Jesus promised an Abundant Life...

...but NOT the kind you think of when you hear those words.  

When the Church declares the message that “Jesus solves problems” or “Jesus provides happiness,” you are setting up the hearer to build a faith based on false assumptions and expectations.

The major problem with the “happiness gospel” is that people are not given the message of sin, righteousness, and judgment with the command to repent and flee from the wrath to come. No one wants to think about God being wrathful or returning with vengeance.  Instead, people only want to hear that Jesus is the answer to their alcohol, drug, marriage, personal, or financial problems, and that He is the one who can fill the God-shaped hole in their lives.  Many, therefore, come to Christ only to have their problems solved.  Jesus is reduced to being the big genie in a bottle... “ask you you shall receive....”

Conversion to Christ is not about your happiness.   If people do not repent of their sin (because they haven’t been told to), they will have a false conversion (see Mark 4:16,17) and they will not become new creatures in Christ. Though they may call Jesus “Lord,” they will continue to “practice lawlessness” (see Matthew 7:23). Consequently, false converts will bring their sins and their problems into the local church, thinking nothing of it and create an atmosphere that blunts the congregations effectiveness and stunts growth.  Here’s just a few of the unfortunate effects:

False converts can wear out the pastors/elders. Instead of being able to devote themselves fully to feeding the flock of God in the capacity of shepherd, pastors find themselves forever counseling those who are only hearers of the Word and not doers.   Tying up the true laborers (who are already few in number) by having them spend their precious time propping people up, when what these “problem” people really need is repentance.   Hindering the preaching of the gospel. Probably one of the biggest stumbling blocks for unbelievers is what they see as rampant hypocrisy within the Church, emanating from the false converts, who only dream of their happiness and never really repented of their carnal ways.

The gospel is a promise of righteousness, not a promise of happiness.  Remember those parables Jesus provided to illustrate this problem - of two kinds of fish, the good and the bad together in the same net and; the wheat and the tares together in the same field,  many self-proclaiming Christians will be false or pseudo... enjoying their “pleasures of sin for a season” right within the church. (Matthew 13:24-30; 13:47-52) 

Many people who come to the church today are quite successful and happy in their lives. They have a wonderful life without Jesus. However, when properly confronted with the biblical gospel and they understand that “riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death” (Proverbs 11:4), they see a need for a Savior.  Preaching truth, teaching truth... God’s Truth, backed by the power of the Holy Spirit, will build God’s Church in the right way with true converts willing to allow the Spirit to mold and shape them into vessels for honorable use by God.

There’s another problem.  All the “converts” who have been lured to the Church by the “happiness gospel” and are experiencing happiness in their lives.  That’s right, everything is going really well... lots of career success, money and material possessions, all perceived as gifts from a God who grants wishes and wants His followers to be happy.  Not only are they getting all the stuff they want, they continue to live “unchanged lives” further reinforcing their belief that their conduct and behavior is okay with God.  They pray for all the wrong things, and from their perspective, they get it... God is granting their desires.   If the only gospel they understand is the “wonderful plan for your life” – the happiness gospel, why would they expect anything else?  

We live in a “therapeutic” culture that places a high value on feeling good, self-esteem, and self actualization. So, the life-enhancement message is extremely popular.  If you search the Internet using the keywords “true happiness,” you will find many websites offering Jesus as a solution.  However, the idea that “Jesus gives true happiness” has some competition.  There are more than 100,000,000 other results to the keywords “true happiness,” many of which refer to a wide array of self-help life-enhancement strategies.

There are secular and quasi-religious solutions to “true happiness” being offered by the non-Christian world... Buddhism, Hinduism, even Islam.  Each in their own way, promotes that a personal realization of God is the key that unlocks the doors to unending happiness, eternal peace of mind and unimaginable bliss.

So the modern rendition of the gospel has some stiff competition—the vast majority of people in the United States are already enjoying a wonderful plan for their lives, and they are quite happy as they are. For any who do feel something is missing and look to religion for happiness, they will find a smorgasbord of choices all offering to improve their life on earth.

Still, the question arises, why not use the fact that Jesus said He had come to bring us an abundant life (John 10:10) to draw unregenerate sinners to the Savior? True, the Christian life is full and if you are engaged, you’ll be very busy. Consider the full life of the apostle Paul. Take a few moments and read 2 Corinthians 11:23–28 and see if you think he was bored while being stoned (once), shipwrecked (three times), beaten (three times), and whipped (five times). His life was full. There were also times when he wasn’t happy.  In fact, at one point he was in such despair that he wanted to die (see 2 Corinthians 1:8).

The apostle gives the carnal-minded Corinthians a glimpse of the abundant life. He told them that he had been condemned to death. He was hungry and thirsty. He lacked clothing. He was beaten and had nowhere to live. He was reviled, persecuted, slandered, and treated as the filth of the world. What a terrible, uninviting path Paul walked down. If happiness were the goal, one would think that he would put up a sign saying “Don’t enter here.” However, he did the opposite. He told the Corinthians to imitate him (see 1 Corinthians 4:9–16). He considered that the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared to life in eternity (see Romans 8:18).

Like Jesus, the apostle Paul taught that the Christian life is one of self-denial—that we are to crucify the flesh, daily take up the cross, deny ourselves, and follow Jesus. (Luke 9:23) However, the “wonderful plan” message, with its promise of earthly happiness, appeals solely to the hearer’s selfishness.  By offering a problem-free life, it encourages continued love of self rather than God, and paints Him as a divine genie.

What a tragedy that anyone would think the precious blood of the Savior was shed simply to make humans happy in this life rather than to prepare us for the next one.  An “abundant life” is one characterized by change and transformation of who we are at the very core of our souls to a person reflecting the attributes and qualities of true godliness.  The starting point is repentance.  Jesus tells us very clearly.... I tell you, no! ...unless you repent, you too will all perish. (Luke 13:3).

If the “happy” life is different from the “abundant” life Jesus offers, who is going to listen if we are blatantly honest about the persecution promised for “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:12)?  Not to many.  It’s not an appealing pitch... being changed, transformed into a Christlike person and used by the living God like a slave to do the things of His Will, not yours.   

What’s in it for you in the here and now?  What’s the answer to this dilemma? How are we to bring sinners to the Savior in a way that makes them real true followers?

GOD Never promised YOU a Wonderful Life...

In light of the alarming statistics cited in the previously posted articles, few would deny that the Church as a whole has fallen short of the powerful, disciplined, sanctified Church seen in the Book of Acts. This is a result of the enemy subtly diverting our attention away from our core message.

Instead of preaching the Good News that sinners can be made righteous in Christ and escape the wrath to come, we have settled for a “gospel” that implies that God’s primary purpose in saving us is to unfold a “wonderful plan” for our lives: to solve our problems, make us happy in Christ, and rescue us from the hassles of this life.

You may know someone who responded to the “God has a wonderful plan” message and who seems to be doing just fine. If you think that justifies the method, let me share a perspective you may not have considered.  Let’s start with an illustration...

Anyone enjoy skydiving?  It’s not the sort of activity you do without very precise preparation and almost fanatical adherence to instructions.  Imagine that someone invented a parachute that was 100 percent trustworthy; the chute opened every time, without exception, and got the wearer safely to the ground.

The key was to diligently follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Now imagine that the chute–packers started to deviate from the manufacturers precise instructions by looking for shortcuts to speed up the repacking process.  They ignored the safety instructions and used a new “fast-and-easy” method of folding the chute that saved time and increased the number of jumps that could be made. Everyone thought the short-cut method was a great idea because so much time and effort was being saved.

As time passed, however, it became evident that something was radically wrong. They discovered that nine out of every ten people who jumped with the “fast-folded” parachutes fell to their deaths!

What would you say to someone who ignored the 90 percent factor –– dead, mangled bodies on the ground, and pointed to the 10 percent “success” rate for justification of their methods?  The “God has a wonderful plan” method is easy believism—but it is also devastating.  As we will see, we have tampered with God’s instructions, and tried to formulate easy short-cuts that please the majority but come with dire eternal consequences.

It may sound admirable—and even biblical to some—to imply to the unconverted that Christianity promises to solve their problems and make their lives better, but it’s just not true.  If you’re really serious about making your life better, then try God’s way. God gets right to the source of most of our life problems: sin.

Being a true follower of Christ is not an easy journey.  Jesus warned us that we may have to give our lives for His name’s sake. He even said, “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake” (Matthew 10:21,22). While most of us may not suffer outright persecution as did the first century Christians, if you cling to the notion that God chased you and caught you in His web and did so to give you a wonderful life, then you are misguided and suffering from a form of spiritual dementia.  Jesus said to all potential followers... “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).  Jesus never painted a “wonderful life” scenario for those who would be His true followers.  

Perhaps some would argue that the Christian life is a wonderful plan because “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). That fact is wonderful in the truest sense of the word. No matter what happens to us as Christians, we can rejoice because of that promise. But the promise does not guarantee that our lives will be without suffering and trial and pain.  The ultimate sacrifice... our very lives given up for Christ is harsh but also the best illustration of what God is trying to tell us, when He says “all things work for good for those who love God” as these examples clearly portray... 

On November 9, 2006, three Christian teenagers were beheaded by Indonesian militants. Their severed heads were dumped in plastic bags in their village, along with a handwritten note threatening more such attacks. If these girls loved God and were called according to His purpose, they too could claim this incredible promise.

In Malatya, Turkey, when three Christian men working in a Bible publishing office were accosted by Muslims on April 18, 2007, they no doubt knew that God would work all things together for good. As their hands and feet were bound, they were tortured with butcher knives, and finally their throats were cut, the promise remained steadfast.

No one can defeat God, not His adversary Satan and no amount of distortion of Christian theology and church practice can thwart what He has promised to those who love Him.  

If indeed our Creator works all things out for good—if He brings ultimate good out of every agony suffered by His true followers—why then shouldn’t we use that truth as bait when fishing for lost souls?   

You can draw more bees [or flies] with the sweet fragrance of honey, right?  The phrase “wonderful plan” has positive connotations; it doesn’t typically evoke negative images of machetes, hatred, persecution, beatings, and martyrdom.  “Wonderful plan” is a feel good strategy for preaching the gospel and the "make your life better" lure will surely be more attractive than the alternative.

If non-Christians respond to the gospel message only to improve their lives, they will be disillusioned when they hit the potholes of life, and they may fall away from the faith. This is because many respond experimentally, simply to see if the “wonderful life” is as good as Christians say it is.  

The “wonderful life plan” message isn’t biblical. Examine the Book of Acts and see if you can find any of the disciples telling sinners either that God had a wonderful plan for their lives.  You can’t find a single reference to such an approach to preaching the gospel.   Instead, we see that the disciples confronted their hearers as guilty criminals—enemies of God who desperately needed forgiveness through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ and a righteous standing with God.  They were never told that they could enhance their lives with God’s wonderful plan.

All Scripture admonishes us to count the cost of following Jesus: “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20); “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33); “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22); and countless others similar admonitions. The promise of the gospel has never been one that promised an enhanced, happy and carefree life on earth.

Jesus didn’t shield the newly converted Saul of Tarsus from what was in store for him when he decided to be a true follower. To the contrary... Jesus said that He would “show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:16). Stephen was cruelly stoned to death for his faith. James, who told his brethren to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials”  (James 1:2), was murdered with a sword. John the Baptist also felt the sharp steel of persecution. Down through the ages, Christians have been hated, persecuted, thrown to lions, beheaded, and burned at the stake for the sake of the gospel.  Here what the Book of Acts reveals about being a passionately committed follower of Christ.

Philip: Crucified, Phrygia, A.D. 54.  Matthew: Beheaded, Ethiopia, A.D. 60.  Barnabas: Burned to death, Cyprus, A.D. 64.  Mark: Dragged to death, Alexandria, A.D. 64.  James (the Lesser): Clubbed to death, Jerusalem, A.D. 66.  Paul: Beheaded, Rome, A.D. 66.  Peter: Crucified, Rome, A.D. 69.  Andrew: Crucified, Achaia, A.D. 70.  Thomas: Speared to death, Calamina, A.D. 70.

Luke: Hanged, Athens, A.D. 93.   

Persecution has always been the portion of the godly.  These and countless millions through the ages since Christ died on the cross for our sins to bring about the true essence of God’s “wonderful plan for your life” –– which is what?  To be aligned with Him; to be one of His followers; one of His soldiers, to stand up for Him against His enemy... Satan.  To live a holy life “not as a fan” of some cool genie-like-deity who grants wishes and gives a carefree life, but to “walk with the true living God” without anything expected but His love and your love meshing together, working together, to ensure the promise of eternity for you.

More to come on our journey as Christians.  It’s easier when you are a true follower... all-in, committed in every way.

An Uncomfortable Truth

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.”  Matthew 25:31-33

How could vast numbers of people have been led to believe that they are Christians when they are in fact not? It doesn’t matter what you think you are and what you call yourself... only God determines if you are in fact living a life worthy of the name “Christ follower” a true Christian. 

If you have struggled to understand why a loved one who made a “decision for Christ” has no desire for the things of God, to live according to the commands and disciplines of God, or why so many church members of today show little to no evidence for their faith, there is an explanation.

The idea of false or hollow conversions may be repugnant to us, but the problem of false converts has existed since the beginning of the Church and it is actually a topic Jesus spoke often about.  For example, in Mark 4:3–8, Jesus taught the crowd the well-known parable of the sower:

“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.  Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

When Jesus told His disciples the parable of the sower, they did not understand what it meant. When they asked Him about it later, He said, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?” (Mark 4:13). In other words, if they could comprehend the parable of the sower, they would hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of all the other parables. If there is one message that comes from the parable about the stony ground, the thorny ground, and the good ground, it is this: When the gospel is preached, there will be true and false conversions.

Judas Iscariot, for example, was a false convert.  He was a hypocrite—a pretender—whose desire (it seems) for riches and power choked out his affection for Christ.  He himself probably did not think that about himself.  He likely thought he was a devoted and faithful follower.  In terms of the parable, we would say that he was a thorny-ground hearer, in whom “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering into his mind and heart choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19).

Judas had no idea who Jesus really was. However, he would not have thought that if challenged by any of his contemporaries.  When a woman anointed Jesus with an expensive ointment in an act of sacrificial worship, Judas complained that the ointment should have been sold and the money given to the poor (see John 12:3–6).  His focus was on being efficient with the money available to the immediate needs of the disciples [mostly himself] in close daily association with Jesus.  In reality, Judas did not think Jesus of Nazareth was worth such extravagance.  Eventually, Judas agreed that Jesus was worth only about thirty pieces of silver. 

Moreover, the Bible tells us that Judas was lying when he said that he cared for the poor.  He was actually a thief who so lacked a healthy fear of God that he was stealing money from the collection bag (see John 12:6). Nevertheless, to all outward appearances, Judas was a devoted follower and disciple of Christ.  If one grasps the principle that true and false converts will be alongside each other in the Church, then the other parables about the kingdom of God also make sense: the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24–30), the good fish and the bad fish (Matthew 13:47–50), the wise virgins and the foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1–13), and the sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31–46). Take, for example, the parable of the dragnet:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:47–50)

Notice that the good fish and the bad fish were in the net together. Notice also that unbelievers are not caught in the dragnet of the kingdom of Heaven; they remain in the open sea or the world. The “fish” that are caught are those who hear and respond to the gospel—the evangelistic “catch.” They remain together, the true and the false, until the Day of Judgment.

In Matthew 7:21–23, possibly the most frightening passage in Scripture, Jesus spoke of many who would consider themselves Christians and yet not worthy of being saved.  Jesus warned, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven. . . Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

Look at how seemingly spiritual people can be and still not make it to Heaven:

■ They called Jesus “Lord.”

■ They prophesied in His name.

■ They cast out demons.

■ They did many “wonders” in His name.

Many people certainly look spiritual and do things that would suggest they are on track with God, and yet they will be rejected by the One they have called “Lord.”  False converts do have a measure of spirituality.  Judas certainly did. He had apparently convinced the other disciples that he truly cared for the poor.  And he seemed so trustworthy that he was the one who looked after the finances. When Jesus said, “One of you will betray Me,” the disciples didn’t point the finger at Judas; instead, they suspected themselves, saying, “Lord, is it I?” That’s why it’s not surprising that so few within the Church today would suspect that we are surrounded by those who fall into the “Judas” category.  

I would like to caution you at this point: In case you think the problem of false converts affects only those “other churches,” let me say that statistics show otherwise.  Current reality says, 80 to 90 percent of those who have made a decision for Christ will fall away. Here is one example from the past twenty plus years:

In the March/April 1993 issue of American Horizon, a major U.S. denomination disclosed that in 1991, 11,500 churches had obtained 294,784 decisions for Christ. Unfortunately, they could find only 14,337 in fellowship.  This means that, despite the usual intense follow-up, they could not account for approximately 280,000 (95 percent) of their “converts.”  

With the vast majority of “converts” falling away, could some of those whom you have led to the Lord be among the “many” who will hear Jesus say, “Depart from Me”? 

As much as any of us would be horrified to think we are creating “Judases,” it is likely that you too may be leading people into false conversions through your evangelism efforts.  The Body of Christ is not as healthy as we might like to believe—and the problem is systemic. 

I hope you agree... something is radically wrong.   In the next few posts,  we will consider the cause and look at the remedy.  For the sake of the lost among us... please keep this matter in prayer.

A rolling stone [heading in the “right” direction] gathers no moss!

Let me start by clarifying the title of today’s message.  A rolling stone gathers no moss is an old proverb, credited to Publilius Syrus, a writer of the 1st century B.C. who in his Sententiae states, People who are always moving, with no roots in one place, avoid responsibilities and cares. As such, the proverb is often interpreted as referring to figurative nomads who avoid taking on responsibilities or cultivating or advancing their own knowledge, experience, or culture. Another interpretation equates "moss" to "stagnation"; as such the proverb can also refer to those who keep moving as never lacking for fresh ideas or creativity.  To my knowledge, Publilius Syrus was not a Christian.

Variations of the proverbs use has been made famous in various songs and ballads such as Don McLean’s American Pie... "… moss grows fat on a rolling stone, but that's not how it used to be." Or, Hank Williams 1952 hit "Lost Highway" which begins "I'm a rollin stone, all alone and lost, for a life of sin I've paid the cost."

Now, how can we apply this old proverb to the Church of our Lord, Jesus Christ?  As you read today’s message, think of what God expects of each member of His Church... to grow in knowledge and wisdom; to change one’s self-centered attitudes, to abandon carnal desires, to literally change the course and direction of your life; to avoid stagnation, to care for others; to proclaim in word, deed and actions the gospel of Jesus Christ.  That’s a brief synopsis of what God expects from anyone who claims His free gift of salvation.

There are two useful applications of the proverb to the Church:  the first would be, “no moss” grows on a body of believers doing what God expects of His people, heading in the right direction – growing in Christ-likeness, being the salt and light of the world, standing firmly for holiness in Christian living… moving, doing, growing, avoiding the “moss-like” staining effects of a sin-filled world.  Now, if we equate  “moss” to be akin to the things of the world –– then sinfulness is infiltrating the Church. Infiltration happens because worldliness [moss-like sins] is firmly rooted in a person’s life.  So, the second application would be “moss” does grow on the Church that is not adhering to the absolute truths of God’s Word – not moving, not doing, not growing in spiritual health and maturity. Moss-covered congregants look and act no different than the moss-covered unbelievers of any other secular institution in the world today.  What does the Bible say about this?

“They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1John 4:5, 6)

John was talking about people within the Church who acted no different than the people of the non-christian world. 

Now, consider the challenge of growing the Church.  Everyone seems to think that’s what must be done... grow the Church in numbers.  Surely if the Church is bigger, then it means it’s more blessed.  Listen to this viewpoint from a well known church leader... “It is my deep conviction that anybody can be won to Christ if you discover the key to his or her heart.  It may take some time to identify it. But the most likely place to start is with the person’s felt needs.” (opinion of megachurchmeister Rick Warren)

If we evaluate what the Apostle John said with what well know Church Growth advocates say, we encounter a problem.  A very serious problem.

John says that the world will not listen to a true, unsullied Christian message. Rick Warren says that anybody can be won to Christ if we discover a message that will interest them through promising to meet their emotional needs. These concepts are contradictory and frankly dangerous. 

The Biblical idea is straight-forward:  we must speak God’s unchanging message of the gospel whether the world hates the messengers or not: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). The Church Growth idea is that we must study man (using the latest sociological, psychological, and anthropological insights) to determine how to create a church that will grow and a message that will be popular through appealing to a target audience. Someone is desperately wrong here and I do not think it is the inspired Apostle John.

Whatever good the Church Growth Movement has done, if any, it has convinced the majority of church leaders that if their local congregation is not growing, this is a sure sign they are “unhealthy” and failing.  Again megachurchmeister Rick Warren says... “Forget church growth, Church health is the key to church growth.  All living things grow if they’re healthy. You don’t have to make them grow -- it’s just natural for living organisms.”  So, according to this thinking, failure to grow is a sign of disease or sickness. These pontifications by Warren and others Church growth proponents have convinced other church leaders that they are failing, leaving them desperate for a solution. Moss grows fat on a rolling stone...?

So, what’s the real story in America’s Church?  In that past fifty years, weekly church attendance in America has not risen in terms of the percentage of the population. Church growth advocates often cite the figure that 80% of churches are declining or are in a state of plateau. Seminaries use that figure to support the need to learn church growth concepts. Since the movement has yet to reverse the trends, another way of interpreting these figures is to know that if you accept the definitions of the Church Growth Movement, 80% of all those going into the ministry are failing to grow their congregations. 

Okay, now for the other marketing spin... we could say that the Church is in the midst of a global revival.  All around us we are seeing the phenomenal rise of megachurches with congregations in the tens of thousands; pockets of revival have sprung up in the United States and other parts of the world; and we have heard and read reports of millions of people in Russia, China, and Africa coming to Christ.  (this article will not debate the validity of how those millions came to Christ, and whether the conversions are aligned with Biblical Salvation.)

One evangelist, for example, claims that his worldwide tour has led nearly 1 million people to make decisions for Christ since 2007. A denomination reported nearly 2.5 million decisions for Christ in 2008. One international organization reported over 10 million decisions for Christ in 2009, and another ministry has seen an incredible “45 million documented salvations” worldwide in just six years.

It would seem Jesus is really popular!  These are indeed incredible numbers, if they’re true and real.  Or, maybe they’re a false illusion based on flawed growth strategies and unbiblical assumptions about what constitutes a true devoted follower of Jesus Christ.  More moss on a rolling stone???

With all the excitement about the growth of the contemporary Church, it seems that many have overlooked a few statistical inconsistencies. Before we look at these, I want to remind you of that doctor who said to his patient, “I have some very bad news for you. Your heart is extremely weak, and any bad news could kill you.” So, how is your heart?  Here comes some really bad news about the Church today.  It’s about your congregation. It’s a profile of people you know. Maybe even you, who call themselves Christians.  As you hear it, please be consoled that there is light at the end of this long dark tunnel.  

An October 2003 survey conducted by the Barna Group found that 45 percent of those who profess to be born-again Christians believed that gambling was morally acceptable. According to the survey, 49 percent believed that “living with someone of the opposite sex without being married” was morally okay. Just under half of those questioned (49 percent) were comfortable with “enjoying sexual thoughts or fantasies about someone,” while one third (33 percent) of those professing to be born again thought that it was okay to kill a baby while it is still in the womb.

In 2001, a survey conducted by the Alan Guttmacher Institute in New York found that “13 percent of abortion patients describe themselves as born-again evangelical Christians.” That is, of all those who actually murdered their own unborn children, nearly one in eight professed faith in Jesus Christ. That is difficult to reconcile with the fact that Christians are supposed to love God and love others as much as they love themselves.  Yeah, this IS moss growing fat on a rolling stone!

According to an article titled “Porn Nation” in World Magazine, of the men belonging to the Christian organization Promise Keepers (who make a promise to be “committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity”), 53 percent visit porn sites every week. This alarming finding is not confined to the pews. An Internet survey of 6,000 pastors conducted in 2002 found that 30 percent of pastors had viewed Internet porn in the last 30 days. This is despite the fact that these men are to be the spiritual leaders of their flocks and their families.  

In 2009, the Barna Group found further evidence that all is not well in the contemporary Church:

Among individuals who describe themselves as Christian... close to half believe that Satan does not exist, one-third contend that Jesus sinned while He was on earth, two-fifths say they do not have a responsibility to share the Christian faith with others, and one-quarter dismiss the idea that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches.

Think for a moment of the implications of such moss-laden theology. Here we have millions of “believers” who supposedly confess that Jesus is Lord, and yet they think He sinned??? They either don’t know what the Bible teaches about the Son of God or they believe it is inaccurate when it says that Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21), that He was “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15), and that He “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). 

Furthermore, if Jesus sinned, it would mean that He was not the spotless Lamb of God the Scriptures say He was (see 1 Peter 1:19); that His sacrifice was not perfect; and that when God accepted Jesus’ death as an atonement for our sins,  He sanctioned a “contaminated payment” and is therefore corrupt by nature. Sadly, the multitudes who profess faith in Jesus, yet deny His sinless perfection, appear to be strangers to true spiritual regeneration. The Jesus they believe in isn’t capable of saving anyone.  Moss, lots of moss growing on a stagnant stone!

In addition, 41 percent of self-proclaimed Christians believe that “the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon are all different expressions of the same spiritual truths”— despite the books’ vastly contradictory teachings on truth, salvation, and the nature of God. And only 46 percent of born-again Christian adults believe in the existence of absolute moral truth.  So that means the other 54 percent don’t think that God has moral absolutes, which perhaps explains why so many live their lives as though there is no moral accountability at all.

Pollster George Barna, in observing these troubling trends, noted, “Although most Americans consider themselves to be Christian and say they know the content of the Bible, less than one out of ten Americans demonstrate such knowledge through their attitudes and actions. ”With over 173 million Christians in the U.S., there are tens of millions who say that they love God and yet they are liars, thieves, fornicators, adulterers, and child-murderers.

Paul’s warning to Titus seems to be true of much of the modern Church: “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him” (Titus 1:16). Neither their beliefs nor their behavior aligns with biblical Christianity.

What an awful example for the generation coming of age in today’s Church.  Sadly, young people today are exhibiting the same theological confusion as their parents and the preceding generation. Despite 8 out of 10 teens describing themselves as Christian, 61 percent believe a place in Heaven can be earned through good works; 63 percent believe Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Jews, and all other people pray to the same God; and 58 percent believe all religious faiths teach equally valid truths.  

As with adults, the behavior of youth who describe themselves as Christian is virtually indistinguishable from that of non-Christians. An “Ethics of American Youth Survey” found that in the prior 12 months 74 percent of Christian teens cheated on a test, 93 percent lied to a parent, and 63 percent physically hurt someone when angered.  The Barna Group also found that teens who profess to be born again and attend church regularly were just as likely as secular teens to engage in Internet theft of music and to illegally copy CDs (77 percent to 81 percent, respectively).  

In a joint statement, youth specialists Josh McDowell and Ron Luce made a sobering announcement: “Incredible as it may seem, ‘accepting Christ’ and making a profession of faith makes little to no difference in a young person’s attitudes and behaviors. The majority of our churched young people are adopting ‘a form of Christianity’ but it is not true Christianity.” While this is a shocking admission, McDowell and Luce are not alone in their conclusion.  Ninety-eight percent of youth ministers and leaders like McDowell surveyed, agree with that assessment.

More moss on the rolling stone...  if everything you’ve read so far isn’t alarming enough, another trend is helping to further paint a bleak picture of the state of the American Church. 

In researching families in the U.S., the Southern Baptist Council on Family Life discovered a gut-wrenching statistic: “88 percent of the children raised in evangelical homes leave church at the age of 18, never to return.”18 This mass exodus is seen not just among Southern Baptist churches, but across denominational lines.

In an interview on a popular national radio program, a Christian youth leader spoke with great concern about how young people were “leaving the church in droves.” He had taken a survey to find out why these teenagers were turning their backs on God, and he cited the number one reason as “a lack of opportunity in the church”— implying that the Church should get its act together and give young people more opportunities. 

Ask any preacher or elder/pastor, if there are opportunities to serve within their congregation, and they will no doubt tell you of the lack of people willing to teach Sunday school, visit the sick and the elderly, go out with the evangelism team, clean the church building, etc.

Perhaps there is another reason that young people are leaving the Church in droves. As these statistics show, there are many today who name the name of Christ, but who have failed to “depart from iniquity [lawlessness, ungodliness]” (2 Timothy 2:19). They are false converts who have failed to calculate the cost of discipleship and remain unconverted because they have never truly repented and changed their life course.  

What can you say to this evidence?  Is is not truly heartbreaking to know and see so many spurious converts who have left the Church, and the multitudes of false converts who stay within the Church.  

Prolific author and pastor A.W. Tozer writes, “It is my opinion that tens of thousands of people, if not millions, have been brought into some kind of religious experience by accepting Christ, and they have not been saved.” Tozer is not alone in his conclusion. The late preacher D. James Kennedy, of Coral Ridge Ministries, made a similar observation: “The vast majority of people who are members of churches in America today are not Christians. I say that without the slightest fear of contradiction. I base it on empirical evidence of twenty-four years of examining thousands of people.”  

Why is there is so much “spiritual apathy” in the Church today? The cause cannot be avoided or ignored... it is due to the vast numbers of “unregenerate members.”  If you decide to accept the research validated statistics offered in this article, then you have to come face-to-face with the church you attend, your fellow congregants... and yourself.   What does it say?  Moss is firmly rooted on the rolling stone of the stagnant Church... and the reality is heart-breaking... this publicly available research approximates that nearly one-half, 50% of all church members are most likely not true Christians.

How could this tragic situation have happened?  How could vast numbers of people have been led to believe that they are Christians when they are not? I am convinced that one major reason "the Church" and Christianity have failed miserably to have a positive impact on American culture, and to represent Christ as "salt and light", is that most who claim to follow Jesus are little more than "fans" of Jesus. We enjoy the “outward appearance” of being churched, we like the entertaining and cheer-leading services on Sunday, but the rest of the week we live an ungodly, unholy, self-centered lifestyle that belies what we have professed.  Obviously many so-called Christians either don’t understand what it means to be a Christian or just don’t care.  Behavior and conduct certainly suggest that such people do not take God seriously.  Moss indeed, grows fat on this rolling stone –– a sin-infected Church rolling towards confrontation with and rejection by Christ, if changes are not made now!

Maybe you are in what seems to be the minority of devoted passionate Christians.   If you have struggled to understand why a loved one who made a “decision for Christ” has no desire for the things of God, or why so many church members show little to no evidence for their faith, there is an explanation.   

There is something you can do to change the situation.  Next week we’ll probe solutions to the problem.  Be warned... all solutions come with a “free will” option.  You can embrace what God wants from a professing Christian, or you can blow it off and continue living for yourself, attending a church that will welcome you right along with your carnal thoughts and evil desires.

Arguments produce nothing good... only Strife

 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 2 Timothy 2:23

What do you do when you find yourself sitting across the table from someone who makes a comment that strikes at the core of everything you believe in? I’m not talking here about intervening in cases of clear wrongdoing, violence or aggression.  I’m talking about the kind of disagreements or confrontations that cause people to feel terrible for the rest of the day, or worse, to start resenting the person with whom they are better off remaining peaceful.

Your reaction depends on what you hope to accomplish.

So before you get baited by someone else’s view, ask yourself the following questions.

Is there anything to be gained by engaging in conflict with this person?

...they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions... 1 Timothy 6:4 

I was taught that if you have something on your mind, you say it. But this isn’t a very strategic (or profitable) way to approach relationships. When you say what’s on your mind without thinking first about potential ramifications of your words, you can end up wasting a lot of time — your own and the other person’s in back-tracking and relationship repairs.  

Stating your views doesn’t mean you’re contributing anything toward creating the kind of environment in which those views can take hold. We all love living in a free country, and we no doubt wish everyone could. But wasting time isn’t freedom, and free speech is better practiced responsibly.  After the shooting in Newtown MA, for example, many gun supporters took the time on social media to remind people why they think it’s important for Americans to maintain the right to bear arms. This created the impression that some people don’t mind when children are senselessly killed, as long as guns remain in circulation.

These people would have been better served quietly focusing on ways to make sure gun safety and responsible ownership are honestly and fairly woven into America’s social-cultural fabric.   Even when two sides disagree on specifics but agree on the bigger picture, arguments tend to cause both sides to dig in, and ultimately, to take less meaningful action because in arguing, they feel that they’ve already done something.  Obviously talk and action are not mutually exclusive, but you might ask yourself if talk has become a substitute for results-based action.

Do I really understand why this person is reacting this way?

We must keep reminding God's people of these things. We must warn them with God’s word as our guide, against quarreling about words and opinions; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 2 Timothy 2:14

Opposing views cause dissension and strife. Both sides of an issue become upset. Sometimes, opposites in a war of words are coming at the same problem from two different angles, even though on the surface their views and opinions seem to contradict each other — which brings us to the next question.

Are you listening to the other sides view?

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Titus 3:9

It’s very easy, once our buttons have been pushed, to close off to the view of the other person, get defensive, or hear what we want to hear. History is filled with bloodbaths that started off with simple disagreements and escalated into epic battles.

Listening to a dissenting view, no matter how much it flies in the face of your beliefs, is actually quite educational. You can learn how to better respond “next time” or maintain relationships beyond the institutionalized battleground.    However, “listening” does not mean finding ground for agreement and compromise if God’s view is different.   True and committed Christians cannot cross any line in violation of God’s commandments for holy living to simply keep status-quo and peace among rivaling perspectives on a volatile issue.  If God has issued in His Word a ruling on a particular conduct, attitude, desire or belief system, then you have no alternative but to align with God’s view.  Period.  

Am I just repeating a pattern?

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? James 4:1 

Here’s a short of list of words that describe people who like to argue for the sake of arguing.  Do they sometimes describe you... argumentative, contrary, combative, confrontational, quarrelsome, cantankerous, contentious, volatile, truculent, pugnacious?

Sometimes we repeat or languish in the old habits of mind without stopping to wonder whether they still serve us. Sort of a “shoot first ask questions later” mentality.  We are creatures of habit, and we tend to reject new ideas without thinking them through. Often times, we reject an idea, a change, a new viewpoint, before we even hear the entire story.   Maybe its time to consider reframing our interpretations of reality, so you change the outcome of interpersonal confrontations, especially when they emanate from ideologies you can’t influence, let alone control.  

Doing and reacting defensively and aggressively in personal communications will always produce the same negative results... unwholesome and unproductive arguments.  People will do anything to avoid you henceforth.  Don’t be afraid of being wrong, it won’t kill ya.  Although, it might humble you and maybe that’s a good thing from time to time. Certainly we know God think humility is good for what ails us. (Proverbs 16:18-19; 1 Peter 5: 5-6; Luke 14:11)

If we practice detachment from our inflammatory thoughts, we learn to observe them as though we are taking a bird’s eye view of our own thinking. Write your edgy thoughts [words] down in a diary and read them over from a detached position.  Do you still want to speak them to others? That exercise will help you determine how people might react to your words.   This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.  Titus 3:8

Living by the Word of God... every single Word!

I’ve been thinking a lot about Jesus’ statement in Matthew 4:4... ‘It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.' What does that mean in everyday practical living as a follower of Christ?

Most of us haven’t a clue.  For starters it means to filter everything you think and do.  Every contemplation, every decision, every choice is filtered through the counsel and instruction found in the Word of God.  Are you constantly questioning your actions to see if they are indeed instructed by His every word? 

Maybe it’s time to seriously ask yourself, ‘what does it mean to live by His every word’? If I know the answer to that question, then it’ll be easier to ensure that you are living by His Word.

Complete Trust. If you have ever driven in unfamiliar territory, with little more than a map, without knowledge of local landmarks, then you know what it’s like to try and navigate in a direction towards a destination, depending only on the road and a few sign markers along the way.  You need some form of guidance and assurance that you are heading in the right direction. 

Living by God’s every word is exactly like that, as God will often lead us in paths we haven’t traveled before. There will often be no ‘landmarks’ or familiar ‘landscapes’ to go by, only God’s voice – His Word. Complete trust and courage in God’s direction given through His Word is required to stay on course. Joshua charged the Israelite to keep their eyes open for God’s direction as He was leading them in a path they had never been before (Joshua 3:4). To live by God’s every word is to trust His Word to take you to your destination even when the path is extremely unfamiliar and sometimes seem treacherous. 

Obey Every Instruction. Too many times we fail to listen for God’s Word in our daily living. Sometimes the distractions we allow to invade our lives hinder our ability to focus intently on God’s instructions. Everything in our lives that is not of God’s voice is potentially a distraction and likely threatening and harmful. These distractions can be like a loud noise that drowns our what we need to hear. The noise can be the opinions of our friends, spouses or fellow worshippers; it can be the news about the economy, our bosses’ voice, the voice of the doctor, or the flattering voices of people unable to tell us the truth when we step out of line with God’s will.

Sometimes we need to shut down the source of the noise around us or come away from the noise to a place where we can hear God’s voice, expressed through His Word. And having heard [by reading and meditation] His voice we must ensure that we obey and obey fully. Partial obedience to God’s Word is as good as not obeying at all or not even listening.

Think of it like this... if a car driver is using a satellite navigation system and fails to listen to all the instructions or filters out those where “he thinks he knows better” its likely he will not arrive at his expected destination.  To live by God’s every word means to listen for His voice and then to obey the instructions He gives fully, without personal filtering. Jesus said ‘My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me’ John 10:27.

Employ Patience.  This is quite important, the quality of patience in our relationship with God. As each of us grow in Christ, and matures, God’s instructions will impact us differently at different times in our lives. It is important to remember... when it is time to change course or when you come to a crossroad, it is  always after full obedience to His last instruction. Stay on course until your growth and maturity helps to reveal and change your direction.  The fact that He is silent in between commands is not an indication that He has changed His mind or that He had forgotten about you.  A lot of times we take God’s silence as license to take matters into our own hands and move off the path we’re on.  Such self-directed turns will often yield disastrous consequences.

Sarah misinterpreted God’s silence between Genesis 15 and Genesis 17 [several years] to mean abandonment and therefore encouraged Abraham to ‘help’ God fulfill His promise of giving him a child by having relations with Hagar.  But this was far from the truth. Living by God’s Word requires patience and courage to continue in His instructions no matter how long that may be.  Jesus said ‘…If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed’ John 8:31. Paul helps us further by saying ‘For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise’ Hebrews 10:36. Employ some patience as you live by His every word.

HEAR What He Says... Not What He Said.  This point is quite crucial and important as many of us fail to successfully engage with God’s will and purpose for our lives, as we are living life based on what He ‘said’ and not what He is ‘saying’ now.  

Consider for a minute Abraham’s example from the Bible. If when he was instructed to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22:2 he had failed to listen continuously for God’s voice and instructions presently, he would have killed his son and not have heard God’s voice instructing him to spare his son’s life in Genesis 22:12 and thus aborting God’s plan and will for his life. Living by God’s every word means to continually live by what “He is saying” not what He had said.  

God’s Word is constantly relevant, never out-of-date as some would suggest. What He said thousands of years ago, in the Old Testament, may seem irrelevant today, but it is not.  It meets, exceeds and conquers every social and cultural challenge to its validity as the premier source for useful counsel.  For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12-13

This is especially true in our contemporary times, where many want to believe that God has in some ways changed and adapted to cultural and social pressures. What he said 2,000 or 3,000 years ago as revealed in His Word is just as applicable today as then.  His revealed nature and character in the Old testament has not changed... He is the same today as He was then.  God does not change, so we must hear Him through His Word today in the same way the ancients heard Him.  His Word is up-to-date, relevant and useful in all things we encounter in today’s world.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 

How have you been living your life? Are you living by His every word or are you just going through life totally oblivious to or ignorant of His Word and His voice? 

Or perhaps you listened but have taken a wrong turn and are somewhat lost or you failed to listen clearly and precisely to ALL of His instruction.  It is not too late to amend your course. Just like a satellite navigation system recalculates your route and redirects you back to the right path when you make a wrong turn, so God by His word and the Holy Spirit is waiting to maneuver you back to the right path in the midst of His will. 

Why don’t you spend time in prayer and ask Him to help you to hear and obey His every word. Determine today, to start living by every word that proceeds from His mouth.

Must You be Politically Correct?

...it is written, ’Be holy, for I am holy’ —1 Peter 1:16

You need to be politically correct!  Strive in your life to never offend anyone.  Be inclusive.  Don’t say anything that will offend or do things that will make others uncomfortable.  If you have to, change your core beliefs to keep pace with ever changing social morays.  Be tolerant of all beliefs, all value systems, all views... just roll over and let anyone and everyone walk all over you.  

In today's society, pretty much anything you say or do will in someway offend somebody.  So, to keep peace, let everyone trample the absolute truths of the universe underfoot, and you keep your mouth shut so you don’t offend or upset anyone!!!   What do you think of that?  It’s foolish nonsense, that’s what it is.

Political correctness is basically surrendering to social and cultural pressures allowing the prevailing winds of society to determine how you will feel, what you should be concerned about and how you should react to what goes on around you.  If you take the concept of political correctness at face value, it is a good thing.  If being politically correct means that we treat people of different backgrounds with respect and do not stereotype them based on their race or gender, then it is in fact, very biblical. But this is not the real intention of the modern movement to be politically correct.

In truth, political correctness is designed to intimidate people into adopting views, practices and using language that has been pre-approved. Political correctness tends to be completely focused on human sensitivity and self-esteem. When you focus on human sensitivity and self, you eliminate God from your life.

It is a shame that we must disguise or marginalize truth to avoid upsetting someone. Personally, I am very sensitive to not harming another person needlessly, but I am also adamant that serious issues be addressed with facts and the truth. For example, if a person believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman, why should they be afraid to express their belief, especially when that belief is defined by God’s Holy Word?

Now, maybe some, maybe many today will believe in political correctness, but if you call yourself a Christian you better not allow it to distort your thinking!  Let me tell you why.

Christians are set apart to the Holy God.  That’s right, when you were immersed into Christ, you made a commitment to God before onlookers that you were lining up on His side.  You became a warrior for Christ and His cause.  You said in effect, you would be with Him, defending His truths before men, no matter how hard it would be and unpopular [politically incorrect] it might make you!

Toughen up soldier [Christian], God has a mission and you signed on to be smack dab in the middle of it!  Christians must continually remind themselves of the real purpose of their lives. We are not destined to happiness, nor to health, or political correctness, but to holiness. 

Today, we have far too many desires, interests and distractions, and our lives are being consumed and wasted by them. There are far too many causes that capture our attention and get in the way of pursuing genuine holiness.  Many of them may be right, noble, and good, and may later be fulfilled, but in the meantime we must focus all our energies on God’s purpose, and minimize our attention to all the unworthy causes of little importance to God’s purpose for our lives.

The only thing that truly matters is whether a person will accept God without restrictions and limitations and allow Him work in you.  At all costs, a person must have the right relationship with God.  You can ill afford periods in your life as a Christian, where you “take time for your own thing” and deflect the power of God working to transform your life.  You can’t have a 50% relationship with God, or even an 80% commitment.  He expects, He demands, an “all-in” 100% immersion in all that He is doing in the world today.  With God, you can’t be a “little bit Christian”... you are all-in or you are simply not His.

Do you believe you need to be holy? Do you believe that God can come into you and help you grow in holiness?  The preaching and teaching of the gospel awakens intense discomfort in all of us because it is designed to reveal our unholiness, but it also awakens an intense yearning and desire to be all we can be with God’s help. 

God has only one intended destiny for mankind — holiness. Our holiness is the key to all He has planned for the future... our future. His only goal is to produce real solid gold saints. God is not some eternal blessing-machine for people to use, a genie in a bottle to grant our every wish and bless our self-centered pursuits.  

He did not come to save us out of pity — He came to save us because He created us to be holy. Atonement through the Cross of Christ means that God can put me back into perfect oneness with Himself through the death of Jesus Christ, without any sin ever again separating us.

Never tolerate, because of sympathy for yourself or for others, any practice that is not in keeping with a holy God.  Did you hear that?  READ it again! Think about it!  Pray about it!  Pretty much nullifies the concept of political correctness doesn’t it?

Holiness means absolute purity in your walk before God, the words coming from your mouth, and every thought in your mind — placing every detail of your life under the scrutiny of God Himself.   You stand up for Him; you defend His truths; you speak for Him, even when His truths are socially and politically incorrect.

Holiness is not simply what God demands of us, it makes YOU different.  YOU need to accept that reality.  If you really believe you are a Christian and you desire to be claimed by Him, then holiness is the essential ingredient of your lifestyle.

THINK about your pursuit of holiness and alignment with God’s absolute truth.  The next time you get all worked up about some injustice or cause you think important, and you want to immerse yourself in promoting and defending the cause, THINK of how all that effort is deflecting your attention away from the work that God is trying to do in you.