Tiger Woods has been disgraced in the media because of his infidelities.  Olympian Michael Phelps was disgraced by the public disclosure of his use of marijuana.  David Hasselhoff was publicly disgraced by the unveiling of video of his inebriation and ‘compromised’ parenting.  Then you have the sad narrative of my governor Mark Sanford and his sordid tale of infidelity. The response, both in the media and in conversations around the proverbial water cooler is one of universal condemnation and disdain for the moral failures of these public figures.  In times past, I have joined in on the lambasting of, and laughing over, public figures caught in their moral failures, their sin.

More recently however, I have had a change of attitude, of perspective.  I have to check myself that I do not place myself in the position of being innately morally superior to those aforementioned characters.  You see, what I have come to recognize more and more clearly is that I am just as deserving of condemnation as those celebrities.  My sins, my moral failures, may not be of the same specific and public nature as theirs,  but I am not without my own guilt.  Have I loved my wife as Christ loves His bride, the church?  No, I have at times failed at that.  Have I faithfully loved God with all my heart, soul, and mind and my neighbor as myself?  No, I fail every day.  So has everyone who reads this post, so has everyone.  We have all murdered with our words, and committed adultery in our hearts. Perhaps the most pernicious trap in which to fall is the ‘thank God I am not like the Pharisees’ mindset.  None, apart from the work of Christ, are without guilt before God.

I think about 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 in context the the failings of others.  I think, too, of Luke 18:9-14.  Do I sometimes, as already mentioned, self-righteously place myself in the role of the Pharisee who gloats over the moral failures of the unregenerate?  I think of Ephesians. 2:1-5.  Ultimately, the only thing that separates me from those other miscreants is the grace and mercy of Christ.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (New American Standard Bible)

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?

But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.

Luke 18:9-14 (New American Standard Bible)

And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’

“But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’

“I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Ephesians 2:1-5 (New American Standard Bible)

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved,

Here is a portion of a post by a church planter/pastor of a relevant church somewhere in Ohio:

DON’T CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN

if you don’t ever share your faith…..ever

DON’T CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN

if you are only concerned with judging people instead of first loving them

DON’T CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN

if you are not investing in the lives of those younger than you

DON’T CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN

if all you do is complain and cause dissension

DON’T CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN

Please understand….I’m not saying you aren’t a christian, I’m just asking you to call yourself something else. You are giving everyone a disgusting taste in their mouth and labeling it biblical. Christ’s church will survive, only through the strength of Jesus shown through an outward focused lifestyle that draws those who are far from “Him”, close to “Him”.

I understand the sentiment behind the post, and I have ran across quite similar statements/posts from other leaders within contemporary churches on how they do not like Christians who so not seem to act consistently with their profession. Some have even made lists on why they do not like ‘bad’ Christians. However, serious questions are raised by the above quote. First, is a Christian defined more by a state of doing rather than a state of being? Second, are there classes or a hierarchy of Christians? Are some Christians more Christian than others? Is there irony in this pastor telling someone not to call themselves a Christian if they are judgmental? Are some Christians more justified by grace, by faith in Christ, than others? By this pastors standards, just how good do I have to be, what must I do, before I can call myself a Christian? Do I have to be perfect?

I think of the Apostle Paul in his approach to the wayward, troubled church at Corinth, a church where people were getting drunk during Communion meals among other things. Paul:

1 Corinthians 1 (ESV)

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place e call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as i the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Interesting is Paul’s salutation to the Corinthians. He does not instruct those in the church to quit calling themselves Christians, little Christs. His salutation is warm, though he later gives stern instructions on church discipline so that those in rebellion may be brought to repentance.

I think that what may be found at times is a somewhat underdeveloped understanding of the nature of justification and a lack of understanding that Christians are in different stages of sanctification. It may be, too, that some, perhaps many, who are in self-deception and call themselves Christian my not actually be in Christ. What is not acceptable, I think, is that our status in Christ is based on our performance, our works. How can we instruct others to refrain from naming themselves in Christ unless the one in question denies fundamental doctrines required for salvation?

Though I may have my suspicions, I can’t discern with absolute confidence if a person who claims to be a Christian is really redeemed or not. Sadly, there are people who live seemingly exemplary lives, who are active in doing all the positive things in the quoted list, who perhaps depend on their righteousness to earn God’s favor who will find themselves being told by Christ that He never knew them. There are also immature Christians who struggle with sin, with their tongue, who perhaps doubt their own salvation and feel themselves unworthy to call themselves Christians who are truly redeemed and loved dearly by the Messiah. I cannot see into the heart of a person. I do not always know what baggage, what obstacles to growth in Christ, they bring to the table. I am painfully aware that I have been quite foolish in my life and speech and know there are some who will probably and justifiably be surprised to see me in among the redeemed.

That all being said, Christians are absolutely called into a life of holiness, of progressive sanctification, but it is the distinction that we cannot save ourselves by our works and efforts that separates us from every other religion. Note that I am absolutely not advocating any kind of ‘easy-believism.’ I also do not think we need to get wrapped tightly around the axle on this, but we are are told in the Word to check ourselves, to make sure of our election. Are we bearing fruit? While some branches may grow slowly, but eventually we will show signs of sanctification.

If my earthly father gave me my name, no one has the right to tell me not to be called by his name. If I am adopted into the family of the Triune God, if I am trusting in Christ alone for my salvation, can someone instruct me not to be called by my Redeemer’s name? Is that not the height of arrogance?

John the Baptist’s Doubt

February 13, 2009  |  By: Jon Bloom
Category: Commentary

“Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

This was a surprising question coming from John the Baptist.

It’s unclear exactly when John first consciously knew that Jesus was the Son of God, whose way he had come to prepare. The Apostle John quotes him as saying, “I myself did not know him” (John 1:31) around the time he baptized Jesus.

This is remarkable because John’s mother, Elizabeth, had known. She knew because John announced it to her in utero by leaping when she heard Mary’s voice. Was she not allowed to tell him? We don’t know. Regardless, John had known even before he knew.

What is clear is that when the revelation came it was an overwhelming experience for John. That day, when Jesus approached him at the Jordan near Bethany, John couldn’t contain the shout: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” With awe and trembling hands he had baptized his Lord. And then saw the Spirit descend and remain on him.

That day had also marked the beginning of the end of his ministry. From that point he had joyfully directed people away from himself to follow Jesus. And they had.

Now he sat in Antipas’ filthy prison. He had expected this. Prophets who rebuke sinful kings usually do not fare well. Unfortunately, he had not been an exception. Herodias wanted him dead. John could see no reason why she would be denied her wish.

What he hadn’t expected was to be tormented by such oppressive doubts and fears. Since the Jordan, John had not doubted that Jesus was the Christ. But stuck alone in this putrid cell he was assaulted by horrible, accusing thoughts.

What if he had been wrong? There had been many false prophets in Israel. What made him so sure that he wasn’t one? What if he had led thousands astray?

There had been false messiahs. What if Jesus was just another? So far Jesus’ ministry wasn’t exactly what John had always imagined the Messiah’s would look like. Could this imprisonment be God’s judgment?

It felt as if God had left him and the devil himself had taken his place. He tried to recall all the prophecies and signs that had seemed so clear to him before. But it was difficult to think straight. Comfort just wouldn’t stick to his soul. Doubts buzzed around his brain like the flies around his face.

The thought of being executed for the sake of righteousness and justice he could bear. But he could not bear the thought that he might have been wrong about Jesus. His one task was to prepare the way of the Lord. If he had gotten that wrong, his ministry, his life, was in vain.

But even with his doubts, there remained in John a deep, unshakable trust in Jesus. Jesus would tell him the truth. He just needed to hear from him again.

So he sent two of his closest disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

The affection that radiated from Jesus was palpable. Jesus was familiar with John’s sorrows and grief and the satanic storms that break on the saints when they are weak and alone. He loved John.

So he invited John’s faithful friends to sit near him as he healed many and delivered many from demonic prisons.

Then he turned them with kind tears glistening in his eyes and said, “Tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” John would recognize Isaiah’s prophecy in those words. This promise would bring the peace John needed to sustain him for the few difficult days he had remaining.

Out of love for his friend, Jesus didn’t include Isaiah’s phrase “proclaim liberty to the captives.” John would understand.

When Jesus had sent John’s disciples away, he said something stunning about John: no one born of women had ever been greater. This, right after John questioned who Jesus was.

In this age, even the greatest, strongest saints experience deep darkness. None of us are spared sorrow or satanic oppression. Most of us suffer agonizing affliction at some point. Most of us will experience seasons when we feel as if we’ve been abandoned. Most of us will die hard deaths.

The Savior does not break the bruised reed. He hears our pleas for help and is patient with our doubts. He does not condemn us. He has paid completely for any sin that is exposed in our pain.

He does not always answer with the speed we desire, nor is his answer always the deliverance we hope for. But he will always send the help that is needed. His grace will always be sufficient for those who trust him. The hope we taste in the promises we trust will often be the sweetest thing we experience in this age. And his reward will be beyond our imagination.

In John’s darkness and pain Jesus sent a promise to sustain John’s faith. He will do the same for you.

---

“Even when you may, at times, feel abandoned by God, when bad things are happening to you, when your spiritual disciplines of prayer and reading the Bible does not seem to ‘work’, He is/was none-the-less always there for you. You may not know it, acknowledge it, or be thankful for it, but when you finally reach the top of that pinnacle, when you surmount that life struggle, He was behind you all along, like a father watching his small child struggling up a flight of stairs, waiting to encourage you and catch you if/when you fall.”

What, if anything, is wrong with this perspective on suffering experienced by disciples of Christ? Is this a biblical perspective of how a disciple of Christ is to view the role and purpose of suffering in one’s life? Is this a biblically correct perspective of God’s influence and purpose in respect to the trials in our lives? Does it diminish the role of suffering? Is there room for real faith to be found therein? Is there perhaps, without intent, an issue of misplaced focus in the aforementioned paraphrase?

————————————————————————————————-

• Romans 8:15-18(NAS)
  For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

• Hebrews 12:5
  And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
  “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
  and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

• 1 Peter 4:12-16(NIV)
  Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

• 1 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV)
  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

• 2 Corinthians 12:10
  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I may be very sparse (for me) in the length, perhaps one-hundred words or so, of my posts in the foreseeable future. I think that I will sometimes post questions, mostly rhetorical in nature and with minimal (for me) contextual framing.  Here is an example:

I have heard many times that we are to give Jesus “our best”, often within the context on a sermon on tithing. I remember watching/listening to a sermon on the TV by a nationally known and influential preacher at the begining of the year.  The message was that, in 2008, we need to be more faithful in tithing, we need to be sure to witness to others on a regular basis, and we need to be more faithful in attending church, perhaps with the inferred promise that we will be blessed by our obedience in the new year, financially and otherwise.  This preachers intent was noble and the things he called us to do are, in an of themselves, praiseworthy, but may sometimes the preaching and exhorting to give Jesus “our best” be an unintended invitation to a performance-driven legalism lite?  On the other hand, at what point do we begin to tread the dangerous ground of antinomianism?

(After a quick read prior to posting the following, I feel compelled to briefly qualify the opening statement. I am not, in any way, shape, or fashion, intending to marginalize the import of the death of the Messiah on the cross. Without Christ’s death, without His sacrifice, I affirm there is no atonement for sin. )

Let us open with a controversial statement: it may be argued that the cross is not central to the Christian faith. Not only is it not central to the Christian faith, the impact of the symbol has been diminished by popular American culture to the point that it is almost meaningless. If this symbol, long revered by Christians as evidenced by all the church steeples capped by the obligatory cross, is not central to the Christian faith, then what is? It is the event that proceeds from the cross, the physical resurrection of the Messiah. The cross symbolizes death – the Roman cross was a horrific death, torture, and punishment machine; the resurrection event shouts life, shouts boldly victory over death. However, the resurrection event of Christ does not lend itself to simple forms or images; it cannot be apprehended by a simple symbol. It can hardly be comprehended by the most supple of minds. Without the physical resurrection of Christ, though, our faith, as the Apostle Paul wrote, is in vain and we, the followers of Christ, are to be the most pitied of all people.

The question that should follow the aforementioned statement is thus: did the resurrection of the Christ actually occur in time and space, and if so, how can we know? Many sincere followers of Christ, though, may ask why one needs evidence? Is not this religion thing about faith, the belief in things unseen? Is not asking for evidence counter to the need for faith?

Let us answer the second question first and begin the answer with a question or two. What kind of faith is required of a Christ follower? What do we mean by faith? First, I assert that the word ‘trust’ is perhaps a more accurate term for our relationship with Christ than the word ‘faith’. If I have more than adequate evidence to believe that Christ exists and that He did rise from the tomb, can I trust Him? Does what I know of His character and power lend credence to His claims even when, at times, my immediate personal circumstances are painful? Do I have a solid foundation for the times when God seems distant? If I can reasonably validate that Christ is who He and his followers say He is, then I have an objective foundation that is independent of malleable, subjective, and emotional experience.

When I was a child, I believed certain things unconditionally that brought joy and excitement to my life for a time, but upon later investigation, I found them to be false. I had been easily mislead because I did not, nor could not at my young age, critically examine the evidence. Needless to say (and said with tongue in cheek), I can no longer believe in Santa Claus. Many are brought up in a ‘church-going family’, but upon leaving the safe, cloistered confines of home and entering into and increasingly post-Christian world, they find their belief system questioned. Because they may not be equipped with answers, because they may have never had their faith challenged, they may be left with limited options: they may they must either sacrifice their intellectual integrity and continue to believe blindly or they may feel they must abandon their faith. Even worse, they cannot answer sincere questions about our hope. Their ability to carry out of the Great Commission may be compromised.

Moving on to the first question, is there evidence for the resurrection? The short answer is yes. What, then, is the nature of this evidence and can the resurrection be proved? The nature of the evidence is circumstantial and, no, the resurrection cannot be proved. Proof lies only in the realm of mathematics. Neither can the scrutiny and verifiability of the scientific method be applied to the resurrection event due to the non-repeatable nature of history. What we can do, however, is apply the standards of historical analysis to the evidence regarding the resurrection of Christ.

Let us look at the consequence of claiming faith in Christ in the early years of the church. Indeed, it is the bold commitment of the first evangelists that speaks loudly to the veracity of the resurrection claims made for the Messiah. To be intellectually honest, we must admit that we do not have complete historical knowledge of the lives and deaths of all the apostles. Much is based on early church traditions, some of which is admittedly a bit ambiguous and fanciful in the details of, for example, martyrdom, though it seldom contains outright fabrication. We do know with reasonable certainty that Peter, for example, was crucified, upside down at his request, in . He did not think himself worthy to be crucified in the manner of his Savior. In the New Testament (Acts 12:2), the death of James is recorded. Herod has James killed by the sword, most likely beheaded. Matthew was martyred by in Ethiopia; he died from a sword wound. Bartholomew, known also as Nathanael, was martyred for his preaching in Armenia. He was flayed to death under the whip. Thomas, the doubter, was killed by a spear in India . He was on a missionary trip to establish a church. The great apostle Paul was tortured and beheaded by Nero in Rome in A.D. 67. Mark was dragged to his death behind horses on the streets of Alexandria, Egypt.
How did these men, finding, at the foot of the cross, their grand cause crushed, in ruins, summon the courage to die horrible deaths rather than recant their bold proclamation? The remarkable transformation was the result of something the happened in time, in history. They did not die for a story they knew to fabricated. They did not die over a cleverly devised myth. They were eyewitness to the risen Savior.

I do not think it is hyperbolic to assert that there is as much evidence for the resurrection of Christ as there is for most any event in ancient, and not so ancient, history. I have only scratched the surface of the supporting evidence the historicity of the resurrection of Christ Jesus with this modest essay. Given the weight of evidence available for the resurrection for those who wish to examine it, I believe the resistance to the supporting evidence is more one of presuppositions and personal bias than one of absolute intellectual tension. I believe the cross is an offense to the world in that the cross convicts the world of its sin. The crux of the matter is this: what do we do with this undeniable Easter Event?

• 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
  but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
  
• 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 (ESV)
  Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

The life of faith, properly understood within the Christian framework, is not an easy path. It becomes more difficult when it is misunderstood. There are some, both within and outside the Church, who appear to believe that Christians have a faith in faith. I think that, for some, faith is inferred as being a kind of invisible force to wield and be directed until circumstances yield to the force of faith. If one has enough faith, if one simply believes strongly enough, circumstances will change for the better. If the circumstances do not change, the inference is that the fault lies in ones lack of faith. However, I assert that faith, in the context of being a disciple of Christ, is better understood as trust.

Contrary to what may be an Average Joe understanding of faith, one can validate with reasonable certainty that Christ is who He and His followers claim Him to be. I can validate with as much certainty the physical resurrection of Christ as I can any other event in recent, and not so recent, history. A blind leap of faith is not required. However, if Christ is who He and His followers claim Him to be, if the resurrection event occurred in time and space, then I must do something with this knowledge; I must assert that He is more than worthy of my trust, that He is more than worthy of absolute lordship over my life. In Him I place, with great humility, my faith, my trust. I learn, as I grow, often slowly and with great difficulty, in spiritual maturity, to keep my eyes on Him, not my circumstances.

How, then, is this life of faith, properly understood, to be lived in light of circumstances difficult and tragic? One asserts the fidelity of our Abba Father over the news of test results indicating a malignancy. One asserts the love of our Savior for His children when our child strays to alcoholism or addiction to drugs. One asserts the compassion of Christ when we suddenly find ourselves, after years of faithful service to our employer, without a job. We build on a strong foundation so that what is built upon the foundation weathers travail. What is built upon the foundation will be battered, but it will not break; it will prevail. We build upon Christ His sovereignty over all. We find in Christ, not our circumstances, our all-in-all, our sufficiency, and our redemption.

How absolutely absurd our lack of trust in our Father must appear to Him. He who spoke matter, energy, and time into existence ex nihilo, from nothing, finds those whom He has created and adopted as His own calling His fidelity into question when we worry in the same fashion as those outside His church over our circumstances over which He has absolute control .

Romans 5:3

“And not only that but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces patience”

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

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.