Dakota Community Church
January 28, 2007
Reality Ever After
We sometimes portray the Christian faith like a fairy tale from childhood, all the action takes place before we “get saved” and then live happily ever after. Salvation is not the end of the story. It is not the end of the action or the end of the struggle. It is the beginning of the real battle.
Why are we losing the twenty-something’s?
Disturbing stats on twenty-something departure rates:
“A recent survey from the Barna Group suggests only one-fifth of twenty-something’s have maintained the same level of spiritual activity as they did in high school. Barns research shows that twenty-something’s – even ones who were very active in church during their teen years – have lower levels of church attendance, study time, Bible reading, donations to churches and small group involvement compared to older adults. Perhaps the most jarring statistic reflects the overall attitude of twenty-something’s when it comes to maintaining the faith of their youth: 61% of those involved in church at some level as teenagers completely disengage in their twenties.
(Jesse Carey, “Faith No More” - Relevant Magazine Jan-Feb 2007 ed. Pg. 51)
One of the major reasons given for this departure is the fairy tale version of Christianity being presented in many of our congregations. At a time in life when they are struggling with purpose, meaning, direction and social issues the fairy tale version screams irrelevance.
What do we do about this?
Get in touch with reality!
2 Timothy 4:1-5
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For 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. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Reality Bites:
1. Lordship is not optional.
Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
John 18:8-9
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me.
John 3:35-36
The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him."
John 14:5-6
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If Jesus is wrong on this then he is crazy because he clearly believes it! You cannot have it both ways, Jesus is the Son of God who came to reconcile the world to himself, or he is a nut who should be ignored.
We have to draw the line between cultural relevance and absolute truth. Yes we need to love and demonstrate the grace and long patience of the Lord when dealing with those outside the knowledge of Christ; no we cannot say that there is a good behavior plan for eternal salvation.
I am not talking about getting all judgmental about people and situations we know nothing about. The only person you can be certain about as far as their eternal destination is concerned is you. You don’t know what anyone else has done in their heart and you don’t know how far the grace of God extends; however when we are talking about ourselves, we need to make Jesus Lord of all.
Bono Quote:
“We had received a request from the Dalai Lama to participate in a festival called Oneness. I love and respect the Dalai Lama but there was something a little bit ‘lets hold hands’ hippie to me about this particular event. I am in awe of the Tibetan position on non-violence but this event didn’t strike a chord. I sent him back a note saying, ‘One – but not the same.’
(U2 by U2, pg. 221)
2. God does not owe us anything.
We are to have faith in obedience to God; we are not to act like spoiled rich kids.
Don’t you hate it when things don’t go your way?
Do you ever blame it on God?
Why does Joseph go from favorite son to slave to prisoner before the vision is fulfilled?
Why does Job lose everything before getting back twice as much?
Why is Paul stoned and left for dead before the miraculous recovery?
Why do you go through the things you go through?
Do all these difficulties in life mean God owes us? Since some have it easy, is God indebted to the rest of us?
Luke 17:7-10
"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ’Come along now and sit down to eat’? Would he not rather say, ’Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ’We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ "
Do you really want to play that game with God? I did this so you owe me? Just sit down and begin to write out all the sacrifices you have made for God. How close does it come to refusing to use absolute power and submitting to crucifixion?
Now list all the works you have done for God, on a separate piece of paper begin to list all of God’s works that you enjoy free of charge.
Still think God is indebted to you?
3. Righteousness is the reward.
Romans 12:1-2 (Amp.)
I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
Romans 12:2 (Message)
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.
Can you understand why a walking out of relationship with God is so important in all of these issues? We have a paradox here that requires His guidance.
On the one hand we must speak the language of those we are trying to reach (cultural relevance), on the other hand we are not to conform to that culture, we are not to lose ourselves in it, or to be become indistinguishable from it.
Hear it Preached: www.dakotacommunitychurch.ca and click "Listen".
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
