A Reflection on True Christianity

Posted by Michelle on May 18, 2010 under From The Pastor | Comments are off for this article

A Reflection on True Christianity

Of the six billion people in the world, 2 billion claim to be Christian (Christianity.about.com.). I used to take great joy in the knowledge that the Lord was so active in so many people’s lives. 2 billion people…saved…redeemed… …chosen by God!

But then in my first year of college my mentor, Dr. Foss, challenged me to rethink my assumptions. God has his “elect” (those whom he has chosen by his mercy and grace before the creation of the world) and to be “elect” by necessity implies a small number, not a large one. 30% of the world population seems fairly large. If we focus just on the United States, 75% of Americans claim to be Christian. That too seems pretty large. The ESV captures Jesus’ image quite well when he said to the crowds, “enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matt. 7:13-14). Most translations compare the wide and broad way of destruction to the small and narrow way of life, but the symbol of the words is not just the size of the opening, but also the difficulty of its journey.

In the next verse Jesus says, “beware the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (7:15). We have learned in studying the beatitudes in our sermon series that the way of the false prophets is al

ways the easy way and always the way that is in the majority (remember Michiah stood alone against 400 false prophets of Ahab). So, if it’s easy and everyone seems to be doing it, then might we conclude that it is NOT the way of Jesus? Shouldn’t we be hunting for something that is exclusive, a tightrope walking path whereby we place one foot in front of the other lest we plummet down the ravine? Perhaps a slim path leading to a rocky incline between two mountains with barely enough room for one person to shimmy their way sideways through the crevasse?

Of those 2 billion, 648 million are Evangelical-Bible believing Christians (about 11% of the world’s population). Have they found the narrow gate? Are they traveling on a journey that is “hard” (the Greek word for “hard” is thilibo which means “affliction.”)? Jesus won’t make this easy for us, he continues, “not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (7:21). Here is a group of people calling Jesus “Lord”, a title of submission to his authority. They are not just talking about Jesus but actually demonstrating His power with their lives! They are able to prophesy, cast out demons, and perform a host of mighty miracles in his name. Would they have been considered the ancient version of “Bible believing Christians”? These are no mere Luke warm Christians who once long ago “made a decision” to believe in Jesus and then never ever ever actually “proved” to be his disciples (Jn. 15:8). Such “Christians” could care less about the family of God or the Holy Word of the Bible or reaching the lost. They are luke-warm lazy boy Christians all tucked in for the night without any plans to move (don’t worry, if the house catches fire the lazy boy has wheels!).

No, these are active, bold, spiritual, Christians, who are not ashamed to claim the name of Christ and demonstrate its power through mighty deeds. “Do you believe in Jesus?” We might ask. “Yes I do.” One would say. “Do you live for him?” We might inquire? “Yes I do, just look at the fruit I am producing. How could anyone produce such a crop if God were not with them?” But there is just something about them that we can’t put our finger on so we press a little more, “Do you attend church, small group, and talk to people about Jesus, his death, burial, and resurrection?” Like a puppy waiting for a treat we sit eagerly waiting for the response. “All the time!” Comes the reply. They don’t seem any different than us…maybe there not.

So how do we know that we are not them?

Jesus contrasts two kinds of people. Those who “say” his powerful name and those who “obey” his teachings (7:21). James does the same thing, separating Christians into the “sayers” and the “doers.” Demons can say the name of Jesus, e.g. “you are the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24; 3:11), and they can fully believe in his power (Matt. 8:29-31). Demons know more about the Bible than we do and they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It is a fitting description to say that in this sense they too are Evangelical Bible believing beings. So what separates them from an authentic Spirit filled Christian? The same thing that separates the “sayers” from the “doers”; heart felt joyful obedience to God.

NOT just obedience to a bunch of commands! Jesus told the demons to leave and they did. He told them to go into a herd of pigs and they did. They obeyed his every word but this obedience was not a joyful Spirit filled obedience but a grit the teeth and obey despite everything inside of them screaming to the contrary.

In context, the “sayers” are false prophets who masquerade in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matt. 7:15). In other words, from all outside appearances they are doing and saying and acting the way they are supposed to but in their hearts they rebel against God daily and do not apply Jesus’ teachings (i.e. they build their house on sand not rock, Matt. 7:24-29). Maybe they are bitter towards God or angry at him, after all, God didn’t make life easy. Maybe they just like the Sunday show like the people in Hebrews 6 who “taste” of the good things of God but who are not genuine believers (i.e. they don’t “drink” in the Lord). Either way nothing can change the fact that when they go home their dark heart’s are covered with cigarette burns because it’s never been replaced; it’s never been made new. Jesus warns that we will recognize them by their fruit, which is not just their outward actions (prophesy, casting out demons, miracles) but the inward working of the Spirit: “the fruit of the Spirit is love-joy-peace-patience-kindness-gentleness-goodness-faithfulness-self-control.”

Fruit bearing obedience is joyful obedience. Joyful obedience is an outward demonstration of an inward transformation. It cannot save anyone or contribute at all to one’s salvation but it is ALWAYS a gauge of a sincere heart. Remember the parable Jesus told about a Father who asked his two sons to go out and work in the vineyard. The first staunchly proclaimed, “I will not go,” but afterward he changed his mind and went. The second son, eager to please responded, “I will go sir,” but afterward he did not go (Matt. 21:28-31). Which one of the two were obedient to the Father’s will, Jesus asks? The first one of course but not because of what he said, because of what he did. His actions demonstrated his heart.

Jesus speaks familiar words we have heard time and again: “deny yourself,” “take up your cross daily,” “hate your father and mother, your sister and brother, your spouse and children” (meaning they cannot take supremacy over him), “sell your possessions and give to the needy,” “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy,” “do not worry about what you will eat or what you will wear, is life not more important than food and the body more important than clothing but seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you,” “count the cost.” But do we obey them?

So how many of the 648 million Evangelical-Bible believing Christians are truly regenerate (those the Spirit of God is working in and are sealed for the day of redemption)? Who can know but God? Someone asked Jesus once, “will only a few people be saved” to which Jesus replied, “strive to enter through the narrow door” (Luke 13:23-24). And again in a parable he exclaims, “many are called but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:10-14).

Narrow-hard-few…is that you?

I had a startling thought a few days ago. The book of Revelation records the number of God’s redeemed people who are sealed by Him as 144,000 (Rev. 7:4-8). Now, every biblical scholar I know of, from the conservative to the liberal, understands that number as symbolic. Why wouldn’t they, it’s in the book of Revelation. But what if, hypothetically of course, that were the true number of all genuine believers in Jesus Christ?

Nooooo. I mean, in ancient times God looked out over tens of thousands of people and spared…well, Noah and his family from the great judgment of the flood. He looked out over the inhabited and developing cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and spared Lot and his family. Come to think of it, when the Israelites got to the Promised Land only Joshua and Caleb had any genuine faith in God while the rest of the people (half a million or more) were afraid to take it and were punished by God to wander for 40 years until that generation had died off. And from the multitudes of people in Jericho, only Rahab and her family were spared. There are actually very few faithful believers in God as a whole…maybee 144,000 isn’t far off!

The key distinguishing characteristic of the ones that are saved is that they are also the ones that obey the Lord’s command. Is it any wonder that Paul links obedience and our salvation in the famous text of Philippians 2:12: Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed– not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence– continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…” I’d say! It’s a good thing Paul continues on, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” God works in, for, and with his people. When his people desire to obey it is because HE is the one working in his people to do it and enjoy it. He fights for us, and with us, and in us. Praise be to the LORD that he conforms us to the image of his son by his grace and no merit or good works of our own!

For the record, I don’t actually think only 144,000 are saved, but whatever the number, it is only a “few.” That itself should spur us on to holy living to confirm daily the Spirit of God working in us. Once sealed for the day of redemption the Spirit cannot be taken from us nor can we be snatched from the hand of Christ. But how do we know that the Spirit is working in us? Jesus tells us in John chapter 10 that his sheep “listen” to his voice and “follow” him. Jesus cannot say to his sheep, “I do not know you depart from me,” because “he calls his own sheep by name and leads them.” He has an intimate relationship with them and they trust him, love him, listen to him, and obey him.

If the Lord continues his pattern in the Bible we might well wonder, if the elect of God are worshiping him faithfully and they really are only a “few” amongst the 648 million, what are the rest worshiping? Of course you know the answer from our sermon series, they are worshiping a plastic Jesus that doesn’t really exist.

Practical Application for Your Life Now:

The real Jesus, the flesh and blood, whites of the eyes Jesus, is raising his voice on the hilltops to his sheep, his people, his elect, his few, and he is calling them to follow a narrow-hard path of radical, joyful, sacrificial Christian living. It’s not popular, nor is it easy, nor does it appeal to the masses but then again didn’t we read, “For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and many enter by it” (Matt. 7:15).

If you are ready to burn your plastic Jesus and live more fully for Christ than ever before, here are three ways to get started:

(1) You’ll have to prayerfully listen (Jesus said his sheep will do that) and allow the Lord to shape your heart in his hands. Ask him to reveal to you his true self that you might see his glory and live righteously for him.

John Piper: How the Supremacy of Christ Creates Radical Christian Sacrifice (listen).

David Platt (the guy who sold his home and moved into a more simple place for the sake of using his resources for God even better) preaches a six-hour sermon to 2500 people twice a year (and you thought Sunday went a little over!). He just wrote a book as well, Radical: Taking Back Your Life From The American Dream (Amazon), which details the authentic Christian life that we have ignored for years in America.

Watch his message at lunch time everyday this week and stop the bobbing head plastic Jesus in your life: Secret Church 2010: The Gospel, Possessions, and Prosperity.

(2) You’ll have to sacrifice and find joy in doing it. You’ll have to consider every dollar spent and wrestle with how little we actually sacrifice for our Lord. Typically, we want to help people sure, but not if it’s going to cost us something we especially enjoy. King David wisely said, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24).

The great preacher and spiritual writer A.W. Tozer offers profound insight into the heart of giving. He believes that God weighs not the size of our gift but the significance of that size in proportion to our giving potential:

“Before the judgment seat of Christ, my service will be judged not by how much I have done, but by how much I could have done. In God’s sight, my giving is measured not by how much I have given, but by how much I could have given and how much I had left after I made my gift.”

Randy Alcorn summarizes it by saying, “God looks not only at what we give, but also at what we keep” (Money, Possessions, And Eternity p. 208). If they are right, this is a far more challenging mindset than the typical American Christian mentality would allow us to have.

Give to Whom? The Church is the first priority in giving since it replaces the Old Testament Levites and depends on the love and kindness of it’s people in order to maintain the Lord’s work. In fact, the Lord even commanded that those that preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel (1 Cor. 9:14) which of course is only possible if the people of God give.

After that it’s a tie between being generous and paying off our debt, both can and should be done at the same time. Some people are so generous that they do little to take care of their debts but only make minimum payments on their credit card for example. This means that they would end up paying 3-5 times more money in the long run, which is clearly not being good or wise stewards of God’s money (nor is having the debt in the first place). Some people want to pay off their debt first which means that for years they are not giving anything to the church or to help others but to their debt alone. They assure themselves that when it’s all paid they will give away the money they were using to pay off their debt. But statistics and basic human experience indicate that the more financially stable and free someone becomes the LESS they give. In other words, the more people have the less they let go of. The best practice feels the tension between generosity and responsible debt payment and attempts to stay out of debt at all costs in order to be able to be more generous.

Is all debt okay? House debt is almost unavoidable in today’s society though a wise steward will wait out the market, not buy high, and not purchase beyond their means or need. But what about car debt and student college debt? Depending on how the Spirit is working in someone and what they are willing to sacrifice, car debt and college debt can be kept to a minimum. Again, a reliable car within someone’s means, or less than their means, is available for those that are okay not buying brand new the current year or looking for every perk possible. Cars can also be made to last. Our friends near Boston are friends with a family with three kids, all of whom fit tightly in the back of a small Toyota. Between community college prices and correspondence schools, there is little need for college students to unwisely rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, especially when their job may not pay that much in return.

Resources:

How To Manage Your Money A Personal Bible Study by Larry Burkett

http://www.crown.org/ (amazing site to learn how to use money wisely)

The ploy of the plastic Jesus isn’t that he offers us only wealth and prosperity (we are smart enough to reject such a false Gospel) it’s that he offers us BOTH earthly comforts that lead to complacency AND eternal comforts in the next age, and we are none the wiser. Why not have both? Both sounds so good! Read the beatitudes. Read the Gospels. God’s people and his prophets and his sheep don’t get BOTH they get one or the other. Jesus didn’t get both, neither did the disciples, nor did Paul…so why should we?

And what does such a mentality actually mean? Doesn’t it just mean that we have not yet learned to enjoy God more than whatever we are giving up for someone else’s benefit? I remember only last week that my little baby girl dropped here cracker on the dirty ground. I called her over to me and asked her to give me her cracker but she refused. She thought I was going to take it away. The dog’s in the yard now and the yard is not really that clean anymore. I tried to explain that I would give her more crackers but she refused. She was happy, content, and satisfied with her icky ground doggie tasting cracker. At my leg where she couldn’t see I had an entire box of crackers and I would have let her have as much as she wanted. She made her choice…have you?

Randy Alcorn is right, “We don’t like risky faith. We like to have our safety net below us, a backup plan in case God fails. Our instinct for self-preservation leads us to hedge our bets. If we give at all, we will give as much as we can without really feeling it and no more. We take away the high stakes, and we also lose the high returns. We miss the adventure of seeing God provide when we’ve really stretched ourselves in giving” (Money, Possessions, And Eternity p. 203).

The Gospel For Asia gives 100% of its money to the missionaries on the field or to exactly where you designate it. These are native born missionaries who are trained and sent back into their own culture to preach and teach the Gospel. You could purchase a bike for a pastor to travel around from town to town with. You could purchase chickens or bunnies for a family ($11) or a cow ($350). Instead of putting an addition on your home that you will barley use you could buy a church that would provide shelter for dozens of Christians to worship God and reach out to their community (11,000)! Something to think about next time we want buy something we want instead of something we actually need.

If it belongs to the Lord, say so! Within the last few weeks my wonderfully wise wife started to refer to things as “the Lord’s car,” or “the Lord’s house.” She said the dryer was about to die but that’s okay because “it’s the Lord’s dryer,” anyway so he can do whatever he wants with it. Our children are “the Lord’s children,” not ours. We are temporary foster parents just filling in the best we can until they see their true heavenly Father face to face. It’s interesting that by referring to things as belonging to the Lord we feel more free and less stress about these things than ever before. If “the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” then why weren’t we saying so years ago? Well, better late than never!

(3) You’ll have to cultivate a life of simplicity. Richard Foster wrote the life-changing book, Celebration of Discipline (read most of it online for free). In it he describes the spiritual discipline of reading the Bible, fasting, praying, as well as the oft-neglected spiritual antacid to the gluttonous American materialistic stomach ache: SIMPLICITY.

Richard Foster’s 10 principles for expressing the outward spiritual discipline of Simplicity

1. Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status

2. Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you

3. Develop a habit of giving things away

4. Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry

5. Learn to enjoy things without owning them

6. Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation

7. Look with a healthy skepticism at all “buy now, pay later” schemes

8. Obey Jesus’ instructions about plain, honest speech

9. Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others

10. Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God

A Few questions on the mind?

(1) Should you sell all your possessions and give to the needy and go be a missionary? I don’t know. What is the Lord doing in your heart? What are your current commitments, desires, passions, etc.?

(2) Should you sell your house, give to the needy, and move into a smaller place? I don’t know. What is the Lord doing in your heart? What is the Spirit saying through the constant reading of the Word and regular fasting for reliance on God?

(3) Is it sinful to own more than you actually need? Well, that depends on whether the “more” is used for God’s glory or our own. Someone may own two homes, one they live in and one they vacation in. Is that dishonoring to God? It can be and it may not be. If it just sits there all year long and is only used 2 weeks out of the year then it seems to be a complete waste of time, money, and resources for up keep. If it is offered to other Christians for receipt and encouragement, or used to help someone get on their feet who has been out of a job for a while, or to start a young college person off on the right track all for God’s glory, then no.

(4) If I bought something and I feel guilty about it what should I do? I don’t know. Is it godly sorrow or just human sorrow? If it is godly sorrow then repent and redeem it for the Lord. Someone may have a large screen TV they bought brand new, redeem it for the Lord means invite your co-workers over for a sports game and invite all your Christian friends as well. Use it to bring people to Christ but don’t abuse it by spending 30 hours a week watching TV. Use your stuff for the benefit of others “for it is more blessed to give than to receive,” said Jesus.

My prayer is Piper’s prayer as well so I quote him from his sermon above, “My desire and prayer to God is that your life and your ministry would have a radical flavor. A risk-taking flavor. A gutsy, counter-cultural, wartime flavor that makes average American people in your church uncomfortable. A strange mixture of tenderness and toughness that keeps people a little bit off-balance, a pervasive summons to something more, something hazardous, something wonderful. A saltiness and a brightness about your life and about your church. Something like Jesus.”

With All Christian love,

Pastor Corey