I would like to preface this post with a disclaimer - I am fully aware that there is a diagnosable, treatable condition called "depression". I am in no-way dismissing the real condition, though I do propose genuine depression is far more rare than diagnosed, and is almost always complicated by spiritual matters.
David wrote, in Psalm 51 some touching words - I would like to focus a bit on verse 12:
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit..."
What was King David writing about? The context is rather telling - as David had just been confronted by Nathan the prophet over David's adultery with Bathsheba. You see, had we the power to travel back in time to observe what was going on, we would find David in a funk that most today would call "depression". But we must also realize, David was already on this path long before the adulterous affair. he was neglecting his duties as King and had, for all practical purposes, become distant and disconnected. David's spiritual slide reached a peak with the Bathsheba incident.
How many of us experience a spiritual "slide", with or without a "Bathsheba incident"? And what is the result? Lost joy.
The symptoms are often much like David's - disconnect, depression, anxiety, fear, and sometimes much more. For the born-again believer in Jesus Christ, it sometimes leads to withdrawing from the local church, intentionally seeking flaws and faults and exploiting them for what can only be described as dividing. Sometimes the symptom for the church member is a refocus not on the Gospel, but on self - personal preferences, "my way", or a militant resistance to anything new. Fellowship with fellow believers suffers, but more troubling - this person's relationship with the Lord suffers.
What happened? Sometimes it is a simple matter of having given in to the lie that not all sins are a "big deal". We forget that scripture tells us "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). The language here doesn't differentiate between "little sins" and "big sins", "bad lies" and "good lies", and so forth. All sin, but its very nature is worthy of death.
And this leads us to the vaccine for depression and loss of Joy in salvation - and that is to remind ourselves that we all are, by our nature, worthy of eternal death and separation, yet the Lord in His infinite mercy and grace chose us, draws us, and redeems us by the blood of Christ. It is that redemption that seals up another promise of the Lord - to never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5).
The sad truth is, whenever we feel that the Lord is distant, that we experience depression or undue anxiety, it is nearly always the product of our own distancing ourselves. Whether from the aforementioned sin, or by allowing people to take up residence in our minds and hearts through grudges and an unwillingness to forgive. When we allow others and their attacks to bring us down to their level. When we allow the situations and issues of the day draw our eyes off our Savior and the great salvation He provided us - then we are inevitably going to loose grip on the joy of the Lord's salvation.
Let us remember - this all boils down to a very real spiritual battle going on. It is the very kind of battle that the apostle Paul wrote of in Ephesians 6:10-12 of those we are REALLY doing battle with. It isn't against people (as bad as they can behave). We are at war with the forces of darkness led by Satan. Sometimes among his pawns we find the Atheist and Agnostic, the Pagan, the Satanist, and sometimes we find the professed Christian! Indeed, it is my experience that Satan's favorite pawns are those who claim to belong to Christ, as these are the very people we should see as examples, as the very people we can count on to bear our burdens, to lift us up, and to help us forward. This is why it hurts so much (as compared to the attacks from outside) when those we see as brothers and sisters in Christ become our antagonists.
But again - perspective is absolutely necessary - the battle is the Lord's. We are simply to stand fast (Ephesians 6) in the power, not of our own, but of the Lord. We need to dwell on those things that are pure, good, holy, and righteous. We must take on the full armor of God. We must trust the Word of God. We must fully trust in the completed work of Christ. And we must put into practice the very life He has called us to. Is Jesus really your "all in all"? Is He really Who you are trusting?
Miss the Joy of Salvation? Feel helpless and distant from God? Then call out to Him, take on the Whole Armor of God, trust completely in Him, remember what He died to save you from. Draw near to Him.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
False Teachers, Prosperity, and Satan
I will make a startling admission to my readers. You might want to sit down for this massive, earth-shattering confession!
I have never, ever trusted, believed, or liked Joel Osteen or his Satan-led, Serpent-pleasing, sugar-coated, snake oil message. There has never, ever been a doubt in my mind regarding his true allegiance.
I have taken grief from many for my views. I have been called judgmental. I have been told I have no right to question that "fine man of God". I have been told to check for a log in my own eye.
But ladies and gentlemen - Joel Osteen (and his wife Victoria) have repeatedly given every evidence, from a biblical perspective, for genuine believers to witness that the couple have far more than a splinter in their eye - they have a dozen tractor-trailer loads of garbage hanging out of their eyes (and mouths)! Jesus said if we acknowledge (confess) Him before men, He will confess us before our Heavenly Father, but if we do NOT acknowledge Him... You get the point.
Time any again, Osteen has had a very public stage to profess, acknowledge, and show forth that Jesus Christ is Lord. That Jesus is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Light.. That NO man can come to the father, but by Jesus alone. This comes directly from the very Word of God that Osteen professes to preach... despite such a drought of even a complete verse from scripture gracing his lips as he spews his prosperity-gospel bile. Time and again, Osteen has even stated that he cannot say for sure that Jesus is the only way!
But recently, news has been made (and the truth about the Osteens been very publicly spotlighted) by what his wife Victory has stated.
What did she say? She tried to temper her statement, but there really is no hiding the self-serving, self-centered mission - both personal and organizationally of the Osteen circus.
But lets be brutally honest - tens of thousands (some numbers as high as 30,000) "worship" at the Osteen Temple on a weekly basis. Countless millions outside that building, across this nation, and around the world, hang on every word that drips from Joel and Victoria's mouths. Undoubtably, there are many of the "faithful masses" of Osteen disciples who have professed Jesus Christ as Lord. Sadly, one has to wonder how a supposedly born-again Christian can swallow the anti-Christian bile that the Osteens hurl. But one only has to open scripture to see a resounding and clear explanation that would be wise for us all to ponder on, pray on, and remind others of:
I have never, ever trusted, believed, or liked Joel Osteen or his Satan-led, Serpent-pleasing, sugar-coated, snake oil message. There has never, ever been a doubt in my mind regarding his true allegiance.
I have taken grief from many for my views. I have been called judgmental. I have been told I have no right to question that "fine man of God". I have been told to check for a log in my own eye.
But ladies and gentlemen - Joel Osteen (and his wife Victoria) have repeatedly given every evidence, from a biblical perspective, for genuine believers to witness that the couple have far more than a splinter in their eye - they have a dozen tractor-trailer loads of garbage hanging out of their eyes (and mouths)! Jesus said if we acknowledge (confess) Him before men, He will confess us before our Heavenly Father, but if we do NOT acknowledge Him... You get the point.
Time any again, Osteen has had a very public stage to profess, acknowledge, and show forth that Jesus Christ is Lord. That Jesus is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Light.. That NO man can come to the father, but by Jesus alone. This comes directly from the very Word of God that Osteen professes to preach... despite such a drought of even a complete verse from scripture gracing his lips as he spews his prosperity-gospel bile. Time and again, Osteen has even stated that he cannot say for sure that Jesus is the only way!
But recently, news has been made (and the truth about the Osteens been very publicly spotlighted) by what his wife Victory has stated.
“I just want to encourage every one of us to realize that, when we obey God—we’re not doing it for God, I mean that’s one way to look at it—we’re doing it for ourselves, because God takes pleasure when we’re happy. That’s the thing that gives him the greatest joy this morning. So I want you to know this morning, just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy. When you come to church and when you worship him, you’re not doing it for God, really; you’re doing it for yourself, because that’s what makes God happy.”
What did she say? She tried to temper her statement, but there really is no hiding the self-serving, self-centered mission - both personal and organizationally of the Osteen circus.
But lets be brutally honest - tens of thousands (some numbers as high as 30,000) "worship" at the Osteen Temple on a weekly basis. Countless millions outside that building, across this nation, and around the world, hang on every word that drips from Joel and Victoria's mouths. Undoubtably, there are many of the "faithful masses" of Osteen disciples who have professed Jesus Christ as Lord. Sadly, one has to wonder how a supposedly born-again Christian can swallow the anti-Christian bile that the Osteens hurl. But one only has to open scripture to see a resounding and clear explanation that would be wise for us all to ponder on, pray on, and remind others of:
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
2 Timothy 4:3
Sunday, August 24, 2014
The Other Side of the Ark
Few Bible stories are as familiar or beloved as that of "Noah's Ark". Countless children's events, cartoons, booklets, illustrations, and so forth have been produced around this story.
Children can tell you the exciting details... A big, funny-looking boat, two of each kind of animal (except....), Noah and his family, rain, flood, crow/raven, waiting, mountain, rainbow, and happily ever after...
But sadly, many people never get beyond the superficial illustrated story.
That story, and the one we need to get a firm grip on is this- God's Wrath and judgment and His Grace.
The world had become absolutely corrupt with sin. God, in His perfection had to act. He determined to wipe humanity from the earth. Had God destroyed 100% of mankind from the Earth, it would have been perfectly righteous and justified.
Yet God's plan also included deliverance for all who were righteous (by faith). Noah and his family were not perfect or sinless. But they followed the Lord, whom provided one, single means to deliverance- the ark.
And here we are thousands if years later... And God has provided the single way to perfect deliverance- the perfect Ark in Christ Jesus, literally God in the flesh, who is the door, who took on my sins, who gave His precious blood for all who would believe.
You see- the cross has little meaning to those who do not see or who refuse to acknowledge that they are heading to an eternity that is a forever destruction- an eternal death in Hell and the Lake of Fire. Just as the vast majority of humanity who walked the Earth in Noah's day- humanity walks in their prideful blindness, filled with blissful and willful ignorance and rebellion. And while God has provided an "Ark", mist never get beyond the novelty. Many even assent to "God". Many " go to church". Some even profess Christ, having "said a prayer", but until they have truly trusted Christ as Noah trusted the Ark - trusting everything to God's plan and provision, they will find themselves outside the narrow gate, and facing God's righteous and perfect justice.
Children can tell you the exciting details... A big, funny-looking boat, two of each kind of animal (except....), Noah and his family, rain, flood, crow/raven, waiting, mountain, rainbow, and happily ever after...
But sadly, many people never get beyond the superficial illustrated story.
That story, and the one we need to get a firm grip on is this- God's Wrath and judgment and His Grace.
The world had become absolutely corrupt with sin. God, in His perfection had to act. He determined to wipe humanity from the earth. Had God destroyed 100% of mankind from the Earth, it would have been perfectly righteous and justified.
Yet God's plan also included deliverance for all who were righteous (by faith). Noah and his family were not perfect or sinless. But they followed the Lord, whom provided one, single means to deliverance- the ark.
And here we are thousands if years later... And God has provided the single way to perfect deliverance- the perfect Ark in Christ Jesus, literally God in the flesh, who is the door, who took on my sins, who gave His precious blood for all who would believe.
You see- the cross has little meaning to those who do not see or who refuse to acknowledge that they are heading to an eternity that is a forever destruction- an eternal death in Hell and the Lake of Fire. Just as the vast majority of humanity who walked the Earth in Noah's day- humanity walks in their prideful blindness, filled with blissful and willful ignorance and rebellion. And while God has provided an "Ark", mist never get beyond the novelty. Many even assent to "God". Many " go to church". Some even profess Christ, having "said a prayer", but until they have truly trusted Christ as Noah trusted the Ark - trusting everything to God's plan and provision, they will find themselves outside the narrow gate, and facing God's righteous and perfect justice.
posted from Bloggeroid
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Sad Reflections
I found myself a bit overwhelmed this evening when I stopped a moment and considered something...
While Christians around the world, and especially in Iraq, Syria, and several other areas are having their heads cut off, being crucified, seeing family members (including young children) murdered before their eyes, and otherwise being so heavily and violently persecuted for the "crime" of professing Jesus... We here in the US struggle to demonstrate a tiny hint of faithfulness. We won't live out the faith we profess due to the tiniest hint of "offense". American " Christians" so often get consumed with "me centered" flesh-driven lives.
We just have to have the most beautiful building, state of the art equipment, professionally produced worship service, comfy seats, pleasant church staff, etc... All while our persecuted brothers and sisters still meet in homes, without the creature comforts, all while wondering when their lives will be required of them...
Some even go so far as to marginalize many of those persecuted Christians as something less than genuine Christians... Yet they are far more willing to profess Christ before men than we are. With a gun to their head, or a knife to their throat (or that of their child), they refuse to recant their faith in Jesus Christ.
What did Jesus say on the matter? (Matthew 10:32-33)
"So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."
Or as the Apostle Paul said: "I am not ashamed of the gospel..."
How do we deny Jesus? How do we demonstrate that we are "ashamed of the gospel"? When we do not consider Christ first. When we make excuses for our sins instead of repenting of them. When we are more concerned in with our preferences and comfort. When our churches are wrapped up in buildings and programs over meaningful (and even sacrificial) steps to reach the lost. When meeting together with the local church is an inconvenience, and when it grows easy to make excuses... We deny Christ.
We live in a land where there is a "church on every street corner", many of which cater to creature comforts over the life-changing Word of God. Where marginal Christians jump from church to church for comfort or to escape an " uncomfortable " situation (or conviction)... We find it difficult to just be faithful...
Which is more like the Church that Jesus planted? Maybe its time to look in the mirror.
While Christians around the world, and especially in Iraq, Syria, and several other areas are having their heads cut off, being crucified, seeing family members (including young children) murdered before their eyes, and otherwise being so heavily and violently persecuted for the "crime" of professing Jesus... We here in the US struggle to demonstrate a tiny hint of faithfulness. We won't live out the faith we profess due to the tiniest hint of "offense". American " Christians" so often get consumed with "me centered" flesh-driven lives.
We just have to have the most beautiful building, state of the art equipment, professionally produced worship service, comfy seats, pleasant church staff, etc... All while our persecuted brothers and sisters still meet in homes, without the creature comforts, all while wondering when their lives will be required of them...
Some even go so far as to marginalize many of those persecuted Christians as something less than genuine Christians... Yet they are far more willing to profess Christ before men than we are. With a gun to their head, or a knife to their throat (or that of their child), they refuse to recant their faith in Jesus Christ.
What did Jesus say on the matter? (Matthew 10:32-33)
"So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."
Or as the Apostle Paul said: "I am not ashamed of the gospel..."
How do we deny Jesus? How do we demonstrate that we are "ashamed of the gospel"? When we do not consider Christ first. When we make excuses for our sins instead of repenting of them. When we are more concerned in with our preferences and comfort. When our churches are wrapped up in buildings and programs over meaningful (and even sacrificial) steps to reach the lost. When meeting together with the local church is an inconvenience, and when it grows easy to make excuses... We deny Christ.
We live in a land where there is a "church on every street corner", many of which cater to creature comforts over the life-changing Word of God. Where marginal Christians jump from church to church for comfort or to escape an " uncomfortable " situation (or conviction)... We find it difficult to just be faithful...
Which is more like the Church that Jesus planted? Maybe its time to look in the mirror.
posted from Bloggeroid
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Thoughts on the "Border Crisis"
There is no doubt that there is a humanitarian nightmare unfolding along the Southern border of the United States. Regardless of one's political views, particularly revolving around immigration, one thing is abundantly clear - we have a problem. This post will not even begin to attempt to address the larger issues regarding immigration (legal & illegal). Instead, this entry will focus on the particular humanitarian issues relating to the tens of thousands of unaccompanied juveniles flooding across the border, being housed in pretty horrible conditions, then being bussed to various locations around the country.
Let us first look at what is going on. Beginning several months ago, young people primarily from Central American countries as well as Mexico began coming across the border. While there has long been a flow of children and young adults, usually with their family entering the nation "illegally", this latest flood is a whole new situation - many of these children are unaccompanied. The story that has been laid out by the media and the current administration is that these children are just "innocent kids fleeing violence, gangs, oppression, disease, and looking for a better life. There is little doubt that conditions in those countries are often quite bad. On the other hand, while the public story has been that these children were simply fleeing conditions at home, the evidence points to a much more sinister event. Months ago, the US Government solicited bids to house and transport tens of thousands of immigrants, primarily children. This was before the current situation grew anywhere near its current scale. There is mounting evidence that this situation was engineered for political reasons, using children as pawns in that political game. But that brings us to how we, as Christians, should view the situation - and respond.
Returning to the opening paragraph - regardless of your views on the general issues of immigration, a major portion of the current flood across the border is made up of unaccompanied children - as young as toddlers. Many of those children traveled thousands of miles. Imagine a 3 or 4 year old child somehow wandering all the way across Mexico to enter the US. They were somehow helped (often by "Coyotes" - paid mercenaries who's "job" is to transport illegal immigrants to the US). Children. And they came with promises made - made of a better life.
But along with these children is another disturbing group - the young, extremely violent gang members - mostly affiliated with the infamous MS-13. They are coming across for opportunities - but none have to do with a better life, being law-abiding citizens, or even helping their "poor family at home" - but about furthering gang powers and drug distribution networks.
Yet another component of this massive inflow is the baggage of diseases long considered eradicated in this nation.
Our job, as professing Christians, is to see this first for the fundamental issue it is - a humanitarian disaster. Tens of thousands of children are being used as pawns and being put through some pretty awful conditions in the process. Regardless of their "legal status" (we can discuss that once we deal with the immediate issues), children need to see the love of Christ displayed.
The Old Testament contains the commands from God to His people to not abuse or take advantage of the "sojourner" while they are in the land. In fact it also says to leave provision for them (the remains of your harvest are to be left in the fields/vineyards for the widows, orphans, and sojourners).
Glenn Beck, the controversial media personality and political pundit has taken a great deal of grief for loading up semi trucks full of food, toys, and hope to help as many of these children that are still in detention as possible. The vitriol focuses on the need to "take care of our own first". While I would hesitate to lump Beck in with the term "Christian" (he practices Mormonism), he is indeed demonstrating the right attitude towards these children. Beck has said that these children should be returned to their families, but while they are here (the definition of "sojourner is someone who is somewhere for a time - but will be moving on or returning home), we need to treat them well, and love them.
And let us be really honest - again despite one's views on immigration - these are human beings that God created in His image. Mistreating them would be directly against what the Lord would have us do. We should "do good", we should share Christ with them, not only through our words, but through the actions of our hands. After we have made a concerted effort to care for these children, we should then take an honest look at how we got in this mess - And in the name of justice - we should seek to answer and call out those responsible for using (abusing) these children for political gain.
It is true that we have some huge issues to address in this nation regarding immigration. But we must first see these children as the human beings they are - and care for them.
Let us first look at what is going on. Beginning several months ago, young people primarily from Central American countries as well as Mexico began coming across the border. While there has long been a flow of children and young adults, usually with their family entering the nation "illegally", this latest flood is a whole new situation - many of these children are unaccompanied. The story that has been laid out by the media and the current administration is that these children are just "innocent kids fleeing violence, gangs, oppression, disease, and looking for a better life. There is little doubt that conditions in those countries are often quite bad. On the other hand, while the public story has been that these children were simply fleeing conditions at home, the evidence points to a much more sinister event. Months ago, the US Government solicited bids to house and transport tens of thousands of immigrants, primarily children. This was before the current situation grew anywhere near its current scale. There is mounting evidence that this situation was engineered for political reasons, using children as pawns in that political game. But that brings us to how we, as Christians, should view the situation - and respond.
Returning to the opening paragraph - regardless of your views on the general issues of immigration, a major portion of the current flood across the border is made up of unaccompanied children - as young as toddlers. Many of those children traveled thousands of miles. Imagine a 3 or 4 year old child somehow wandering all the way across Mexico to enter the US. They were somehow helped (often by "Coyotes" - paid mercenaries who's "job" is to transport illegal immigrants to the US). Children. And they came with promises made - made of a better life.
But along with these children is another disturbing group - the young, extremely violent gang members - mostly affiliated with the infamous MS-13. They are coming across for opportunities - but none have to do with a better life, being law-abiding citizens, or even helping their "poor family at home" - but about furthering gang powers and drug distribution networks.
Yet another component of this massive inflow is the baggage of diseases long considered eradicated in this nation.
Our job, as professing Christians, is to see this first for the fundamental issue it is - a humanitarian disaster. Tens of thousands of children are being used as pawns and being put through some pretty awful conditions in the process. Regardless of their "legal status" (we can discuss that once we deal with the immediate issues), children need to see the love of Christ displayed.
The Old Testament contains the commands from God to His people to not abuse or take advantage of the "sojourner" while they are in the land. In fact it also says to leave provision for them (the remains of your harvest are to be left in the fields/vineyards for the widows, orphans, and sojourners).
Glenn Beck, the controversial media personality and political pundit has taken a great deal of grief for loading up semi trucks full of food, toys, and hope to help as many of these children that are still in detention as possible. The vitriol focuses on the need to "take care of our own first". While I would hesitate to lump Beck in with the term "Christian" (he practices Mormonism), he is indeed demonstrating the right attitude towards these children. Beck has said that these children should be returned to their families, but while they are here (the definition of "sojourner is someone who is somewhere for a time - but will be moving on or returning home), we need to treat them well, and love them.
And let us be really honest - again despite one's views on immigration - these are human beings that God created in His image. Mistreating them would be directly against what the Lord would have us do. We should "do good", we should share Christ with them, not only through our words, but through the actions of our hands. After we have made a concerted effort to care for these children, we should then take an honest look at how we got in this mess - And in the name of justice - we should seek to answer and call out those responsible for using (abusing) these children for political gain.
It is true that we have some huge issues to address in this nation regarding immigration. But we must first see these children as the human beings they are - and care for them.
Salvation Lost or Just Lost?
I recently heard of a young woman who had grown up "in church" who had made a profession of faith at a relatively young age, was baptized, and had "lived as a Christian" into her adult life. She had recently "decided" that she was now an Atheist. She insists she no longer believes in God or has any "need" for all that church "stuff".
Obviously, this has caused her family some serious pain. The question came up - "how can this be?" After all, we believe that Jesus meant what He said when he said in his exchange with some Jewish leaders:
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:22-30
The reality is - we are faced with some real challenges. Some say that they are not too concerned about her and her eternity, after all - she "was saved and baptized" years ago. On the other side of the coin, scripture clearly says that we are known by our works/fruits. And of course, we must go back to the above passage from John 10. Jesus did clearly state that NO ONE can pluck His sheep from His hand!
The Bible does picture the possibility of Christians "backsliding", as it were - engaging in sin, even returning in part to their "former selves" - but only for a short time. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is given, in part, for the purpose of steering, guiding, and convicting us. A truly born-again Christian cannot live in unrepentant sin, and there are few sins like renouncing your faith - and directly denying the existence of God!
Is the above case possibly the result of a profession of faith based on emotion, or because of pressures from family or friends? Could she have gone through the motions, yet not truly believed?
Another complicating issue revolves around her husband, an avowed Atheist who has never made a profession of faith in anything but himself. Could the situation be the result of ignoring the cautions of 2 Corinthians 6:14 to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers? Indeed, the Lord's admonition to avoid such entanglements (with a picture of marriage in sight) is a caution because unregenerate spouses can very much lead believing spouses down a backsliding path.
But the bigger picture goes back to the question: Can a born-again believer truly renounce their faith and truly believe there is no God? (see Psalm 14:1) Would that not be a demonstration of a person being "plucked" from God's hand?
I submit that one cannot renounce a genuine, born-again faith in Jesus Christ. You cannot renounce or lose what you never possessed. Sadly, the last century and a half have seen evangelistic efforts so guided and driven by emotion, and what has become "easy believism" (a soft, often ineffective version of the Gospel that essentially says to "come as you are" and leaves out repentance and the Lordship of Christ in our lives. It is a message that there is no expectation of real change, no expatiation of outward signs of faith that Christ and the Apostle Paul so clearly spoke of. It is a gospel that leaves out the Sovereignty of God, any degree of sanctification, and does not demand any change in the one making a profession. It is a dead gospel, leading to not only a dead faith, but a deceptive, faith that will lead many on that day to hear the saddest words of all "And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." Matthew 7:23
So - what spiritual advice can be given in the above case? I would suggest gentle persistence on the part of family and friends. Living the genuine gospel before her, praying for her, and watching. If her youthful profession of faith was real, the Lord will not give her peace in her latest actions. She will be unable to remain in that condition. On the other hand, if she is able to live out her life in her new, chosen "faith", then the answer is clear. She needs Jesus.
Again - you cannot lose what you never had.
Obviously, this has caused her family some serious pain. The question came up - "how can this be?" After all, we believe that Jesus meant what He said when he said in his exchange with some Jewish leaders:
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:22-30
The reality is - we are faced with some real challenges. Some say that they are not too concerned about her and her eternity, after all - she "was saved and baptized" years ago. On the other side of the coin, scripture clearly says that we are known by our works/fruits. And of course, we must go back to the above passage from John 10. Jesus did clearly state that NO ONE can pluck His sheep from His hand!
The Bible does picture the possibility of Christians "backsliding", as it were - engaging in sin, even returning in part to their "former selves" - but only for a short time. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is given, in part, for the purpose of steering, guiding, and convicting us. A truly born-again Christian cannot live in unrepentant sin, and there are few sins like renouncing your faith - and directly denying the existence of God!
Is the above case possibly the result of a profession of faith based on emotion, or because of pressures from family or friends? Could she have gone through the motions, yet not truly believed?
Another complicating issue revolves around her husband, an avowed Atheist who has never made a profession of faith in anything but himself. Could the situation be the result of ignoring the cautions of 2 Corinthians 6:14 to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers? Indeed, the Lord's admonition to avoid such entanglements (with a picture of marriage in sight) is a caution because unregenerate spouses can very much lead believing spouses down a backsliding path.
But the bigger picture goes back to the question: Can a born-again believer truly renounce their faith and truly believe there is no God? (see Psalm 14:1) Would that not be a demonstration of a person being "plucked" from God's hand?
I submit that one cannot renounce a genuine, born-again faith in Jesus Christ. You cannot renounce or lose what you never possessed. Sadly, the last century and a half have seen evangelistic efforts so guided and driven by emotion, and what has become "easy believism" (a soft, often ineffective version of the Gospel that essentially says to "come as you are" and leaves out repentance and the Lordship of Christ in our lives. It is a message that there is no expectation of real change, no expatiation of outward signs of faith that Christ and the Apostle Paul so clearly spoke of. It is a gospel that leaves out the Sovereignty of God, any degree of sanctification, and does not demand any change in the one making a profession. It is a dead gospel, leading to not only a dead faith, but a deceptive, faith that will lead many on that day to hear the saddest words of all "And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." Matthew 7:23
So - what spiritual advice can be given in the above case? I would suggest gentle persistence on the part of family and friends. Living the genuine gospel before her, praying for her, and watching. If her youthful profession of faith was real, the Lord will not give her peace in her latest actions. She will be unable to remain in that condition. On the other hand, if she is able to live out her life in her new, chosen "faith", then the answer is clear. She needs Jesus.
Again - you cannot lose what you never had.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Foolin' Yourself (with apologies to Tommy Shaw/Styx)
Heard this song for the first time in quite a while the other day. I should never be surprised at how God can use the mundane as an inspiration! This song is an example. The song, penned by Tommy Shaw, debuted on the Grand Illusion album of 1978, and was a hit for the group Styx.
But in listening again to the song this week - a few things struck me:
#1 - a whole new lyric adapted from the original (see below).
#2 - my mind was immediately turned to 1 Corinthians 3:18 - and the them of "fooling yourself" or "do not be deceived" throughout scripture. Considering that I was already in the middle of a sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, it gave me a title to that message.
How do we fool ourselves? Let me count the ways (ok - maybe not count them here - this could turn into the longest blog post in recorded history). But a few of the highlights might include:
But in listening again to the song this week - a few things struck me:
#1 - a whole new lyric adapted from the original (see below).
#2 - my mind was immediately turned to 1 Corinthians 3:18 - and the them of "fooling yourself" or "do not be deceived" throughout scripture. Considering that I was already in the middle of a sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, it gave me a title to that message.
How do we fool ourselves? Let me count the ways (ok - maybe not count them here - this could turn into the longest blog post in recorded history). But a few of the highlights might include:
- Failing to sincerely and regularly study the Word of God, but still try to speak to spiritual matters.
- Point out the sin in the lives of others, while ignoring the flood of sins in our own eyes.
- Continuing to live in sin - clinging to our "little pet sins" that we think don't hurt anything...
- When we say we don't "need" church - we can worship anywhere...
- When we put our personal preferences above what is best for the mission and ministry of the local church (think thermostats, seating, volume, music, and other comforts).
- When we substitute the smiling, sugar-dripping, propserty-teaching TV preacher for the local, God-called minister of the Word.
- When we say "I know what the Bible says, BUT...."
- Or the equally disturbing "I don't think God really meant ________"
- When we think that our children "going to church" for an hour or two a week will somehow fulfill the parental responsibility to educate our children...
- When we agonize over our families when they explode in bad decisions and choices - yet never speak up or share the Cure (Jesus Christ), or even live what we might could say.
- When one hops from church to church, seeking the "perfect church" where no-one every bickers, argues, complains, or says anything that might hurt your feelings.
- When you assume you are "a-ok" and "saved" because you walked an isle and repeated some prayer a preacher or minister had you copy... but you never really trusted Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, repenting of your sins (literally means turning FROM - rejecting).
- And for us preachers - if you have ever counted "raised hands" as salvations...
- If you think your God-rejecting, rebellious child or other relative is going to heaven because their name is on a church roll.
- You think you are a spiritually-mature Christian, yet still crave (and indeed NEED) the milk (Hebrews 5:12, 1 Corinthians 3:2)
How are so many deceived? Could it be that they simply place themselves in a voluntary position of being deceived? the Lord has given us His Holy Word - sufficient for teaching, corruption, training... (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
And now - for the cheesy re-write of the song "Foolin' Yourself":
You see the world through your sin-filled eyes
You are a troubled young soul, I can tell…
You think you have it all under control
But your heart is filled with sin and your head filled with strife.
And you’re foolin’ yourself, if you don’t believe it
Your killing yourself, if you don’t repent of it.
Why must you be such a deceived young man
With your future in Hell condemned to be?
How can you give into Satans plans
That could hide your light of your eternity young man?
And you’re foolin’ yourself, if you don’t believe it
Your killing yourself, if you don’t repent of it.
Get up! Get down on your knees!
In Christ, Satan can’t beat you, you know it
Come on, repent of the lot
Give unto Christ your heart and don’t blow it!
And you’re foolin’ yourself, if you don’t believe it
Your killing yourself, if you don’t repent of it.
Get up! Get down on your knees!
In Christ, Satan can’t beat you, you know it
Come on, repent of the lot
Give unto Christ your heart and don’t blow it!
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