FreeTruth

I'd like to reflect on 2 sermons I recently heard.

The first sermon (I caught less than 3 minutes of it), was on a TV in a hotel room two Sundays ago. It was preached in what appeared to be a stadium, but I think it was the regular church building. The man who gave the sermon seemed sincere-- He's quite popular... he is "America's Pastor." He assured the worshipers that "God would take them places they never dreamed of going" and that He could "fulfill their wildest dreams." As the camera panned the neatly dressed crowd I saw smiling faces. The crowd was huge! I'm guessing that one Sunday's offering/collection from this place could meet the annual budget of the church I attend. It would seem that the dubbing of this man as "America's Pastor" is an apt one... America's pastor, keeping the "American Dream" alive.

And I heard a sermon yesterday. This man too was sincere. The subject was vastly different, as was the size of the crowd... several empty seats in the sanctuary, and an offering that barely keeps up with (and ocassionaly lags behind) a modest budget. This pastor began his message with a scripture text: "Put to death... Put to death... Put to death therefore what is earthly in you." The crowd wasn't smiling. The pastor then proceeded to step on the proverbial toes of many of us, myself included. He lovingly challenged us toward holiness (without which, no man will see the Lord.)

My take on the two sermons? The first one left me shaking my head in disbelief. Did the Father send the Son, Jesus, to the cross so that my wildest dreams could be fulfilled? And yet, here was a packed stadium hanging on the words of this "pastor." Perhaps a man left there feeling hopeful--- maybe that dream of a million dollar home at the shore wasn't out of reach after all... ?

The other sermon, from this relatively obscure pastor, left me convicted about the sin in my life, and aware of the dangers if I refuse to change course. My particular sin is laziness. I've been aware of it for many years. This morning, however, I was up at 5:30, meeting with the Lord... just as my pastor recommended. I took his warning seriously... I must put laziness to death, and for me, it will be a daily killing.

Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun. In the days of Israel false prophets abounded. Remember the cleverly devised set of horns used by Zedekiah to prophesy to Ahab and Jehoshaphat exactly what they wanted to hear (1 Kings 22)? "Thus says the Lord, with these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed!" What hopeful words! "And all the prophets prophesied so and said, Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king." This brought a smile to Ahab's face.

But then there was Micaiah, a faithful prophet of the Lord. He never cheered the king's heart. His word did not leave a smile on their face--their "dream" was to triumph in the battle--Micaiah's word was this: "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd."

Thank you pastors of Trinity Fellowship... for speaking the truth in love... so that WE will not be scattered sheep, wandering on the mountains.

Labels: Guest Post, Hearing God's Word, Preaching, Worldliness

In 1 Corinthians 7:31 there is an interesting concept. It's missed in the translation I use, but is captured more accurately in several others. The NASB translates the verse: "...and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away." This "full use" seems to imply an abuse, as other translations make clear.

It is this concept of using the world without abusing it that intrigues me. Today there will be many aspects and benefits of the world that will come across my path. I have at least three options when they do:

1. Non-use. This option is often chosen by the ascetic types among us. These are those who view the stuff of this world as being bad. They may not realize it but they have more in common with pagans in this point of view than they do with Christians. The idea that created things in this world are bad; things like food and work and making money and sports and music and drink and sex and the internet and TV and whatever else might have made the various taboo lists people have, is simply a bad idea. It's not true. God made all these things or gave man the ability to make them. So unless you're ready to say that God makes bad stuff, you'd better recant any notion that stuff is bad. It's as simple as that. (Let me qualify just enough to say that if you are one who has a hard time with addictions/bondage to stuff or pleasures or drink or food, the rules are a bit different for you. The Bible says things like "Flee temptation" and it means it. Stay clear and don't play with fire.)

2. Abuse. This option is often chosen by the free-spirited types; those that are allergic to rules and boundaries, and just feel that they can do what they please when they please. These too are more pagan than Christian and need to repent of their lawlessness real soon or find themselves on the wrong side of heaven's gates.

3. Right use. The Apostle advocates the right use of the stuff and pleasures and good things of the world .

But what is the right use of the world? That, I think, is a very good question; a question worth pondering. The right use of the world's stuff and pleasures obviously includes a use of them in compliance with God's Law. That's a given, or at least ought to be.

But in addition to that I'd suggest that a right use of the world's stuff and pleasures is any use that:
1. Increases joy, gratitude and love for the Giver more than the gift (Psalm 104:1-31; 1 Tim 4:1-5).
2. Balances out the tasks and duties of life with glad-hearted enjoyment of earth's simple pleasures (Eccles. 5:18, 19)
3. Builds bridges to the world for evangelism (1 Cor 10:27; Jesus ate and drank with sinners)
4. Adds spice and pleasure to married life. (Proverbs 5:18, 19; Song of Solomon; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5)
6. Makes a profit in order to be able to give more! (Eph 4:28)

I'm sure more could be added, but I'll, leave it at that. Interesting that in the middle of a joyful austerity month-long experiment in which I'm simply trying to get close to a need-only way of life, God should lead me to think on the right place and use of the things of this world. These things may not be needed for mere physical survival but they may be part of an over-all healthy life on planet earth, as God defines that.

Any thoughts?

Labels: Christian Liberty, Materialism, Self-control, Spiritual disciplines, Worldliness

In 2 Kings 17:15, 33 we read:

They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them ...So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

As I read this in my devotional time this morning I was struck with a spirit of repentance and grief. I cannot escape the fact that I have fallen into some of the same sin as ancient Israel: in many ways I have followed the sins of the nations around me rather than being faithful to my God and confronting my culture by leading my neighbors away from their sins.

I know that I posted a series of cultural sins that we're in danger of committing back on March 28th, but this morning the reality of these came to me with greater clarity and precision. The question came to me like this: "Tim, what are the specific ways that you have taken on the thinking and values of the nations rather than the heart of God and ways of truth?"

Here are ten answers God gave to me (these are not at all polished, but are a raw expression of what the Lord said to me by His Spirit):

1. I've subtlely accepted the relativism and a live-and-let-live mindset of the nations as is evident by my lack of urgency in speaking to people of their sins and of their need for the gospel. The fact that I do not leave my house in the morning with one agenda: to speak to as many people as possible of Jesus Christ and of their desperate need for Him, reveals that I've bought into the world's lie that it doesn't need Him.

2. I've subtlely lived a pluralistic/relativistic mindset whenever I've hesitated to say point blank: "Jesus is the only way."

3. I've given in to the world's love of popularity and the idol that image is everything when I've held back in speaking of "Jesus' by name and of people's sins and of God's holiness with clarity and conviction, because I did not want to offend or lose a friend.

4. I've caved in to political correctness when I've been bold in the pulpit but fearful in the marketplace; when I've preached holiness and the exclusive claims of Christ to the choir, but not to the lost.

5. I've embraced worldly materialism when I've neglected needs of the church and kingdom, and have treated luxuries and extras like they were needs and even rights.

6. I've trusted in the city of man and in man's help when I've treated religious liberty as a right to be fought for when in fact Christians throughout time and around the world have not had one bit of it themselves.

7. I've embraced the worldly hedonism of the nations when I've lingered on the advertisement or enticing picture or ice cream buffet or pillow or juicy gossip too long.

8. I've followed the nations distorted values when I've treated the arts and entertainment and pop culture and even high culture as if they were worth a level of attention even beginning to approach the attention I give to personal holiness and specific, bold, sin and cross-saturated gospel witness. When I in all honesty have given more thought to enjoying or even recovering the arts than to the plight of and an active pursuit of the lost never dying souls that I meet everyday, I'm flat out worldly.

9. I've followed the nations when I treat government and politics as if they have answers for human need, and can ever be trusted to "do the right thing". When I devote more concern and care to how to fix the economy or vote for the right candidate than I do to how to reach my neighbor and rescue him from a dreadful eternity, I have--just like the world--valued this life more than the next.

10. I've followed my nation's values when I treat luxuries like multiple health care options, college education, religious liberty, a relaxing night out, snacks between meals, second helpings of food, a new shirt, and another pair of shoes as needs and rights rather than as the flat out excess they most often are.

Folks, I'm not nuancing anything here, I realize. And I realize that a thousand "buts" and qualifications come to mind for each of these points. But I am making a primary point: we are at great risk of repeating Israel's sin, and in truth, we already have. We have followed the nations rather than our God.

Let us repent and mean it. Let us confess our idolatries and turn from them. Let us renounce all that we hold dear and go hard after God as never before.

This is what God expects, and if the Old Testament record shows us anything, it is that God isn't kidding.

Labels: Culture War, Humility, Repentance, Sin, Worldliness