“When You Believe in God but Aren’t Sure He Loves You.”

Series Review

We’re continuing our series on The Christian Atheist. I actually met a pastor who was a self described Christian Atheist. He meant that he no longer was convinced there was a God (and yet he didn’t mind collecting a paycheck from a church), but believed in the teachings of Jesus. So, he was an atheist who wanted to follow Jesus’ teachings. Of course, Jesus taught there was a God, so his beliefs were fundamentally wrong.

I asked this Christian Atheist

I served a 6 month internship as a hospital chaplain at Johns Hopkins. I remember the 1st class when each of us had to write our personal stories on a piece of poster board. Life events, family, religious beliefs. We had everything there: A catholic priest, a pentecostal pastor, an episcopal priest, 2 rabbis a Presbyterian Pastor and me. There was a long, awkward silence when one of the chaplains identified himself as a Christian Atheist - by that he meant he was an atheist, but he believed in the ethical teachings of Jesus Christ and wanted to practice them. There are some obvious problems with his self identification and his vocation as a pastor.

We get it wrong when we say we believe in God, believe that God became flesh in Jesus Christ, that Jesus died and rose again and offers us a new life, but we live as if these things aren’t actually true. That’s what the sermon series is about. This is about what our small groups are wrestling with.

However, at the end of the 6 months I found real consistency between his practice and his stated beliefs. I could tell by the way he listened to patients and his classmates that he really wanted to imitate the compassion of Jesus Christ. He was a selfless individual.

There are several reasons for our Christian Atheism - we know about God but we lack the personal relationship, so it’s easy to ignore God. God isn’t fair, so I’m angry with God. Today’s message: I believe in God, but I don’t think God loves me.

Sermon Introduction

I’ve been the pastor of HUMC since July 1, 2016. Rich Barney, who chairs the SPRC - the liaison between me and you - took the responsibility of introducing me to you. When he introduced my wife, he gave some incorrect information: he said she was born in PA. She was born in VA. Where did he get that information from? Me! I had been married for 13 years, I should know her birthplace.

You live with someone for 13 years you get to know alot of facts about that person. Things you want to know and things you don’t want to know. But the sad reality is that you can be married to someone - live under the same roof, share meals and vacations together. Raise children together. Doing all of those things together doesn’t automatically guarantee love and security.

Our human relationships affect how we see God. (father; mother; unfaithful spouse; abusive parent or spouse;) we use parental language, we refer to Christ as our bride; we talk about love; if the “love” we have experienced is an unhealthy love, then that’s how we can see God.

That’s why the church is so important - are we showing Christ like love. Don’t be so quick to say yes, because that’s a pretty high standard.

We can learn about God, his taking on human flesh, dying in our place and purchasing our salvation, but not enjoy the security of knowing that he love us.

In the story Jim just told us, we get the image of Jesus stopping and giving his full attention to a person that few people seemed to love. And when you are not loved by people, it can be very difficult to believe God loves you. If you are marginalized, if you are hated, it can be hard to experience the security of knowing God loves you. But here in this story we see that...

Jesus notices the marginalized.

Luke 18:35 NIV

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

Luke 18:

We are a friendly congregation! You are the fifth congregation I've pastored, and I usually ask questions like tell me something about this church. In my 20 years as an ordained elder and a youth pastor, no one has ever said, "were not exactly the friendliest church," or "I can see why first time visitors don't come back." No. "Were a friendly church. We are family."

Neglected

e.g. youth pastor’s wife; The church where she and her husband was now; God, where are your people? The question is not whether or not we are a friendly church. The question is are we a place where people can experience the love of God.

We are a friendly congregation! You are the fifth congregation I've pastured, and I usually ask questions like tell me something about this church. In my 20 years as an ordained elder and a youth pastor, no one has ever said, "were not exactly the friendliest church," or "I can see why first time visitors don't come back." No. "Were a friendly church. We are family."

The church where her second husband was now

I’m telling you this because this blind beggar was excluded. Not because he lived in an unfriendly neighborhood. Not because he attended an unfriendly synagogue. He was surrounded by God’s people, who were gathering in throngs to hear Jesus of Nazareth. But the blind man was marginalized, and Jesus stopped for him.

This blind was excluded. Not because he lived in an unfriendly neighborhood. Not because he attended an unfriendly synagogue. Remember last weeks sermon? Of course you do, that's why you already know that assumptions were made about victims of blindness. It was because of sin.

Jesus loves the contemptible.

Jesus loves the contemptible.

Luke 18:39 NIV

Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

When I was reading this passage I remembered a story Stephen Covey told in his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Man, disruptive kids on subway, wife just died, passengers annoyed; asked the man to control his kids; I’m sorry, we just left the hospital and their mother just died and we’re all in shock;

Covey commented on how he made an assessment based on his limited knowledge of this man;

Remember last weeks sermon? Of course you do, that's why you already know that assumptions were made about victims of blindness. It was because of sin. He wasn’t victim who deserved sympathy, but a sign of God’s judgment. You can see their contempt when he began to cry out for Jesus.

Jesus responds to the desperate.

Jesus responds to the desperate.

Desperate

Luke 18:

Luke 18:38 NIV

He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luke 18:41 NIV

“What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

Luke

James 5 NIV

1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. 7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! 10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. 12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned. 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

How desperate are our prayers? Do our prayers lack the passion, or are just dry formalities or empty rituals?

How desperate are our prayers?

Some have prayed prayers of desperation and they have not been answered. Ex. Burn center at Hopkins, teen w severe burns, thirty prayer warriors. A dr notified us that she died, but the passion, the intensity of the prayer didn't change. Still praised. Still pleaded. We knew God was listening and somehow answering our prayers. This goes back to last week’s sermon, and wondering if God is really fair.

Do our prayers lack the passion, or are just dry formalities or empty rituals,

Some have prayed prayers of desperation and they have not been answered. Ex. Burn center at Hopkins, teen w severe burns, thirty prayer warriors. A dr notified us that she died, but the passion, the intensity of the prayer didn't change. Still praised. Still

Jesus stops for one.

Luke 18:40 NIV

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,

stealing a sermon; a profound moment for me; theologically v. reality

stealing a sermon; a profound moment for me;

“I love you all.” Does that really mean anything to you? Heart stirring? Make you consider a commited relationship? Just words.

Here are words of truth to you this morning:

Jesus says he loves you. They have marginalized you, but I see you and love you.

They hate you for superficial reasons. They hate you because of your past. I love you.

You are desperate for love. You long for a love that’s real. I love you.