The So-Called "Culture War"

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In conservative circles that include sections of evangelicalism there is a react style of debate. This is not a "go into all the world and preach the gospel" type of evangelicalism; this centers around moral issues and it can be generally broken down into liberal vs. conservative people and views. Many call it a “culture war” because some desire a more progressive approach to the culture while others demand a return to the morals of yesteryear. The culture war moniker suggests a battle for control of the culture.

Culture: the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic. (Merriam-Webster)

So in essence a culture war is an attempt by different factions to control and form the accepted practices of a certain society. In America there are many such factions that vie for control, or at least be accepted in the culture at large. Only a blind man could suggest that the way of Jesus has been a major part of American culture. The reason that some long for a return to the “good ‘ol days” is because they have an unbiblical perspective of what a Christian society would look like.

There is nothing about a capitalist society that has the way of Jesus stamped upon its culture. They believe that America was built upon Judeo-Christian standards, whatever those are. Think about that for a moment. Just what are Judeo-Christian principles? Almost all nations have some form of government that condemns stealing, violence, and other generally illegal behaviors. So what specific principles are we speaking of when we say Judeo-Christian? Many people visualize a return to the 1950’s Norman Rockwell image when they say “culture wars”. That too is a mirage and a misrepresentation.

The 1950’s were an age of hedonism and self interest, to say nothing of profound racism and anti-Semitism. They were a projection of white anglo-saxon protestanism that even made John F. Kennedy’s Roman Catholicism an issue in 1960. The society was decidedly sexist and presented a Leave it to Beaver ambiance, and preached a prosperity message called the “America Dream” which at that time was an exclusive club. There was nothing there that represented the way of Jesus.

But let us examine the deeper implications of desiring and attempting to manipulate your cultural circumstances. What you are saying is that you are uncomfortable with your present circumstances, and instead of praying, you will complain, criticize, and generally express your desire that you are discontented with the circumstances God has you in. And from high atop some throne of condemnation you inventory all the things that are wrong with your culture and you inadvertently indict your own powerless situation when you suggest this cultural demise continues to cascade downward. Many times you are just stating the obvious as you curse the darkness. How observant and erudite are you, but you are hating the very fields of white that Jesus came to save..

In essence, the so called culture war is no more than complaining, camouflaged as spiritual editorializing. Look at the promiscuity! Look at the gays! Look at Hollywood! Look at teen pregnancies! Look at the Muslims! On and on goes the discerning (complaining). And these culture war proponents are very adroit and resourceful in their ability to seek out examples of cultural demise and decay. They have much empirical evidence of such societal decomposition that cannot be denied. But what they do not have is redemption, and without Jesus and His redemption all you have is a ministry of cataloguing the sins of others. It is of little value and requires miniscule talent to re-report instances of cultural demise that comes fresh to you through many news sources. A computer does most of the work for you. And their symbiotic relationship with secular and anitchrist news sources is most distrurbing and revealing.

What does take courage and spiritual character is exhibiting the love of Jesus Christ in the midst of this glorious mission field. You feel you deserve better than the South African missionaries who minister to the spiritual and physical needs of African AIDs sufferers at substantial risk to their own health? Missionaries who minister to the gay community are regularly persecuted and berated, and yet they continue to be moved with love and compassion while you comfortably shriek your hatred, yes I said hatred, for the gay community. The cultural war soldiers are nothing more than cowards that use other people’s sins to elevate their own spiritual and moral standing in the eyes of men. Many times this cultural war is a product of national idolatry.

But I would like to get at the heart of the matter. Attempting to change the culture by voting, writing, legislating, speaking, and organizing is humanism, plain and simple. What you are saying is that God has called us to change the culture in which we live by carnal weapons, and that God’s will is for us to lead lives free from the inconvenience of sinners in our midst. And if we shout enough, write our senators enough, protest enough, or by the strength of our numbers we can right this cultural ship. That is humanism and void of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

On the surface it appears to scold sin and come against the forces of evil, but its deception is much more savage than that. This type of deception is motivated by self righteousness, and it views sinners as enemies, especially when they are committing sins that you seem to avoid. This cultural war receives self gratification from condemning others and using demeaning and caustic language against those who are on the other side of this contrived war. This kind of moral conflict rejects the gospel and takes up vicious weaponry meant to remove sinners from our environment and arrive at a more pleasant ambiance.

This cultural war moniker is part of the health and wealth movement, even though many would outwardly eschew such teachings. But it is part of the larger attempt to provide living arraignments that would reduce suffering and agitation, brought upon us by sinners in need of a Savior. It contains aspects of dominion theology as well, since the Bible clearly states that things will get worse and that we should rejoice rather than complain! The same people who they castigate for humanistic efforts without Christ, can see that these culture war people are employing the very same Christless methods.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to love sinners and through grace and love share with them the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. When Jesus ate with sinners, He was not criticized by other sinners. He was condemned by the smug, religious crowd. Some might ask what are we to do about the continuing downward spiral in the culture where we live. We are to live and share Jesus and His gospel. It is infinitely more difficult to love a sinner than it is to condemn him. Jesus said He did not come to condemn the world, so do we suggest they He has sent us to do what He did not? If we have a light worth shining, it should only get brighter as the darkness escalates.

So the next time you read someone’s blog and they are berating some sinner; and when you read someone bemoaning illegal aliens; and when you read someone castigating the gay people; or when you read the words “culture war” on someone’s blog, take note. That blog is humanistic and has left the gospel of Jesus Christ even though they may claim they believe it. In these last days, with the times becoming worse and worse, we must decide which Jesus we will represent. Will it be the political Jesus that fights for national freedom and magnifies the sins of others and complains about the cultural surroundings? Or will it be the Jesus that loves sinners, shows them love and grace, and offers them eternal life through His blood?

You who shout about the sin and culture around you, read this and see if your circumstance competes with that horror. Around the world people suffer unmercifully, 5000 Africans die every day with AIDs, children in India starve regularly, and all the atrocities worldwide could never be fully reported. But you western culture warriors, you go ahead and lead your battle against whatever and whoever goes against your moral fabric. You keep castigating sinners, but be advised, Jesus is not with you and He never will be. Why? Because you preach humanism and Jesus has commanded us to lift up Him.

Jesus died to bring sinners to Himself and He has never been concerned with your cultural surroundings. It is that distinction that some seem to miss completely, and in that,they have missed the Savior completely as well. We have not been called to change the culture. We have been called to lift up Jesus and see sinners changed by His grace and power.

The Mystery of the Blood

We live in the age that views a moon walk as old news. We speak of missions to explode incoming asteroids. We construct machines on the atomic level. We have bombs that can travel hundreds of miles and land in your mailbox. We have produced heated gas at billions of degrees. We have cloned animals. We have successfully flown an unmanned spacecraft between the planet Saturn and its own rings. The age in which we live is amazingly sophisticated and technologically futuristic. We are the Jetsons.

But in the midst of all this is the Christian faith. I realize there are now many and varied expressions of the Christian faith, however only ones that depend entirely and exclusively on the blood of Christ are authentic. We as believing followers of One called Jesus the Christ teach something very mysterious, and when juxtaposed against this modern world, it is very much unsophisticated. We believe, and have experienced, that the shed blood of this Jesus is the only way for sins to be forgiven, and it is the door to eternal life. Imagine such a thing! Men walk on the moon and we are still teaching some archaic and old fashioned religion that demands blood as redemption.

This is a great mystery, simple in its understanding, yet extraordinary and profound in its understanding. A paradox, to say the least. Majestic and infinitely noble; common and rustic; bourgeoisie and proletariat; and able to be understood on a narrative level while soaring far above our understanding on a spiritual level. The blood of Jesus is a glorious mystery. No wonder sinners reject the suggestion that the blood of Jesus is some kind of spiritual elixir.

Even if men admit that they are sinners, they recoil at the Neanderthal idea that the blood of a dying Jew two thousand years ago is the path to forgiveness and eternal life. Men will attempt to clean the stains of transgression by applying good works. They will assign a divine quality, one that will surely grant a heavenly entrance, to those who show a compassion for their fellow man and do some sort of humanitarian philanthropy. A man can be the vilest of sinners, but if he feeds the poor or raises money for the disadvantaged, he is lauded as a servant of God. But that is not what God has said.

There is something about that blood. I cannot imagine watching a crucifixion at all. I am averse to seeing blood, and I am sympathetic to human suffering. The gore and tearing of human skin repulses me, and hearing groans would make me hold my ears. To be aware that an innocent man was suffering and dying would just compound my revulsion. But to be aware, as aware as the human mind can be, that this was God in the flesh, is beyond my pitiful ability to even imagine, much less describe. To watch God suffer – think on that for a moment. To watch God suffer escapes even the imaginary level of experience. To watch God suffer…

Please, please, pause right here and contemplate that thought. God suffered. And please add two important and mindboggling words to that phrase. God suffered...for you. I can hardly see my screen right now, I cannot imagine such a thing, all I can know is that my sinful unworthiness is beyond all reason, and my sin was the suffering that God endured. I do not care about the sins of Hitler or Stalin or Manson, it is my sin, my awful sin, that causes brokenness and grief in my soul, while eliciting such praise and worship to Him who knew no sin but mine. There He hangs, there He suffers, there He dies.

And as we stand there and watch God suffer, innocent and without the hint of transgression or guilt, we are taken aback at the amount of blood that is pouring out from His side, His back, His feet, His hands, His pores, His head, and His face. He is awash in blood and completely covered in His own blood, flowing from those wounds that were undeserved yet embraced nonetheless. We are repulsed and sickened by the horror of that scene. This is God? This is the Creator? If this is God, well, this is the mystery of all mysteries.

But while we still stand there with our minds and hearts agape with wonder, we are informed that this blood that we are seeing is the agent, the only agent, by which we can enter God’s presence and live with Him eternally. But wait…if this is God, then how can this blood, spilled by our own wicked hands, be the redemptive instrument by which we can gain eternal life with…with…this same God?? Are you saying that what we did to God is our redemption?? Are you saying that what we did to God is our redemption??!! And are you suggesting that this God used our own sin that put Him to death to accomplish His redemptive will for us?? But now I ask you this: How can this blood wash away all of our sins and make us acceptable in the sight of a Holy God??

There it is, a monumental mystery. Why blood? How can we understand a blood sacrifice, so connected to archaic and uncivilized religions, as the exclusive avenue to what every religion seeks, eternal life? No gold, no silver, no knowledge, no philanthropy, no science, and no self sacrifice is considered in this redemption – only blood. And not just any blood; it must be this blood, the blood of this particular man called Jesus. And blood, which under normal circumstances causes such a mess and stains almost everything on which it comes into contact, is considered a cleansing agent? This blood cleanses and forgives all the sins, iniquities, and transgressions that any believing sinner has ever committed?

A mystery to be sure. But when a sinner believes in this Jesus, and when His blood, in the spirit, has been applied to his soul, the sinner may not completely understand the mystery, but he now recognizes the truth that this blood is indeed the door to eternal life. The mystery still stands, however now the sinner has experienced the mystery and has a profound recognition of its power, love, and grace. Oh sinner, have you been plunged beneath the everlasting flow of this blood with all its power and mystery? Have you felt the unmistakable inward voice of God’s Spirit drawing you to this Jesus and His blood?

Yes, men may walk upon the moon, and in the coming days there may be feats of human technology that astound the world at large. But do not get carried away with the colossal triumphs of men thinking that these accomplishments represent a modern and successful Tower of Babel. When all is said and done, and when time as we know it rolls up its tent and disappears, eternity will be the infinite witness that only the blood of Jesus the Christ redeems a sinner and grants him life everlasting. And that life will be forever in the presence of the Author and Shedder of that blood. How will you know which one is Jesus in heaven?

Look for the wounds in His hands, the wounds that spilled that blood, and that, my friends, is the Lamb of God that was slain and which was, and is, and will be forever The Redeemer.

And when the saint next to you asks how you were granted an entrance into God’s throne you can tell him simply, “The blood, brother, nothing but the blood”.

In 1975 I was a committed sinner who cared little for man and less for God.

While watching Billy Graham on television the Holy Spirit reached out and drew my heart to Christ and His blood.

From that day I have never been the same.

Why?

I was cleansed by the blood of Jesus the Christ.

Yes, it still is a mystery.

Halleluiah for that mystery!!!

The Cult of

Social and Political Conservatism

It is a cult. There, I’ve said it. And by the word “cult” I mean something that is unchristian, and in fact, antichrist. You may be wondering if I speak of Mormonism, or the Jehovah’s Witnesses, or the Moonies, or a host of other well known cults. No, those are indeed cults however I do not refer to those here. This is the cult of “Political and Social Conservatism”. This masquerades as part of the Christian faith, but it is a counterfeit and in fact misrepresents entirely the message of Jesus and His gospel. It is antichrist at its core.

It has become accepted and even fashionable to roam about the community and preach a different gospel that spews certain moral and conservative issues. These believers would never consider themselves as part of a cult, but they are deceived and even though they may be born again believers in Christ, they are now engaged in cultish behavior that undermines the gospel they would profess. They join hands with unbelievers in their endeavors, they preach a set of moral rules, and worse than everything they suggest that God is a capitalist and has a spiritual and vested interest in the finances of America. All of this is a cult, pure and simple.

Many “orthodox” believers have objected to the way labels have infiltrated the church. They recoiled at churches that called themselves “centers”. The resist “seeker” monikers and reject labels such as post modern, followers of Jesus, red letter Christians, and almost all other more recent titles. They are even re-evaluating the name “evangelical”. And yet these same “I am orthodox – call me a Christian” will proudly and forcefully wear the label “conservative” as it pertains to social and political issues. Shall we examine what our Master’s Word lays out for His followers?

As disciples of Jesus Christ we are not called to be known by our views concerning morality, and surely never should we allow ourselves to be known because of our capitalistic views about money and taxes. The gospel is not one of many of our messages, it is our one and only divine message. We have not been commissioned to traverse the political landscape and spread the gospel of moral values and capitalist principles. When a believer leaves the gospel of redemption and begins preaching and voicing something else, he is in a cult.

The motives may be righteous, albeit with an unmistakable air of self righteousness, but they are in a cult nonetheless. I call on my brothers and sisters to come out from among them and be separate; separated unto the gospel of Jesus Christ and His redemption. We cannot afford to get caught up in many different moral causes; we must be faithful to one cause alone. All these different causes may by moral, and some of these causes are righteous and address an issue in which God disapproves, but they still are diversions from our calling. Jesus said we could do and accomplish nothing without Him, and the moral majorities and the conservative movements have compromised the gospel and made Jesus an aside and not the central figure to which everyone must give an account.

It is difficult, and almost impossible, to see a believer who has joined with unbelievers in moral causes to speak truth to them. Believers who have abortion as their passion and who join with conservative Roman Catholics and Jews have misrepresented the gospel. Those believers in other faiths who are “pro-life” are deceived into thinking they are in right standing before God because they espouse the same moral convictions as their evangelical comrades. This is dangerous behavior for us as believers, and the truth is that we should not be joining with any unbelievers in spiritual and moral endeavors.

Sad was the day when evangelicals became a voting block and had a few issues that defined us. We became known as the “religious right”, another label for that same cult. How tragic and how blasphemous it is to see believers make moral and conservative issues their message at the expense of the cross of our Blessed Lord and Savior. This needs to change.

What else happened when believers became conservatives? They began to speak and act like the fallen world. They began to listen to and approve of the caustic and self righteous rhetoric of the multi-millionaires called “talk show hosts”. They began to watch them on television and listen to them in their cars, and since they agree with their “philosophy”, they supported them and even repeated them in mixed company. In short, they journeyed deeper into that cult. And now the world began to believe that Christians were like Limbaugh or Hannity or like O’Reily and all the rest.

The world began to understand that followers of Jesus were Republicans and conservatives and they used the same harsh rhetoric against the “liberals” as the liberals used against them. They began to see that Christianity was one, large battle against liberalism. The world soon understood that Christians were right wingers and were virulent about taxes and spending policies. They heard believers speak about gay people in the most unflattering and ungracious words; many times harsh and satirical words that were meant to demean and not words of redemption and love. The world now has an understanding about Christianity that is far different than the New Testament defines, to say nothing of the life of Christ.

And the world saw that when some liberal like Ted Kennedy died, the Christians were less than compassionate, and in some cases used his death as an opportunity to throw dirt on his grave. The unbelievers heard, and continue hearing, verbal assaults on the President. They realized that a Christian had to abide by a set of conservative fiscal policies, and that anyone who was “pro-choice” was fair game for the most debasing language, void of any respect or compassion. The unbelievers understood that if a person was not a Christian, or not an evangelical, he was a target of attack rather than a target of love and redemption. They saw evangelicals as a cult, and in many ways they are correct.

Politics is a dirty business that strips the most ardent believer of his uncompromised followship of the Lord Jesus. The system is designed for wrangling and battle, not over Jesus, but over issues. It reduces the most committed believer to a pawn of morality and capitalism, and it forces him to laud himself and his accomplishments and downplay his opponents attributes and many times his integrity. It forces him to join with all sorts of unbelievers and stand with them on a wide range of issues. Politics constrains a believer to make the name of Jesus and His gospel an aside and become just one of many. Politics directs believers into a life of conformity and compromise. Politics is humanistic battlefield where Jesus is misrepresented at best, and denied at worst. Politics is a cult.

How many times have I in times past, or even in times present, watched some television program where the left and the right debate and argue, and in the midst of watching this spectacle I realized I was beginning to strongly dislike one or the other on the panel? I began to become emotionally affected to take sides and in so doing I began to have strong feelings against some of those who were participating. That is completely against what my Savoir has commanded of me. Unless you do not own a television most of you have experienced the exact same thing. It is wrong; profoundly wrong.

Until the church of Jesus Christ escapes the trappings of this cult she will continue to be powerless and only a shade of gray in a world of darkness. We must again take up our cross and follow in His steps. This journey is not well worn in these last days, and many will see this as radical and out of the mainstream, and they would be absolutely correct. I suggest we pray for every person whether “liberal” or “conservative”, and I suggest we view them all, not from a political vantage point, but looking down about 6 feet from the vantage point of a Roman cross. I suggest we come out from among them, not to be smug and elitist, but to let the light of Jesus Christ shine in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.

American sinners do not need rules and issues, they need a company of believers that are so gracious, so loving, so humble, and so filled with the Spirit of Christ that they are drawn to us without having to leap the fences of conservative social and political issues. We as followers of Jesus have been operating in a cult far too long, let us quickly repent and return to the one and only true cult, the gospel preaching church of the living God!

The American Christ?

When the mystery of the Godhead decided/planned the redemptive mission of God in the flesh, there was no mention of any nationalistic identity that would define or differentiate His followers. To the contrary, God’s Word makes many attempts to present a kingdom that is not of this world, a city whose builder and maker is God Himself. We, as believing followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, are to be patriots of the unseen kingdom and not loyal to any structures of men. Although God instituted human government, seemingly to have some order among the fallen masses, He has been consistent in His direction for the New Testament church.

Possibly the most obvious offenders in this area are Christians who happen to live in America. Many evangelicals have not only happily adopted the American moniker; they have constructed a narrative that suggests America as a divine creation above the rest of the nations. Many have strongly believed that America began as a Christian nation, which by any impartial review of history is patently false. The overarching sovereignty of God has incorporated many nations as it pertains to His people, and God has even used totalitarian nations that were violently opposed to the gospel to forward His divine plan.

But God, juxtaposing His church upon a certain nation and sovereignly using those particular circumstances to His glory, is a far cry from anointing any nation as Christian. And the Lord never meant for His people to become attached to their surroundings, much less fall in love with the country in which they live. When David Livingston body was carried to England, his heart was cut out from his chest and buried in Bangweulu Swamps in Zambia , Africa. This was done not because Livingston loved any country or government; it was because of his unusual and profound love for the African people.

But Americans have always considered themselves a special people, a cultural and racial collage, tethered together by a pioneer spirit and, like it or not, a spirit of superiority. The highly competitive nature of American nationalism, as well as the intense feelings of moral and spiritual arrogance, has led the church to become entangled in a distorted symbiotic relationship with the earthly nation in which they serve Christ. And this deception has been so perpetuated within the church and Christian schools, that it is now a stronghold that millions of Christians will vehemently defend. Even posts like this one will create inward feelings of anger and even betrayal among many believers who hold their nation as part of their spiritual heritage.

Let us be candid. Almost everything the government does and stands for, even the best parts, are either at odds with or are worthless counterfeits to the kingdom of Christ. Even if there were no misspenditures, and even if the government was the most philanthropic organization on earth, it would still draw men’s allegiance, dependence, and hearts to see the government as their provider/god, protector/god, and advocate/god.

I remain somewhat confused as to the meaning of God ordaining human government. The best I can resolve in my own mind is the creation of the institution of government since to believe God directly placed Hitler and Stalin etc. in power is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Himself. We as followers of the living Christ have no part in the contrivances of men, especially when those contrivances suggest a substantial element of “parenthood”. Our attitudes should never be smug or superior, but the followers of Jesus should obey the law with humility and grace, but with a serpent’s wisdom that realizes the government has no place in our divine calling.

I honestly and before Jesus my Lord believe that becoming involved with the government and politics has been a subversive influence on genuine Christianity and has surreptitiously stolen the spiritual value from the church. Like Hezekiah showing the golden artifacts in the temple to the Babylonians, only to have them return and steal them later, the church has built an unholy alliance with the government and hasn’t realized the high cost of that alliance.

I believe many Christians, like me, who once did not give it a second thought, are rethinking this entire government issue. I judge no one but myself, but I believe I have a responsibility to speak out about these issues. And if we “left behinders” are wrong, and if we are to affect this world for Jesus instead, then I would assume that this issue might be a paramount prerequisite before the Kingdom of God can thrive apart from compromise and dilution.

Nations rise and fall, but that fact is of no importance to me. God’s kingdom will continue for eternity. Men may call me an American, but I am a child of God, a brother of Jesus Christ, and a citizen of a country that is not of this world. And as such, I am free from any government or earthly king regardless if I wind up in jail, or wind up destitute, I will still be free. In some ways the preacher in China who is spending his 20th year in prison is more free than many American Christians who believe their “freedoms” are being stripped away by some earthly government.

In Oregon some apartment complex attempted to make people remove their display of the American flag since they claim it might offend their diverse clientele. That is goofy to me, however how should we as followers of Jesus Christ react to such a thing? Here is how a professing follower named Ingrid reacted to it:

“My advice is for any Oak Apartment resident who is offended by the American flag to leave the country within 24 hours. If you’re so “diverse” that you despise this country and its freedoms, than what in the name of common sense are you doing here? Return to your superior homeland and free up some housing for those who love America!” (online source)

If that isn’t modern day idolatry I don’t know what is. And that is only one example of how we have lost sight of our unseen kingdom in favor of some misguided, prideful, and caustic allegiance to even a flag itself. It is this crass arrogance that leads genuine Christians to abandon their faith and hate illegal immigrants, while conveniently forgetting that this entire nation was enlarged through violence against the indigenous peoples by European immigrants. It is this blindness that has some believers working for the interests of Norway; others work for the interests of Italy; others work for the interests of Brazil; and some work for the interests of America. See the picture? Believers, who should be unified in their pursuits, are diligently working for different, and sometimes opposing, causes and interests.

There are very few issues that elicit more resistance and more virulent projections against someone like me. Nationalism has been drilled into the church for many decades and from birth we have been reared as patriots. And in an attempt to relieve the obvious tension between being a follower of Jesus and an American patriot, the church has revised history in a somewhat blasphemous teaching that America is special and was formed as a Christian nation by God Himself. Anyone can see the great and spiritually destructive dangers inherent in such a belief system.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, followers and imitators of the Lord Jesus, we should be about our Father’s business. God’s calling is redemption and in that calling morality will come, not by force or voting block, but through the regenerating work of God's Spirit. Becoming involved with the systems of men and attempting to sanctify them with a tortured revision of history and interpretation of Scripture will only lead to…only lead to…well, it will only lead to what we have today – a compromised church who has gotten all entangled with the affairs of this world and has unwittingly turned her back on Jesus Himself.

We are to be light and salt and faithfully resist becoming an unremarkable voice among many in the political montage. Our cause, our calling, and our unique mission is the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. All the other voices are well represented by others, but if we do not separate our voice from the rest and preach and live the gospel of Jesus Christ, who will? If Jesus is portrayed as some kind of moral fixer, how will the lost see Him as Redeemer? And if the church complains about finances and taxes in lockstep with the rest of the world, how will anyone distinguish anything different about us? And if we make abortion or gay rights our cause, how can we show the love of God through Jesus and His offer of redemption?

When will we actually display the trust in God and His power that we so glibly speak with our lips? How can we exhibit the peace of God when everything the government or the President does immediately irks us and becomes a topic of useless conversation, and worse, unchristian rhetoric? Oh let us fly back to Christ with unbridled praise on our lips and unbridled obedience in our lives! Let us quietly but determinately step away from the roar and clamor of things that pertain to the kingdoms of this world, and let us humbly set about to become incandescent followers of the Lord Most High and His Son Jesus the Christ.

The people in darkness do not need better darkness; they are in desperate need of a dazzling luminousness that only Jesus can provide. We can be, we must be, the surrendered filament in the hands of the Father of Lights that spreads the glorious light of the gospel and the heat of God's eternal love!!

What Kind of Church

Would You Join?

I must issue the obligatory disclaimer as it applies to aspects of this man's theology, however this story moved me.

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A few years ago Tony (Campolo) flew to Hawaii to speak at a conference. The way he tells it, he checks into his hotel and tries to get some sleep. Unfortunately, his internal clock wakes him at 3:00 a.m. The night is dark, the streets are silent, the world is asleep, but Tony is wide awake and his stomach is growling.

He gets up and prowls the streets looking for a place to get some bacon and eggs for an early breakfast. Everything is closed except for a grungy dive in an alley. He goes in and sits down at the counter. The fat guy behind the counter comes over and asks, “What d’ya want?” Well, Tony isn’t so hungry anymore so eying some donuts under a plastic cover he says, “I’ll have a donut and black coffee.”

As he sits there munching on his donut and sipping his coffee at 3:30, in walk eight or nine provocative, loud prostitutes just finished with their night’s work. They plop down at the counter and Tony finds himself uncomfortably surrounded by this group of smoking, swearing hookers. He gulps his coffee, planning to make a quick getaway.

Then the woman next to him says to her friend, “You know what? Tomorrow’s my birthday. I’m gonna be 39.”

To which her friend nastily replies, “So what d’ya want from me? A birthday party? Huh? You want me to get a cake, and sing happy birthday to you?”

The first woman says, “Aw, come on, why do you have to be so mean? Why do you have to put me down? I’m just sayin’ it’s my birthday. I don’t want anything from you. I mean, why should I have a birthday party? I’ve never had a birthday party in my whole life. Why should I have one now?”

Well, when Tony Campolo heard that, he said he made a decision. He sat and waited until the women left, and then he asked the fat guy at the counter, “Do they come in here every night?”
“Yeah,” he answered.

“The one right next to me,” he asked, “she comes in every night?”

“Yeah,” he said, “that’s Agnes. Yeah, she’s here every night. She’s been comin’ here for years. Why do you want to know?”

Tony replies,“Because she just said that tomorrow is her birthday. What do you think? Do you think we could maybe throw a little birthday party for her right here in the diner?”

A cute kind of smile crept over the fat man’s chubby cheeks. “That’s great,” he says, “yeah, that’s great. I like it.” He turns to the kitchen and shouts to his wife, “Hey, come on out here. This guy’s got a great idea. Tomorrow is Agnes’ birthday and he wants to throw a party for her right here.”

His wife comes out. “That’s terrific,” she says. “You know, Agnes is really nice. She’s always trying to help other people and nobody does anything nice for her.” So they make their plans. Tony says he’ll be back at 2:30 the next morning with some decorations and the man, whose name turns out to be Harry, says he’ll make a cake.

At 2:30 the next morning, Tony is back. He has crepe paper and other decorations and a sign made of big pieces of cardboard that says, “Happy Birthday, Agnes!” They decorate the place from one end to the other and get it looking great. Harry had gotten the word out on the streets about the party and by 3:15 it seemed that every prostitute in Honolulu was in the place.

There were hookers wall to wall. At 3:30 on the dot, the door swings open and in walks Agnes and her friend. Tony has everybody ready. They all shout and scream “Happy Birthday, Agnes!” Agnes is absolutely flabbergasted. She’s stunned, her mouth falls open, her knees started to buckle, and she almost falls over. And when the birthday cake with all the candles is carried out, that’s when she totally loses it.

Now she’s sobbing and crying. Harry, who’s not used to seeing a prostitute cry, gruffly mumbles, “Blow out the candles, Agnes. Cut the cake.”

So she pulls herself together and blows them out. Everyone cheers and yells, “Cut the cake, Agnes, cut the cake!”

But Agnes looks down at the cake and, without taking her eyes off it, slowly and softly says, “Look, Harry, is it all right with you if…I mean, if I don’t…I mean, what I want to ask, is it OK if I keep the cake a little while? Is it all right if we don’t eat it right away?”

Harry doesn’t know what to say so he shrugs and says, “Sure, if that’s what you want to do. Keep the cake. Take it home if you want.”

“Oh, could I?” she asks. Looking at Tony she says, “I live just down the street a couple of doors; I want to take the cake home, is that okay? I’ll be right back, honest.” She gets off her stool, picks up the cake, and carries it high in front of her like it was the Holy Grail. Everybody watches in stunned silence and when the door closes behind her, nobody seems to know what to do. They look at each other. They look at Tony. (Agnes went to show her mother her cake.)

So Tony gets up on a chair and says, “What do you say that we pray together?” And there they are in a hole-in-the-wall greasy spoon, half the prostitutes in Honolulu, at 3:30 a.m. listening to Tony Campolo as he prays for Agnes, for her life, her health, and her salvation. Tony recalls, “I prayed that her life would be changed, and that God would be good to her.”

When he’s finished, Harry leans over, and with a trace of hostility in his voice, he says, “Hey, you never told me you was a preacher. What kind of church do you belong to anyway?”

In one of those moments when just the right words came, Tony answers him quietly, “I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning.”

Harry thinks for a moment, and in a mocking way says,

“No you don’t. There ain’t no church like that. If there was, I’d join it. Yep, I’d join a church like that."

*******************************

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Sometimes Jesus can be found in a grungy dive in some alley. I think I would like to join that church.

Behold the Lamb

Here it comes again, a teaching and an exhortation concerning the cross. Is it redundant and unexciting to your heart? Has it become boring and just a foundational doctrine? Or is it alive with resurrected redemption which cannot but stir your soul to take flight again and soar above all that you know or can know? The cross is that one place where the Creator pulled back the curtain and human eyes were invited to behold their Creator and human hearts were invited to embrace the God who is love, and ever shall be. The cross whispers and screams; it preaches and teaches; and it reveals and hides the glory of Almighty God.

When we say “the cross” we are using that word as all inclusive of the divine revelation and act of redemption and all that the event itself affects eternally. This is no shallow sentimentality or some religious talisman, this cross is the unique, defining moment in history that in the space of six hours blasted open a door in hell and bid all who were headed there to “come and live”. And this cross was not just a metaphor for self sacrifice, no, this excruciating and writhing death was the material redemption that paid for our sins through the sin of murder.

Even the word “mystery” seems embarrassingly inadequate when describing the totality of what happened at the cross. Like an ant being asked to understand physics, we sinners have been granted a level of understanding that must shake us to our core. God has died for His created rebels.

There can be no more loftier thought than that. Just the concept of God Himself is higher than our pitiful serotonin can grasp, to say nothing of God dying, to say infinitely nothing of God dying for sinners like us. And yet on that prophesied cross hung God; and the Scriptures say that in Jesus lived all the fullness of the Godhead. Did you understand what the Spirit through the Apostle Paul just said? The Spirit said that He, the Father, and Jesus were present in ALL THEIR FULNESS in the God-man named Jesus.

It is sacrilege to receive such news without a spiritual tremor reverberating through our inner man. You see, on that cross was something colossal and personal, strong and yet weak, death and yet life. The Deity who has revealed Himself to sinful man was in a physical form and willingly acquiesced to the shame and horror of death, even the death of that cross. And the same Godhead who was there, recorded His shameful victory through the pens of those for whom He died. The mystery has unraveled and has escaped our mental boundaries.

Of course this cross is revised, downplayed, and even rejected in these modern times, as well as throughout history. Who desires a god that could not defend himself? Who would worship a god who could be murdered at the hands of Roman soldiers? Who would embrace a battered and bloodied corpse, publicly ridiculed for all to see, and whose throne was filled with blood, sweat, and death? This cross was an altar, and upon this altar was the most profound paradox one could imagine. For on that cross, before everyone’s eyes, redemption for all ages was being cached.

Many men rush to serve and help others, while many others only care about themselves. But in the midst of both situations stands the cross. You see, the cross is complete in redemption and has need of no helpful acts of men. It surely is desirable for men to help each other, however no amount of human philanthropy can ever add one ounce of redemptive weight to the finished work on the cross. The cross rises in its pristine and plenary glory, in need of no human nurturance, yet it passionately beckons to every sinner to “Come!”.

This faith we profess must be anchored in Jesus Christ, and the cross must be our banner. The resurrection reveals Who was on that cross and substantiates His claims, but without the cross there would be no resurrection. The blood of that cross funnels down and provides the power in that coming resurrection. All power was in the hand of God’s Son and He was willing to use it for us. This is no finer point of doctrine, this is the gospel!

And in

heaven

Jesus

retains

those

wounds so even while we worship the Lamb of God

we cannot forget that wondrous cross. May God

strike our

mouths

dumb and

our eyes

blind if

we were

to ever

forget that

cross.

It is our life – forever.

Clandestine Self Righteousness

We must all do sentry duty about the insidious nature of self righteousness that lives in all of us, and that has the ability to put on cloaks of Biblical orthodoxy which cover pride by a continual diversion to the sin of others and a charitible presentation of our own spiritual walk. The following link is an example of what I will be dealing with in this post. The author is a dedicated Christian who I have no doubt is sincere in his committment to Christ. However, like so many of us, he is blind to the self righteous implications of such an article.

Here

It does seem that some cannot help but trumpet their own wonderful spiritual depth and progress. I have come to see that as a continuing revelation of many in the “orthodox” community of faith who cannot resist in publishing their valiant doctrinal conquests, their bold stands for truth, and their personal triumphs in their spiritual journey. Of course their articulate and vociferous self commendations leave little room for others to congratulate them, except for the redundant platitudes of the comment threads. On the surface it may well appear to be innocuous and even laudable as many, many posts are about standing for God’s truth, albeit many spiral into a constricted brand of systematic theology. But who would dare argue with a firm and unyielding resolve as it pertains to Scriptural truth? And yet there appears to be a measure of self righteousness even when proclaiming such Scriptural truth.

Hidden within words that seem to present God’s truth as paramount, are words and attitudes that defy and actually countermand the very truths that the posts seem to extol. And many of these authors would loudly proclaim a message of redemption that they insist is doctrinally unspoiled and communicated through an unambiguous concatenation to the original languages. But the post in my link is representative of many posts, and as you can see, many cannot avoid using their own spiritual development as a platform to demean atheists, pagans, and doctrinal miscreants. It is a continuing theme.

There are so many tragic stories that surround some of these "pagans". Girls whose fathers molested them and they wind up as "pagan" prostitutes. Men who were brought up in Godless homes and taught violence, and so they have become "pagans" just like their fathers. Little African children who have never heard about Jesus, and so they practice their religion as "pagans". Millions of teenagers, void of any real and genuine love, seek to fulfill that basic need through drugs, sex, and self mutilation. People that have been abused within the church become bitter and deal with profound hurt by rejecting Christ, whom they wrongly associate with the church. Orphans who have been given up by their mothers are tortured by rejection and many times display a deep hatred for themselves and everyone esle. These are the "pagans" for whom the Christ died for and desires to show them the love of God described in John 3:16. But they are so easy to discount and use as a stepping stone to further illustrate our doctrinal prowess.

There is a time to address issues of truth and issues of heresy, but our own struggling walks of faith, favorably misrepresented at best, must never be seen as validation of our cause or of the truths of God’s Word. Paul took every opportunity to downplay himself and lift up Christ. And when Paul spoke of the glories of Christ and His redemption, he was not chained to a chronic and self righteous denunciation of others. Why do some feel the need to batter sinners and misguided professing saints relentlessly, even when speaking of things that are not directly connected? And perhaps most disturbing of all is when someone addresses the errors and sins of others, while in the same post they share their own measurable spiritual progress.

The message is clear, “I am thankful that I am going so deep in Christ, while at the same time I am seeing more clearly all the rest who are not. I want to make both of those issues abundantly and redundantly clear to everyone. The comment section is now partially open.”

How deeply spiritual can it be when fresh from some moving spiritual experience you again take up the pagan, atheist, and others tirade? That isn’t spiritual, that is carnal self righteousness. We all can learn from these types of projections. If we are not broken about the sins of others we are simply judges. If we are not uncomfortably humble and warily circumspect about our own spiritual walk, we have become our own blaring trumpet. When we arrive at the point that certain detoured camps are our never ending obsession, even to the point of post sermon discussions with the pastor, then we have become distracted and absorbed with things other than Jesus, to say nothing of the reaffirmation of our own spiritual orthodoxy it seems to provide in us.

Should we be concerned when we see an unmistakable departure from Christ and His gospel in some of the movements today? Yes, we must. But we cannot address them at the expense of being blind to our own spiritual malaise and our own cultural bondage that detracts from the very gospel teachings we allege to be defending. Standing for truth can quickly unravel into a doctrinal hubris until it becomes an unchristian stench in the church. You can have Christ defined accurately on paper and yet be exhibiting a lifestyle that is nothing like Him. And you can feed the poor around the world and miss Christ and His gospel as well.

Adding to the truth defender ambiance is an uncontrollable urge to reveal e-mail persecution and how you combat these villains. There are heretical leaders who need strong rebukes as well as intercession; however the average believer who is deceived needs compassion and loving challenge. And they surely should not be used as relief, against which to more clearly outline your own lofty confrontational skills. In essence, “I am a doctrinal dragon slayer”. (I am surprised no one has a blog by that title)

There is a delicate balance between rebuke and humility that must be sought when being used in correction. And when we are unsure about that balance we must surely err on the side of humility. It may not be intentional, but so much sanctimony is projected in the church. There are still none who do not stand entirely by His grace, and there are still none who have given themselves wholly to Christ. My previous post about the little slave girl named Blandina should shame us all and should temper our attitudes about others, and especially the way in which we view ourselves.

When Paul stated, “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself”, he did not mean just in theology. We all have a long way to go before we genuinely count ourselves as nothing, and before we consider everyone else and their needs superior to ours. Distilled down to its core, we have a long way before we reflect Jesus. But the first step is to fully realize the fact that we have somehow lost an accurate vision of Who He was on this earth and what we must emulate. Until then we will continue this charade and call it “orthodox Christianity”.

Blandina

Blandina

One sure way to have a wrong and superficial perspective on things is to be ignorant of history and be blind to a greater reality. The story I am about to share is only one of many thousands over the course of two thousand years, but it represents a looking glass into both the glory of Christ as well as the state of western Christianity.

Her name was Blandina, and she was a frail, teenage slave girl in the 2nd century A.D.. She and her master lived in Rome and they had become Christians. It was during this time that pagan Rome became thirsty for the blood of Christians, and slaves were a unique target. It was thought that through torture the slaves would both renounce their faith and implicate their masters as well. With this in mind the little slave girl was arrested in 177 A.D..

As the Romans cast their eyes upon her it was evident that her stature would not endure much pain and suffering, and that she would quickly acquiesce to their demands of renunciation. She was unmercifully beaten and tortured, and her courage frustrated the Roman torturers. They returned and informed the magistrate that they had exhausted themselves in beatings and torture, but to no avail. All this little slave girl would say, “I am a Christian and I commit no wrongdoing”. The Romans would hear her pray for them and her fellow believers.

After this she was brought into the arena that housed the ferocious beasts and she was made to watch unspeakable horrors as her brothers and sisters were torn to shreds and eaten by wild animals. Instead of begging for mercy, this frail little girl began to cry out encouragement to her fellow believers and for them to be strong in faith, hope, and love. When the Romans heard her they brought her into the arena and tied her to a stake. She began to humbly pray for her captors.

Shockingly, though, the animals would not attack her. Frustrated once more, the Romans tied her to a gate and placed her before a vicious bull who gored her to death. She died with intercession on her lips and her remains were fed to the beasts. The testimony of this brave girl lives on until today. It was not uncommon for heathens to embrace Christ based largely on the faithfulness and demeanor they witnessed from Christian martyrs.

Against that backdrop let us examine the depth of Christianity that is prevalent today. Instead of praying for our enemies, the church is consumed with political wrangling and many embrace the caustic rhetoric of talk show hosts. Instead of humility many believe that fighting “fire with fire” is the ministry of God’s Spirit. Instead of living lives of quiet contentment and marginal sustenance, western believers enjoy many of the same amusements as do the heathens and they store up vast sums of money for themselves.

Suffering is out of spiritual vogue, and God’s blessings, mostly defined as material benefits, have replaced the glorious blessings of suffering for Christ. Oh for a return when all we think is Christ and all we serve is Christ and our lives are at His command, even unto death. Where are the days when the “things of this world grow strangely dim” and we are persecuted for Jesus’ sake and not some belligerent political rhetoric? When will those who bear His name be so humble, so compassionate, and so faithful to His gospel that sinners must either melt or throw stones? And when you read the story of Blandina, does your mind battle to even believe such a thing?

It is absurd to contend that we who sit behind glowing screens, or who talk on radio programs, or who write and profit from books, are warriors of God’s truth when believers like this one, frail slave girl has put us all to shame. We have tarnished the glory of God by allowing ourselves to be called "conservatives", and we squawk with the world when the government abuses our finances. In America we are one right wing voice among many, wholly unremarkable and even joining with unbelievers in our quest to manipulate society. We refuse to even see that God may desire persecution, and yet we battle it and resist it.

We seem to be proficient at orchestrating such melodrama as it concerns today’s battle against liberalism and post modern dilution, but where pray tell is our power? Where is our sacrifice? Where is the unmistakable and distinguishing essence that would lead pagans to Christ based substantially on our lives – where is the love of Almighty God through us? How have we changed the God of the cross into the God of democracy, morality, and the western hedonistic lifestyle? And yet, like Samson, we do not even recognize that our power is literally gone. Without a painful and humilitiating inventory, followed by a massive revival, New Testament Christianity in the west will remain represented by a mirage and a human forgery.

We even have the audacity to claim our controversy is some kind of “truth war”, and yet this bloodless and air conditioned “war” bears no resemblance to the selflessness of the cross and followers like Blandina. Our war is fought on radio shows, and in book stores, and in pitiful protests that seem to make us feel good about our “boldness” but costs nothing but an occasional terse word, which we immediately amplify to all who will hear as a trophy of martyrdom. In this battle we load our guns with the ammunition of caustic rhetoric and systematic theology, but void of the explosive power of humility, sacrifice, and God’s love, our weapons are carnal and spiritually unusable. We shoot sinners in need and we ignore the needs of fellow saints, except those who are doctrinally and geographically convenient.

We spend vast amounts of money to hold conferences where we can pass out platitudes among ourselves for our “bold and daring” verbal assents to doctrinal truth, while many heroes in Christ go unnoticed in Darfur, Pakistan, China, and other obscure places in the uttermost parts of the world. King David would not dare drink of Bethlehem’s well because he realized the valor of these men forbid him such a luxury, yet we go on Christian cruises, wasting obscene amounts of money and gorging ourselves, while brothers and sisters are in dire need and face certain death around the world. Can there be any more profound hypocrisy??

The disgrace and shame of the western church is uncovered in God’s sight and yet we refuse to blush. Our ignorance is only equaled by our insolent hedonism, faring sumptuously while beggars go hungry, even some who name His name. And when we read the account of someone like Blandina, it, like a court jester to a king, amuses us and perhaps elicits some insignificant emotion, but little else. These testimonies of days gone by will not even open church doors during the week for meetings of intercession and prayer. Prayer for our suffering brethren, you ask? Oh yes, but also prayer that God would break our hearts by showing us a mirror of ourselves and compare it to a portrait of His will.

A little slave girl, filled with God’s Spirit, prays for her executioners and brings no railing accusation to her torturers. Yet we, as modern examples of believers, yell at sinners, call them sarcastic names, and pounce upon them with clubs of doctrinal purity, all while contending they cannot even understand such things in their present state. Please do not contend with me concerning our great adherence to Christ in these last days. Please do not suggest we sacrifice in even the smallest of ways. Do not speak to me about how we show the love of God in our speech and actions. Please refrain from hinting that we western believers mirror anything close to New Testament teachings. Happy and comfortable in our little local conclaves, we are an accepted part of the western societal experience, but a salt less embarrassment to heaven. If we refuse to repent, let us at least remain silent.

Surely the coming of our Blessed Lord is nigh, but are His worshipers asleep in His fields? Have we made Babylon our marketplace and template? It is time to reevaluate who Christ is. Is He Lord, or is He not? Is He still the Suffering Servant in this present world, or is He interested in the culture wars? Was He more manifested in Blandina than He is in the modern church? We must examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith, not just are we saved, but are we walking entirely in the Kingdom of God. We must reach out into the darkness with a gospel light that does not flicker with the winds of this world, and that joyfully endures the scorn from those who are both blind to their need as well as blind to God’s love.

We must be Jesus again.

The Apostate Teachings of Rob Bell

As a preamble read this link by Peter Rollins who Rob Bell endorses and has had as his main speaker at his latest conference. Buckle your seat belts.

Are you beginning to get the picture? These emergents cannot even affirm their belief in a supreme being. This is the second half of Bell's teaching. He continues:

Who’s making a better world, Caesar or Jesus? They believed that a church was a living, breathing display of a whole new world God was bringing about, right here, right now. Because some people, some people are fierce with reality, aren’t they? They don’t have to spout off about how they’re right and everybody else is wrong because there is something going on inside of them so powerful, so tangible, you can’t help but ask questions.

Who is making a better world??? Let us come back to reality. Many of the early believers were tortured and killed for their faith in Christ. If indeed these compassionate communities were as benign and nebulous about Jesus, and consumed with magnanimousness and compassion, for what were they slaughtered? For what acts of kindness were they brought before the magistrates and condemned? Where is this “better world”? The church itself is hardly a better world, much less the world. These emergents have altered the clear teaching of Scripture concerning the perilous times that are coming, and in fact are here.

You’re dying to know why they are the way they are. You want them to explain the reason for the hope that’s within them. It’s because when you’re around people like this, you have this sense that you’ve in some way been with Jesus, and that is church. This group of people who by their compassion, their generosity, the grace that they extend to others, you find yourself believing when you’re around them, that God hasn’t given up on the world. That’s the gospel. That’s it. The gospel is the good news that God hasn’t given up on the world, that the tomb is empty and that a giant resurrection rescue is underway and that you can be a part of it. And so, yes, this has a deeply personal dimension to this. Jesus is saving me. He’s saving me from my sins, from my mistakes, from my pride, from my indifference to the suffering of the world around me, from my cynicism and despair. The brokenness I see in the world around me is true of my own soul, and so He’s rescuing me moment by moment, day by day, because God wants to put it all back together. You, me, the whole world. And so He starts deep inside each of us with our awareness that we need help, that we need saving, that we need rescuing.

The gospel is “God hasn’t given up on the world”? That’s what Wesley and Whitefield and Edwards and Moody preached? Is that what sparked the great revivals in Wales and the Hebrides? Was that the message of the Great Awakenings here in America? If so, John the Baptist was a fool, along with every Bible believing minister after him. And when Paul preached Christ and Him crucified he was overly constricting the gospel message. And when the Philippian jailor begged to know how to be saved Paul’s exclusion of acts of kindness and compassion misrepresented the gospel message. Bell's words are absurd.

And then He begins to show us, step by step, what it looks like to put flesh and blood on this gospel. Because we all fall short, and that’s the beautiful part. Broken, flawed, vulnerable people like you and me are invited to be the hands and feet of a Jesus who loves us exactly as we are and yet loves us way too much to let us stay that way. I believe. I believe because I see. I see the resurrection all around me. If people only had your life and they were asked the question: “Has Jesus risen from the dead?”, how would they answer? Has He? May you be a “yes” to the question “Has Jesus risen from the dead?” And may you come to see, may you understand, that you are the good news. You are the gospel.

And there you have it. Pastor Bell succinctly reveals the essence of emergent theology – you. This is no Christ centered message, and in fact, Jesus takes a back seat to kindness and unity. The cross is nowhere to be found here, and the blood is never even hinted at. Why? Because this theology is not about Jesus and His cross, this is about you. God desires to make a better world for you and I, and he will use everything but the cross. Good deeds and compassion and kindness are the rocks upon which this emergent church will be built.

People are convinced through kindness, not the Word and not the ministry of the Spirit. This, my friends, is open apostasy. No charity can soften the assessment of this New Age message of hope in humanity. What Bell is teaching is a bloodless religion that can be espoused by kind atheists and can join hands with most other religions. And this is serious business. If you believe that there is a God, and that Jesus is the only Savior and Redeemer, then you must not join hands, neither bid blessing, upon men like Rob Bell. I will expound further in my next post.

The Apostate Teachings of Rob Bell

The word "apostasy" means to depart from.

The times are perilous. The gospel itself has been changed in many different ways. For those who have been born again, and for those who have a knowledge of the New Testament, we should know what the gospel actually is. It is the good news that God came in the form of a man called Jesus, died on a cross to pay for our sins, resurrected from the dead, and offers eternal life simply by believing on Jesus as Lord and Savior. This gospel is not being compassionate, or kind, or even loving. All those things should come after conversion but they are not any part of this gospel. This gospel is about the finished redemptive work of Jesus the Christ.


The following transcript was taken from a video made by Pastor Rob Bell of Mars Hill Church in Michigan. Pastor Bell illustrates what is being taught as the gospel in many emergent circles. I would like to address parts of his message, and I hope to show anyone who may be sympathetic to the emergent movement that it is a serious departure from Biblical Christianity and is in fact apostate. Bell’s words can be found in italics.


I have also found something less than the compassion and generosity that Bell suggests are in Christian communities from Bell supporters when you question his theology. I have never attacked Pastor Bell personally and yet I have been called many names and have met with caustic attacks and demeaning sarcasm when I have questioned his teachings. And when I have asked for sermon documentation from Bell supporters, about certain doctrinal subjects as basic as the cross, I have been accused of not doing my homework.


The kind and loving ambiance that Bell teaches should reveal the presence of Jesus seems to dissipate with many Bell protagonists. I do not question Rob Bell as a person, or husband, or father, but I must question his teachings and his Biblical faithfulness as a pastor. The following is a first in a series.


*******************************************


Sometime in the 1st century around the year 30A.D. a movement was started by a group of Jews who insisted that their rabbi, a man named Jesus from the Galilee region in Israel, had risen from the dead after being crucified by the Roman Empire. They claimed that after His resurrection they had seen Him and that they had had conversations with Him and had eaten meals with Him. And then they said that He had ascended to heaven, and that someday He would return. Now the world at this time was ruled by the Roman Empire, this giant, military, global superpower, from England to India. The Roman Empire ruled the world.

And one of the most popular gods of the Roman Empire was the god Mithra. Mithra’s followers believed that Mithra has been born of a virgin and that he was a mediator between God and humans, and that Mithra had ascended into heaven. Another popular religion at this time centered around the god Attis. The followers of Attis believed that Attis had been born of a virgin and each spring they gathered to celebrate the resurrection of Attis.

Bell seems to suggest that Christianity borrowed from pagan religions.

Which takes us back to the Roman Empire which was ruled by a succession of Emperors called Caesars. The first one, Julius Caesar, when he died, a comet appeared in the sky and people said: “Well, of course, that’s Julius Caesar, the Son of God, ascending to the right hand of the gods of heaven.

Soon after this Julius Caesar’s adopted son, Caesar Augustus came to power and Caesar Augutus believed that he was the Son of God sent by the gods to Earth to bring about a universal reign of peace and prosperity. One of his popular propaganda slogans was: “There is no other name under heaven by which people can be saved than that of Caesar.” Caesar inaugurated a 12 day celebration of his birth called the Advent of Caesar.

Another popular phrase at the time, people would literally greet each other on the street by saying “Caesar is Lord”. So in the first century to claim that your god had risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, well, it just wasn’t that unique. The claims of these first Christians weren’t really anything new.

Again, Bell suggests Christianity borrowed from Caesar.

Everybody’s god had risen from the dead. What makes yours so special? Now these first Christians believed that Jesus’ resurrection had implications for the entire universe. Their tradition had taught them that the world is broken and desperately in need of repair and that at some point in the future, God was going to put it all back together. Now for them, this future restoration had nothing to do with leaving this world, it was all about restoration, the renewing and the reclaiming of this world.

This paragraph begins a pattern. You will notice that Bell continually suggests a divine motive to make the world a better place, and the Biblical teaching of the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ is absent from his theology.

And so they saw in Jesus’ resurrection the beginning of this universe-wide movement to put it all back together. Well this, of course, brought them into direct conflict with the Roman Empire, because remember, for the Caesars, it was all about Caesar’s belief that he was making a new and better world through his power, through his armies, and through his wealth. And so when Caesar wanted to send out a message to let everybody know of his latest military conquest or his latest accomplishments, he would send out a royal pronouncement telling the masses of his latest achievements. These pronouncements were called in the Greek language “evangelions.” An “evangelion” was like a “gospel” or a “good news”. In English “evangelion” spells “evangelical”.

Now these first Christians believed very passionately that the world was not made better through military power and political coercion. The gospel they were living had nothing to do with using political force to force people to live according to your laws. For them, this gospel was about serving the world, especially those on the underside of the empire. For them it was about serving not ruling. And so they took this empire propaganda term “gospel”, and they used it to descxribe this new world that Jesus and His followers were making right under the nose of the empire. Because their way, the way of Jesus, was totally opposed to the way of Rome. And so, when we read accounts of how they lived, we read they shared their possessions, they fed the hungry, and they carried each other’s burdens.

Again, intimating that believers, and Christ Himself, borrowed directly from Rome.

Well, it’s because the gospel for them was a whole way of life. A whole new world, right in the midst of this one. Now Caesar had a particular word that was used for a city or a village or a province that worshipped Caesar as the Son of God, that acknowledged Caesar as Lord. So Caesar would conquer, with his armies, a new land and then demand that all of the people would confess “Caesar is Lord”. If people didn’t, well, then they were crucified as a way of showing everybody what happens when you refuse to submit to the power of the empire. But if s group of people did, if a city or a village of a region did acknowledge and worship Caesar as the Son of God, Lord, if they did accept Caesar as their savior, then the area became a worshipping center of the Caesar. These worshipping centers were called, in the Greek language, “ekklesias”. The word “ekklesias” translates in English, “church”. And so these first Christians took this empire propaganda term “ekklesias”, and they used it to describe their gatherings, the ones where they confessed “Jesus is Lord”.

The pattern is unmistakable. Bell never, though, elaborates as to his point.

Well, obviously, the way they were living it raised all sorts of questions for those around them. Who do you believe? Casaer, who thinks that a new world, a better world, is made through his brute military and political power, by forcing people to do what he says? Or Jesus, who invites you to make a new and better world through loving acts of compassion and generosity? Caesar who killed Jesus on an execution stake, or God, who raised Jesus from the dead? Whose way do you think is better? Who do you think is Lord? Jesus or Caesar? Whose kingdom do you find more compelling? For them the gospel was an invitation to a whole new way of life. And they lived this way because they had this profoundly mystical understanding of what they were doing in their lives. They called themselves the body of Christ. And they believed that in their communities, in these loving, compassionate, generous, peace-loving communities, they believed that Jesus was present in a way that went beyond words. So they’d invite people to join them, to eat with them, to celebrate with them, to suffer with them, and then they’d ask them, after they’d seen the hungry fed, the lonely loved, and the poor honored, they’d ask the people, “Well, do you think Jesus is here?” Or more specifically, “Who do you think is Lord?”

Bell suggests that the proof that Jesus was among them was entirely based upon their acts of kindness. He never suggests the ministry of the Holy Spirit to illuminate a sinner’s heart as to who Christ is. This entire first portion of his message is revisionist and manipulated history. The point of the pagan gods having some characteristics to Jesus is irrelevant. Many gods throughout history made claims that were somewhat reflective of Jesus, but there is no point other than any god would have some miraculous nature to him or her. That does not add nor subtract from the One True God.

But Bell’s implication that believers settled into quiet and peaceful communities that specialized in helping people and thereby attracted sinners to Jesus is simply untrue. Hopefully believers exhibit some kind of compassion and kindness in their lives, but the distinctive of a Christian community has always been their obedience, worship, and preaching of Jesus as the one and only Savior and Lord. It is that name which got Peter and others beaten and threatened. It is that Name which made some lament they had spread their doctrine throughout the city. It was not acts of kindness that had believers thrown to lions, or burned at the stake, or tortured, no, it was their preaching the name and person of Jesus Christ.

Now if you recall, Jesus Himself told us He did not come to bring peace but a sword. Acts of kindness are done by Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and even pagans. Our calling is much higher at at a much greater cost. Many countries allow westerners in if they help with agriculture, medicine, education, or other things that address their needs. However, many countries insist that if these people are Christians they cannot share their faith or risk arrest or deportation. The acts of kindness they desire, but not Jesus, which seems similar to much emergent theology.



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Watch for the second part of this series, and perhaps a final overarching essay on the entire subject.

The Glorious Wounds of God

The prophet Isaiah had been used of God from the last years of King Uzziah and into the reign of King Hezekiah. He had seen the rise of Assyria, the enslavement of the Northern Kingdom, and he had watched as Judah sank into idolatry and unbelief. Isaiah would not live to see it, but Judah would be carried away into Babylon. His warnings would go unheeded.

But within the inspired writings of Isaiah lived a vision that was breathtaking and marvelous. God had chosen this man to see in great detail God’s coming Messiah, and the articulate nature of his vision seemed at odds with what Israel desired and expected. Oh yes, there were many verses that spoke of glory and grandeur, and there was great hope enunciated through his words. But delicately placed within his rebukes and encouragement were words of perplexity and bewilderment.

The core of these confusing words is found in the 53rd chapter of Isaiah’s prophecies. These words, these astonishing and excruciating words, would be misinterpreted and softened to accommodate the general thought of the people of Israel. In fact, many attributed them to a description of the sufferings of the nation of Israel itself. What other explanation could be found for such words of anguish and distress?

Who hath believed our report?

Surely this could not refer to the Messiah since He must come in great glory and power. He would rule with a rod of iron and He would deliver Israel from their bondage. These sufferings and humiliations could never apply to the shining Messiah. Never. Absolutely never. But could they…?

Among all the hidden treasure of future glory, and future dancing, and future deliverance, there was a treasure that could not be understood, and surely not even considered. This treasure was to be anticipated like Christmas morning, but this treasure would be shocking when found. This is not what earthly treasure hunters would seek, and this treasure would drape its glory in a crimson hue surrounded by those who denied its worth altogether. This treasure would not be found by seekers as much as it would itself seek to find those to whom it could bestow its wealth.

This reading of the prophet’s words does not draw many excited listeners. It speaks of defeat and gloom, and it is consumed with pathos and heartbreak so at odds with the upbeat atmosphere of today’s desired culture. These words are presented with the preamble, “Who hath believed our report?” Who indeed will believe what narrative these words are painting, and upon what fresco they will be painted. When the prophet Habakkuk asked God what was He doing about the Babylonians as they plundered Judah, God told Habakkuk that even if He told him he would not believe it. And the priceless apocalyptic glimpse within these few words would be unimaginable as well.

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

And in verse two the Spirit begins a future portrait, one that had been put to a sovereign canvas long before the worlds were made. One that would become the one and only foundation upon which God would call a people and build a church. But what is this we see? What words are these – no beauty, no desire, dry ground?? Surely there must be something lost in the translation. Even a fleeting glimpse of God and His glory had produced no such mirrors of Who He is. God passes with His back toward Moses, and for a moment Moses looked, and the face of a man called Moses had to be hidden lest it blind all others. That is God and that must be the Messiah.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

And verse three travels further into the absurd when it describes someone who clearly had no place among men, and who clearly had nothing to offer. And how could Israel despise their own Messiah? And instead of coming with a sweeping glory and a colossal entrance that is worthy of a king, this description uses words like sorrows and grief. By all accounts, this cannot be the One for whom we are looking.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

The chosen One of Israel was stricken? And to add to the confusion, this verse seems to indicate that we mistook the burdens of our sorrows and grief for the afflictions of God Himself. What is he saying here? Is the prophet suggesting that we caused this grief and this sorrow and this affliction, and yet we blamed it on God?? Oh no, this can never be and we cannot but dismiss such a thought.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Oh please, my ears cannot hear and my heart cannot receive such news. Where was I in the prophet’s words and how did my iniquities fall upon this man? We must refuse such picturesque gore and we must retreat to the comfort of the Glorious One who comes to deliver us and lead us into victory! There can be no symmetry in these two visions of God’s coming Messiah, so we are forced to reject the written mural that so shames us and portrays Him as receiving punishment rather than dispensing it.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities

Who can know this blasphemous conundrum? Who can describe the color red to a man born blind; and who can teach an ant to speak; and who can see the center of the Earth; and who can understand this saying? The same God who will send this Messiah, chosen before anything was, will be pleased to bruise Him? Can our hearts know any deeper insanity than this? How many days or months or years of meditation will this require before the illumination comes forth? And when this illumination comes forth and guides the mind into the trustworthiness of this mystery, will it bring us any closer to comprehension?

And how shall we approach the travail of His soul? To what shall we liken the travail that is an offering for sin? And how can we embrace such massacre knowing it is the looking glass into the wretchedness of our own selves? Count the sufferings of all mankind throughout history; enumerate the oceans of tears spilled by human grief; listen to the pleas of countless children as they suffer without an ounce of understanding; and multiply the heartaches that stalk humankind until they pounce upon each and every sinner born of woman. The answer to those tallies are worthless comparisons to the griefs pronounced in and upon this man.

But let us go further into a reality filled with violence, pain, and savagery. Step into the inventory of sins, all sins, committed and omitted by mankind as a whole. How many documentaries and accounts of one serial murder's sins have astounded our senses and disgusted our sensibilities? How many massacres has history provided for us in a sterilized context of literary comfort, and yet even with a reality buffer it can still manage to evoke emotion? How many sins are accumulated in one sinner’s life? One hundred? One thousand? Untold millions?? How many sins have been committed in totality among the complete compilation of human kind? And how many are added to that figure daily?

And yet in six hours Almighty God will be satisfied? What does it feel like to suffer for one sin, and yet in six hours the Messiah will suffer for all the sins of the world? And He had no sin of Himself but was willing to suffer for others; others that would despise and reject Him? We live in an amazing age of technology and knowledge. Quantum mechanics, the Theory of Relativity, the Hubble telescope, organ transplants, moon walks, vehicle trips that pass between Saturn and its rings, all these and more reveal a time of great human achievement.

So how can the bloody wounds of one Jew be the doorway to eternal life? How can the sufferings of this son of Judah satisfy the Creator in our place? Has God not seen what we have accomplished? Is He blind to the lifestyles we have carved out in His creation? Are we still to believe that God can only be satisfied by the gruesome wounds inflicted upon this pitiful figure? Can we allow ourselves to believe this Jew was the divine Messenger that would become the Servant of His enemies?

Who can describe your wounds, O Lord? Yes we can see the blood and the ripped skin and we can hear your cries, and we can see and understand the sufferings your body endured. But how, O Lord, can we ever touch the depths of your inward sufferings? With what tool do we measure how you suffered for so many sins and in so little time? And where can we find a place where we can touch the spiritual dimensions worthy of the staggering depths of Your sufferings? We cannot, dear Jesus, we cannot.

We are resigned, joyously resigned, to fall before Your cross and worship You. O for a thousand tongues to sing, and how can it be, and O sacred Head now wounded, and lead me to Calvary. There are no words, no human words that will ever suffice in describing what You have done. And there is no expressions of the heart that can be compared with Your scarlet labor. Sacred is the place and hallow is the sight. The stone will soon roll away to be sure, but when I survey that wondrous cross I am undone. It is there I find my life among the dying, and it is there I find comfort in those sufferings. Please continue to bid me to be an audience again and again before this Suffering Servant as He writhes for me. To say I did not deserve this sacrifice is to shamefully state the obvious and make a clumsy attempt at some false humility. Let the awesome spectacle speak for itself, for in the silence of a beaten and bloody corpse the God of all Creation has and will continue to speak forever. Tetelestai...it...is...finished.

The eternal glory of this Servant and His sufferings will always be the clearest looking glass into the heart of the Everlasting God.