Christian courage in the midst of moral madness

Start with a few questions:

Does it seem like so much we believe in is being rejected and even at times ridiculed?

Does it seem like fewer and fewer people have a genuine relationship with God or are even seeking one?

Do you ever feel hesitant to express your Biblical stance on issues or to even mention that you are a Christian for fear of some type of ridicule?

Do you feel like it’s hard to be a Christian and fit in at work, with friends and sometimes family?

Do you sometimes feel like an outsider in this world?

I would suspect that many of you answered yes to one of those questions. It is not easy being a Christian and if someone ever told you it would be easy then they were misinformed at beast or lying at worst. Christianity is rewarding, it gives us joy, purpose and meaning but it is not easy. If someone told you that it wasn’t Jesus. Listen to how he describes discipleship:

Take up your cross …

Deny yourself …

The world hated me they will also hate you …

In this world you will have trouble …

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me …

The teachings of Christianity are not always well-received:

The notion that the Bible is the inspired word God and the source of moral truth is not popular.

The belief that Jesus is God incarnate is not universally accepted.

The sexual ethic of the Bible is sometimes thought of as oppressive.

The idea of generosity and caring for the needy does not sit well with the American Dream.

The belief in a future judgment and heaven and hell are not as accepted as they once were.

The resurrection of Jesus is often thought to be some religious myth not historical fact.

Now, you can be a marginal Christian and fit in well with society, but if you are serious about Christianity (as it was meant to be. Jesus never seems to propose marginal faith) you will be subjected to some degree of ridicule and distress.

Today’s Parishioner’s Pick is:

Christian courage in the midst of moral madness

How can we live in a world that in so many ways opposes our faith? To help us answer that question I want to take you back to the days of the prophet Elijah. 1 Kings 16-18 will be our text.

Elijah (b. circa 9000 BC) was a Jewish prophet living in Israel and you would think that a Jewish prophet in Israel would be a hero, but he wasn’t. He lived in the days of one of the most godless and wicked kings of Israel, King Ahab. And it wasn’t just Ahab who was wicked he had a godless and wicked wife, Jezebel.

Here’s a description of his reign:

1 Kings 16:29–33 (NIV) — 29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.

1 Kings 17:1 (NIV) — 1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

Elijah confronts Ahab and says to him that there will be no rain for the next few years because of his disobedience. Elijah lived in a world that opposed genuine faithfulness to God, so let’s look at him and see how he handled living in a world that is similar to ours.

He was not ashamed to be a God follower

You have to love Elijah’s name – it means Yahweh is my God. Everywhere he went he declared who his God is. Every time he introduced himself he testified to his faith in Yahweh.

Never be ashamed to be called a Christian. Never hide who you are. Be bold. Be courageous.

1 Peter 4:16 (NIV) —16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

Many people believe that the name Christian was used as an insult.

Peter said, don’t be ashamed.

Look what Paul says …

Romans 1:16–17 (NIV) — 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

The early believers were proud to be associated with Christ. They wore the name proudly.

Acts 5:41 (NIV) — 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

When we are proud of belonging to Jesus he will be proud of us.

Luke 9:26 (NIV) — 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

I love the story of Stephen who stood up for Jesus and Jesus stood up for him.

Acts 7:55–56 (NIV) — 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Never be ashamed of being a Christian.

Expect to be called names

1 Kings 18:17 (NIV) — 17 When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”

Early Christians were insulted.

1 Peter 4:12–14 (NIV) — 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Jesus was insulted.

1 Peter 2:23 (NIV) — 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Paul was insulted.

Acts 13:45 (NIV) — 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.

Important to continue to act like a Christian in the face of insults.

The only thing that works is a life that embodies grace and truth lived out in relationship with others. Firm center, soft edges

Barry Corey, President, Biola University

1 Peter 2:12 (NIV) — 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Don’t mope and don’t isolate

This is what Elijah does. Even after a great victory he hides himself in a cave.

1 Kings 19:3–5 (NIV) — 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”

The Lord appears to Elijah in one of my favorite stories. He sends a powerful wind, then an earthquake, and then a fire but the Lord was not in any of those. Then he sends a gentle whisper and that is where God is present.

We need to resist moping and find the little ways that God is still working. We need to be alert to the gentle whispers in life. The small ways God is working. The churches of Christ have a magazine called The Christian Chronicle. Among other things the spotlight what churches are doing around the world. They also have podcast you may want to listen to. Next month Lanny Tucker will be here one Sunday to update us on EEM. No doubt there are hurdles but so many great things are being done.

Later in God sends Elijah back to civilization and tells him he is not alone.

1 Kings 19:18 (NIV) — 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

We are not alone! God is still working!

John 15:18–21 (NIV) — 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

Those who believe differently are not the enemy.

Darrell Bock in an address at LCU

We want people to know God. Everyone needs to know him and he can use us as courageous, compassionate believers to work with him in carrying out that task.