Sermon Video: Divorce a non-Christian spouse? 1 Corinthians 7:12-16

As Paul continues to answer questions from the church in Corinth regarding sex and marriage, a new wrinkle in the long-established teaching from the Scriptures about divorce is addressed: Should a believer divorce his/her non-Christian spouse?  This is not a question answered by Jesus in the Gospels where he taught against divorce with a very limited exception, but now that the Gospel has gone out beyond the Jewish community to include many formerly pagan gentiles, there are a number of new believers whose spouse has not accepted the Gospel.  In his next letter to Corinth, Paul will warn against entering into are marriage with an unbeliever lest you be "unequally yoked", but what should a Christian do about an already existing marriage?

The answer from Paul is unequivocal, if possible, the marriage should be preserved.  If the faith of the one who has become a Christian, whether it be husband or wife, is to be the cause of a split/divorce, it should not come from the Christian him/herself.  It may be that the non-believers wants to leave, that their rejection of God's work in their spouse is forceful enough to split the marriage, but that is the choice of the non-believers.  The Christian should stay, if possible, but why?  Paul outlines two important potential benefits of staying: the godly influence upon both the non-believing spouse, and the godly influence upon the children.  For the sake of the soul of the non-believing spouse, and for the sake of the religious upbringing of the children, remaining in the marriage is to be the default for Christians.  The hope, in the end, is that both spouse and children will also come to know the grace of God that is in Christ Jesus.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Why our favoritism (politics) is an affront to God - Romans 2:11, Colossians 3:25

It has become all too apparent that much of the Church in America (in particular) has become infected with the disease of favoritism.  One group of people (who are like us) are viewed with a positive lens, excusing any misdeeds and assuming pure motives, while another group (who are not like us) is viewed with a negative lens, shouting about any misdeeds and assuming nefarious motives.  The primary breakdown for this divide is politics, with a secondary, and often related, divide regarding race/nationality.  Those who call themselves Christians who put an (R) after their name, view all those with a (D) through a negative lens and their fellows (R's) through a positive lens, and vice versa.  When "our guy" is the politician, entertainer, business leader, etc. in question, all can be forgiven, when it is "their guy" the spirit of forgiveness is replaced with the iron fist of justice.  Are we really under the impression that this sort of self-serving tribalism is what God intended for His Church?  Can we not see that our willingness to weight the scales when they benefit us personally/politically is warping our presentation of the Gospel and turning people away from Christ??  Whose kingdom have we been called to serve, our own or God's?

God doesn't operate this way, as Paul wrote in Romans 2:11, "For God does not show favoritism", and in Colossians 3:25, "Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism."  If a person sins, they will answer for that sin to God, whoever they are.  If a person sincerely seeks the face of God in repentance, putting faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that person will find forgiveness and new birth, whoever they are.  When we all stand before God at the day of judgment, our politics and our race will matter not at all.  There will be formerly homeless drug addicts who found God's grace in Christ who are welcomed into the kingdom of heaven, and there will be rich, powerful, and famous men (and women) who spoke the name of Christ as a talisman while claiming to be "one of us", who will be left outside the kingdom having heard Jesus say to them, "I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:23)

Each step the Church takes, through individual Christians, through those spokespeople in leadership roles, or through denominations themselves, toward favoritism is a step away from the Gospel.  It doesn't matter if that favoritism is based upon class, race, gender, nationality, or politics.  Each time we judge our fellow man (favorably or harshly) based upon anything except the Gospel's call for salvation by grace through faith, we put ourselves in the place of God, and insult the one who will judge all mankind by claiming to know better than him.  This sickness is a cancer to the Church.  If left unchecked, it will spread until the Gospel is subsumed beneath our us vs. them tribalism, leaving us incapable of speaking the Truth to a world in need.  If you are a Christian, through what lens are you viewing the your fellow man, your country, and the world?  Do you see in shades of Red or Blue, or do you see as Jesus saw, lost sheep in need of a shepherd, lost sinners in need of God's grace?

Undoubtedly, some will react to these words with disdain even anger, claiming that their favoritism is justified because the ends justify the means, for the disease has spread and taken hold in the hearts of many, but some will have an ear and they will hear.  The Church has only one Lord, and he does not show favoritism.  Sin is sin, righteousness is righteousness, regardless of what you think about the person/people committing it.

Sermon Video: Celibacy or Marriage? - 1 Corinthians 7:8-11

Is a life of celibacy make one closer to God than a life which includes marital sex?  Is Celibacy a spiritually superior choice?  The Apostle Paul had the opportunity to make that claim in his first letter to the church at Corinth when he addressed the topics of celibacy and marriage, but Paul did not make any such claim.  Why not?  Because as a Jew and a Christian, Paul understood that God's creation was "good" prior to the Fall, that there is no moral distinction between the physical and the spiritual.  This Judeo-Christian worldview contrasts with the Platonic dualism of Greek philosophy which envisioned the physical realm as the source of evil and the spiritual as the source of good.  As such, that dualism led toward viewing asceticism (self-denial) as a potential solution, thus supposedly elevating the spiritual by denying the physical.  This viewpoint was absorbed with the rest of Greek philosophy by the Church, resulting in a new non-biblical, and even anti-biblical viewpoint regarding virginity, sex, and marriage which eventually led to the monastic movement and many centuries later, to priestly celibacy. 
In the end, the embracing of celibacy as holier than marital sex by portions of the Church has led to a variety of non-biblical attitudes, including the association of "dirty" with sex, and the view that marital sex ought not be a pleasurable aspect of the "one flesh" union of marriage, but rather simply a means to procreation, a sort of necessary evil.  The Church has much to be thankful for to Greek philosophy, the inclusion of spiritual/physical dualism is not one of them.  God created humanity as male and female with a sexual capacity and desire, God created marriage, both of which must be inherently good, not evil.  Is celibacy superior to marriage?  Not at all.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Saved in spite of, not because of, their church

Last night was the first of three classes I'm giving on What Every Christian Should Know About: World Religions (You can watch the video, read materials here: World Religions class ) During that discussion, we talked about two religious groups that are associated with, but not a part of, traditional Christianity: Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons.  It was my conclusion, and I believe a fair and accurate one, that the theological differences  between these two groups and traditional Christianity (as typified by the Nicene Creed, as both of them are non-trinitarian) prevents them from being considered a part of the Church/Christianity.  It should be understood that such statements, whether coming from a simple local pastor like myself or an official body like the Southern Baptist Convention, the UMC General Assembly, or the Vatican (to name a few), are pronouncements directed at the official organization and its stated beliefs.  Such assertions ought not, and cannot, in a blanket way apply to individuals belonging to those groups anymore than they could speak on behalf of an American Baptist, Lutheran, or Presbyterian.  What applies to the whole does not automatically apply to its parts.  The reason why is very simple: Not everyone in any given church believes what that church officially believes.  I know, shocking, right?  Each church has people who rebel against official teachings, those who mistakenly believe things other than what their church officially believes , and those who are simply ignorant on the issues.

Which brings me to the point that prompted this post: The further that a church is from the heart of the Gospel, the more likely it will be that those who are a part of it who are/will be saved (however many that might be), were/will be saved in spite of not because of that church.  This could be true at a local church under the sway of a false teacher or faltering under a culture of apathy or pride, in a denomination which has forsaken its Gospel roots, or with groups that like the Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons who seem Christian to the general public despite their rejection of that which is affirmed by the Church as a whole.  God, and God alone, will judge the living and the dead.  He alone knows what level of belief and understanding (about who Jesus is, how redemption works, etc.) is necessary for salvation, what level of mistaken ideas can be present and yet the Spirit will still regenerate and indwell that person.  It does not seem radical to me to recognize that there are people in even the most theologically correct church/denomination who are unsaved due to an unrepentant heart (they have not heard the Gospel though it was preached to them), and at the same time, that there are people in some of the worst examples of theologically warped churches (even cults) who despite being exposed to false ideas about Jesus or salvation, have been called by the Spirit of God, have repented of their sins, and have been saved by his grace.  Far better, of course, for a church to be working with the Gospel than against it, far better to dwell in truth, than to see dimly through falsehood.  Far better to be a part of a church where the Biblical Gospel is preached and affirmed, than one where it can barely be glimpsed.

In the end, God will judge hearts and welcome those into his kingdom whom he has called, and he isn't asking us for our opinion on the matter.  As a people called to witness to the Gospel, we can only weigh statements and pronouncements whether from individuals or churches, judge them according to the Scriptures, and seek to promote truth and counter falsehood wherever it be found.  May the whole Church of Christ be a benefit not a hindrance to the Gospel.

Sermon Video: Marriage and Temptation - 1 Corinthians 7:3-7

In 1 Corinthians 7:3-7, the Apostle Paul delves into a topic that most people would rather not talk about, or at least would be embarrassed discussing in public: sex within marriage.  While most people know that the Bible forbids sex outside of marriage in both the Old Testament and the New, the Word of God at the same time encourages sex within marriage as a blessing from God.  Far from elevating celibacy as holier than marital sex, Paul commends regular sexual activity between husbands and wives as the natural God-honoring consequence of their union as "one flesh".  To deny this within a marriage may lead to frustration, temptation, and eventually sexual immorality.  The hallmark of this passage of Scripture is the idea of a mutually beneficial sexual relationship within marriage.  The idea of dominance or selfishness is nowhere to be found, rather a servant's heart of putting your spouse's needs first is emphasized, which ought to result in both the husband and the wife being respected within the marriage.  Why does God care about what happens sexually in a marriage?  What kind of loving Father would not concern himself with such an important facet of the foundation institution of society?

To watch the video, click on the link below:

When a church fails to protect the innocent...

Tennessee pastor apologizes for 'sexual incident' with teen - Article on CNN

Having read this story, plus much of the linked material, including the teen's own account of what happened, it seems certain that there is ample blame to go around beginning with the church in Texas which failed to have adequate procedures in place to prevent an adult from being alone with a child/teen, failed to report the incident to the police, failed to protect the victim by giving the youth pastor a "going away" celebration, and reportedly even sought to rehire him years later...There is also blame for the Memphis church who, although reportedly made aware of Andy Savage's past before hiring him, made the mistake of equating God's forgiveness (available to all those who sincerely seek it in Christ), with the ability of a minister to continue in the ministry having committed such a sin (and in this case, crime too).  Such a breach of trust cannot simply be forgiven and then moved on from. * Note, as of 1/12/18, Andy Savage has been placed on leave by Hightpoint Church pending an investigation. *
And while it is true that God can utilize former drug dealers, murderers, etc. once the Holy Spirit has transformed them, by sharing how God changed their wicked hearts, saying that someone would make a good inspirational speaker because they have been redeemed, is not the same thing as saying that he/she would make a good pastor.  This job is a sacred trust, one that requires safeguards, one that abhors cover-ups, and one that must put the sheep before the shepherds, the congregation before the church.
As pastors, we live in a glass house, and while we cannot expect to be perfect, we cannot allow ourselves to become immoral, for one serious breach of trust (whether financially, sexually, or otherwise) can, and likely should, end a career.

What should you do?

1. Make sure that your church has policies in place to ensure the safety of children and others, and that they're following them.
2. Reject the temptation to downplay and hush up allegations (at a church, school, or other organization), insisting that anything that may be a crime be reported to the police immediately.
3. Pray for your pastor and church staff, they like you are but forgiven sinners who need to say no to temptations.

Sermon Video: Christianity and Sex - 1 Corinthians 7:1-2

As an introduction to the next seven sermons from 1 Corinthians 7 that focus upon the topics of marriage, sex, and celibacy, this message looks at the nature of sex in relation to the creation of humanity by God as male in female with the inherent capacity and need for sexual fulfillment.  The Church has struggled with this issue in its history, from promoting the false piety of celibacy above marriage, to allowing lax standards in relation to sexual immorality, but despite that failure, the function and purpose of sex remains ordained by God within marriage, a blessing of joy and union for those who embrace the Law of God reflected in our nature.

To watch the video, click on the link below: