Forgotten God (when Christians fail)

Today's posting is a personal one and I write this because when writing  on the subject matters that I write, it is easy to pretend that I do not commit the very sins I hammer away at; that I am somehow better, holier, or more developed than those of you who read my writings.  When in truth, I am simply a man trying and failing at being the man that God wants me to be.  Which is the exact reason Jesus died for me.

Tonight was my weekly Bible study, we are beginning a new study on the Holy Spirit (Forgotten God, by Francis Chan), which I have been looking forward to; it is a subject that intrigues me and that I wanted to throw myself into.   However, I had previously mistaken the date that I was to pick a friend up from the airport (it was today and not tomorrow), but being a man of my word, I was there to pick them up and drop them safely off at their hotel.   All of this put me behind schedule so  I was running late when I arrived at the Bible study, I was thankful that the leader had delayed starting the group until I managed to squeeze in a ½ hour late.   

There was one chair left empty and as I took it I noticed that the person sitting next to me was new. I then remembered that I had earlier in the week received a phone call from a woman who was asking about where she  go to attend a bible study, and I had recommended this one, because of the people in it and because of the new subject matter we were undertaking.   The leader for tonight had everyone introduce themselves and tell just a pinch about who they were, when it got to me, I said my name and then simply said ‘I am the one who stirs the pot’ (Which is true, I am the one who will challenge you on your feelings, your beliefs, your actions, always testing...) 

After introductions a short DVD was played and during it I noticed that the new woman was tearing up.  It was taking every bit of self control she had to not break down and begin to cry.  I reached over and asked her if she was alright, to which she gave me a brief explanation as to why she was emotional.  My response was to tell her that I would talk to her later, that I may be able to help her after the Bible study.  The DVD continued to play and as it was finishing up Francis Chan mentioned that we should keep ourselves open to the Holy Spirit interrupting what we had planned, to be open to the idea that perhaps God had something else planned for us, that it may not be the Holy Spirits desire that we finish this study right now.  I nodded my head in agreement

Shortly after the DVD was over she had to leave (we started late - remember).  As she was leaving, the leader of our Bible study walked her to the door and was briefly visiting with her as I approached to touch base with her.  It was obvious that she was troubled, and that she needed to talk, but just did not have any more time tonight.  I gave her my phone number and told her to call, and I would be glad to sit down and listen.   She said she would.  With that she left.

Tonight I failed!  Tonight I was so rushed, so self-absorbed, so self-focused, so self-centered, so self concerned about what I wanted to get out of tonight’s bible study that I missed the obvious.  Tonight I was there to step into the gap, tonight I was to do - rather then listen.  Tonight God had brought a hurting individual to the chair next to me; tonight God had brought someone who I am uniquely qualified to help to my very side.  Tonight, the Holy Spirit wanted me to be open to the idea of not starting the study tonight.  Tonight I failed.  

We all fail, and when we do we can view it in one of two ways.  The first, which is the easiest and by far the most popular, is to say that we are thankful that the Holy Spirit has convicted us of our missed opportunity and that we have learned from it; in other words we pat ourselves on the back for being aware of the fact that we did nothing.  The other way is to let the conviction penetrate your very soul, to acknowledge that you failed, that it was your sin that caused you to fail, and to not let yourself off the hook with being alright with the fact that you did nothing when you were asked to do something.  To ask for a second chance and mean it.  

It is my heartfelt prayer that I am given another opportunity to step forward into the gap, instead of standing still.   I know that God’s plan for this woman will not be altered by my failure to do what He wanted me to do, I might be given another opportunity, or God will simply send someone else to do what I did not. 

Tonight I forgot God, I was busy thinking about me.  Tonight I failed, but with the Holy Spirit's help, I will do better tomorrow.  

God calls us to step into the gap regardless of what we planned or want.  We are not just blessed, we are called to be a blessing.  

If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees - Christian Life

If you have not yet figured it out, I am passionate that theology and doctrine is taught.  NOT just so that we may grow in head knowledge because you can be a Bible-head and still chose to deliberately violate the will of God.  1 Timothy 4:16 says “Watch your life and doctrine closely.”  The two are tied together, thus learning doctrine without it affecting your life is meaningless - we need doctrine to melt our hearts and cause it to shape us into loving God and people more, and wanting to follow His will for our lives as a result.

The Gospel is not just, about what happens when we die, but about our lives being changed here.  I know that like most Christians, we do not want to dwell on the reality of hell, but at the same time, we must never forget there is a hell, even if it is a mystery to what it is specifically.  Other wise what is the point of examining yourself to see if you are in the faith?  Therefore, we must address the issue of Hell.  However, do so; we must confront our own view of God. 

“Do you want to believe in a God who shows His power by punishing non-Christians and who magnifies His mercy by blessing Christians forever?  Do you want to?  Be honest.  Do you want to believe in a God like this?  Here’s my gut-level, honest answer: No.

No way.  I have family and friends who reject Jesus.  I do not want to believe in a God who punishes non-Christians.  Okay, maybe He should punish extremely wicked people – that makes some sense.  But punishment in hell for seemingly good people, or those who simply chose the wrong religion?  That feels a bit harsh, at lest according to my sense of justice.

But let me ask you another question.

Could you believe in a God who decides to punish people who don’t believe in Jesus?  A God who wants to show His power by punishing those who don’t follow His Son?

The problem is that we often respond to the second question because of our response to the first.  In other words, because there are things that we don’t want to believe about God, we therefore decide that we can’t believe them.” Francis Chan in his book ‘Erasing Hell: What God said about eternity and the things we made up’

We cannot let pop culture define hell as something cartoon- or fable-like and harmless. No partial truths. 

Key Facts about Eternity

1. Everyone will exist eternally either in heaven or hell  (Daniel 12:2,3; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:14,15)

2. Everyone has only one life in which to determine his or her destiny.  (Hebrews 9:27)

3. Heaven or hell is determined by whether a person believes in Christ alone to save them and does what Christ commands.  (John 3:16, 36)

4. Hell was designed originally for Satan and his demons.  (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10)

5. Hell will also punish the sin of those who reject Christ.  (Matthew 13:41,50; Revelation   20:11-15; 21:8).

6. Hell is conscious torment.  (Matthew 13:50; Mark 9:48; Revelation 14:10)

7. Hell is eternal and irreversible.  (Revelation 14:11; Revelation 20:14; Revelation 20:15)

As a Christian, we need to remind ourselves  that the Gospel is not just about what happens when we die, but about lives being changed here, thus we must talk about Hell.   Because if we care about the people Jesus loves, the people He died for so that they would not experience hell, but have abundant kingdom life here on this earth and be with Him for all eternity.  How can we not?

Or to quote Charles Spurgeon “If sinners be dammed, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies.  If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees.  Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”  

The Lukewarm Christian

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold or hot. I wish you were one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth" . Revelations 3:15-16

What is Christianity?   Most people understand why Jesus would want a 'hot christian' but find it hard to understand why He would spit out a lukewarm Christian and not someone who is cold. I don't, My own persona history shows me what Jesus was driving at. Imagine Saul of the New Testament, it would be harder to visualize a person more cold then Saul, here was a man who had chosen to select for himself the career of hunting down Christians and killing them. Could you be any colder? Saul was not a man to sit on the fence, not a man who would say one thing and act out in the other. No Saul was cold and proud of it. He acted in accordance to the passion that lived in him. 

 

Saul, had he been lukewarm, would have simply professed his beliefs about the “Christians' and then gone about his life, dabbling here, and there, professing to be a Jew, but not really doing anything one way or the other. You know the type of person I am talking about, they work beside you, shop in the same stores, belong to the same organizations, golf at the same course, some are family members, some are friends, they might even be you. These are the people who when it is all said and done look back and say I wish I would have, could have, should have.

Francis Chan describes in his book 'Crazy Love' the 17 characteristics of a lukewarm Christian. Try to picture anyone of these being applied to Saul.  Then examine how they apply to you.

 

1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go. Isaiah 29:13

2. Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so, After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? 1 Chronicles 21:24, Luke 21:1-4

3. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, Matthew 23:5-7 4.

4: Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one. John 10:10, Romans 6:1-2.

5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers. James 1:22, James 4:17, Matthew 21:28-31

6. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33

7. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street. Luke 18:11-12

8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives, their money, and their thoughts, but he isn’t allowed to control their lives. Luke 9:57-62

9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals. Matthew 22:37-38

10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, who kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached. Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 14:12-14

11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give. Luke 18:21-25

12. Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever do they intently consider the life to come. Philippians 3:18-20

13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. Matthew 25:34, 40, Isaiah 58:6-7

14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without requiring too much of them. 1 Chronicles 29:14, Matthew 13:44-46

15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them sacrificing and risking for God. Matthew 10:28

16. Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.

17. Luke warm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them—they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live—they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis-their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. Luke 12:16-21

18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Matthew 23:25-28, Luke 14:34-35

Do you think anyone ever pointed their finger at Saul at said ”there stands a lukewarm man” No, Saul was as cold as a man could be.  But not us, we have grown comfortable, self-reliant, content, religious, and without any spiritual purpose, we are the lukewarm Christians.

The Holy Spirit entered Saul's heart, implanted in him a sincere desire to change, and Saul yielded to his direction, repented of his sins, and allowed God to change him from the inside out. God changed the heart of the renowned and fearsome hunter of Christians into a gentle, forgiving and loving fisherman of men. Saul the ice cold, became the burning, fire hot Paul. Yes Jesus would rather have those whose hearts are cold, because like Saul they do not deceive themselves that they are what they are not, Jesus can work with that. Paul said it best in Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”