Decision 2020 and the Church - Part 1

Last Sunday, I wrapped up a series of messages on the Be Attitudes. And in the two that we looked at last week, we encountered this clash between being peacemakers and realizing that there are times that we simply cannot accomplish that. And in fact, as we stand for truth, even if we do it with love and grace, there will be times that we come under increasing resistance and persecution. Jesus said we shouldn’t be surprised by this.

The more that I’ve thought about that, the more I have felt that it is impossible to ignore one of the most significant events that is happening in this country right now. It is an event that will likely shape the amount of resistance we encounter in sharing the gospel.

In a few weeks from now, we are having an election. It’s when we get to decide as a country, who will be our President for the next 4 years, in addition to electing Senators and representatives who will either work with or work to limit the President.

I’m sure that we all feel like we’ve had more than our share of turmoil over the last year or so. And it sure would be nice to have some peace. And that is consistent with what Jesus said His followers are to pursue. But don’t forget that Jesus also said this….

Matthew 10:34-35 - “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.

He called us to be salt and light in this world…and then went on to tell us through the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:14, “ For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

What does this mean? It means that when we live according to the kingdom principles of Jesus, we are going to find ourselves, more often than not, in conflict with the power structures of the world. I reminded us last week that peace and appeasement or NOT the same. The call to be peacemakers does not mean that we “GO ALONG TO GET ALONG”.

Galatians 1:10 - Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

In the first few centuries, Christians paid a heavy price for their faith. If you want to have your mind blown by just how committed the early Christians were to honoring God first, read a few of the true stories in Foxes Book of Martyrs. People lost their lives because they would not soft-pedal their beliefs. In fact, Christian persecution and martyrdom are still happening in the world TODAY. And it was precisely that kind of commitment to a bold proclamation of truth that ultimately led to the spread of Christianity.

Throughout the centuries that have followed, there have been times of persecution, and times of quiet acceptance of the Christian faith. We have been blessed in the United States to live in a country where the Christian faith has not only been valued, it was the bedrock of the formation of the country. But, as the song says, the times, they are a changin’. And perhaps, it’s time we change as well.

As you look at the culture around us, you see the unmistakable decline. What once was a nation deeply rooted in Christian thinking and tradition has slowly become more and more anti-Christian. What once was acceptable has become unacceptable and what once was unacceptable has become celebrated.

Research over the last many years has revealed a significant rise in those who claim NO RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION AT ALL. The latest figures show that “the NONEs” is now almost 24% of our population. It’s not just that they’re not religious…their values share few similarities, if any, to the teaching of scripture.

How has this happened? How have we gone from where we were, to where we are, and where we are trending? It’s very easy for us to point fingers at the politicians and political parties on the other side of the aisle from wherever we happen to be, but the truth is the fingers should probably be pointing somewhere else….and that is…towards Christians who have been too timid to be different for Jesus.

In fact, in an article that was just released last week, George Barna says that we are having a new reformation in the U.S. Let me quote from the article…

Unlike the Protestant Reformation, whose goal was to return to the foundational teachings of the Bible, this modern movement is one where Americans are redefining biblical beliefs according to secular values.

“While the survey cannot determine if churches are failing to teach biblical truth or whether congregants are exposed to such teaching but rejecting it, the bottom line is that we are a society that has strayed far from the path of biblical truth,” “It certainly seems as if the culture is influencing the Church more than the church is influencing the culture.”

“The irony of the reshaping of the spiritual landscape in America is that it represents a post-Christian Reformation driven by people seeking to retain a Christian identity,”. “Unfortunately, the theology of this reformation is being driven by American culture rather than biblical truth.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

It’s football season…so let me use football to illustrate what should be happening and what has been happening. The home team and the visiting team are in conflict because they don't agree on winning.

The third team on the field is the referee... they belong to the home office. They have been given a book to go by and their opinion on the book and preference doesn't matter

They are to bring harmony and sense and order in the middle of the conflict.We saw a few years ago what happens when you have replacement officials. The refs were confused and uncertain. When the refs aren't right the game becomes chaotic

God’s refs have allowed things to get out of hand because they have been officiating according to their preferences or what they WANT the book to say instead of what it ACTUALLY says.

Matthew 16:13-19 (NKJV) 13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" 14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Who do YOU say I am...what do my ministers say?

1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

The church….the ekklesia is not just a gathering.... it’s a legislative group (Acts 19)

The job of the refs is to legislate the rules of the home office on the field where they are. The problem isn't the White House or the Houses of Congress....it’s the church house

Why would we think God would fix that before he fixes his church? Jesus said He would build His church according to His standards, and the gates of hell wouldn’t prevail against it.

Let me give you a new way to think about this statement….Ancient cities were surrounded by walls. Everyone had to use the gates for entry and exit. It was the meeting place. It was a place of commerce. It was a place for holding court. It was a place of government and decision-making. It was a place of POWER!

From the beginning of creation, there has been a clash between the kingdoms of the world, the powers of the world, and the kingdom of God. Jesus is telling us that when His church is operating as it should, then the plots and schemes of the governments of the world can’t overcome the church.

Gates of hell is city hall...gathering at gates to pass legislation. God has counteracted the governmental powers of the kingdoms of the world by building His own legislative body to help Him accomplish His purpose in the world.

In every NFL game... the players are younger faster and stronger than the refs... they have the power...but the refs have the AUTHORITY...When the church throws out the flag the politicians keep playing because we have no authority

The church has become dependent on politics because we have lost our own power.We align ourselves with a party to try to reclaim the power and authority we have lost or given up. But God is the consummate independent because he only votes for himself

Joshua 5:13-14 (NKJV) 13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?" 14 So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?"I did not come to take sides...I came to take over Abraham Lincoln - "I am not at all concerned about that. . . . But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side”.

WHAT IS THE LORD’S SIDE? WE’LL LOOK AT THAT NEXT WEEK.