MAKE BELIEF CHRISTIANS
Matt. 11:15-19 "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children."
John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus seeking reassurance that Jesus is truly the Messiah of Israel and the very Son of God. He gently tells them to return to their teacher and give witness of the miracles, signs and wonders He has performed to authenticate and validate His mission, message and Messiahship to unbelieving Jews and the watching world. Jesus then addresses the inconsistent and irrational reasoning of His critics. They had rejected John's ministry because he appeared to be too much of an eccentric and ascetic who wandered around in the desert, out of contact with ordinary people, focusing upon other-worldly matters. They were rejecting Jesus ministry because they accused Him of being too down to earth and too intimately involved with the those He had come to seek and to save.
Jesus then begins to comment upon the religious attitude of these who will not hear Him or follow Him. He compares them to children who play pretend games in the streets and market places of the towns and villages of that day. They pretend to be something they are not and then like spoiled children, they pout and complain because others will not play their game as well. They would become committed disciples of neither John or Jesus. They had a make belief religion.
I am sure we all played pretend and make belief when we were children. I can so vividly remember the cry that seemed to be universal among all the playmates of my childhood, "Come on, let's play like . . ." As well as being a lot of fun, such childhood experiences seem essential to normal growth and development. But there comes a time when we do grow up and move on into the real world where pretend and make belief can be very dangerous and destructive. It is sad when the game of pretense is carried over into adulthood.
/2 It is even sadder when the game of spiritual pretense or make belief is played by those who call themselves Christians. When those who say they are saved and followers of the Lord, act like children playing in the market place of Christianity. Those engaged in such make belief sadly sometimes seem to act like spoiled and pouting children as well. They complain when others will not play their game to suit them. They expect spiritual leaders to play nursemaid to their sensitive, tender and easily injured egos. That walk around with their self pity and feelings protruding on a stick about a metre long. They swagger through life with a delicate chip balanced upon each shoulder, daring someone to bump into them and knock it off. They have their toes stuck out of their shoes in a manner that invites others to stumble and step all over them. For them, the Christian life is but a selfish little game of pretense and make
belief. Why is this so?
SOME MAKE BELIEF CHRISTIANS MAY HAVE NEVER BEEN SAVED.
It seems some subscribe to an easy believism sort of salvation. The apparently feel that they can accept Christ as their Saviour without a true conversion that involves real repentance and a whole-hearted faith. They would just mentally believe and gladly receive by giving assent to an easy proposition of making a mere decision about the identity of Jesus Christ.
Someone may have convinced them that God is proposing and presenting a fire escape type salvation. Perhaps they have been wrongly led to believe that since salvation is by grace through faith, it has no vital connection with committal and good works. " For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:8-10) They may have thought that Jesus came to be our Saviour, but not necessarily our Lord as well. "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36) Maybe they are unaware of Jesus' statements about true salvation and the life style that accompanies it. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. 7:20)
Are we entitled and justified to speculate and comment on this matter? Are we called to be spiritual fruit inspectors? Just how far can
about someone else's profession? Of course, only the Lord knows the real truth about someone else's salvation. We are not entitled to say someone else is or is not saved. We not only are permitted, but are at times required to make a discernment about whether a person is living a saved or lost life-style. John did. "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (I John 2:19)
MAKE BELIEF CHRISTIANITY IS ENCOURAGED BY A MAKE BELIEF GOSPEL. The gospel we are to present includes the basic concept of real repentance, a true life saving faith and subsequent discipleship. The terms of the great commission leave no doubt that the mission of His people is to make disciples. Our gospel should include this concept and challenge. Every statement and example in the Gospels and the Book of Acts confirm this.
Why do we consistently find those who make professions immediately following the Lord in scriptural immersion and then continuing steadfastly in His teachings and the instruction of the apostles and pastors? Did you every wonder why we are not told that three thousand were saved on Pentecost and then only one thousand decided to follow the Lord in baptism and become active members of that first New Testament Church? Or why the narrative of the Eunuch's salvation doesn't end in the chariot when he tells Phillip he has truly believed? Or why we do not find Cornelius and the members of his household telling Peter they think they will wait awhile until they feel really led before they will commit themselves to this serious matter of baptism? Or why the Philippian Jailer and those in his house did not do the same thing; especially since it would have been painfully obvious to all of them the probable price they might pay if they were identified with these persecuted Christians by immersion and committed themselves to become real disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ?
There can be only one obvious scriptural answer to these questions. The gospel that was preached in that first century was a gospel that included the importance and requirement of immediate baptism, as the proper and correct response to an experience of real salvation. "The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" (I Peter 3:21) The presentation of that same gospel surely always included the challenge of true committal, discipleship and
Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is confirmed by the consistent results noted in the record. The concept and practice of so-called secret discipleship would await the coming centuries of apostasy and apathy.
SOME MAKE BELIEF CHRISTIANS MAY NOT BE SOLD OUT FOR CHRIST. Is it possible to be saved and not completely dedicated to Christ? Can there be times when a Christian does not allow His Saviour to be His Lord as well? Can the King be momentarily displaced from the throne of a person's heart? Is it possible for some to give mere lip service and not life service to Christ? Can a person lose his life of service by trying to save it for himself? Do we have those who might be termed on again off again Fenigan types of Christians? The scriptures and life experiences sadly confirm that these things can be so. But they should be the exception, rather than the rule.
But on the on the other side of the coin we are entitled to ask: Can faith continue to live alone without works? (James 2:18) Can a tree live without eventually bearing fruit? (Matt. 7:20) Can we have all of Jesus in salvation without Him requiring all of us in service? Will Jesus allow Himself to be used as a mere hedge against the possibility of eternal separation from God? Has he promised easy believers they will be borne along to heaven on beds of flowery ease; with no committal required on their part? Can one ignore the reality of Christ until they have a flat tyre along the road of life and then expect He'll be there as their spare? Can He be disregarded as long as the sun is shining, and then grabbed as an umbrella in the real storms of life.? Does God repeal His First Commandment when someone accepts His free gift of salvation? "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment." (Mark 12:30)
The answer to all these questions is obviously, "No!" Those saved by His grace are called to make Jesus Lord of their life. It is in this world that God has ordained that every believer should do so. "And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:11) True discipleship requires one to be out and out for their Master. Jesus recognized this when He said, " And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46) Our life should be Christ. If we were accused of being His follower, the evidence should be overwhelming for our prosecution.
The story is told of a missionary who went to Germany to share the message of Christ shortly after the end of World War Two. One day he encountered a young man who had been a member of the Hitler Youth. This young man had an empty picture frame in his hands. When asked about it the young man said, "My master, Hitler, is gone, is there another to take his place?" The missionary replied, "I give you Jesus Christ," The young man was saved and became a deeply devout and dedicated disciple of Jesus.
It is a sad fact of contemporary Christian history that such despots and deceivers as Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Marx, Mao and Castro, have attracted multiplied millions of followers whose committal and sacrifice have put to shame the nominal Christian of our day. I am sure this breaks the heart of our Saviour and should break our hearts as well.
GOD IS CALLING US TO BE GENUINE AND ABSOLUTE CHRISTIANS.
We are to place our hand to the plow and never look back. Jesus said to those who made excuses for their lack of committal, "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) Emerson once said, "If you would make your farm twice as large, plow deeper."
Jesus is calling to a deeper committal in our service. Carlyle once said, "If you would teach more effectively, be what you teach." Jesus is calling us to be what he taught us and be what we would teach those around us. Jesus would be Lord of our all if He is to be our Lord at all. After all, it was Paul who told the young pastor, Timothy that those he should select only faithful men to teach others.
Jesus spoke of a cross to be borne before a crown could be worn. He spoke of a building to be raised before the end of our days. He spoke of a field to be tilled before the barns could be filled. Paul spoke of a race to be run and a battle to be won before life's journey is done. Absolute Christians are those who are committed to the long haul. They are those who are building for the Lord's honour and glory.
There was a young man who would one day inherit the family business.
Although his father was quite well off, he was still relatively young and healthy. The young man was impatient for the day he could have his inheritance. His father decided to go away for a holiday and leave his son in charge of the construction business. He left him in
charge of building a very large and luxurious mansion. The young man saw his opportunity to get his hands on a substaintial amount of money. He cut every corner he could in construction. Hiding the poor materials and shoddy workmanship the best he could. he managed to steal quite a large sum of money in this way. When his father returned he called him in and with a large smile on his face said, "I have a big surprise for you. Here are the keys to the house you have completed. It is my gift to you for your hard work. It's all yours!"
So it will be before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Then is when our dedication will be determined. The life we have built will be all ours. Whether it be of wood, hay or stubble, or gold, silver and precious stone. The judgement will declare it - to our shame or to the honour and glory of our Saviour and God.
