The Steps of Jesus are Leading Away from the Church

THE STEPS OF JESUS ARE LEADING

AWAY FROM THE CHURCH

The religion people called Christianity has had a crisis of identity and even definition. Over the years and especially since the Industrial Revolution men began to further their education. And many more common people began to read and write. And little by little the emphasis on the acknowledgement of written doctrinal truths became not only a focus, but an obsession. Eventually a Christian was defined completely by what he said he believed about what the Bible taught doctrinally, and what he lived was defined by a few moral issues. Eventually a believer was assimilated into the culture and Christianity as a whole was accepted as a normal religious expression that was compatible with many others.

And somewhere along the line morality, or specific moral issues, hijacked the faith. And instead of a story of God’s redemptive love, Christianity became a system of rules and theology. And slowly but surely Christianity became a system, a religion, and a part of one’s cultural existence. But in so doing it was stripped of its life and sacrifice and its remarkable love for Jesus which could be seen clearly in and through the lives of His followers.

Yes, major truths of the Scriptures are being attacked, and yes we are called to defend them. However we have settled into a predictable and self serving way of life that champions moral and political causes and regurgitates orthodox doctrines, but refuses to see the high cost of following Jesus. In fact, we have cleverly found ways to force the teachings and life of Jesus into a culture shaped bushel and still claim we shine His light. And even though we live within a culture of darkness with such unremarkable difference and such little impact, we still cannot bring ourselves to lift the mirror of the Spirit and look into our own face.

The evangelical landscape is filled with false teachers and heretics. To be sure, even the nature of Christ and the exclusivity of His gospel are being openly and subtly questioned. But we cannot feel content with just being guardians of doctrines. We must be living, breathing followers of Jesus who embrace more than written truths. Those truths that we embrace must find their source in Jesus and must find their release in our lives. That is a great mystery which has been all but eradicated by pragmatism and fix-it Christianity as well as doctrinally etched Christianity.

And this crisis within the church has expanded and taken many different forms. But the false teachers like Rob Bell and Joel Osteen will not listen to the Spirit. But I am addressing people like you and me. We who hold the Scriptures as the inspired voice of God must reexamine how we live what we say we believe. In fact, we must fast and pray and take another inventory about the very nature of the faith. Let us be very clear, no one can inherit eternal life but through a personal faith in Jesus, the Person. But if we are required to embrace a perfect doctrine and a systematic theology that is flawless, then no one will be in heaven.

But what about the reverse? What if your doctrine is very sound and your systematic theology has been carefully organized into Biblical alignment, but your life seems no different than your good neighbor who is an atheist or a Muslim? What if your spiritual life is most prominent because of the local church you attend, but your out of church experience seems very benign and innocuous? Is that what Christianity is all about? Is that what following Jesus means? In fact, is that Jesus Himself?

It seems like such a fine line and even splitting hairs, but are we following doctrines or following Jesus? And in reality those whose doctrine is their supreme spiritual phalanx fall short of the One they profess. And instead of a life filled with Jesus, their “orthodoxy” is the tip of their spiritual spear. I submit that although their doctrine may be spiritually pristine, their practice in unchristian. Is Christianity a belief system or a way of life or is it both? Again, it is clear from the teachings of Jesus that the Christian faith is a way of life based upon certain eternal truths with the chief cornerstone being the saving sacrifice of Jesus Himself. Through faith in Jesus Christ we die and we rise from the dead and are now a new creation whose life is dramatically different than the one we had lived.

But somehow the western version of the faith required all the right doctrine but made the new life an elective. The sinner who professes to believe on Jesus was allowed to create his own way to follow Him. There were a few major items that the church deemed worthy of agreement like abortion or traditional marriage or drug use and alcohol abuse, but all in all issues like love and grace and humility and prayer were left up to the individual to work out if he so desired. And ministry to the poor was valid but surely not a passion of the church. And in these last days the evangelical church has become very politically active and has without apology joined hands with unbelievers in an earthly cause designed to adjust the culture and make people’s lives more comfortable. And make no mistake, at the core of this political involvement is financial prosperity.

And so the faith that once left everything to follow Jesus morphed into a nice religion which made people good citizens and even allowed its adherents to pledge their allegiance to earthly countries and causes. The only waves they made were political. They showed no more love than some unbelievers and they were far less humble than some other unbelievers. They shouted their demands like the world and they organized great political movements which welcomed those who denied Jesus. They embraced capitalism and enjoyed all the accoutrements of a hedonistic culture. They became nondescript, even while living in an environment of utter spiritual darkness. It is a sad tale of spiritual woe.

But even while the church sold her spiritual birthright she still enjoyed a level of earthly success, self affirmation, and a collective sense of spiritual fulfillment. The church believed it was fulfilling its spiritual duty and was verbally standing for a few important moral tenants as well as a few doctrinal orthodoxies. And eventually the moral tenants superseded the redemptive doctrines. It wasn’t that the church outwardly rejected Jesus, it was just that He became window dressing and not the passion that once elicited disdain, persecution, and even death from the kingdom of darkness. The light had gone out although the “open” sign still hung on the door.

But take a major step back and allow your mind to consume this startling and almost inconceivable thought. The faith that professes to believe in and follow Jesus is no longer practiced at the institutional level. What that means is that the true faith has been so compromised and so diluted and so conformed to the dictates of the culture that for all intensive purposes it no longer exists at the organized church level except for a few very obscure outposts. Think about that for a moment.

I realize many of you still attend an organized church, but just think about what I have suggested. In fact, ask yourself this question: Did God ever want the church to be organized through the state at all? John Bunyan goes to jail for refusing a license from the government and yet churches today happily pay to become lawfully and dutifully recognized by the state. And much of the evangelical community not only accepts a license from the state, they pledge their allegiance to it and consider themselves as patriots. We have been so indoctrinated by the culture that we no longer even question almost anything. And because we have embraced layer after layer after layer of cultural compromise, they all have been grandfathered in by each successive generation. Jesus once taught about eating His flesh and blood and that people would see Him come in the clouds. And because of those words and teachings the Scriptures tell us many turned away from following Him.

Jn.6: ⁶³ It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

⁶⁴ But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
⁶⁵ And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
⁶⁶ From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

They had been offended by His teachings and they could not follow Him any further. But today people have either changed His words, or ignored the enormity of His teachings and by doing so we have still made ample room for what we call “church”. But the issue comes down to this: What did Jesus actually say and teach, and are we willing to follow Him even unto death? After a large portion of His followers left, Jesus addresses His closest disciples.

Jn.6: ⁶⁷ Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

⁶⁸ Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
⁶⁹ And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

And that is the issue for all who profess His name. After you have said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”, then you must face the colossal implications and requirements of that profession. You must become diligent students of what He did and taught, and after you have thoroughly researched the teachings of the One you profess, you must forsake all and follow Him.

The only alternative is to repackage what He said and create a religious system that accommodates your own thoughts and desires while still using His name. And if that is your choice, that system is alive and well and will welcome you with open arms.

The Blessings and Cursings of Experiences

THE BLESSINGS AND CURSINGS 

OF EXPERIENCES

Our lives are filled with all kinds of experiences. Who can forget your first date, or your high school graduation, or seeing your first born child? Or who can forget being in an automobile accident, or watching as a loved one dies, or seeing a president shot? Our minds are literally packed with memories of events throughout our lives. Sometimes we even remember things we had long since forgotten. As you get older you will have that experience, believe me.

But then there are things that we learn that are factually true. We have never had the experience of walking on the Moon however we have learned about the Apollo space project. We never met George Washington but we know he was the first American president. We have never seen a cell but we have learned about them. So we are also filled with knowledge about which we have no personal experience.

But even though we have never seen a cell we still believe they exist. Why? Because we take the word of a teacher. Yes, we take that by faith. Some facts require greater faith while others seem reasonable. It is all a mixture of experience and facts. We trust that teacher, and our parents trust them as well, and so we just assume everything they teach is true. There are only a handful of people who have ever really seen a cell, so in effect we all are basing our faith on them.

But what if a teacher stands up and proclaims that there is no such thing as a cell, and that he has a new and more enlightened approach to physiology? What if that teacher says that we are made up of little particles that can be weaned away from their need of water, and that if we learn how we can eventually live forever just by gaining the knowledge of how to train these particles? But how does he know this? Because he has experienced it and he has redefined medical terms which offer a more expansive approach to the human body. In fact, this teacher acknowledges the input from doctors, but he strongly and persuasively directs everyone to move away from doctors since they are the knowledge of the past.

That sounds pretty goofy, right? How could we believe anyone could swallow that kind of craziness? But, sadly, that is exactly what is now happening in the Christian church including the evangelical wing. We now have well spoken men with some evangelical credentials standing before unbelievers and believers alike and teaching that what we have come to believe about Jesus, about salvation, and about the written revelation called the Word of God must be approached with a fresh insight. Men who call themselves emergent, and dominionists, and prophetic ministries, and latter rain, and manifest sons of God, and many other alluring titles are dismantling the faith by a clever amalgam of Scripture and experience.

Now anyone who has had no spiritual experience with Christ is either unsaved or has been trained to never have one. I, by God's amazing grace, have had many. I am sure some of you reading this have had some experiences as well. Have you been absolutely broken during a prayer meeting? Have you been in a public place and suddenly heard the inaudible voice of God in your heart? Have you been guided by the Spirit away from a situation you did not realize was there? Have you ever been worshiping the Lord Jesus and for some reason you are overwhelmed? I am sure most of us have had those gifts of God’s grace. But listen to Peter.

I Pet.1: ¹⁶ For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
¹⁷ For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
¹⁸ And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
¹⁹ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Just what is Peter saying here? He affirms that he had heard the voice of the Father blessing Christ Jesus as the Son of God. And he also affirms that they were eyewitness of His glory. Yea and amen! But he also says that in spite of those amazing experiences, we have a more sure word from God. Yes, Scripture is God’s final Word regardless of what experiences He may also give us by His grace. And the Scriptures are not unlocked by a select and private few. They are for every believer!

But no personal experience must ever find its way into what we believe. And every experience must be found completely within the teachings and parameters of God's written Word. And no one has any fresh revelation. All of us can have a fresh awakening and depth to the truths already revealed, but anything new is deception. So how do you get people to believe lies? How can normally intelligent people including people who know God’s Word succumb to such a colossal deception?

It begins with an open heart. Yes, a heart that is open to something new, and a mind that is not completely grounded in God’s Word. So when a person opens their heart and mind to someone teaching things that go against God’s Word, then deception has taken root. And so many times people are so shallow in the Word that they are not only susceptible to error, but they are seeking it. They desire something new and something that makes them feel first and think later. I am not suggesting our faith is without passion or emotion. But I am suggesting that when people are ignorant of the Word then they allow their emotions to identify truth rather than their study of the Word. Believers should experience tears and brokenness and joy and repentance and a myriad of emotions and personal experiences, however those experiences must emanate from Biblical truth rather than create it.

The second conduit for deception is usually an alluring and articulate personality. So many of the unbiblical offshoots begin with and spread through a person of interest. Men like Rob Bell or Rick Warren or Joel Osteen whose style or personality or smile or even their spiritual journey is much of the focal point are used as conduits for deception. People desire to hear something positive and new and applicable to their needs and wants. And people desire someone with whom they can relate and who lifts their spirits. Most times that person seems to have spiritual insights and communicative venues with God not afforded the common man.

And when you come with an open heart, and when the preacher or teacher is already someone you trust to reveal truth to you, then not only will there be no discernment, but you have become fertile ground for bad seed. Millions of people present their hearts and minds as willing recipients of all kinds of falsehoods and smooth sounding words. And when you add the imagery and air brushed technology of television and creative printed material, well you have an assembly line of deception.

This culture is built upon creating and enhancing people’s personal experience. The movies, the television, the theme parks, the music, and the advertisements are geared toward people’s experience. If it makes us feel good we want it. And if it makes us feel good then it must be good. And that cultural principle has made its way into the church and has now created a process for arriving at truth which is fundamentally flawed and in fact constructed after man’s desires and not God’s Word. It begins subtly and eventually builds error upon error until the entire spiritual structure is a honeycomb of falsehoods and error and worthless cultural rhetoric.

Even our church services are constructed to elicit positive vibes and see people leave feeling blessed and good. Emotions are not a by-product, they are the only product. Everything is neatly coordinated in order to have a pleasant experience that fits nicely into a formatted timetable. And the evangelical church has become very adept at this kind of ecclesiastical pursuit. In almost every community you can find a Sunday gathering that suits your taste. It’s like a Baskin Robbins of all kinds of church flavors.

But all of this points to a fatal flaw. Deception is not stagnant. It flows with all kinds of energy and it creates many diabolical tributaries that build upon its original source, and as Jesus said of the Pharisee followers, it makes some people twice as fit for hell. You see, brothers and sisters, this is no doctrinal game. This kind of deception that is being embraced today has eternal consequences for millions of sinners. Some of these lost sinners are being told they are alright with God, while others are being shown a false and deadly door through which to walk. People run after men and their experience and refuse to diligently study God’s Word.

Yes, there are those whose doctrine is orthodox who are without emotion or pathos toward the Lord Jesus and their relationship with Him. But once again I am not against emotion and spiritual experience, but that can never be the standard of truth. Emotion and passion and spiritual experience must flow out of Biblical truth and a relentless desire to know Him more fully and obey Him more completely. And I might add this: If you are saved and walking with Christ and never have any personal experience or emotion directly associated with your life of obedience, prayer, and worship, then I suggest you have never really received a true vision of your sin, and you certainly have never received a full revelation of the Risen Christ! Stand fully upon His Word and bow before Him with a surrendered heart and the experience you receive will be unspeakable and full of glory. We do not need more truth since we have all truth. We need that truth to have all of us.

Pastor Hagee says Keep Your Children Unsaved

PROMINENT PASTOR

GIVES ADVICE TO JEWISH RABBIS:

KEEP YOUR CHILDREN UNSAVED

It has become quite the phenomenon in America to hold meetings among evangelicals in which they herald their support of the nation of Israel and the Jewish people without reservation. These events can be adorned with all kinds of Hebrew signs including stars of David and the Israeli flag. And another aspect of some of them is the invitation extended to unbelieving Jews who may or may not be Israeli citizens but who are ardent supporters of the nation of Israel.

And sometimes these unbelievers are invited to speak to the crowd and they receive a warm reception regardless of their spiritual views and commitments. Everyone has a great time and all kinds of books and artifacts are sold. And usually a list of prominent evangelical preachers are called upon to address the crowd with messages which center upon the nation of Israel. I do not recall hearing about lost souls regardless of their ethnicity. And when professing Christians gather and purposely avoid preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, then that meeting is not Christian at all. What a colossal paradox that evangelicals who loudly and confrontationally support Israel and the Jews, and yet deny them the gospel. In effect, those who are vociferous in their support and loyalty to the Jews have spiritually abandoned them at the point of their greatest need.

And I have never heard of any compassion for the plight of some Palestinians to say nothing of concern for their spiritual condition. It’s as if professing believers can compartmentalize their lives and their beliefs. They seem to be able to play scramble the earthly countries and issues without interjecting the issue of redemption. It is quite astonishing and completely out of touch with Biblical reality. In fact, just a cursory review of the Book of Acts should give us a glimpse into the driving force of the earliest believers.

One of the “evangelical” leaders of this movement is Pastor John Hagee of San Antonio, Texas. He has a following of millions and he has changed the attitudes and beliefs of many believers. And at one of his pro-Israel rallies he was confronted by some non-believing Jews who were concerned that Christians would draw Jews into these rallies and convert them. They were unaware that Hagee believes that orthodox Jews can be saved without Jesus. However this is a small excerpt from this source.

Hagee, a major Daystar supporter and on-air personality, has consistently affirmed that he will not proselytize Jews, although the network's lineup also includes "messianic" Jews with long pro-conversion records.

When Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz, head of the anti-cult Jews for Judaism, raised this issue with Hagee at the Los Angeles meeting, the pastor did not respond directly, but his genial Southern folksiness took on a harder edge.
"If rabbis would put more emphasis on putting Jewish kids into Jewish schools, young Jews would never want to become Christians," Hagee said.

How much of a denial of Christ and His Great Commission does one have to make before he can no longer be considered a Christian preacher? I suggest that we have long since passed that point.

Subtle Child Abuse

SUBTLE CHILD ABUSE

If you have watched “Christian” television” you have seen certain “ministries” show pictures of undernourished children, usually black or brown, from some third world country. And along with those pictures are usually pictures of the television minister, male of female, hugging a black child and seeing children being fed or given drinking water and even being presented with some gifts. It is all too predictable.

Now those children are probably real along with millions and millions of others. And many believers have given in some way to help such needs. And there are many ministries and outreaches, both large and small, which help children like these as well. But what makes these television spectacles so distasteful and so self serving is the way these videos and pictures are presented as leverage for giving to that particular ministry. Additionally, what should elicit righteous anger from believers is that many if not most of the people who head these ministries live in luxury which is in no small way supported by the attention and offerings derived by these unsuspecting children.

When we step back and assess such things and see the double minded motives as well as the lifestyles of these television people and we should be able to see just how disgusting the entire spectacle is. But this is how the capitalist church operates in the west. Money is the driving force, so you can promise miracles or financial prosperity or even use needy children as your hook and if that particular gimmick seems to work, well you work that corner of the street until it dries up. In fact, asking for monthly pledges is a clever way to receive from the same sources continually. It is a regular cornucopia of donations.

Because of some FCC guidelines, many ministries are very careful not to say that all the donations go to a certain place and outreach. That way they can harvest their own “cut” from the monthly take. And make no mistake, when you show pictures of needy black and brown children it is always beneficial to show emotion or a cracking voice or even tears while begging for support. And if the right camera did not capture those emotions, you can always do another take. Do not be deceived, it is that calculated.

There is no doubt the church should do more to help people all over the world, but as per the teachings of Jesus our right hand should not publicize that to the left hand. And even though some information may be important and vital, the western church has made fundraising a science which seems to benefit the preachers more than the children they use.

The Beauty of Jesus

THE BEAUTY OF JESUS

 

Imagine every beautiful thing you can; the bluest sky, the endless ocean; the brilliant stars; the newborn baby; the highest snow capped mountain; a reunion between a soldier returning to his mother; an innocent man released from prison; a life saving operation. Imagine them all lifted high within your imagination and draped in emotion and sentimental passion. Think about anything and everything that can be called beautiful. And let your mind collect them all and see them expanded beyond human comprehension. Let them soar beyond any human thought. Let them all escape the bounds of mental and emotional understanding and like a dove set them free from limits.

Even if the word beautiful is stretched out until it rolls beyond the horizons of our closed eyed creativity, it can never even brush up against the resplendence, the loveliness, and the eternal beauty we will see that first moment when we open heavenly eyes and look upon Him. Only by His grace and power will we be able to stand under the weight of His matchless glory.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

His beauty is powerful, and awesome, and fearful, There is none like Him and all created beings will come before Him and bow. Look upon His face and you will see power and glory and blessing and grace. And His beauty will be the force of heaven. On that day we will reject everything we had thought was beautiful in our former lives. But if you gaze upon the beauty of His face and allow your new eyes to squint as you worship, this beauty will seem to be magnified again and again. And in His beauty you will find its source.

Love…framed in blood.

 

 

Words That Can Heal

WORDS THAT CAN HEAL

 

I recall a story from a pastor who was eating at a restaurant for breakfast. The waitress was short and curt and almost threw his plate in front of him. When the pastor asked for the check she hurriedly scribbled on it and tossed it in front of him. The bill came to about 8 dollars.

The pastor reached in his wallet and left a 5 dollar tip. While waiting in line to pay the waitress came up to him with the 5 dollar bill and said, “Here, you left this on the table”. The pastor asked if they allow tips in this restaurant and the waitress looked at him as if he was crazy. The pastor said to her, “You are not a bad person. Somewhere your heart is hurting.” The woman began to cry and the pastor was able to minister to her.

And yet I have seen believers complain loudly if their steak is not cooked right or if the service is less than they expect. Sometimes what seems to be unfair inconveniences are actually spiritual opportunities.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

God Banned From Olympics

GOD BANNED FROM OLYMPICS

Gather up all the nuclear weapons on earth, multiply them by seven million, and detonate them all at once and you will have equaled the power the Sun produces in one second. See, that’s why God cannot be invited to man’s Olympics. He always wins!

If We Can Live Without Him - We Will

IF WE CAN LIVE WITHOUT HIM

WE WILL

Acts 17: ²⁴ God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

²⁵ Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
²⁶ And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
²⁷ That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
²⁸ For in him we live, and move, and have our being;

Paul stands before the men at Mars Hill and addresses their idolatry and intellectual paganism. This Lord of which Paul speaks does not dwell in human buildings nor does He stand in need of anything. Men have long thought that erecting monuments impresses God and that doing things, albeit good, elicits divine favor. But Paul openly reinforces the truth that all creatures are only alive through this Creator. And although He is separate from His creation, all creation still exists through His power. Paul would later say “and by Him all things consist”, speaking of the Lord Jesus.

The whole world searches for the source and meaning of life, and specifically the meaning of their own existence. And in the midst of searching man has created all sorts of gods and superstitions. In fact, millions have taken the name of Jesus and made their own religion via a false religious construct called “Jesus”. There are many false cults which use and misuse that precious name. But from the first time a man looked up at the heavens he wondered. Many still wonder today. But Paul reveals the Creator to the men at Mars Hill and to us.

Col.3: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Here Paul speaks not to heathen, but to believers. This outlines who we are in Christ Jesus and just what should be the desire our hearts and minds. When we by faith in Christ are translated from darkness to light we are new creations. We have begun a journey which must continually lead away from the past and into the future. And while in the flesh we walk in the temporal, in the Spirit we must walk in the eternal. This is not some suggestion. This is the life of a believing follower of Jesus.

But how often does the temporal muscle its way into our hearts and then it becomes the driving force of our thoughts and lives? It is that easy. The things of this world shout and clamor and demand our utmost attention. They offer an ample supply of worry and doubt, and once we become fixated upon earthly circumstances the reality of eternity flees. Suddenly we are alive to this world and dead to the things of Christ. We are overwhelmed with plans and schemes that we believe can lead to positive outcomes for any and all circumstances. In the midst of trouble we take up arms with which to do battle and we ask God to bless our energies.

But we are dead and our lives are with Him. This is His life not ours. But how often do we treat that as orthodox doctrine and not as a life changing reality? Do we really live in the eternal? The ramifications of such living are expansive. But that kind of life must begin in the heart and mind. And that is a process which requires much training and a relentless pursuit of changing our thoughts. And that kind of internal metamorphosis can only become a reality through the power of God’s Word and Spirit. And it is much more than mental memorization. It goes beyond being versed with systematic theology. It transcends being doctrinally mature or being acquainted with all the present controversies that swirl among western evangelicalism,. Perhaps most of us have experienced the touch of eternity somewhere along this spiritual journey, but what does it mean to walk daily in that reality?

Is anyone completely tired, and yes even disgusted with how the expression of Christianity in the west has deteriorated until we are left with a few moral causes and being a part of a local religious organization? Does it ever break our hearts to watch as millions upon millions of people, church members, leave their cars and file into the same building they did last week without an ounce of the eternal coursing through their spirits? And what of the spectacle where so many who have not spent any time with Jesus can spring to life when the music begins? What kind of fast food restaurant have we constructed? But let us proceed further for there is more.

II Cor.3: ¹⁷ Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

¹⁸ But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Holy Spirit is almost completely ignored except for a few who seek to use Him for their own doctrines and to draw attention to themselves. But all change in a person’s life without the Spirit is carnal and part of the Tower of Babel. In order for us to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ we need the power of the Spirit, and in a mystery of immense splendor, that Spirit is Jesus the Lord. Of course that is where words must confess their pitiful inadequacy and bow to the ministry of that same Spirit. Yes, the Spirit of God can and does speak to us in ways which cannot be translated into human words.

And in another unspeakable mystery God desires to walk with and in us every single day. This kind of Sunday Christianity is an affront to His eternal grace. But even as He is grieved, He still allows those who profess Christ’s name to walk in the flesh. And if you can live without Him, you will. You see, this modern Christianity secures heaven and then resumes its normal life with a few minor adjustments. And in a startling display of open betrayal, over the years the church has become a servant of men and not a servant of Christ. Church members by the untold millions seek money and success and advice for problems from the church instead of seeking Christ and His glory in order to be changed by His Spirit.

Professing believers approach Christ with a list of grievances and problems and they desire solutions. But how many approach the Risen Christ with no motivation except this:

Ps.27: ⁴ One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

You see, we have been deceived! The solutions and the answers are in Him. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” Under the shadow of His wings is life and peace. This is not some interesting truth; this is THE truth which must capture the hearts and minds of those who desire to follow and serve the Lord Jesus. This is our calling, this is our destiny. If we desire to be like Him, we must pursue Him, grab hold of the hem of His garment, and hold on to it every single day. Only then can we be made whole.

The cares of this world are our enemies. They imprison us to the temporal and to ourselves. They bring death to our souls. They distract us from Christ and they demand our fullest attention. There is a mysterious secret to walking with Christ in this world. When you can perform the tasks of this life without losing His constant presence then you have unlocked a great mystery. And that is the mystery which is not pursued today, and it is not even desired. And to millions its existence is not even known. Millions upon millions of believers live day after day within the confines of the temporal while reserving a few morsels of time to sing songs and listen to messages about Jesus. And many are not even about Jesus at all.

And the church in general has learned how to live without Jesus and has taught the people to do likewise. Do you wonder how God feels about that spectacle? I mean beside the rampant adultery and addictions and hedonism and construction projects and impressive church staffs, the church masses walk without Christ as well. That, my friends, is a colossal scandal. And since we have come to expect no real and tangible spiritual power within the kingdom of darkness, we have turned to politics and moral crusades and guns and military prowess. And eventually the church has become an American religious organization with no more eternal perspective or spiritual glory than the Elks Club or the People for the American Way.

If you can live without Him, you will. And since we can, we do. This is a monstrous tragedy of epic proportions and with eternal consequences for those who walk in darkness. For who will shine the light into the darkness if not those who profess they know Him? Who will bear His name if not for those who claim it? Who will be Jesus in a world who needs Him if not those who say He lives inside them? Who will bear His reproach, who will know His sufferings, who will seek His face, who will love His appearing, who will walk in His presence, who will be His voice and legs and arms?

Who so desires to be changed into His eternal image that they cannot live without Him? It is time for each of us to examine ourselves in the light of who He is and who we are. If He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and if He is the Creator of all there is, and if He is our Savior and Redeemer and Master, then what impact should that have upon those who profess His name? If He alone is life and life everlasting, then can we actually live without Him? Is an orthodox theology what satisfies our Beloved or does He wish to commune deeply with us?

We have become masters of ourselves while retaining a thin veneer of Christian ornaments. Our time is offered unto idols, our hearts follow after the material, and our minds are lent to fables. We have become clones of the temporal and servants of fleshly passions. The mystery has vanished and the pragmatic is now lord of all. But there is a shaft of light for those who look to see it. There is a door which opens for seeking hearts. There is a guidance of the Spirit for broken vessels. For those who are relentless and whose thirst and hunger can only be satisfied by Him, for those there is Jesus in all His eternal glory!

 

But if you can live without Him…you will.

Hatred as an Invited Guest

HATRED AS AN INVITED GUEST

 

Rep. Steve Stockman from Texas has invited Ted Nugent to the State of the Union address on Tuesday. Nugent said that if President Obama was re-elected he would be “dead or in jail”. That is one of the more benign statements from Nugent.

Rep. Stockman said, "I am excited to have a patriot like Ted Nugent joining me in the House Chamber to hear from President Obama," the congressman said. "After the address I'm sure Ted will have plenty to say."

Oh, did I mention that Rep. Stockman is a Southern Baptist? I have no knowledge that the Southern Baptists have approved hatred in the life of a professing believer…yet.

You see, Christianity is now defined by gun rights and moral conservatism and faithful allegiance to George Washington. And a man like Nugent whose rhetoric is so vile and threatening that he was investigated by the FBI last year is a guest of a member of an evangelical church. In 2013 you cannot be a patriot and be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ unless your Jesus is not revealed in Scripture.

Picking Our Battles

PICKING OUR BATTLES

It has become fashionable for evangelicals to complain and resist any and all things that seem to be an attack on Christianity. No rejoicing here. Now many suggest the Constitution protects all expressions of the faith both public and private. But that is not only a misnomer, but it misrepresents the pluralist construct created by the founding fathers. And in practical terms that means that no one religion can be expressed in public and governmental places because that would suggest governmental approval. At the very least all religions would have to have equal access for their own expressions.

But again, that is not what the Constitution dictates. We are a pluralistic republic which endorses no religion and protects all religions. But let us examine a recent issue and its ramifications. HERE is that story.

Now that may be grandfathered in, however in the strictest interpretation of the Constitution that picture must be taken down unless we allow a picture of Mohammed, Buddha, and a long list of others including L. Ron Hubbard. But leaving the Constitutional issue, let us as believers clearly see the issue in the context of our faith and the teachings of the New Testament.

How often do we wail and moan over Christian artifacts? Is a picture of Jesus which some even believe is unscriptural worth getting breathless about? Isn’t the representation of Jesus to be found in His living epistles and not some painting? But it has become customary to find all these small minded battles without seeing the larger picture. Are we to force feed a secular culture or are we to humbly be salt and light?

Do we as believers think, or more powerfully pray, these things through or have we become reactionary at the extreme? Pictures are now the power behind the Christian faith? I believe professing believers have become much more acquainted with political issues than with the Word of God. We cannot sanitize secular institutions with pictures or pasting the Ten Commandments on walls. We live in the covenant of the Spirit and things like this do very little and often make Christianity appear superstitious to those outside the faith.

Instead of a picture hanging on a wall Jesus should be a living expression in and through our lives. And no one can remove that. The self righteous nature of western Christianity has so misrepresented Jesus and now reacts to any perceived insult with venom and legal revenge. Even such a little thing as removing a picture from a public school is met with taking up an offense. These are little more than childish games which satisfy the religious flesh but in reality do a major disservice to the gospel cause. But it has become quite the approved spectacle. Instead of startling humility; instead of unconditional love; instead of expansive grace; instead of prayer and fasting; instead of self denial; instead of ministering to the poor; instead of sharing the gospel to a secular world; instead of all those things some fight over a man made painting.

No wonder sinners cannot see the real Jesus. All they have is a painting.

Your Cross

YOUR CROSS

I am not a "spooky" Christian, however I do not discount the supernatural either. In May of 2006 I shared this post. I share it once again, mostly for my own exhortation.

At 2:00AM this morning, for the third straight night, I was awakened by the Lord and was unable to return to sleep. Each night I have been personally ministered to by the Holy Spirit, much of which has been quite uncomfortable. At approximately 3:00AM I began to write and this is what I received:
Before you read this open your Bible to Gal.6:14.

Gal.6:14 - But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
As Paul penned these words he was making a declaration that stood out as foolishness in the midst of an intellectual, self-serving, and religious society. In a world that loved itself, he was saying that the world was dead to him, and to the world he was a dead man.

Listen more closely. Not only was death involved, but the death of the cross. We have grown accustomed to hearing this reference to crucifixion as it is lightly, tastefully, and selectively sprinkled in pulpit oratory. Not to be discussed among us, we have heard it used as a metaphor for "not letting the things of this life bother us". But Paul, under the God-breathed ministry of the Holy Spirit, used it in an infinitely more direct and confrontational way. Just as our Lord was crucified publicly, Paul publicly proclaims he "glories in the cross".

Gal.6:15 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision...
The Spirit now teaches us the passing inadequacy of circumcision as it now is overshadowed by the cross. The few drops of blood that spilled as a male foreskin was cut away now just reminds us of the present uselessness of adherence to the law given to Moses in the incredible light of the glory of the shed blood of the Lamb of God! But go further, if you dare. Remember, you will give an account for what you are about to hear(Mk.4:24-25). So do not read any further unless your heart is willing to open its door to the nails, the hammer, the blood, the agony, the shame, and the cross that has YOUR name on it.

O yes, we've been ever so comfortable to gaze, infrequently and sometimes just sentimentally, at our Savior and Lord on the life-giving cross, but are we anxious to arrive at the foot of a cross, complete with all the necessary and gruesome accoutrements, and realize that it has our name on it?

Gal.6:17 - From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
The original word for marks is "stigma". The message of such imagery is obvious. Paul is saying,"don't bother me, I'm dead". Dying to this world, other people, our family, our dreams, our flesh, and the entire cursed universe is no "die in your sleep" proposition. It requires a vicious and bloody death; the death of the cross! It is a writhing of the flesh; a deep groaning of pain; a begging for enough; a ruining of appearance; an indescribable shame; an elongated torture; a daily, moment by moment, excruciating event that Paul says he experienced daily. Like a prisoner arriving at the penitentiary who is commanded to empty his pockets, and then is subjected to the most complete and embarrassing search before entering his place of confinement, the candidate for crucifixion must be stripped of all, and God means ALL, his or her belongings. Far beyond the visible material of this world, the Holy Spirit conducts a complete and embarrassing search of the heart which reveals worldly contraband that are a part of the arsenal of the enemy of God. Greed, unforgiveness, lust, malice, envy, and a host of other offspring of the flesh are laid before us, surrounded by the most disgusting of all - pride.

You have now arrived at a place that most of the church don't even know, or care, exists. Your flesh regrets ever allowing the Spirit to lead you to this place of death. You glance over your shoulder and again see your Lord on the cross, and your heart is filled with love and gratefulness, but the Spirit interrupts your momentary serenity and returns your focus to the decision before you. THIS IS YOUR CROSS! Now you realize that like your Savior, no one can force you upon this cross. You must lay down on this cross willingly. But where is the power you need? More Word, more prayer. More Word, more prayer. More Word, more prayer. Then desire meets power, power meets humility, humility meets repentance, and your knees buckle under the weight of your "body of sin". You fall upon the cross and suddenly you are in a new perspective. For the first time you are looking out from a cross, not just being a cross spectator.

The Spirit takes the first nail, raises the hammer, and you cry out in anticipated pain. You are alone. No husband. No wife. no pastor. No friends. It is just you at death's wooden door and you begin to feel inward and outward pain as the life of this present world is being torn away from the place it has held in your heart. You are dying to this world. Look down at the foot of your cross and listen to the crowd. Listen to those who've never been to Christ's cross as they say,"What is he doing and why? He used to be such a fun and wonderful person, but look now". Listen to your brothers and sisters say,"Now he's gone too far and he's become a fanatic. Our Lord never wanted this, let us leave this offensive place of death and let's go to the empty tomb where we can celebrate without pain." As they leave the devil whispers in your ear,"Is it worth it? Go with your friends and avoid all this. Remember, Jesus died in your place so you could enjoy life like the rest of the world."

Your spouse and children call to you,"Come down from there and meet our needs. We don't understand. Please come down, we love you." Somehow the Spirit gives you the grace to go on, and everything becomes dark. Where is your family? Where are your friends? Where are your pleasures? Suddenly you laboriously lift yourself up and draw your last breath. You are now resigned to your fate and void of any strength, you quietly bow your head and lose the living consciousness you have lived with since you were born. Death has finished the work you desired.

At almost the same moment consciousness enters you as you slowly open your eyes. Light gently greets your face and you hear a voice calling from within and without. "Arise, and follow ME!". You get to your feet, aided by a strength you've never known. You follow the light and the voice, and as you emerge from the tomb you experience a new life that is "unspeakable and full of glory". The Same Spirit that helped crucify you is now your teacher and guide. "Come this way", He says, and you joyously follow. Looking down you see footprints that seem to draw every one of your steps. The Spirit puts His hand on your shoulder to steady you, and He whispers,"You are now dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. You are walking in His resurrection power, so keep looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of your faith. You have this treasure in an earthen vessel, that the excellency of the power might be of Him and not you. Lay aside all your weight and your sin and run the race with patience."

"But what if I fall?", I ask.

"Remember", teaches the Spirit, "You have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. He will pick you up and clean you up, and of course I will always be with you. See", He said, "Jesus has left us a trail that you should follow in His steps. Don't trust your eyes, WALK BY FAITH!"

The further I walked, the stronger I got. I felt completely detached from this world. In the distance I saw my family, my friends, my possessions, and all the other things that can be seen. As I approached them I humbly but confidently said, "Henceforth, let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the stigma of the Lord Jesus!!"

The Jesus Followers

THE JESUS FOLLOWERS 

Eph.5: Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

² And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Over the years those that profess Jesus embrace many labels. Believers, Christians, and even denominational labels like Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, and others. But those that believed on Jesus in the early days were recognized by their life and not their statenmens5t of faith or church membership.

Acts 9: And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

² And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

How was Paul to know who were “of this way”? He wasn’t going to sift through their theology or doctrinal statements, and most could not even read or write. It was evident that those who were believers had a lifestyle which openly revealed their faith. And it was not being pro-life or against gay marriage. It wasn’t even their stance on other moral issues, although some of that was evident. But the fruits of the Spirit and the word of their testimony was a sure sign that they were “of this way”. That speaks of the way of Jesus, which although is based upon the truths of Scripture, is overwhelmingly manifested in a person’s life.

But what does it mean to follow Jesus? I mean does having the right doctrine, the right Bible version, the right theology, or the right truth, or the approved set of moral tenants, do those things mean you are following Jesus even if some of those things may be important? Is truth something that can be captured on paper and framed in a doctrinal museum, or must it have expression and life through a believer? Since Jesus is not presently in bodily form upon this earth, then just what does it mean to follow Him? Obviously it means that we know and obey His teachings. But do we actually know what He taught anymore?

In this modern age of convenience and self pleasure we have constricted the Christian faith in order to live comfortable and without much notice, to say nothing of sacrifice, in this hedonistic culture. As long as we say “uh-uh” to a certain set of doctrinal suppositions we are not only considered born again, but we are considered followers of Jesus. Nothing could be further from the truth. Following Jesus comes with a high price as men measure cost. But how can our lives be so common and so filled with personal frills and still be following Jesus? Read the narrative of His life and teachings and see if you can squeeze your life into all their fullness.

The Sunday morning church “services” are a scandal which comforts the flesh but has little if any affect upon the spirit. Paul speaks of “reaching forth” and "pressing toward” and yet who really vigorously and passionately brings their lives daily into conformity to the ways of Jesus? The redundancy of our scheduled lives indicts us and reveals how very little we sacrifice to say nothing of suffering. Just what kind of sham have we constructed and applied a definition to that cannot be anything less than a lie?

Just what does it mean spiritually and practically to follow Jesus? Can we buy bigger and better houses, bigger and better cars, more and more clothing, bigger and better televisions, and still be following Jesus? Can we gorge ourselves every day and spend much unnecessary money on restaurant meals when we could eat at home, and still be following Jesus? Fanatical, you say? Extremism, you suggest? Legalism, you protest? Yes, it surely must seem that way. But if we take Jesus at His Word then we cannot hide behind our protests. You see, our expectations of how to follow Jesus have become so diluted and so unremarkable that any suggestion that is more than just more Bible study and that requires a lifestyle revolution is almost cultish.

But why were the first century believers so persecuted? Why also were they so easily recognized? I mean they had no church pamphlets. They had no statements of faith. They had no organized theology. They had no church membership rolls. So again, how were the singled out for persecution? It was their lives that gave them away. And it wasn’t their stand against things that made them peculiar. It was their love and grace and humility and the way they respectfully refused to get entangled with the affairs of this world. It was also their humble refusal to give their allegiance to the Roman government because Jesus alone was their Lord. It cost many their lives.

People are not drawn to Jesus because we believe in the Trinity or the virgin birth or the inspiration of Scripture. Paul himself taught that we are the epistles sinners read. But somehow we stand upon our set of doctrinal truths and with that our consciences are soothed. That kind of thinking grows churches and denominations but it does not reach the world for Christ. People are looking for a demonstration of faith, not a definition. It is the fanaticism and complete surrender which draws people to false cults. But Christianity is an easy religious fellowship which ministers to the earthly life and calls no one to forsake anything.

Lk.14: ³³ So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Well He cannot mean all. But that is what Jesus said. And we know we need food and clothing, so instead of discarding the essence of that teaching, let us assume he means everything and work our way back. But we have assumed God wants us to have and enjoy everything unless it is blatant immorality. But there are many, many sins that have to do with material things and luxuries splurged upon our flesh. And in the context of material ownership and usage, what does it mean to follow Jesus? I know, no one likes to even hear such things.

The question then arises, “Do we really want to follow Jesus?” Some desired to follow Jesus and He told them He had no place to lay His head. He asked them to count the cost first. What cost? Did he mean giving to the building fund? Did he mean providing for staff salaries? Did He mean giving up smoking? Or was He speaking of a sacrifice and self denial that was foreign to this world but which would be a source of great glory? Was Jesus saying that if we would extricate ourselves from the allurement of the things of this world we could enter into a spiritual contentment and glory that transcends human understanding?

And if that is what He was saying, is that what we are living? Do we walk daily with a keen and consuming sense of the eternal? Do we walk daily with a moment by moment experience of His matchless presence? Do we see the needs of sinners above their sin? Are we almost immobilized by the grace God has shown to us? And are we energized to reach out sacrificially and show that grace to others? This is the life that follows Jesus, and somehow we have lost it completely.

Are we ready to forsake all until Jesus tells us what we should keep? Wow, you talk about a dangerous proposition. If believers would stop for a week and take a serious inventory of their lives according to the teachings of jesus, unvarnished and unfiltered by the culture, they might be completely broken before Him.

Oh to serve and follow Him with abandon and without taking thought of our own needs and wants! Isn’t anyone tired of this mundane and predictable life that follows in the footsteps of the well travelled culture and avoids the nail scarred footprints of the Savior? Can you honestly say you are well satisfied with your definition of being a follower of Jesus? Somewhere deep within your soul do you not thirst to see and experience something miraculous and life changing? If there was a life that followed Jesus in such a way that people were unexplainably drawn to the salt and light that was being spread, would you be willing to seek it with all your heart. Do not look around, is the Spirit speaking to you?

But if you are willing to offer yourself a living sacrifice, and if you are unwilling to make a spectacle of yourself, and if you are unwilling to enter into a self denial on that scale, well you may stay just where you are. Go ahead and read a few more chapters a week. Go ahead and give a little more to the church. Go ahead and get up early for Sunday School. Go ahead and place a tract on a car. Go ahead and do more of those things. But do not be self deceived. To follow Jesus will require not only a significant inconvenience in the things you now do and enjoy, and it will require more than just a little outward tweaking.

In fact if you actually wish to follow Jesus it will require your life. All of it. Every single part of it.

You will be ridiculed. You will lose friends. You will suffer great inconveniences. You will be asked to clear up some things that are unexpected. You will be asked to love people who you now despise. You will have to relinquish the entire direction of your life. And there may be more to it as well. So if those things sound distasteful and so unappealing and difficult that you will not even begin, then at least you have been honest.

But if you desire to follow Jesus you must forsake all. There is no other way.

 

Those are the Jesus Followers.