Sermon Video: The Mystery of God: Christ in You, Colossians 1:24-29

How can someone like the Apostle Paul "rejoice" in the suffering he endured?  Not because he enjoyed it, far from it, simply because he understood the purpose to which God utilized his dedication in the face of opposition.  The "mystery" of God, that had been foretold by the prophets, had at last been revealed during Paul's lifetime, namely the advent of the Messiah and his wondrous victory over sin and death through self-sacrifice.  The "glorious riches" of God's will were greater than that, however, for God intended all along that the message of hope that resulted from the work of Jesus be sent forth into the world, to call all nations to repent and create a new people from among them of those who would become disciples of Jesus.

Consider for a moment the import of these words: "the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."  Christ in his followers, is the hope of glory!  The dwelling of Christ within his people (through the Holy Spirit) here on earth is a foretaste of the glory of heaven to come.  How do we know, for sure, that God's promises of life beyond death with him are true?  We experience Christ in us now, molding and shaping us into maturity.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Why are we free? Galatians 5:13-14

The vast majority of the bitter and often prolonged disagreements within American culture involve the answer to a fundamental question: Why are we free?  Not, how did we become free, but what is the purpose of our freedom?  To what end, what goal, what meaning are we to put our freedom to use?  While the American culture and political realm remain starkly divided on issue after issue regarding the answer to this question, Christian Americans ought to have no such hesitation in answering it clearly, emphatically, and with unity.  We know why we were set free, not from the grasp of a tyrant or oppressive political system, but from sin and death itself.  We were freed by the blood of Jesus Christ, which paid a ransom for our redemption, purified us from our ungodliness, and brought us into a lasting relationship with the Spirit and our Heavenly Father.  This is a freedom that is pure and true, one that cannot be taken away, and one that comes with an all-encompassing obligation.  You see, Christian Americans were set free that they might serve.  It may seem like a paradox to say that we are free to serve, and yet, in imitation of our Lord Jesus, that is exactly what we have been called to do.  What or whom do we serve?  One another, in humility and love.  In the Kingdom of Heaven, as Jesus said, the first shall be last, and the last shall be first, the servant of all shall be the greatest.  We, as Christians, who happen also to be blessed to be Americans, know exactly why we are free, it is up to us to live that way.

To listen to the short sermon on this topic from Galatians 5:13-14 that was given at this year's Franklin's 4th of July celebration's Worship in the Park, click on the link below:

The Purpose of Freedom: Galatians 5:13-14

American Christianity and the fallacy of Might Makes Right and the Ends Justify the Means

"'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7b

Consider these two verses regarding the rejection of Saul as king and the acceptance instead of the boy David who would eventually replace him.  The sin of Saul that led to his downfall was partial obedience to the law of God, his outward actions seemed to be "minor" offenses, but his heart was far from the LORD.  David, while himself far from perfect as his sin with Bathsheba would later show, was wholly dedicated to serving the LORD.

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Matthew 16:18

"for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4-5

Consider also these two verses, from Matthew where Jesus proclaims that his Church, built upon the foundation of the Apostles with himself as the chief cornerstone (as Paul would later explain), Jesus proclaims that his Church will be victorious through his power, over even Hades (either a reference to the power of Satan or to Death itself, both of which Jesus will destroy upon the Cross).  And also the words of John in his letter, where he declares that true victory, the only real victory, only belongs to those who acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

How then are we to interpret evidence that a significant portion of American Christianity (and yes, this is a recurring theme in the history of the Church, others have walked this road before with disastrous results) has accepted two anti-Biblical premises and their combined unholy conclusion: Might makes right, The Ends Justify the Means, and thus Morality (the Law of God) is less important than "Winning"?  There are obvious examples of this philosophy in action, the Prosperity Gospel being one that is well known and currently at work.  Within the realms of economics and politics they are many more examples, I'll let you consider which examples fit the description on your own.

And yet, walking down this road, accepting the Siren's call of power in this world instead of loyalty first, foremost, and always to Jesus Christ, is and must be, a radically destructive force to the Church, to individual churches, and to both true Christians and those who are Christian in name only.

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26

There is ample evidence that millions of self-professing Christians, whether they truly belong to Christ or not, have begun to adhere to this philosophy.  Some have chosen to do so out of fear, fear that Christendom is in decline, fear of secularism, humanism, and other isms (as a generation or two ago they were tempted to do out of fear of communism).  Because of that fear, and an impending sense of losing status and privilege as the dominant force within the culture, American Christianity is being tempted to make pacts with individuals, groups, and forces that do not represent God, take actions contradict Biblical teaching, and represent philosophies that are antithetical to the Gospel.  Fear is a poor motivator, it drives us to makes foolish decisions, but we can understand it and counteract it with assurance and hope.  Some American Christians, genuine or otherwise, have decided to embrace the Might Makes Right and Ends Justify the Means philosophy out of a darker motive than fear: the desire to be on the winning side, here and now.

For those whose hope is in Jesus Christ, victory is already assured.  We know that one day, "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and one earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)  And yet, God's assurance of final victory is not realized here in this life, faithfully waiting for a victory that we may not see in our lifetimes, for we like generations of Christians before us may very well die in Christ before he returns in glory, is hard.  It is natural, although not Biblical, for us to want to "win" now too.  Unfortunately, this is not what Jesus promised to his followers:

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."  Matthew 16:24-25

Would I rather be on the "winning" side, economically, socially, and politically than the losing side?  Of course I would, we all would.  I've been one of the last kids picked at recess, nobody enjoys that feeling, we all would rather avoid it whenever possible.  Am I willing to compromise my allegiance to Jesus Christ and his command that I too carry a cross in order to "win"?  Not at all, and I pray that God grant me the grace to hold true to that conviction, no matter what.

The Church, individual churches, and the Christians that comprise them, have not been called by Almighty God, washed clean in the Blood of the Lamb, and set free from slavery to sin, in order to live in a compromised moral state where our adherence to this world vies with our devotion to God.  We have been called to be righteous and holy.  If we "win" by being righteous and holy, praise God, if we "lose" by being righteous and holy, so be it.  "The LORD giveth and the LORD taketh away, blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21b)

Has the Church in America grown too soft because of prosperity, too comfortable with moral compromise, too concerned with "winning"?  These are the questions that we must face, must evaluate in the light of the unchanging Word of God.  We will be weighed by God, if we are found wanting, we will repent or we will fade away.

There is more wisdom than you know in the simple phrase that you heard as a child, attributed to Grantland Rice, "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."  God cares how and why we do what we do.

The Purpose of Freedom: A Christian Viewpoint

This upcoming Sunday evening, the Franklin community will gather together in the park to worship as part of the town's 4th of July celebration.  I have the honor of delivering the message this year derived from Paul's letter to the Church in Galatia.  That text illustrates well Paul's point that freedom for a Christian is not a license to do whatever we want, but an obligation to serve.  How can freedom be obligation?  The two thoughts may seem opposed to each other, but for Christians who understand that before our rebirth in Christ we were, like all mankind, slaves to sin, the answer becomes clear.  Those apart from God are not free, whatever political system they live under, for whatever rights they may have in their own society, they remain in slavery to their own nature.  To truly be free we must be set free by the forgiveness of ours sins, and the destruction of our sinful nature.   Because we as human beings are incapable of affecting this change, we must rely upon the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf.  Christ sets us free, from ourselves, when he redeems us.

But why did God call a people of his own and give them freedom?  That they might serve him.  As Paul wrote, "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, sever one another humbly in love." (Galatians 5:13)  As Christ followers, we are obligated to serve each other, humbly, in love; to put the needs of others above our own, to self-sacrificially replicate the love of God for us in our interactions with other people.  We have indeed been set free, but for a purpose.

As Americans, the most intractable and even violent disagreements in our nation's history as well as our current society are differing responses to the question: What is the purpose of freedom?  Over the years various Americans have answered that question in radically different ways, along the way prompting our Civil War over slavery, the movement that gained women the right to vote, the Civil Rights movement, the sexual "revolution" that spawned our differing viewpoint on abortion, gay marriage, and gender issues, gun ownership, property rights, not to mention our ongoing disagreements over poverty relief and immigration.  We, as Americans, are sharply divided regarding our rights and responsibilities as free individuals within a free society.  These questions are not going away anytime soon, and some will get more divisive and perhaps spark further violence before they are resolved, if they ever are.  Why the vastly different viewpoint on what American society ought to be?  In part because of deep and significant disagreement regarding the fundamental question: What is the purpose of our freedom?

As Christians, whether Americans or not, we ought to have no such disagreement as to the purpose of our freedom in Christ.  We have been set free, not to indulge our own selfish desires, but to serve each other.

Sermon Video: The Gospel of Reconciliation - Colossians 1:21-23

What is the status of humanity in the sight of God?  This is a question of the first importance, and one often answered with wishful thinking not based in reality.  Humanity is alienated from God, not simply by our actions, but the very mind of each human being has been darkened by our evil behavior.  Thankfully, God was not content to let this be the final answer, he reconciled to himself, through the death of Jesus Christ, those who believe, making them holy in his sight and free from accusation.  This is the essence of the Gospel message, hope through faith, a message to be proclaimed freely to all.

To watch the video, click on the link below: