"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to to the point of death, even the death of the cross."
Phillipians 2:5-8
I have been invited to a Christian camping conference. I've been invited because I am a Christian camp director. I get to attend conferences about camp so I can learn how to improve the camp where I work. For this camping conference I have been asked to read a book that details a number of ways to make an organization outstanding. Rats! I have required reading for my upcoming conference. I enjoy books, so that part doesn't bother me. What I cannot understand is that it is a Christian camping conference, yet we are being asked to read a secular book about making our corporation more profitable (ka-ching).
If this was an isolated incident I would ignore it. However, it is even more prevalent in our churches. I used to work for a church that gave its staff a number of secular books aimed at building a better organization. It seems business "experts" have become the darlings of church leaders across the country. Churches have made them very wealthy men by holding nationwide leadership conferences inside our houses of worship by way of live streaming video (ka-ching).
Pastors are forming their own learning communities (book clubs) in which they assign a book of the month, then gather to discuss the books. For the most part they are using secular books about building their businesses, er, uh, churches (ka-ching).
Using today's business standards, Jesus Christ was probably the worst businessman in history. If Jesus were to apply for any job today, the outcome would be hilarious. He had no interest in being a businessman, but if He did, I'm not sure how long it would last. My point is that Christian ministry is not big business. The religious leaders in Jesus' time were excellent businessmen. They were making sound business decisions for the temple which were filling the treasury with cash. Jesus hated the fact that they were operating the temple as a business. He hated it so much He threw them out of His Father's house.
The model of Christian leadership is the complete opposite of the popular business model. It is actually exemplified for us in the verse above: Humility . . . being comfortable with one's position enough to consider everyone else first. Jesus, as God, wrapped Himself in the skin of a man, limiting Himself to just what a man can do. He set aside what he was capable of and humbled himself to the point of taking blows, to the point of being spit upon, to the point of whips, cords and thorns, to the point of nails and spear, to the point of death. Today, such a model of leadership is a sign of weakness. Today's church-goers do not want to follow such weak leadership. We want a leader who will hold tightly the reins of our faith and make it comfortable. We want to come to church and be led and fed. We want to come to church and be inspired. We want a Chicken-Soup-for-the-Churched-Soul experience: short little vignettes, packaged very tidily with no obligation to read past the preface.
Because of this current propensity toward having our salvation "worked out" by a person on stage, we have become a nation of Christians who haven't even cut their baby teeth. We are unable to chew on the meat of the Word. We have been Christians for so many years, yet we can only drink the milk of the Word because we have not made our salvation our own. We rely on great contemporary praise music peppered with inspiring Sunday sermons.
I mentioned this in my last post, and I find myself being asked to include it this one as well: Your church attendance is not a time for you to be fed. If you are a born-again Christian, your presence in church should be about ministry and fellowship. It is a time to give of your gifts and talents to others. Your relationship with God is a minute by minute, every day journey, nurtured by frequent conversation and prayer. At least, that's the goal. Your daily intimacy with the Father is how you prepare yourself for Sunday morning.
We trust our pastors for spiritual leadership. We trust our pastors for biblical wisdom as they are led by the Holy Spirit. A pastor's ability to micro-manage a multi-layered business model in order to market a church to religious consumers makes him the impetus of a church's success, not Jesus. "Rock star" pastors, appealing to the masses by offering Sunday self-help seminars, are one reason why we have a church body still suckling on Christian nominalism. Jesus drew followers to Himself not to draw a crowd, but to make disciples who would go and do likewise. He really didn't have much use for those who gathered around Him for the "show."
The required reading for my camping conference is a secular book on improving my business. I am halfway through it, and now I'm thinking of starting up a successful business. As for my ministry to young people, I will continue to use the best textbook on ministry leadership; the author: Jesus Christ.
sal
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Don't Be a ChINO: "Christian In Name Only"
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:3, 4
I have been frustrated. I have been disenchanted. I have been embarassed. Churches across the country have become populated by congregations of "ChINO's." I go to churches across the country and see them in the pews, in the auditoriums, in the caf-a-gym-a-tori-aries -- or whatever hip, new, urban, trendy name they've given to the latest church gathering place. Sunday services everywhere have become rock concerts. How dark can we make the room? Will it be dark enough to elicit the right mood? Will it provoke enough emotion to draw tears? Will this experience knock the socks off those "seekers" who have decided to darken our doorway? Will we appear "sensitive" to that visitor by giving them what they want to see or hear? Adjust the temperature. Dim the lights. Turn up the bass. Don't forget to bite your lower lip when telling about how you came up with the inspiration for your latest lyric.
Even before I was a Christian rock concerts never were able to whip me into a frenzy to the point of swaying with the lighter high in the air. "Contrived crowd control" is what I call it. It's when those on the stage do all they can to elicit an emotional response from the audience. It never really worked with me; "Are you ready to rock and roll? . . . Are you ready to rock and roll? . . . ARE YOU READY TO ROCK AND ROLL?" Uh, could you start playing the music I payed money to hear, please?
We have been assaulted by many churches who have taken the rock concert formula into houses of worship. We have watched as modern churches have created a nation of what I have called ChINO's: "Christians In Name Only." Seeker-sensitive churches everywhere have adopted this method of drawing in converts by scratching those itching ears described in 2 Timothy 4. These holy rock concerts have child care, too! They have videos, video games, carnival games and any other kind of entertainment to cater to every ADHD pre-adolescent desire. In the meantime, small churches everywhere cannot keep up. But they try. They purchase the packaged "this is how we do it at our mega-church" formula and miserably fail. In the process many people who want to fellowship with other Christians church-hop their way around their home towns, bailing out when they are not entertained enough.
It is a vicous cylce which keeps many would-be disciples from truly developing a relationship with the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have ChINO's: those who attend church so they can call themselves Christians, yet have never in their young "Christian" lives been challenged or discipled into an authentic relationship with their Creator. They have every "Praise and Worship" CD downloaded on their iPod, Blackberry or iTouch. They have the "metrosexual" look and lingo down. Skinny tie? Check. Designer glass frames? Check. Layered and unbuttoned, untucked shirts? Check. No need to bring a bible; they display the verses on the Jumbo-tron (though, I do own a "green" bible and only drink shade-grown, organic coffee from 100% recycled paper cups).
This type of faux Christianity is not only discouraging, it is frightening. As the end times draw ever closer, more people will be deceived; even many of those who call themselves Christians. I believe it will be more and more difficult to distinguish so-called Christians from any other faith. Sincere Christians will become more glaringly out of place. They will be labeled as "radical" and "intolerant". Meanwhile, the ChINO's will continue to conform to this world in order to be sensitive or tolerant, hoping to win others into their trendy church building with faux-painted concrete flooring (it's makes for easy clean-up of spilled, shade-grown coffee).
I know this posting will not win any friends. It will certainly cause many to call me radical and intolerant. But if it causes any ChINO out there to consider true Christianity, then mission accomplished. Go to church, my friend. Go to church not to live out the latest experience, but go prepared to serve others and to serve your heavenly Father. The local church does not exist to entertain you, or even grow your relationship with God. I cannot change what kind of fads and trends the hip, new churches are feeding us. But I can speak to you, the church-goer. So, here is my unsolicited advice: Church is not for your sake. Church is your opportunity to minister others, and thus to God. In doing so, you become filled with the fullness of spiritual fellowship. Your spiritual health and well-being is your responsibility, not your local church's. Do your growing at home, in your quiet, personal prayer and study closet. That is where your relationship with God flourishes. What you gather in that closet is what you bring to church for your fellow believers. Oh, and do bring that bible of yours. You never know when you'll need it.
sal
I have been frustrated. I have been disenchanted. I have been embarassed. Churches across the country have become populated by congregations of "ChINO's." I go to churches across the country and see them in the pews, in the auditoriums, in the caf-a-gym-a-tori-aries -- or whatever hip, new, urban, trendy name they've given to the latest church gathering place. Sunday services everywhere have become rock concerts. How dark can we make the room? Will it be dark enough to elicit the right mood? Will it provoke enough emotion to draw tears? Will this experience knock the socks off those "seekers" who have decided to darken our doorway? Will we appear "sensitive" to that visitor by giving them what they want to see or hear? Adjust the temperature. Dim the lights. Turn up the bass. Don't forget to bite your lower lip when telling about how you came up with the inspiration for your latest lyric.
Even before I was a Christian rock concerts never were able to whip me into a frenzy to the point of swaying with the lighter high in the air. "Contrived crowd control" is what I call it. It's when those on the stage do all they can to elicit an emotional response from the audience. It never really worked with me; "Are you ready to rock and roll? . . . Are you ready to rock and roll? . . . ARE YOU READY TO ROCK AND ROLL?" Uh, could you start playing the music I payed money to hear, please?
We have been assaulted by many churches who have taken the rock concert formula into houses of worship. We have watched as modern churches have created a nation of what I have called ChINO's: "Christians In Name Only." Seeker-sensitive churches everywhere have adopted this method of drawing in converts by scratching those itching ears described in 2 Timothy 4. These holy rock concerts have child care, too! They have videos, video games, carnival games and any other kind of entertainment to cater to every ADHD pre-adolescent desire. In the meantime, small churches everywhere cannot keep up. But they try. They purchase the packaged "this is how we do it at our mega-church" formula and miserably fail. In the process many people who want to fellowship with other Christians church-hop their way around their home towns, bailing out when they are not entertained enough.
It is a vicous cylce which keeps many would-be disciples from truly developing a relationship with the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have ChINO's: those who attend church so they can call themselves Christians, yet have never in their young "Christian" lives been challenged or discipled into an authentic relationship with their Creator. They have every "Praise and Worship" CD downloaded on their iPod, Blackberry or iTouch. They have the "metrosexual" look and lingo down. Skinny tie? Check. Designer glass frames? Check. Layered and unbuttoned, untucked shirts? Check. No need to bring a bible; they display the verses on the Jumbo-tron (though, I do own a "green" bible and only drink shade-grown, organic coffee from 100% recycled paper cups).
This type of faux Christianity is not only discouraging, it is frightening. As the end times draw ever closer, more people will be deceived; even many of those who call themselves Christians. I believe it will be more and more difficult to distinguish so-called Christians from any other faith. Sincere Christians will become more glaringly out of place. They will be labeled as "radical" and "intolerant". Meanwhile, the ChINO's will continue to conform to this world in order to be sensitive or tolerant, hoping to win others into their trendy church building with faux-painted concrete flooring (it's makes for easy clean-up of spilled, shade-grown coffee).
I know this posting will not win any friends. It will certainly cause many to call me radical and intolerant. But if it causes any ChINO out there to consider true Christianity, then mission accomplished. Go to church, my friend. Go to church not to live out the latest experience, but go prepared to serve others and to serve your heavenly Father. The local church does not exist to entertain you, or even grow your relationship with God. I cannot change what kind of fads and trends the hip, new churches are feeding us. But I can speak to you, the church-goer. So, here is my unsolicited advice: Church is not for your sake. Church is your opportunity to minister others, and thus to God. In doing so, you become filled with the fullness of spiritual fellowship. Your spiritual health and well-being is your responsibility, not your local church's. Do your growing at home, in your quiet, personal prayer and study closet. That is where your relationship with God flourishes. What you gather in that closet is what you bring to church for your fellow believers. Oh, and do bring that bible of yours. You never know when you'll need it.
sal
Thursday, August 26, 2010
What Does God Want From You?
"He has shown you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you,
But to do justly, to love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
I often see young children deliberately disobey and defy their parents. I have also seen young children actually smack their parents when they were told they could not do something or could not have something. Children will disobey, defy and smack as long as they do not experience negative consequences. It is my opinion that this country is experiencing the fallout of the spared rod. We have a nation of children being parents who had absentee parents. This next generation of children do not just have absentee parents, but non-responsive parents. My question is, "How will they ever know the love of the ultimate parent; God?"
In Micah chapter 6, God pleads with the nation of Israel as a Father desiring to call them back to obedience. God's prophet, Micah, is addressing an Israel which has been steeped in idolatry as they have taken on the worship of other nations' gods. "Please don't do that," He has been saying. "Remember, I am your Father, and I am telling you there will be consequences if you do not obey me." (I often wonder how to answer those who ask the question,"If He is such a loving God, why is there so much pain and misery in the world?")
Practicing sin will never find favor with God. In fact, if a person continues in sin the bible tells us he "will not inherit the kingdom of God." God has told us what is good and what He requires of us. Today, very much like the Israelites in the time of Micah, most people have no idea what the word of God says. Most people get their sense of morality by word of mouth or by comparing their actions to anyone they can find who they deem as being "worse" than them.
If you watch any television show for any length of time, you will quickly find someone you can compare yourself to and think, "I'm not that bad." Folks, please understand, as a Christian the only standard to which you can measure yourself is that of Jesus Christ. Really, if you can stand your life up next to the life that Jesus exemplified and still say, "I'm not that bad," you are a liar.
Three things He requires of us: Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly. Do justly by "working out your own salvation" without regard for how others are handling theirs; that is, live righteously and quit comparing yourself to others. Love mercy by forgiving others when they don't live up to your expectations. It will happen, maybe even every day. Give them the same mercy God offers to them. And walk humbly by acknowledging that whatever it is you have or hope to have only comes to you from your Father in heaven, and not by anything you've done.
and what does the LORD require of you,
But to do justly, to love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
I often see young children deliberately disobey and defy their parents. I have also seen young children actually smack their parents when they were told they could not do something or could not have something. Children will disobey, defy and smack as long as they do not experience negative consequences. It is my opinion that this country is experiencing the fallout of the spared rod. We have a nation of children being parents who had absentee parents. This next generation of children do not just have absentee parents, but non-responsive parents. My question is, "How will they ever know the love of the ultimate parent; God?"
In Micah chapter 6, God pleads with the nation of Israel as a Father desiring to call them back to obedience. God's prophet, Micah, is addressing an Israel which has been steeped in idolatry as they have taken on the worship of other nations' gods. "Please don't do that," He has been saying. "Remember, I am your Father, and I am telling you there will be consequences if you do not obey me." (I often wonder how to answer those who ask the question,"If He is such a loving God, why is there so much pain and misery in the world?")
Practicing sin will never find favor with God. In fact, if a person continues in sin the bible tells us he "will not inherit the kingdom of God." God has told us what is good and what He requires of us. Today, very much like the Israelites in the time of Micah, most people have no idea what the word of God says. Most people get their sense of morality by word of mouth or by comparing their actions to anyone they can find who they deem as being "worse" than them.
If you watch any television show for any length of time, you will quickly find someone you can compare yourself to and think, "I'm not that bad." Folks, please understand, as a Christian the only standard to which you can measure yourself is that of Jesus Christ. Really, if you can stand your life up next to the life that Jesus exemplified and still say, "I'm not that bad," you are a liar.
Three things He requires of us: Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly. Do justly by "working out your own salvation" without regard for how others are handling theirs; that is, live righteously and quit comparing yourself to others. Love mercy by forgiving others when they don't live up to your expectations. It will happen, maybe even every day. Give them the same mercy God offers to them. And walk humbly by acknowledging that whatever it is you have or hope to have only comes to you from your Father in heaven, and not by anything you've done.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
How Sure is Your Faith?
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen . . . By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."
If you are a public school student today, you will learn that this world was formed by millions and millions of years of evolution. If you go to Yellowstone National Park, they will tell you that all of the fascinating geological anomalies were created by natural phenomena through the course of billions of years of earthquakes, tremors and glacial erosion. If you were to watch a television special on dinosaurs or the history of the earth, you'd be told many millions of years separate various ages and eras of our world.
The bible tells us "by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." I find it fascinating that the word of God is so unapologetic in its approach. The bible tells us many times throughout scripture that the world was formed by God. It also tells us that Jesus Christ, our Savior, is the one who actually holds all things together. He keeps the universe from twirling out of control into a chaotic mess from which unbelievers would like us to think we came. He holds the miracle of life, which we call our bodies, together. It is only through unbelief in the creator of all things that this world will continue to follow (and pursue) such false teaching. The more the world follows such teaching, the more many will be "given over" to what they believe, making it impossible for them to come to a saving knowledge of their Savior, Jesus Christ. As the time for Christ's return draws closer, the enemy will endeavor more desperately to draw people away from the truth of God's teaching.
How sincere is your faith in the Creator? Do you believe the bible without question? Satan's oldest tactic in his attempt to draw believers away from their faith is to cast doubt into their minds. It succeeded with Eve, and it continues today.
In Proverbs, Solomon tells us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Not many of us today truly fear God. At best, most of us think of Him as a buddy. Many of us think of Him as a last resort. ("I've tried everything else; God help me!") But do we truly fear Him? Do we understand that as we come to Him in prayer and in reading His word, HE IS THE CREATOR OF LIFE? He gives and takes away. He is sovereign in all things. He decides the who, what when, where and how. The "why" doesn't really matter because it's all up to Him. Do I fear God? You bet I do. Do I believe His word? Without question.
While it is imperative that our society be mindful of these truths, it is so very obvious that our society is heading down a corrupt path toward continued disobedience and unrepentance, which will bring dire, irreversible consequences. Read your school books and do your assignments as directed; only read them with the knowledge that true wisdom comes from the knowledge of the holy One, the Creator of everything, as you read the scriptures for the best history lesson.
If you are a public school student today, you will learn that this world was formed by millions and millions of years of evolution. If you go to Yellowstone National Park, they will tell you that all of the fascinating geological anomalies were created by natural phenomena through the course of billions of years of earthquakes, tremors and glacial erosion. If you were to watch a television special on dinosaurs or the history of the earth, you'd be told many millions of years separate various ages and eras of our world.
The bible tells us "by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." I find it fascinating that the word of God is so unapologetic in its approach. The bible tells us many times throughout scripture that the world was formed by God. It also tells us that Jesus Christ, our Savior, is the one who actually holds all things together. He keeps the universe from twirling out of control into a chaotic mess from which unbelievers would like us to think we came. He holds the miracle of life, which we call our bodies, together. It is only through unbelief in the creator of all things that this world will continue to follow (and pursue) such false teaching. The more the world follows such teaching, the more many will be "given over" to what they believe, making it impossible for them to come to a saving knowledge of their Savior, Jesus Christ. As the time for Christ's return draws closer, the enemy will endeavor more desperately to draw people away from the truth of God's teaching.
How sincere is your faith in the Creator? Do you believe the bible without question? Satan's oldest tactic in his attempt to draw believers away from their faith is to cast doubt into their minds. It succeeded with Eve, and it continues today.
In Proverbs, Solomon tells us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Not many of us today truly fear God. At best, most of us think of Him as a buddy. Many of us think of Him as a last resort. ("I've tried everything else; God help me!") But do we truly fear Him? Do we understand that as we come to Him in prayer and in reading His word, HE IS THE CREATOR OF LIFE? He gives and takes away. He is sovereign in all things. He decides the who, what when, where and how. The "why" doesn't really matter because it's all up to Him. Do I fear God? You bet I do. Do I believe His word? Without question.
While it is imperative that our society be mindful of these truths, it is so very obvious that our society is heading down a corrupt path toward continued disobedience and unrepentance, which will bring dire, irreversible consequences. Read your school books and do your assignments as directed; only read them with the knowledge that true wisdom comes from the knowledge of the holy One, the Creator of everything, as you read the scriptures for the best history lesson.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sincere Faith = Salvation
"Joshua" was the name Moses gave him. His original name was Hoshea ("salvation"). Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Moses gave him the name Joshua ("Jehovah saves"). A big difference, isn't it? Joshua, was a just-born first-born son of Nun when the angel of Death passed over the land of Egypt. I imagine that is why his parents named him "salvation". His newly given name of "Jehovah saves" was representative of the significant role he was to play in leading the Israelites in to the Promised Land. Joshua is an Old Testament picture of Jesus.
What was Moses' role? Moses, through God, introduced the Law. But we know that the Law cannot save us, therefore unable to bring us into the "Promised Land" (heaven). It is only by grace through faith in Christ which anyone can be saved. Enter Joshua; our picture of Jesus. Joshua introduces to us a picture of a life lived in the Spirit of the living God. Our old life of living in the Law-with all the condemnation attached-is left behind on one side of the Jordan River. It is only through our faith in Jesus (Joshua) that we can be filled with the Spirit and have access to the heaven that awaits us on the other side of faith!
Joshua was just a picture of what Jesus was to come and do after He was baptized in the Jordan. He faithfully obeyed and served His Father. The first chapter of Joshua and the third verse gives us the key to everlasting life which is faith in our Savior: "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses." It is a statement that requires absolutely nothing but sincere faith in what God declares. God says " . . . I HAVE given you. . ." Not I WILL give you. It's done! As Paul says in his wonderful letter to the Romans, "There is therefore NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."! When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, it's done! Our salvation is secure through Jehovah who saves!
Whatever it is that pursues you: persecution, trials, famine, poverty, death, hatred, you name it; there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. But remember, us receiving Christ is not something He needs from you or me. He certainly doesn't need you or me. When we speak of Jesus to unbelievers, our tendency is to approach it as if we have to sell something; almost as if God needs to fill heaven with more people to join his pyramid scheme. This a a gift He offers us. It is a take it or leave it offer--no hard sell. There are no tangible benefits for Him if we accept His offer. He just loves us and, like a true parent, wants what is best for us; even more, He wants to protect us from the alternative if we do not choose Him. But He just desires that it be our choice-not coerced. I love this God that I can not fathom. That's all He desires is our excellence through sincere faith in His Son . . . nothing more.
What was Moses' role? Moses, through God, introduced the Law. But we know that the Law cannot save us, therefore unable to bring us into the "Promised Land" (heaven). It is only by grace through faith in Christ which anyone can be saved. Enter Joshua; our picture of Jesus. Joshua introduces to us a picture of a life lived in the Spirit of the living God. Our old life of living in the Law-with all the condemnation attached-is left behind on one side of the Jordan River. It is only through our faith in Jesus (Joshua) that we can be filled with the Spirit and have access to the heaven that awaits us on the other side of faith!
Joshua was just a picture of what Jesus was to come and do after He was baptized in the Jordan. He faithfully obeyed and served His Father. The first chapter of Joshua and the third verse gives us the key to everlasting life which is faith in our Savior: "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses." It is a statement that requires absolutely nothing but sincere faith in what God declares. God says " . . . I HAVE given you. . ." Not I WILL give you. It's done! As Paul says in his wonderful letter to the Romans, "There is therefore NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."! When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, it's done! Our salvation is secure through Jehovah who saves!
Whatever it is that pursues you: persecution, trials, famine, poverty, death, hatred, you name it; there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. But remember, us receiving Christ is not something He needs from you or me. He certainly doesn't need you or me. When we speak of Jesus to unbelievers, our tendency is to approach it as if we have to sell something; almost as if God needs to fill heaven with more people to join his pyramid scheme. This a a gift He offers us. It is a take it or leave it offer--no hard sell. There are no tangible benefits for Him if we accept His offer. He just loves us and, like a true parent, wants what is best for us; even more, He wants to protect us from the alternative if we do not choose Him. But He just desires that it be our choice-not coerced. I love this God that I can not fathom. That's all He desires is our excellence through sincere faith in His Son . . . nothing more.
Friday, January 8, 2010
On Being the Fragrance of Christ
"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life." 2 Cor. 2: 14-16
Have you ever had a big whiff of rotting flesh? Not very pleasant, is it? In fact, in certain circumstances my gag reflexes take over and I am bent over on the verge of losing my lunch. This past camping season, as I was preparing the camp for guests, I kept getting that strong, familiar scent of rotting flesh. Because of how pungent the smell was, I could never get a handle on from where it was coming. I did have my sister's dog, Madison, with me for the day. It took Madison only a few moments to locate, and proudly bring to me, the rotted shin and hoof of a deer. It was without a doubt the source of the fragrant "aroma of death." To me the fragrance was the aroma of death and rotting flesh. To Madison, in terms of her natural base instincts, I would say it the wonderful fragrance of life. For Madison's ancestors, it meant survival.
In most of today's social settings, if you and I are vocal about our faith in Christ, we are considered annoying, offensive, maybe even insensitive. Why? Well, the world would say it's because people who believe that salvation is through faith in Christ alone is myopic and intolerant, leaving no room for the beliefs of others. That is what they would say, but deep down, in the innermost part of their being, everyone-having been created in God's image-has the knowledge of the living God. This of course creates an uncomfortable existence. Therefore, through sincere believers, the love of God is "diffused" to anyone they meet. As we walk around this world, believers are the fragrance of Christ. To other believers it tanslates to a wonderful aroma of life in which we can experience the joyous, spiritual intimacy which comes from the knowledge that we will share an eternity in Paradise.
However, to those who are not believers, that same fragrance of Christ which we emit has that uncomfortable, unpleasant aroma of death. They have been told by the world (the reality shows, MTV, VH1, magazines, talk show hosts and politicians) that the aroma of death they are smelling is coming from the Christian next to them. However, the most disturbing reality is that the aroma of death they smell is the unconcious knowledge of barrenness of a heaven-bound life in eternity within themselves.
This is not a popular subject, even within our milque-toast churches today. But it is what the apostle Paul is communicating to us in our passage today. Believer, I urge you to continue to be that fragrance of Christ, in so doing you may draw others to the "aroma of life leading to life"!
Have you ever had a big whiff of rotting flesh? Not very pleasant, is it? In fact, in certain circumstances my gag reflexes take over and I am bent over on the verge of losing my lunch. This past camping season, as I was preparing the camp for guests, I kept getting that strong, familiar scent of rotting flesh. Because of how pungent the smell was, I could never get a handle on from where it was coming. I did have my sister's dog, Madison, with me for the day. It took Madison only a few moments to locate, and proudly bring to me, the rotted shin and hoof of a deer. It was without a doubt the source of the fragrant "aroma of death." To me the fragrance was the aroma of death and rotting flesh. To Madison, in terms of her natural base instincts, I would say it the wonderful fragrance of life. For Madison's ancestors, it meant survival.
In most of today's social settings, if you and I are vocal about our faith in Christ, we are considered annoying, offensive, maybe even insensitive. Why? Well, the world would say it's because people who believe that salvation is through faith in Christ alone is myopic and intolerant, leaving no room for the beliefs of others. That is what they would say, but deep down, in the innermost part of their being, everyone-having been created in God's image-has the knowledge of the living God. This of course creates an uncomfortable existence. Therefore, through sincere believers, the love of God is "diffused" to anyone they meet. As we walk around this world, believers are the fragrance of Christ. To other believers it tanslates to a wonderful aroma of life in which we can experience the joyous, spiritual intimacy which comes from the knowledge that we will share an eternity in Paradise.
However, to those who are not believers, that same fragrance of Christ which we emit has that uncomfortable, unpleasant aroma of death. They have been told by the world (the reality shows, MTV, VH1, magazines, talk show hosts and politicians) that the aroma of death they are smelling is coming from the Christian next to them. However, the most disturbing reality is that the aroma of death they smell is the unconcious knowledge of barrenness of a heaven-bound life in eternity within themselves.
This is not a popular subject, even within our milque-toast churches today. But it is what the apostle Paul is communicating to us in our passage today. Believer, I urge you to continue to be that fragrance of Christ, in so doing you may draw others to the "aroma of life leading to life"!
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