Come Home Functional Atheist

One of the greatest challenges here in North America is not philosophical atheism. There are a very small percentage of Americans that actually live out the implications of philosophical atheism. Few people even know the major players and thinkers that atheism has to offer. The issue and the challenge of today is functional atheism, or moral relativism. Dr. James Emery White defines functional atheism this way: “[functional atheism] holds that what is moral is dictated by a particular situation in light of a particular culture or social location”.

The majority of our culture considers themselves spiritual, but not religious. The problem with functional atheists is that they are not even thinking about God or the Bible. They are simply ignoring Him. They could care less about the opinions of Richard Dawkins or the facts that Albert Mohler can present on the resurrection or the Christian faith as a whole (Not to discredit the geniuses that they are in their fields).

The despair of our homes, families, communities, cities, state, nation, and world are completely unknown to the functional atheist. There is something wrong, but they do not know how to cure themselves and the world. Friedrich Nietzsche says: “God is dead. God remains dead.  And it is we who have killed him. How should we the murderers of all murderers ever comfort ourselves?” The world is living with this despair and the people do not even know where their despair is coming from.

There is one way that all despair will be completely wiped out.  A follower of Jesus will not see this despair completely wiped out on this side of Heaven. Praise God that one day we will see every tear wiped away, all diseases cured; all sin washed away, and have an eternal relationship with our God. This is what we were made for and long for, but some have ignored God and continue to live in everlasting despair.

For the follower of Jesus, do not live in despair any longer because we have a hope that is beyond anything that we could ever hope for or imagine. Be encouraged and live for Jesus who alone gives hope.

For the skeptic, the functional atheist, the moral relativist, those ignoring God, turn to Him because God alone can give you hope and peace that drives out this despair that plagues us all. God is pleading with you to come home. Jesus says “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Weep and Rejoice Together

Cain says, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).  This is just a chapter later after the Fall when man chose to turn their backs on God.  We see the root of sin here in chapter 4 when Cain views himself as being only responsible for himself. God created us to be responsible towards Him and each other as well.  This is implicit in the Great Commandment to love the Lord our God and our neighbors as ourselves.  This is the way that it was supposed to be, but sin has happened.

I am burdened for TrueVine Church to be a people of God who are thinking of others before ourselves, not the church that mimics Cain and says “Am I my brother’s keeper?”.  But instead when one of our brothers and sisters in Jesus are weeping, we weep with them.  When they rejoice we are there to rejoice with them.  This is one reason why it is commanded, not suggested, to not forsake meeting together (Hebrews 10:24-25).  When we care only for ourselves, think only of ourselves, and live only for ourselves, we are saying to God that we are most important.  Let’s be there for each other and point to how loving and awesome our God is that we serve.

When someone gives testimony to how great God is working in their life, then we are there to rejoice with them and praise God with them as if it were God doing that in our lives (because this is actually one and the same thing).  When our brother is going through difficulty, death in the family, or any tragedy then we are there for them to have a shoulder to weep on and we weep with them. 

I pray that TrueVine is a people of God gathered together to for the purpose of glorifying God by putting ourselves aside to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. 

God's Kingdom Rules

The prophet Obadiah is prophesying in a time when Israel is cast off by God and placed in exile by the evil conquering Babylonians.  Edom assisted Babylon in the destruction of Jerusalem.  God pronounces throughout the book that this was a bad idea on the part of the Edomites.  They will be punished by God for their part in destroying God's people and their land (Obadiah 1-15). 

Israel, at this time in their history, must have been wondering if God had cast them off forever.  Could God forget His promise to Abraham that "in you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3)?  Obadiah answers this question with his closing statement, "Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord's" (Obadiah 21).  God's Kingdom rules and will continue to rule through Abraham's seed, Israel, the family line of Judah, and the Davidic dynasty.  God will reign from Jerusalem (Obadiah 21).  This redemptive reign of God will be inaugurated through the sacrifice of the Messiah which will also fulfill the promise to Abraham, Israel, Judah, and David.  The Kingdom shall be the Lord's.

It is easy to get discouraged through life. Israel was put into slavery, but God promised them hope through a coming Messiah that would finally deliver them.  Everything about life is difficult.  Marriage is difficult.  Jobs are difficult.  Friendships are difficult.  However, when our marriages get difficult we look to Jesus.  When our jobs get difficult we look to Jesus.  When our friendships get difficult we look to Jesus.  Why?  Because our hope is not in a pastor, a friend, a spouse, or in anything or anyone else.  Our hope is found in Christ alone!  God I pray that when I am disappointed by something or someone that I would remember that my hope is in Jesus alone.  Amen.

Justice Prevails II

The Lord was patient with Israel (Amos 8:2).  However, His patience will not continue any longer.  He has warned them through the prophets.  He will now bring destruction on Israel (Amos 8:2-3).  There is nowhere that they can go that the Lord will not find them (Amos 9:1-4).

Who is this God of justice that will no longer allow Israel, or anyone else for that matter, to turn their backs on Him?  The sinners of Israel He will confront, but He will preserve a faithful remnant.  Why?  Because it is not about Israel, it is for the sake of God's name among all nations (Ezekiel 36).  How is God going to use Israel to spread the glory of His name?  He is going to raise up the tabernacle of David (Amos 9:11).  This was always Israel's purpose.  Acts 15:16-17 says "After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord.  Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things". James is quoting and applying Amos 9:11-12.  This means that David's fallen tent being raised points to the resurrection of Christ and that "all the nations" will be included in the reign of the Messiah.

Hebrews 1:1-2 says, "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds".  Listen to Jesus.  Justice will prevail.  Sinners will not go unpunished.  God has warned us through Jesus coming in the flesh.  He will punish those who do not follow Him.  However, Jesus has died to forgive sinners and He has been raised as proof that He is the Messiah, the tent of David.  God will always raise up a faithful remnant to follow Him and spread His glory to all nations. 

God please help me to remember that You have spoken to us through Your Word.  You have put my punishment on Jesus.  Let this be a daily reminder to me that my ministry is never for my glory, but for Your glory and praise alone.  You will bring out a faithful remnant through the spreading of the glory of Jesus to all nations. Amen.

Justice Prevails

The prophet Amos writes to his contemporaries in Israel. They are in a time of great wealth and prosperity. However, Amos observes how Israel is using their wealth to oppress the poor and put many into slavery. Israel was also known for their sexual immorality at this time. 

God was tired of the sins of the nations.  His patience was running out on the sins of the pagan nations around Israel.  Gaza, Edom, Damascus, and Moab will not be spared any longer.  They are evil and God will punish evil.  I can see it.  Israel and Judah applauding Amos now for these prophesies.  Israel would have been ecstatic to know that God was finally going to punish the sins of the surrounding nations. 

Then Amos proclaims "for three transgressions of Israel and for four I will not revoke its punishment" (Amos 2:6).  How could God punish Israel?  It is simple. God hates sin.  They turned their backs on God and He would bring punishment on them. Israel oppressed the poor, committed sexual immorality, and put many into slavery (Amos 2:7-16).  God loved them and they turned their backs on Him. 

God warned Israel and He is warning us today.  God has decided to demonstrate His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).  Many who call themselves followers of Jesus and openly and unrepentantly deny the poor, the widow, the orphan, commit sexual immorality, and take advantage of others will be told by Jesus, "I never knew you" (Matthew 7:23).  God must and will punish those who do not turn from their sins and follow Jesus in a real eternal place called Hell.  God loves us and so I plead with you not to turn your back on Him and His offer of salvation.  Turn from your sin and follow Jesus.  Please do not misunderstand.  Abstaining from sexual immorality and doing good things will not save you.  Only Jesus does that.  So again please follow Jesus.

The first three chapters of Amos have helped me more fully realize how much God hates sin, but also how much our sin "weighs down" God (Amos 2:13).  Our sins are a burden to God.  Paul says in the New Testament that our sins grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).  If we have made the decision to turn from our sins and follow Jesus then we must begin to understand that God hates sin so much that He became human flesh and died on the cross so that He could forgive our sins.  The Bible likens our willingness to turn back to sinful habits to a dog returning to his vomit (2 Peter 2:22).  God help me to realize more fully today how much You hate my sin and help me today to turn from sin and fully follow after You so that Your name would be glorified through my body becoming a living sacrifice for Your purposes and for Your glory.  Amen. 

Christ is Our Eternal High Priest

Hebrews 7 claims Jesus to be a priest according to the order of Melchizedek (7:17).  The Aaronic priesthood from the Old Testament was imperfect and thus needed to be perfected in order for the sins of the people to be truly and eternally forgiven (7:11).  The High Priest of the Old Testament was commanded once a year to enter into the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifice for the sins of the people.  They were entering into the presence of God on behalf of the people (Leviticus 16).  This day was called the Day of Atonement. 

Instead of Christ being a High Priest according to the order of Aaron established in the Old Covenant, He is according to the order of Melchizedek.  This means that:

1.  Jesus is a King and Priest.  This was not allowed under the Old Covenant.  Jesus is the ruler and propitiator for His people. 

2.  Jesus is a King of righteousness and peace.  He brings righteousness through His blood sacrificed on the cross and peace which surpasses all understanding (Romans 3:25-26; Philippians 4:7). 

3.  Jesus remains a priest continually (7:3).  His priesthood never ends.  The High Priests of the Old Covenant did not officiate as the mediator between God and man eternally.  Christ sits at the right side of the throne of God and mediates on our behalf forever (7:23-24).  This is why a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ can enter into the Holy of Holies (the very presence of God) anytime and in any place (7:25).  We can boldly approach the throne of grace. 

4.  Jesus was not from the family line of Aaron.  The eternal High Priest came through the family line of Judah and more specifically, David, because He is the Messiah promised from the Old Testament (Genesis 49; 2 Samuel 7). 

5.  Jesus does not need to daily or yearly offer sacrifices for sins.  Instead, He died once for all so that those who give their life to Him will be eternally forgiven of all sins (7:27). 

Thank God that He has sent Jesus to be our High Priest forever.  His sacrifice on our behalf will never end if we choose to follow after Him in faith.  We can be made right before God ONLY through the blood of Jesus.  Jesus offers peace that is unparalleled in this life and will be fully manifested in the life to come.  I thank God that I can daily enter into the presence of God because of the sacrifice that Jesus made for me.  We do not need an earthly priest, church member, or pastor to usher us to the throne of God.  We have our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ to do that for us.  Thank you Jesus.

Author of Salvation

We, as Christians, must align our lives with the belief that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.  Otherwise, the Bible indicates that we are decieving ourselves into thinking that we are followers of Christ and putting Him to an open shame.  Does your life match your belief?  Does mine?

The author of Hebrews in chapter 5 jumps into a discussion of Jesus as a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, but pauses for a parenthetical section on those "unskilled in the word of righteousness".  He says that some are babes and still need milk.  He seems to be speaking to the Jews who remain under the Old Covenant.  They are still grasping after the Old Covenant ceremonial washings, sacrifices, and other rituals.  Those who remain in need of "milk" are the Jews who remain under the Old Covenant.  Those who are in need of "solid food" are the Jews who have turned to the great High Priest of the New Covenant (Heb. 5:12-14).  The author says to "lay aside the elementary principles of Christ" (Heb. 6:1).  Lay aside the Old Covenant and come under the New Covenant through the blood of Jesus Christ.  The Jews settled for the shadows and copies that pointed to their Savior Jesus Christ.  He says "let us go on to perfection".  The only way to go on to perfection is through the New Covenant because Jesus has been "perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Heb. 5:9).  The law cannot make perfect (Heb. 7:19), only the blood of Jesus can bring true righteousness to the children of God.

Many of the Jews continued to turn to the Old Covenant because it was more comfortable for them.  They believed that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament, but they were not willing to give up their old ways and thus they fell away and stood with the Jews who yelled "Crucify Him, crucify Him".  Are we willing to believe and follow Jesus Christ?  If not, then we continue to scream "crucify Him, crucify Him" and put Jesus to an open shame.  Are we unwilling to give up money, our families, education, addictions or the American dream in order to follow Jesus? If we are not then we are no better than the Jews who continued to turn to the Old Covenant.  Does the way we spend money, the way we talk, relate to our families, our friends, and our co-workers reflect our belief that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior? There is no greater joy than to consider everything as worthless compared to knowing Christ Jesus our Lord (Philippians 3:8).  Let's turn completely to Jesus the "author of eternal salvation".