IN TIMES LIKE THESE . . . CHRISTIANS EMBRACE THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF CHRIST AS KING
Statistically, what’s true of Christianity worldwide is not true of Christianity in the USA. It is without a doubt true that our nation is like the rest of the world in that all have sinned and need a Savior. However, whereas Christianity is professed or preferred by a third of the world’s population, Christianity in the USA is professed or preferred by four-fifths of our population.
Those who study religious adherence find that within each of the major religions, doctrinal differences are greater than similarities - which should not surprise any of us who spent most of our lives working with people. Wherever people are --- there are differences.
Show any gathering of adults a half glass of water and you will find that some see it as half-empty while others see it as half-full.
In pre-marital counseling, a little test helps a couple to understand that they may see things differently. Showing them an artist’s sketch and asking them to describe what they see rarely elicits the same response. One of them sees a beautiful young lady, while the other sees an old hag – a matter of perspective --- but also can serve as an indicator of one’s outlook on life – whether positive or negative.
Bring that propensity to see things differently over into the realm of religion, especially in America where denominational differences surface anytime there’s a discussion of doctrine, and what do you have? Disagreements. Differences of interpretation. Enough to boggle minds of ministers and converts just starting their journey within a church or denomination.
Typical of this dilemma faced by young ministers was a frustration I expressed at the age of 35 to a mentor: “I understand Baptist beliefs, but do not understood Baptist behavior.”
Whereupon he, the president of a local college, responded, “Come over to the college, enroll in the study of human behavior, and you will learn about Baptist behavior.”
Thus, after seven years of studying human behavior, Christian Counseling became a part of my ministry for the next forty years.
Now that our experiences have brought us to a higher level of maturity, perhaps you are as prone as I am to say, “Nothing surprises me anymore”!
Let me hasten to say, however, that what does surprise me is the fact that we are being challenged, by the authors of this current series of Bible studies and also by actual events which led us to the conclusion: We need to be more assertive in defending our Christian Faith!
At first glance, looking at a chart showing the number of Americans who profess or prefer Christianity, it would seem reasonable to ask, “Why does our faith need defending?”
THEN reality kicks in --- and soon we realize that an obvious disconnect exists between belief and behavior! Folks don’t always act in accordance with what they say they believe!
There was a time when my frustration was due to a lack of my understanding behavior, but now that I understand human tendencies better than ever --- it’s beliefs that baffle me!
Now hear this: All belief systems are not the same. All religions are not the same! All “Christians” are not the same! So . . .
At our current stage of learning about and living for Jesus . . . of speaking and spreading the truth in love . . . of assessing and reaffirming essential Christian beliefs - hoping to present ourselves as “blameless” as possible on the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ ---
Of utmost importance to us is the need to separate ourselves from religions that DENY the LORD as the one and only God and DEFY His commandments. . . DENY the Lordship of Christ as the one and only Savior and DEFY His teachings. Now:
As children of God --- our need for differentiation, our need for separation from false religions is pronounced by the LORD God Himself --- Isaiah 44:6-11 . . .
This message from the LORD is clear: There is only one God! We have this brief but powerful oracle by Isaiah as a defense of the Lord’s pronouncement of Who He is: “The LORD” – a derivative of the Hebrew word “Yahweh”, which was God’s personal name revealed to Moses at Sinai. You recall, however, that:
God’s people in those days considered the name to be so sacred that they would not say it; so, they substituted the Hebrew word for “lord” -- Adonai -- and to distinguish God’s personal name from everyday uses of the word “lord”, Bible translators used small capital letters to make sure readers understood that the One speaking or referenced is none other than the one and only God – the True God.
Isaiah referenced the LORD as:
King – emphasizing to “covenant” people - be they Jew or Gentile - that God is sovereign. Remember --- As Christians, we rest our case on the sovereignty of God!
Redeemer (one who freed slaves by payment of a ransom) - a biblical metaphor to describe God’s action toward His people who were enslaved --- literally in Egypt but spiritually in the throes of evil. The LORD acted to set them (us) free!
The LORD of hosts - a title which designates the one and only God as the Almighty . . . Commander of the hosts of heaven . . . Ruler of the universe . . . One and only One unparalleled in authority. Remember our Lord’s preface to the Great Commission: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
The first and the last – “the first” being a statement of His preeminence in time . . . place . . . rank – “the last” denoting that which is final – the final word . . . action . . . judgment. All things began in Him. All things that do end will end in Him. He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the ending. Thus, “the first and the last” references His eternal nature!
Distinctive – no other God . . . none like Him . . . distinguished by direct involvement in human history . . . His revelation of Himself and His plans to His people . . . His transparency of Himself and His ways throughout history – all of which affords His people no reason to fear Him but rather, every reason to trust and obey Him. Thus . . .
The Rock - One we can most assuredly depend on for our salvation . . . security . . . as reliable (Matt. 7:24-25 . . .). How firm a foundation! On Christ the solid rock I stand! In light of all these reliable references to the LORD God’s uniqueness and distinctiveness . . .
How foolish for mere mortals to think they can create their own gods!
The height of foolishness is to trust something inanimate that possesses none of the five senses --- and therefore is incapable of rendering a benefit, whether temporal or eternal. Those who depend on false gods – whether images, things, objects or other people – shall someday, according to the Word of the LORD given to us by Isaiah, stand before the LORD God in shame and disgrace. Thus Christians must:
Take seriously the distinctiveness presented in God’s Word of Christ as the King of kings and LORD of lords --- He who shall reign forever in the hearts of all who believe in and receive Him, and shall reign forever in heaven from whence He came and to which He returned to prepare a place for us! Praise God! Two conclusions: The LORD God is our one and only God! Jesus the Christ is our one and only way to God – John 14:5-7 . . .
Jesus knew His disciples were troubled by His conversation with them prior to His arrest and crucifixion. His talking about leaving them was upsetting enough, but the mention of His death was frightening. Jesus called on them (us) to believe -in God . . . in Him . . . in His promise to prepare a place for us . . . in His promise to come back to receive us unto Himself.
Confused by what Jesus was saying and what it all meant, Thomas spoke up on their behalf to clarify and therefore to justify their continued association with and profession of faith in Jesus.
Not a dumb thing to do -- asking a question for clarification, but actually a smart move on Thomas’ part to elicit from Jesus a brief one-sentence “reason” -- that would stand for time and eternity as: a rock-solid “How to go to Heaven” . . . simple statement of Who Jesus is and Why He came . . . an evangelistic teaching guide for disciples of Christ to follow from then on:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” No other religion can present a way to go to the Father and live eternally with Him; neither can any other religion point to the atoning sacrifice of a Savior who died for their sins; certainly no other religion can look back upon the resurrection of the One who died, His ascension, His sending of the Holy Spirit to serve as constant companion, guide, and comforter.
In times like these -- personal testimony in word and in deed is the Christian’s most effective gift of love which can be offered to family, friends and neighbors.
Why you are a Christian is evident to those who know you and observe your ways because you are more than a hearer. You are: a doer of the Word . . . a light in darkness . . . a reflection of God’s love . . . an example of the true believers . . . a shining ray of hope for those who have no hope – and, due to your reliance on the LORD, these qualities make all the difference in the world! In times like these:
What a difference YOU make! Let your light shine! Amen!
