Is the Price Really Right?
(I Peter 4:1-6)
1. Back in 1889, Sid and Leah’s bull took sick and died, so they needed to go to the auction to buy a new one. Sid couldn’t leave the farm because he was busy starting a farming equipment business, so Leah took the train to the city to buy a bull. If she was successful, she would take the train back to the farm, then she and Sid would borrow their neighbor’s wagon to go to town and pick up their newly purchased bull.
The bidding was furious at the livestock auction, and Leah found herself bidding on the last remaining bull. It took everything she had but ten cents; but she was finally the successful bidder. Unfortunately, the train home was fifty cents. "Please, Mr. Conductor, couldn’t you make an exception just once?" pleadedLeah. "Sorry lady," he replied, "but you can send your husband atelegram to tell him your problem. The office is just down the street."
At the Telegraph office, Leah asked, "Mister, how many vords can I send to mine husband for a dime?"
"It’s ten cents a word," the clerk answered. Leah pondered her dilemma, then finally said, "OK, here’s mine message:
"COMFORTABLE." (source: www.haruth.com/Jhumor15.html)
2. Speaking of comfortable, one uniquely American belief system is called the "prosperity Gospel."
3. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch/November 18, 2003 (By Bill Smith and Carolyn Tuft)
The prosperity gospel also has been called the "name it and claim it" theology. God wants His people to prosper, evangelists like [Joyce]Meyer maintain. Those who follow God and give generously to his ministries can have anything, and everything, they want.
…Michael Scott Horton, who teaches historical theology at the Westminister Theological Seminary in Escondido, Ca., calls the message a twisted interpretation of the Bible -- a "wild and wacky theology.
[Jim] Bakker, who spent five years in prison for defrauding Heritage USA investors, says he has had a change of heart about the prosperity gospel.
The same man who once told his PTL coworkers that "God wants you to be rich," now says he made a tragic mistake.
"For years, I helped propagate an impostor, not a true gospel, but another gospel," Bakker has said in his 1996 book, "I Was Wrong."
"The prosperity message did not line up with the tenor of the Scripture," he said. "My heart was crushed to think that I led so many people astray."
While Bakker may have changed his tune, many more TV preachers are steadfast in their conviction that if you give money, you will receive it many times in return.
[Joyce] Meyer [defends her prosperity gospel]:
"Why would He (God) want all of His people poverty stricken while all of the people that aren’t living for God have everything?" Meyer said. "I think it’s old religious thinking, and I believe the devil uses it to keep people from wanting to serve God."
5. Peter wants us to have realistic expectations, not only about the fun and positive aspects of the Christian life – and there are admittedly many blessings – but also the negatives.
Main Idea: When it comes to marketing Christianity, Peter had it all wrong. But he tells it as it is, and maybe we need to refresh our memories: Christianity is not a bed of roses –not yet.
TS----------------> Following Christ has its price tags.
I. SUFFERING (1-2)
Are you willing to endure the hardships that come from following Christ?
1. The test of commitment is willingness to SUFFER
a. Pilgrim’s Progress (Obsitinate & Pilgrim and Despondency Swamp)
b. Could you imagine what Peter’s marketing consultant would have said to Peter if he caught him writing these words? "Suffering – you’ve got to be kidding. Who wants to embrace a religion that brings suffering? Religion is supposed to give you a framework to interpret life, a place to find security and consolation. But suffering – no way. This will never catch on."
c. fighting sin is a form of suffering: "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ’My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you…’" Hebrews 12:3-5
d. one example of many just publicized this week at Persecution.org
Eritrean Christian Pays High Price For His Freedom
July 26, 2006, 10:35:09 AM
Country:
Eritrea
ICC NOTE: Today, an estimated 1800 Christians are in prison for their faith in Eritrea.
Please pray for their release and that the government would honor the freedom to
worship Christ.
Eritrean Christian Pays High Price For His Freedom
For the full article go to Open Doors
SANTA ANA, CA (July 25, 2006) – Daniel (pseudonym) was proud to serve his country
and willingly joined his allotted regiment when he received his conscription papers to join
the Eritrean army. However, life delivered a sharp lesson as he quickly learned that
wearing a smart uniform could never compensate for the loss of his freedom as a
Christian.
First, he was commanded to hand over his precious Bible to the army authorities. Next
came a demand for his Christian books, tapes and CDs. Praying with other army
personnel was also strictly forbidden and eventually Daniel found he had to make a
choice – forget his relationship with Jesus or face a harsh jail sentence.
Giving up his faith had never been an option and now Daniel viewed his world through
the bars of a military jail. Discipline was draconian and life became extremely difficult.
His cell was small and he shared it with many other Christians. Eritrean authorities
considered confining 15 or even 20 believers in a cell the size of an average American
bathroom totally acceptable…
Daniel was forced to endure frequent beatings, usually three or four each week.
Sometimes prison staff savagely used their fists, attempting to break his spirit. On other
occasions, large batons replaced fists, cutting deep into his flesh.
Finally, unable to bear further relentless mental and physical abuse, Daniel carefully
planned his escape. One day, he seized his opportunity – taking his chances when the guards were distracted. Running for freedom, Daniel slipped away from the work party.
The next four days were perhaps the hardest yet – a relentless trek through wild
unyielding bush. Fighting hunger, thirst and the hot sun, a border crossing into Sudan
ended Daniel’s trek and brought freedom.
But with freedom there came a high price. Following his escape, Daniel’s family received
the unwelcome attentions of Eritrea’s authorities. Parents, siblings and other family
members were rounded up and imprisoned. Daniel has no idea where they are – of if
they are still alive. But he will never give up hope!
(source: www.persecution.org)
2. We are to "be ARMED"
a. Our alarm system says when it is "armed"
b. The picture of being prepared for a military campaign; ammunition, armor, supplies
c. The main idea: be prepared by knowing what sort of things to expect
3. Christ is our EXAMPLE
a. prototype, "an original model on which something is patterned" or "a first full-scale and usually functional form of a new type or design of a construction (as an airplane)" (m-w.com)
b. Could you imagine Peter’s marketing consultant here? "No, Peter, do not pick Jesus as an example. Go for Solomon – wealth, power, and lots of women."
4. Suffering can help us break with SIN
• Peter’s consultant: "No, Peter, offer the people any easy answer to sin and addiction. Suffering to help us overcome sin…who is going to sign up for that? Tell them that we sin because we do not give enough attention to ourselves and we let others make us feel guilty. Tell them that we sin because we are victims, and that our sins are merely responses to the sins of others. But do not tell them that we must suffer to overcome sin. They’ll never buy that."
• By and large, the consultant is right! Most people do not buy that.
• Self inflicted suffering is worthless; but suffering allowed by the Sovereign God is seriously miserable, but can be highly effective…
5. From living for SELF to living for God
• Consultant: "Peter, you have to be kidding! Haven’t you heard about Maslow’s Hierarchy? Self-actualizations only occurs after all our other needs are in line. And it is self-actualization we want, not God actualization. Now who wants to let someone else make decisions for us. People have to have the freedom to set their own course. They’ll never buy that, "put God’s will above your own" stuff."
Application: Suffering leaves us holy and in deeper communion with God.
When it comes to marketing Christianity, Peter had it all wrong. But he tells it as it is, and maybe we need to refresh our memories: Christianity is not a bed of roses –not yet. Following Christ has its price tags.
II. DISCONNECTION from Heritage (3)
Are you willing, if necessary, to turn your back on the way you were reared—and displease your family?
1. When Pagan, they experienced the SLAVERY of sin
(1) these behaviors are consistent with Pagan beliefs
(2) they are inconsistent with Christian or Jewish beliefs
(3) thus a vibrant Christianity is an obstacle to finding this sinful behaviors socially acceptable
(4) the devil’s strategy: dead Christianity, liberal Christianity (or "in name only"),
or paganism
2. Judaism & Biblical Christianity have a different MORAL base
3. Rejecting a religious heritage is often mistaken for rejecting FAMILY
4. Imagine Peter’s marketing consultant, "Peter – Rocky, old pal. Look, it is great to promote Christianity, but don’t be putting down other religions. Sure, maybe Paganism does encourage those practices, but you must view it as different, not wrong. To them, you are wrong. So don’t be judging other people’s religions. Remember, judge not lest you be judged. Stick with the positive. Don’t put someone else down."
Application: We may leave the world behind and even risk stresses in our family, but we have a new heavenly family with relationships that last forever and will one day be perfect.
When it comes to marketing Christianity, Peter had it all wrong. But he tells it as it is, and maybe we need to refresh our memories: Christianity is not a bed of roses –not yet. Following Christ has its price tags.
III. Ostracism (4)
Are you willing to be left out and humiliated?
"… exclusion by general consent from common privileges or social acceptance"
1. Former friends thing we’ve gone off the DEEP END
2. They try to PUNISH you for leaving the crowd
3. Your life brings CONVICTION to them
4. Peter’s consultant: "Look, Pete old boy, you’re getting fanatical on me. I mean Christianity is a personal thing. It shouldn’t affect your social life or the way you have a good time. The way you are talking about other people not wanting to hang with Christians because they are different – that sounds like a cult. You really need to get with the mainstream, and then they’ll love you."
Application: We may sometimes be left out now, but in eternity, those who do not know Christ will be left in outer darkness while we enjoy an eternal party!
When it comes to marketing Christianity, Peter had it all wrong. But he tells it as it is, and maybe we need to refresh our memories: Christianity is not a bed of roses –not yet. Following Christ has its price tags.
IV. Delayed Gratification (5-7)
Are you willing to put off sinful pleasures now for greater and eternal rewards in heaven?
1. Sign of EMOTIONAL MATURITY
2. Biblical Christians See ETERNITY
3. Biblical Christianity CONNECTS the generations
4. Peter’s consultant: "Look, Peter, here you are, talking about dead people. Too many people think religion is for funerals only. Don’t’ reinforce that. What I mean is that a hope for heaven—that’s wonderful. But if you want to market the Christian life, you gotta focus on things like midlife crisis and how to ask your boss for a raise. The pie in the sky, the judgment day stuff – that doesn’t cut it anymore."
CONCLUSION
When it comes to marketing Christianity, Peter had it all wrong. But he tells it as it is, and maybe we need to refresh our memories: Christianity is not a bed of roses –not yet. Following Christ has its price tags.
