Shocking Theology

 

Sometimes I read books with a dictionary close at hand. Words are important to me. Not only do I look for precise meanings but accurate use. This morning I read this statement and was appalled: “If you are an uncomfortable Christian, the only thing to give you a thoroughly comfortable religious life is to know God.”

I know the meanings of these words without a dictionary, but went to the Internet anyway. The word “Christian” means anyone, man, woman, or child, who trusts in Jesus Christ as his or her Savior and Lord and who strives to follow Him in every area of life... the stress is on the importance of an individual's personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The primary shock in the statement read and quoted above is that assuming anyone who does not know God can be called a Christian. Does this mean church goers? If that is being defined, another quote says that standing in a garage does not make me a car. Christianity is a faith system based on what Jesus said:

This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

Knowing God is not only a given, it is necessary. How could anyone believe in Someone that they do not know?
The next thing about this statement is that knowing God will “give you a thoroughly comfortable religious life.” What Bible is this person reading? Jesus said:

Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you... (John 15:20)

Paul also wrote of the things he suffered because of his Christian faith. He experienced joy in his suffering, but to say his life was thoroughly comfortable is not true. I cannot say that of my own life, and I’m not the firebrand he was, or even close. Besides that, the goal of living for Christ is not a comfortable life, but to obey God and glorify Him no matter what. The NT says I will experience trials and unpleasant circumstances. It promises joy in them, or after they cease, but thoroughly comfortable is not in the mix.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance... (Romans 5:3)
And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:17)
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake... (Philippians 1:29)
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:19–21)
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:17)

The “name it and claim it” preachers are living in a fantasy. God may shield them from suffering but it is not biblical to say that the Christian life will be thoroughly comfortable, nor is it truthful to tell others that if they have faith, they will experience a comfortable life. Joyful? Yes, but joy is from the Holy Spirit – promises of no discomfort are from the Liar.

PRAY: Jesus, some genuine Christians are miserable because they seek this false promise and are confused when trials come. When I’m focused on my comfort, I’m walking in the flesh and need to confess it. You give joy in trials, and I’d like to avoid them, but Your joy is so amazing, just as knowing You is amazing. My prayers today are also for those who are confused to think that a person that does not know You can be called a Christian. That is so far from truth that it makes me weep. Please clarify the hearts and minds of those whose eternity is at risk because of such lies.

Not all sunshine…

 

Today’s devotional writer again uses this passage to describe spiritual growth:

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Matthew 6:27–29)

The comparison uses pleasing images such as ‘the thinking of the Sun of Righteousness’ and ‘the dew of heaven.’ This writer also says that leaves and flowers will follow, and added that I should be aware that ‘the thinnest covering’ can block His means of growth and reduce it to ‘dwindle and fade as a plant in a cellar or under a bushel.’

I chuckled in memory of two things. One was my mother standing over the flats of petunias from the greenhouse and hitting them with her rake. She did this because she discovered they grew better with a good swat of adversity. This was left out in the devotional reading ‘means of growth’ description, but it should be there because I know that I’m more like a petunia than a lily. I need a good swat now and then, never mind that life is filled with ups and downs and God uses all of it to help me grow. The Bible backs this up by this early learned and favorite passage:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 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. (Romans 8:28–29)

Key words? ALL THINGS. This includes tough times, trials, hard to live with circumstances. Growing in Christ is not always about sunshine, dew, rain, leaves and blossoms. Sometimes it includes dark nights, dry spells, aphids and other pests, mildew and disease, not enough or too much fertilizer, and getting run over by a rake or the lawn mower.

The Lord says and means ‘all things’ because He knows what I need to become like Jesus. His life was not all roses and comfort. He left heaven to be here — that was the first shock. Then He took the form of a helpless baby who had to obey His parents. He grew but…

For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:2–3)

This does not fit with a human value system nor does it suggest perfect growing conditions. Even at the height of His popularity, He had enemies who wanted Him dead and eventually got their way.

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (Matthew 16:21)

He was tested in the wilderness, tested in the marketplace, tested in the temple, and tested in the garden. People persecuted, mocked, tortured, and walked away from Him. To be like Jesus, His followers experience some of what He experienced. As He said, “… A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you….” (John 15:20)

Besides hitting petunias with a rake, my mother taught me a valuable truth. Whatever happened, she said, “We must need it or we would not be getting it.” While God protects me from many things, He also uses what most would call negative or uncomfortable situations and events to purge from me all that is not like Jesus, much like a carver chisels away what does not fit with the creation he is forming. Life is not always comfortable, but under the shaping hand of God, my destiny is certain — I will be like Jesus when He is done.

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:2–3)

PRAY: This promise of eventually being like You, Jesus, often seems totally impossible, but it helps to know that even in those days when I feel as if I’m getting hit with a rake, You are using it for my transformation — so help me to keep that in mind instead of whining or insisting that You remove whatever is causing my discomfort. Help me accept that even the tough stuff can change my life.

Suffering for Christ?

 

In this past few weeks, Jewish and Muslim people all over the world identify themselves with those who are suffering in the conflict in Israel. In one way, I do too for I know that some who are in danger or who have lost their lives are members of the family of God. The bond between believers in Jesus is strong, often stronger than the bond between blood relatives.

While I cannot identify with sufferers from the past, I can understand how OT believers could identify with the suffering of their Messiah. Even though He had not yet appeared, they understood that He would be their Deliverer. Consider these verses. In this first one, God assured Abraham that he would be rewarded for his faith in God’s promises:

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” (Genesis 15:1)

Then in the NT, Jesus told the Jews that Abraham did receive that great reward:

Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:56–58)

Moses was another one. He lived long before Jesus came, yet it was said of him:

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:26–27)

The Messiah was identified as one with His people in that when they suffered for righteousness’ sake, they suffered in His place. David said:

For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. (Psalm 69:9)

Later, after Jesus came, was crucified, and rose from the dead, Paul (Saul at first) was confronted as he persecuted the church, and Jesus said to him:

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." (Acts 9:4–5)

After this man’s life was changed and he became Paul, he said: “From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” (Galatians 6:17)

He also said, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” (2 Timothy 3:12) which is an affirmation that follows what Jesus told His disciples: “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you . . . .” (John 15:20)

Aside from being treated like Jesus and identifying with Him in His suffering, He also identifies with us in our suffering because He is in it with us: “By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” (1 John 4:13) How vital to know that regardless of my situation, Jesus is here with me. Abraham, Moses, David, and Paul knew it, and the family of God knows it too. He will never leave us or forsake us.

PRAY: Jesus, Your Word says to “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” (Hebrews 13:3) This unity with You extends to a unity with Your family. We are not only to bear Your reproach when You are spoken of in evil ways, but consider others who love You and suffer for it that we are also suffering. This explains the great ache in my heart for the people in the world who are persecuted because they have put their faith in You.

PONDER: I thank God for the privilege of bearing the hatred that the world aims at Christ. Thank God also for the truth of verses like Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Amen!