Monthly Archives: August 2011

 ”…a popularized religion — which costs nothing and is worth nothing — is readily accepted, while the old religion of the cross is utterly discarded…”

Suffering for Jesus

This was a plea to the Church written over 150 years ago. How loud it still rings today.

We are living in an age of shames and counterfeits. Satan seems to have abandoned the hope of crushing out the Christian Church by a process of undisguised hostility, and now seeks to destroy her efficiency by stealthily draining off her vitality, and robbing her of every supernatural element. He “transforms himself into an angel of light”, and often assumes to be the special friend and guardian of the Church. Craftily he infuses his deadly virus and inculcates his plausible philosophy, until the moral perception is obscured, the conscience is distorted, and policy runs nearly the whole ecclesiastical machinery. Thus a popularized religion — which costs nothing and is worth nothing — is readily accepted, while the old religion of the cross is utterly discarded. The consequence is, that there is religion enough, and Churchianity enough, but a great famine for real Christianity. We meet with thousands all over the land who, if catechized in regard to their spiritual condition, reply with much self- assurance that they are members of such a Church. They assume that the Church is an ark of safety; and, once ensconced within her enclosures, all further anxiety ends. Let us try to unmask this dreadful delusion of the devil.There is a difference, we may premise, between the real and the nominal Church of Christ; The former is composed of all true Christians. Its boundaries are therefore invisible, as no man can tell exactly where to draw the lines. The latter is composed of those who assume the Christian name and practice the ordinances of God’s house. It is commonly called thevisible Church, because its boundary lines are known. The epithet may apply to a single local society of a given denomination, or to the aggregate of local societies of all denominations. We use the term, in this paper, to designate the outward or visible Church.

1. Christ and the Church are not identical.

There may be ten thousand Churches, but there is only one Christ. Nor can all those Churches supply the place of our one, blessed all-sufficient Savior. A man may be saved without the Church, but he cannot be saved without Christ. A man may be in the Church and not be saved; but he cannot be in Christ without salvation. Sinners sometimes become members of the Church; but only saints are members of Christ. A person may live in the Church for years, with the old heart of carnality and selfishness; but “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature”. The requirements of the Church are often wrong and ruinous; but the claims of Christ are always reasonable and right. The Church may become a sink of pollution; but Christ is ever the perfection of purity. The Church may be rent with divisions; but Jesus Christ is not divided. The Church may become terribly entangled in mysticism and error; but Christ is always the embodiment of light and truth. The Church may change her name and her nature; but Christ is “the same yesterday, today, and forever”. The Church may be a crutch to walk with, but she is a poor Christ to trust in for salvation and eternal life.

2. Christian worship and Church worship are not identical.

Vast multitudes cling to some Church establishment as a drowning man would cling to a life-boat. They bow obsequiously to her priestly and official mandates, and imagine that the blind servility which they tender to the Church will be accounted acceptable service offered to Christ. The simplicity of the Gospel is lost in the imposing forms and glittering accompaniments of modern churchism. Splendid church edifices attract the eye. Splendid music charms the ear. Splendid prayers are addressed to the CONGREGATION. Splendid sermons please the fancy, and leave deluded sinners to slumber on. Church rivalry has achieved a glorious success, if success thundering organs, ostentatious dressing, theatrical singing, pointless praying, rhetorical preaching, careless hearing, and unscriptural practicing! Much of the current worship is done by proxy. Lazy religionists surrender their sacred rights to others. They take it for granted that the preacher is on the right track, and readily swallow whatever may be doled out from the pulpit, without using their own brains in searching for the hidden treasures of truth. Thus religious ideas are transmitted from generation to generation, until tradition exerts a more powerful influence than the Bible in molding the sentiments of men. There comes to be a fashionable faith, as well as a fashionable dress. To embrace a certain stereotyped circle of doctrinal views entitles a man to the claim of “orthodoxy”; but let him not venture one step out of the beaten track, if he would not be denounced as a deluded heretic! But few have the moral courage to question the decisions of the Church, much less to discard what she has labeled as “orthodox”. The verdict of a few leading denominations has thus grown up into a threatening tyranny; and the multitude cannot think of stemming the mighty tide. So they bow down in their narrow enslavement and worship this curiously- fashioned but pious-looking idol – the Church! Since all idolatry is an abomination to God, we have no more right to worship a church than we have to worship a golden calf! We rob the Lord of His rightful honor, and ourselves of the highest bliss of Christianity, by looking to the Church too much, and “looking unto Jesus” too little. What can be done to deal a staggering blow to this cruel church- worship of the day, and at the same time give us more exalted and ravishing views of Jesus Christ? There is a grand failure to carry out the ultimate design, when the appliances of the Gospel result only in the production of Churchianity. Our perception, our prayers, our faith and our adoration must overleap the narrow precincts of the outward Church, and rise up to the eternal throne! “Worship God!”

3. Christian fellowship and Church fellowship are not identical.

The followers of Christ are called upon to “love one another with a pure heart fervently”. Indeed, this is one of the Scriptural tests of discipleship. “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren”. All Christians constitute one family, and love is the golden tie designed to bind their hearts together around the common cross. But love is a tender plant that needs to be reared with a hand. Hence the many exhortations of Scripture to “consider one another” — to “be kindly affectioned one to another” — to esteem others better than ourselves — to “bear one another’s burdens” — to exercise a forgiving spirit — to “let brotherly love continue” — to “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace”. All such injunctions point out the danger of alienated feelings and poisoned affections, and show the importance of making a special effort to promote Christian unity and love. How disastrous are the results of not regarding these Gospel precepts!

1863 by A. A. Phelps.

I have long understood that the fundamental problem of the western church primarily began, in many ways, 20 years ago when a seed of distrust was somewhere planted between the older generation and the younger generation.

At that time a tiny fissure began to develop in the body of Christ between an inexperienced, modern, tech-savvy, innovative generation and an established, deep-seated, steady-going, experienced generation that has since grown to become a major chasm between the two.

At first it wasn’t all that noticeable as churches conceded to those youthful interests by apportioning the “youth group” which was the stylized name for what was really the beginning of a youth church. But the young got older and eventually had to leave the stylized youth group. Now what? Well, churches conceded yet some more, and we saw the emergence of the contemporary service. Not quite the church of the young generation, but pretty darn close.

No one seemed to know the heart problem behind the division and figured surface level solutions like these would rectify the situation and everyone would be happy. Instead, the rottenness of the division deep down continued to fester. The split services just weren’t satisfactory. By the early 2000′s churches began to severely break down; it was like church multiplication but on negative terms. The stylized youth groups finally emerged from their cocoons and became their own independent churches fashioned after the long held values of modernism, creativity, and technology. On the other end of things, the experienced, deep-seated generation continued steadfastly in their way and ten years later the youth group rooms are empty, congregations are devoid of young people, and church buildings everywhere are over half empty.

This unfortunately has left the church body with a wide chasm of distrust running straight through it. It’s like a huge gaping gash right across the chest. It’s an issue that doesn’t seem to have ever been directly dealt with or addressed. Of all the divisions in the church, I wonder if this isn’t the worst kind? If there is an absence of creativity, innovation, and forward-thinking—biblical roles of the Holy Spirit in the church—how can the Church survive? Likewise, if there is no anchor, established experience, or steadfast wisdom—fundamental to its strength and ability to withstand the changing influences of worldliness—how can the Church survive?

I’m sure many of us are by now growing tired of having to choose between either a trendy, brand-focused, church of anchor-less, fickle youth with no direction and an empty, stunted church that does not value innovation, creativity or contextualization.

Re-visioning the church for such as time as this means healing the gash in our chest. This is no mere wound, but a gaping blow by the “father of lies” that has proven successful at keeping us down over the last 20 years. Who will have the courage to turn and be mindful of this? The call from the standpoint of the Scriptures is for the fathers of the people to take responsibility, not because everything is their fault, but because they are the fathers. The young have grown restless and distrusting, not just rebellious—although there is plenty of that in the church body. What they need is for the fathers of the church to earn it back. Listen to them. Spend time with them. Let them know you’re there for them. Communicate to them that you understand and that you take responsibility for the faults of the older generation and how it has contributed to the division in our church. The young are counting on you.

That’s your brother over there…. He’s starving to death.

Reports are coming in that 29,000+ children have starved to death. That means a slow, agonizing death over a period of weeks with endless hunger pains. The parents can only watch helplessly. Estimates say that 2500 people will die per day this next month unless aid is brought in which, unfortunately, is being hindered by Islamic militants. Those are no small numbers, folks! As you retire for the night, after a sumptuous meal at the dinner table, do remember to pray for them. Skip a meal and fast for them.

“Share your bread with the hungry” (Isaiah 58:7)

Ways to help:

http://www.mercycorps.org

http://www.worldvision.org

Recently from Jeff Fountain:

20 years of ‘30-days’ prayer
Ramadan begins today for millions of Muslims around the world. And for millions of Christians, that means the start of the 20th edition of ‘30-days’ prayer for the Muslim world.

Although initiated in 1993, this year is the 20th ’30-Days’ prayer season rather than the 19th, as Ramadan is based on the lunar, not the solar, calendar.

So let’s take stock and ask what has happened in these 20 years, drawing from various resources including the 30-days website, www.30-days.net.
On the positive side:
• Some three million Muslims are estimated to have come to faith in Isa (Jesus) over the past two decades. This is more than the total number since Mohammed died in AD 632.
• Ministries engaging the internet, radio, satellite television and other media efforts directed toward Muslims have exploded.
• The amount of literature, CDs, DVDs, Bibles and downloadable resources available for Muslims has increased hugely.
• The number of actual missionaries working in the Muslim world has grown significantly.
• Thousands of former Muslims are proclaiming Isa to their peoples.
• The goal of establishing believing communities among all ethnic group is becoming more of a reality.
• Awareness about Muslim peoples is greater than ever before (demographics, cultural affinities, history and the progress of the Gospel among them).
• There are more prayer efforts directed toward the Muslim world than ever before.
• Muslims are exposed to other cultures and religious beliefs more at the present time than at any point during the last 1,400 years.
• The 30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World initiative has drawn millions of Christians worldwide to a united, annual, global prayer meeting. The prayer guide (in hard copy or downloadable from www.30-days.net) is now produced in more than 42 languages, distributed from over 32 regional offices.

• The Arab Spring, triggered by the self-immolation of a Tunisian market-vendor just a few months ago, has resulted in the overthrow of several tyrants, and the expression of democratic aspirations of millions of younger Msulims across North Africa and the Middle East.
But there is a down side too.
Over the past 20 years:
• More Islamic television, internet, radio and other media is available now more than ever before.
• The number of Muslims and mosques in most Western countries has grown significantly (although birth-rates have dropped among immigrants).
• Islamist terrorism has become a factor of daily life, as we are reminded each time we check-in at the airport. The attack on 11 September 2001 in New York, followed up by attacks in London, Madrid and Amsterdam have shocked the whole world.
• These and other attacks inspired two controversial and costly wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as many other military and police interventions across the whole world with positive and negative repercussions.
• A growing Islamic presence in western Europe has become a source of political and social tension for many nations. Secular societies are divided on how to respond. Fear of terrorism and fear of the unknown has bred prejudice and bigotry toward Muslims in most Western countries.
• The rise of populist anti-Islam right-wing political parties in Holland, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany and elsewhere has led to a politics of half-truths and fear, demanding a response of truth and love from Christians, and a stand for religious freedom.

• Most recently we have witnessed the emergence of desperate extremist right-wing ‘lone wolves’ attacking fellow Europeans for perceived ‘capitulation’ to Muslims.
Reason for prayer:

Each of these factors, both positive and negative, is a reason for prayer. And not just for Muslims and the Muslim world, but also for our own effective response to the changing situation in our own countries.

As we see our Muslim neighbours disciplining themselves to fast and pray during Ramadan, we ought to be challenged also to a season of prayer for the future of Europe, and of all Europeans, Muslim, Christian and others. Even the most pessimistic among us can offer the following prayer from 2 Chronicles 20:12: ‘For we are powerless before this great multitude… ; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on you.’