Coffee Mug Christianity pt 4
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Have you ever stopped and thought about all the businesses that you grew up with that have closed?
Blockbuster Video… 10,000 closed in 2013
Walden Books (a.k.a. Borders)… 2011
Toys-R-Us… 2018, and KB Toys not long after…
Oldsmobile… 2004, Pontiac… 2009, and Saturn… did they even make it that long?!
The Sizzler…
there only like 3 K-marts left
Circuit City… 500 stores, 2008
Jello Pudding pops… 2004
Bugle Boy jeans… 2001
Minolta, Montgomery Wards, Mervyns, Sears, Excite, Ask Jeeves, Hollywood Video, Crystal Pepsi, Kinny Shoes, ....
Outside of the obvious (Covid),… What caused the downfall of so many companies?
— mismanagement… economic downturns… technology changes… failure to adapt… competition...
— It could even be said that some of them: “Lost sight of their mission and purpose.”
Has that happened to us?!
This should be regular “Coffee Mug” conversation.
— We have a mission… We each have a purpose… BUT… We CAN lose sight of it!
You see… We live in a culture where God is no longer a priority!
— That’s why the way we did things in the “good old days” doesn’t work anymore!
God… the Church… Christianity… are not central to our culture anymore…
People exclude God from… politics… dating… relationships… marriage… values… sexuality… entertainment… education… family… even their view of the world.
People today are more apt to disregard and ignore God then they are to consider Him and what His Word would say… and I am not just talking about OUTSIDE of the church!
We live in a post-Christian world.
— This world doesn’t care to include God and religion…
— (even inside the Church) It’s all about “feelings” not “holiness”…
One pastor describes it as “Babylon” saying: “We live in Babylon!”
What is Babylon?
Babylon is the symbol of a society (a culture) that functions at the exclusion of God.
Look at what Jesus says about Babylon:
5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery: babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
Does that sound like a place that has respect for God?!?
10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “ ‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!’
11 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore—
12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;
13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.
That is a culture that is all about “worldly wealth”, “worldly gain”, and “worldly prestige”… Sound familiar?
Our culture pushes us from God with clutter and complexity… its all about being busy… doing more… having the bragging rights because of all the “stuff” you and your family are doing…
— It woos us with technology and instant gratification…
— It drives us to be “[selfish] and me-sized… to prize entertainment and distractions”…
— It is “self-centered and fame [success] oriented.”
Our culture says: “If it ‘feels’ good… If it makes others like you… If it brings you fame… and pleasure (even if temporary)… then it is good — no matter who it hurts!”
It is a society driven by “popular ideology,” not “foundational truth”… everything is relative!
That’s Babylon!
— The effect of Babylon on the Church is an apathetic and lukewarm Faith!
Barna gives us some examples of what this looks like in Christians… They give us four examples of “confessed” Christians in this world: (these are not ‘non-believers’ — these are people who at one point in their life claimed to be “Christians”)
The Prodigals — these are people who no longer identify as Christians… They did when they were younger, but - for one reason or another - they have walked away from their faith. This group makes up 22% of those they surveyed…
The Nomads — … are those who claim to be Christian, but do not go to church… They claim Jesus by name, but there is no evidence (no fruit) of it in their life. This makes up 30%…
The Habitual Churchgoer — These are the people that go to church regularly… BUT… their lifestyle, core beliefs, and behaviors do not match what they say they believe… Faith is a very casual thing for them, not the core of their identity… This group makes up another 38%…
(If you’ve been doing the math, that’s 90% of those who claimed to be Christian at some point in their life)
The other 10% make up the fourth category:
4. The Resilient Disciples — These are people who attend church regularly, AND ENGAGE! They are “plugged in”… serving… seeking God! They trust the authority of scripture, and are COMMITTED to Christ and seeing the world transformed by the Gospel!
That means that when we look at the Church (plural), we see that only 10% of the people who claim to be Christian… are taking their FAITH seriously, the other 90% are simply sitting in a pew or not showing up at all!!!
Babylon has created a culture where Faith doesn’t really matter at all…
— Worship isn’t really important…
— Bible study and prayer aren’t really important… especially if your kids are in sports, band, etc…
— Even youth groups and Children’s activities aren’t important…
Literally everything else takes priority… “Sure, I’ll go to church… if I have nothing better to do…”
and the result is…
— a diminishing Faith and lack of mission and purpose.
— The result is Passivity and Apathy - if not outright angst - towards the activities of the Church.
So… What do we do? How do we avoid letting the culture around us diminish our sense of mission?
What does the Bible have to say about living in a Babylon culture?
Quite a lot actually…
Look at:
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
This is one of the most popular verses in “Coffee Mug Christianity”.
It’s right up there with:
31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
We love these verses… They give us hope… They help us stand strong in the face of adversity…
But… they are often taken out of context… or misused to promote the popularity of the “prophet”… or bad ideas like: “prosperity gospel”… or the idea that God is not going to let us suffer for very long… (which in the grand scheme of things is true)
These issues are exactly why so many theologians say that these verses… these promises from God… are not for us… They were for the Israelites… for Abraham… but not for people today!
This exact same thing was happening in Jeremiah’s time.
Look at the beginning of Chapter 29…
— At this point, Jeremiah had already prophesied that the kings of the area and Jerusalem would be conquered and serve Nebuchadnezzar… and his son… and (notice this) his grandson…
That’s over two generations.
At this point in the narrative, that had come true… the Israelites had been defeated and carried off into exile in Babylon…
Yet, Hananiah was proclaiming that they didn’t need to worry… they didn’t need to set down roots… they shouldn’t get comfortable… because God was only going to allow this to last for two years!
— of course the people were excited…
— Hananiah was popular…
— his message was one that they WANTED to hear, but… it was not what they NEEDED to hear…
That’s not what God said! That’s not what Jeremiah had prophesied…
Look at what Jeremiah says to them:
4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.
6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.
7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
WHAT?!?!?!
Are you kidding me?!?!
They think this is going to be short-lived… That their suffering will not last long… after all, that’s what Hananiah has been saying, and he’s a prophet… and they are the “chosen ones” right? Surely God isn’t going to leave them here long…
But Jeremiah tells them “No! That’s not true! Get comfortable, because this is going to last for a while!”
“But… Out of the death of exile comes life!”
— He tells them to “live their lives”
— to “not quit”… life doesn’t stop because culture changes… or we have a set back… or things get difficult…
— “Get married, have kids, build homes, plant gardens…”
— “Most of all” — “seek the welfare of the place in which you live!”
Can you imagine? Not only are they to “get comfortable,” but they’re supposed to seek the welfare of those who have enslaved them!
WHY???
— Because if it prospers, they prosper. (Why should we seek to improve the spiritual well-being of our community?)
But… notice… he never tells them to compromise their faith in God.
— In fact, he says the opposite.
8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.
9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.
Do you hear what Jeremiah is saying?
— “No matter what is going on around you… don’t compromise your FAITH!”
— Be careful who you listen to…
— They are telling you lies!
(Let me tell you — If it doesn’t line up with the rest of scripture, no matter who says it, no matter how it makes you feel, it is a lie.)
10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
He tells them… “This is going to be a bit… 70 years in fact!”
— “So don’t listen to the lies! Hold on to your FAITH!”
In the midst of a world that draws us away from God… that challenges our FAITH… We can hold on to the promises of God!
God promises —
— (11) prosperity and welfare — NOT WEALTH!
Verse 11 does not say that God will give you money or fame or comfort… welfare is provision… provision comes to those who “abide in Him” and live the way He desires…
— (12) when we pray, He hears… God NEVER leaves us alone!
— (13) When we seek Him, we WILL find Him…
Look at verse 14:
Jeremiah 29:14 (NIV)
14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
God commands us… when we face trials… when we face the turbulence of this world… when we find ourselves in Babylon… “Be still and KNOW that I am God.”
God’s call on the lives of His people is a call to live our lives in FAITH… to trust Him completely… NO MATTER WHAT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE!
That’s counter-cultural!!!
We have a choice to make!
It is becoming more and more difficult to be Christian in our world…
It is becoming more and more unpopular…
The world is coming more and more against it everyday…
Don’t believe me???
— Just last night, I saw a report that the University of Berkley (Berkley U.) has created “Non-Jewish areas”… areas where Jews and any people who support Israel and Jerusalem are not allowed!
Let me tell you…
It won’t stop there!!!
We MUST make a choice!
This world needs to SEE our FAITH LIVED OUT!
We MUST commit to living everyday for God.
We MUST make prayer a mission.
We MUST commit to our FAITH and HOLINESS. (in action and attitude)
We MUST seek the fruit of the Spirt in our lives.
We MUST put others before ourselves.
We MUST give in service and in tithe until it hurts!
We MUST love like this world has never seen before!
We MUST believe and KNOW that God is working for us!
God MUST become the ultimate priority in our life!
There is a reason for this:
We have a mission.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
and
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
We “preach” THROUGH our lives!
— through how we live…
— through FAITH REVEALED in us!
Let me tell you:
Jesus knew we would face times like these.
That’s why He said: “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart…”
Warren Weirsbe states: “What life does to us depends largely on what life finds in us. If we seek the Lord and want His best, then circumstances will build us and prepare us for what He has planned. If we rebel or if we look for quick and easy shortcuts, then circumstances will destroy us and rob us of the future God wants us to enjoy. The same sun that melts the ice also hardens the clay.”
When life comes at us, will it find FAITH, or will it find a lack of?