Month: August 2014

Is That All There Is?

Posted on by Finding True Christianity

For many of us, this is a very real question. We go to church, sing songs, listen to someone talk about it for longer than we’d like, and then we go home and watch TV. Sure, we continue to go to church, well, most of us do, I suppose, and we pray with our friends and family, or we pretend to, and we try to read our bibles, but for the most part, it’s rather boring, especially the Old Testament part.  And although we’re told being a Christian is the best thing that could ever happen to us, it all seems somewhat disappointing.

I believe for the vast majority of Christians who echo a feeble “amen” to this, have either missed the path, fallen off the path or have been deceived into thinking that Christianity is just a big show. Indeed for many who have attended any one of the emotion charged services, that’s all it is – a big show. I admit, I too, was swept up emotionally when I first watched a number of Hillsong videos. One of my favourites is Hosanna written and sung by Brooke Fraser. Each time I listen to it, I get emotional. Yet I believe that’s really where the problem lies. We’ve mistakenly accepted emotionalism as the joy of the Holy Spirit.

The gullible and especially the young adults and teenagers flock to mega church services, like Hillsong Church, now expanding globally. Some have referred to this as a spiritual renewal. But if we look back in history and read descriptions of past revivals, we find that it’s not something planned and orchestrated by a group of professionals, but it’s a quiet, yet awe-inspiring move of the Holy Spirit. The outcome of a true Holy Spirit revival is evidenced in changed lives, a desire for holy living and the fruit of the Spirit. Remember, the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. I don’t recall hearing about these results after any of the hyper-emotional concerts dubbed as worship services. We hear the words, but the result is something different.

It’s sad to see men and women who started out well fall into this carnal feeding frenzy. Yes, the real motivation is rooted in the love of money. It’s big business and those in leadership roles are counting the profits after it’s all over. There’s a huge haul if it’s done right. A lot of organization and professionalism is needed to create the right ambience, the illusion of what the audience perceives as the Holy Spirit. But once the fans and devotees have exited, a new army of workers arrive to clean up the resultant mess, while the leaders and organizers clean up on the proceeds of their successful production, but not radiating the fruit of the Spirit, but with an inner demeanor of greed somewhat characteristic of Gollum and his “precious”.  This show is over and the leaders are generously rewarded with the pay they expect to finance their lavish lifestyles. This is not the working of the Holy Spirit in our midst, but a well-tuned money machine.

Watch this video clip from A Current Affair, a television news program in Australia.

In contrast to a Hillsong production, I attended a simple Baptist church service in Northern Ontario a few months ago. There was only one pastor and the only instrument was a single piano situated near the front but off to one side. All the songs sung were from the hymn book located at the back of each pew. You may be thinking the church was most likely half empty with only senior citizens in attendance. In fact, the church was packed and with a healthy mix of all age groups. Seldom have I been in a church service where I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit as I did then. 

Prior to the service, I sat in on a bible study dealing with Romans chapter six. I was definitely the oldest in the group as most were in their late twenties to early thirties. After the study, a young man who had recently come to the Lord, asked me what I thought was the greatest danger facing the Church today. Without hesitation I told him emotionalism is the most significant hindrance to our growing in Christ.

If we want to be sure something is of God, we must first go to Scripture. When I hold up many of today’s mega-churches and the performances of their worship teams, I find a misalignment with what I read in the Bible. Real joy cannot be confused with emotional hype. We can see the same level of excitement at any rock concert. And nowhere in scripture do I find this form of emotional inducement as being of the Spirit.  In fact it is in the most unlikely of places we find the real joy of the Holy Spirit. Paul and Silas were singing praises in a dank jail in Philippi. Their ankles were shackled and they had been severely beaten. But there they were singing with the Joy of the Spirit. Here are a few other examples of Spiritual joy:

In 1 Sam 2:1, Hannah was filled with joy at her deliverance from her enemies.

In Acts 12:14, The servant girl was so overjoyed that God had rescued Peter from prison that she forgot to let Peter in the house.

Acts 18:8 The people of Samaria were joyful as they heard the gospel and saw God’s power in healing the sick. 

 
Acts 13:52;15:3: Jewish believers rejoiced when they heard of the work of the Holy Spirit in saving Gentiles. 

We are most full of joy when we first give ourselves to God. 

We rejoice when God sets someone free from spiritual bondage, 

 As the Holy Spirit works in us to bear more fruit, we rejoice in our walk with Him and with other believers. 

Gal 5:22-23: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

John 15:11: The fullness of joy comes to those who continue in the love of Christ and obey Him.

Now, with our spiritual eyes open, let’s get back to reading our Bible and ask God to reveal His truth to us. True Christianity is far from boring. Living in the way he leads us and staying on the path is also far from disappointing, but is the source of real life, real joy, real peace – a peace and joy that is beyond our understanding. May God bless you as you rediscover true Christianity.

 

Top Priority

Posted on by Finding True Christianity

Perhaps it’s the bad aftertaste of the cheaper Merlot or the knot in our stomach after an investment plummets that reinforces our need to get it right. We try to learn from our mistakes, yet we are always aware of the potential danger lying behind each and every decision we make. Our decisions, however, are heavily influenced by all the external stimuli we sense in any given moment.

We believe we are in charge, yet we continually pay heed to the squeaky wheel, or what screams the loudest. It’s as it we’re at a press gathering with reporters bouncing on their toes flailing arms and barking questions; all vying for our attention. Right up front and foremost are the ever beckoning physical demands welling up and percolating to a crescendo: hunger pangs, a piercing headache or addiction cravings. Then there is the incessant nagging of our duties bullying us with guilt and anxiety: the report that was due yesterday, meetings to attend, birthdays to remember, bills to be paid and milk to buy on the way home. The urgent is ever drowning out the important. Indeed, it’s difficult to hear the whispers of the important amid the tumult of the urgent.

Yes, our “now” needs are always at the forefront, yet close behind are all the other attention seekers exuding from our family, finances, employer, status, appearance and emotions, and through all the flash and clangour, we make our decisions as to where to best focus our attention, energies and resources. The self-help sections of our bookstores and libraries are most copious in our scouring for the right advice in our decision making. Indeed, we’ve learned the harsh lessons of making wrong choices; for in whichever moment we’re in, our decisions will affect us and others right up to our final gasp.

It’s here I’d like us to pause – the final gasp. Could there be a more paramount moment? It’s here we’ll know  if we’ve really used our time wisely and have made the right decisions. One of the saddest scenes I can think of is described in a John Grisham novel, The Testament. It’s the story of old man at the end of his life. He has become exceedingly wealthy. But now he is lying in his sick bed. He has been married more than once, has numerous children and grandchildren, but none of them loves him. They hover about like vultures waiting for him to die. I imagine him thinking to himself, ‘What have I done with my life?’ If he could do it all over again, what would he change?

I love the scene in The Lord of the Rings where Gandolf the Grey boards a boat going over to the other shore, and we know it’s the transition from this world to the next. What we’re not shown however is the other side. In reality, I don’t believe we’ll be boarding a boat. Many however believe we will be transitioning to a different reality. Of course, if you are absolutely certain nothing follows this critical point on your timeline, then you can stop reading here. But, if dissolution of self may not be your terminus, then perhaps we should consider more.

If you could peer at your timeline, like God does, really, would this lifetime be that significant in the grand scheme? Or could decisions we make here and now affect your eternal outcome?  Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love illustrates this using a hundred foot rope which stretched from the back of the church to the podium where he held one end. He indicated that the one inch of red tape which wrapped the end he was holding represented our life on earth, while the rest of the rope represented our eternity.

I believe this presents a different perspective in delineating the urgent and the important. Indeed, it unveils the anterior questions: “what is it all about?” “why do I exist?” and “what is my purpose in life?” It’s easy to see how difficult it is in choosing the right task and method without knowing the real objective. Yet we do all the time. We make choices based on what we believe to be most important while blurring the line between the urgent and the important.

In light of our eternal destiny, the need to work extra overtime to pay for our latest gadgets or cosmetics wane to insignificance next to eternal expediences. Yes, I believe there are decisions we make now that will affect us after we die. First and foremost on our concise list is choosing the immaterial over the material; a higher power over ourselves – choosing God over everything else. Yes, this is at the top of the list and most have already made this choice. From the most recent data collection completed in 2005, from Cambridge University and reported in wiki.answers.com, over 80% of the world believes in a higher power. The number is even higher of those who believe in an afterlife.

It’s not a complicated decision. It doesn’t cost anything now – and yet it will cost you everything. But keep in mind, believing in God and an immaterial afterlife is not a ticket to heaven. Even Satan believes in God. In the gospel of John we read, “…all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them. All those who believe this are reborn!—not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan—but from the will of God. (Jn 1:12-13)

So, it’s a matter of accepting Him. Believing in Him, but not just as the big guy up there, but as the one who once came to offer Himself as a final payment for our sin. I remember hearing a story of a boy in North Korea who accidentally broke a window in his school. Unfortunately, the principal of the school instituted a law that if one damages school property, they must pay ten times its cost or be beaten to death. The boy came from a poor family. There wasn’t even enough to put food on their plate, let alone pay such an exorbitant fine. Although it was the principal himself who made this law, he took pity on the boy and made the payment in full. I believe this is what Jesus did for us. The payment, however, was not ten times the cost of a window, but our life. And the only one who could make this payment for us was God Himself. He paid for our sin with His own life, in the person of Jesus, the incarnate God. He then rose from the dead on the third day of His crucifixion putting an end to eternal death and hell to all who accept His free gift of grace. You see, a gift is not a gift until it is received. Will you now make this decision to receive His free gift of life?

If you are now ready to accept Him as full payment for your sin, your past mistakes will be forever forgiven. Pray with me now, as we talk with our Father.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I’ve made many mistakes in my life. I can never pay for all my sin and ask you now to forgive me of my sin and wash me so I’ll be whiter than the snow. I believe in You Jesus and accept you into my life. I will now follow You as you lead me in this life and through to eternity. Thank you Father for your awesome gift of grace.