Living the Word

LIVING THE WORD

The path to truth must be grounded on revelation, divinely inspired, and in written form. I do not fully subscribe to the inerrancy theory which has turned into little more than a self righteous litmus test. Without the original manuscripts, and with all kinds of different interpretations derived from common texts, the point to me is moot. And given the wide variety of interpretations as well as the great gulf between obvious Biblical revelation and obvious Biblical obedience I once again use the word moot. Biblical exegesis without sacred and heartfelt obedience is really nothing more than religious science.

If our standard is the Word of God alone then James is a blog post and not inspired. Luther himself suggested such a thing. But it has become common in some major corners of evangelicalism to treat Holy Writ as a doctrinal talisman. And the doctrinal arguments are consumed with the Trinity and the virgin birth and justification by faith, all worthy issues, however rarely do we argue or are even concerned with love, mercy, grace, humility, and most glaring an observable modest lifestyle. There are other neglected issues as well.

And given the preponderance of Scriptural teachings about money and greed, and given the scant  New Testament teachings about homosexual behavior or abortion or socialism or gun rights, how is it we can cull out the tributaries and make them great and mighty rivers? And where is the gospel in all these moral crusades which demand certain moral behaviors from believer and unbeliever alike?

My opinion is that since the Industrial Revolution ignorant and unlearned men are now able to read and write and consume great quantities of information and knowledge. And with the accessibility of the Bible to almost every household, and the expansive nature of Bible schools and seminaries, we have made systematic theology and our own version of Bible doctrines the life blood of the church. Peruse the Christian catalogue of the Bible colleges and universities and mark how many courses are described as Humility 101, Prayer 101, Modest Living 101, Love 101, as compared with the usual doctrinal suspects.

The Christian faith has become a set of tenants, a set of morals, and a faith that is light years more observable in written form than in personal living realities. How does one “live” the Trinity or the virgin birth or the doctrine of inerrancy? Those truths can be “proven” by pen and paper. But the more sacrificial and self denying truths that demand an open revelation with legs are dealt with in a more generic and negligible way. One can get the right answer to the Trinity on a test while being an active adulterer and while enjoying the fruits of hedonism.

In short, we have taken the Holy and Sacred Word of God and manipulated it into a doctrinal treasure hunt, which when we have found it, we now await others to do likewise. And in so doing we have removed the life giving, life demanding force that should take unremarkable lives within any culture and transform them into curious and powerful vessels of redemption that wreak of God’s love and the divine humility revealed in the incarnation and death of Christ. We have hung so many self serving ornaments on the gospel that the gospel can no longer be seen. It can only be read.

To present my overarching summary, I believe the church has rendered the Word of God as a compilation of doctrines all of which have become idols. After you lay the foundation for the gospel and the truths of redemption, the others are refining truths designed to teach and empower believers to walk the path to Christlikeness. And these truths are all moral truths in the strictest defining terms. Being clothed with humility is as moral a truth as sexual purity, although in the present ecclesiastical caste system humility is an elective and not considered part of any set of moral tenants. And love is presented in the New Testament as a moral absolute without which we cannot even claim to follow Him.

But there is a time for rebuke and reprove within the church. And there is an exhortation to defend the faith and preach the Word in and out of season. But where, for instance, do love and humility fit within that framework? Why are we not consumed with finding out how to live the right mixture and how to speak the truth in love? Do we even know what that means? How many preachers spiritually wrestle over such things? How many preachers seem to feel like they already know such things? How many sermons challenge the sheep to pray earnestly and seek the mind of Christ over the living expressions of boldness being tethered to the living expressions of humility?

We should all be sure about the Word of God but have a healthy and humble uncertainty about our personal reflection of that Word. Ours is a journey, a seeking, a pursuit, an obsession, and a passion concerning living for Christ, in Christ, and living Christ Himself. Repentance must be both our friend and taskmaster. The life that follows Jesus is filled with joy and contentment and assurance and comfort and excitement. But it is also filled with spiritual labor in prayer and in the Word and being the brightest light we can be for Him. The cost is everything, but the reward is far above everything, and quite astonishingly, the rest for our souls can be found in the labor.

The Wrath of God

THE WRATH OF GOD

I am a redemptive person because I believe that God is a redemptive God. HERE are my thoughts.

Jude makes it clear that some respond to the compassion contained within the gospel, while others are stirred by the fear of God. And I suggest that the church has lost any sense of the fear of God. And I am not just speaking of reverence, but I am speaking of literal fear. The church operates without a trace of the fear of God except for a few self righteous people who seem to love God’s wrath.

Rev.6: ¹⁶ And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

¹⁷ For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

As we approach the end of all things and the sure coming judgment of God upon this world, we must present a balanced view of Almighty God including the unpleasant aspects of His character. This is not to paint God as a white male with a long beard who relishes in dishing out severe punishment. But this is to present the truth that God has provided a way for redemption, but that all who will stand before Him draped in their own sins will face unfathomable justice without the mercy and grace only found through Jesus Christ. This is no fairy tale; this is no fable; this is no small issue.

I realize that such things are seen as archaic perspectives which have long since given way to a more enlightened picture of the Creator. I realize that things on this earth have become so enjoyable that even Christianity has had to adjust its divine presentations. I realize that our own minds see such things as unreasonable and out of touch with the modern realities. I realize all those things and more. But I implore you to examine your view of God juxtaposed against the revelation of Holy Scripture and with that decide to which will you surrender and pursue. You are not running toward the end. The end is racing toward you.

I was raised in a home where there was little domestic unpleasantness. My mother and father did not fight, and my father was a mild mannered man. But I can remember one day going on a visit with my mother to another home and hearing the father swear and get angry. I was afraid. Perhaps you were raised in a home where there was strife and perhaps you felt uncomfortable and even afraid sometimes. And many children cringe at the thought of an angry father or mother coming at them with anger. It happens in millions of homes.

But now pause and think of what fear we should feel if we give any credibility to the Scriptures. It is almost impossible to imagine the immensity of the wrath of the Creator God. To even bring up the subject in this modern evangelical climate is to lose your evangelical audience. But be that as it may, there are still many clear and undeniable warnings in Scripture that expose a coming judgment from Almighty God. And that fact has found so little place in this modern version of Christianity that people no longer actually believe it and the lost world is no longer confronted with it.

People today only fear death because it may bring a cessation of their personal party. They wish they could extend their earthly stay so as to continue to enjoy its fleshly fancies. And any philosophical suggestion concerning the afterlife seems reasonable and legitimate. In fact, the more pleasant the better. Any hint of judgment is rejected as religious folklore and must be erased in favor of self serving sophistry. The fallen nature of man hungers and thirst for and even demands words of comfort and encouragement even if it means you must tell lies and half truths.

It is true that God is a God of redemption. And that redemption is offered by faith alone in what God the Son has finished for us. But outside that very fine line which begins and ends with Jesus is a territory lined with justice and accountability. Yes, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. It seems so ethereal and filled with fantastic imagery. But what will you do when that which seemed so much Brother’s Grimm materializes into a reality which eclipses everything you thought was reality? What would it cost you to take a month or two and search out if these things are true?

What would it cost you if you do not search them out and you found yourself in the midst of everything you ignored with no way out and without a second chance? One day you will stand before a Holy God. On that day He will either come to you as your Savior, or He will come to you as your judge. As Jesus asked the disciples He asks you today.

“Who do you say that I am”.    

There are many, many truths presented in the Scriptures, and there are many attributes of God also presented in those same Scriptures. But as it pertains to justice, wrath, punishment, retribution, and the eternal consequences of our sin there is only one issue which can cause God to redirect those revelations of who He is and direct His mercy, grace, and life giving attributes toward those who once were pending recipients of His justice.

The issue is Jesus, His Son.

So God has offered up His own Son as a sacrifice for our sin. No human mind can fully comprehend that magnitude of that gift. But to all who refuse that gift of grace there awaits an amazing and mind boggling power called the wrath of God. If you could even get a small glimpse of such power you would immediately be convinced to run to Jesus.

Jn.3: ³⁵ The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

³⁶ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

God’s wrath is coming.

For our God is a consuming fire.

There is still time.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.