HOW CAN THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH AND DO WHAT THE CHURCH IS SUPPOSE TO DO IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

IN 2 KINGS 18-19…………THERE IS A FASCINATING STORY OF AN EPISODE IN ISRAEL’S LIFE THAT CLOSELY PARALLELS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH TODAY.

JERUSALEM IS UNDER SIEGE FROM THE ASSYRIAN KING SENNACHERIB………

IN THE PRECEDING VERSE, KING HEZEKIAH (A JEW) TRIES TO APPEASE ASSYRIA, HOPING THAT SENNACHERIB COULD BE BOUGHT OFF!!

BUT SENACHERIB WANTED JERUSALEM……….AND NOTHING LESS!!!

THE KING OF ASSYRIA SENT THREE MESSENGERS AND A LARGE ARMY TO NEGOTIATE THE SURRENDER.  THEY STOOD OUTSIDE THE GATE OF THE CITY AND CALLED FOR KING HEZEKIAH!!

HEZEKIAH SENT THREE OF HIS OFFICIALS TO MEET WITH THE ASSYRINAS.  THE DRAMATIC SCENE BEGINS WITH A CONVERSATION AT THE WALL OF THE CITY!!!

AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT US TO SEE TODAY AS A CHURCH..

THE RABSHAKEH – SENNACHERIBS CHIEF OF STAFF – BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS –

“ASK HEZEKIAH THE BASIS FOR HIS CONFIDENCE?  DOES HE THINK THAT WORDS CAN WIN A WAR?  IF HE’S RELYING ON EGYPT’S PROMISES FOR HELP, HE’S GOT A LONG WAIT.  IF HE’S RELYING ON THE LORD…….HE BETTER THINK AGAIN!!!!

HEZEKIAH’S ENVOYS WERE ANGERED THAT THE RABSHAKEH WAS SPEAKING HEBREW.

“PLEASE…..SPEAK TO US IN ARAMAIC, WE UNDERSTAND IT.  DON’T SPEAK TO US IN HEBREW.  THE PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE SAYING AND WILL BECOME SO FRIGHTENED THAT WE WON’T BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE!”

INDIGNATELY THE ASSYRIAN SPOKE IN HEBREW EVEN LOUDER!……SO THOSE ON THE WALL AND BEHIND THE WALL COULD HEAR!!.

“HEAR THE WORD OF THE GREAT KING OF ASSYRIA.  HEZEKIAH WON’T BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.  DON’T LISTEN TO HIM ABOUT GOD’S HELP.

MAKE PEACE WITH ME AND YOU’LL LIVE ABUNDANTLY.  HEZEKIAH MISLEADS YOU BY SAYING……THE LORD WILL DELIVER US”

WHOSE GODS HAVE DELIVERED THEIR COUNTRIES OUT OF MY HANDS, THAT THE LORD SHOULD DELIVER JERUSALEM OUT OF MY HAND?

THE ARGUMENT IS REALLY A FAMILIAR ONE.  IT IS A METAPHOR OF THE CONVERSATION TAKING PLACE BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND CULTURE!!!

THE ASSYRIANS ARGUE FOR THEIR IDEAS, THE PRESUPPOSITIONS ABOUT WHAT THE WORLD IS LIKE.  THEIRS IS A RATIONAL WORLDVIEW, ONE THAT MAKES MUCH SENSE TO THEM!!

THE POWER OF MILITARY NUMBERS SHOULD OVERWHELM JUDAH,

ASSYRIA IS THE STRONGER KINGDOM; THEY WILL SURELY PREVAIL!!!

THIS IS THEIR MINDSET:  YOU CAN’T RELY ON EGYPT.  DON’T BOTHER LISTENING TO HEZEKIAH.  AND THE LORD CAN’T DELIVER YOU.  LISTEN TO US……COMPROMISE, WE’LL MAKE THINGS RIGHT”!!!

THE IDEA IS TO GO ALONG TO GET ALONG!!!

IN OTHER WORDS, WE ARE THE DOMINANT POWER, SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL ADAPT TO OUR PLAN!!!

SADLY, THAT IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE OPTIONS FOR THE CHURCH IN DEALING WITH THE PREVAILING CULTURE:

ACCOMMODATE AND ADAPT IN ORDER TO SURVIVE!!!

AFTER ALL, A DOMESTICATED CHRISTIANITY IS NO THREAT TO CULTURE!!!

OUR MOVIES AND BOOKS HAVE TURNED JESUS INTO AN ANGLO WITH MOVIE-STAR LOOKS!!

ATHLETES TURN HIM INTO A JOCK,

AND ROCK LOVERS PROCLAIM HIM AS SUPERSTAR!!

WHOOPI GOLDBERG PLAYS SISTER MARY CLARENCE IN THE MOVIE ‘SISTER ACT’.  A CUTE MOVIE….

BUT REMEMBER…..SHE’S A NIGHT-CLUB SINGER, WHO POSES AS A NUN IN THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM. 

AND BECAUSE OF HER PERFORMANCE SKILLS, SHE IS PUT IN CHARGE OF THE CHOIR, AND TURNS A SLEEPLY CONGREGATION INTO VIBRANT WORSHIPPERS WITH SUCH HITS AS …”NOTHING IN THIS WORLD CAN KEEP ME AWAY FROM MY GOD’!

EVEN THE POPE IS IMPRESSED!!!

CHRISTIANS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED BEING OF THE WORLD, BUT NOT IN THE WORLD!!!

PICK UP MOST ANY CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE OR VISIT YOUR LOCAL CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE AND YOU WILL FIND FOR YOURSELF DOZENS OF WAYS AND METHODS TO MARKET THE CHURCH. 

AND MOST OF IT DONE WITHOUT ANY INTEGRITY OR AUTHENTICITY!!!

AND NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MAKING SURE OUR MESSAGE IS COMMUNICATED SO THAT THE POST-MODERN WORLD WILL HEAR AND UNDESTAND……

BUT TOO OFTEN THE CHURCH QUICKLY BECOMES A CAFETERIA LINE WHERE PEOPLE PICK AND CHOOSE PARTS OF THE GOSPEL THAT FIT WITH THEIR LIFESTYLE. 

CHRISTIANITY CANNOT BE CONSUMER DRIVEN!!!!

ACCOMODATION IN THE BIBLICAL STORY IS REALLY NOTICEABLE IN RABSHAKEH’S USE OF HEBREW RATHER THAN ARAMAIC IN THE CONVERSATION AT THE WALL!!!

YOU MIGHT SAY, AS I DID, “HEBREW, ARAMAIC, WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?  “IT’S ALL HEBREW TO ME!!!

HERE IN THIS SETTING ARAMAIC IS THE LANGUAGE OF COMMERECE, THE LANGUAGE OF DIPLOMACY.  IT’S THE LANGUAGE HE SHOULD HAVE USED FOR SUCH NEGOTIATIONS.

HEBREW IS THE LANGAUGE OF FAITH!!

IT’S THE LANGUAGE THAT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH USE TO SPEAK TO EACH OTHER. 

IT’S THE LANGUAGE THEY USE TO SPEAK TO GOD!!

IT’S THE LANGAUGE THAT IS COVENANT LANGUAGE!!

WHEN IMPERIAL POWERS ARE AT THE WALL, AND USE THE LANGUAGE OF FAITH, THE PEOPLE OF GOD ARE IN TROUBLE!!!

THE CHURCH NEEDS TO HEAR THAT WARNING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WALL BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE BECOME THREATENED.

WHEN POLITICIANS TRY TO SOUND LIKE PREACHERS, THE CHURCH IS IN TROUBLE!!

WHEN THE GOVERNMENT COUCHES ITS POLICIES IN THE CHURCH’S LANGUAGE, THE CHURCH IS IN TROUBLE!!

WE ARE ONLY DELUDING OURSELVES INTO BELIEVING THAT POLITICAL POWERS REALLY HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHURCH AT HEART.

POLITICIANS LOOK FOR VOTES AND WILL STAND AT THE WALL AND SPEAK HEBREW IF THAT’S WHAT IT TAKES.  .  WE ARE ONLY KIDDING OURSELVES IF WE BELIEVE THAT THE POWER OF POLITICS WILL ADVANCE GOD’S KINGDOM!!!

SUCH IS SOLELY THE TASK OF THE CHURCH!!!

GOD IS NOT A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN.  GOD’S REIGN TRANSCENDS POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS!!!

WE WILL NEVER ADEQUATELY COMMUNICATE THE GOSPEL TO OUR CULTURE IF WE DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT!!!!!

THE ASSYRIAN SPOKE HEBREW FOR POLITICAL GAIN.  IT WAS FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TO WIN ISRAEL’S FAVOR, AND ULTIMATELY ISRAEL’S SUBMISSION!!!

BUT HEZEKIAH, WARNED THE PEOPLE NOT TO ANSWER. 

(MAYBE THEY COULDN’T ANSWER, BEC THEY DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THE FAKE HEBREW SPOKEN BY ONE WHO DIDN’T KNOW THE POWER OF THE LANGUAGE OF FAITH)

AT THE WALL…..ASSYRIA DISREGARDS JUDAH’S TRUST IN YAHWEH!!

IT IS UNREASONABLE AND MAKES NO SENSE ………….THEY TELL THEM!!

BUT BEHIND, THE WALL, INSIDE THE CITY, THERE IS ANOTHER CONVERSATION TAKING PLACE!!!

A CONVERSTATION BY A DIFFERENT SET OF PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT VALUES!!

IN THE CONVERSATION BEHIND THE WALL, NO ONE QUESTIONS YAHWEH’S POWER OVER THE POWER OF ASSYRIA.

HEZEKIAH SENDS FOR THE PROPHET ISAIAH AND DESCRIBES THE SITUATION.

ISAIAH’S RESPONSE IS QUICK AND TO THE POINT!!!

“RELAX HEZEKIAH, DON’T BE AFRAID OF ASSYRIA.  GOD IS IN CONTROL”  (2 KINGS 19:6). 

THAT’S ISAIAH’S GOOD NEWS FOR HEZEKIAH!!!

BEHIND THE WALL A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE IS AT WORK!!!

HERE IS WHERE THE COMMUNITY OF FIATH SPEAKS THE LANGAUGE OF FAITH!!!

A LANGUAGE THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO THOSE AT THE WALL!!!

IT IS BEHIND THE WALL THAT THE CHURCH SPEAKS OF REDEMPTION AND FELLOWSHIP!!

OF COMMUNION AND BAPTISM….

OF SELF-DENIAL AND SACRIFICE….

OF THE EXPECTATION OF LIFE AFTER DEATH!!!

IT’S BEHIND THE WALL THAT SUCH CONVERSTATION MAKES SENSE!!!!

PLEASE DON’T HEAR MY CALL FOR A CONVERSATION BEHIND THE WALL…..AS A CALL TO SEPARATION!!!

SOME CHRISTIAN THINKERS CALL FOR THE CHURCH TO SURVIVE SEPARATED FROM THE WORLD!!!

THAT IS NOT WHAT THE GREAT COMMISSION OF JESUS IS ABOUT AT ALL!!!!

NEITHER THE ACCOMODATION OF CULTURE NOR SEPARATION FROM CULTURE IS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR THE CHURCH!!!

BUT THERE IS A THIRD WAY…..AND IT’S WHAT THE LORD JESUS IS CALLING THE CHURCH TO TODAY!!!

HE IS CALLING FOR AN AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY THAT IS BILINGUAL!!!

PEOPLE OF FAITH MUST BE ABLE TO TALK AT THE WALL….

BEC THE ASSYRIANS ARE CONVERSATION PARTNERS AND THEY MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY!!!

THEY WILL NOT GO AWAY!!!!

HOWEVER, UNLESS THERE IS ANOTHER CONVERSATION BEHIND THE WALL, IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE, ABOUT ANOTHER AGENDA, JUDAH WILL SUBMIT TO ASSYRIA’S DEMANDS, AND THE CHURCH WILL FAIL AT BEING A LIGHT TO THE WORLD!!!!

THE CHURCH MUST BE THE LANGUAGE SCHOOL FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!!

IT’S BEHIND THE WALL, IN CHURCH, WHERE WE LEARN THE LANGAUGE AND THE CUSTOMS AND THE STORIES OF THE KINGDOM, THE GOOD NEWS STORIES!!!

IT’S OUR PRACTICE OF THIS BEHIND-THE WALL LANGAUGE THAT MAKES POSSIBLE FOR US TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO THOSE OUTSIDE THE WALL!!!!

AND PROCLAIM WE MUST……AND PROCLAIM WE WILL!!!!!

IT IS OUR MANDATE….IT IS OUR CALL!!

IT IS TIME WE QUIT BEING AFRAID OF ASSYRIA!!!!

GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!!!

IN THE FACE OF RABID RELATIVISM,

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS,

RELIGIOUS FANATICISM,

…..

WHAT BETTER NEWS TO HEAR…..”DON’T BE AFRAID, BE THE CHURCH, GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!!!!!

OUR STORY

(SEE OVERHEAD)

1.     REVIEW

2.  RENEW - - -   ANALOGY OF A FARMER PLANTING SEED…..DOESN’T WALK AWAY WHEN IT DOESN’T GROW AS FAST AS HE WANTS  (PAUL SHOEMAKER)

1.     OUR COMMITMENT TO RENEW IS OUR NOT WALKING AWAY.

2.     OUR COMMITMENT TO FIRST FRUITS IS OUR COMMITMENT TO THE HARVEST FIELD

3.  OUTDO -   FIRST FRUITS IS ABOUT 2 THINGS:

A.     LEARNING HOW TO GO INTO THE PROVISION OF GOD

B.     INCREASING YOUR FAITH TO WALK IN THAT PROVISION

C.  LEVITICUS 23:9-14 ……….PROV 3:9-10