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"Following Jesus"
Most Christians at one point or another wonder if they’re really growing in their relationship with Christ. At any given time, you can feel like you’re growing exponentially, and other times you wonder whether you’re even saved!
plant growing in the sand (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
While studying several of Paul’s epistles, I was surprised to see so many verses about our sanctification. That:
- God must give the increase, and
- this increase is gradual.
Because of this, we can pray, hope, and trust that God’s character is being built in each one of us. Below are a few of those verses.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13
For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. Colossians 1:29
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:7
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power… 2 Thessalonians 1:11
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age… Titus 2:11-12
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:4-5
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30
These verses give me joy and hope. I end with this quote from C.S. Lewis:
“The Christian is in a different position from other people who are trying to be good. They hope, by being good, to please God if there is one; or – if they think there is not – at least they hope to deserve approval from good men. But the Christian thinks any good he does comes from the Christ-life inside him. He does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a greenhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it.”
I’ve been doing some study in Luke for a bible study we’re starting, and can’t help but say that contrary to popular unbelieving opinion, the original followers of Christ were very much concerned with truth. Their hope in Christ was based on solid historical proofs and eyewitness testimony.
This is Luke’s introduction to his gospel (Luke 1:1-4) in a nutshell: “Christianity is true because of the solid and reliable accounts, testimony, and even by my own experience of some of the things I’ve been following.”
The cool thing about Christ is that we’re not asked to believe in some fairy or angel who spoke direct revelation to someone who had not witnessed those things personally. Luke gives us several sources for the foundation of his gospel:
- Others accounts of the things that had been accomplished (i.e. Matthew and Mark, and who knows who else)
- Eyewitness accounts from those who are now ministering the word (i.e. apostles)
- Luke’s own following of some of the events, or his own watching of the working out of these first events (Luke may not have been a first hand witness of Jesus)
Think about it.
If a trial were held today for a serial killer, and you, the prosecutor or jury member saw written first hand accounts of what happened, heard direct eyewitness accounts of what happened, and had even witnessed some of the aftershocks of the original events yourself, and all of these things pointed to the fact that this person was indeed the killer, wouldn’t you be convinced of this evidence? We’re not talking circumstantial evidence here.
What can we learn from this?
That God is concerned with truth. That the Old Testament requirement to have two or three witnesses to confirm a truth still holds water. God not only provides us with two or three witnesses, he provides us with hundreds.
As Christians, we should be concerned with truth too, in every area of life.
Be encouraged today. God isn’t asking you to walk around with blinders on.
I listened again recently to a message I heard from Doug Phillips within the last couple of days about, “The History of the Sunday School Movement.”
I was reminded about how our children are our disciples whether we know it or not. They are mini portraits of our lives. You and I are always discipling.
This wasn’t expressly what the message was about, but it reminded me of how discipling involves how we live with our children, walk with them, talk with them, play with them, and work with them. Discipling is the biblical form of education that involves daily living in close relationships with those whom you are discipling.
I then had to judge myself and ask whether I am discipling my children toward God, or toward myself.
I forget sometimes that what I’m working toward is the same thing that Jesus worked toward throughout His 3 years of ministry with His disciples. In John 15:15, Jesus says to His disciples,
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
From Deuteronomy 6 to Acts 6, God’s method of education has not changed. That’s our jobs as parents right? To make known to our children what we have heard from God.
I look forward to the day when my kids are no longer my disciples, but are Christ’s disciples. And I also look forward to the day when they will be my deepest friends, and not just my kids.
Even now, God is giving us glimpses of this in Arwen’s life. We can sit and talk with her about some of life’s deepest issues, and I know that her heart belongs to me. That’s the key to discipleship versus classroom based education.
She has my heart too.
(That’s my girl holding an axe after she helped me break up some old wood we needed to get rid of.) She’s also sitting beside me proofreading this post right now. 
Right now, the Christian world is abuzz with the release of a new book from the pastor of Mars Hill church in Grandville, Michigan, Rob Bell called, “Love Wins.” Even weeks before the book’s release, the promotional video promoting it has set off a flurry of parodies as well as responses to the premise of the book.
Many are accusing him of universalism, or the belief that Christ died for everyone, therefore everyone will be saved. Rob Bell’s beliefs from “Love Wins” aren’t quite that simple though. He claims he’s not a universalist, although he does believe everyone will eventually end up with Christ in heaven (see the video at the end of this post).
How can he claim everyone will be saved without being a universalist? By saying that God’s love will “win” over sinners post-mortum. Hence the name for his book, “Love Wins.”
Rob Bell’s disdain for the gospel that teaches that everyone who rejects Christ’s kingdom will burn in hell forever comes through clearly in his video as he asks, “Gandhi’s in hell? He is? And someone knows this, for sure; and felt the need to let the rest of us know?”
But he’s just asking questions, right? Unfortunatley, these questions sound eerily close to the original message delivered to Eve in the garden by the serpent, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5)
We can picture the scene now as a woeful sinner walks into Bell’s office at his church for counseling:
Sinner: Hi, Pastor Bell. I wanted to speak with you about this guilt that I have. I can’t seem to get rid of it.
Bell: What is it that’s bothering you?
Sinner: Well, I grew up in a Christian home, and have always been taught that Jesus paid the price for my sins, and that I need to turn to him and repent, or else I will burn in hell forever. I feel guilty because I can’t seem to live right. I continue to fall into sin, and feel like a worthless sinner.
Bell: Who said that you’re a sinner? Who says that you’ll burn in hell forever for your sins? In fact, didn’t you just say that Jesus paid the price for your sins?
Sinner: Well, doesn’t the Bible teach that I’ll burn in hell someday if I don’t accept Christ? Are you saying that I don’t have to make things right with God before I die?
Bell: Think about it. God only told you in the Bible you’d burn in hell because He knows that if you knew that everyone will end up in heaven anyway, that you wouldn’t go to church while you’re here on earth. Maybe you’ll burn a little while. But God’s love is great, and His love will convince you either in this life or the next. That stuff you heard growing up is just a bunch of tradition meant to scare people, and make others feel more powerful.
Sinner: I guess you’re right. I mean, sinning is a lot of fun. Well in that case, seeya later pastor!
Bell: Seeya next Sunday!
Sinner: Next Sunday? Why bother? I’ll see you in heaven!
Bell then continues on in his video to speak even more devilishly. He goes on to undermine even further the words of God, even the very character of God:
And then there is the question behind the questions, the real question: What is God like? Because millions and millions of people were taught that the primary message—the center of the Gospel of Jesus—is that God is going to send you to hell, unless you believe in Jesus. And so, what gets, subtlely, sort of caught and taught is that Jesus rescues you from God. But what kind of God is that; that we would need to be rescued from this God? How could that God ever be good; how could that God ever be trusted? And how could that ever be good news.
Again, Rob Bell has taken another page from Satan’s book. The serpent began his message to Eve by subtly undermining Eve’s understanding of God’s word, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1)
Love Wins doesn’t present anything new. Rob Bell in his heresy, is doing nothing but his father’s work. The same work his father did in the beginning. He’s just the heretical flavor of the week. Like every other false teacher, he’ll be forgotten, but in the meantime, drag a whole bunch of people down with him.
Jesus’s words from John 8:39-47 aptly describe Rob Bell and his works. In this context, Jesus is telling a group of Jews including some Pharisees, that they are not Abraham’s descendants simply because they were born from Abraham’s physical lineage. In fact, he tells them that they have a different father altogether!
They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
As Rob Bell’s promo video spells out clearly, biblical Christianity is unpalatable to men who cannot bear to hear God’s words. So, Satan sends a liar to draw in thousands of followers for which to deceive. They cannot bear to hear God’s words either. So what you essentially have at Mars Hill Church, is a church full of people gathered together in the name of God, but unwilling to hear His words.
His Youtube video promoting the book is a tribute to the postmodern rejection of absolute truth characterized by the biblical God. The same absolute truth that has set the world on fire. The same truth that has caused sinners to repent of their sins, or writhe in misery under the weight of God’s word.
When you hear Rob Bell speak, who do you hear?
I’ve had something hit home with me very recently, and only now have found words to put it into. It’s not some huge discovery, and really it’s something that most Christians would hear and say, “Well, duh!”
This was triggered, by the recent death of a friend. He died leaving four children behind, and many good years still yet to live. But one thing was clearly evident at his funeral: This man had led a life that to many seemed strange, but his good works of service had blessed so many people, that the large baptist church we were in could barely hold them.
This man had made such a great impact for the cause of Christ on his own family, church family, employees, business competition, neighbors, and yes, even the trash man. All of these showed up at his funeral to praise his good works.
What made him different was one very simple practice: He had the self-discipline of seeking.
Seeking is built into our very DNA as human beings. We’re all seeking something. And there’s many things that seek to have us seek after them. Seeking is inevitable.
To seek means, “ to go after, and the primary sense is to advance, to press, to drive forward.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)
Concerning the rich man, James 1:11b says, “So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” All of us will pass away in the midst of pursuing something. The rich man fades away in the middle of his pursuing. Never finding. Never satiating his desire.
Jesus promises that if we seek we will find, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Our first failure as Christians is always our failure to seek. A lack of seeking, is a lack of faith. Christianity is not a passive religion.
With Christ, we cannot be spectators, but proactive seekers. In the same way that we seek to grow our business or career we must seek to grow in our knowledge, understanding, and disciplines of our faith.
No one else can take that up for us. We must be seekers. Constantly searching out Christ. It must be on our minds throughout the day to not forget. To pursue at every spare moment. To pray. To think on Christ. To reflect on His Word and will.
In addition to being natural seekers, we can also tell many times what someone is seeking after by the way they live their lives.
So naturally, being a true seeker of Christ will look funny to those around you. Your pursuit will look much different than the pursuits that those around you are taking. When you begin putting the same passion into your pursuit of Christ as the rich put into their pursuit of riches, the world will laugh.
This naturally causes us to want to turn away from our pursuit. So… we must expect the normal response of those around us to be negative.
But the self-discipline of seeking is a high-calling. A difficult calling. And it is the only way that we will ever draw near to Him.
I’m tired of being on the outer courts just getting spiritual scraps, simply because those around me are satisfied with this.
I want to live a life that glorifies God, and a life not lived pursuing Him will not bring Him much glory.
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