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(Blue entries in the meditation are links; clicking on them will take you to the verse(s) in the New International Version; clicking on the other versions on that page will show the same verses in the version you selected. Occasionally links on my page are to another file of mine. On this page entries in green are the words of Scripture (NIV). If you wish to pursue your own study on issues raised or on the Scripture verses used try these links: The Online Study Library. The CBC Biblical Studies Library. An additional translation with many notes can be found at Net Bible.)
Part I of this meditation began with a few out of
a million quotes that show that this truly is a 'hurting' world.
What do the very words 'this is a hurting world' focus our attention
on? On people. On what concerns everybody (whether an individual
is a believer or a God-rejecter). The idea and the expression
that this is a world full of hurt does not even hint that to God
something called sin (unrighteousness) matters more than the hurt
that people feel in the world. Going even further we can say 'the
idea and the expression does not even hint that God has any feelings
that matter, that need to be considered.' Who cares that God is
'hurt' or offended by the presence of sin? (Habakkuk 1:13
; meditation of 1/97)
These words divert attention from
the concern of God that 'moved' him to send his own Son Jesus
into the world to die a sacrificial death on the cross. Righteousness.
That was what concerned God. (Titus 2:14) It
was the purpose of Part I to bring that out. The fact that
this is a world full of hurting people not only ignores the goal
that God considers important--righteousness or holiness, it also
focuses attention away from matters of eternal life and eternal
'death' and focuses attention on that transient period of time
in God's drama that precedes physical death and which can be seen
with physical eyesight. (2 Corinthians
4:18)
It was the purpose of Part
II of this meditation to bring out this point.
Part III of this meditation looks at some of the ways (often
subtle) in which our attention and the attention of the recipients
or beneficiaries of ministries of mercy is being focused upon
matters other than what the Gospel is a message about. If the
main objective of what Christ accomplished--the removal of the
penalty for sin (for whoever believes), that is, death, and the
earning of the inheritance of eternal life with all its blessings
is talked about at all it is treated as incidental matter or an
extra bonus. If focusing on the hurt people feel in the 'here
and now' it is not a different message it can easily turn into
one--what the Bible speaks of as "a different gospel--which is really
no gospel at all."
(Galatians
1:6-7)
This diverting of attention from what God considers the important idea can be looked in at least three different ways: different objectives, different consequences, particular recipients. (A major section which follows shows what has been said does not mean that having our priorities in godly order in any way obliterates the obligation Christians have to show mercy)
What is the objective of works of mercy? To fill needs that people are feeling now. To fill what people feel the need of on this side of death is the objective. How people in this world are feeling--that is the issue that gets the attention. That is a goal that we naturally identify with; nobody likes to hurt or lack the essentials of physical survival Having our current needs, especially bodily needs, met is a goal we can all identify with. Who likes to feel physical or emotional pain? Who enjoys being in misery? Who likes to be hungry, thirsty or be unable to take care of his or her family? Nobody. We all have bodies which need, or feel better when we have, food, shelter, sleep, clothing and other things. It comes naturally to think about ourselves and how we would feel if we were living in the miserable situations that other people are living in. It does not require any special vision or eternal perspective on life to see how people who lack what we feel is essential of this world's goods feel very strongly about getting those things. And it is the people who have this kind of needs that works of mercy are out to help. How often have you heard of missions of mercy to an individual or group of individuals who have an abundance of this world's goods?
The objective that is emphasized by many Christians and by ministries of mercy: success, happiness, more productive lives. This is the 'hope' they try to implant. It is the hope that individuals can get out of their distressing way of life in this world by using God's ways (along with his power) A few quotes give the feel:
Pastor X runs the ministry because he and his wife want to bring "hope to children who have been deprived of a normal childhood" Or, " residents of the poor Caribbean nation are searching for hope and "thinking about God and their relationship to Him... They feel I can help them. They go door-to-door inviting other youth to join them in attending the meetings and find hope for their lives" or "Young prison inmates near X learn about God from Pastor X and his team of reformed criminals.... The pastor and his team tell them "they can escape a life of crime by knowing Jesus Christ."
The focus, the constant message, that
we (and the world) are hearing--is that using God's wise ways
('biblical principles') is an effective means for being more healthy
and successful (in this world, of course). This is the reason
given (or implied) for coming to Christ. This hope is the 'carrot'
to attract individuals to 'come to' Christ and the reason for
continuing to follow Christ's example and teachings.
Now let's turn to some quotes from the Bible concerning the Gospel
and the mission of Jesus the Christ
God's objective was not to overcome a lack of this world's goods
but a lack of righteousness (as Part I of this meditation showed)
The condition which the death of Christ was designed to "cure"
or overcome was the dominion of sin over men and women. (Psalm
51:5; 143:2; Romans 3:10-12; 5:12) "The
Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin,
so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus
Christ, might be given to those who believe." (Galatians 3:22) Everyone
falls short of God's righteousness and glory. (Romans
3:23) There is no one who does not need to be clothed
in or covered by the flawless righteousness of Christ. "As
it is written: "There is no-one righteous, not even one;
there is no-one who understands, no-one who seeks God. All have
turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no-one
who does good, not even one." (Romans 3:10-12;
see also Ephesians 2:3)
What is the message of the gospel
about? Not deliverance from pain and misery but deliverance from
sin (Colossians
1:13; Romans 6:18,22; Ephesians 5:8; 1 Peter 2:9; Titus 2:14;
3:5)
The Bible says he (Jesus the Christ)
"gave
himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify
for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is
good."
(Titus
2:14)
The Bible says "He himself bore our
sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and
live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24) The Bible
says, Jesus "gave
himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according
to the will of our God and Father." (Galatians 1:4) The
Bible says, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for
us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) The Bible says, "For
what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the
sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness
of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in
sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law
might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful
nature but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:3-4)
How did God's apostle Paul describe the objective of God's saving
activity: "Here
is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst." (1Timothy 1:15)
Along with providing the holiness without which "no-one will
see the Lord " (Hebrews 12:14;
see also John 3:3; Philippians 3:9) Christ's
death resulted in the canceling of the penalty that the dominion
of sin brought on humankind (death). This is what the gospel is
all about. (John
3:16; Romans 5:17,19,21; Colossians 2:13-14) .
The objective Jesus came to accomplish was not to save individuals
from the symptoms of sin but from the 'disease' itself which the
Bible declares to be sin. (To see how the physical needs of the
body in this life fit into God's priorities see Luke
12:22-24, 29-31)
Sin. Sin. Sin. That is the problem in God's eyes.
Do these words speak of the same 'hope' that the missionary quotes
above spoke of? Is the hope of which God's Gospel speaks first
and foremost the hope for a better life in this world? Is it deliverance
from an unsuccessful and miserable life style and the filling
of a great need of essentials for survival in this life that was
the objective for which the Father sent the Son and the Son laid
down his life in sacrifice?
God's objective for his people is not to make life in this world
more successful or 'smooth sailing. 'God's goals are different.
The Bible does not identify the 'enemy' or obstacle that must
be overcome by believers in this world as disease, injustice,
poverty, etc., but as "the
devil's schemes." "For our struggle is not against flesh
and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against
the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour
of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to
stand your ground..."
(Ephesians 6:12-13) The
Bible does not say His divine power has given us everything we
need for smooth-sailing, for success, for happiness. Instead it
says, "His
divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and
goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious
promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine
nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (2 Peter 1:3-4;
see also Hebrews 11:24-26)
The process by which God brings
His objectives to fruition. Not only is God's objective different
(to make a holy people-Titus
2:14; Ephesians 5:25-27)
but the way or the means God
uses to bring about his goals for his people is also totally different.
The paths to God's objective also are not characterized by success
or smooth-sailing. On the contrary, the paths to God's objective
for his people includes 'rough sailing', trials, suffering. (Hebrews
12:10,14)
Times of testing are not accidents
or obstacles to the accomplishment of God's purposes. On the contrary,
they are a way through which he accomplishes his purpose. (Deuteronomy
8:2-5) The apostle Peter puts this truth in these
words when he addresses believers: "In this you greatly rejoice, though
now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all
kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater
worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may
be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when
Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:6-7) Faith like
a muscle grows stronger when used. The Bible says, "In fact, everyone who
wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12) And,
"We
must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," (Acts 14:22;
see also John 15:18-21; 16:33; Matthew 10:22)
We have been looking at the contrast between God's objective and
the objective that is emphasized by many Christians and by ministries
of mercy. In general smooth-sailing, success, happiness in this
world, are not standard indicators of progress in the life of
godliness. As goals or means these circumstances have no special
value to God. Helping people move toward those objectives is for
that reason not part of God's plan. God has a different standard.
'Transformed lives' is another expression which Christians often
use to describe the objective of church and missionary activity.
While it sounds better this expression does not exclude the goals
of a successful life, a more pain-free life, better behavior patterns.
And at the same time this expression does not necessarily
include the objective which God considers essential--a regenerated,
godly heart.
The reason transformed lives is not God's objective is because
it doesn't get to the root of the 'problem'. Desiring to
see transformed lives is like being satisfied with shiny red apples--they
may or may not have a worm in them. Changed lives may or may not
be the result of the change that God wants. And what change is
that?--changed hearts. How many transformed lives are in actuality
nothing more than changed life-styles of people whose hearts are
as wicked, as ungodly as they ever were? The replacement of ungodly
behavior with godly appearing behavior does not have anymore affect
on the 'fatal disease' of sin in the heart than scrubbing the
skin removes heart disease. (Colossians
2:23) To see individuals change from miserable,
hurting, unsuccessful people into happy, comparatively pain-free,
productive people is very satisfying and a worthwhile change but
it is not at all the same as the definitive event that the Bible
speaks of--regeneration, being born anew, being made a new creature
in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
God illustrated the dangerous inadequacy of looking upon accepted
behavioral practices as evidence of a person being in the right
with God. The practice of looking upon accepted behavioral patterns
as evidence of exalted religious status is nothing new.
When Jesus was on earth an established group of religious leaders
of the Jews (Pharisees) complained to Jesus that the behavior
of his disciples was not what it should be, specifically, that
they did not wash their hands before eating (a practice which
the Pharisees considered a religious purifying ritual). Jesus'
response makes the point: "Jesus
called the crowd to him and said, 'Listen and understand. What
goes into a man's mouth does not make him "unclean",
but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him "unclean"
....Don't you
[addressing the
disciples] see that whatever enters the
mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the
things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these
make a man "unclean". For out of the heart come evil
thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony,
slander. These are what make a man "unclean"; but eating
with unwashed hands does not make him "unclean"'." (Matthew 15:1-2, 10-11,17-20;
see also Romans 2:29)
It is a change of heart, a new birth
that is God's objective. In God's scheme of things it is only
out of the new heart that genuinely godly values, godly motivations,
and godly behavioral patterns come. It is only out of the
new heart that the values, the motivations, the behavior patterns
that are the foundation of healthy individual lives and a better
social fabric come. In the human scheme it does not matter what
the motivation to behave in certain ways is. But in God's scheme
it does. It is a pure spring from which the pure 'water' flows.
And only from there. Jesus' words are blunt: "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and
a bad tree cannot bear good fruit." (Matthew 7:18) And again
Jesus says, "Make
a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and
its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognised by its fruit." (Matthew 12:33)
God's Bible tells us that it is the sin within the old human heart
in individuals that is the direct or indirect cause of every kind
of evil thought and practice. "For from within, out of men's hearts,
come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and
folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man `unclean'." (Mark 7:21-23) Other toxic
or unhealthy phenomena such as war, crime, deliberate injustice,
etc., are collective expressions of the same desires or feelings--they
grow out of the same root. They are invariably the symptoms of
the infection in the heart which God identifies as 'sin'. (Proverbs
4:23; Matthew 15:8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Romans 8:8; James 1:14-15;
4:1-3) Because these recurring
blotches in human history are symptoms of the fatal disease in
the heart the suppression of these symptoms does not eliminate
or overcome the disease which produces them. Symptoms of 'spiritual'
disease are no different than symptoms of physical disease. Transformed
lives may mean nothing more than the replacement of ungodly behavior
with godly appearing behavior. The replacement of ungodly behavior
with godly appearing behavior does not reduce or eliminate the
'fatal disease' of sin in the heart anymore than scrubbing dirt
off the skin removes heart disease. (Colossians 2:23)
If individuals display changed or more acceptable behavior and
it is not the expression of the godly heart God describes them
as 'whitewashed tombs'. (To Jews this would have an extremely
intense image.) This is how Jesus who could see what was in men's
hearts (John
2:25) described the highly respected leaders of
the Jews of his day. "Woe
to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You
are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside
but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything
unclean." (Matthew 23:27;
see also v. 15:8-9; Romans 10:2-3)
The truth about the wrongness of appropriate behavior modification
that doesn't proceed from the regenerated heart (of necessity
not relevant to 'backsliders' who are regenerated) is well expressed
in one of Jesus' parables. "When
an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places
seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, `I will return
to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept
clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits
more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And
the final condition of that man is worse than the first." (Luke 11:24-26)
Appropriately modified behavior can
cover a sinful condition of the heart the same way a new paint job can
cover rotten wood or a new suit of clothes can cover a diseased
body.
The assumption that transformed lives or life-styles is evidence
of a godly heart is a hazardous one. It hides (from people, sometimes
oneself) the fact that what concerns God may not have changed.
Outward reform that doesn't come from within functions
as a pleasing veil that hides the fact that the individual still
has the disgusting "disease" of sin which is offensive
to God and that caused the separation from God in the first place.
(Genesis
3:17, 22-24; Isaiah 59:2; Habakkuk 1:13).
The presence of 'transformed lives' may be hiding the fact that
the individual still needs a new heart. Putting one's confidence
in modified behavior that, in reality, is not the expression of
a 'new heart' is like being satisfied with a medical diagnosis
that is incorrect. Not every apple that shines is good. A freshly
painted fence can be rotten. Confidence that 'all is well' may
block further efforts to consider whether the fatal (God offending)
disease is still there. How many people keep searching for the
answer after they think they already have the answer? What genuine
doctor who knew that the patient still had the 'disease' (one which
is invariably fatal--leading to death) would be pleased if all
symptoms were successfully suppressed? (Romans
6:23; 2 Thessalonians1:8-9; Hebrews 10:26-27)
The objective that is so often called 'transformed lives' is just
not good enough. Focus on the essential--the godly heart--must
never be an after-thought.
When the problem that men face is
'diagnosed' as being such phenomena as war, unemployment, crime,
"injustice", poverty , immorality, drug addictions,
etc. then the objective is to eliminate or reduce these very real
problems. Since they are in reality only symptoms and not what
God says the 'problem' is all efforts that may greatly affect
these symptoms leave the problem untouched. The curing of symptoms
never was God's objective. The curing of symptoms was not the
objective for which God the Father sent Jesus Christ to be a sacrifice.
Aiming at the improvement of individual behavior (often called
'transformed lives') or the reducing or eliminating of the impediments
to successful life is not the same as God's objective. He knew
that altering or controlling the manifestation of symptoms was
creating an artificial situation that in his eyes represented
no change in the sinful condition that was offensive to his holy
nature. God's objective is not suppressing symptoms or seeing
'transformed lives' but regenerating hearts and creating new holy
creatures.
What was the issue we were looking at? How focusing on different
goals or objectives is one way attention is diverted from the
message of the Gospel. Aiming to reduce or eliminate symptoms
is not the same objective or goal that God brings about when he
regenerates people changing them from God haters into God fearers
and God lovers--his adopted children. God's objective--to make
people holy (Hebrews
10:10,14; Titus 2:14)
and the objective of many Christian
ministries should not be assumed to be the same. Aiming at a better
life on earth through the removal or reduction of unhealthy symptoms
such as individual or collective bad behavior is not only not
enough, it is aiming at a different objective. A difference in
objective even when objectives are worthwhile is one of the ways
the focus of ministries of mercy may be diverting attention from
the focus of God's Gospel.
We have been looking at the influence of having different objectives. Now let's look at the difference in the consequences or what is at stake when people do or do not heed the Christian message. The Bible does not describe the consequence of returning to old sinful ways as just bringing back old problems. Not living according to God's standards has dire consequences. That is what God's revelation says. The consequence which God is concerned to point out is not unhappiness, misery or pain in this life.
The Bible points to a very different magnitude of result. According
to the Bible the primary consequences--those we should be concerned
about--are eternal. "Do
you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters
nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor
thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers
will inherit the kingdom of God."
(1
Corinthians 6:9-10;
see also 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Hebrews 12:14)
The Bible describes the consequences of returning permanently
to old ways as putting oneself back under the wrath of God (Colossians
3:5-6; Ephesians 5:5-6), as
putting oneself back on the track that leads to certain
death--eternal 'death'. (Romans 6:19-23) The
author of the book of Hebrews addressing believers says, "If we deliberately keep
on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation
of judgment and of fire that will consume the enemies of God." (Hebrews 10:26-27)
The main consequence of turning away from a previous 'acceptance'
of Christ and his ways is not (as God chose to point out)
a return to pain, misery and unsuccessful life styles. In a parable
Jesus (only the last few verses are quoted here) described the
consequences of not continuing to respond to God's mercy by showing
mercy. "Then
the master called the servant in. `You wicked servant,' he said,
`I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't
you have had mercy on your fellow-servant just as I had on you?'
In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured,
until he should pay back all he owed." Then Jesus
applies the illustrated truth to his audience: "This is how my heavenly
Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother
from your from your heart." (Matthew 18:32-35; see
also 2 Peter 1:8-11 esp.v 9)
Another way the Bible describes the seriousness of such a return
to old ways is by indicating that the condition of the individual
who returns to his old ways is not even the same condition that
he was in before he seemed to become a Christian. The condition
is worse.
While the eternal consequence of returning permanently
to old ways of thinking and behaving may not be any more disastrous
than for a person who never acknowledged Christ the present
condition or position of that person who turned back from believing
in Christ is worse (according to God) than if he or she had never
known God's way. The Bible says so very clearly (more than once).
"If they
have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome,
they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.
It would have been better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs
on the sacred command that was passed on to them." (2 Peter 2:20-21)
Perhaps part of the explanation of the fact that the condition
of the individual has now become 'worse' than it was before he
or she appeared to come out of darkness is the truth that is set
forth in the 6th chapter of Hebrews concerning the possibility
of repentance. "It
is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have
tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers
of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to
repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the
Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace." (Hebrews 6:4-6)
The situation which individuals who return to their old ways is
not the same it was before the individual thought he or she had
'come to Christ'. This truth is well expressed in one of Jesus'
parables. "When
an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places
seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, `I will return
to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept
clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits
more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And
the final condition of that man is worse than the first." (Luke 11:24-26)
These kinds of consequences in the present which says that believing
in Christ and sticking with that belief is important (Matthew
10:22; Hebrews 3:14; John 3:36) do not
seem to be part of the message that Christians and ministries
of mercy are sharing with the world.
Perhaps the thinking of many Christian ministries is that reminding
those individuals who have developed more successful and less
misery-filled behavior patterns of the miseries associated with
a return to the old ways will do more to motivate such people
to keep to the 'strait and narrow'. The 'carrot' that is being
used to motivate beneficiaries to keep the faith is a this worldly
benefit. But this is not what the Bible tells them of or reminds
them of. The Bible warns of the big consequences, the eternal
consequences-- everlasting torment (hell). (Hebrews
10:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Revelation 21:8)
In any case the primary consequence of not living according to
the ways of God that God feels is worth pointing out is definitely
not unhappiness or misery in this world but is a horribly painful
and infinitely longer lasting consequence--that begins after physical
death (after the end of this period of grace). "He will punish those
who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out
from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power." (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9;
see also Daniel 12:2; Matthew 18:6-9; 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Peter
3:7; Revelation 14:11)
How easy it is to have our attention diverted from the message
of God's Gospel! Not only are the apparent objectives of many
ministries of mercy different but the consequences of returning
to old ways of thinking and behaving are different also. Returning
to old ways, old habits, old practices may well bring back old
problems, old pains but that is not the consequence of deserting
God's ways that God is concerned to point out. Here is
yet another way that attention is being diverted away from the
issues that God's Gospel focuses on.
Now let's move on to yet another way in which the focus of ministries of mercy may be diverting attention from the focus of God's Gospel. The basis on which ministries of mercy choose who will be recipients or beneficiaries of the help the ministries have to give is different. To whom do we feel like showing mercy? Answer: To everyone who appears to have a need. But only to him or her whose need we can 'see' and which we judge to be a need. It is to people who lack what the body needs to survive that many Christian ministries of mercy devote all their attention. What is it that sets the 'poor' apart? Their lack of this world's goods! It is not their lack of righteousness that sets them apart; it is their lack of something that has no eternal value that is their distinguishing characteristic. It is their lack of this world's goods, it is their lack of what is passing away, it is their lack of what they can't take with them, that sets them apart as a distinct group. When many Christian ministries are aiming at filling their present physical needs (which are very real) the focus is on needs in this world.
Focusing upon people who lack of this world's goods conveys a
message--a message about the Gospel. When many ministries are
aimed at a particular group of people such as the poor focusing
on needs which have meaning only in this world is not the only
effect. And at the same time a message about the nature of the
Gospel is being conveyed to the watching world. The choice of
particular economic categories of people to be recipients of what
Christians have to give conveys a message concerning the nature
of the Christian's message. What is that message? That the "cure",
the Gospel, that Christians have relates particularly to those
who are needy, needy in the world's eyes. What is that message?
That the "cure", the Gospel, that Christians have relates
particularly to those individuals who lack--not what God is concerned
about--righteousness--but who lack this world's goods. That is
not what God says. This is false representation.
When the 'cure' that Christians know of (salvation through Christ)
is seen being presented primarily to people who have little of
the world's goods the message that comes across is that what Christians
have is not something that everyone has need of. Why? Because
some people have much of what this world has to offer. And they
don't get shown mercy. Why then should the rich think that what
Christians have is for them? The rich do not look upon themselves
as needy. The world doesn't look upon them as being needy. And
it appears that many Christian ministries that desire to show
God's mercy do not look upon them as needy. Why should people
with much of what the world has to give feel that what the Christian
ministries of mercy have to give is a vital message? In fact,
we can go further and ask, 'Why should anybody feel that
what the Christian ministries of mercy have to give is vital?'
It is a false representation of the Gospel to set forth the gift
of God as being anything less than a 'life and death' issue to
every individual on earth.
The Gospel can be denied by action as well as by word whether
it be the rich or the poor who are being shown special treatment--James 2:2-4. If what is being presented is not presented
as something which is vital to the eternal destiny of everyone
on earth as much as water is relevant the physical survival of
everybody on earth is attention being focused on what God's Gospel
says is of ultimate importance? If the message that comes across
from the attitudes of much Christian witness is not that their
message is a matter of life and death, eternal life and eternal
'death' to everybody how important can it be? (Matthew
5:29; 18:6,8; 26:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 21:8)
God's concern and mercy as demonstrated in the mission and accomplishment
of Christ does not relate to any particular economic category
of people--such as the physically needy (John
3:16 above; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:16). But this is the message that is conveyed
by the emphasis and focus that many Christian ministries of mercy
seem to have. The 'bottom line' comes across as being the improvement
of individual life style or social conditions and the individual's
attitude towards God is set forth as a means to that goal, a goal
that appeals unbelievers.....
The Bible indicates that God's gift (which the Gospel is the announcement
of) is equally relevant to all people. The Bible does not indicate
that the need of the physically needy for the mercy of God is
greater than for human beings who have more of the world's goods?
Yet the 'haves' of the world are not looked upon as having any
(or as great a) need of what the Christian has to give as the
'have-nots' have. How often have you heard of missions of mercy
to an individual or group of individuals who have an abundance
of this world's goods? Doesn't this fact 'say' something about
what it is that those Christian's look upon as being their unique
possession to share?
The ways by which individuals or ministries may be diverting attention
from the focus of God's Gospel are many and often quite subtle.
Differences in objectives, differences in what is at stake, differences
hidden in the way recipients are picked. A probable thought that
some readers may have is that 'whether these differences exist
or not being merciful cannot be wrong.' No, it isn't.
Before proceeding further one point needs to be made clear. Showing
mercy by providing for physical and other needs in the present
is most definitely not wrong. The fact that the primary objective
for which God sent his Son to die was not the relief of pain,
poverty, 'injustice' does not mean that the showing of mercy is
irrelevant. What an ungodly, unchristian idea! Of course we should
be concerned about how people are feeling in this world. There
are at least three distinct ways that the Bible clearly shows
that being merciful is part of the purpose of God. The example
of Jesus. It is an ingredient of salvation. It is commanded.
Who was more governed by the will of God the Father than Jesus? Nobody. Who was the most vivid example of God's character? Jesus. (John 14:9) Over and over again the gospel accounts speak of the compassion he felt and displayed for the poor and/or physically needy. He never turned anyone away who came to him for help and healing. (Acts 10:37-38; Matthew 4:23-24; 9:35; 15:30; Mark 6:56)
Another way the Bible teaches us that
the showing of mercy is included in the purpose of God is by his
describing the act of being merciful as an essential characteristic
of that new creature or new creation that God's salvation speaks
of--"Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone,
the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) We
expect a creature to act like what it is. A bird has the instincts
of a bird. A duck has the instincts of a duck. A human baby acts
like a baby. The new creature of God has the instincts of the
new creature that God created (Ephesians
4:24; Colossians 3:10,12)
The Bible does not say that the
'instinct' to be merciful is an occasional or non-essential component
of God's new creature. Is it an irrelevant matter if a
fish does not act like a fish or duck act like a duck? Is the
ability to swim an occasional component of a fish? Is a fish free
to choose whether it has the ability to swim? No more are the
redeemed children of God free to choose whether they will be merciful.
The apostle John addresses Christians with these words: "We know that we have
passed from death to life." How do we
know this? Because we have the marks, the 'instincts' of God's
new creature-- "because
we love our brothers."
And what does the Bible say about anyone who does not have this
'instinct'? "Anyone
who does not love remains in death." (1 John 3:14; see also
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)
The inclination to be merciful
is in God's redeemed children. As the Bible puts it, "Everyone who believes
that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves
the father loves his child as well." (1 John 5:1) How clearly
this God-given love is relevant to missions of mercy is illustrated
in the following teaching: "If
anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but
has no pity on him how can the love of God be in him?" (1 John 3:17) "Dear
children,"
the apostle John exhorts, "let us not love with
words or tongue but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:18) Or, as James
puts it, "Faith
by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17) That is what
the Bible says.
If a Christian is concerned about another person it will manifest
itself in love in the present. (1 Thessalonians
1:3) The apostle Paul is very clear on the matter:
"The only
thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." (Galatians 5:6) Other statements
of the truth that are right on target are these: "For anyone who does
not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God,
whom he has not seen."
(1
John 4:20)
And again, "As the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without deeds is dead." (James 2:26)
The showing of mercy is emphatically part of the purpose of God
for his people.
Mercy upon mercy. In the preceding
section we spoke of the 'instinct' to show mercy as being an ingredient
of salvation, an invariable characteristic of God's new creature.
But God doesn't stop there. He makes it even clearer through subsequent
instruction in how to behave. He instructs people he has already
rescued. God's giving of the Ten Commandments to the people immediately
after he had delivered his people from bondage in Egypt (Exodus
12,20) beautifully illustrates the sequence of God's merciful
actions. 'Goodness doesn't lead to salvation; salvation issues
in goodness'.
The giving of specific instructions and commands on the subject
of showing mercy is yet another way the Bible shows that being
merciful is included in God's purposes. The Bible shows very clearly
that being merciful is not a choice, that is, it is not a kind
of behavior which can--with God's approval--be ignored by a redeemed
creature of God. Showing mercy is an obligation.The showing of
mercy is not only a property of the new creature that God created
(Ephesians
4:23-24), it is also
a command.
When asked which is the greatest commandment in the Law of God
"Jesus
replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest
commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as
yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40; see also Romans 13:9-10)
What does the Bible say is true religion? "Religion that God our Father accepts
as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows
in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the
world."
(James
1:27). No, the showing
of mercy is not, as students would say, 'an elective'. It is a
command. "This
is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for
us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16) Is
a fish free to choose whether it has the ability to swim? No more
are the redeemed children of God free to choose whether they will
be merciful.
The showing of mercy is emphatically part of the purpose of God
for his people.
While the filling of physical and other needs which people have
in this world is not the objective for which the Father sent his
only Son (the Christ) to shed his blood on the cross, the expression
of mercy is anything but an option which the redeemed children
of God are free to go along with or to reject. And expressing
genuine concern for a person's real needs in the present is a
kind of action that inevitably creates contact with that person
(or persons) which thus becomes an opportunity for speaking of
the necessity of believing that Jesus was the Son of God (1
John 5:5) if that person or
persons are going to get out from under the wrath of God and receive
the gift of the eternal inheritance.
How then can the objective of filling worldly needs be a distraction
from the objective that God's Gospel is concerned with? What then
is the biblical solution?
Mercy, the objective of God, and the mission of Christians all
go together.
While it seems to be the case that through their objectives and
in other ways Christians and Christian ministries of mercy may
be communicating a message different from the Gospel of God, it
is equally true that God's eternal perspective or concern with
eternal rewards and eternal consequences does not invalidate or
in anyway undermine the requirement that Christians show mercy
in connection with current physical or other needs. To do so would
require a setting aside of many clear teachings of God as the
previous section of this meditation pointed out.
Neither the primary objective of God's salvation or the showing
mercy makes the other superfluous any more than the objective
of passing the Bar exam makes behaving morally superfluous. Helping
people overcome physical ailments doesn't make the suppression
of crime a superfluous objective. A partial illustration might
be that of a soldier staying awake. Staying awake is needful for
the soldier to carry out his mission but it is not the objective
of the mission laid upon him. In the same way the doing of deeds
of mercy is needful for the Christian yet that is not the primary
objective of God or the primary mission laid upon Christians by
God. While both are part of God's purposes yet there is an important
difference between them.
The showing of mercy almost always relates to the needs of the
body in this world. Helping people with their needs in this world
is not wrong; it is commanded. But it does involve focusing upon
that speck of time that occurs before death. When the concern
is with bodily needs in this world there is no giving or sharing
of that gift of God which makes things right forever. However
much the providing for current needs in this world does for anyone
it does not have the same enduring significance as the urgent
entreaty to believe that Jesus was God come in the flesh and thereby
be delivered from the deserved liability to the death penalty
and be made an heir to an magnificent inheritance that is eternal. (John
3:36; 20:30-31; 1 John 4:15)
Being merciful did not cause him to
forsake the eternal purpose forwhich He came. (Hebrews
12:2-4)
The showing mercy and doing
deeds of kindness (even miraculous ones) did not take the place
of the mission God the Father had given him. Jesus,
who left us an example to follow (1 Peter 2:21), performed many, many acts of kindness or
mercy which were designed to relieve pain and suffering in this
world. Was there ever anyone who had more compassion for those
individuals who had obvious physical needs in this world than
he did? No. And he even had the power to fill every need that
people were aware they had. Yet He knew that the mission the Father
gave Him to accomplish did not consist of deeds of 'earthly' mercy.
His acts of mercy did not take the place of the mission his Father
gave him to accomplish. The presence of enormous needs in this
world that surrounded Jesus did not cause him turn aside from
or minimize the greatest need--what he was sent here to do--to
deliver them from the wrath of God and earn for them the blessings
of eternal life. What greater deed of mercy could Christ do than
laying down his sinless life to take the punishment of death due
his people because of their sin and to earn for them eternal life
and all the blessings that are part of it?
The acts of kindness Jesus did, the works of mercy Jesus did,
the miracles Jesus did were not the focus of the
mission that his Father in heaven had sent him to accomplish.
Lazarus though raised from the dead by Jesus died eventually didn't
he? (John
11:17,43-44)
The relief of pain and suffering
in this world was no more the primary mission given to Him than
staying awake is the mission given to soldiers before a battle.
While it is unlikely that the soldiers' mission can be accomplished
without their staying awake that is still not the mission objective.
The primary purpose of the many miracles and acts of healing Jesus
wrought was not to relieve pain, suffering or unhappiness in this
world but to achieve a much greater objective. The Bible says
so. The purpose for which he came, the purpose of Christ's sacrificial
death was an eternal result--that whoever believes in him "shall not perish but
have eternal life."
(John
3:16)
The acts of kindness Jesus
did, the works of mercy Jesus did, the miracles Jesus did dealt
with very real needs in the present but at the same time were
tied up with the mission
he was sent to do. In the gospel according to John believers
and everybody are told what the purpose of Jesus's miraculous
deeds of mercy and compassion was. We are told of the role Jesus'
miracles played in the mission God the Father gave to Christ,
namely, to provide grounds for people to see who he was so that
they might put their trust in him and be saved eternally. "Jesus did many other
miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not
recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing
you may have life in his name." (John 20:30-31; see also 10:38)
The same requirement not to loose
the eternal perspective and God's priorities apply to believers
as they did to Jesus. Caring for the very real (but comparatively
short-term) needs of individuals in the present must not cause
us to forget the centrality of giving the message we were given
the responsibility of giving. Pointing to Him who saves everyone
who believes from suffering eternally, realizing that everyone
who confesses "Jesus
is Lord"
and believes "that God raised him from the dead...will
be saved. ...As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.'"
(Romans
10:9,11)
What do the parting words of Jesus to his disciples (the 'Great
Commission') say? "Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20) Put
first things first!
In the preceding paragraphs we have looked at some of the ways
that focusing on the 'here and now' may be more than just a difference
of emphasis but may be a different message altogether. Why
is this? Because God's focus and our focus are not interchangeable.
Focusing or putting the 'emphasis' on anything other than God's
focus is not an insignificant substitution. To treat the
principal benefit of the work of Christ (which the Gospel sets
forth) the eternal life versus the eternal 'death' issue as a
secondary consideration is a grievous error and a great sin. The
prime objective cannot be treated as if it were an extra dividend
or a bonus. Putting the goal of particular changes in earthly
circumstances which all people appreciate in the place of the
eternal issue that gives meaning to the salvation that Christ's
sacrificial death earned for his people is to distort the meaning
and value of what God did for his people. Is this not substituting
another gospel? The mission described by the 'Great Commission'
must not be reduced to an after thought or 'another matter' that
should be mentioned.
Putting this worldly benefits in the place of the principal gift
of God is not an insignificant substitution; it is not just a
choice to emphasize something different. What is the essence of
idolatry if it is not substituting the worship of an idol instead
of God? (The very word is a combination of Greek words meaning
'idol' and 'service') To put the thought in different words we
would say that treating possible or likely benefits in
this life of following Jesus Christ as if they were the
important benefit of coming to Christ is a form of idolatry. What
is focusing on anything other than the benefit God sent
his Son to accomplish if it is not putting what we consider so
important in the place of what God considers so important? What
is making what we need or want in this life the center
of attention (by repeated mention and/or enthusiasm) other than
substituting our priorities for God's?
Jesus provided a very clear illustration of putting a worldly
benefit in the place of appreciating Jesus for who/what He is.
Shortly after the miraculous 'feeding of the 5000' what did
Jesus say to the people that he knew were not seeking him except
as a provider of earthly benefits? "Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth,
you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but
because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for
food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which
the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed
his seal of approval.' Then they asked him, 'What must we do to
do the works God requires?' Jesus answered, 'The work of God is
this: to believe in the one he has sent.'" (John 6:26-29)
The presence of real needs, needs that must be met (to some extent)
to survive in this world is not something God is unaware of .
Our Creator knows what we need. But the filling of
physical needs is not to be put before God's wishes. "Then Jesus said to his
disciples: 'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life
is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the
ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn;
yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!...
And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not
worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things,
and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom,
and these things will be given to you as well .'" (Luke 12:22-24,29-31)
In the very verses that lead up to this teaching of Jesus Jesus
illustrates the difference in what is acceptable to set our hearts
upon and what isn't. "And
he told them this parable: 'The ground of a certain rich man produced
a good crop. He thought to himself, "What shall I do? I have
no place to store my crops." Then he said, "This is
what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones,
and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say
to myself, 'You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.
Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.'" But God said to
him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded
from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"'
This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich towards God." (Luke 12:16-21)
God's Gospel speaks about eternal matters. Hear the apostle Paul's
blunt declarations on this very point: "If only for this life we have hope in
Christ,we are to be pitied more than all men" (1 Corinthians 15:19) and
again, "If
I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what
have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and
drink, for tomorrow we die." (1 Corinthians 15:32) Even unbelieving
athletes don't set their hearts on the elimination of pain in
the present. 'No pain, no gain' they say. Their hearts are set
on a possible prize that may be theirs in the 'future'. But that
prize and that future is in this life. God's picture is so much
bigger and richer. Using this very imagery, the Bible says, "For physical training
is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding
promise for both the present life and the life to come." (1 Timothy 4:8) The
Bible speaks about people who think of "godliness" as
"a means
to financial gain."
(1
Timothy 6:5)
How different is the focus of
the Gospel!
Think of Moses' example. "He chose to be ill-treated along with the
people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a
short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of
greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking
ahead to his reward."
(Hebrews
11:25-26)
Think of the apostle Paul's view of life: "For our light and momentary troubles
are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them
all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed,
we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built
by human hands."
(2
Corinthians 4:17--5:1; see also Hebrews
11:13-16)
Looking at the eternal perspective
is not interchangeable with looking at the speck of time in which
we live on earth. The eternal perspective or the big picture includes
what ever is happening now in this world. But the opposite is
not true. The speck does not include the big picture. What is
happening in the present does not explain or give God's rationale
for what is happening in the present. Think of yourself coming
into the middle of the only movie you ever went to and
leaving a few minutes later. The fragment you saw doesn't tell
you who the characters are, why they are doing what they are doing,
or what the ending will be.
And what is it that all people (including myself) need to be reminded
of more than the eternal perspective--that nothing in this life
is problem to God or obstacle that hinders God from carrying out
his purpose of love for his people, that is, for each person who
believes? (John
3:16; Romans 8:28, 35-39; Ephesians 1:11) What is it
that all people (including myself) need more than anything else
to be reminded of than the point of view and the plan of the God
who loved us so much he sent his Son to die that we might
live?
It is not an insignificant matter when benefits that will cease
at death are, in fact, looked upon and presented as being the
benefit that unbelievers should get excited about. When the focus,
the emphasis, is on changes in this life that following Jesus'
ways often bring a grievous substitution and great sin is being
engaged in. When evangelism is viewed as, and presented as, a
means (however effective) for relieving hurt and social ills a
grievous substitution is being made. Putting the focus on the
short-lived benefits of believing in Christ and following his
wise ways is not the equivalent of putting the focus on the primary
objectives of God.
Cries for help don't justify interchanging what is not interchangeable.
Cries for help don't justify substituting what we believe is important
for what God has said is important. (The sending of his Son to
die on the cross was quite a revelation of what he considered
important!)
When the cries for help become loud and pressing, when the cries
reach our ears and hearts (or when our own heart and body screams
for relief) it becomes harder and harder to think that God's focus
or emphasis on sin and holiness is not a less important
matter that can wait until we have done all we can to get or to
provide relief of pain and misery. (James
2:15-17; 1 John 3:17)
Are believers in the position
to show the greatest mercy if they feel communicating to others
about the absolute indispensability of believing in Jesus (God
come in the flesh) is not urgent? Are believers in the position
to show the greatest mercy if they feel focusing a person's attention
on Him who can save them from a consequence worse than death and
at the same time earn for them an inheritance of everlasting blessings
is not the most important act they could ever perform? What we
believe is a very pressing need (in our lives or in that of others)
is no justification for substituting our opinion for God's opinion
as to what is a pressing need (which he has already told us).
In his opinion there is no more crucial issue than that of whether
an individual does or does not believe that Jesus was the Son
of God. "Whoever
believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the
Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:36) "He
will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel
of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction
and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty
of his power."
(2
Thessalonians 1:8-9)
The action of repeatedly focusing people's attention on benefits
which believers may have in this life is not interchangeable with
the action of repeatedly pointing to the deliverance from the
wrath of God and the possession of the gift of eternal life that
every believer has.
Is It The Gospel That Is Being Proclaimed If It Is Not Trying To Persuade The Individuals Who Hear It To Set Their Minds And Hearts On The 'Things Above' ?
When the message that believers and unbelievers are hearing focuses our attention on the little picture-- that speck of time in which we are living--the big picture', that which includes everlasting life and the crown of life'--is out of view. This should never happen. That which puts everything in the context of God's eternal perspective must not be left out (even when God's statements leave many heart-felt 'why's' unanswered--Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 11:33).
Is the message that is being proclaimed
"pushing" anyone to set their minds and hearts
on the 'things above' (Colossians 3:1-2) so
that how they behave now will be colored by that vision? "Since everything will
be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?
You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to
the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about
the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will
melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking
forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this,
make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace
with him."
(2
Peter 3:11-14; see
also Hebrews11:13-16, 25-26)
Is this not how Jesus lived? Who portrayed the character of God
more than his Son, Jesus the Christ? Is not a big part of that
character sharing in the purpose of our Father in heaven? (John
4:34; 6:38; 8:29)
Is it not the fact that Jesus
shared his Father's vision the reason that Jesus did what he did?
Jesus' actions are our model. Jesus kept his eyes focused on the
'big picture'? "Let
us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its
shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2) Believers
should do the same. (Philippians
2:5; 1 Peter 4:1; 2 Peter 3:11-14 quoted above)
Is It The Gospel That Is Being Presented If The Eternal Ramifications Of Believing In Christ Or Not Believing In Christ Are Viewed And Treated As Something That Is Neither Urgent Nor Incomparably Important Now?
Is it The Gospel that is being presented
if the eternal ramifications of believing in Christ or not believing
in Christ is looked upon as if it were something that was only
vital to think about at some time in the future when it becomes
relevant--like a fire insurance policy that has no meaning
in this life (except to borrow against) until after a fire?
Can an individual or a ministry ignore or down play (through non-mention
or casual mention) the eternal dimension of post-death blessings
or post-death condemnation (hell) and yet be fully proclaiming
the Gospel? Does not down playing the eternal context of this
life, that is, the eternal consequences of believing in or rejecting
Christ (in this life) communicate the idea that a belief in Christ
is a matter which is not all that important at the present time?
(again, like an insurance policy which can be stuck away in a
drawer)? This is not the way the apostle Paul spoke of
the benefit of knowing Christ-- "If only for this life we have hope in
Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (1 Corinthians 15:19;
see also Philippians 3:8)
The Gospel of God is not being set forth if it does not include
statements which indicates how important or valuable the message
is. Through the proclamation of the gospel individuals are warned
or told of what the cost of not believing in what Jesus Christ
accomplished is. The bible says bluntly, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal
life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's
wrath remains on him."
(John
3:36)
If the message that comes across from the attitudes of
much Christian witness is not that their message is a matter of
life and death, eternal life and eternal 'death' to everybody
how important can it be? (Matthew 5:29; 18:6,8; 26:24; 2
Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 21:8)
If the value of believing
in Christ or not believing in Christ is not set forth as a choice
of action that inevitably leads either to eternal life or to eternal
'death' (Matthew
7:13-14; John 3:36; Romans 6:16,23) is it
God's Gospel or some other 'gospel' that is being presented?
(A Personal note. If I believe eternal 'death' is the destiny
of everybody who does not rely on the work, the righteousness
of Jesus the Christ, what greater mercy can I (or any believer)
show anybody than by pointing him or her to Him through whom he
or she can avoid suffering forever? And what is this but evangelism?
And what is this but telling them the 'Old, Old Story' as the
familiar hymn puts it? (Romans
10:9,13,14)
Am I being full of mercy and concern
if I give the equivalent of an aspirin when I should be remembering
that unbelievers have a fatal disease and therefore have a desperate
need to hear of Jesus Christ who is the healer of that disease?)
Is It The Gospel That Is Being Presented If Christ Is Being
Held Up As Something Other Than Who/what He Is?
If the reason for coming to Christ is stated or implied to be
how much better your life in this world can be what does that
make of Christ? Is it to the Christ of the Bible
a person has fled (Hebrews
6:17-18; Psalm 119:114) if
the value of the christ that has been presented to him/her is
believed to be his gift of 'divine know-how' and the gift of power
to lead a more productive, successful, happy life on earth? Is
it to the Christ of the Bible a person is fleeing
if the value of the christ that has been presented to him/her
is believed to be the gifts he has given, gifts which individuals
can make use of to overcome some or all the ills of this life?
How often the message that Christians seem to be communicating
is that 'life goes better with Jesus'. (The old Coca Cola commercial
'Life goes better with Coke' with Jesus being substituted for
Coke) If the idea that is being communicated is 'how much
better life can be if you choose to follow Christ's ways is that
God's Gospel? How different this is from believing that Jesus
the Christ was God come in the flesh!
If the benefits that are focused upon are more productive or satisfying
behavior patterns in this life what value does that reflect on
Christ? This 3-part meditation began with a selection out of a
million possible quotes that make it clear this is a hurting world.
Does the repeated phrase 'this a hurting world' exalt Christ?
Is it by realizing that there is hurt and misery in the world
that the Christ of the Bible is revealed to be glorious
in the eyes of men so that they would be drawn to him? (John
12:32).
Observing
that there is an enormous amount of hurt, misery and unhappiness
in the after Jesus came may even
tend to disparage Jesus by subtly suggesting the idea that whatever
Christ's sacrificial death did accomplish, it did not amount to
that much. How does the accurate statement of truth, 'this is
a hurting world' convey that message? By describing the situation
that Jesus Christ (who was supposed to have done a marvelous work)
left behind as a terrible one--'a hurting world.' The mere mention
of a 'hurting world' takes the focus off of the wondrousness of
what God/Christ did accomplish so many years ago.
If the important benefits that Jesus bestows are temporary is
Jesus honored for what he is? Who would consider Jesus an all-sufficient
'person' to flee to, to put one's welfare into the hands of, if
all the benefits the sacrifice of Christ's life earned will cease
to have any meaning when the apparently universal event of physical
death occurs? Who would run to a doctor if that doctor told us
that if we followed his/her prescribed course of treatment our
life would be great--but only until the day the disease killed
us? How great is God's gift of salvation if it consists of health
and prosperity which lasts only until that person dies of a fatal
disease? How great is the God whose power or favorable intentions
can't touch anything but this life? How great is Jesus if death
will bring an end to whatever benefits his sacrificial death brought
about? Who would see Jesus as worthy and deserving of all our
admiration if Jesus' gift to the human race was considered only
a momentary reprieve from the inevitable--like the giving of water
and nutrients to a cut flower?
If Jesus is not being recognized because of his intrinsic qualifications
is it the Christ of the Bible or some figment of the imagination
that is being 'accepted', come to, praised in church services?
Who considers a janitor such an qualified person that he hires
him to clean up a nuclear accident? Who looks to a carpenter to
perform brain surgery? Qualifications make a difference. What
kind of 'person', that is, a 'person' with what kind of qualifications,
should we look to for salvation? (see meditation of 4/97) Is Christ
being run to, looked to, because he has the power (the qualifications)
to bring about eternal changes? Is he bigger than death? The Bible
says so. The Bible says of God, "For he has rescued us from the dominion
of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son [Jesus] he
loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14) And
what are the 'qualifications' of this Jesus? "He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created:
things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created
by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things
hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he
is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that
in everything he might have the supremacy." (Colossians 1:15-18; see also Hebrews 1:2-3) And again,
"You are
worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things, and by your will they were created
and have their being."
(Revelation
4:11)
Much bigger. Much bigger than
death. That is what the message of Christianity is all about.
(Mark 10:33-34; Romans 8:38; 1 Corinthians
3:22; 15:54-55; 2 Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 2:14-15; etc.)
Does the Bible give 'getting out of an unsuccessful, misery-filled
life style as the (or a) reason that people should
come to Christ? How different is the focus of the ministry of
the apostle Paul. He did not focus people's attention on positive
changes in our lives on earth. "If only for this life we have hope in
Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men" (1 Corinthians 15:19) and
again, "If
I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what
have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and
drink, for tomorrow we die." (1 Corinthians 15:32) The quality
of life prior to physical death is not what believers are to be
focusing on-- "So
we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For
what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Now
we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have
a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by
human hands."
(2
Corinthians 4:18--5:1)
Let's get our priorities straight!
Everything in its place.
Is not an effect of being told the gospel or being reminded of
the gospel--to appreciate what an unequaled blessing it is to
have been made acceptable to God? (Psalm
32:1-2; Matthew 18:23-27; Acts 13:38; 26:17-18; Romans 4:7-8) Is not an effect of being told the Gospel
or being reminded of the Gospel--to appreciate what an unequaled
blessing it is to know one has been delivered from a destiny worse
than death and to have been made an heir to a life and an inheritance
that will last forever? But if this is not what the mind of the
beneficiary of Christian mercy (and of anybody who goes to a church)
is focused upon perhaps it is not God's Gospel that is being 'preached'
there.
If you appreciate what you read here please tell your friends about this URL and sign my guest book on the homepage. Also, if, as you read any of the meditations, you feel you know of a situation that beautifully illustrates any of the points made I would be delighted to learn of it. I might incorporate it.) Click the following: camppp21355@comcast.net
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