As we continue our series "The Church Needs to Know", I'm convinced that God wants to bring a word of warning about some of the things taking place in the Church today. The Church is going to be confronted in the days to come: in its ways, in its preaching and teachings, and in the manner Christians are being encouraged to lead their lives. God's people, His Church, will be confronted through the preaching of the Cross.
During his lifetime, the prophet
Jeremiah, instructed by God, never ceased to warn Israel about what would happen if they continued in their wicked ways. At that time, they were running after many other things instead of God. Jeremiah 1:9 reads: "...Behold, I have put My Words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms; to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant." We would all agree that warnings usually come when things need to change. In these last days, I believe that the Church will be confronted over the way it serves the Lord, and the things to which the hearts of God's people are being drawn!
Jeremiah, instructed by God, never ceased to warn Israel about what would happen if they continued in their wicked ways. At that time, they were running after many other things instead of God. Jeremiah 1:9 reads: "...Behold, I have put My Words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms; to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant." We would all agree that warnings usually come when things need to change. In these last days, I believe that the Church will be confronted over the way it serves the Lord, and the things to which the hearts of God's people are being drawn!
The Word of God itself speaks of past events being referred to as a warning for future generations. In 1 Corinthians 10:11, for example, we see Apostle Paul declaring that all that was written with regard to the experiences of the Israelites in the desert was recorded for our benefit, as New Covenant believers: "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." We are living in a time where a superficial life, or being tossed about by every wind of doctrine, is no longer an option. Otherwise we will soon find ourselves being caught up by the world, by deceptive teachings, and falling into the enemy's trap.
THINGS THAT DO NOT PROFIT
We know what happened to the nation of Israel as a result of their disobedience and rebellion. Yet they, and their spiritual leaders, received warning after warning. In Jeremiah 2: 8, God plainly reproaches them for seeking things that will not profit them: "The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' And those who handle the law did not know Me; the rulers also transgressed against Me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit." God then repeats His accusation in verse 11, "Has a nation changed its gods, which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory for what does not profit." I am sure that you realise that material things cannot change us in the Spirit, or bring us to maturity and perfection in Christ! That's why it's time for the Church to be confronted with the message of the Cross of Jesus Christ; the one Gospel that deals with the flesh, confronts our lives and the state of our hearts; and which causes us to desire things of the Spirit that will profit us. In verse 13, God rebukes his people: "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns— broken cisterns that can hold no water." A broken cistern is of little use. In the same way today, we are building our lives in vain by seeking things that we've been led to believe Christ will give us, instead of seeking His life: the resurrection life, the life of the Spirit. I have nothing against those whom God Himself chooses to bless and prosper, especially when I know that their hearts' desire is to bless the Kingdom in return. But, I do have a problem when Christians are encouraged to seek material things instead of the life of the Spirit. After all, nowhere in the Bible are we encouraged to seek material things; on the contrary, in Colossians 3:1- 2 we are specifically directed by Paul..."If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."
REBUKE AND CONFRONTATION
Evidently, not everyone will accept rebuke with a repentant heart. God forewarned Jeremiah that the message he was to bring to the people would create a lot of opposition. Jeremiah 1:19 reads, "They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you." The Israelites had a serious issue with what he was proclaiming; the fact that he claimed what he was saying came from God. Because their hearts were far from God, the people of Israel refused to listen; they were content to run after other things that satisfied their flesh. The result was that they resisted Jeremiah for 40 years! The Church of Jesus Christ in 2010 is in something of a similar state: God's people are being encouraged to seek things that cannot profit them spiritually. At the same time, whenever the Cross of Jesus is preached, it shines a light in the Church today; it confronts; and, not surprisingly, many don't like it.
THE CROSS IS THE FOUNDATION
When preachers make a doctrine out of superficial things, they remove any desire in the heart of believers to grow spiritually. The Cross of Jesus Christ should be an integral part of the way of life of those standing behind the pulpit. And, Christians should be able to testify to that; that these men have been, and are being, broken by God; that they have become examples, models; and that they aren't just imparting Biblical knowledge. That is why the message of the Cross needs to come back to the Church now, so that the hearts of Christians are brought back to Christ; to identifying their lives with Him in His sufferings, and in His death. This is the only way to partake of resurrection life, which is Christ living His life in you and me... the hope of glory!
There is that element of suffering and death that is often absent from the Church today; that's the message of the Cross. We cannot run away from it. A Christianity that is only about coming to church, being blessed, and having a 'happy-clappy' time with your friends before giving your offering is, frankly, just religion! Unfortunately, much as it saddens me, I believe that a good deal of what goes on in the Church today is merely religion; techniques, principles, methods, all from man's wisdom... What is even sadder is that in far too many churches, money is the basis of everything. The Bible declares unequivocally that the message of the Cross is the foundation of our Christian life. There's so much more in the Word of God for our spiritual lives than just continually preaching about prosperity, money, giving, and blessings.
"TEN THOUSAND INSTRUCTORS..."
In 1 Corinthians 4:14-15, Paul addresses the backslidden and carnal Corinthians with a reminder and a warning: "I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel." Wherever he went, he laid only one foundation and preached the same Gospel in all the churches: the Gospel of the Cross. These Corinthians understood exactly what God expected of them, and the work that He needed to accomplish in them, to become disciples, servants, and examples to the world around them. When the Cross is missing, the door is open for our hearts to be drawn to things of no value. That's what had happened to the Corinthians. They had listened to many gospels: "You might have ten thousand instructors." In verse 15, Paul was saying in effect: 'You've listened to many preachers, heard many doctrines, learnt many techniques; but look at your state... there is fighting, jealousy, immorality among you!' As soon as you remove the foundation of the Cross, the result will be Christians walking in the flesh; backslidden and defeated!
BEGOTTEN IN THE GOSPEL
When you are not begotten in the Gospel of the Cross, you will interpret the Bible for your own benefit. You won't want to hear about tests and trials, afflictions, suffering; about being rebuked, correction, and repentance; about dying to self. A good example of this is when certain Christians quote Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." All that they emphasise is the first part of this verse: 'I can do all things'. But let us look at the entire context by beginning at verse 10... "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." In context, we see something altogether different, a clear reference to Paul taking up his cross. To him, whatever the circumstances – in plenty or in lack – and with a humble heart, God's grace and God's strength will take him through them. This grace will be present in all situations, good or bad. That's the spirit, the heart, behind what Paul is expressing here; this is the heart of Christ, the spirit of the Gospel.
KNOWING CHRIST
Without being begotten in the true Gospel, you will struggle to accept what God wants for you. Your flesh will want to hold onto natural things, and prevent you from identifying your life fully with Christ. In Philippians 3:10-11, Paul states, "that I may know Him and the power of His Resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." As Christians today, how can we say that we want to know Christ without being ready to identify our lives with Him? Just as it was for Paul, it is the same for us, in the fellowship of His suffering, so that we might partake of resurrection life. Otherwise we are speaking only of the born-again experience. Yet, we cannot stop there... For in verse 15, Paul goes much further than being born again. He encourages us to have an attitude where, even if we don't understand fully or agree with the revelation of Christ and how we are called to identify our lives with Him, in His suffering, His death and in His resurrection, we can still trust God to reveal to us what He needs to.
THE CROSS IN YOUR LIFE
I urge you therefore, give God an opportunity, through Jesus Christ, to reveal the rightful place of His Cross in your life, as He declares in Matthew 16:24: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Our Christian life should have only one foundation: "Jesus Christ and Him crucified!"
