Social Christianity

     Are you a ‘Social Christian?’  Social Christianity is about whom you know. It’s about how you dress or how you feel.  Biblical Christianity is about who you are.

     Christianity isn’t like a suit of clothes you keep in your closet and put on every Sunday.  A Christian is a person who has been changed by God.  Transformed from the inside out.

     “Now just a minute!” you say. “What’s wrong with dressing up and going to church?”

     Churches each have a social culture.  That culture may be a style of dress, style of music or a style of worship (formal, liturgical or casual). Some allow no makeup or jewelry.  Others are all about a particular political party or point of view.  But social culture is not the essence of faith.

     A Christian’s faith begins with understanding who Jesus Christ is.  That he is the divine Son of God who came to “seek and to save the lost.”  That he died on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin.  That he was buried, rose on the third day and was seen by many witnesses.

     But understanding and knowledge must change to faith.  It must become a trust or reliance on Jesus to do for you personally what he said he would do:  forgive your sins, take away sin’s penalty (eternal death) and give you eternal life.

     Jesus’ mission wasn’t about an improved standard of living.  He was more concerned about an improved standard FOR living based on a personal relationship with God.

     I’m not sure if Jesus were here today in person that he would go to many of our churches to worship.  He might be put off by our social culture.

     Sadly some churches are more concerned about what the members want than what Jesus wants.  (Does anyone even ask about what Jesus wants?  It’s supposed to be HIS church—right?)

     Now while he might find it difficult to worship in some churches, he probably would be glad to preach. Of course some might be put off with his long hairstyle or clothing.  Others might not like all the stories he would tell (“That’s not preaching, is it?”).  But I digress.

     If Jesus were to preach in your church, what would he say?

     You can get a good idea from what he said to the religious people of his own day.  And it wasn’t pretty.  It wasn’t feel-good fluff.  It wasn’t positive principles for powerful living.

     Jesus said, “Woe to you hypocrites!  You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

     While you’re at it, check out what he said to seven churches in the last book of the Bible, the Revelation to John, the Apostle.  While he complimented some churches, he called one “lukewarm.” Then he added, “You have forsaken your first love.”

     Even though Jesus had endless patience and love for sinners and seekers, he had little for the religious, self-righteous types.  Why?  Because they elevated their religious ‘culture’ (traditions) to the same level as the laws of God.

     Now before we come down too hard on the Pharisees (the religious leaders), let’s remember how much we’re like them.  They were sincere in their beliefs.  Passionate for their religion.  And they were more concerned about what they wanted than what God wanted. 

     In fact, they thought that what they wanted WAS what God wanted?  Sound familiar?

     If you identify yourself as a Christian, ask God to give you his eyes.  To see as he sees.  To love as he loves.  And to be what he wants you to be:  A new creation in Christ.

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Dark Side

     Every week brings more grim news.  What’s going on in the world?

     Recent headlines reported: “Man Kills Wife and Daughter in Restaurant.”  “Former Student Kills 7 At Christian University.” “Man Kills Girlfriend, Self After Police Chief Murder.”

     Troubling headlines like these make us doubt humankind’s goodness.  Until these crimes were committed, some of the perpetrators seemed normal.  What’s wrong with people?

     What’s wrong is human nature.  If we’re honest with ourselves, we must all admit that we have a ‘Dark Side.’ A side of us that’s bent toward evil and not good.

     “Now hold on just a minute!” you say.  “Aren’t most people basically good at heart?”

     Many think so, but the evidence is quite to the contrary.  And if we ignore the obvious we do ourselves a disservice.  As author Joel C. Rosenberg observes, “To misunderstand the nature and threat of evil is to risk being blindsided by it.”

     In “The Heavy Bear Who Goes With Me,” poet Delmore Schwartz implies that being human has a beastly side to it.  The poem shows us a violent and unflattering picture of humanity.

     The “Heavy Bear” represents both our bodies and the uncivilized primitive core of our human personality.  It is the “id” of Freud, the “unconscious mind” of psychologists and the hard-to-control brute in each of us – all rolled into one.  And it’s always with us.

     Saints and poets through the ages chronicled an endless struggle with their darker side.  It’s the struggle the Bible describes between flesh and spirit.  And nowhere in modern verse has this struggle been portrayed with greater power than in “The Heavy Bear.”

     In contrast, the amazing message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that God can tame our “Heavy Bear.” Our darker side.  But not everyone wants it to be tamed.  Why?  Because there’s a frightening, intoxicating exhilaration in venting our rage and indulging our evil side.

     Now go back and read the recent news headlines I quoted above.  Ponder the damage and destruction wrought by human wrath.  Think of the lives and property ruined every year.

     Our ‘Dark Side’ needs subduing, doesn’t it?  But how can it be done?

     Lasting inner peace is the solution.  And that peace has only one source – God.

     The Apostle Paul writes in the Bible, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  And once you have peace WITH God he adds, “The peace OF God…will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

     Paul knew this firsthand.  He was a former religious zealot and a murderer of Christians (by his own admission).  But then he had a personal encounter with the risen Christ. That encounter transformed him into a compassionate evangelist and follower of Jesus.  And he was not alone.

     After warning Christians, “the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God,” Paul adds, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified [made holy], you were justified [made righteous], in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

     God alone has an amazing track record of taking angry, violent, evil, hopeless people and turning them into peaceful saints.  The Bible is full of such success stories.  History is too.

     While we can’t personally do much about the grim headlines we read, we can do something about our own ‘Dark Side.’  God offers us the only solution that works every time it’s tried.

     The Bible says “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Saved from sin, your ‘Dark Side’ and then filled with God’s gift of peace.

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Church or Club?

     What makes a church more than just a club for Christians?

     Many church members expect their church to serve them, meet their needs and sync with their schedules.  One Christian even said, “A large church should offer lots of programs and stuff for us to do with other Christians.”  –That sounds more like a cruise ship than a church!

     Providing free services indefinitely to contented Christians is not a church’s mission.  Nor is its mission to be the community nanny for members who care little and contribute less. 

     By some estimates, only half of regular church attendees volunteered to serve in the past three years.  A third never supported their church financially.  The truth is they’ve missed the point!

     Sadly, most churches–no matter the denomination–all end up with the same mission:  “To take care of our members, their children and the real estate.”  It may take 10 or 20 years, but all churches end up there unless they refocus on the main thing they should be doing.

     “Well, hold on just a minute!” you say.  “What’s the main thing a church should be doing?”

     Good question!  Maybe we should check with the church’s founder. 

     Jesus Christ was known for humility, compassion and serving others.  He was also known for his boldness and righteous indignation. 

     Yes, Jesus loved people.  But he became very angry when religious types thought they had God in their pocket and when they manipulated others to do their bidding.

     Do you remember the Pharisees of Jesus day?  In “The Pharisees Guide to Total Holiness,” author William Coleman describes the often-criticized sect.  They actually began with a sincere love for God and a devotion to serving him.

     Over time, the Pharisees’ devotion turned into intolerance, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.  To their credit they were very religious.  But they took a nation God intended to be a spiritual lighthouse for the world and made it into a club for members only.

     If we’re not careful, the same thing can happen to our churches.  In some it already has.

     Jesus made his mission clear.  He “came to seek and to save what was lost.”  His heart and passion were for hurting people.  People whom he said were like “sheep without a shepherd.” 

     His goal was to bring them into the Kingdom of God, forgive their sin and give them eternal life.  That was the purpose of the cross and resurrection. It’s the main reason we celebrate Easter!

     Do you call yourself a follower of Christ?  Then what is your purpose and passion?  If you are more concerned about your wants and needs, you are out of touch with Jesus.

     Want to get back on track?  Read the Gospel of John and The Acts of the Apostles again.  Ask God to show you his purpose for your life.  Be willing to sacrifice your comfort and preferences to reach your world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

     Then tell your church leaders you want to see the church get back to its main mission of connecting lost souls to Jesus. (Expect to see shock on their faces!)  Volunteer to help. 

     Watch as your life–and your church–gets more exciting! 

     If you’re a church leader, avoid the temptation to cater to complacent Christians.  Then challenge the church to get back to Jesus’ mission.  Help the hurting find comfort in Christ.

     Remember–the church is the only organization that exists primarily for those outside of its membership!  Christ’s followers must build bridges to people and help them connect with God.

     Churches are often about many things.  It’s time they got back to the main thing.

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

A Sure Thing

     Compare a free gift and a lottery ticket. Which one is a ‘sure thing?’ Last week many went for the lottery ticket.  And when it comes to religion, most people seem to prefer gambling as well.

     “Now hold on just a minute,” you say. “Why gamble your soul for eternity?” 

     Good question. But millions do it every day. Why? Because religion teaches them to gamble.

     Many religions emphasize salvation by works.  In other words, when you die, your good works are weighed against your bad.  And if more than 51% are good, you get to go to heaven. 

     But how do you know if you have enough good works?  What if you die before that point?

     Most people want assurance about eternity, but a false religion gives none.  It’s a gamble.

     One religion teaches that dying as a martyr is the path to paradise.  Another religion offers an endless cycle of rebirths.  The hope is of one day being able to escape the cycle.  Good luck!

     False religions offer no forgiveness, only fate and fear of an unknown eternity.

     Some religions teach that all paths lead to the same God and the same truth.  But that can’t be true when you compare faiths and discover opposite beliefs.  They all can’t be right!

     If you’re born into one of those traditions, there’s pressure to keep the family faith.  To stay true to your religion.   So you must decide whether to pursue tradition or truth.

     In his book “Jesus Among Other Gods,” Ravi Zacharias compares the claims of Christ with the founders of other major religions.  (It is a book well worth your time.)

     The author observes that only Jesus claimed to be from Heaven.  Only Jesus claimed to be the Son of God.  Buddha did not claim that.  Neither did Krishna or Mohammed. 

     Instead of pointing to a “path” of rules to follow, Jesus claimed to be the path.  He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

     Zacharias writes, “The message of Christ was not the introduction of a religion, but an introduction to truth about reality as God alone knows it.”

     What God wants is a personal relationship with us through Christ, not just more rule-keepers.

     Some religions teach you must pay for your sins.  But the Bible says that, because Jesus was sinless, God accepted his death on the cross as payment for all our sin.  What amazing grace!

     Jesus paid the price to reconcile man to God and change human hearts by the power of God’s presence.   He didn’t come to offer us a new religion. He offers a personal relationship with God.    

     The Bible reveals the truth about good works.  It says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

     Did you catch that?  Salvation is a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ.  It is not by works.

     During this week before Easter, consider this:  Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection are not just a myth; they are real facts of history.  The evidence is there for all who will seek it.  And when you discover that the truth about Christ is real, it will change your life forever. 

     It did mine.  The day I put my faith in Christ is the day I found true peace and joy.  I found forgiveness in Jesus.   And that’s why one purpose of my life is to point people to him as Savior.

     The good news about faith in Jesus Christ is that it’s for people of all nations.  It’s for everyone who is tired of gambling on religious traditions.  It is for people who want truth.

     Only faith in Christ is a ‘sure thing.’  For everyone.  Because it’s a free gift and not a gamble.

     What will you trust for your eternal future – God’s free gift or man’s religion of rules?

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Power Predicament

     When it comes to physical stature, Americans believe bigger is better. 

     We like our athletes big, strong and powerful.  On sports fields and basketball courts, strength and stamina win the day.  Scrawny types just don’t cut it.

     And when you’re the biggest and the strongest, your friends treat you like a demigod.  That fact isn’t lost on athletes who are tempted to bulk up with illegal drugs that destroy their health.

     But if your confidence is in your strength, it becomes your greatest weakness.

     “Now hold on just a minute!” you say.  “How can strength become a weakness?”

     Because strength leads to pride.   Eventually you’ll face someone bigger and stronger.  And when strength and ability are your only resource, you’ve set yourself up to fail.

     Have you ever heard of Samson?  He was a national hero.  He was the strongest man alive and proud of it. His story is in the Bible book of Judges, chapters 13-16. Read it sometime.

     Samson was so strong he killed a lion with his bare hands.  When bound with ropes, he snapped them like threads.  Attacked by a thousand warriors, he destroyed them single-handed.

     But one day, in a moment of weakness, he revealed the secret of his God-given strength.  His enemies took advantage of his weakness and made him a slave.

     You have a power predicament when you depend on your strength alone and not on God’s power. And when you forget that all you have, your strength, your talents and your intellect – everything – is a gift from God, you’re setting yourself up for a fall.  Just like Samson did.

     As the saying goes, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

     So is it wrong to be strong?  Not at all.  The problem is pride.

     Pride makes us think we’re invincible.  Pride is a seed we sow that leads to a harvest of self-destruction.  That’s why God warns us against becoming proud.

     If pride is the problem, humility before God is the solution.  The Bible says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.”

     When a person humbles himself or herself and trusts in God, God’s power makes that person strong.  Just consider the example of Jesus Christ.

     Jesus was crucified in what appeared to be a moment of weakness.  But God’s power resurrected him. And then Jesus walked alive out of a solid rock tomb. How’s that for power?

     Maybe you face overwhelming odds in your life.  Your health, your finances or your reputation have been crushed.  You feel weak, defeated and humbled.  If so, take heart.

     When humility brings you to God and you trust in him through Jesus Christ his Son, everything changes.  Suddenly you’re connected to God’s power.  Your failures are forgiven and you can say with the Apostle Paul, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”

     Put your confidence in God.  He can and will save you.

     That outlook led the psalmist to write in the Bible, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”  And it led the Apostle Paul to exclaim, “Thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

     At the end of his life, Samson learned this lesson the hard way.  Tortured by his enemies, he humbled himself and called on God. God restored his strength and gave him one last victory.

     Take a lesson from Samson and avoid a power predicament.  Put your trust in the all-powerful God of the Bible today.  You’ll be glad you did.

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

No Secrets

     Can you keep a secret? Chances are you already do – more than you care to admit!

     “Now hold it right there for just a minute!  How do you know whether or not I keep secrets?”

     That’s a fair question.  Let me answer with the words of Colombian novelist Gabriel García Márquez: “All human beings have three lives: public, private and secret.”

     In public we cultivate the image of self we want others to believe is true.  Generous. Kind.  Talented.  Family man.  Successful woman. Whatever we think others will like.

     In private we “let our hair down.”  We become the person with whom we’re comfortable.  Only our family or closest friends see this person.  Some parts of this self make us ashamed.  So we guard it closely, afraid others won’t like us if they know the truth.

     Then there’s our secret life.  The self we become when we think no one sees us.  The self of our daydreams and fantasies.  James Thurber famously portrayed this unseen side of life in his classic book, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” 

    Mitty was a meek, mild-mannered man dominated by others.  But in his daydreams he was a fierce, courageous hero’s hero – the man he so desperately wanted to be.

     What we are in the secret playground of our minds is the self we want to be.  And while we may keep our secrets safe from others, we cannot keep them from God.

     The Bible teaches us that one day “God will judge men’s secrets.”  It adds, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

     Accountability is a troubling thought to modern minds.  We fancy ourselves free to do what we please without unpleasant consequences. 

     But the beauty of the Bible is that it presents us with unvarnished truth.

     God’s Word says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please God, from God will reap eternal life.”

     Such truth pains our conscience.  Why?  Because we know God is ultimately right.

     What makes the Bible unique is its uncanny ability to reveal who we really are.  Its truth “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

     Once we admit our shortcomings and humbly approach God in prayer, we find that “we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

     God is not the angry scorekeeper some imagine.  Instead of sternly looking for people to punish, God offers forgiveness and a fresh start to everyone through faith in Jesus Christ.

     The God of the Bible is the God of second chances in this life.  And the best part is he welcomes all that seek him.  You don’t have to come from a certain nationality or a particular religion.  Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

     Speaking of himself, Jesus added, “Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him, shall have eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day.”

     It is no secret what God can do in a person’s life through faith in Christ.  So bring your secrets to God.  He’ll love you, forgive you and transform you into the person you always wanted to be.  

     Then you can be the same person all the time.  No more secrets. As God’s child, you have nothing to prove and nothing to lose because you’re loved and accepted for who you really are.

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!   

True Lies

     Can you handle the truth?  Or do you make it up as you go along? 

     When we make up truth it becomes ‘true lies’ we tell ourselves.  We want them to be true.

     “You can’t handle the truth!” is a memorable line from the movie “A Few Good Men.”  And it strikes a chord in us because the truth is sometimes hard to hear. So we accept what’s ‘truthy.’

     “Now hold on just a minute,” you say.  “Is that a word?  What’s ‘truthy’?

     ‘Truthy’ is a word television comedian Stephen Colbert popularized.  He came up with the word minutes before taping an episode of  “The Colbert Report.”  He decided the word ‘truth’ in his script wasn’t ridiculous enough. But ‘truthy’ fit the bill.

     “We're not talking about truth,” he explained. “We're talking about something that seems like truth – the truth we want to exist.  Facts matter not at all.  Perception is everything.”

     Colbert added, “Truthiness is ‘What I say is right.’  It's not only that I feel it to be true, but that ‘I’ feel it to be true. There's not only an emotional quality, but there’s a selfish quality.”

     Many call themselves Christians and believe what’s ‘truthy’ instead of the truth.  In fact it’s common for them to describe their faith as “Choosing what I want to believe.”  As if the Bible was a buffet line, picking what you like and leaving what you don’t.

     It’s probably how many Americans view their faith.  But while some religions may include that approach, the Bible does not. 

     Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except by me.”  Notice Jesus said he is ‘THE’ truth and not ‘A’ truth.

     Another time he added, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” 

     Think about that.  For the truth to set you free you must believe it’s true and act on it.  It’s not an option for you to adjust the truth to your preferences or make it fit your view of reality.

     We can’t adjust truth in a math class.  What makes us think we can do it with God's truth?

     Many people say they believe the Bible and believe in God. They’ve heard the gospel story and agree that Jesus lived, died on a cross for the sins of mankind and rose again on the third day.  But hearing it and agreeing with it are not the same as believing and trusting in it.

     If you truly believe something it changes your behavior.  In this case you put your trust in Jesus Christ to forgive you and save you from sin’s penalty – eternal separation from God.  And then you follow him and obey him.  You live for Jesus and serve others.

     Some don’t see the need to obey Jesus.  They don’t believe his teaching is the only truth.

Instead they believe what’s ‘truthy’ about Jesus. They think what THEY want to believe is true. 

     They might say, “I’m a Christian.  I believe in God.  I pray and attend church.  I do the best I can.”  But contrary to popular opinion, God doesn’t grade us on our efforts.  The Bible says salvation and eternal life are gifts from God received through faith in Christ and not by works.

     God sent Jesus so we could know our sins and mistakes are forgiven and so we could know we have eternal life.  And when you know that, you know the truth.

     Jesus Christ lived, died and rose from the dead to give us all a full and blessed life now and eternal life in Heaven later.  It’s what the Bible calls the good news about Jesus Christ.

     So leave the ‘true lies’ to those who can’t handle the truth.  Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life.  Can you handle the truth? If you can it will change your life for good.

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!