Accepting Jesus
I read an article entitled, "How Covid Reshaped the Black Church". And one of its points was that during the time of 'online only' services - many people 'shopped around' and viewed many different Churches virtually. They could see then if what that Church taught lined up with what they personally believed. And many chose what are deemed more 'progressive' or 'inclusive of LGBTQ theology' Churches. One man who chose to live a lifestyle directly opposed to scripture was quoted, "I'm still Christian, and it's taken a whole lot … I've had to reconfigure God and what God is and what He means in order to accept myself."
So, rather than looking to The Bible to see what it clearly teaches - people search for Churches that teach more modern, popular beliefs. And this man in the article is basically saying, 'I'm a Christian', meaning I'm a follower of Christ, 'but I don't actually follow what His Word says.' And that's how many choose to live. They believe, 'The God of the Bible doesn't fit with how I want to live my life, so I believe in a God who bends His will to mine.'
And I want to be very careful here, as I am not the gatekeeper of Christianity - but that sounds a whole lot more like a 'false religion' and idolatry than it does Christianity. Now perhaps, as a Christian, this man's misunderstanding stems from the story in John where the teachers of the law brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. It reads...
John 8:7-11 (NIV)
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (8) Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. (9) At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
(10) Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" (11) "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared.
So perhaps he remembered that story, but somehow forgot the next line where Jesus then told the woman...
Go now and leave your life of sin.
Jesus is clear - repentance is not a recommendation, but a requirement for all of us. Our relationship with Jesus is supposed to affect every aspect of our lives – how we talk, how we spend our money, how we treat our families and neighbors and those less fortunate than us, and it will also define our views on human sexuality. Redefining God, redefining Jesus in order to make Him more convenient to our lives is not a new idea. And in trying to redefine Jesus - what we're really doing is...
I. Rejecting Jesus
It's clear in scripture how many of those who first praised Jesus then cried out for Him to be crucified. Many were very pleased when He showed up as their Savior, until they realized He wasn't the Messiah they wanted. And rather than follow Jesus, many rejected Him. And the Apostle Paul explains this rejection in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NIV)...
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (19) For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." (20) Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (21) For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him,
God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. (22) Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, (23) but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, (24) but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (25) For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
The Jewish people, the people through whom God had chosen to bring the Messiah, the Savior of the world – many rejected Jesus because He didn't do things their way. Paul says they demanded miraculous signs. But - didn't Jesus perform miracles? - He healed the blind, He cleansed the lepers; He cast out demons. Those were definitely miracles, but for some - it wasn't …
A. The right miracles
Yes, Jesus healed a lot of people – but why didn't He lead the people in a battle where they destroyed their enemies? Why didn't He just bless them however they chose to live? But Jesus didn't do what they thought He should do, so they rejected Him.
John 1:9-11 (NIV)
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. (10) He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. (11) He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Jesus didn't bend to their expectations and desires for a Messiah, so they crucified Him. People today can see the miracles of God all around them. He created a beautiful world for us; He's given us life and the ability to love; He gives us the miracle of birth; He gave us the miracle of Jesus through whom we can have eternal life – but those aren't the right miracles for some.
Often people pray for healing and sometimes it comes, other times it doesn't. We experience the pain of heartbreak, the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one, the aches and many frustrations of this life. Do you reject God because He doesn't do what you think He should do?
In the Bible, many people rejected Jesus. They wanted a Messiah of power and strength and instead - Jesus called for sacrifice and repentance and humility over self righteousness and pride. Jesus chose the cross, preparing to do another miracle – to take away the sins of the world, to die and then rise again to life! But they didn't understand or like the way that Jesus was doing these things.
Many religious people of the day believed they could simply follow the laws given to them in the Old Testament and that somehow, on their own, they would be righteous enough to get to Heaven. They really didn't think they needed a savior to die for them. They looked to themselves for answers, and they rejected Jesus because His way just...
B. Didn't feel right
But feelings are subjective, feelings change based on circumstances. There's a movement on social media called 'faith deconstruction'. It's this idea where Christians 'rethink their faith' in light of modern sensibilities and science and then reject previously held beliefs. It's made to sound very compassionate and inclusive and open - but it's not based on a study of scripture at all, but on a person's individual beliefs separate from the Bible. But for many, it's a way to still think of themselves as 'Christian' without being associated with actual Christian teachings that the secular world dislikes.
We've talked about the Jewish people in ancient times. But there were other 'wise men' of that time who rejected Jesus and the cross, because it just didn't feel right to them. There's a quote attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates that says, "The secret to a successful society is education. If we can give everyone a good education, then it must follow that the world will get better and better."
Socrates believed wrongdoing was a consequence of ignorance and those who 'did wrong' just didn't know any better. By that reasoning, there can be no such a thing as 'sin'. It's simply a matter of education. Socrates lived about 400 some years before Jesus but those Greek thinkers who closely followed his teachings agreed....
II. Who needs a Savior?
Many of the Greek thinkers of Jesus' day rejected a need for a savior and the Old Testament laws. If they could just educate people – then they would be better citizens. Now, I am not opposed to education. But is education the answer to all of society's problems? If it is, why are there guys with college degrees in jail? Education is great - but it's not the end all be all. But why do even Christians live like it is? The best education without Jesus still ultimately leads to death. Education without ethics and morality and God's truth may possibly lead to a better paying job – but it does nothing to prepare you for eternity!
Of course, in America, as "One Nation Under God", we certainly wouldn't ascribe to Socrates' ancient views. We're wise enough not to kick God out of our education system – right? As Preacher Voddie Baucham said, "We cannot continue to send our children to Caesar for their education and be surprised when they come home as Romans." Secular education alone will not lead you to your Savior.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 (NIV)
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. (13) This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. (14) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(15) The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: (16) "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
The 'spiritual man' is expected to make judgments - to discern truth! Even the smartest, most well educated person who rejects Jesus knows nothing. Who needs a Savior? ALL of us. But people still persist in the belief that you can…
A. Make your own God
If God doesn't 'allow you' to live how you want – simply make your own God. That's what people do - make their own God, one that's nice and harmless, keeps His nose out of their private business, and makes no demands of holiness.
Many do it without even realizing it. Society's values change – so we go along with the flow and recreate a God who's 'okay' with those changes. Educated people tell us that we've outgrown superstitious beliefs of the Bible, we're more enlightened, so we recreate Jesus – we ignore the cross and any ridiculous miracles or old fashioned demands He might place on us. We recreate Jesus to be easier to accept.
One trend among Christendom is to follow only what Jesus explicitly said in the Bible - 'Red Letter Christians'. And it sounds pretty saintly - to focus only on Jesus' direct words. But that choice then allows a person to reject any difficult to accept Old Testament picture of God, it allows one to reject any 'socially unacceptable' passages of scripture written outside of the Gospels. Their 'logic' is - if it's not recorded that Jesus directly, specifically addressed something - they have the freedom to believe whatever they want on any particular subject as culture changes.
Again - it sounds spiritual - but it rejects all of God's revealed Word prior to Jesus' birth, it rejects accounts directly witnessed by Jesus' first Apostles and it rejects all of Paul's teachings - although he was directly appointed by Jesus Himself! It also then 'allows' people to feel free to reject the Church but still feel spiritual - even though Jesus Himself established His Church.
It's like some have discovered a kind of spiritual 'loophole' where they aren't really rejecting Jesus - but they still get to believe and behave however they want without all of the other 'restrictions' of holiness and obedience. But they are rejecting that Jesus is God in the flesh; The Son of God. They're accepting what fits with what they believe and rejecting any teaching of God that makes them uncomfortable. But God says…
Exodus 20:3-4 (NIV)
You shall have no other gods before me. (4) You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
Recreating God into anything other than who He is, is idolatry. Taking Jesus' words and 'putting them in a nice little box' is idolatry. We don't have the authority to redefine God's Word into something that makes us more comfortable or popular with society at large! We don't get to make our own God – we only have…
B. Two choices
People have always wanted a God who will place His stamp of approval upon their life-style and choices, never requiring any change or repentance on their part. - "God says that we're to keep ourselves pure and holy and that sex was created by God for the purpose of uniting a man and woman in marriage - period." But - 'That can't be right. That's an unreasonable expectation. I choose a God who wants me to be happy and believes in open-mindedness and inclusivity.' - No.
"God says we are created in His image and human life is sacred." "No, I choose a God who didn't really say that and I choose a God who lets me value what I want." - No.
We don't get multiple choices of who God is. We don't get to select our Savior from a multitude of options. We accept God's Word, and follow - or we reject it. We follow Jesus as He is - or we reject Him. We don't get to take some of scripture and leave other teachings in some 'buffet style religion'. There's no such thing as being 50% Christian. There's a passage of scripture from Psalms 118:22-23 (NIV)...
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; (23) the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
When people were angry at Jesus for His all or nothing attitude, Jesus referenced those verses in Luke 20:17-18 (NIV)...
Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone '? (18) Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
We accept Him or accept the consequences of rejecting Him. Jesus was clear that He didn't come to judge us for our sin, but to call us to repentance from it – to save us from that sin! But, if we reject Him – there will be a time of judgment.
So What?
The article I referenced at the beginning quoted one theologian supporting people who were 'deconstructing' their faith, "The work I seek to do is to remind us that there is room at the cross, no matter how radically different our approach to God is." And while that is absolutely true - there is room at the cross for all of us sinners - but we can't change the meaning of the cross to fit our own needs.
I'm not here to judge anyone. It's not my job to usher anyone into Heaven or condemn anyone to Hell. I don't have that authority, or the right. It's not even about me being right in my theological arguments. My job is to explain the truth of God's Word and you can accept it or reject it.
Who do you believe that Jesus is? There are some who, once they understood who Jesus is, gave up everything to follow Him. There are many others who have suffered a great deal in choosing to follow Him. - And there are also those who have rejected Him because He asked too much. There are those who have rejected Him because they didn't want to change to be more like Him. Others have accepted Him in name only in order to ease their conscience. They accept those teachings that make them comfortable and reject those that don't.
If you believe Jesus for who He is and accept Him – you also have to fully accept the cross. You have to accept the fact that He came to forgive your sins and that He wants you to turn from them. We don't get to keep both our sin and Jesus. When you accept Him, you reject anything that keeps you from becoming more like Him. Discovering and following Jesus may not always be easy, but it's the only way that leads to Heaven!