It has occurred to me that much of the extremism and false doctrine that is being propagated within the American church is partly the result of the lack of doctrinal foundation many Christians have today. These excesses are neither unique to America, nor are they new, but I am speaking particularly from my own perspective and experience as an American Christian. My perspective is influenced by my personal conversations with other believers, what I have witnessed within the local church as a minister, and observations of the American Christian media.
Notwithstanding the fact that there are always insincere people with ulterior motives, there are also a good number of well-meaning believers who, in their search for truth, have become distorted in their concept of what it means to be a follower of Christ. In many cases, they are led astray by ministers who were deceived themselves.
This is particularly true among newer Christian movements who seem to be susceptible to “cutting edge” error. Perhaps in their effort to remain “relevant” they unwittingly purge aspects of truth wrongly perceived to be non-essential. Before long the momentum behind their newly formed culture begets a faulty standard replicated by others. Until and unless these movements become adequately reformed on the basis of truth, they may well become full-blown cultic and/or fizzle out completely.
Error is not only damaging in the sense that it can lead people away from Christ; it also has the tendency to indirectly discredit legitimate teachings that have been taken to extremes. Those seeking to distance themselves from extreme teaching often disregard biblical revelation in the process. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all believers to take responsibility for our own beliefs in order to ensure that we are not spiritually adrift, and be able to distinguish between genuine teachings stretched beyond their intended applications and outright deception.
The lines are not always as clearly drawn as we would like them to be, but if we are followers of Jesus Christ we must purpose to receive anything that is genuinely from him. The possibility that others have erred in teaching on a certain subject should not dissuade us from seeking after the truth. We are called to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, not just the ones that fit neatly within the framework of our particular church’s teaching.
Christ Our Rock
There are numerous scriptures that point us to the fact that Christ himself is the basis of our faith. As much as this will seem like common sense to many of us, there is something implicit in this fact that has been neglected among many professing Christians – that Christ is not only the object of our unwavering trust, but his following the will of the Father was marked by suffering at the hands of the ungodly. Psalm 118, a prophetic and messianic psalm that is referred to six times in the New Testament, explains a key characteristic of our foundation.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Jesus was a reject. Why was he rejected? Because he is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his very personality. Those who loved darkness rather than light preferred a religion with a semblance of godliness apart from the tangible manifestation of God in the flesh, and the same is true today. People would rather sift through the Bible so that they may pick and choose what they want to believe, and when something does not agree with their preconceived ideas about who they think God is (or should be), they may even change the truth of God into a lie to satisfy their own prejudices.
Jesus’ words and actions were the actual expressions of divinity, and because men are by nature rebellious against God, men rebelled against him.
During his earthly ministry Jesus’ life was exemplified by complete selflessness, deferring always to the one who sent him. He completely consecrated himself to the will of his Father, even to the point of denying his own human will to escape the death of the cross, to the end that he was willing to lay down his life for the sins of all mankind.
Likewise Christians must be willing to suffer for their faith. All who live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. If we intend to live a life free of persecution, then we do not intend to live our lives as Christians. If Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith was persecuted at the hands of the ungodly, why do Christians assume they can follow him and not suffer reproach? In fact, if we are never spoken of in a negative light, we should ponder this statement from the one we call “Lord”:
“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26)
If a minister writes books about spiritual matters and has a popular following among unbelievers, a large number of which never feel the need to repent and receive the gift of grace found only in Jesus Christ, the fruit of such a ministry is obvious. Thank God for the material blessings he gives us in this transient life, but we must never forget that they are temporal. Giving comfort to those destined to spend eternity separated from God is a work of the devil!
Our Redeemer is also Our Example
Amidst the emphasis of Christ’s substitutionary death and the benefits afforded to believers as a result of our redemption, the principle teaching that our Redeemer left an example for us to follow has fallen out of favor with many. Consequently, there has arisen a brand of theology with a human-centered focus, supposing that God is our servant rather than our being his. Was his life typified by service to others? Certainly, but his being made in the form of a servant was primarily a part of his being submitted to the will of God, not man. It is important to know that Christ died for the ungodly, but he did not ultimately die for us to satisfy us; ultimately his death was the conclusion of a life consecrated entirely to the will of the Father, whose will it was to redeem us through his Son. Not only did he redeem us by sacrificially giving his life for us, we are called to do the same – not for the glory of humankind – but for the glory of God. Just as with Jesus’ willing crucifixion, our motivation for self-sacrifice must also be the love of God; such love is not only expressed in our sacrifices for other people, but is most evident in our expressions of love toward God.
21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23When 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. (1 Peter 2:21-23)
Because Jesus left us an example of how we should live (or die, if necessary), Jesus expects the same degree of commitment from his followers as he himself demonstrated.
37“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Mathew 10:37-39)
Weathering the Storm
It is impossible for Christians to be rooted and grounded in the truth if Christ is not given the first place in our lives. If we are not continually responding to Christ’s words with action, not only are we engaging in self-deception, we are unnecessarily leaving ourselves open to spiritual attacks that may carry dire consequences. Only those who purpose to heed the words of Christ can expect to be secure in the face of adversity.
24″Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (Matthew 7:24, 25)
Qualifying the Title “Lord”
The title Lord is often used to describe Jesus. And as our very foundation, he is our Lord. However, we should take caution not to use this term lightly. Referring to someone in this manner denotes obedience. To call Jesus “lord” while failing to follow his pattern is the height of hypocrisy.
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
Anyone whose knowledge of Christ never graduates beyond the intellect, such that it actualizes into some definite and observable action consistent with the example set forth by Christ himself, cannot rightly call himself a Christian. Such a man is not standing on the foundation of Christ.
To know Jesus as Lord is not merely to ascent to the fact that he was sent from God, born of a virgin, lived a perfect and sinless life, demonstrated God’s love by healing the sick and forgiving sin, was willingly betrayed into the hands of sinful men who crucified him, bodily rose from the grave, and ascended to be with the Father until the restitution of all things. Those who recognize him as Lord give themselves wholly to him, submitting to him in mind, will, and purpose. This does not mean that we are making an attempt to earn favor with him; that would be impossible. Rather we are allowing the fruits of righteousness to come into maturity by yielding ourselves to the grace of God which inherent in our faith in Christ. This too is part of the message of grace. Paul, communicating the grace of God to the Romans wrote,
“1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1, 2)
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