Biblical Faith vs. Culture

Evangelist and author Dr. Erwin Lutzer tells a fascinating story when asked about the difference between current cultural norms and Scriptural values.  He begins describing a time when he went to a country club to play golf with a friend.  They were standing next to a pond, and Lutzer noticed a mother duck's nest, partially hidden behind some brush.  When he walked over and took a closer look, he noticed that the nest contained a single golf ball!  The poor mother duck had mistaken it for an egg, and would soon be in for a disappointment after months go by, and no baby duckling emerges.  

Although humorous, Dr. Lutzer's point was that the mother duck had been deceived early on, and adopted what she considered to be the genuine article.  It equates to people thinking that they are worshipping the real God in Heaven, but finding out later that a false, culture-produced version of the Lord isn't going to save them.  In the same way that this poor duck was convinced she was going to be a mother someday - people all around us are guarding and nurturing a faith that may not be Scriptural or true.  

There is very real pressure for churches in the West today to begin making allowances and accommodations in order to let in fashionable beliefs.  For example, some pastors may think that if their church doesn't bend to current cultural norms, they may lose parishioners.  Or take for example the extremely popular liberal ideology which says that we shouldn't ever judge sin, so people can do whatever they want as long as it doesn't hurt someone else.  In this version of theology, God is more like a fun uncle than a loving parent.   

2 Thessalonians 2:15 says, "So then brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter."  Here the apostle Paul is exhorting his readers to remain faithful, and not to let any false doctrine or tradition supersede what Jesus actually said and did.  Apparently, this type of thing happened two-thousand years ago also, and required several letters from Paul to help keep believers on track.

And I think this is where the modern church finds itself today.  Many have gone apostate and shifted from Christ's commandments altogether, in order to begin reflecting the passions of our current time (pro-choice abortion ethics, religious universalism, veneration of sexual sin, etc.).  

A good many other churches have begun the slow but steady process of leaving the faith one small step at a time, through a series of little concessions.  "It's okay to compromise on this or that, as long as we don't go too far" you might hear them say.  But one step in the wrong direction often invites other steps to follow, and before long, the entire congregation may become spiritually lost.  Such is the power that pastors and church leaders possess.  

If you are in a Biblical church that follows a Scriptural pastor, then take a moment now to give thanks and praise to God above.  If you aren't sure, then test what is taught in your church against the Bible itself.  Never take a leader's opinion as the ultimate truth, unless it lines up with what the Word says in print.  Faithful Christians will need to stay strong and stick together during these coming times of lukewarm religion and false teaching.  Remember always: the pulpit is designed to preach Scripture - not politics, opinion, or cultural trends.  

Not long ago, my own church engaged in an old tradition known as an alter call.  The pastor asked anyone in the congregation who wanted to accept Christ to come forward and kneel.  It was an awesome thing to behold.  In my heart I felt joy.  Not just for those who came forward that morning, but because I was confident about the type of faith they were accepting.  It was the Scriptural Jesus, and the Christian God.  I hope and pray the same for all of you who are reading this today.  May the true God of the Bible bless you and cover you.  Jesus didn't die on the cross for a "golf ball religion."  He died for you and I, so that we wouldn't be abandoned to sin.  

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Walk Boldly in the Faith

Our source Scripture for today is from Acts 21:12-14.  It says this, ^“When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.  Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’  When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’”  

This Scripture describes a discussion between a local prophet and the apostle Paul.  You will notice here, that Paul rebukes the warning of this person coming to steer him away from Jerusalem.  Would you and I do the same in the face of certain persecution?  It’s difficult to say.  Typically with modern Christianity, it seems to me, that we can often find ourselves going through trials or persecution without a choice.  We are the innocent victims of bad things happening to good people. 

But this situation is different.  This is an instance where Paul knew that all he had to do was avoid going into town, and he would be safe.  But he chose to go anyway.  And that difference is what I want to begin unpacking with you now.  How do we walk the walk when it comes to following Jesus and obeying God, in an intentional way.

Scripture also tells us that the Father seeks a certain type of worshipper; the type who gives back to God in both spirit and truth.  But what does worshipping in spirit and truth really mean?  Ideally, when someone praises and worships God there is a combination of passion (spirit) along with an accurate view of who the Lord really is (truth).  If both of these stipulations don't exist at the same time, then we are falling short when it comes to returning praise to the Father.  We may walk boldly through life, but we won’t be doing it according to the Word. 

In order to understand our right relation to God and the Holy Trinity, we must first understand how the Bible depicts this concept of boldness through Spirit and Truth.

If we don’t, then we are in a similar position to the local prophet who warned Paul not to go into town.  We don’t have all the facts about who God is, so we underestimate Him.  Let’s now take a moment to discuss what this kind of lukewarm, misdirected worship might look like when people don’t really know the God of the Bible.  When they walk according to their own wisdom (and not God’s wisdom). 

I once heard a story about a large congregation.  On any given Sunday they would pack in a few thousand worshippers.  It was a huge building, complete with a small restaurant and coffee bar just outside the sanctuary.  A bookstore on the upper deck as well.  They would pray from time to time, and then the preacher would deliver a sermon.  But when it came time for the singing, God couldn't hear them. 

Peoples' mouths were moving, but it was as if nothing was coming out.  Something was missing at these church services.  There was no connection to the real, living God.  

Although this scenario is a metaphor, it’s not the experience that God desires for you and I.  God wants us to actually connect with Him.  To be bold in the faith, and in the confidence that we carry His message.  And the best way to do that, is to both study His Word so we can understand who He is … and also to bring our whole being and emotion to the forefront when we praise Him.  We must give glory to God in both spirit and truth. 

The Gospel often calls us to walk boldly in the faith.  Not to give in to a spirit of fear, but rather, to courageously reach out to God in times of trial and trouble.  And sometimes, to go into that place that we are afraid to go.  

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Am I Going to Heaven?

I think many people today wonder if they are good enough to get into Heaven.  It's an honest question for a thoughtful person, and it deserves some attention.  Many groups throughout history have pondered it.  Many have tried to live by what I call the 'Graceless Gospel' for example.  The idea that you must earn your way to heaven based on good works and proper moral living all on your own.  That we have to be continually obedient to God and live good lives, and only then will God stamp us Approved.  

Or how about using grace as fire insurance for salvation?  In other words: I will live however I want to, and then claim the blood of Jesus on my deathbed.  Based on this philosophy, any liar, cheat, or sociopath can be perfectly confident of their salvation - as long as they say the “sinner's prayer” at the very end, right?  Here there is an overabundance of assurance based on a misunderstanding of how both faith and good works go together.

Some have also claimed holiness by association.  In other words, because they have an uncle, parent, or friend who is a pastor or deacon for example ... God's gift of atonement will somehow rub off on them as well.  They believe that they don't need to go to church or accept Jesus personally, but rely solely on the relationship with that other person in order to get the spiritual job done.

And finally there exists a fallacy that we will have plenty of time to decide what to do about Jesus.  The idea that I will live out my twenties or thirties happily doing and living however I want to at the time, and then when I am eighty-five years old and in poor health, then I will come to God.  If only we were all lucky enough to live eighty-five years on this planet, that method might work.  But of course, no one knows how much time they really have.

All of these strategies have one thing in common.  They still allow the seed of doubt to sneak in.  "Am I really good enough?"  "Will God really accept me when it's my time?"  They all neglect the personal component of a relationship with Jesus.

Take for example something often known as the Roman Road to Heaven.  It is a simple guide - constructed of short Scripture passages from the book of Romans - that outlines how you and I might become born again.  It goes something like the following: all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).  But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).  The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23).  Therefore, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Rom 10:9).  So then, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom 10:13).

Thanks to the apostle Paul, servant of God, for laying this out so succinctly for us.  It applied to people two-thousand years ago, and it applies to us today.  And it leads us inexorably to this fantastic truth from Romans 8:1-2, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

It appears (gratefully), that God no longer holds our sins against us if we trust Jesus with our salvation.  In fact, if we have traveled the Roman Road to Heaven, we actually can have assurance.  We need not wonder all the time if we are good enough. 

I would much rather have my Roman Road reservation intact, with an assurance that in Christ Jesus, there is no longer any condemnation.  To be certain that God is there for me, in ways that I cannot understand or quite yet fathom this side of heaven.  In ways that lead me successfully through the confusion of this world, and into His waiting arms on my last day.  Doesn't this sound like a better way to navigate life? 

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Therefore, Go and Make Disciples

What a different and strange religion Christianity would be, if Jesus had directed us to build stronghold churches and then just wait for people to show up.  Yet in many ways, I believe this is what a lot of churches in the West are doing much of the time.  The old adage from a famous baseball movie rings in my head: "If you build it, they will come."  But are parishioners actually coming? 

It's fascinating when we look back at the life and times of our Lord and Savior.  For much of his life, God's son had a mobile ministry.  We recall that before Jesus was even born, his parents were called back to Bethlehem to the place of Joseph's ancestry in order to fulfill an order for the Roman census.  Each family had to return to their place of origin to be counted.  Although the Biblical text glosses over how difficult this must have been, some manuscript scholars have theorized it was close to a ninety-mile trip.  Mary was very pregnant, and this was before trains and automobiles.  The trip was difficult I'm sure, and the landscape was often dangerous.  

After Jesus got older and formally began his ministry, Biblical texts give an account of him traveling all over Galilee and going to churches and homes to preach.  Matthew 4:23 says, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people."  

Once again, we have this notion that in order to get the word out ... Jesus had to move around and take the initiative.  He didn't wait for the people already in the synagogue or out on the streets to come to him; instead he went on a kind of sanctified tour.  It is also worth mentioning that he preached with such authority that it completely baffled the Jewish ruling party.  The Pharisees couldn't wrap their heads around how someone who hadn't studied with them could end up knowing so much about God.  Almost as if he had an inside scoop (which of course he did)!

Finally, you will notice also that Jesus' disciples and followers had the same challenge.  The book of Acts records the followers of Christ moving from place to place.  The Gospel accounts record that occasionally Jesus and his followers would become so overwhelmed from the work of ministry that they had to escape and get away to a 'quiet place' where the Lord could pray and meditate.  

The apostle Paul famously traveled around and began defending Christianity as well.  He stood before kings and procurators, always willing to testify and lend credence to God's incarnate son.  Sometimes this would even land him in prison, and once in a shipwreck!

We are accustomed to hearing about the Great Commission.  Indeed, it is more or less the mission of the modern church.  Matthew 28:19-20 recounts this narrative quite well.  It says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

We would have an entirely different religion if the Great Commission commanded us to "build it, and then just wait for them to come."  This would be a faith of waiting and watching.  Instead, what we are called to do is be proactive in our approach.  Yes it is wonderful when people come to us, but think back to your own life for a moment. More often than not, didn't someone have to come after you first?  Be that person who invites others to Sunday morning service. 

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