Xl 0n the fence People
There is a cancer that is quickly spreading among many of our churches today. This cancer is causing many churches either to lose their effectiveness or to die. A cancer that allows church members to believe that the Christian walk and life has no personal cost. A cancer that elevates tradition and history ahead of Biblical inspiration and revelation. A cancer that springs from our society’s obsession with tolerance and not offending anyone.
This cancer could be called many things but for the purpose of this message I will refer to it as "On The Fence Christianity’
So what exactly is it? For some answers, turn with me in your bibles to 1 Kings chapter 18 beginning in verse 17.
At the home of the widow, Elijah finally received word from the Lord that the drought was going to end. The Lord told Elijah to go to King Ahab and confront Him once again with the truth. After three years of intense training, Elijah accepted this new assignment with joy. He relished the opportunity to speak for God to Ahab. Once face to face with King Ahab, Elijah challenged him and all of the false Gods they worshipped to a showdown on top of Mount Carmel.- The gods of Baal and Asherah against Yahweh the one true God.
850 of the prophets of Baal and Asherah gathered on top of Mount Carmel along with all the children of
Israel. Once on top of the mountain, Elijah turns to the children of Israel with a poignant question: How long
will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.
Their response: But the people answered him not a word.
The children of Israel were given an opportunity to publicly choose which God they would follow. They responded by choosing neither. They responded by staying on the fence- choosing to stay in the middle rather than choose a side or in this case a god.
If you hear nothing else this evening, hear this statement, Nothing displeases God more than on the fence Christianitv. Either be for him or against Him.
There is an old fable about a hungry donkey. This donkey was placed between two bundles of hay. Incredibly hungry, the donkey turned to the hay bale on the right and then to the one on the left. They both looked so equally good that the donkey could not decide which bale of hay to eat from first, so the hungry donkey died of starvation
This fable may seem silly but the truth is when we ride the fence, deciding not to decide, we are exactly like that hungry donkey.
This morning I want to briefly examine this topic of On the Fence Christianity. I want to look specifically at who
these people are, what consequences exists for them, and how they can change
. I. So who are They
The on the fence People can be best defined by looking at three different groups of people.
.1. The first groups are those individuals who are under conviction - but are never quite convinced.
In the book of Acts Paul’s presents the gospel
message to both Felix and Pontius Festus. They both are impressed with the message and are convicted.
In Acts 24 verse 25 we find this account: And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and
judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
-Felix had a good understanding of Christianity. He knew enough about the Christians and their teachings of righteousness to know that Paul was telling him the truth. Yet he postponed doing the right thing. He stayed on the Fence.
In Maine while planting a church one of the core families who attended was not saved. At different times the gospel was presented to each of them. As the message was shared I could see that they were being drawn to God; yet time and time again, they chose to not decide. - to stay on the fence
2. A second group are those individuals who are spectators - attending church but not really apart of the church.
Today are churches are filled with spectators. With 20 % of its people doing 80 % of its work. For many church has become a spectator sport. If you do go, stay on the fence, don’t get too involved. In churches all across America it amazes me how many church members don’t even tithe to their own church. An on the fence spectator says this is my church, this is my pastor, but that is just about it.
Art Turock, in his book, Getting Physical makes this distinction. "There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you are interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results. "
3. A third group are those individuals who are straddling the fence between the world and God.
Luke 16:13 says: "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other,. or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Our world today teaches that the greatest value is tolerance- the view that no one should force his or her value system on anyone else. The view that says ultimately there is no absolute truth- Each person decides what is right for themselves.
On the fence Christians fail to take a stand. They
fail to speak up and ask but what does the Bible say.
On Mount Carmel the people of God, the children
of Israel were given just such an opportunity to stand up
for their God and they said nothing. They did nothing. II. So then what are the consequences...
1. One consequence is eternal death in Hell. Hell is a real place. It is not as one rebel teen put
it an endless party with no moral boundaries. It is a place of eternal separation from God- from the real true party
Evangelist Paul Rader had often urged a banker in New York State to receive Christ, but the man would not make a decision. One day the preacher sensed that God wanted him to go immediately and speak to him again. So, he took a train to the town where the man worked, hurried to the bank, and found his friend standing in the doorway. IIRader,1I he said, I’m glad to see you! I wrote a telegram begging you to come, but later changed my mind and didn’t send it. II ’That’s all right, II said the evangelist, your message came through anyhow by way of heaven.1I Under deep conviction of sin, the banker was impressed by Rader’s earnestness and his special effort to reach him with the gospel, and within a few minutes, he accepted the Lord.
II Suddenly the banker gave a strange gasp and fell over dead! He had been saved at the very brink of eternity. What if the banker had procrastinated on the decision as he had in the past? What if the banker had stayed on the fence, he would have gone to Hell
2. For the believer staying on the fence causes them to miss God’s personal call on their lives. They miss living out a life of purpose.
By choosing not to choose we miss out on all the
personal ways God wants to direct our lives. In doing it we fail to connect to God’s purpose for our lives.
A Latin proverb goes like this- Through indecision, opportunity is often lost - opportunity for growth, fellowship, service, and reward.
A story is told of a great conflict that was about to take place between the Birds and the Beasts. When the two armies were collected together, the Bat hesitated which to join. The Birds that passed his perch said: Come with US; but he said: III am a Beast.1I Later on, some Beasts who were passing underneath him looked up and said: Come with US; but he said: III am a Bird.1I Luckily at the last moment, peace was made, and no battle took place, so the Bat came to the Birds and wished to join in the rejoicings, but they all turned against him and he had to flyaway. He then went to the Beasts, but soon had to beat a retreat, or else they would have torn him to pieces. IIAh,1I said the Bat, III see now, He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends. II
If God is asking you to do something, or leading you in a particular direction, and you choose to not respond do not expect to have any peace until you obey. No one ever amounted to anything who was not willing to take a stand- to get off the fence.
3. By staying on the fence we can not please God. In fact we are repulsive to Him
Revelation 3:15 says "1 know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
When we stay on the fence, the Bible literally says, We make God sick.
I want to offer a fourth consequence. One more than your listening guide shows.
4. A final consequence is that is highly contagious.
Indecision is said to be debilitating; it feeds upon itself, it is one might say habit forming. Not only that, but it is contagious, it transmits itself to others.
Romans 14:7 says "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself."
We live within a community that is watching everything that we say and do. Parents, Grandparents you want to raise a generation of people who do not please God who stay on the fence- then live that way yourself and you will guarantee it.
III. So how do we commit...
Elijah in verse 21 says How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.
Begin by asking God if you are an On the fence person. Ask Him to show you. And patiently wait for God’s response; then do what God tells you to do.
Choose today to step away from the middle and
commit yourself to your God and to his church.
I tell people who are nervous about walking an aisle and meeting me here at our time of invitation that once they take that first step the other steps become
much easier. It is always the first step that is the hardest.
Only you can choose to move yourself. You can only move yourself.
A story is told of a desperate lamb who was running away from a wolf. A huge wolf was on its heels and rapidly gaining ground. Seeing a temple nearby, the lamb made a quick decision and dashed through a narrow opening in the wall. The wolf, smiling a wicked smile, said, "You might as well come out; the priest will slay you if he catches you in there." The lamb thought for a moment and then replied, "I choose to stay here. It is better to be sacrificed to God than to be devoured by you." .
Choose today as individuals and families to echo the words of Joshua in Joshua 24: 15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and mv house. we will serve the LORD. "
The choice is up to you.
