A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

D.A. Carson wrote:

“A rising number of Christians in the West are coming to grips with the reality that the Judeo-Christian worldview no longer holds sway. Of course, we’ve always known that there are parts of the world where missionaries undertake their work in the teeth of opposition - opposition that is sometimes cultural, sometimes judicial. At home, however, we didn’t deploy missionaries; we deployed pastors and evangelists. But as the folk song puts it, “The times they are a-changin’.” In the Bible Belt, especially in the population that is 35 or older, it’s still perfectly acceptable to be a nominal Christian: the subculture reinforces us as we lurk in our pious comfort zones. Elsewhere in the country , however, and just about everywhere for our young people, nominal Christianity is becoming obsolete: it costs too much, with no real advantages. Decidedly non-Christian and anti-Christian agendas, riding the digital waves, increasingly prevail.

It turns out that’s not entirely a bad thing....” (Clark, 10-11).

When the cultural norm is generally Christian - it’s easy to be a nominal or half-hearted Christian. But what do you do when the Christian way of life is abnormal?

For the last 50 or so years, we’ve experienced a gradual shift in our society - away from “Judeo-Christian” values. Sure, some of it has been political, but much of it has been cultural.

I guess the question we have to prepare to ask ourselves is “how will we as a church respond when being a Christian is completely antithetical to the culture around us?”

Thankfully - we have brothers and sisters in the faith both historically and today who have led by example. In fact, the book of Acts highlights some of this. You see, as the early church got launched, being a Christian was seen as a sect of Judaism - but the Jews didn’t want to claim them. Being a monotheistic faith in the world of the Roman pantheon - Christianity was considered an anathema. So let’s take brief review of the early church as we look at some...

Snapshots of the Early Church

The Church Gathered (Jerusalem)

early gathered church in prayer - Acts 1:14

empowered by the spirit and explosive growth- Acts 2:1-41 - 3000 added

The new norm - Acts 2:42-47 - teaching, fellowship, communion, prayer - signs, sharing of things, daily salvation

leaders continued to perform miracles, questioned by authorities

Growing pains - Acts 5-6 - Ananias and Sapphira; ministry to widows

The Church Scattered (Judea/Samaria...)

Persecution broke out - Acts 8:1 - believers begin to spread out - I find it interesting that the mandate to “go into all the world” or as Acts 1:8 says - witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea/Samaria and the ends of the earth - is largely ignored by this early church and so God allowed persecution to get them out of town.

Martyrdom of James/Arrest of Peter - Acts 12:1-18 - Peter arrested and likely awaiting execution - was miraculously released - while the church continued to gather to pray -

the gospel continues to expand (Acts 12:24)

The Church Going (Ends of the Earth)

Paul and Barnabas sent out - Acts 13:1-3 - missionary journeys, churches planted abroad

Continued expansion across geographic, religious and ethnic lines (Acts 13-28)

In times of peace and in times of persecution, the church continued to grow - spiritually and numerically - as they faithfully obeyed obeyed the commission of Jesus Christ - to go and make disciples (Mt. 28:19-20).

Last year, we encapsulated this for us here at PBC in four ways (we gather, we grow, we give, we go):

We Gather - this is what the church is - an assembly of Jesus people - we gather in worship and in prayer. That is part of what has made this pandemic so challenging - our gathering - one of the very things that we do has been hindered. I’m so grateful for you all, grateful that we get to gather to some degree -in person and at home. I know it’s not the same - it’s not ideal. Let me encourage you to be mindful of the folks that you haven’t seen. Gathering allows us to check in on each other. Give someone a call or send an email or send them a card or a text. Even consider reaching out to our missionaries - this pandemic has made their work that much more challenging.

We Grow - disciples are learners - learning is a marker of Jesus people - we do this through formal settings - like classrooms, small or discipleship groups, and even in worship services - and informal settings - like one-on-one, individually, and family times. How are you doing in your spiritual growth? Are you engaging in all of the opportunities that are before you (adult Bible Study, women’s studies, men’s group will resume in February)? Would you be open to hosting a discipleship group - in your home or online?

We Give - of ourselves - in ministry to each other and our community - and our resources - for ministry here and abroad - We’ll discuss this more at our Family Meeting in the end of the month - you all have been so gracious and generous in your financial giving. Thank you for being faithful in how you are stewarding the financial resources that God has given you.

We Go - locally, regionally, globally - this represents the mission that we are on to fulfill the great commission in each of these areas. We have set up our missions support in these areas, but we also need to be mindful of how we do mission ourselves.

Locally - meeting the needs of our community, one of our hopes is to start discipleship groups in each neighborhood of Poolesville - and even in the surrounding towns where we live - Rockville, Germantown, Boyds, Frederick, Dickerson, etc.

Regionally - as we support regional mission projects, participating in summer opportunities like M-Fuge and Frederick Rescue Mission - as we plant churches in partnership with other churches;

Globally, as we continue to support and send missionaries over seas; short term trips (Kenya, Middle East).

Each of these things make up who we are as a church - they define our activity and function. We saw this in the early church as they continued to gather - even in times of persecution and difficulty, they continued to be faithful to preach the gospel, and minister to people in need and go abroad. Oppressive regimes, persecution, imprisonment - none of that hindered their faithfulness to fulfill all that God had called them to do.

Last week, as we looked at Hebrews 12:1-2, we reflected on how we should live by faith individually - mindful of those who are watching, laying aside the trappings of this world and the trespasses that trip us up, we should run the long race of faith before us, following Jesus example.

This week, we’re going to continue thinking about living by faith in any circumstance - but from a congregational or corporate perspective. What does it mean for us - together as a church - to live by faith - no matter what the circumstances hold for us? There will still be some individual application, but let’s reflect on three things that will help us to live by faith in any circumstance.

First, we should have a...

Proper Identity - Pilgrims (1 Pt. 1:1)

If you have your Bibles, let’s turn to the book of 1 Peter. In a couple of months, we’ll get a chance to look at this book more fully, in our normal overview. But this week, as we think about living by faith in any circumstance - I think Peter has some helpful things to say to us.

1 Peter 1:1 ESV

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

He is writing to believers who have been spread out. These may be believers who were in Jerusalem at the time of the persecution in Acts 8. These regions are north of Israel - in what is now Turkey.

But notice how he refers to them - elect exiles.

In Greek - that word “exiles” - can be translated as “pilgrim” or “sojourner” or “traveller.” They physically reside in one country, but their citizenship is in another.

I think that as believers, we need to have this kind of exile or pilgrim mindset. Sure, many of us have citizenship here in the United States - but when we see ourselves as pilgrims or exiles - we can begin to get a better perspective on how we should live. We gain a clearer understanding of how we should view persecution and difficulties. We also gain a better understanding of what we must do to preach the gospel effectively.

Have you ever tried to understand the perspective of an immigrant - of someone who has come from another country? Now, this is not someone who is just visiting, but someone who will likely be here for a long time. Think about all of the things they have to work through - they may be dealing with a new language, new currency, new cultural values, new rules and laws. As visitors, they may like it here or dislike it here - but they have very little, if any, say in the matter. They have to adapt.

When we enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, we get to have our identity in Him. We find that our citizenship papers - spiritually speaking - are no longer of this world. We begin to speak a new language (or at least use different words). We begin to live by different values - values that are guided by scripture. We have some different rules and laws - love God, love others, live humbly, sacrifice.

Practically speaking, we still have our national citizenship - but our identity will now eternally be with Christ and we will live as pilgrims here on earth.

When we have this mindset as pilgrims or exiles - we then have to assume that the people around us won’t have a context for which to understand our message - which means we may have to adjust how we say it.

Eric Bass, when he and Lynn were here, gave me an excellent book by Elliott Clark entitled Evangelism as Exiles. As a former missionary, Clark got to live first hand the idea of exile and even asked the question - “how exactly do you preach the gospel when both you and your message are unwelcome?” (p. 17). As he returned to the states, he began to realize that Christians here in America are struggling because we have failed to realize that we are exiles in our own land - just as Jesus was.

John 1:10–11 ESV

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

Clark’s book helps us see “how we live on mission when we’re strangers and sojourners in our own land.” (20).

There are a few copies of this in the Book Nook (or will be soon). Let me encourage you to grab a copy. In fact, if you’d like to read and discuss it together, let me know - I’ll be happy to walk through and process through this concept more slowly with you.

The point that we need to wrestle with is that we, as people who live in the United States, a post-Christian nation, are pilgrims - and that’s a good thing! Let that sink in for a moment - you and I are pilgrims in our own land!

This means that we get to be thoughtful and creative about how we preach the good news. It means that we can’t assume that people have a frame of reference with the Bible or Jesus.

In addition to having a proper identity as pilgrims, I think we need to have a...

Projected Perspective - Inheritance (1 Pt. 1:3-5)

We could even say “eternal inheritance.”

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

So, let’s say we own this pilgrim identity. We recognize that our citizenship is sort of dualistic - in the U.S. (or your country) and in Christ. Which takes precedence? How do we handle a real lack of control that we have in the decisions and actions of the culture around us? How do we reconcile the dilemma that the nation we are passing on to our kids and grandkids is a nation that is far different from the one that we received from our ancestors?

We remain faithful to be the church - gathering, growing, giving, going.

Sure, I think we can and should work to make a difference here, but we need to have the mindset that our eternal reward, this inheritance that is sealed for us - is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading”.

There was an old song that I learned as a kid - maybe you did too.

“This World is Not My Home”

This world is not my home, I'm just passing through My treasures are laid up, Somewhere beyond the blue

The Angels beckon me, From Heaven's open door And I can't feel at home, In this world anymore

Beloved, we need to have what Eugene Peterson and Fredrick Neitzche call a “long obedience in the same direction.” That direction is toward heaven. That direction is toward holiness. That long obedience will not be swayed by circumstances and challenges. That long obedience will not waiver when setbacks happen.

Think about this - in Acts 12 - we learn that Herod had James, the brother of John, killed. He had also arrested Peter - and it seems had sentenced him to death. During this time, the church gathered (just like they are supposed to) and prayed. They were undeterred by Peter’s imprisonment. Miraculously, Peter was released and the church rejoiced and continued to expand.

But what about Herod? Herod continued to hunt down Christians - but God had that last word. In Acts 12:23 - we learn that an angel of the Lord killed Herod and he was no longer able to threaten the church. Luke briefly summarized what happened next:

Acts 12:24 ESV

But the word of God increased and multiplied.

They maintained course because they knew that the things of this world were not worth getting hung up on - they remained faithful.

Romans 12:2 gives us a little more encouragement and guidance on this:

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

As exiles - our message is not of this world. Our methods are not of this world. When we get too focused on the temporary, we lose sight of the reality of eternity.

This week, as I was preparing this part of the sermon, Jim Knight came to the church building as he usually does to walk. He stopped in and said - “did you know that you are dead?” I’m thinking, maybe someone with my name died and he read an obituary. But then he quoted this verse:

Colossians 3:3–4 ESV

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

So, if you and I are already dead people walking, waiting for Christ to appear - then even our very life here is worth spending for eternity. If persecution comes - that’s okay - our reward is in heaven. If being a Christian is outlawed - then we have nothing to fear - our citizenship is in heaven - we get to be faithful to be the church.

We must keep a projected perspective on our eternal inheritance. It makes the things of this earth “grow strangely dim.” (In the light of His glory and grace).

So, as a church who lives by faith - we must understand that we are exiles in a foreign land, that our inheritance is awaiting us in eternity, and finally we must have...

Persistent Proclamations - the Gospel (1 Pt. 2:9-12)

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

As people who have been chosen by God, as His ambassadors, we get to “proclaim” his “excellencies.” We get to talk about him - his love for us, his mercy, his hope, his grace. A proclamation is not something that we can be silent about - we must proclaim it...

with our mouths - For those of us who like to be quiet, who’d prefer to listen and not ruffle feathers - we must speak out - about God and his goodness - his excellencies.

Think about it like a boxing match announcer - he enters the ring to proclaim the excellencies of the boxer. In Rocky IV as Apollo Creed was preparing to box Ivan Drago - it was a big ceremony. Creed had given the announcer some titles - some of his excellencies...

“In the blue corner...the former heavyweight champion of the world... the Dancing Destroyer... the King of Sting... the Count of Monte Fisto-- The Master of Disaster, the one and only, Apollo Creed!”

(http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/r/rocky-iv-script-transcript-4.html)

Just as the announcer proclaimed the attributes and titles of the boxer, so too we get to proclaim the excellencies of God!

We must talk about Him (God).

We get to talk about Him.

We have nothing to be ashamed of.

1 Peter 3:13–17 ESV

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

God - creates, sustains, sees, loves, restores - through Jesus, indwells with His Spirit, gives hope for eternity,

I have been a bit convicted about this concept of proclamation this week. You see, I have often used the word “sharing” when it comes to what we do with the gospel. Elliott Clark, in his book, points out that when we share something, we do so with something that people want. On Saturdays, we share bread with people - because they want it. We teach our kids to share their toys.

But, can we really share something like the gospel when people don’t want it? They don’t even know that they need it.

Which is why we must proclaim it, preach it. We must go beyond sharing.

Now, this is not necessarily street corner preaching - I don’t think that’s a very effective way of preaching. The baggage associated with that is too burdensome. But, what would happen if in conversations we intentionally interjected the gospel, how the gospel has impacted us, how we’ve been changed?

Part of what we have to realize is that the Gospel in and of itself is offensive. When people come to grips with the fact that they have a sin problem and an eternal judgment is waiting before them - that’s offensive. So our preaching/proclaiming must take into account the offense of the message. We don’t need the presentation or how we preach/proclaim to offend.

Stop sharing the gospel, start proclaiming it, start proclaiming the goodness of God, His love for humanity. Start proclaiming about the sin problem that plagues humanity and what God did to address that.

Over the next few months, I’m hoping to make some tools and resources available for us to grow in our proclaiming abilities.

Not only do we get to proclaim with our mouths, but we also get to proclaim...

with our lives (11-12)

1 Peter 2:11–12 ESV

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

There should be something different about us. People should be able to see.

(Clark - hospital - Muslim neighbor introduced Clark’s wife as an “American neighbor and friend, and as a Christian.” She continued “‘Not the kind of Christian you think.’ As doctors and orderlies peeked in the door, she explained how our family was honorable and kind. How my wife and daughters dressed modestly. How I was faithful in our marriage. How we were clean and considerate. We were Christians, yes; but we were actually people of good character. We were neighbors they could trust.” (Clark, 112-113).

Now Clark is talking about living in a Central Asian country in a majority Muslim context where everything American is seen as Christian - do you see why it’s okay that our culture is no longer Christian? Once the world learns that America is not a Christian nation, then Christians will be able to have a voice that is separate from American culture.

...

(actions/words)

(neighbors/friends/family)

(discipleship groups - do both)

Closing Thoughts

As our brothers and sisters in Christ in the first century laid the foundation of the church - we need to continue to build on that foundation. There will be challenges ahead - not because of a change in political party, but because of a changing culture. We must be faithful to gather, to grow, to give, to go. As we do, I believe it’s important that we maintain a proper identity as pilgrims/exiles, that we keep our perspective eternal, and faithfully proclaim with our mouths and our lives - the greatness of God.

Next Steps:

Respond

pick up Evangelism as Exiles

pray for your neighbors and friends who are far from God - Who’s Your One, Who’s Your Neighbor? - will you pray over the next month for opportunities to proclaim the goodness of God to them? (talk about encounters with Harry - prayer)

Pray about starting a discipling group online or in person - with people in your neighborhood.

Members - join us on January 31 at 6PM as we discuss the mission/vision that God has before us

Memory Verse:

Acts 13:49 ESV

And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.