The (Unofficial) Fellowship Bible Blog

"Christians" Hurt Christianity

With this week's Supreme Court decision there have been an awful lot of a certain type of Christians portrayed in the news recently.  I have long held the belief that it is these type of so called believers that hurt Christianity more than anything else.  More than homosexuality, socialism, sex in society, or any other hot topic you can think of.  I think the article below gives a pretty good synopsis of what's so wrong with the most vocal of Christians out there right now.

http://clatl.com/atlanta/hate-is-not-a-conservative-christian-value/Content?oid=2877387

Majority Sin & Minority Sin

He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone. John 8:7

I have to admit that when first thinking about this post I had the preconceived notion that God viewed all sin as the same.  At some point in my life that very idea was portrayed to me in some way; however when beginning to do some research on the topic I found numerous sources of scriputure saying that this may not be true. Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” John 19:11 (emphasis added).  Thinking about the idea a little more, however, I realized that I was never concerned about whether or not God could discern between sins, but instead on how the Christians we encounter everyday find themselves just in judging the actions of others. 

As I see it, the culture around us has divided sin into two broad categories:  Majority Sin and Minority Sin.  Majority Sin is simply a sin that the majority of the population deals with on a day to day basis.  Examples of this would be greed, lust, anger, envy, pride, and gluttony.  Minority Sins, as would logically follow, are those that a minority of the population struggle with such as murder, adultry, addiction, theft, and homosexuality.  I'm sure some would argue on my list of what is considered sin, but my point is not to discuss what is categorized as sin, but instead how sin is categorized.  The fact of the matter remains depending on which category the sin may fall will determine how the public sees that person, and more importantly how Christians see him. 

At some point in human history we developed this idea that some sins are "ok."  However the Bible tells us something very different: that all sin hurts our relationship with God.  “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).  So why do we, as Christians, hold those around us in fault by our perception of their deeds.  I believe that the underlying factor behind how we perceive sin, and naturally how we react to that sin, is no more complicated than the number of people who struggle with that same sin.  You see a man sitting next to you in service look at a low cut blouse a little too long and you think, "That's just how men are."  However you see that same man in a romantic embrace with someone other than his wife and you may act quickly to judge, condemn, and then seek help for the situation, in that order.  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28

I honestly believe that in reality it is the majority sins that are more dangerous to us as believers.  There are people out there who are capable of murder, but most of us don't have to worry about becoming a killer just from being around someone who has killed before.  On the other hand, because we treat them so flippantly, majority sins can easily infest those who come in contact them.  I know I've experienced the day with an overly angry person only to come home and excerpt that same behavior on my own family.  

As followers of Christ we have to always be aware of how we treat those around us and how we let them influence our behavior.  We also need to remember that it is not our place to pass judgement and only to offer a helping hand, with God's guidance, to those who are struggling.  Do what Jesus has commanded us and treat all sinners the same by just loving them.

Arsene Wenger on developing players

Arsene Wenger on developing young football (soccer) players at Arsenal (for those of you who don't know, I support Arsenal):

"I believe that I always wanted to develop the players I have," said Wenger.... First you have to scout them, then give them a good education but the final part is to be strong enough to say 'I will give this boy a chance to play'. 

"The first two stages are not too difficult but the third stage you have to be strong, to face the critics and the people who want always the best players in the world and to say 'No, I believe in you, I will give you a chance.' 

"But it is time now for us to keep these players together and to develop them and to win. Then we can say we have created something special with a style of play we wanted to create, that is unique, with the values that we want to put forward at the Club, and as well with an expectation level to have a team together for a few years."

Wenger has outlined for us a strategy for developing leaders at FBC: Scout them, train them, give them a chance. 

You can read the entire article here

This is a thought provoking video...

We are not a Christian Nation . . .and don't want to be.

As wonderfully illustrated in the sermon today, the USA isn't a Christian Nation, never was and was never intended to be. Frankly, that's a good thing -- especially for Christians and the cause of Christ. Consider the "Christian" nations of history and their works: The Holy Roman Empire and it's conquests, England and the Crusades, Spain and the inquisition. 

The USA too is not without error in mixing government and religion. Although the historical examples are plenty, look no further than the witch trials. 

But what about now? Have we learned our lesson? Are we free from government imposed religion or do we still force compliance with religious principles at the point of a gun rather than as a matter of conscience?

Unfortunately no.  We still are still a country that chooses to mix our beliefs and our government. Despite the failures of the past we still coerce our citizens to perform moral duty by force.

This is no more prevalent nor insidious than in the welfare system and the impending healthcare "reform". Through which, we "Free" Americans force on each other moral duty of charity.

What rightly ought to be done as a matter of conscience -- i.e. providing for the poor -- is instead supplanted by a government run and taxpayer supported forced system.  We are compelled to to give to the poor through taxation.  And in such compulsion, everybody loses.  

We don't get to experience the pain of poverty first hand.  We don't get to establish relationships with people.  We don't get to express the character of Christ.  When we mix Christianity and government in this area, Christianity gets lost and so everybody -- on both sided of the equation, the giver and the receiver -- lose.  

Givers lose the opportunity of doing God's work and the receivers lose the opportunity to see Christ modeled.  Sure it's easier to let the government handle it.  I can just vote for more welfare and feel that I've "done my Christian Duty" and I didn't even have to get messy doing it!  But getting messy is the point.  When we allow the government to do our job we miss the point there as well.  

WE are to help people. WE are to be the salt and light.  WE are to be the point of contact.  So that Christ may be exalted.

As Phillip said, mixing Christianity and government is like mixing ice cream and manure, it doesn't hurt the manure much, but it sure is bad for the ice cream.

Our desire should be to be Christian People, not a Christian Nation.

Jimmy Kimmel explains Christianity . . . or not.

In the recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live - Aloha to Lost, Jimmy Kimmel said:

"In a lot of religions, Christianity being one of them, the idea is that life is a test.  That you go through your life and if you're good you go to heaven or nirvana or whatever and if you're bad you don't. You go to hell or you don't go anywhere."

Wait, Wha . .?  Really?  Christianity teaches that life is a test and if you're good you go to Heaven and if you're bad you go to Hell?  I guess what Jimmy really is teaching us here is what most Americans believe about Christianity.  Or maybe what LOST wants us to believe about Christianity.

Honestly, my guess is that if you asked most self-proclaiming American Christians what Christianity is about they'd probably tell you the same thing.  And that is sad.

Let's get specific.  What is Christianity really?  Well, it's based on Christ (hence the name).  Jesus the Christ specifically and his teachings.  So what did he teach?  Did he teach that life is a test?  No, not really,  If he ever even inferred that it was only in the context that we all fail. 

 "You therefore must be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect."

Jesus also never taught that the "good" go to heaven and the "bad" go to hell.  His standard was very different. 

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."

Nothing in there about being bad or good.  Only Faith.

Paul clarified this also: 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing;it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Life is a test?  Good works = Heaven and Bad Works = Hell?  Not according to the Bible.  If anything the Bible teaches the opposite.  I.e. "Good People" -- those that try to earn their way into heaven by being good will actually wind up in Hell and quite shockingly "Bad People" -- those that recognize their failure to live up to God's perfect standard and accept through faith the grace of God in the form of the free gift of salvation, paid for by the death of Jesus on the Cross go to Heaven.  Being good or being bad has nothing to do with it!  

The harshest words of Jesus were given to the "Good People" of his day, the Pharisees.  

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean."

But for the thief, crucified at his side, he had compassion.

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" ⁴⁰But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." ⁴²And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." ⁴³And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

 Unfortunately, maybe that's the real point of LOST, that all religions are the same.  Take the stained glass window in the church at the end. When they're all in -- purgatory i guess.  It depicts six different religious symbols as if they all coexist in harmony, or as if they are the same - - the relativism of today that passes for faith.

But once again, Jesus said differently.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

There can be no parity among religions when Jesus is concerned.  No reconciliation, no homogenization.  Jesus' own words prevent it.  By his statement faith in HIM is the only way to salvation and no other.  Christianity is exclusive and any attempts to make it otherwise are in direct contradiction to the teachings of Jesus himself.

Jimmy got part of it right.  Most religions do view life as a test where good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell -- and they can be reconciled to each other.   They all teach that salvation is through human effort.  That we can get to God.  But not Christianity.  It is NOT the same.  It's not dependent on us. The message of Christianity is that God saves us -- we don't. That he came for us.  That's what makes it unique -- it's no test, just grace.   Bad people can go to Heaven.  And that's very good news for all of us -- because we're all bad.  But through faith in Jesus we can be found -- not LOST.

"Today's All-Star Missions Churches"-Chapter 4

In chapter 4, Telford introduces the concept of mobilizing children for the mission field. "...there is no greater purpose we can impart to children than G'od's purpose, which is to make his name known to every tongue, tribe, and nation" (pg 50). When a church works hard at mobilizing children for mission, then there is a "bubble" effect and the adults become mobilized themselves. Another interesting thing that Telford notes is that on one occasion when he was speaking to a large gathering of missionaries the average age when God called these people to missions was 8 years old! 

I have to admit that when I consider what missions at Fellowship should look like, I had not even considered mobilizing children. I hope that God will call many of our children to the mission field! 

Today's All-Star Missions Churches--Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Telford's book introduces us to an African-American church in Philadelphia that is winning on the mission field. Unfortunately, there is a racist history in many mission organizations that prevented many African-Americans becoming missionaries. As a result, the African-American church does not have a very rich heritage in international missions. However, Christian Stronghold Baptist Church is an exception and is a model to all churches. 

Of all the things that we can learn from this church, a principle that stands out to me is that they believe that "Its a must that the church do missions education". They have an intentional strategy for educating their people towards mission through classes and conferences. I am sure this has played a key role in building excitement among their folks about what God is doing around the world. I have a hunch God has used these educational opportunities to call many people to the mission field. 

I hope that down the road Fellowship will be known as a church that does a really good job educating our people about missional theology and the need for missions around the world! 

"Today's All-Star Missions Churches"-Chapter 2

Chapter 2 highlights the importance of "missionary care". Sending churches take care of the missionaries they send. Churches should be involved in missionary care because this is a biblical aspect of mission (Philippians 4:10-19 and 1 Cor. 8:1-15). When missionary care is high on the list of importance at a church, then it becomes easier to mobilize your church for mission because people are exposed to the work of mission. The ways to care for missionaries is to communicate with them, show them great hospitality when they are home, pray for them constantly, connect them to Small Groups, send teams to do ministry with them, stay involved in their lives even though they are overseas and holding them accountable to report back to the church. 

As Fellowship sends missionaries from our church, I hope that we are able to support those we are sending. One of the guiding principles that our mission team has established is that we want to "partner well" with those we are partnering with. This means that we want to there to be a vibrant relationship between the church and those we are sending. 

Church Activity

This video is a great picture of church activity for the sake of church activity.