go with God and may you be richly blessed.
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Don't Allow Weeds to Grow in The Church
The Parable of The Weeds (Matt 13:24-29)
Just to paraphrase the Parable of the Weeds, Jesus tells the story of a farmer planting good seed in his field. During the night an enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat. Of course both came up and the servants asked if they should go and pull up the weeds. The farmer said not to because the servants might end up pulling up the good wheat along with the weeds.
This is later explained that the wheat are the children of the kingdom and the weeds are the children of the evil one. Both are allowed to grow and live together until the judgment. Then Jesus will separate the good from the bad. The children of the evil one will go to their judgment and the children of the Kingdom into glory.
Often this is explained that the church will contain both children of the kingdom and of the evil one. Too may times it is used as an excuse to not properly exercise church discipline. However, Jesus clearly explained that it is NOT the case. In verse 38 of chapter 13 Jesus said, "The field is the world". He didn't say that the field is the church.
When you understand that the field is the world, it is easy to understand what he meant when he said that if the servants uproot the children of the evil one at the present time, they might end up pulling up the children of the kingdom.
When you understand that the field is the world, it is easy to understand what he meant when he said that if the servants uproot the children of the evil one at the present time, they might end up pulling up the children of the kingdom.
In 1 Corinthians 5: 9-11, Paul explains that when he says not to associate with immoral people, he is not refering to the people of the world, but to those who call themselves believers but persist in immoral lifestyles:
"I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people --not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."
Using a little imagination one can easily understand the implications if God judged the wicked now. The entire infrastructure we depend on would collapse. Food and fuel would not get delivered. The power would go out, and so on.
The point is that the church is not supposed to look like this. Rebellious sin is not to be tolerated within the church body. Of course, there will be unbelievers within the walls of the church buildings. And there should be. The fact is, almost all of us at one time were unbelievers attending a church gathering. The hope and goal is that one day every unbeliever attending a church gathering will one day become a believer as well. Or, if not, after a time they will no longer be comfortable and will leave. The church should not be a place where a "weed" can flourish as a weed. We are to be distinct. 1 Peter 2:9 says:
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
If the church looks like the rest of the world or allows herself to be contaminated by the world, it will not be able to declare his praises. Instead the church may be guilty of profaning his name among the nations just as the nation of Judah had done. (Ezek. 36:22)
May it not be said of us that we profaned God's name because we wanted to be like the rest of the world.
May God bless you.
May it not be said of us that we profaned God's name because we wanted to be like the rest of the world.
May God bless you.
Comments
Monday, September 11, 2017
A Leap of Faith
John 10:10, "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
"All men die. Few men really live." Wm Wallace, Braveheart
After my divorce was final last year, I decided to check one off my bucket list. I hesitated to call it "celebrating", because a divorce is nothing to celebrate, so I called it a "rite of passage". The truth is, during our engagement I was invited by some coworkers to go skydiving one weekend. My (then) fiance, said if I was going to go, to do it before we got married so if something happened, she would be mourning the death of her best friend, and not be a grieving widow. I decided not to go. But I always wanted to do it. Now was my chance.
It was a beautiful Saturday morning (July 23) as I drove up to Sebastion Florida. I decided on this place because it was right near the coast, so I would have great views of the ocean. The really cool thing about skydiving in South Florida is that you get the full benefit of the fall. No matter where you live, you jump at around 14,000 feet. If you go in a place like Denver, you land at approximately 5,000 feet meaning only a 9,000 foot fall. In Sebastion you land at 19 feet. So you literally fall 14,000 feet.
I arrived at the place, signed up, paid for it, and spent a seeming eternity signing waivers in case something bad happened. Then I met the man who would do the tandem jump with me and he explained what would happen and how it would all go down. I decided that because I most likely would not do this again, to go all out and have the jump video'd by a separate jumper. Finally the moment came and we boarded the plane.
The only thing I can say is the sensation was very different than I expected. For one thing, there's no feeling of accelerating. That's because you are already moving forward at about 110 knots. Terminal velocity is around that so actually you are just gradually changing direction. It was all over in about 5 minutes.
I reflected on that experience, and other adventures I've had. I've always been a bit of a daredevil. I love the adrenaline rush of skydiving, cliff jumping, and crazy rollercoasters. Although I've had to stop riding rollercoasters after I hurt my back slightly. Even beekeeping provides that rush. Yes, I admit it. I get a bit of a charge out of handling bees with my bare hands...especially if people are watching and freaking out.
I thought about how fear has kept me from pursuing dreams and goals that I have had, and something occurred to me that struck me as very profound:
Skydiving is very easy...child's play really.
The reason is simple -- there's very little risk. And my fears, while very real, are not based on reality. I'm not sure if irrational is the right word, but in reality, it is extremely unlikely that anything bad is going to happen. I don't believe that the skydiving place has ever had a mishap with a tandem skydive. So while the voices inside of me are screaming, "Don't do it!" another voice, the logical, practical one is saying, "There is nothing to be afraid of. You checked out the the skydive place's safety record, Or the water below the cliff, and you've watched the rollercoaster make it's loop and you know it's going to be fine. You took a MUCH greater risk when you got behind the wheel and drove here today." Ultimately, we listen to the practical voice and we jump.
That isn't the way it is in real life.
Those risks are VERY real.
The new dream job might be a nightmare. The business startup might fail. Moving to that place you've always wanted to live may be a disaster. And that relationship could very well end with your heart being broken.
What's crazy is, now the voice that was saying, "Don't do it", is now screaming, "Please!! Get me out of this dead-end, meaningless rut". And the practical voice that assured me that the skydiving was perfectly safe, is now saying, "It's too risky. Don't take any chances. Play it safe". That voice is greatly amplified by the hurts and disappointments I've already experienced.
So while I may have conquered my irrational fear with the jumps and rollercoasters, I'm still crippled by fear. It's just that now it's more rational.
I suppose that a little of the rational fear is good if it makes us count the cost and weigh out the choices. It can keep us from doing stupid, irresponsible things. But that "rational fear" can keep us in bondage too. I found that sometimes I was doing adventerous things to convince myself that I was "really living".
But it was all superficial. I was having "near life experiences".
The only answer I have found is complete, surrendered trust, in the one who is completely trustworthy. Last year I came to the complete end of myself. The expression; "Jesus is all I need", came to have whole new meaning because Jesus was all I had. I had trusted God before, but not completely. It was always with reservation. I was holding back. But when I got to the end of myself I realized what I was holding on to: A vapor -- nothing.
It was actually a wonderful place to come to, because at that point I had nothing more to lose. Sometimes I think God has to get us to that point, so he can begin doing his work in us. In order for us to be filled by him, we first have to be emptied of ourselves.
So while on July 23, 2016, I took a plunge out of an airplane; felt the adrenaline rush and had a blast, I didn't really take a risk. But on August 25, just over a month later, I embarked on a trip back home to my extended family in Minnesota, that would culminate in me moving to Knoxville Tennessee. That was a risk. When I set out that August morning, I didn't know where I'd end up. I never had an end-game plan. What if I couldn't find work? Or what if I can't handle a cold winter? Or (this happened to my dad in Oregon) what if I find out I'm deathly allergic to something that blooms in the spring everywhere here? Or any number of things. I had to trust that God had this under control.
Of course, there's a risk in surrendered trust. And that is that God most likely has a plan for my life that is quite different from the plan I have for my own life. It's funny how we read Jeremiah 29:11 and never see that. It's HIS plan, not mine. God called Peter to step out of the boat. He called Abraham to leave his family and go to a land he would show him. Did you ever notice that God didn't even tell him where he was taking him? He just said he would show him. Jesus said in Luke 9:23-24;
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
So I'm learning what it means to say, "Not my will, but yours". And that I must become less, so that he can become greater. I still have a long ways to go, but I'm closer than I was before. Maybe close enough that I can see a little better how it ends...And surrendered trust has a GOOD ending.
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
YOU CANNOT LOVE JESUS CHRIST AND DESPISE HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH
Hebrews 10: 24-25, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up on meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing. But let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the day approaching."
This past Sunday Neil Silverberg, one of the pastors at the church I am a member of preached on the importance of being a committed part of the church of Jesus Christ. There are many issues he hit on but I want to point out one or two. And hopefully provide a template to use in looking for a church home in the process.
Here are some reasons people give for not being part of a local church:
1. I don't need to be part of an organized church. Church to me is getting together with a couple of friends and discussing life and the bible at Starbucks. Often Matthew 18:20 is cited, "For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them."
Answer: There's an old saying, "A text without a context is a pretext". It is true that Jesus is present when two or three come together, but the context of this passage is intercessory prayer. It is not describing the anatomy of a church gathering.
Here is a template to apply to the meeting at Starbucks, or any other gathering for that matter.
Ephesians 4: 11, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
There are 5 ministries that God provides to build up his church:
1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Evangelists
4. Pastors
5. Teachers
So here are the questions:
Was your group founded on an apostolic foundation? Meaning was it planted and established with leaders and pastors appointed to care for the group?
Is there an evangelistic outreach to reach the lost?
Are you under the care of pastors and and benefiting by teachers who have been gifted by the Holy Spirit?
Do you have the prophetic word of God being spoken into your life in a relevant way?
I would dare say that the Tuesday morning coffee group does not provide any of this.
Another objection I have heard is, "I don't need the church. I don't need pastors and teachers because I have my Bible and that's enough.
Answer: This same Bible tells us that God has chosen to work through his church by special giftings and anointings, given to individuals for the building up of the members. In 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul exhorts his protege to show himself a workman who correctly handles the word of truth. If there is a correct way to handle the word of truth, then there is also an incorrect way to handle it. That is why God established a a 5-fold ministry. In addition, he gives different spiritual gifts to the individual members for the common good (2 Corinthians 12:7-11). If you are not actively a part of a local church congregation, you are not benefitting from the ministerial gifts which are provided by the Holy Spirit. You are not benefitting from spiritual gifts given to other believers, and others are not benefitting from gifts that you have been given.
The church isn't relevant.
Answer: That's a HUGE issue today. Pastor Neil cited some statistics about millenials leaving the visible church. The major reasons were lack of relevance and authenticity. "They have a dim view of church and religion but a hunger for transcendence". In response to young people leaving, many congregations are attempting to attract them by being "cool". That is actually making the problem worse because in our attempt to be "cool" we become even more phony. The answer to the call for relevance and transcendence is the very Gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the only message that offers true hope. The gospel is transcendent because it's final fulfillment is in the next life.
In almost every case I know of where a professing christian used to be a part of a local church and no longer sees the need, there has been deep hurt. I get it! I've been there, done that, bought the T-shirt. The problem with the legitimate body of Christ is that I am a part of it. I am an imperfect, broken sheep being carried in the arms of the good Shepherd. And so is everyone else. We all fall short and we get it wrong sometimes. Sadly, someone is bound to get hurt.
Also, there are a LOT of unhealthy churches out there and even more entities passing themselves off as the church, which are no more the church of Jesus Christ than a cow is a monkey. Jesus said in Matthew 24:11 that there would be many false prophets, not just a few. Often these false churches have one or both of these characteristics:
1. Revolve around a personality -- usually a very charismatic individual who attracts people.
2. Incomplete and therefore misleading view of scripture -- 2 of the most common themes are the Prosperity Gospel (Jesus wants to fix your problems and give you a great life) or the Social Gospel (It's the job of the church to change the world). [Also, Universalism is very appealing because it basically says that there is no coming judgment.]
This is why it is so vitally important to have spirit-filled leadership that correctly handles the word of truth. It is also crucial to be as the Bereans in Acts 17:11 and "search the scriptures daily", to see if what the man in the pulpit is saying is true. You don't need to be a Bible scholar, just write down the references, look them up later and read them in their context. That will tell you a lot.
Now you may be asking; Where can I find such a church as you have described?
I will admit, they are few and far between, but they are out there. If you are truly seeking to be a part of the true body of believers God will provide. A healthy church won't necessarily have all 5 ministries in equal proportion. Often the apostolic may diminish once a congregation is well established, unless that congregation has a special calling to plant churches. There should be an evangelistic ministry toward preaching to the unsaved. But that will vary with different congregations. The pastoral, teaching and prophetic ministry are vital to the life of a congregation. Without it, the congregation is truly a flock of sheep without a shepherd. The wolves are going to have a field day.
I don't have a nice concise conclusion, so I'll just say I'm done. If you are still reading, thank you for bearing with with me. Feel free to share this. If you have any comments or questions but don't want to leave them publicly, you can PM me. I don't pretend to have any answers but but you never know what the Holy Spirit might do.
I pray God's richest blessings on all of you.
Monday, July 31, 2017
Church Discipline
"Expel the wicked man from among you." (1 Cor. 5:13b)
Our church family is working through the New Testament and today's reading is 1 Corinthians 5 which tells about the man having an incestuous relationship with his stepmother. There seems to be a lot of confusion about church discipline. Churches seem to go from one extreme to another. Either they don't do it at all, and anything and everything goes. Or it becomes abusive because it is applied when it should not have been.
A few things stood out to me as I was reading this passage and I observed two main purposes in putting someone out of the church fellowship:
1. To restore the one who is the offender. Verse 5 states, "Hand this man over to Satan, so that his sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord." The purpose here is that hopefully by putting him out of the fellowship it would cause him to repent. In 2 Corinthians 2: 5-11 (assuming it's the same person) when the man does repent Paul says to bring him back in to the fellowship.
The second reason is to keep the church body from being infected.
Verse 6 in chapter 5 says, "Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?" This man's sin had become an infection that was harming the rest of the body. It says they were boasting and in an earlier verse it says they had become proud.
So it appears that two purposes are to hopefully bring the immoral brother to repentance while at the same time protecting the rest of the fellowship.
When should a person be disfellowshipped?
Matthew 17:15-17 gives a pattern of going to the person privately first, then take one or two witnesses. If that doesn't work take it to the church. The last part of verse 17 says, "If he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or tax collector." It is to be done only when all else has failed. It is NOT to be done to someone who is struggling with a stronghold in his life. It is when he REFUSES to listen.
I'm going to go out on a limb here somewhat but I DO NOT believe that this applies to criminal activity. I have personally experienced where a church used excommunication to deal with a child molester. If it is criminal activity it needs to be dealt with by the governing authorities. Romans 13:4 says that those in authority are there by God's design; (vs. 4b) "He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." A church body does not have any authority to deal with criminal activity. And if they attempt to do so, they could be charged with harboring a criminal or being an accomplice -- or forcing others into that position. Obviously, putting a criminal out of fellowship likely would be fitting but then bring in the governing authorities appropriately.
These are my thoughts on this subject. I hope it makes sense and I hope you all have a very blessed day.
The True Source of Our Sin
James 1: 14-15, "But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death."
We all know that gasoline is extremely flammable. If you take a bucket and fill it with gas, place it in an open room and throw a lit match at it, it will literally explode in flames. But here's the thing. without a flame, spark or some kind of trigger, that bucket full of gasoline will sit there harmlessly.
In many ways, that's how the sinful nature is. As long as we can keep the triggers away we can behave pretty well. We see that in the narrative of David and Bathsheba. David was going along doing pretty well until he saw this woman bathing on her rooftop. That was the trigger. She didn't cause him to sin. she was the trigger that brought out the sinful nature that was already in David.
Now let's imagine that we empty the gas out of the bucket, clean it out, and fill it with water. What happens when we throw the match at it now? Nothing. And if the match lands in the water, it will put the match out.
That's what God is doing in the process of sanctification. He is emptying the gasoline out, cleaning out the residue, and replacing it with water.
Now imagine for a moment that David didn't have any of the lustful sin nature within him. What happens when he sees Bathsheba bathing? It's like throwing a lit match at a bucket of water. Nothing is going to happen. Because the new nature doesn't respond to sinful stimuli.
Now the fact remains that our sanctification is a process that will never be completed until our savior takes us to be with him. So in many ways, we will always be somewhat flammable. Because of that, it is necessary to make sure that we keep the open flames and sparks of temptation away. Put the blocking software on your internet devices and unplug the TV if need be. Do what we need to to keep from acting out or sinfulness. But I wonder if sometimes we stop there, without going to the real issue, and that is, in my fallen nature, I am a bucket full of gasoline.
We need to go to 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
I need to confess that I am a bucket full of flammable liquid and ask him to clean it out of me. That is the real heart of the issue. We need God to give us the new nature.
God bless you all.
We all know that gasoline is extremely flammable. If you take a bucket and fill it with gas, place it in an open room and throw a lit match at it, it will literally explode in flames. But here's the thing. without a flame, spark or some kind of trigger, that bucket full of gasoline will sit there harmlessly.
In many ways, that's how the sinful nature is. As long as we can keep the triggers away we can behave pretty well. We see that in the narrative of David and Bathsheba. David was going along doing pretty well until he saw this woman bathing on her rooftop. That was the trigger. She didn't cause him to sin. she was the trigger that brought out the sinful nature that was already in David.
Now let's imagine that we empty the gas out of the bucket, clean it out, and fill it with water. What happens when we throw the match at it now? Nothing. And if the match lands in the water, it will put the match out.
That's what God is doing in the process of sanctification. He is emptying the gasoline out, cleaning out the residue, and replacing it with water.
Now imagine for a moment that David didn't have any of the lustful sin nature within him. What happens when he sees Bathsheba bathing? It's like throwing a lit match at a bucket of water. Nothing is going to happen. Because the new nature doesn't respond to sinful stimuli.
Now the fact remains that our sanctification is a process that will never be completed until our savior takes us to be with him. So in many ways, we will always be somewhat flammable. Because of that, it is necessary to make sure that we keep the open flames and sparks of temptation away. Put the blocking software on your internet devices and unplug the TV if need be. Do what we need to to keep from acting out or sinfulness. But I wonder if sometimes we stop there, without going to the real issue, and that is, in my fallen nature, I am a bucket full of gasoline.
We need to go to 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
I need to confess that I am a bucket full of flammable liquid and ask him to clean it out of me. That is the real heart of the issue. We need God to give us the new nature.
God bless you all.
Judgment is Coming
Rev. 20: 12, "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books."
I realize that I am a "day late and a dollar short", but there is something that has been gnawing on me about, both the book and the movie, The Shack. This issue has been brought up but it keeps bugging me that it's a much more important issue than has been made of it. That is the part about Mac, as a boy, murdering (or at least, attempting to) his father by lacing his dad's liquor with poison.
In the book, it was one short sentence. The movie, however accentuated and dramatized it as the opening scene. It is never brought up again and Mac is never required to deal with what he had done.
The thing is, that scene could have been left out entirely and it wouldn't have made any difference. Just leave it that Mac ran away from home to escape his abusive, alcoholic father. It would have made sense to omit that part because after the book came out, some of the detractors made mention of it as a problem. But rather than remove the scene, the producers highlighted it.
WHY??
I'm convinced that it was left in on purpose even though it really had nothing to do with the actual story because it sends a very clear message:
THERE IS NO COMING JUDGMENT.
Therefore, there is no need for us to repent of our sins.
This is all too common in modern evangelical Christianity today. We've abandoned the true gospel and adopted a "therapeutic deism", where salvation means that God sent his son to die for us to remove our pain and suffering. In other words, we are victims; not villains.
Now some might say, "But that wasn't what The Shack was about. it was about dealing with incredible pain and grief" I agree. So why was that part in there if not to promote that philosophical view of the gospel? It would have taken nothing away from the issues of pain and grief to leave it out.
Another might say, "Well people won't respond to the gospel if we talk about the negative aspects like judgment and the need to repent of sin. That sounds so harsh, unloving, and uncompassionate". That's, no doubt true. But if it is the truth, shouldn't we tell people the truth, regardless? What would you think of the weatherman on the radio if he KNEW that all the computer models showed that by tomorrow, we were going to have a very strong storm system coming through which could produce some of the worst, severe weather we'd had in recent memory. But in the interest of not alarming people and wanting to give a "positive, uplifting" forecast, decided to predict a beautiful day full of sunshine. People would be outraged. And he would undoubtedly be fired. When it comes to the weather, we want to know the truth so we can be prepared. Doesn't it seem that when it comes to people's eternal future, that the most loving thing we can do is tell people the truth?
The message the early apostles preached contained a lot of warning, Acts 2:40, "With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation' ". As Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones said, "The gospel has only one message for the unrepentant sinner:
JUDGMENT IS COMING!" (my caps)
Sadly, we've come to the time that Paul spoke about in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths".
I read The Shack and I saw the movie. I enjoyed both. But some things in it are a serious problem. And even though this is a work of fiction, too often these are the views that are coming from pulpits. And it is easy to fill a church up with this type of message. Yes, God intends to heal and great wholeness is found in following him. But man has a FAR greater problem that the hurts, grief and pain he experiences in this life. We are condemned (John 3:18) before we come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Having all of the other things restored won't do us any good if ultimately we are going to face judgment and be lost for eternity anyway. And preaching the "therapeutic" gospel message that leaves out the all important parts about judgment and repenting of works that lead to death (Heb. 6:1), while sounding kind and loving, is actually the most hateful thing anyone can do.
Well, I'm finished, and I don't have a nice, neat way to conclude this so, because I am done, I'll stop.
May God bless you all.
I realize that I am a "day late and a dollar short", but there is something that has been gnawing on me about, both the book and the movie, The Shack. This issue has been brought up but it keeps bugging me that it's a much more important issue than has been made of it. That is the part about Mac, as a boy, murdering (or at least, attempting to) his father by lacing his dad's liquor with poison.
In the book, it was one short sentence. The movie, however accentuated and dramatized it as the opening scene. It is never brought up again and Mac is never required to deal with what he had done.
The thing is, that scene could have been left out entirely and it wouldn't have made any difference. Just leave it that Mac ran away from home to escape his abusive, alcoholic father. It would have made sense to omit that part because after the book came out, some of the detractors made mention of it as a problem. But rather than remove the scene, the producers highlighted it.
WHY??
I'm convinced that it was left in on purpose even though it really had nothing to do with the actual story because it sends a very clear message:
THERE IS NO COMING JUDGMENT.
Therefore, there is no need for us to repent of our sins.
This is all too common in modern evangelical Christianity today. We've abandoned the true gospel and adopted a "therapeutic deism", where salvation means that God sent his son to die for us to remove our pain and suffering. In other words, we are victims; not villains.
Now some might say, "But that wasn't what The Shack was about. it was about dealing with incredible pain and grief" I agree. So why was that part in there if not to promote that philosophical view of the gospel? It would have taken nothing away from the issues of pain and grief to leave it out.
Another might say, "Well people won't respond to the gospel if we talk about the negative aspects like judgment and the need to repent of sin. That sounds so harsh, unloving, and uncompassionate". That's, no doubt true. But if it is the truth, shouldn't we tell people the truth, regardless? What would you think of the weatherman on the radio if he KNEW that all the computer models showed that by tomorrow, we were going to have a very strong storm system coming through which could produce some of the worst, severe weather we'd had in recent memory. But in the interest of not alarming people and wanting to give a "positive, uplifting" forecast, decided to predict a beautiful day full of sunshine. People would be outraged. And he would undoubtedly be fired. When it comes to the weather, we want to know the truth so we can be prepared. Doesn't it seem that when it comes to people's eternal future, that the most loving thing we can do is tell people the truth?
The message the early apostles preached contained a lot of warning, Acts 2:40, "With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation' ". As Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones said, "The gospel has only one message for the unrepentant sinner:
JUDGMENT IS COMING!" (my caps)
Sadly, we've come to the time that Paul spoke about in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths".
I read The Shack and I saw the movie. I enjoyed both. But some things in it are a serious problem. And even though this is a work of fiction, too often these are the views that are coming from pulpits. And it is easy to fill a church up with this type of message. Yes, God intends to heal and great wholeness is found in following him. But man has a FAR greater problem that the hurts, grief and pain he experiences in this life. We are condemned (John 3:18) before we come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Having all of the other things restored won't do us any good if ultimately we are going to face judgment and be lost for eternity anyway. And preaching the "therapeutic" gospel message that leaves out the all important parts about judgment and repenting of works that lead to death (Heb. 6:1), while sounding kind and loving, is actually the most hateful thing anyone can do.
Well, I'm finished, and I don't have a nice, neat way to conclude this so, because I am done, I'll stop.
May God bless you all.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
True Confession
1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness".
I don't know about you but it seems that there have been sin issues in my life that I have struggled with to get past. I've heard them called strongholds. And it would seem that I would do well for a while and then I'd stumble, go to God, repent, do OK for a while, stumble, repeat cycle, etc.
I was reminded recently of a conversation with a friend who told me about his struggle to give up smoking. He had tried everything. The patch, nicorette gum, even hypnosis. Nothing worked. Then one day when he had about half a pack of cigarettes left (he was a 2 pack a day smoker) he put a cigarette in his mouth, was about to light it; instead, he threw the lighter, the cigarette, and the rest of the pack in the trash and never picked up a cigarette again. He said to me;
"Do you want to know what the difference was? The difference before was I hated what the cigarettes were doing to my health; I hated the fact that I was addicted. I also hated how much money I was wasting on this habit. BUT I DIDN'T HATE SMOKING. But on that one day when I put that last cigarette in my mouth, the idea that I would light it and inhale that smoke into my lungs, repulsed me. That's when I quit. I now hated smoking."
AS I reflect on that story it occurred to me that often that is the way I am with sin. I hate the fact that I failed. I hate the fact that I feel guilty. I may even hate what the sin is doing to me. BUT I DON'T HATE THE SIN! So when I would go to God and ask for forgiveness, I was asking him to forgive what I had done and (in the spirit of him cleansing me from all unrighteousness), ask him to help me not to do it again. But what I needed to do was to confess that I don't hate the sin the way he hates the sin and that in that area of my life, I still don't have the mind of Christ. And that I need him to remove that sinful nature and make me hate the sin the way he hates it.
When King David repented of his sin with Bathsheba, it wasn't enough for him to say to God, "I really messed up this time. Please forgive me". In Psalm 51: 5 he says, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me". He not only confessed the actual sin, (vs. 4) but he confessed that it was his sinful nature which he had since conception that caused him to commit the act. He also knows that he is completely helpless to deal with his own sinfulness. He needs God to remove it. Vs. 7, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow"; and verse 10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me".
So instead of going to God and saying, "I'm sorry, I messed up again. Please help me not to mess up again"; maybe confessing, "Lord I keep messing up because I know that I am sinful by nature and I don't hate this sin the way you do." I do not subscribe to the prosperity, "name it and claim it" (Blab it and grab it) gospel. But God does promise that if we confess our sin, he will not only forgive us, but he will also purify us from all unrighteousness. It's fine to say, "Lord I am depending on you to keep your promise to purify me from all unrighteousness. Give me the mind of Christ and make me hate the sin the same way you hate the sin".
Sanctification is a lifelong process and we won't ever completely be free from sin as long as we live in this fleshly tent. But God is growing us up in him and day by day, he is making us more and more like his Son. So it is reasonable to expect that we can be free from these sin issues and them not always be a stronghold in our lives.
May you be richly blessed.
I don't know about you but it seems that there have been sin issues in my life that I have struggled with to get past. I've heard them called strongholds. And it would seem that I would do well for a while and then I'd stumble, go to God, repent, do OK for a while, stumble, repeat cycle, etc.
I was reminded recently of a conversation with a friend who told me about his struggle to give up smoking. He had tried everything. The patch, nicorette gum, even hypnosis. Nothing worked. Then one day when he had about half a pack of cigarettes left (he was a 2 pack a day smoker) he put a cigarette in his mouth, was about to light it; instead, he threw the lighter, the cigarette, and the rest of the pack in the trash and never picked up a cigarette again. He said to me;
"Do you want to know what the difference was? The difference before was I hated what the cigarettes were doing to my health; I hated the fact that I was addicted. I also hated how much money I was wasting on this habit. BUT I DIDN'T HATE SMOKING. But on that one day when I put that last cigarette in my mouth, the idea that I would light it and inhale that smoke into my lungs, repulsed me. That's when I quit. I now hated smoking."
AS I reflect on that story it occurred to me that often that is the way I am with sin. I hate the fact that I failed. I hate the fact that I feel guilty. I may even hate what the sin is doing to me. BUT I DON'T HATE THE SIN! So when I would go to God and ask for forgiveness, I was asking him to forgive what I had done and (in the spirit of him cleansing me from all unrighteousness), ask him to help me not to do it again. But what I needed to do was to confess that I don't hate the sin the way he hates the sin and that in that area of my life, I still don't have the mind of Christ. And that I need him to remove that sinful nature and make me hate the sin the way he hates it.
When King David repented of his sin with Bathsheba, it wasn't enough for him to say to God, "I really messed up this time. Please forgive me". In Psalm 51: 5 he says, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me". He not only confessed the actual sin, (vs. 4) but he confessed that it was his sinful nature which he had since conception that caused him to commit the act. He also knows that he is completely helpless to deal with his own sinfulness. He needs God to remove it. Vs. 7, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow"; and verse 10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me".
So instead of going to God and saying, "I'm sorry, I messed up again. Please help me not to mess up again"; maybe confessing, "Lord I keep messing up because I know that I am sinful by nature and I don't hate this sin the way you do." I do not subscribe to the prosperity, "name it and claim it" (Blab it and grab it) gospel. But God does promise that if we confess our sin, he will not only forgive us, but he will also purify us from all unrighteousness. It's fine to say, "Lord I am depending on you to keep your promise to purify me from all unrighteousness. Give me the mind of Christ and make me hate the sin the same way you hate the sin".
Sanctification is a lifelong process and we won't ever completely be free from sin as long as we live in this fleshly tent. But God is growing us up in him and day by day, he is making us more and more like his Son. So it is reasonable to expect that we can be free from these sin issues and them not always be a stronghold in our lives.
May you be richly blessed.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Man's Traditions negate The Gospel
Matt. 15: 9, "They worship me in vain, their teachings are but rules taught by men."
Deut. 4: 2, "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it...."
A few days ago I put a (what I thought was) rather humorous quote from Charles H. Spurgeon regarding his cigar smoking. While that was a funny quote, he actually wrote a very serious message regarding a "Pharisaic system" that was creeping into the church that added to the commands of scripture. The Pharisees in Jesus' time had added numerous rules and regulations to the 600+ rules that the Old Covenant contained. The irony of them "improving" upon and expanding upon what the law mandated, is they actually BROKE the law because the law specifically said "do not add to or take from".
In regard to the cigar smoking, Spurgeon said he could not find a verse in the bible that said "thou shalt not smoke". If the verse can be produced he was willing to give up the cigars. It's not in the scripture. Often a verse that is invoked in that case is 1 Corinthians 6:19 which says that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. The context of this verse is sexual immorality. Nobody argues that we should take care of ourselves. But one cannot take a verse like this out of it's intended context in order to support a manmade doctrine.
Of course it is true that if a person's conscience convicts them that something is sinful, it becomes sin to them and they should stop doing it. As Spurgeon again said, "Why, a man may think it a sin to have his boots blacked. Well then, he should give it up, and have them whitewashed". However, a man has no right or authority to stand up in the pulpit on Sunday morning and impose his own, personal conviction on anyone else.
The Westminster Confession says it very well:
"God alone is Lord of the conscience and has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are -- in anything -- contrary to his word, or which -- in matters of faith and worship -- are in addition to it. Therefore anyone who believes or obeys such commands out of conscience betrays true liberty of conscience. The requiring of an implicit faith and an absolute and blind obedience, destroys both liberty of conscience and reason."
Regulations against, alcohol, smoking, playing cards, movies, dancing, and many others are not in the bible and they should not be taught in the church. If you attend a church that mandates these types of prohibitions, it's time to find a new church.
Often this discussion leads to the misunderstanding of what liberty means. It does not mean we can do whatever we want. The bible does specify that certain things ARE sin. Murder, stealing, sexual immorality among others. We need to discuss them. There are also principles that determine whether something may be sinful or not, such as gluttony or excesses. But in those areas we need to come alongside each other as encouragers. But always allow the Holy Spirit to do the work of convicting and sanctification in the life of other believers.
I hope this is helpful.
God bless you all.
Deut. 4: 2, "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it...."
A few days ago I put a (what I thought was) rather humorous quote from Charles H. Spurgeon regarding his cigar smoking. While that was a funny quote, he actually wrote a very serious message regarding a "Pharisaic system" that was creeping into the church that added to the commands of scripture. The Pharisees in Jesus' time had added numerous rules and regulations to the 600+ rules that the Old Covenant contained. The irony of them "improving" upon and expanding upon what the law mandated, is they actually BROKE the law because the law specifically said "do not add to or take from".
In regard to the cigar smoking, Spurgeon said he could not find a verse in the bible that said "thou shalt not smoke". If the verse can be produced he was willing to give up the cigars. It's not in the scripture. Often a verse that is invoked in that case is 1 Corinthians 6:19 which says that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. The context of this verse is sexual immorality. Nobody argues that we should take care of ourselves. But one cannot take a verse like this out of it's intended context in order to support a manmade doctrine.
Of course it is true that if a person's conscience convicts them that something is sinful, it becomes sin to them and they should stop doing it. As Spurgeon again said, "Why, a man may think it a sin to have his boots blacked. Well then, he should give it up, and have them whitewashed". However, a man has no right or authority to stand up in the pulpit on Sunday morning and impose his own, personal conviction on anyone else.
The Westminster Confession says it very well:
"God alone is Lord of the conscience and has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are -- in anything -- contrary to his word, or which -- in matters of faith and worship -- are in addition to it. Therefore anyone who believes or obeys such commands out of conscience betrays true liberty of conscience. The requiring of an implicit faith and an absolute and blind obedience, destroys both liberty of conscience and reason."
Regulations against, alcohol, smoking, playing cards, movies, dancing, and many others are not in the bible and they should not be taught in the church. If you attend a church that mandates these types of prohibitions, it's time to find a new church.
Often this discussion leads to the misunderstanding of what liberty means. It does not mean we can do whatever we want. The bible does specify that certain things ARE sin. Murder, stealing, sexual immorality among others. We need to discuss them. There are also principles that determine whether something may be sinful or not, such as gluttony or excesses. But in those areas we need to come alongside each other as encouragers. But always allow the Holy Spirit to do the work of convicting and sanctification in the life of other believers.
I hope this is helpful.
God bless you all.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
FROM CULT TO GRACE; My Journey Out of The Worldwide Church of God
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| Herbert W. Armstrong. Founder of the Worldwide Church of God 1892-1986 This is my own personal journey out of the Worldwide Church of God Into the land of grace. |
My purpose in writing this is not to disparage anyone. Rather, I'm doing it for the benefit of others who were a part of the Worldwide Church of God or other groups that hold to doctrinal views that are inconsistant with the gospel, and perhaps are still struggling to make sense of everything. I hope that by sharing my story, it may help others sort out their own experiences.
My parents became involved in the Worldwise Church of God in 1969. I was 3 years old at the time. As were many, they were attracted by the "truth; much of which revolved around Sabbath keeping and subtituting the holy days for "pagan" days.There was no Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween, or Easter. These were all forbidden because they have roots in paganism. I was very limited in extracurricular school activities because of the Sabbath. I remember one year, I took failing grades on my Fall midterms because they fell during the Feast of Tabernacles. I believed I was enduring persecution for righteousness sake.
I guess my experience may have been somewhat different because there were always things that didn't quite make sense. For example: We were taught that there were 3 resurrections. I have never seen more than 2. The resurrection of those in Christ and the rest of the dead, who lived after the thousand years. (Rev. 20)
Another thing that puzzled me was, where did we get the authority to determine HOW we kept the holy days. Deut. 4:2 says, do not add to, or take from the law. During the Feast of Tabernacles the people were supposed to make booths or "succots". Where did we get the authority to substitute anything from a tent to a ritzy condo for a succot?
I never understood the rationale for banning birthdays, makeup, and military service. But I went along with it, figuring that if I was patient things would become clear.
I attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy Texas from 1985-87. I brought all of these questions with me. (although I knew better than to bring them up) I still had them when I left. It was during that time -- in January of 1986 that Mr. Armstrong passed away. Joseph TKach Sr. became the new leader and over the next decade many of these beliefs were changed. The final shoe dropped in the spring of 1995 when Mr. Tkach explained in a sermon, shared with all the congregations, that the Sabbath was not a part of the New Covenant. There was a huge split at that time.
Between 1995-96 I was in the same boat as a lot of people were -- having the rug yanked out from under me. Everything revolved around knowing the "TRUTH". But somehow the truth was no longer the truth. And yet I was being told that what they were teaching now, was the truth. Of course, the obvious question was; if we were so sure before that we knew the truth, and it turned out to not be true, how can we be so sure that what we are teaching now is the truth.
Two things happened.
We stayed with WWCG for about a year, but after that we began attending a local, non-denominational church near where we lived. Soon I became disillusioned with that church as well. For some time I didn't attend church. I simply saw no point in it.
One night, after my family went to the evening service I stayed home and picked up a bible that was laying on the end table by the couch. I opened to the book of Revelation. For some reason, none of the apocalyptic/prophetic imagery was hitting me. What WAS hitting me were the images of the deity. In the first chapter, we see a being who had hair like wool. face shining like the sun, eyes like fire, etc. He called himself the Alpha and Omega. He said that he had been dead but is alive now and forever. I figured that must be Jesus.
Later in ch 19 he shows up on a white horse. Among the names he goes by is "The Word of God". I immediately thought of John 1:1, "In the beginning was the word. The word was with God and the Word was God." Okay I thought, so this rider on the white horse is somehow God.
Then in chapter 20 we see a being on a great white throne. The only description given in vs. 11 is, "Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place found for them". My mind immediately went to Gen. 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Everything I can know and understand is contained within the realm of heaven and earth. Whoever this is on the throne in not only outside of heaven and earth, but trandscends both; his creation has to step aside. I guessed that this must be God the Father himself. But then in the next chapter he identifies himself. Vs. 6, "I am the Alpha and the Omega". I thought, 'wait a minute, that was the one in the first chapter who identified himself that way but added that he had been dead. Are they somehow the same person?
Then in Chapter 22 vs 13 he repeats, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End". The climax is verse 16 and it is the ONLY time in the entire book that he calls himself by this name, "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony to the churches." When I read that, it could not have been more real if he had grabbed me by the shoulders, looked me in the eyes and said, "Grant, it's ME, Jesus!" I actually stopped reading and thought, either this stuff is true or it isn't. If it isn't true then there is no point reading the last few verses. But if it is true, then I need to read the rest and then I need to go back to the beginning and read everything else in the bible. Because if he is who he said he was, then everything he said is the truth.
One night, after my family went to the evening service I stayed home and picked up a bible that was laying on the end table by the couch. I opened to the book of Revelation. For some reason, none of the apocalyptic/prophetic imagery was hitting me. What WAS hitting me were the images of the deity. In the first chapter, we see a being who had hair like wool. face shining like the sun, eyes like fire, etc. He called himself the Alpha and Omega. He said that he had been dead but is alive now and forever. I figured that must be Jesus.
Later in ch 19 he shows up on a white horse. Among the names he goes by is "The Word of God". I immediately thought of John 1:1, "In the beginning was the word. The word was with God and the Word was God." Okay I thought, so this rider on the white horse is somehow God.
Then in chapter 20 we see a being on a great white throne. The only description given in vs. 11 is, "Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place found for them". My mind immediately went to Gen. 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Everything I can know and understand is contained within the realm of heaven and earth. Whoever this is on the throne in not only outside of heaven and earth, but trandscends both; his creation has to step aside. I guessed that this must be God the Father himself. But then in the next chapter he identifies himself. Vs. 6, "I am the Alpha and the Omega". I thought, 'wait a minute, that was the one in the first chapter who identified himself that way but added that he had been dead. Are they somehow the same person?
Then in Chapter 22 vs 13 he repeats, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End". The climax is verse 16 and it is the ONLY time in the entire book that he calls himself by this name, "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony to the churches." When I read that, it could not have been more real if he had grabbed me by the shoulders, looked me in the eyes and said, "Grant, it's ME, Jesus!" I actually stopped reading and thought, either this stuff is true or it isn't. If it isn't true then there is no point reading the last few verses. But if it is true, then I need to read the rest and then I need to go back to the beginning and read everything else in the bible. Because if he is who he said he was, then everything he said is the truth.
The next thing happened.
My wife wanted to start attending a small group and I agreed to go along. It was there I met a man who obviously knew his Bible better than anyone I had ever met up to that point. He was very patient with me. He answered all of my questions often by asking me another question to make me think. For some reason I couldn't stump this guy who was attending our small group. After a time I kind of figured out why. He was a genuine Bible scholar. (Phd) He taught for Moody but was a solidly Reformed scholar. He taught me that salvation is by grace alone and the just will live by faith. I actually took Epistles of Paul under him. (Which was a real blessing because I had taken it AC. I was able to get all of that straightened out.) He showed me that, yes, we live by faith. But the question is, is it a "reasonable" faith. I didn't understand what he meant. He explained that the gospel rises and falls on whether or not the resurrection actually happened. It is impossible to prove the Bible empirically so it does require faith. But because there is tremendous evidence to support the resurrection and in nearly 2,000 years, nobody has offered a shred of credible evidence to suggest it was a hoax, it is very reasonable to believe that it happened. That's "reasonable faith".
Now to WWCG
Because everything was about the "truth" which somehow wasn't true anymore, I had to try and understand how Mr. Armstrong could have gotten it so wrong. In his telling of how he came to understand the "truth", he said that it all started with an argument with his wife about which day should be observed. In his autobiography, he said he asserted to his wife that the Bible said, "thou shalt observe Sunday".
There was the problem.
The Bible doesn't say that.
In reality, the Bible doesn't require us to observe any day. The Old Covenant mandated the children of Israel to keep the sabbath and Holy Days but nobody else was required to. The fact that he actually believed the Bible said that showed that he had no real working knowledge of the scriptures, let alone any understanding of the gospel. The obvious thing to do would be to seek wise godly counsel. A Bible teacher worth his salt should have been able to answer his questions in about 30 minutes. (of course, I will admit that such teachers are more rare than 4 leaf clovers) But what he did, according to his autobiography, was embark on an intensive study to try and prove that the Bible taught that Sunday was the day we should worship. He found, correctly, that the Bible did not command people to worship on Sunday. But he, incorrectly, came to the conclusion that the Old Covenant laws regarding the Sabbath and Holy Days applied to all people for all time. And so a church was born that was completely off at the very foundation. And from there, even though there may have been elements of truth, fundamentally everything was wrong. There was no gospel. The work of Jesus was reduced to simply wiping the slate for us and giving us the opportunity to do it right,.. with the help of the Holy Spirit.... Which was reduced to an impersonal "essence" not too dissimilar to the Force in the Star Wars Movies (except there was no dark side to the Holy Spirit). Of course, you never knew if you were overcoming at an acceptable level or not. The truth is:
We weren't.
None of us were...
Not even close.
We are not capable of it.
THE GOSPEL
It starts with understanding that God is the creator of all that is. He is supreme and is infinitely greater than the sum-total of everything else. He is holy. That means he is completely separate, unique, and different. He is is completely "other". He created by commands and everything obeyed. He told the mountains and the stars where to stand, and they obeyed. Then he told man to leave a piece of fruit alone and man rebelled. At that point sin entered the world and man became totally depraved. As it says in Gen. 6 and 9, Man's thoughts were only evil continually.
One of Job's 3 friends, Bildad, asked the ultimate question in Job 25:4, "How then can a man be righteous before God. How can one born of woman be pure?" The answer? He can't.
Righteousness is not about obeying the Ten Commandments. While they have their basis on the greatest commandments, You shall love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself, they don't provide us the blueprint on how to love God and love our neighbor. We were taught that Jesus expanded the meaning of the Old Covenant law in the Sermon on The Mount. That's not what he did. He actually showed us that merely keeping the rules doesn't solve man's sin problem. So even if we somehow manage to avoid breaking the letter of the law. If we still have wicked thoughts, we are sinning. And we are guilty. Our nature is sinful. The fact is, NOBODY has ever kept the greatest commandment to love God for even a conscious moment. If anyone thinks they have, they have blasphemed. As John Bunyan said, "The best prayer I ever prayed had enough sin in it to damn the world". There's no way we can ever be empty of self -- even when we pray. And that means we have violated and do violate the first great commandment continually. All of our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isa 64:6). We have absolutely no righteousness on our own. Nor are we capable of it.
And so the Old Testament ends without Bildad's question being answered. If the Old testament ended and there was no New Testament, Man would simply lead a condemned existence and then face judgment and be punished.
But the last words of the Old Testament tell us that there is more coming.
The answer to Bildad's question finally comes in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." That is the only way we could be declared righteous. Our sin had to be placed on the one who is righteous so that his righteousness could be placed on us. This was prophesied in Isaiah 53:6, "We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
As Jesus was dying he actually gave us a very graphic demonstration of how salvation is accomplished by saving one of the criminals crucified with him (Luke 23:39-43) The thief was never going to do a single "good work". But as his earthly life was ebbing out from him, 3 things happened:
1. He confessed: "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve".
2. He expressed dependence on Jesus as his Savior: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom".
3. He received assurance of salvation: "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise"
WWCG took this passage and explained that God made an exception in this case because of the circumstances. However, the Bible doesn't say that. In fact, in Romans 3: 9-11 Paul explains that we are no better. And in verse 23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". But verse 24 tells us the wonderful news of the gospel:
"And are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ."
It starts with understanding that God is the creator of all that is. He is supreme and is infinitely greater than the sum-total of everything else. He is holy. That means he is completely separate, unique, and different. He is is completely "other". He created by commands and everything obeyed. He told the mountains and the stars where to stand, and they obeyed. Then he told man to leave a piece of fruit alone and man rebelled. At that point sin entered the world and man became totally depraved. As it says in Gen. 6 and 9, Man's thoughts were only evil continually.
One of Job's 3 friends, Bildad, asked the ultimate question in Job 25:4, "How then can a man be righteous before God. How can one born of woman be pure?" The answer? He can't.
Righteousness is not about obeying the Ten Commandments. While they have their basis on the greatest commandments, You shall love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself, they don't provide us the blueprint on how to love God and love our neighbor. We were taught that Jesus expanded the meaning of the Old Covenant law in the Sermon on The Mount. That's not what he did. He actually showed us that merely keeping the rules doesn't solve man's sin problem. So even if we somehow manage to avoid breaking the letter of the law. If we still have wicked thoughts, we are sinning. And we are guilty. Our nature is sinful. The fact is, NOBODY has ever kept the greatest commandment to love God for even a conscious moment. If anyone thinks they have, they have blasphemed. As John Bunyan said, "The best prayer I ever prayed had enough sin in it to damn the world". There's no way we can ever be empty of self -- even when we pray. And that means we have violated and do violate the first great commandment continually. All of our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isa 64:6). We have absolutely no righteousness on our own. Nor are we capable of it.
And so the Old Testament ends without Bildad's question being answered. If the Old testament ended and there was no New Testament, Man would simply lead a condemned existence and then face judgment and be punished.
But the last words of the Old Testament tell us that there is more coming.
The answer to Bildad's question finally comes in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." That is the only way we could be declared righteous. Our sin had to be placed on the one who is righteous so that his righteousness could be placed on us. This was prophesied in Isaiah 53:6, "We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
As Jesus was dying he actually gave us a very graphic demonstration of how salvation is accomplished by saving one of the criminals crucified with him (Luke 23:39-43) The thief was never going to do a single "good work". But as his earthly life was ebbing out from him, 3 things happened:
1. He confessed: "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve".
2. He expressed dependence on Jesus as his Savior: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom".
3. He received assurance of salvation: "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise"
WWCG took this passage and explained that God made an exception in this case because of the circumstances. However, the Bible doesn't say that. In fact, in Romans 3: 9-11 Paul explains that we are no better. And in verse 23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". But verse 24 tells us the wonderful news of the gospel:
"And are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ."
So our sins have been removed and we have been declared righteous but there is something else that happens and that is something that the church has all but lost. And is the very reason, I believe, that groups like WWCG form. And that is the doctrine of Regeneration, or being Born Again. In most churches today, born again simply means you asked Jesus into your heart. WWCG went to the other extreme and said the rebirth happens when we are resurrected at his coming. Both are wrong. Rebirth has to happen in order for a person to repent. The unregenerated person is incapable of responding to the gospel(Rom 8:7)
This regeneration is such a drastic change of our old nature into a new nature accomplished by the Holy Spirit that Paul describes it as going from being dead to being alive. Eph 2:4-5, "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved". The word for dead is the Greek word, "necros". And it means, DEAD. We were literally non-living, completely unresponsive to the gospel. Back in Ezekiel 36:26-27, God describes this; "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and keep my laws." This is the new nature which now desires to follow God and obey him. That requires a miracle as great as raising a physically dead man to life and ONLY God can do it. Without the miracle of the rebirth, man cannot respond to the gospel.
In Jeremiah 31:33 (repeated in Hebrews 8:8-12 and 10:16) God describes the New Covenant as one in which his laws would be written on their hearts and minds. That is the change of the reborn man's nature. But verse 31 is very important.
" 'The time is coming,' declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. IT WILL NOT BE LIKE (caps mine) the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant...."
In John 3:3 Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus and he said, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." Jesus was not talking about entering it in this verse. The word "see" means exactly that, "see". It can also be translated, "perceive" or "understand". Paul says something very similar in 1 Corinhtians 1:18, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God". Without the rebirth the gospel is meaningless.
The WWCG taught that the gospel was largely an expansion of the old covenant. The Ten Commandments were expanded to include our thought life. The Feast days now had much deeper meanings which, incidentally, the Bible doesn't give to them. (An interesting point on that is that, while the early church was eagerly expecting Jesus to return in their lifetime, The Feast of Trumpets, which according to what we were taught in WWCG, pictures the return of Christ, is never once mentioned in the New Testament) And of course, we continued the belief of the clean and unclean meats. The only thing we didn't have to do was the burnt offerings because we understood that Jesus fulfilled that part. But God, in Jeremiah 31 said it would be a DIFFERENT covenant; not an expansion of the old.
Exodus 34: 27-28 and Deuteronomy 4:13 make it clear that the Old Covenant was the Ten Commandments. That is what has been replaced. The book of Hebrews really is an explanation of how the New Covenant is different and superior to the Old Covenant. In WWCG theology, the responsibility of becoming righteous was on us. Even though God gave us the Holy Spirit to help us, it was our job to be overcoming. But Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. And in chapter 10:14, "because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy", explains that there is a twofold work that is accomplished by him. Our perfection was accomplished at the cross. Our sanctification is an ongoing process that "HE" is accomplishing.
In John 4 Jesus was asked by the Samaritan woman about the proper location for worship, whether the Samaritan mountains or in Jerusalem. Jesus explained in verses 21-24 that it wasn't about a location but that the true worshippers would worship the Father in spirit and truth. Hebrews 4 explains that the Sabbath for the believer is not a day of the week. It is the life we now have in Christ
Hebrews 4: 9-11;
"There remains then a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, Therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience".
Jesus calls us in Matthew 11:28-30;
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
There can be no greater burden than to carry the guilt and condemnation of our own sins. But the Lord laid our sins on Jesus and put his righteousness on us. THAT IS THE GOSPEL!!!!
The gospel has nothing to do with external rules and regulations. That system had a purpose. And that was to maintain law and order until the time that Jesus would come. (Gal. 3:23-25) Sadly, WWCG misunderstood that. And they ended up doing exactly what Paul said not to do. They placed burdens on people that Christ had lifted and bound our consciences where God had not..
Looking Back (trying to make sense of everything)
Romans. 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose".
In John 3:3 Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus and he said, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." Jesus was not talking about entering it in this verse. The word "see" means exactly that, "see". It can also be translated, "perceive" or "understand". Paul says something very similar in 1 Corinhtians 1:18, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God". Without the rebirth the gospel is meaningless.
The WWCG taught that the gospel was largely an expansion of the old covenant. The Ten Commandments were expanded to include our thought life. The Feast days now had much deeper meanings which, incidentally, the Bible doesn't give to them. (An interesting point on that is that, while the early church was eagerly expecting Jesus to return in their lifetime, The Feast of Trumpets, which according to what we were taught in WWCG, pictures the return of Christ, is never once mentioned in the New Testament) And of course, we continued the belief of the clean and unclean meats. The only thing we didn't have to do was the burnt offerings because we understood that Jesus fulfilled that part. But God, in Jeremiah 31 said it would be a DIFFERENT covenant; not an expansion of the old.
Exodus 34: 27-28 and Deuteronomy 4:13 make it clear that the Old Covenant was the Ten Commandments. That is what has been replaced. The book of Hebrews really is an explanation of how the New Covenant is different and superior to the Old Covenant. In WWCG theology, the responsibility of becoming righteous was on us. Even though God gave us the Holy Spirit to help us, it was our job to be overcoming. But Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. And in chapter 10:14, "because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy", explains that there is a twofold work that is accomplished by him. Our perfection was accomplished at the cross. Our sanctification is an ongoing process that "HE" is accomplishing.
In John 4 Jesus was asked by the Samaritan woman about the proper location for worship, whether the Samaritan mountains or in Jerusalem. Jesus explained in verses 21-24 that it wasn't about a location but that the true worshippers would worship the Father in spirit and truth. Hebrews 4 explains that the Sabbath for the believer is not a day of the week. It is the life we now have in Christ
Hebrews 4: 9-11;
"There remains then a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, Therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience".
Jesus calls us in Matthew 11:28-30;
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
There can be no greater burden than to carry the guilt and condemnation of our own sins. But the Lord laid our sins on Jesus and put his righteousness on us. THAT IS THE GOSPEL!!!!
The gospel has nothing to do with external rules and regulations. That system had a purpose. And that was to maintain law and order until the time that Jesus would come. (Gal. 3:23-25) Sadly, WWCG misunderstood that. And they ended up doing exactly what Paul said not to do. They placed burdens on people that Christ had lifted and bound our consciences where God had not..
Looking Back (trying to make sense of everything)
Romans. 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose".
I firmly believe that God doesn't waste anything. He is completely sovereign and in complete control.This was the path he chose for me and he is using it for his purposes and glory. Either that, or this verse doesn't belong in the Bible.
I heard an analogy that our lives are like a tapestry that God is weaving. On the front side, the tapestry has a beautiful pattern. On the back side it looks like a tangled mess of different colored threads. For the most part, we only see the back side. Although I have gotten some glimpses of the beautiful pattern. I have had many experiences and have many friends today that I would never have had if it weren't for WWCG and Ambassador College. And having come from legalism, I have a MUCH greater appreciation for grace and greater empathy for others who have or are going through the same things.
In many ways, we are a product of the sumtotal of our experiences. I have learned not to be like the lump of clay questioning the potter why he made me the way he did. Rather I am learning to trust that he knows what he is doing and his plan is perfect -- even when I don't understand.
So what about those pagan days, holy days and other observances
Rom. 14:5-6, "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God."
Vs. 14 "As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean."
"A man might think it a sin to have his boots blacked. He should quit and have them whitewashed instead". (C. H. Spurgeon)
Because true worshippers worship in spirit and in truth. True worship transcends a day or a location. We use the Roman calendar. Every weekday and every month is named after some pagan object of worship. (Ceasar was regarded as diety) I don't have shrines set up for these pagan gods. I simply use the calendar to keep track of time, seasons, and my schedule. The question is; are we participating in the worship of a false god? And are we engaging in sinful activity. If people gather on the evening of December 24 and Easter Sunday to sing hymns and songs of praise to our Lord and savior and hear a message about how God invaded humanity to save his people, how is that participating in pagan worship? The sun and fertility goddess worshippers were doing something quite different. Perhaps we were sinning by not participating because we placed the responsibility on our becoming righteous on ourselves, which is self worship. And we judged those who were doing so as "false Christians".
The New Covenant only requires 2 sacrements: baptism and the Lord's Supper. It doesn''t mandate anything else nor does it forbid anything else. Colossians 2:16 says not to let anyone judge you in matters of food, drink, religious festivals, new moons or Sabbath days. By the same token, we shouldn't be judging each other. If some people feel uncomfortable celebrating Christmas or Easter and/or prefer to keep the Sabbath and Holy Days, we should extend the same grace to each other that God has extended to us. And that should go both ways. As verse 17 says, "the reality is found in Christ". Keep that the main thing.
I hope and pray that you are richly blessed and if you are struggling with these things. That God, our savior will bring you to that place of rest.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Should Christians attend a Local Church?
Today at church a couple of the members shared some things that had been on their hearts and minds. One of them made reference to 1 Corinthians 12;12ff about the body having many members. The word that hit me was the word, "MANY". The body is not made up of just a few members. In Acts 2:44 it says that the believers were ALL together. And in verse 46 it says they were together EVERY day. (all caps are mine)
Now one question that comes to mind is, How many members should comprise a single group? Obviously we can't get every single believer together but is it sufficient if only 2 or 3 gather as it indicates in Matthew 18:20? The first thing I would suggest is that the context of that verse seems to be about intercessory prayer; not about church gatherings.
I don't have an actual answer but I'll give you my ideas and see what you think. In 1 Cor. 12:7 it says; "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." It would seem that because God gave certain abilities and spiritual gift to individual members that a single body of believers should have all of those gifts in their midst. So here's a list of what I can find:
In chapter 12:
1. The message of wisdom
2. The message of knowledge
3. Faith
4. Gifts of healing
5. Gifts of miraculous powers
6. Gift of prophesy
7. Gift of distinguishing between spirits
8. Gifts of speaking in different kinds of tongues
9. Gift of interpreting tongues
Then if you go to Ephesians 4:11:
10. Apostles
11. Prophets (kind of covered that but there may be a distinction between someone who has prophetic gifts and someone who is a "prophet")
12. Evangelists
13. Pastors
14. Teachers
Verse 12 gives us the purpose and why these gifts are important: "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up"
So it would seem that at a minimum there would have to be at least 14 members to comprise a complete body.
On a VERY personal note. When I have spoken to Christians who used to attend a church regularly and no longer see that as important, they didn't just wake up one day and come to that decision at random. In every case I am familiar with, it came from having been deeply offended or hurt. Believe me, I GET IT!! I've been there and I still feel some of it every so often. It chokes me up to hear some of your stories, but there is a better way. While people need to deal with having been offended the fact is, there are a LOT of unhealthy churches out there. Jesus said, "MANY false prophets will appear and deceive many", Matt 24:11. Jesus didn't make the contrast in this case but in other cases the word "many" is contrasted with the word "few". I suppose it's possible that most churches aren't healthy and only a few are. It's not mine to judge but....
So if a healthy church should have a good balance of individuals who have been given individual gifts for building up the body of Christ, how can we easily spot an unhealthy church if you are not well versed in the scripture yet. Here are 2 basic characteristics that I have observed in unhealthy churches:
1. The congregation centers around a single individual personality.
We've seen them and then we've seen them have a "moral failure" and the congregation falls apart. I had a conversation with a senior pastor some time ago and he gave a hypothetical of what would happen if he did something that warranted him being dismissed. He said that the associate pastor would be assigned the senior role. An assistant pastor would be assigned his role and on it would go. In addition, as senior pastor he was subject to the board of elders and he himself had one vote. So no one individual had too much authority. Obviously there are going to be issues as long as imperfect humans are in charge of churches, but it seems like a system of checks and balances would give a good amount of safety. As the pastor talking to me said, if the message is gospel centered and the focus is on Jesus, and not the man in the pulpit. We should be OK.
2. An incomplete view of scripture.
Just as we individuals have our favorite life verses, entire congregations can as well. While it is fine to have our favorite life verses (Mine is Job 19:25) we have to be careful not to form our doctrines out of an unbalanced knowledge of the word. The pastor encouraged the congregation to read through the entire Bible this year. Jesus said we are to live by EVERY word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Not just the parts we like.
I'll mention two study disciplines just to illustrate the pitfalls of having one without the other; causing an unbalanced view. (half of whoever is still reading will be tempted to stop reading here. But please bear with me. haha)
Systematic Theology
Biblical Theology
Systematic theology is where you study certain topics in the bible.
Biblical theology is where one studies the bible to understand what the purpose the writer had in writing.
For example, one might want to study the book of Daniel to see what Daniel can teach us about prayer and fasting. (we've heard of The Daniel Fast) That would be a systematic approach. The biblical theology approach would be to read the book of Daniel to understand the overall purpose the writer had in writing it. With just the systematic approach, it's easy to form entire doctrines based on an incomplete view of scripture. It can easily become heretical, particularly when passages are taken out of the original context. We see that in the prosperity gospel.
If on the other hand, you only have a biblical theology, you will gain a lot of intellectual, head knowledge, but no life application.
The reason I felt it necessary to spend time on this is because it is easy to listen to someone expound on passages on a given subject and believe you are hearing real expository preaching. But is it taken out of context or out of the author's intended meaning? Or, on the flip side, did you hear a sermon about Noah and the ark but it had no relevance for you personally? You need to have both, and solid preaching will give both.
Anyway, these are my thoughts. MY belief is that it is vitally important to belong to a church fellowship. We do have an enemy and it is easy for him to pick us off when we get off by ourselves. God didn't give one person all of the gifts. He gave individual ones to individual people so we could build each other up. I believe he did that because he wants us to be a community of believers. But also, he gave us good information to help us to discern between a good healthy biblical church and one that has embraced heresy.
God bless you all.
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