Posts
I started a group on Facebook and broadcast membership opportunities to millions. So far thirteen joined. Some others wrote back in horror. The question is obvious. "What do you mean stop going to church?" A stream of good reasons to the contrary then follow. This is what I mean. Pass it along.
If you had known sin in your life, would you still go to church?
Certain denominations would answer in the affirmative. After all, we go to church for reconciliation and confession.
If you had unsaved friends and family members, would you still bring them to church?
Of course. That's where they can hear the salvation message.
If you were hurting, needed support, wanted to go someplace safe for a while, would you still go to church?
Naturally. Church is a refuge, a place to minister to people.
As you consider these things, your natural and initial response to such a suggestion to "stop going" would seem preposterous. And I agree. But the question/suggestion is far from natural and knee jerk. It is supernatural and requires insight from God's Word.
If you have been following this blog or reading your Bible then you already know that the "church" is really "the Church". It is the Body, not a building. It's primary purpose, far surpassing all others, and the focus of this question, is to worship God. That is why He saved us. We were reconciled unto God to enjoy Him, worship Him, give Him glory. Take a look at some Scripture.
Romans 5:10-11 - "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."
We have this same ministry of reconciliation, to bring others to God that they too may worship.
II Corinthians 5:18-20 - "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."
Again, why were we reconciled? God says in Colossians 1:21-24, "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:"
Did you notice the parallel to my calling verse of Ephesians 5:25-27, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
The Church is to be holy, blameless, without spot or wrinkle. Why? Just so we can be proud of our own personal whiteness? God forbid! It is for the glory of God. This glory is best expressed by the Church when they come together to worship.
God calls us to worship in the beauty of holiness and we see this call four times in the Bible:
I Chronicles 16:29 - "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."
II Chronicles 20:21 - "And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever."
Psalm 29:2 - "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."
Psalm 96:9 - "O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth."
This is what we see in the early Church examples in the book of Acts. We see it in Acts 5:12-14, "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)"
The church was all together in one accord in Solomon's porch. That is where they went to worship at this moment. The apostles were worshipping in the exercise of their gifts.
Further in Acts 2:46-47 worship is seen in the breaking of bread and praising God, "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
Prayer and supplication was also an hallmark of the Church in Acts 1:14, "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."
You will notice that I selected each of these verses on purpose to make another point of the term "one accord". The reason for this is to highlight the questions asked at the beginning of this blog. Let me sum them up this way. What happens when sin and righteousness meet together at a time intended for worship?
The Corinthians had that problem and God dealt with it like this:
I Corinthians 5:6-11, "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
What happens when a little leaven leavens the whole lump? There is no worship. There is no glory to God. There is just sin. Praise God for His grace and mercy to deal with this. But again I remind you, that is not the purpose of the church gathering. Where do you find in the Bible instances of the church gathering for the purpose of confession, reconciliation, ministration, etc.? You will not find it except in the context of worship. Here's a great example from Acts 6:1-4:
"And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."
It is a dangerous thing to mix worship, evangelism, and reconciliation in one meeting as we so often do these days. God gives one final warning in I Corinthians 11:29-30, "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."
Keep them separate therefore. Come together as the Church to worship in the beauty of holiness first. Come together as ministers to reconcile one another outside the camp. Come together as witnesses outside the camp.
So, should you stop going to church? Or start being the Church? The Church is formed to worship God in the beauty of holiness, in spirit, and in truth. Sin has no place in this and must be kept out to the glory of God. Keep it in its place and time as appropriate as a church gathering for evangelism or reconciliation or ministration. But keep it out of worship.
Showing posts with label holiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiness. Show all posts
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
The Inescapable Prompting
Not one Christian can escape the perpetual prompting of the Holy Spirit to give all glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said so in John 16:13-14, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you."
This blog and my current non-fiction writings are highly focused on holiness, that personal holiness bestowed upon us through the redemption of God by the blood of Jesus Christ. That sacrifice alone paid the price for sin and redeemed us to God. That blood alone cleanses us from every sin and provides atonement. The Son of God alone gives us the Word of Truth by which we live. For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to the glory of God, Amen! (Romans 11:36) Praise the LORD!
But the Holy Spirit has been prompting me lately to write to you that it's not all about personal holiness. It is eternally insufficient for us to say to ourselves, "Yes I know that, but I shall continue along this strain. God understands. He knows I love Him and put Him first." This is fleshly drivel and leads to pride. Listen to the words of Oswald Chambers in his writings from "My Utmost for His Highest". It is no coincidence that this is from today's devotional reading, the same day I write to you also:
"DO YOU SEE YOUR CALLING?
"Separated unto the Gospel." Romans 1:1
Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the Gospel of God. The one thing that is all important is that the Gospel of God should be realized as the abiding Reality. Reality is not human goodness, nor holiness, nor heaven, nor hell; but Redemption; and the need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker to-day. As workers we have to get used to the revelation that Redemption is the only Reality. Personal holiness is an effect, not a cause, and if we place our faith in human goodness, in the effect of Redemption, we shall go under when the test comes.
Paul did not say he separated himself, but - "when it pleased God who separated me. . ." Paul had not a hypersensitive interest in his own character. As long as our eyes are upon our own personal whiteness we shall never get near the reality of Redemption. Workers break down because their desire is for their own whiteness, and not for God. "Don't ask me to come into contact with the rugged reality of Redemption on behalf of the filth of human life as it is; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes." To talk in that way is a sign that the reality of the Gospel of God has not begun to touch me; there is no reckless abandon to God. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character. Paul is unconscious of himself, he is recklessly abandoned, separated by God for one purpose - to proclaim the Gospel of God (cf. Rom. 9:3.)"
What really sealed it for me though was a posting yesterday on the website www.christianity.com. I go there often to browse the forums and provide commentary. This particular posting however required a reproof for its false teaching. Here's a tidbit:
The article is titled, "Holiness is a Community Project" by Pastor Michael McKinley of Guilford Baptist Church in Sterling, Virginia. He wrote, "The fact is, you can’t be the kind of Christian you’re meant to be without other people. You can’t be the kind of Christian you’re meant to be without real relationships in a local church.
Much of our growth in holiness comes in the context of relationships. So in Galatians chapter five believers are told to reject a whole host of “works of the flesh,” including enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and envy. These are all sins that emerge when we are engaged in a community."
This was my reply in full:
"Sadly this entire article misses the cause and effect of holiness. Had the author said something like, "you can't be the kind of Christian you're meant to be without Jesus Christ, period," then he would be on the mark. Holiness is not a result of Christian fellowship, nor is such fellowship required to test one's holiness. It is all from, through, and to Jesus (Romans 11:36) and it is only present with a complete filling of Him and complete absence of sin in one's life. I Corinthians 15:34 is the command.
The topic of fellowship is totally separate from holiness. Indeed fellowship is critical to one's Christian life for other reasons and it is commanded as the author points out. But the model, source, and need for holiness is never found in flesh, but only in Jesus."
You see my dear little children that holiness is all about Jesus. My calling is to highlight this truth in the light of Ephesians 5:25-27 where God says, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
While we are quick to put the spotlight on ourselves as the Bride, the fact of pre-eminent importance (and all the glory) is upon Jesus, the Bridegroom. A careful reading of the verse shows the "of, through, to Him" principle in effect. "Of Him" is seen here: "as Christ also loved the church." "Through Him" is seen here: "and gave Himself for it." Finally, "to Him" is seen here: "that He might present it to himself...."
So indeed our calling, my calling, is to give glory to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
This blog and my current non-fiction writings are highly focused on holiness, that personal holiness bestowed upon us through the redemption of God by the blood of Jesus Christ. That sacrifice alone paid the price for sin and redeemed us to God. That blood alone cleanses us from every sin and provides atonement. The Son of God alone gives us the Word of Truth by which we live. For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to the glory of God, Amen! (Romans 11:36) Praise the LORD!
But the Holy Spirit has been prompting me lately to write to you that it's not all about personal holiness. It is eternally insufficient for us to say to ourselves, "Yes I know that, but I shall continue along this strain. God understands. He knows I love Him and put Him first." This is fleshly drivel and leads to pride. Listen to the words of Oswald Chambers in his writings from "My Utmost for His Highest". It is no coincidence that this is from today's devotional reading, the same day I write to you also:
"DO YOU SEE YOUR CALLING?
"Separated unto the Gospel." Romans 1:1
Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the Gospel of God. The one thing that is all important is that the Gospel of God should be realized as the abiding Reality. Reality is not human goodness, nor holiness, nor heaven, nor hell; but Redemption; and the need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker to-day. As workers we have to get used to the revelation that Redemption is the only Reality. Personal holiness is an effect, not a cause, and if we place our faith in human goodness, in the effect of Redemption, we shall go under when the test comes.
Paul did not say he separated himself, but - "when it pleased God who separated me. . ." Paul had not a hypersensitive interest in his own character. As long as our eyes are upon our own personal whiteness we shall never get near the reality of Redemption. Workers break down because their desire is for their own whiteness, and not for God. "Don't ask me to come into contact with the rugged reality of Redemption on behalf of the filth of human life as it is; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes." To talk in that way is a sign that the reality of the Gospel of God has not begun to touch me; there is no reckless abandon to God. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character. Paul is unconscious of himself, he is recklessly abandoned, separated by God for one purpose - to proclaim the Gospel of God (cf. Rom. 9:3.)"
What really sealed it for me though was a posting yesterday on the website www.christianity.com. I go there often to browse the forums and provide commentary. This particular posting however required a reproof for its false teaching. Here's a tidbit:
The article is titled, "Holiness is a Community Project" by Pastor Michael McKinley of Guilford Baptist Church in Sterling, Virginia. He wrote, "The fact is, you can’t be the kind of Christian you’re meant to be without other people. You can’t be the kind of Christian you’re meant to be without real relationships in a local church.
Much of our growth in holiness comes in the context of relationships. So in Galatians chapter five believers are told to reject a whole host of “works of the flesh,” including enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and envy. These are all sins that emerge when we are engaged in a community."
This was my reply in full:
"Sadly this entire article misses the cause and effect of holiness. Had the author said something like, "you can't be the kind of Christian you're meant to be without Jesus Christ, period," then he would be on the mark. Holiness is not a result of Christian fellowship, nor is such fellowship required to test one's holiness. It is all from, through, and to Jesus (Romans 11:36) and it is only present with a complete filling of Him and complete absence of sin in one's life. I Corinthians 15:34 is the command.
The topic of fellowship is totally separate from holiness. Indeed fellowship is critical to one's Christian life for other reasons and it is commanded as the author points out. But the model, source, and need for holiness is never found in flesh, but only in Jesus."
You see my dear little children that holiness is all about Jesus. My calling is to highlight this truth in the light of Ephesians 5:25-27 where God says, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
While we are quick to put the spotlight on ourselves as the Bride, the fact of pre-eminent importance (and all the glory) is upon Jesus, the Bridegroom. A careful reading of the verse shows the "of, through, to Him" principle in effect. "Of Him" is seen here: "as Christ also loved the church." "Through Him" is seen here: "and gave Himself for it." Finally, "to Him" is seen here: "that He might present it to himself...."
So indeed our calling, my calling, is to give glory to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Death
Here's a curiousity: Part of awakening to righteousness involves death. What does this mean and how does it work?
As I was driving into work this morning I asked God to tell me what He wanted me to write about today in this blog. You see the answer unfolding before you. But first let me tell you what led to it.
I woke up and knew there was sin in my life. The Holy Spirit was faithful to tell me so. The only way to deal with sin is to obey Proverbs 28:13, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." and Romans 6:11, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." The magnitude of confessing, forsaking, and reckoning is beyond calculation. Even the smallest sin cost the life of the Son of God, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)
To awake to righteousness (I Corinthians 15:34) and sin not, you must be dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God. Unless this transaction is willfully done on your part, God will not do His part. First of all, He will not hear your prayer.
"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:1-2)
Second, He will not set you free. "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:31-36)
As long as you live and serve in sin, you are in bondage to it. The only thing that unstops Gods ear is your obedience to His Spirit's prompting you to confess, forsake, and reckon yourself dead to sin. Immediately you are free and alive in Jesus.
This has nothing to do with salvation. This has everything to do with righteous daily living. Perhaps you have never heard this truth before or perhaps you do not believe it. Perhaps you do not know the difference between the positional righteousness and life given to you through Jesus upon salvation (you can't lose it) and the experiential righteousness and life that you are responsible to maintain on a continuing basis (you can lose it).
That is the power of sin. Immediately it is in your life, it separates you and God. Not in terms of leaving and forsaking (Deuteronomy 31:6) but in terms of discipline God turns from you. He simply will not have any sin in His presence for He is holy and calls us to be holy too.
That is the privelage of holiness. Immediately it is in your life, it brings you boldly into the presence of God. The Scripture means be being holy. It is an ongoing thing, an experiential thing. A thing that is our personal responsibility to maintain by the power given to us through Jesus first at the cross and His Holy Spirit second at salvation.
Now I leave you with this final thought that God gave to me in answer to my prayer this morning. God tell me what to write.
Psalm 116:15 - "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Never before had I thought of that verse in any other context but physical death. But today God showed it to me in the light of death to sin. That is precious to God because it immediately puts me into His presence to worship. That is something He desires more than anything else, worship. And that was the rest of my ride into work this morning. Worship.
As I was driving into work this morning I asked God to tell me what He wanted me to write about today in this blog. You see the answer unfolding before you. But first let me tell you what led to it.
I woke up and knew there was sin in my life. The Holy Spirit was faithful to tell me so. The only way to deal with sin is to obey Proverbs 28:13, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." and Romans 6:11, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." The magnitude of confessing, forsaking, and reckoning is beyond calculation. Even the smallest sin cost the life of the Son of God, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)
To awake to righteousness (I Corinthians 15:34) and sin not, you must be dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God. Unless this transaction is willfully done on your part, God will not do His part. First of all, He will not hear your prayer.
"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:1-2)
Second, He will not set you free. "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:31-36)
As long as you live and serve in sin, you are in bondage to it. The only thing that unstops Gods ear is your obedience to His Spirit's prompting you to confess, forsake, and reckon yourself dead to sin. Immediately you are free and alive in Jesus.
This has nothing to do with salvation. This has everything to do with righteous daily living. Perhaps you have never heard this truth before or perhaps you do not believe it. Perhaps you do not know the difference between the positional righteousness and life given to you through Jesus upon salvation (you can't lose it) and the experiential righteousness and life that you are responsible to maintain on a continuing basis (you can lose it).
That is the power of sin. Immediately it is in your life, it separates you and God. Not in terms of leaving and forsaking (Deuteronomy 31:6) but in terms of discipline God turns from you. He simply will not have any sin in His presence for He is holy and calls us to be holy too.
That is the privelage of holiness. Immediately it is in your life, it brings you boldly into the presence of God. The Scripture means be being holy. It is an ongoing thing, an experiential thing. A thing that is our personal responsibility to maintain by the power given to us through Jesus first at the cross and His Holy Spirit second at salvation.
Now I leave you with this final thought that God gave to me in answer to my prayer this morning. God tell me what to write.
Psalm 116:15 - "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Never before had I thought of that verse in any other context but physical death. But today God showed it to me in the light of death to sin. That is precious to God because it immediately puts me into His presence to worship. That is something He desires more than anything else, worship. And that was the rest of my ride into work this morning. Worship.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)