Sermon Series “Belief and Faith Coming Together”
Week One – “Beliefs as Boundaries”
Pastor john Bright – delivered 7/14/19
Revelation 2:12-17 “12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, [g]which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
What we believe drives our actions.
• If you believe everyone is out to get you – Paranoia – you would treat people a certain way – mistrust
• Change that belief – everyone is a special creation of God put here for you to bless – how would you treat others with this belief?
So, what we believe matters! When I served on Eastern Shore 20 years ago – one of the churches had several diabetics. Church dinner were very interesting when it came to the dessert table. Those who had been diagnosed with diabetes years and years before (old school) would get several desserts and announce they would just take extra insulin. The folks who were recently diagnosed (new school) would avoid the desserts and try to convince the others that it was best to limit how much insulin you use.
Today people refer to the old way of doing things as “old school.” They will even call somebody they don’t like because of their speech or action – call them “old school” as a put-down.
Let’ get this straight – as I’m talking to you about “The Apostles’ Creed” I realize its old school and that’s a GOOD THING!
Old school is a good thing when it comes to Christianity. Our Wesleyan approach to any issue is to include Scripture (primary), tradition, reason and experience.
Tradition is the essentials of our faith that looks back 2000 years to what the Church through time has claimed as belief.
In Revelation 2 and 3 we find messages to the New Testament churches in Asia Minor. These were real churches and these messages are still meant for the Church today. In the past I have the book of Revelation in Bible Study (Commercial – talk to me if interested in a weekly Bible Study). In those studies we often spent six months covering the letters to the churches in Chp.2-3. There are some odd terms in this letter to the church of Pergamom - like the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolations. We are not sure what these are exactly but there is a reference to food sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality. These were the very topics dealt with at the Jerusalem council in Acts chapter 15.
Doctrine is belief and right belief is Othodoxy. These beliefs for boundaries for us in Christianity. Boundaries are good – ask any farmer – fences – keep animals in (like cattle, horses, goats) and keep animals out (like rabbits and foxes)
The Apostles’ Creed had it’s origin in the Synod of Milan held in 390 AD. Most likely, it was based on the baptismal practices of the early church where those to be baptized would be asked a series of question and the response would be – “I believe.” That’s why we start the Creed with “I believe.” This makes it a confession of personal faith. It’s important we agree on these things – boundaries – fences. That means some are inside the fence and others are outside like “non-Trinitarian” churches:
• Unitarians – do not believe Jesus is God (only a messenger or prophet)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – do not believe the three persons of the Trinity to be one
• Seventh Day Adventists – do not believe the Holy Spirit is a person.
These are just examples, there are plenty more!
The Apostles’’ Creed is called “A Confession of Faith” – not just what we believe/know. Parts of the Creed cannot be known.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
1 Cor. 2 “4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
This type of believing went out of favor during the period we call “Modernity.” Industrial Revolution to the late 20th century – science rules – the goal is to know things as they really are – move away from faith
Then we moved into “Post-Modernity” where the goal is personal experience. To experience a thing is to know a thing. We began to embrace a personal faith that includes a little of this religion and a little of many others – Christianity only one among many.
When we start the Apostles’ Creed with “I believe”, what we really do is affirm what the Body of Christ believes ( “WE BELIEVE”)
When we combine individual experience and belief it can be dangerous. When my kids were little, they all like to explore. Good experience… right? They all seemed drawn to the faces on the wall where grown ups plugged in the power cords. One day, saw Samantha getting ready to stick something into the wall outlet. You think I just let her experience getting shocked? NO! I screamed! I scared her! She cried so I ran over and hugged her and told her how much I loved her.
That fear was better than a personal experience. It was given to her by one with a better understanding of the world.
In 2007, while preaching at the UM Congress on Evangelism, Bishop Scott Jones shared that the UMC needed a greater emphasis on doctrine to be successful in evangelism. He described the moral revolution at the end of the 20th century as “expressivism.” This is how it works – “If I feel a certain way, who are you to tell me I can’t live my life that way?” Bishop Jones said our response should be – “We know a God who has a better way. We know a God who is offering you a chance to be more authentically and fully human in a different way.” He told them we can appreciate diversity and at the same time offer the one thing that can unite all of humanity – the Cross of Jesus Christ.
Belief is a choice!
Acts 16 “30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Romans 10 “11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Salvation is a choice!
Our choices should lead us to the Cross – the center of the NT faith. Our beliefs should lead us from the boundaries to the center – the Cross.
TEACHING SHEET
July 14, 2019
Sermon Series: Belief and Faith Coming Together
Revelation 2:12-17 Beliefs as Boundaries
Revelation 2 & 3 contain messages from God to the House Churches of Asia minor. These were real churches and the messages to them still have meaning for the Church today.
Doctrine is belief
• Orthodoxy is “right belief”
• Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
• Church of the SubGenius
• Church of All Worlds
The Apostles’ Creed is known as a Confession of Faith
The Creed is what we, as Christians can agree that we all believe. Some of our beliefs can’t be “known.”
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
1 Cor. 2 “4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
This “believing through faith” was normal for centuries
Then came “Modernity” and “Post Modernity”
July 14, 2019
Sermon Series: Belief and Faith Coming Together
Revelation 2:12-17 Beliefs as Boundaries
Revelation 2 & 3 contain messages from God to the House Churches of Asia minor. These were real churches and the messages to them still have meaning for the Church today.
Doctrine is belief
• Orthodoxy is “right belief”
• Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
• Church of the SubGenius
• Church of All Worlds
The Apostles’ Creed is known as a Confession of Faith
The Creed is what we, as Christians can agree that we all believe. Some of our beliefs can’t be “known.”
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
1 Cor. 2 “4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
This “believing through faith” was normal for centuries
Then came “Modernity” and “Post Modernity”
In Modernity – goal is to know as things as they are – science
In Post Modernity – goal is knowing by experience
The “I believe” at the beginning of the Creed is an affirmation that we all believe.
Belief based on individual experience can be dangerous!
In 2007, while preaching at the UM Congress on Evangelism, Bishop Scott Jones shared that the UMC needed a greater emphasis on doctrine to be successful in evangelism. He described the moral revolution at the end of the 20th century as “expressivism.” This is how it works – “If I feel a certain way, who are you to tell me I can’t live my life that way?” Bishop Jones said our response should be – “We know a God who has a better way. We know a God who is offering you a chance to be more authentically and fully human in a different way.” He told them we can appreciate diversity and at the same time offer the one thing that can unite all of humanity – the Cross of Jesus Christ.
Belief is a choice!
Acts 16 “30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Romans 10 “11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
