Christianity in America

 

I started writing this October 28, 2020... really, I should have written this before then. But I have been watching the state of Christianity with disbelief. I have seen ministries fall, icons become tarnished, people struggling to make sense of Christianity in a country that seems to be morally shifting. As I talk with friends of mine, they seem to be struggling with how to pursue Christ.

Christianity in America has become small. It has lost sight on its purpose and has become entangled in the cares - not of the world - but the cares in America. It has lost sight of this key things:

1. Remember what the baseline is:
• As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-15)
2. Hold each other accountable:
• Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)
3. Love each other well
• By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
4. Recognize what is right
• ...If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (Matthew 6:23)
5. Do what Christ did - remember why he came
• To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:79)

Over the next few days, we will dive deeper into each of these.

Christianity is action is called out in God's Holy word, the Bible. Let's take this time to renew our minds.

 

When God moves slowly...

One of the challenges with Christianity is that God has a history of moving slowly. It's been that way from the beginning... 

• His chosen people were in captivity in Israel for years. 
• His chosen people wandered in the wilderness... for years. 
• There were years of where no prophet spoke before Jesus came.

Even after Jesus was crucified on the cross over 2000 years ago, His disciples believed he was coming back soon.

Sadly, we live in a country where people want thing NOW! And if it doesn't happen, we get distracted, we lose hope, we struggle with our faith.

So, what are we expected to do when God delays? Continue to trust!

Let's look at the Book of Daniel for a moment.

1. Israel goes into Babylonian captivity
2. Chapter 1 - Daniel and his friends are faithful in honoring God with their diet and are rewarded almost immediately
3. Chapter 2 - The next year the king has a dream, and God gives Daniel the interpretation
4. Chapter 3 - The king misinterprets the dream, throws Daniels friends in a furnace - God intervenes
5. Chapter 4 - The king has a dream, and God gives Daniel the interpretation
6. Chapter 5 - God sends the king a message, and God gives Daniel the interpretation
7. Chapter 6 - Daniel is persecuted for praying and sent to the lions den. God delivers
8. Chapter 7 - Yet and still another king, Israel still in captivity, God gives Daniel a dream and the interpretation
9. Chapter 8 - 3 years later, God gives Daniel another dream and interpretation
10. Chapter 9 - Daniel prays and an angel comes to discuss his prayer
11. Chapter 10 - The delay

Let's discuss the delay for a moment. Through all the kings and the years of captivity God has spoken with Daniel and shown himself faithful almost immediately. In chapter 10, nothing happens for 3 weeks!

3 weeks may seem like a short time, but when you are used to seeing God move miraculously, 3 weeks can seem like forever.

What does Daniel do? He continues in prayer and fasting.

There are many reasons why prayers are delayed. I am not going to be so presumptuous as to claim to know the mind of God. But here is what I know:

• God has a plan
• God has a timing
• Our job is to be faithful

What do we do in the meantime?

• We pray - pray that we remain in Gods will
• We pray - that there is repentance and a turn towards God
• We pray - that God's will is done
• We show love and compassion to those around us

Let's put Christianity in action and allow hold fast to the things that we know are true, even when times are difficult.

Back to the basics

Sometimes we need to perform a spiritual reset and get back to the basics. Let's consider prayer for a moment. What do you pray for? Who do you pray for?

One of the key things that we are supposed to do as Christians is make disciples. Are we praying for those that God has entrusted us with reaching and mentoring? That is one of the key things that Paul did. Check out these key verses from Colossians:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with  the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:9-13)

There is a LOT in there that we should be doing as a part of our own spiritual action. So, let's put Christianity in action. Consider the following

1. Who are you helping grow?
• If you aren't helping anyone grow as a follower of God, ask Him to send you someone
2. Who is helping you grow?
• If there is no one in your life helping you grow as a follow of God, ask Him to send you someone
3. Examine what you pray for regarding those who God has placed in your life
• Who do you pray for
• What do you ask for them

Let's get back to the basics...

What is abundant life?

Those of us that live in The United States are blessed beyond measure. We can go to McDonalds and buy a meal from the Value Menu for less than $5 and consume more calories in a single meal than many families in other parts of the world have in a day... or in some extreme cases, a single week.

Most families have televisions that are 65" or larger and more channels available than is feasible. If you want to "cut the cord" there is no shortage of streaming options.

Radio, internet radio, satellite radio.

Is this abundant life? Is it measured by the size of your house, the amount of credit that you're allowed to have, the money in your bank account, the vacations that you take?

Biblically, I think it's pretty much the opposite. Abundant life isn't based on things at all.

Jesus casually mentions abundant life while talking about His mission. In typical fashion he's talking about being a shepherd. How His sheep hear His voice. In John 10:10 He says:

The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that you may have life more abundantly. (ESV)

If you read further, Jesus explains exactly what abundant life is!

• abundant life is that He knows you (I know my own, and my own know me - John 10:14)
• I lay down my life for my sheep (This is the essence of the Good News - John 10:15)
• I have sheep that are not of this fold (Salvation is not limited to the "chosen ones, but is available to anyone who He claims as His own! - John 10:16)
• I have the authority to lay down my life and take it up again! (This is the completion of the Gospel... John 10:17)

Abundant life begins with recognizing that we belong to the only one who has overcome sin, death, the grave and as a result has the ability to lead His flock... His people into the Kingdom of heaven! More importantly, this Kingdom life that we live... we can live now!

Let us put Christianity in action and realize the gift of God that we have in abundant life. Let us boldly follow the  our good shepherd!

How do you know???

As Christians, sometimes we stop at the cliche' and fail to take it further to where it's practical and meaningful. For example: for years, I have heard people say "You must be born again!" Then when you ask them how to do this, it stops being about what God does and about we do!

• You must believe!
• You must be baptized!

Then what? Does it stop there? Are we set for life?

Even if you have read this a million times - stop... slow down... read this carefully again.

Let's take another look at the conversation that Jesus has and see if we've missed any truths:

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named hNicodemus, ia ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus1 jby night and said to him,k“Rabbi, lwe know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do munless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is nborn oagain2 he cannot psee the kingdom of God.” John 3:1-3

In this conversation, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born again. Nicodemus does what we all do... struggle with understanding what Jesus is trying to explain.

Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” John 3:4 

Jesus responds with the fact that He is not talking about something physical, He is talking about something spiritual!

 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born qof water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 rThat which is born of the flesh is sflesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:5-6 

But Jesus doesn't stop here... as a matter of fact, He almost trivializes this statement. He says "don't marvel at this... this is how you really know.."

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You4 must be born uagain.’ 8 vThe wind5 blows wwhere it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:7-8 

What does that mean???

Here are some examples given to us in Scripture:

• Jesus, who is always surrounded by a crowd, or at least His disciples has a one on one conversation with Nicodemus. Although Nicodemus came to Jesus, the "Spirit" moved Jesus to be there for this conversation to occur.
• Jesus, who is always surrounded by a crowd, or at least the 12 apostles has a one on one conversation with the Woman at the well!

Okay... that's Jesus... what about the rest of us mere mortals?

•  Acts 8:26 - Philip encounters an Ethiopian Eunuch because the Spirit told him to... as a result, he explains the scripture and the Ethiopian is baptized!
• Acts 9:10 - The Spirit of God comes to Ananias and tells him to go to Saul who has been persecuting the church!

If we believe that God is sovereign, and that we are His followers then we must believe that he has a plan! Our job is to listen to His, go where He wants us to go, meet the people whose hearts He has been working in, and we will see great results!

Express your Christianity in Action today - listen to God... follow his wind (Spirit) and be amazed at what God will do!

Remember this...

We live in a very busy world where we are inundated with information. Smart phones, the internet, cable tv, work, family, to-do lists, honey do lists, me time, quality time... the sources of things trying to grab out attention seem to be moving at light speed.

When you couple that with the things that are going on in the world: ISIS/ISIL, the end of President Obama's administration, upcoming elections, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, stabbings in Israel, terrorist attacks in France and in The United States, it can become really easy to focus on what's happening and lose track of the big picture.

Honestly, it can all be overwhelming.

Sometimes, it becomes hard to hear God and sometimes even remember Him, but here is what He said in Isaiah 46:9-11

Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand and I will accomplish all my purpose,' calling a bird of prey from the east, the man f my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it."

In the midst of all the chaos, God has a plan!

This morning, I was drawn to a Bible that I hadn't picked up in ages and the following verses where highlighted as I was making my way to Isaiah 46:

1. I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine had, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles... (Is 42:6)
2. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior. (Is 43:11) 
3. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you; therefore ye re my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. (Is 43:12)
4. Yea, before the day was, I m he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand; I will work, and who shall let it? (Is 43:13)
5. I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King (Is 43:15)
6. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. (Is 43:21)
7. Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I m the last; and beside me there is no God. (Is 44:6)

Everything seemed to be shouting that God is sovereign, He is in control. He has a plan. He has a history of showing himself mighty.

Sometimes in the grand scheme of things, we tend to look a little inward. Let's take action and look upwards. Let us remember that God is sovereign, that He has a plan, that He alone is the Savior, and most importantly to praise Him because He is worthy!

Is the truth ambiguous?

We live in an age where "the truth" is slightly more ambiguous than ever before. In the United States, you would think that the Republicans and Democrats never read the same documents that outline the vision for how the country should be run.

Even in the churches, there are differences in option on what is allowed, whether hell actually exists, whether we should actually ever use the word "sin" in a sermon... the list goes on.

When Paul writes to the church in Galatia, he starts by saying:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:3-4)

This is a powerful statement! Since we have been delivered from sin, why would we voluntarily become slaves to it again? He also provides the reminder that the reason that we should not wallow in sin is because it's the will of God.

It is important that we read the Bible for ourselves. That we meditate on it, that we make it a part of the way that we live. It is more than just a moral compass or a book of suggestions. In the pages of the Bible we find life!

We find the model of what love is, how to not live an immoral life, how to share the love of God with others.

Let's put Christianity in action and not just listen to what the pastoral staff or the minister on the radio and television broadcast says... let us read it and meditate on it and ensure that what they are saying aligns with the Bible ourselves.