INTRODUCTION TO AFFIRMATIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
As time marches on and the aging process begins to cast a shadow on my short-term memory, my mind seems sharper now than ever regarding long-term memory. It is interesting to me that, at 85 years of age, I am still recalling interpretations of Christian beliefs that have been hallmarks of my ministry for three score and more years.
After all, I have sat under the preaching, on a right regular basis, of no fewer than a dozen inimitable pastors with whom I was associated in my role as Church Consultant, Christian Educator and Community Counselor. In my associations, and during those years of Christian service, each of my pastors involved me in the ministries of preaching and teaching the Word.
Living in the latter days of my life on this earth, with the 21st century well under way, I find myself “up against it” regarding a lot that I read today, and hear, about endeavors by more than a few Christian ministers to re-define basic Christian doctrines – beliefs that, for me, were and still are “pillars” upon which to build one’s Christian life.
In our world of instant communication, we pick up on much negativism as to the validity of our Christian Faith - for instance, the brazenness with which professing Christians embrace ways other than Jesus Christ for being saved – even by folks who know that Jesus proved what He said: “I am the way, the truth and the life . . . No one comes to the Father except by me.”
An illustration of how some folks are thinking occurred at one of my favorite places for fellowship with friends - The Waffle House: One morning while sitting at one end of the coffee shop, I and everyone else could hear a guy at the other end waxing eloquent about religious issues. Although I for the most part had tuned him out, my ears perked up when he started talking about how one goes to heaven. Don’t know how the subject came up, but what I heard this guy say was: “All people of all religions will go to heaven if they’re good.”
Now folks, I’m in favor of everyone being good; and I’m in favor of everyone going to heaven; but it doesn’t matter what I am in favor of, or what the Waffle House customer’s view was; the fact is that the Bible tells us who will and will not go to heaven; and nowhere in the Bible does it say that “all people from all religions will go to heaven if they are good.”
Later in this series, I share my understanding of a Christian view of “how to go to heaven”. The “who and how” of receiving, by grace through faith, God’s gift of eternal life ought to be a major objective of all Christian preaching and teaching.
Pursuing an evangelistic objective, however, in no way diminishes but enhances the importance of affirming and acting upon all other major Christian doctrines – the necessity of which motivated me to reaffirm my Christian beliefs.
There were basically ten tenets which I felt the need to reexamine and work through in my own mind until I could say, “This I believe.”
Yes, reflected in my statements of belief are numerous interpretations and perspectives gained from a lifetime of intensive Bible study, as well as listening with an attentive ear to good teachers and preachers, not to mention all the research done through the years in preparation for teaching teachers – probably the most rewarding aspect of my ministry. Amen.
AFFIRMATIONS – SERMON I: BELIEF IN GOD OUR CREATOR, SUSTAINER, REDEEMER
The Bible teaches that the world and everything in the world came into being because of Almighty God; many times, you and I have read the Psalmist’s declarations of God as Creator: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handy-work . . . What is man, that you are mindful of him? . . . You have made him a little lower than the angels.”
The Bible teaches that the world, and all that is in it, has been sustained throughout the eons of our planet’s existence by the One referred to in the Book of Isaiah as Mighty God, Everlasting Father. Many times, we have felt reassured by Isaiah’s declaration of God as Sustainer: “Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary . . . Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.”
The Bible teaches that the world and all people who inhabit the earth are objects of God’s love. Many times, we have been reminded . . . Many times, we have remembered . . . Many times, we have rejoiced – simply to hear the good news of God as Redeemer. I would venture to say that no one’s situation has ever been worse than Job’s; yet, after all that Job went through, he made it known that he still trusted in God as his redeemer:
“For I know my redeemer lives!”
There is so much about God that I, in my limited understanding, do not know, and will never know – and, quite frankly, don’t have to know; but my life experiences testify that I – like the Psalmist, Isaiah, and Job – believe in God as my Creator, my Sustainer, my Redeemer. I have an idea that your personal life experiences likewise testify to your belief in God.
To say, “I believe” has to do with a lot more than intellectual assent. Yes, my mind is fixed on what I consider to be the fact of God’s existence; but more importantly I feel His presence; to me, the feeling is intense; even in times of trouble, there is within me the conviction that God is with me.
Do I feel that I am someone special in the sight of God? Yes, I do; and so are you! You are special . . . somebody . . . a very important person.
God may be less real to some than to others; but if that is the case, it is a matter of choice on the part of the one who feels “left out” or “left alone” by the Creator of this universe. I do not think it too trite to repeat what I have heard “old-timers” say from during my lifetime:
“If you do not feel close to God, the problem is not God’s because He has not gone anywhere. It may be that you have moved away from Him.”
Sure, there have been times when I wondered where God was; He did not seem to be present; nor did it appear that He was actively involved in my life. There are times when we find ourselves feeling lonely and neglected. This is especially true when we are “down in the dumps” or we are going through the “valleys” of life.
Yes, there have been times when I, like you, have made the remark, “My prayers didn’t get any higher than the ceiling.” But, you know, with the passing of a little time, and getting some rest so that our minds get back in gear, and our souls might be refreshed by prayer, we begin to feel once again that everything is going to be all right.
Don’t ever give up on God. God has never given up on you. He never will.
Jesus did not give up on a man born blind – one of so many “poor souls” healed by Jesus but ridiculed by agnostics. Jesus heard about how the healed man had been treated . . . went looking for him . . . found him . . . asked a question that we all must answer: “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
Jesus went to the heart of the matter: Do you believe? Then the man replied, “Sir, who is he? Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus responded, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking to you.” “Lord, I believe!”
Folks, I too believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator! To Him I will cling until my last conscious moment.
Then I shall see Him face to face in all His glory! What a day that will be! In the meantime, here is my prayer for today:
“Closer to You, Lord, closer I pray,
Help me draw closer to your will today;
It does not matter what others may do,
As for me, I want to draw closer to You.”
Amen.
