Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists - Minds of Futility

Standing in the Buddhist temple in Hong Kong my heart broke for the hundreds of people who sought favor from their gods through endless offerings of food and prayer wheels, and fortune telling. And standing in the Grand Mosque observing Muslims staying off their god's wrath and currying favor through the repetition of the five pillars of Islam, I felt a sense of grief. Even the endless striving of modern atheistic science to find purpose and meaning in the cosmos is a sad reminder of a lost world without God.

As Christians we have been brought into the light. We see clearly the wrath and grace of God. We understand that we can not achieve His mercy, and apart from His compassion we too would be lost. The danger is to forget the truth of God and fall back into patterns of futility.

Patterns of the futile mind are a matter of perspective, the worldview we develop over time. When we first come to Christ someone has helped us see our sinful condition before a Holy God, and that without faith in the substitutionary death of Jesus we are lost in our sin and without hope. We gratefully submit our will to His love and grace knowing that we are incapable of pleasing Him without Jesus.

Then we are taught the disciplines of the faith that will deepen our relationship with God and make Him happy with us. God loves us more if we go to church, read our bibles, pray, and give money. We don't want to disappoint God so we strive to become better church goers, memorize the bible, pray harder and give more money. We exchange the truth of God's blessing into a formula for God's acceptance. Guilt is our motivator not love.

Often we think of the world's futile mind as their false understanding of God or science or philosophy, but their warped knowledge of these is not what is futile. Rather their striving to find answers to life through their own efforts is what makes it futile. More offerings, repetitious prayers, and the accumulation of knowledge will not bring them happiness let alone into a relationship with God. We can never do enough to bring any more pleasure to God then what he has for us through Christ. 

So, why go to church, why pray, why read our bibles and give offerings? Because they are disciplines that help us better understand who God is, His love, His justice, His Holiness, His wrath, His mercy, His compassion, and His forgiveness. Yes, God wants our obedience, but not as a means to find favor, rather as an act of love and appreciation for all He has done. 

When the world strives to find God through endless works they only perpetuate the alienation of darkness and futility. When Christians turn the good things of God into tools of ingratiation we are walking according to the futility of the Gentiles.

I don't have to go to church, I get to.

I don't have to read my bible, it is a privilege.

I don't have to pray, it is an opportunity to meet God.

I don't have to give, it is an act of appreciation.

I don't have to serve, it is a way to show God's love.

I don't have to do anything for God to love and accept me, Jesus already did it.

I'm just saying...

Eph. 4:17, 18 "Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."

When the brain and the heart stop talking

I am not an expert on Parkinson's disease, but it is a neurological disorder where the brain stops communicating with the muscles. Eventually you can't move. No matter how much you try to think an arm of leg into cooperating it just isn't going to happen. The body stops working together.

As important as solid foundational doctrine is, it becomes useless when it is disassociated with love. Paul says that knowledge puffs up and arrogance sets in when it is displayed without love. Truth is important, but when wielded as a club it is ineffective. 

There was a couple who attended our small group, who were part of a cult. They were very open to Jesus and I had numerous opportunities to share the gospel. Another member of our group felt compelled, in front of everyone, to dismantle the cults belief system in a harsh and public fashion. It so upset the couple they left and we never heard from them again. 

"It is my job to speak the truth, not worry about how others feel. If they are meant to believe then they will." Was their defense.

Truth is very important, but it must always be spoken in love. People are willing to hear hard truths if they know their is love and compassion behind the words. Forceful condemnation seldom accomplishes the righteousness of God. A soft word turns away wrath, kindness opens hearts to hear the truth.

When we speak the truth in love we help people grow in the direction of God. And when we use our gifts together the high calling of unity is achieved. When we strive together, and the body is working properly we all grow.

Speak the Truth in love. Use our gifts for the edification of the body. Maintain unity. Grow in live. 

Its a simple formula, but it takes getting off our high horse and serving others. I'm just saying...

Eph. 4:15,16 "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Osteen, Robertson, and Driscoll

Joel Osteenn, Phil Robertson, and Mark Driscoll have all been tossed by the waves of poor doctrine, and yes so have you. At least to some extent. God has given us Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, and church leaders to equip us so that we might attain unity and grow to maturity, and it begins with good doctrine. But what are the basic tenets of the faith that are non negotiable, that define us as Christian, and from which unity stands. 

1. That God exists and is holy and loving.

2. That man exists and is sinful and far from God.

3. That God sent His son, Jesus, as a sacrifice to pay the penalty of man's sin, and to bring about redemption for the whole world.

4. That Jesus rose again from the dead conquering sin and death once and for all.

5. That salvation is by faith in Christ alone, In his death for our sin, and resurrection to life.

6. That salvation is not by works but is a gift from God, through faith.

7. That the Holy Spirit indwells all believers giving gifts for the edification of the body.

8. That the Church is the body of Christ manifest in the world.

9. That love is the defining characteristic of the church for both family and enemy.

10. Forgiveness and reconciliation is our offer to all who repent from sin.

11. That holy living is our goal, not perfection.

12. That Jesus is coming again to restore creation.

These are non negotiable because they define us as Christian. To eliminate any of the doctrines above would be to erode the very essence of Christianity. What happens in the church is that we add to the list of essentials until we become so narrow in our doctrine that we are exclusive, even from within. On the other hand there are those who water down the essentials so as not to offend those on the outside, and don't really believe in anything, and they are carried away by cunning, crafty, and deceitful schemes. 

The Apostle John boiled the essentials down to a single word, love, and then he fleshed it out. Let me show you.

# God loved us through the death and Resurrection of His Son Jesus.

# We love God through our faith in His Son's sacrifice.

# Jesus loves us by sending the Holy Spirit to fill, guide us and give us gifts.

# We love God and one another by utilizing our gifts for worship and edification.

# We love the world by sharing God's love for them through Christ's death and resurrection.

Here is the hard part. Every time you open your mouth you will be judged by others. They will determine, by what ever set of essential doctrine they proclaim, whether you are accepted or not. The evil one is crafty and cunning and seeks to wash the church away in waves of foolish doctrine that lead to schisms and disunity. But do not worry Jesus has overcome the world.

The 12 "doctrines" are what I hold and teach to be the essentials necessary for fellowship among believers. Everything else I hold in my hand loosely. I may hold positions on things like old/young earth, Calvinism/Arminianism, women's roles, moral issues, the millennium, or which Left Behind movie is least inaccurate, but they will not define whether I have fellowship. Unity begins with the bedrock of Christ, built on the Apostle and Prophets, perpetuated by pastors and teachers, and held together by the unifying indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If we diligently seek these things we will not be swept away by waves of bad doctrine or deceived by schemes. I'm just saying...

Eph. 4:14 "so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes."

What Do We Need You For?

Top 10 expectations of Pastors (not in order of priority):

1. To Perform Weddings

2. To Perform funerals

3. To Pray for people

4. To counsel 

5. To Preach the Word

6. To Teach the Word

7. To Lead Worship

8. To Evangelize

9. To Lead

10. To shepherd

During my years as a pastor these have been the skills that I tried to hone in the course of my pastoral duties. Some were part of my giftedness but all were part of the expectations of congregations. Yet, there is a misconception. Though most of these tasks should be a part of my life, they are not the primary duty of any pastor or leader in the Church. 

Apostles, pastors, prophets, and teachers were given to equip the saints for the work of ministry. Pastors and leaders are to utilize their giftedness to prepare others to do the work of the kingdom. This runs in the face of "but that's what we hired you for pastor."

The by product of equipping is spiritual growth. As church leaders instruct parishioners in the disciplines of the faith and develop their gifts for ministry, they will bond together and grow deeper in Christ.  Unity is often chipped away by people who are sufficants, standing on the sideline, giving opinions, but never really getting involved in the work of the ministry.  They are too busy complaining about what others are doing or not doing to be of any use. 

The process of equipping unifies people in theology, in vision, in goals, and in practice. When my wife and I started attending the church we have chosen to call home, we sat down with one of the pastors. We asked him lots of questions. At one particular point he explained their position on some issues and then said, "if these things bother you there are other good churches in the area, but this is how view and practice these things." In other words we are unified and would love to have you serve among us if you will maintain the unity.

Spiritual growth can not take place when there is disunity. This doesn't mean that there is 100 percent agreement. The body of Christ is diverse and is open to different perspectives. But unity in diversity starts with a solid core that is agreed on by all, and that is why churches have doctrinal statements. Unity in diversity works from there as we work out our beliefs in practice. 

 Reaching maturity doesn't happen by sitting in the pew and getting fat. Peter says we are no longer babies, so grow up and become mature. Maturity is evidence in our loving actions toward others not our knowledge of the bible. Maturity is evident in our unity in Christ not how loud I sing, flowery my prayer, or the amount of money I give. 

The only person who wins when there is disunity is the evil, and he works hard to foster animosity and split churches. So two things are necessary. First, leaders, stop doing all the work and set out to equip the saints. Secondly, parishioners get off your butts and get to work. I'm just saying...

Eph. 4:11-14 "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,"

We Don't Leave Men Behind

One of the of the most moving aspects of the military is their attitude that no man is left behind. It says something about the character of men who would risk their lives again for a fallen comrade. The bond that develops in the trenches compels them to seek out their fellow soldier because they know it could be them that needs rescue. They fight less for the ideals of governments then for the person next to them; they live, die, and come home together. They would move heaven and earth for their brothers.

How much greater love is expressed when a holy God sends his only son to the worst place imaginable to rescue his brothers left captive? Eph. 4:8-10 has always been a troubling passage because Paul doesn't give us enough information. But to understand the passage we need to look at it from the perspective of a Jewish reader. Pre- death and resurrection those who believed in the promise of Yahweh went to the bosom of Abraham when they died. It wasn't the concept of heaven or hell that we think of today. It was called the place of the dead. The idea was more like a holding cell waiting for something better.

At Christ's death he descended to this place of the dead and led those who had believed in God's promised messiah to heaven. Their faith, realized in Christ, finally set them free. God gave them the gift of grace just like those who believe post  resurrection. God doesn't leave any man behind.

In fact He moved heaven and earth to accomplish it. From the foundation of the world, the scriptures say, Christ died for man's sin. God had a plan, the fruit in the garden didn't take Him by surprise, the righteous judgment of the earth by flood, the dispersal at Babel, the ordeal in Egypt and its Exodus, the Jewish captivity in Babylon, their return to the land, 400 years of silence, and the birth to a virgin were not coincidences. The sorrows of this life He turns to joy. What the evil one would do for our harm He uses for good. In our weakness He displays strength, and in our humiliation He lifts us up. God doesn't leave any man behind.

Understanding the depression the disciples would feel at his death Jesus tells them not to fear. The world will hate you, but I have overcome the world. The world will abandon you, but I will never leave or forsake you. You will no longer have me physically present, but I will send a comforter (the Holy Spirit) to indwell all believers. I can't take you with me now, but I go to prepare a place and I WILL come back for you. God doesn't leave any man behind.

It changes how I look at my brothers and sisters in Christ and the high calling of unity in the church. In 2014, when the army sought to bring Bowe Robert Bergdahl home, it was difficult to understand how the government would sacrifice faithful soldiers for a traitor. But he was one of theirs, for better or worse, and men died to secure his release. When I look at fellow believers am I willing to die for the worst of them for the sake of Christ? He moved heaven and earth to bring them to salvation how little is my sacrifice to love them with all their flaws. If honorable soldiers are willing to die for a traitor, how little is my sacrifice to love in order to maintain the high calling of unity. We don't live men behind.

It is easy to cast off the unlovely, the difficult, the unruly, the struggler, the errant, and the misfit. It is easy to leave when the going gets tough and the horizon looks bleak. It is easy to form clicks and isolate people who are different. I know, I have been there and don that. But if God was willing to die for the unrighteousness, rescue the oppressed, seek and save the lost, and descend into the lower parts of the earth to lift us into His presence, what small part can I play, with the gifts he has given me, to maintain the high calling of unity in the body. I won't leave any man behind. I'm just saying...

Eph. 4:8-10

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”

 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

The Answer To Church Divisions

A friend of mine asked for prayer last night. Their church just fired the senior pastor and it has created turmoil in the body. I know the pain, confusion, anger, name calling, accusations, and bitterness caused when a church struggles with leadership and seeks the remedy through fracture instead of mending. We too often take the world's philosophy and treat pastors as employees who are expendable if they are not producing in the prescribed manner.

Of course church counsels, deacons, or elders have expectations that they are required to enforce. Sometimes it is the pastor's fault, unyielding use of power or lax in the obligation of his duties. Sometimes it is hurt feelings, an offended conscience, contrary personalities, or down right sinful behavior that causes divisions. But Paul's warning to the Galatians is apropos, 

But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

 

There is a High Calling for unity in the body that is required of believers. The unity isn't around job descriptions, power plays, worship styles, outreach strategies, or even pet doctrines. Our calling to Unity is around the one faith, the one hope, the one Lord and savior. Why is it so difficult for us to achieve this high calling?

The answer is simple, we are sinners. We forget that sometimes. We start to see ourselves as the keepers of the keys to the kingdom, protector of the truth, or even rescuer of God's character. But Paul said that even if these things are true but do not have love we are shouting in the wind, loud noises without substance. We are willing to stand alone if it means protecting what we believe to be the most important truths, and a unity of one is all we will have.

There is hope. Paul said that grace has been given to each of us according to the Grace of Jesus. We have received unmerited favor. The unlovely has been loved. We, who were far away, have been brought near. Unity is achieved when we remember from where we have come. Unity is achieved when we humble ourselves and in gentleness lift others up. We cannot do this on our own, we need grace, and we have been given it beyond measure. 

Once grace is received and remembered, then we can extend it to others. We understand that they are fallen individuals just like us. We love the people with whom conflict reigns, speak truth to them, have patience, exhibit kindness, repent, offer forgiveness, seek reconciliation, and grant mercy and grace. This takes hard work.

The only way that we can achieve the unity of the Spirit in a climate of self absorbed, self righteous, individualism is to act in the opposite way. We need to become meditative (on the things of God), we need to become self aware (of our own sin and need of forgiveness), we need to set aside our own preconceived ideas of how things should be, and then join together in prayer with those with whom we have conflict. 

Conflict and division will remain until the coming of Jesus because there will be people who will be unyielding and deniers of the truth. But that doesn't mean we should not fight for the High Calling of unity in Christ. I mean, we have recieved the abundant grace of Christ Jesus to achieve it. I'm just saying...

Eph. 4:7 "But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift."

The One

All roads led to Rome. She was the majestic city of the most powerful empire the world had ever known. From beneath her marble columns engineers built roads that spread her ideals from one end of the empire to the other. Pax Romana - Roman Peace. There was one power, one emperor, one ideal, and with her might one peace. But it was illusory. For underneath her glimmering eagle standard moral decay and corruption ate away at the foundations that made her great. In the end she could not stand.

The high call of Unity that is worthy of our calling is built on a foundation greater then that of Rome, greater then the American dream, greater then any worldly institution or power. It is built on the immutable nature  and character of God, in Christ. 

Unlike Rome all roads do not lead to God. Though the idea of God is universal, because eternity has been set in the heart of man, the way to God has been corrupted by sin. Man has substituted God for idols and ideas, and wonders why the world crumbles around him. The peace the world strives for is illusive because their answers collide and vie for preeminence. There will never be a cessation of hostilities in the world until unity is sought under Pax Christi - Peace of Christ.

Unity is found in the common understanding that there is One recognized and redeemed body of individuals, the church. Unity is found when we understand that there is One seal and deposit in the Spirit. Unity is found when we understand there is One hope that gives meaning and purpose to our lives and the future. Unity comes when we understand that there is but One Lord and savior through the One faith ushering us into a relationship with God, and One baptism that identifies us with our savior. Unity comes when we understand that the there is only One God who is the father of all, is over all and through all and in all.  

We can try and find peace and unity through negotiation, through compromise, through over looking deeply held convictions and conflicting world views, but in the end it is but sand and the shaky collaboration will fall. But if we come together in the power of the One, then everything else becomes secondary. What binds us together is a coalition of The One. The sin that blinds and binds men no longer enslaves them when the One Faith in the One Savior releases them to love, forgive, and reconcile. Unity is found in the humble and gentle recognition that my way is subject to the way of the cross, and land, title and wealth are but obstacles to the kingdom of God.

Where is the One place you seek to find peace? What is the One component that determines acceptance? What is the One issue that guides your thoughts and path? In the One body it is, and can only be, the One true God and Savior Jesus Christ. I'm just saying...

Eph. 4:4-6 "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."