Preach the Gospel, Use Words...........

Ezekiel 36: 21

But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.

 22Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.

 23And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

 24For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

 25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

 27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

 28And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

 29I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

 30And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

 31Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

 32Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

We are sinful in nature. The Bible makes it clear that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Most of the time, our own selfishness and pride makes us behave in ways that bring shame and bad consequences on us. However, there are often times when we, as Christians, fall into a situation where God’s name is at stake. A  situation where the underlying premise of those who may be against us is that our God is being humiliated, by proxy.

I have friends who seem, on a worldly level, to be so much better than me in charctaer and disposition. They do good works and seldom loose their temper. Thye are sacrifinign of their time and money to help others. They treat their colleagues very well and aid their friends selflessly. Yet they cannot and will not, accept that they are sinners in need of grace, in need of salvation. It is a mystery. How do we share the gospel with them? How does God make Himslef known to them, when we, his followers, are no where as “good” as we should be, and may actually be behaving in a way that is inimical  to the gospel?

The passage today tells us that it is not our actions but that God is sovereign. In the context of Ezekiel 36, the chosen people are Israel. They have been so disobedient to God that they lost it all. Their homes were destroyed and they were carried away to Babylon as captives. This resulted in their shame. Who would then serve their God?

Would someone who sees you at school, or in the office or work place want to serve your God? Want to know Jesus?

In this passage, God says that they were a chosen people. Just like us; “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light They carried God’s name. And God cares for His Name” 1 Peter 1:9.

Despite our failings, God still is sovereign, He will guard His name.

21But I had pity for mine holy name

23……….for mine holy name's sake

23And I will sanctify my great name

Often as Christians, our life ends up as a poor witness because we do not live, act or serve as we should. And we profane the Name of our God. Each of the verses above (21-23) ended up with God saying they had “profaned His Name”.

                                                                                                    

There is a saying, falsely attributed to Francis of Assisi, that goes something like this “Preach the gospel, if necessary, use words”.

This is the premise of lifestyle evangelism. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that this will be the main determinant of whether communities can be won for Jesus. I have seen, on the mission field in India and Africa, better lifestyle and better services, given by adherents of other religions. The 2004 tsunami drew help from not just Christians but also Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. Medical and surgical services to the poor are much better funded by the god-men of India than by Christian missions.

It is essential therefore, that the gospel is actually shared or preached. Our lifestyle, while important, is not the determinant of whether a community will accept Christ. While we are working on our own character change in Christ, we are called to sahre the gospel. That is His sovereign will and plan for us. Bringing people to Christ is finally the work of the Holy Spirit. He will do it for His Name’s sake. All we are asked to do is share the gospel.

Why is there no recovery?
Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:16

Recently I took up a new job assignment with a group of physicians in a new province. Financially it appeared to be a good option, allowing me to earn my keep in a shorter amount of time, leaving a few months free for church ministry and medical mission work.

But I found myself in that insidious mental snare the world places us in, a snare that seems to be in our very psyche – the need to be reliant on monetary aspects of life. And in the present recession, there is always the pervasive fear I may not earn enough to spend money on overseas travel and mission work. It niggles at the periphery of my consciousness, insinuating to the centre at times, despite my affirmation of trust in God.

Why is the recession still with us. Where is the economic recovery? The land is hurting, the financial system is under strain, real people are suffering, and we ask, like Jeremiah, “why then is there no recovery?” (8:22)

Well, it is so easy to look at the problems of this nation through secular lenses. But God wants us to understand that there is a spiritual reason for the morass the world is in. It happened years ago to nation Israel, it is happening to day to nations around the world. There seems to be no cure, no “balm of Gilead” in sight (8:22). Is the nation or economic system or moral compass going to “perish and burn up like a wilderness”? (9:12). And why is that so?

1. It is that we have strayed far from God these days (Jeremiah 9: 13). It is not only a question of disobedience to God anymore. It is indifference and a disinterest in the things of God. People do not care whether God exists anymore, let alone feel they must obey Him. We have forsaken His law. And we have disobeyed His voice.
2. It is that we follow our own dictates (Jeremiah 9:14). Don’t know what to do in a situation? Just make up your own decisions, we are told. As long as no one is hurt, it is fine. It is NOT fine, unfortunately. For when we neglect to acknowledge God and to seek His Word to guide us, we will end up in ruins (9: 11).
3. Worse still – and proving this is a spiritual problem – we seek after the “Baals” (Jeremiah 9:14b). “Baal” is the word the gentiles used for the god of the day. Today’s “Baals” is the pantheon of spiritualities endemic in western society and overtly practiced in the east. All of us are gods, and all religions lead to god, we are told. The “Baals” of the past have taken root today, and God is unimpressed.

Why is there no recovery?

Because we have not factored in the Master Physician, Jesus Christ, who can cure any ailment. He is waiting to be asked. Jesus came to pay the price for our sin; to be called into our lives personally as our Lord and Saviour.  And as more in society genuinely call upon His name, healing will come to the nation.

If we continue as we are, we will drink the “water of gall” (9:15). The results of sinful and wanton behaviour are catching up. The world in general and each person in particular, will keep on enduring the vagaries of today’s dysfunctional society, and not know why it is happening.

Turn to the Lord our God. Give your life to Him. Trust Him. Let us start each one, one at a time.

Why is God waiting do long? 


Because - they do not know the judgment of the Lord

Jeremiah 8:8-17

I find it hard to fathom the norms of society just a few hundred years ago. Rules were explicitly followed. The Elizabethan era in Britain saw people lose their heads, literally, for no other reason than the ruler thought them to be subversive. Justice was swift and harsh, especially when the ruler was defied.

Thousands of years ago, the same mentality held true, in even more barbaric style. The Assyrians would impale conquered civilians on sharp poles, allowing them to die slowly. Defeat in battle meant death to the whole city and community. All conquering hordes followed the same pattern.

Jeremiah talks of judgment. He saw this first hand in what Babylon had done to his people. The killing of King Zedekiah’s sons, for no other reason than they were royal family, seems monstrous today. It was the norm then.

It was probably the patience of God in this milieu that made the people of God, the Jews, complacent. They were used to secular warlords exacting swift revenge. Yet, for flouting the clear laws of God, there seemed to be no quick judgment. Looking from the vantage point of time, we look back and see that God did indeed punish Israel and Judah. But since Jesus came, it has now been over 2000 years. And God has no exacted judgment on those who profane His name or malign Him. So what gives?

1. Firstly, God says that he will judge (v. 13). He will surely “consume”, he says. But His timing is not the same as ours. There are so many mysteries we do not understand. The main one is why is He waiting so long. Most commentators understand this waiting period to be a time given so that as many unbelievers can repent as possible. But to me, and maybe to you, there seems to be greater unbelief today! Rather than seek the answer, the best option is the obvious one. Just trust God, and admit that we do not know why he is waiting this long. But also admit that when he does come again, God will judge everyone.
2. Secondly, many people do not know about the judgment of the Lord (v.8). There are a lot of Christians today who go to happy and loving churches where there is little mention of judgment. The seeker friendly church tries “not to offend”. Worship has become a case of offering praise on our terms, not God’s terms. We walk in and out as we please. We dress as we like. There is no “fear” of God. Fear, you ask. “Why “fear” him when He is all love?”, answer many of the leaders of today. And there is a feel good atmosphere. People cannot envisage God can ever punish. Everybody thinks this is a party!

To some extent, pharisaic style religion may be a default position of those who take th ejudgement of God seriously. However, those who advocate God’s love and total  liberty, that they dilute the gospel to mere sound bites and Sunday morning flip flop parties default the other way.

We need a healthy balanced theology of grace and righteousness, the expression of God’s immutable natures of love and justice. Paul presented this  discussion between too many rules (legalism) and too much liberty (antinomianism) very well in Galatians. Please read that book many times. God is a loving God AND a just God. He loves us but man’s rebellion has also brought the wrath of God upon us.

He cannot deny His nature. That is why His wrath had to be satisfied by the once for all work of Jesus on the Cross, when he died for our sins.

The Day of Judgment will come. We need to stand with the righteous to avoid judgment. This righteousness is a free gift. Believing in Jesus cleanses us of sin in the sight of God and brings us back into His loving presence.

It is amazing how people today can ignore or reject God today.

They do not know the judgment of the Lord………..

If  God Does Not Say Anything, It is Usually No

Jeremiah 7:28-8:3

I attend court regularly to give evidence in personal injury cases. Over the years, I have seen how judges have to adapt to new specialist orthopaedic evidence, especially if there is no precedent. For example, many years ago, if someone lost his thumb in an accident, the courts awarded 80% loss of function of that hand for compensation purposes. But recently, I am able to give a new reconstructed thumb to the patient. Does that mean he receives no compensation? Not really – for the new thumb is never the same as the original. The rule book was silent on how to compensate for a reconstructed thumb, so we have to try to find compensation for pain and suffering in spite of the silence of the law.

Somehow, this approach has permeated into the Christian world. The Bible reveals a message of grace. We are accepted into the fellowship with God only by accepting the finished work of Christ on the cross, but faith alone. As a group of believers, however, the scriptures give us an indication of what God would like us to be and how we are to behave. The moral imperatives in the Ten Commandments remain a guide for us. But what happens when the Bible is silent on something? Does it mean we can indulge ourselves anyway, in the name of freedom? Can we incorporate all kinds of activity into our worship services? Is God pleased with us bringing so much of secular cultural influences into the church? Is our noble aim to keep youth and the unchurched in our fold pleasing or actually grieving to God?

In Jeremiah’s time, the people of God somewhat worshipped God they way he has asked them to. Yet the people had added practices form the nations around them. The most egregious of these was the child sacrifice. While this is an extreme, we find today soft versions of these types of activity creeping into churches. For example, is not yoga or transcendental medication rooted historically and spiritually in Hinduism? Yet church condone such practices by saying they have removed the hindu element. What does God say about doing things he does not prohibit?

1. God knows what we do and calls it disobedience (7:28). Practices that he has not commanded are not to be added to worship or our daily Christian walk. It is convenient to use the argument form silence and say that what God has not forbidden, is acceptable! But God is watching and is grieved. Is it not better to avoid adding new things to our worship and our daily lives until we are sure that the practice is not rooted in pagan culture or religious systems? I know this sounds intolerant, but read this passage again and make your own determination. It is God’s word.

2. What God does not command, is also not allowed (7:31). This puts to rest the argument that if the Bible is silent on some activity, belief or practice, that means that God allows  or condones it. God said that the people had built “high places” which he did not command. High places were a place and a style of worship in the land of Judah. Are we building “high places” today? Are we building ministry models that He has not commanded? Seeker friendly church models use psycho-kinetics and other attractions to bring people to church. Are members coming for the entertainment or to worship our Holy God? Pastors now walk on stage in shorts and slippers. Are we disrespecting God?

3. The “new” visible churches will be irrelevant (7:32). The “high places” created by the Israelites will be no more, says God. The modern “high places” are these entertainment oriented “churches”. Messages are diluted to avoid offending people. The church members who come in easily, tend to fall away just as easily. And these church models will likely disappear too. The “Toronto Blessing”, with its laughing and barking, seems to have passed on. Many churches that were built on the word of God and the testimony of fervent Christians, will do well to avoid the trap of bringing in new things just because it is the craze.

We should avoid building the new “high places” that God says “ I did not command, nor did it come form  My heart” Jeremiah 7:31. If you have been unconsciously doing this in your life or your church is going down these roads, please heed what God spoke to the Hebrews, and how it speaks to us today.

Please look at my earlier post on “Out with the New, In with the Old”

Going Backwards, Not Forwards

Jeremiah 7:19-27

Many Christians genuinely believe that sincerity in their own heart trumps clear biblical teaching.

The Old Testament has a story about a king who won a great victory in God’s name. He was still confronted with further enemy troops, so he waited for the priest to offer a sacrifice to God. Unfortunately the person who could legitimately lead worship (yes, God considers all of us equal in his sight, but not all of us are given the same function) was not there. So the king - he is the leader, after all - took matters into his own hands and offered the sacrifice himself. And God was really displeased.

This story is told in 1 Samuel 13:1-14. Think of it, King Saul had all the good intentions. In his mind he was thankful for the victory and wanted further protection. But God has given us some direction in scripture and He expects obedience to His Word. The prophet Samuel told Saul that he had done “foolishly” (1 Sam13:13). Leaders and believers today make the same mistake. Many Christians genuinely believe that sincerity in their own heart trumps clear biblical teaching. Lay people assume leadership roles or make decisions which pastors should be making. And the question women in leadership are an emotive issue. Many of these will not be an issue if we read the bible in its plain meaning and obeyed it, even if we felt it was uncomfortable or contrary to what society is forcing us to accept.

Continuing in Jeremiah, we learn lessons from how God approached his people (today it is the church).

1. God was not pleased (7:19). The context here is hypocrisy and deceipt within the community of God. But it also applies to milder versions of disobedience. We all can point out overt instances of disobedience to God but it is actually the “soft” sins of disobedience that may ultimately weaken the church. Is there any part of scripture that is disconcerting to you? Do you genuinely feel called by God to do something or take up a role that the Bible clearly tells you you should nto be doing? Do not rationalise by looking at the ends to justify the means. Success today can be driven by  force of will and savvy marketing. Not everything successful is of God. The litmus test is obedience to His Word.

2. This is what God commands – Obey my voice and I will be your God….that it may be well with you (7:23). There are many areas where we have all been influenced by the world and its philosophy. Culture has begun to creep into church activities. We belive we have to cater to cultural trends to keep people in church. But God is more interested in His people obeying Him, not just mouthing that they are Christians.

3. Disobedience (even benign indifference) makes us go backwards, not forwards (7:24). Think of it. Why is the church declining in influence in society today? Why is it we are on the back foot when confronted with moral issues and losing the battle of the worldviews? Read in its plain meaning, the people of Israel in those days just thought that they could obey only what they felt they felt comfortable with and ignored inconvenient truths of scripture. We have fallen dangerously into the same rut. God have mercy on us.

Has your spiritual life become dry? Is your church consumed with gossip and politics? Are you subscribing to the secular or new age worldviews of the majority around you without even knowing it?

Resolve to read scripture as it is written. Ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher. The Spirit will NOT tell you that some scripture can be ignored because it was only relevant for the 1^st century. Take the whole counsel of God as true and necessary for Christian living. And when you read something inconvenient or opposite to what you believe is true, just obey scripture by faith. Obedience is better than sacrifice (worship).

God promises that, contrary to what we think, we will go forward, and not backward, if we humbly obey His word.

Sola Scriptura -  Amen.

Trust the Deeds, not the Words

Jeremiah 7:1-16 “Do Not Trust in Lying Words”

Recently we were deceived by a couple who claimed to be pastors. Though they were self appointed, we trusted them because they used the “ministry” usual words that Christians leaders use. They had an independent church of about 80 people. On hindsight we should have asked why they had a high attrition rate among their members.  Or questioned the contradictory statements they made. Rather naively, we helped this couple with significant financial resources. We lost a lot of money and they put the blame on us by making all sorts of angry accusations. They even spread malicious rumors about us and our ministry. This made me ponder about what trust, especially among Christians, should look like. It is probably best to say that we should, against all instinct, observe the deeds of friends rather than their words. Words can deceive.

As we continue in Jeremiah 7, we come across some hard words from the Lord, spoken 2600 years ago, to his chosen people in Judah. And this is applicable to the people of God (church) today. He tells his people to amend their ways (7:3). That means he looked at their deeds. Why would he tell us that?

1. Because leaders would lie (7:4). “Do not trust in lying words, saying the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord”. This is what happens today. Lying leaders who want to control people have infiltrated the church. And they say, “We are the church, we are the church, we are church”. Sound familiar? Those of us who would like the church to stand for what the Bible says are asked to compromise with those who simply claim they are Christian. Beware “pastors”, “evangelists” and “healers” who make extravagant claims for their ministry. Observe their deeds to make sure that they are “walking with God and in the Word”
2. Because leaders would try to profit (7:8). God made serious accusations against leaders who seek to profit. They would degenerate to stealing, murder, adultery, lying, idolatry (7:9) and then come and stand before God to lead the congregation! (7:10). My experience showed how little regard these two “friends” who claimed to be pastors, had for the fact that I had lost so much money because of their lying words.

I believe that often we are blinded by two things about false teachers and leaders:

• We are reluctant to judge their words and actions, afraid to be branded unforgiving. This is the tool the two “pastors” used to prevent me from voicing concern. As I searched for answers after being cheated, I realized that to judge what a Christian says or does is not only biblical, it is essential. (Jude 3). We must confront these leaders by correcting them in love. Do you speak to your pastor if you feel something is amiss? Do not be a divisive person but constructive criticism, in love, is biblical.
• Secondly, we are reluctant to take action and warn others. This is probably my greatest regret – the damage done to younger believers. I had seen the way these “pastors” controlled their members, using direct prophecy and “God speaking through them”. They talked down and gossiped about almost everyone else. Later I found they had done the same about me. But by not warning others, I allowed this cycle of damage to be done to others. Those of less faith may even drop out of church. While we know that God holds believer in His hand, these members may not have the joyful life God wants them to have.

Beware Christian leaders who keep talking about their church (7:4), loving the sound of their own voice,  and subtly asking for money and controlling people (7:8). The genuine leader humbly goes about his work in Christ, and allows the Lord to lead and guide his ministry. All glory goes to God.

We are only as useful as how much we make ourselves available to God. As leaders in our home and church, are our words and actions consistent with God’s word?

OUT with the new -  IN with the old

Jeremiah 6:10-30

Recently we purchased a MacBook computer and it came with a free iPod. The iPod had wifi and GPS features that amazed me, coming in such a small package. I am told that technology is advancing at such a pace that we “oldies” have been left behind. In church, this mindset has come in as well. But I believe it is more than just the usual generation gap. Previously, the generation gap applied to forms and styles. Today it is not just the forms and styles. It is also a world view battle. Previously what the church said about Jesus was accepted as true. Today, in addition to style, the gospel message is watered down or even reinterpreted.

It is “so yesterday” to want to read the bible as it is plainly written. We are told to look at scripture in a cultural context and reinterpret scripture in light of contemporary issues relevant for today. If that means watering down the exclusiveness of Jesus, so be it. Seeker friendliness or emergent church theology is the ”new” thing. As long as a “church” says they are “Christian”, we are to accept them without judging. Apart from subtle reinterpretation of long held theological beliefs, the ministry models as described in the new testament has been replaced by the “new” corporate models of church growth.

Nothing changes, I suppose. Even in the days of Jeremiah noted that the people of God were deviating from the plain meaning of God’s revelation. I wonder why it is so difficult to just read the scriptures plainly and believe it. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” Heb 11:6.  I suppose it is the fact that some of what the bible says is inconvenient and contrary to prevailing culture. And we are uncomfortable with it and thus demand something new.

The passage in Jeremiah 6:10-30 reveals that this inclination to tamper with God’s plain  teaching in the scripture is not a “new” phenomenon. And he starts with the reason.

1. Everyone is give to covetousness (6:13). “Covetousness” involved the prophet (preacher) to the priest (pastor). It leads to various falsehoods and sin. They were dealing falsely, says Jeremiah. Is it possible that we are doing the same today? Pastors exaggerate the numbers in their church. I have seen ministry leaders exaggerate the numbers of conversions at revival meetings. Short term mission fund raising exaggerate what the team members were actually going to do. This is not a broad accusation but a call for all of us to examine our motives carefully. What is our true motive for what we do? For what we do in ministry? For what we say when we preach? Are we scared of being labeled intolerant?  Let us not deal falsely for God see the heart.

So what is the solution to being misled by “new” ways?

Jeremiah 6: 16 Thus says the Lord: Stand in the way and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it. Then you will find rest for your souls.

1. Stand in the way and see (6:16a). I believe this is the Lord asking each of us individually and collectively to look clearly at the plain teaching of scripture. This is only found in the Bible. Do you read the bible in its plain meaning? Do you read the bible at all? Do you find excuses to ignore inconvenient passages (e.g  Jesus the only way to heaven, on the grace of God that saves us, on holiness, on Christian living issues - sexual issues, male leadership, nature).

2. Ask for the old paths (6:16b). We have the benefit of the writings and reflections of the church fathers. We have the creeds. These are condensed versions of biblical teaching. It helps us focus. Why have so many churches rejected the creeds? Why are we so averse to the historic faith writings? Book stores are filled with meaningless and feel-good, how-to books. How many of our children know the Lord’s prayer or Apostles creed? Do they not need to know these so that they will not stray? Yes, there are many who know the creeds but do not behave like Christians. And you feel that it is hypocrisy. Even contemporary Christianity has its hypocrites. This is hardly an excuse to reject the “old paths”.

3. Know the good way and walk in it (6:16b). Know the proper teaching and walk (obey) in it. A simple formula that we, in this post modern world are tempted to change because it somehow does not sound right. Do you know the Bible? Do you walk in its ways?

4. You will find rest for your souls (6:16c). Proper understanding of who God is and what he has done will result in proper worldview, proper worship and proper Christian living. It does not require “how to” books and teachings on how to be holy. Just know what the Bible plainly says to you, by the inspiration of the Spirit of God and counsel of the people of God and do what God impresses on your heart.

Are you seeking rest for your soul in this restless age? Do not seek to change the teaching of the Bible to reflect what you think may be right. Just trust God. He has taught us through his word and the counsel of godly forefathers. You may find that it may be old fashioned. Or boring. But you will find that it is enough.

+Joshua 

 www.southasiamission.com