“It must be true. Angelina Jolie said so.”

Over dinner last night the guests at my table shared their experience with a large religious group that claims to be “Christian.” That ‘church’ preaches strong family values, encourages morality and hard work, and builds tight-knit communities. But, the heart of their ‘faith’ is not Christian at all. The cross is not seen as a place of grace, Jesus is not God come to us, the Savior. Yet, this group continues to dupe many into believing that they are a renewal of apostolic Christianity.  

 I ask you, are you orthodox in doctrine or have you, either because of lack of knowledge or direct intention, diluted the Gospel of Jesus Christ with silly superstitions, angel stories, or bizarre worship practices?  In a lifetime of Pastoral ministry I have observed trends, fads, and bad doctrines flow through the Church. Some issues correct themselves rather quickly. Thirty years ago, there were groups predicting the date of Jesus’ return. Their error was obvious when their dates came and went without His appearing!  Other errors have more staying power, taking root and hanging on. The preachers of the ‘prosperity gospel’ remain influential. Their message that God wants everyone with enough faith to be healthy and wealthy appeals to us, so we ignore the holes in that message.  

The current issue of syncretism (mixing religions) is a serious problem. Even “Spirit-filled” disciples are turning to strange doctrine and weird practices. Many are readily embracing the lie that ‘all roads lead to God.’ What allows people to adopt false teaching as true, to become deceived?

The sufficiency of the Scripture’s teaching for life and godliness has been diminished in favor of experience.

“What works for me” replaces “This is the Word of the Lord.”  In part this is a reflection of our highly individualistic culture.  Self-expression and personal happiness are highly valued, even to the point of rejecting the authority of God’s Word. 

And, then too, there is our celebrity culture.

The fact that someone can put on a great concert or move us with their skill in portraying a character in a movie does not mean they have anything authoritative to say about politics, climate science, or religious truth. Yet, we are regularly exposed to the opinions of celebrities whose words are treated as if they grow from years of study, deep spirituality, and/or great intelligence. Are they experts? Perhaps they are in their field but on others issues, not so much.  I do admire the passion of celebrity advocates for children’s right, climate change, and social responsibility. But, I do not give their words the same weight as those who have years wrestling with those issues!

The same celebrity worship happens in the Church. An athlete who comes to faith in Christ from a life full of dysfunction is too often put on the stage while he is still a baby Believer. He is presented as a role model before the water of his baptism has dried.  And, sadly, we are too often shocked when the pressure takes it toll and we find that our ‘hero’ is just an ordinary sinner like each of us.  Christian musicians often enjoy more influence in shaping theology than pastors, despite have a Scriptural depth and understanding that is frequently slim to non-existent. The result is shallow Christians with faith built on experience alone, their focus shifted from the Awesomeness of a Holy God to subjective feelings celebrated by the song writer.  Before you fire off an angry protest to me, please know that I am not saying that all Christian musicians are shallow! There are many who take the way of the Wesley brothers in 18^th century who wrote their amazing hymns of faith from the depths of the soul, shaped by lives dedicated equally to study of truth and excellence of their craft. Then, too, we cannot ignore the huge influence of media speakers whose words fill up books, who take the stage at conferences, using human interest stories to explain life to us. Frequently their message is without much Bible content or any theological anchors.

Then, too, some are ‘bored’ by steady, solid, and practical teaching of the Word. Novelty replaces truth. Fascination with demons, angels, and psychic phenomena replaces Discipleship and love for the Word of God.

Deep reverence for the Presence of Yahweh is insufficient. In God’s Name, all kinds of silliness has been invited into the Church disguised as the “move of the Spirit.” This is nothing new, but it is a growing trend. There are terrible consequences for the health of the Church. The Word speaks of this: "The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4, NIV)  Discipleship is not about a great Sunday worship experience alone. It is about learning and doing the will of God so that our lives are marked by wholeness of mind, soul, and body in a way that honors our Creator.

Let’s love the Truth!
Seek out leaders whose lives show integrity.
Commit yourself to a church that is more than a ‘show,’ that is Word-centered even as it is innovative, looking for ways to bring the unchanging Truth to the culture in which we live.

We need not be misled by strange doctrine, duped by false teachers, or overcome by silly superstition.  Jesus promises that we will know the Truth and the Truth will set us free. 

Here is a word from the Word. May we be challenged to be people led by the Spirit and grounded in the revelation of Scripture.  This passage comes from Paul’s final word to a younger pastor. "Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (2 Timothy 2:14-19, NIV)

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Hallelujah, what a Savior.

"I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
it is enough that Jesus died,
and that He died for me."

"My heart is leaning on the Word,
the written Word of God.
Salvation by my Savior's name,
salvation through His blood."

Too good to be true

Everything he said was ‘just right.’ His stories were impressive, too. On the surface, he looked like an amazing man; accomplished, of deep faith, a servant of the Lord. I wanted to trust him but I could detect that there was a disconnect between the image and the reality, little cracks and inconsistencies in evidence. Over time, the truth emerged when the carefully constructed image crumbled. The professions of faith and love were replaced by angry accusations against others when situations did not turn out as he wanted. The man eventually moved on to a new town where he tried to impress a whole new group of people with his ‘spirituality.’  Later on I discovered it was a pattern in Sam’s (not real name) life. He moved frequently, leaving unpaid debts, broken promises, and disappointment.

Nobody’s perfect. It is a cliché that happens to be true! We need realize that and choose to be authentic about ourselves. Sam is a man who could be a productive Christian, useful to the Kingdom of God, if only he would be real and work through the struggles of life instead of trying to create a perfection that is not his to claim! But, apparently ‘real’ is too frightening for him, so he just keeps telling his stories, living the lie.

Amos, a spokesman for God in ancient Israel, saw the hypocrisy of the people.  They kept the feasts of the religious calendar. They gave their tithe to the Temple. They offered sacrifices and sang the songs of worship, but it was a façade.  The Lord, Who longed for their love, Who wanted them to know His love, grew angry with them and here was His challenge. "This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live; … You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine…. Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. … Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:4, 7, 11, 23-24, NIV)  What does the Lord say?  “Stop singing. Get real! Do what’s right!”

What joy we find when we come to know ourselves and come humbly, honestly, openly to our God. It is true that the One who knows us best, loves us most. He does not love us because we are smarter, taller, richer, or more beautiful than someone else. He does not love us because our faith is flawless or our song is sweet. He loves us because He is good. The scandal of grace, if you would call it that, is that when we get real, when we stop hiding and pretending, we find forgiveness.  More than that, we find the power to change, as we become friends of God, filled with His Spirit.

Grace is not an excuse to stay as we are; it is an invitation to enter the Presence of the Holy where we are transformed. The Word says He looks deep inside of us, reading even our motives, and invites us to bring ourselves, our broken places, our less than wonderful secrets, into the Throne Room of Heaven. And, what do we find? A loving Savior!  Pointing to those who lived behind their religion, the Spirit says, "Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:11-16, NIV)

Ask God to help you to be authentic; before Him, before the world, and with yourself - a person who has found grace and who gives grace, a sinner made whole who is a healer in a world desperately in need of restoration.  He makes the broken beautiful, the wounded whole, the sinner into a saint.

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Just As I Am

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy Blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy Promise, I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt.

Fightings and fears, within, without;

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind-

Sight, riches, healing of the mind,

Yea, all I need in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Charlotte Elliott | William Batchelder Bradbury

© Words: Public Domain

“Come on in. Make Yourself at home”

When Bev and I were still raising our children we worked at making our home a place of wholeness and holiness. Does that sound overly pious to you? Before you conclude that ours was a joyless, gloomy house, let me tell you that we laughed a lot. We were not a monastery by a long shot. But, we our aim was to welcome the Spirit in our home. We didn’t invite profanity to fill the air. We didn’t leave conflict unresolved. We practiced forgiveness. The music that filled our home was not about sex, booze, or brokenness. Instead, the songs that created the background were about loving God. It was our conscious desire to invite the Spirit. 

Often we heard people, even those who had no faith, remark about how peaceful they felt when they spent time in our home. Why? They sensed His Presence!

Are you welcoming to the Holy Spirit of God or is your ‘worship’ just something you talk about?
Does God find that you have a real interest in knowing Him or that you are just looking for some favor when you kneel in prayer?
Is your heart a place where His Presence is ‘at home’ or is there a gap between the words you say about loving Him and your actions that communicate a different message?

Jesus tells us “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23, NIV) It not just our words that welcome Him, it is our attitude of obedience. In another passage, Jesus spoke of those who knew the right things to say but whose hearts were far from God!  Does that describe how He sees me, you?  Our actions can ‘grieve the Spirit of God.’ (Eph. 4:30) The choices we make each day – about the way we speak, the things we value, the entertainment we consume, the places we go – either extend hospitality to the Spirit or that makes Him feel unwelcome.  Could the Word be more clear than this? "Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. … Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:30-32, NLT)  

Again, I want to ask you does the way you live your life invite the Spirit of the Lord to ‘at home?’  Are you filled with the Spirit?

Jesus taught that it is not just the first encounter with Him, when we repent and are cleansed from our guilt and shame that matters to God. We need to become disciples who match our profession of faith with lives of devotion. Take a look at His words. They are sobering in their implications for those who try to live at a distance from the Lord.

“When a defiling evil spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil.
When it doesn’t find anyone, it says, ‘I’ll go back to my old haunt.’

On return it finds the person spotlessly clean, but vacant. It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits more evil than itself and they all move in, whooping it up.

That person ends up far worse off than if he’d never gotten cleaned up in the first place.
“That’s what this generation is like: You may think you have cleaned out the junk from your lives and gotten ready for God, but you weren’t hospitable to my kingdom message, and now all the devils are moving back in.” (Matthew 12:43-45, The Message)

Is it time to do some serious house cleaning, to change up some things so that the Spirit is welcomed? Make your heart hospitable to the Presence of God.

Here is a word from the Word. Will you hear it?

"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.

But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.

Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." (Psalm 1:1-3, NLT)

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Holy Spirit

There's nothing worth more
that will ever come close

No thing can compare
You're our living hope

Your Presence

I've tasted and seen of
the sweetest of loves

Where my heart becomes free
and my shame is undone

In Your Presence Lord

Holy Spirit
You are welcome here

Come flood this place and
fill the atmosphere

Your glory God is what
our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your Presence
Lord

Let us become more aware
of Your Presence

Let us experience the glory
of Your goodness

CCLI Song # 6087919

Bryan Torwalt | Katie Torwalt

© 2011 Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Jesus Culture Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055