I have used sermoncentral along with other resources in this message. James White’s Critical Times email was a starting point. I also referred to Kinnaman’s book.
LISTENING TO UnCHRISTIAN AMERICA
October 28, 2007 Jay Davis Robison MATTHEW 15:1-12
The Church in America HAS AN IMAGE PROBLEM
Probably not really a news flash to you
Generation Age(in 2007) Percent of generation
who are outsiders
to Christianity size of this
segment in the US
adult Mosaics and Busters 18-41 37% 34million
older Mosaics and younger Busters
Christians 16-29 20 24
Boomers 42-60 27 21
Elders 61+ 23 12
I felt “spiritual vertigo” sense of dizziness, disorientation, confusion, & even panic you feel when someone challenges core of your faith in a way that you cannot answer. Have you ever felt spiritual vertigo? If you haven’t, you probably will – and soon.
Why say that? Because Christianity is currently under a widespread & vociferous attack by militant atheists, radical scholars, popular authors, and others in bestselling books, TV documentaries, & on the Internet. Or if you don’t come down with a case of spiritual vertigo, chances are that your kids will when they go off to college, where the percentage of atheists among professors is three times greater than in the population as a whole.
Remember size & scope of Christianity in America. Yes, there are many "flavors" of the Christian faith, & it may not dominate society, as some secularists declare. Yet everyone has to deal w\massive numbers of people who are part of Christian tradition: vast majority of Americans identify themselves as Christians; most adults in this country say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life; & nearly 1/2 are relatively active churchgoers. Of course, depth of most Christians’ faith leaves much to be desired, but fact is Xianity leaves an enormous footprint in America.
When it comes to unchurched in the Bluegrass, we can either try to gain an understanding of who they are, or we can continue to dismiss them. We know what we should do we too should lift up our eyes unto our field Lexington, & see God’s harvest awaiting workers.
Who are the unchurched? And what are they like? It’s important to realize that before we can ever hope to have the opportunity to change their lives, we must first change our attitudes and beliefs about who they are.
The Scribes and Pharisees are MOST LIKE US
Perhaps most frightening thing about Pharisees they are group of people in gospels which most closely resembles us. So far as fundamentals are concerned the Pharisees believed in nearly everything we do. They believed in the inspiration and authority of the Bible (in their case the OT). They believed in the supernatural, in Satan, angels, heaven and hell, and the resurrection of the dead.
Just what exactly do people think about Christians and Christianity? Why do these perceptions exist? Obviously, people believe their views are accurate (otherwise they would disavow them), but do their perceptions reflect reality? And why do people’s perceptions matter - should they matter - to Christ followers?
1. Human OPINION ELEVATED TO DIVINE AUTHORITY
“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition Vs 2-3 NKJV
Tradition of the elders ORAL INTERPRETATION OF GOD’S LAW
Elders mentioned here by Scribes & Pharisees from Jerusalem contended that Moses was given two sets of laws on mountain of God; one set was written down on the 2 tablets, the
10 commandments. Other set were verbal and were handed down from Moses to Joshua, Joshua to the Judges, from Judges through the prophets, & were kept pure until it was recorded in the Talmuds, the first of which was finally put in written form about 200 years before Christ. Until then, it was all passed down orally, yet with exacting detail.
Traditions had become the fence around the Law of God, put in place to protect people from violating God’s Law. The principle behind this was that it was far less dangerous for a person to transgress the fence around the Law than to transgress the Law itself. The problem was that this “fence” had become a Law unto itself.
Tradition of the elders was oral tradition, passed down through the generations
Pharisees developed an extensive tradition of oral laws applied to every area of life this factor made them strictest of Jewish religious sects. They believed deeply in what they tried to teach, but zeal & sincerity are not enough. Problem w\the Pharisees is not in what they believed not even in what they hoped to do, but in what they actually became & did.
Legalism when human opinion is elevated to divine standard. When I say you ought to go to Papa Johns only Christians go there, but my wife the Pizza Hut fan says oh no go PH. And the kids happy for any pizza
In many instances differences we have ARE PERSONAL PREFERENCE
In many instances, differences we share with other people have little to do with right or wrong. Instead, they are issues of personal preference, generational attitudes, and social upbringing, and until we come to the place where we are willing to admit that the people “out there” don’t think and act like us we are going to be poorly prepared to reach them.
The issues may vary. “What version of the Bible do you read? Do you believe in prophecy, if so what is you position on end times eschatology, are you pretrib or post trib? Are you a Republican or a Democrat? Do you homeschooler, do you send your kids to Christian school or do you send your kids to public school? Are you a vegetarian or meat eater?” Whatever the issues are, if they use them to define whether person is spiritual or not, we are guilty. We are guilty of majoring on the minors.
Jesus challenged rigorous piety by insisting that we give precedence to God’s moral commandments. A matter of scripture over tradition.
2. How WE LIVE DAY TO DAY DOESN’T SHOW CHIRST
Does our Christianity EFFECT OUR LIFE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH?
Didn’t God command you to respect your father and mother? Didn’t he tell you to put to death all who curse their parents? But you let people get by without helping their parents when they should. You let them say that what they have has been offered to God. Is this any way to show respect to your parents? Vs 4-6 CEV
Selfishness isn’t A PROBLEM OF THE “LOST” IT IS A HUMAN PROBLEM
Selfishness and self-centeredness really aren’t a “lost people” problem, they are a human problem. We all suffer from it; we just demonstrate it in different ways.
John 16:8-16 NKJV 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. 16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 1 Corinthians 14:8 TNIV
A Psalm of Single Mindedness
Lord of reality make me real not plastic, synthetic, pretend phony, an actor playing a part
I don’t want to keep a prayer list, but to pray
I don’t want to agonize to find your will but to obey what I already know
I don’t want to argue theories of inspiration but submit to your word.
I don’t want to explain the difference between eros and philos and agape but to love.
I don’t want to sing as if I mean it I want to mean it.
I don’t want to tell like it is but to be it like you want it.
I don’t want to think another needs me but I need him else I’m not complete.
I don’t want to tell others how to do it but to do it
To have to be right but to admit it when I am wrong.
I don’t want to be a census taker but an obstetrician
Nor an involved person, a professional but a friend.
I don’t want to be insensitive but to hurt where other people hurt nor to say I know how you feel but to say God knows & I’ll try if you’ll be patient with me & meanwhile I will be quiet.
I don’t want to scorn the clichés of others, but to mean everything I say including this.
[Joseph Bayly. Psalms of My Life.
3. Heartless IN OUR FAITH
Jesus emphasized the intention of the law not the letter of the law
Considers heart condition
Outward ritual and law keeping vs. dealing from the heart
Why had God given regulations about cleanliness & purity in 1st place. To the Pharisees, externals were the issue. To God & Jesus internals were the issue
These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips but their heart is far from Me Vs 8 NKJV
Often outsiders’ perceptions of Christianity reflect a church infatuated with itself. We discovered that many Christians have lost their heart for those outside the faith. The negative perceptions are not just "images" conjured up to debase Christianity. Yes, the issues are complex. No, it is not always "our" fault.
People want to be challenged to minister beyond themselves. Most people want to make a difference. Part of our human nature to direct our energies at bettering our world. We have groups to save whales, save trees, save the turtles. We have people who volunteer their time to clean oil off of birds, who sit in hospitals and hold hands. There are people who go to schools, nursing homes, give their $$, time, & energy to make our world a better place. When disasters strike people (not just church people) respond in a big way.
The more we have studied God THE MORE WE MAY TAKE GOD FOR GRANTED
We need to quit thinking like “Baptists” and begin thinking like normal, caring people. They are however interested in whether we care, whether we are sincere, whether we are willing to minister to their needs and help them to grow in their relationships with Christ.
Jesus’ problem with the Pharisees was that they were more concerned with form than substance; more concerned about appearance than reality. The Pharisees were concerned only with what a man did, Jesus was concerned with what a man was.
Jesus is so much more than a logical proof. His life is the starting point where our lives can really begin. Jesus is a transcendent yet personal God who loves & accepts you perfectly, who wants to shape you & give your life deep meaning & purpose.
