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Remember who He Is
September 28, 2003
"And
when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man, And He laid His right
hand upon me saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last'"(Rev.
1:17).
Attitudes toward God have changed. In
our time it is common for people to adopt a casual attitude toward God.
Often missing is the reverence that characterized other times. True, we
can have a
closeness with God. We may even approach him boldly (Hebrews 14-16). At
the same time, we must understand that God is never just another
"buddy."
John was given a vision of one "like
a son of man." With eyes like fire and "like white wool, white as snow," this man had a voice that was
like
the sound of many waters. His face was "like the sun shining in its strength." What was John's reaction? He fell at this man's feet as a dead man. He
realized that he was standing in the presence of the Son of God.
This reaction is typical of those
who stood in the presence of God. Isaiah could only think of his own
sinfulness. Daniel completely lost all
strength. Standing
in the presence of God is an awesome experience. It is one that invokes
the deepest sense of reverence.
We need to remember that God is God. Reverence for Him must always characterize our worship. We do not
come before some supernatural buddy. We
bow humbly before the God of the universe. [Doug Post]
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"Teleevangelist"
One Florida “pastor” is being scrutinized by
the media because of his seemingly decadent behavior. A Florida
television station and the Tampa Tribune report that the founder of
Deeper Life Christian Church, Melvin Jefferson, drives a Bentley and
lives in a walled estate while his followers solicit money on street
corners. The newspaper and WFLA-TV also assert that Jefferson was
married to two women at the same time in the late 1990s. The church
claims to have
congregations in 38 locations from Florida to
Virginia, Texas, and Michigan. The Tribune states that church members
are sent out nationwide to collect spare change in buckets marked "Help feed needy women and children," and that children in the
church often work 12 hours a day, selling candy to raise money for
Deeper Life. The 54-year old Jefferson, who reportedly has no
theological training, has told his congregation that he does not need to
answer his critics
(Agape Press,
9/26/03).
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Denominational Book on
Homosexuality
In his book, The Man Jesus Loved: Homoerotic
Narratives from The New Testament, Jennings
claims Jesus Christ not only condoned homosexual relationships, but
was involved in one. He argues that disapproval of the
behavior of persons based on their sexual orientation or homosexual
practices is a fundamental distortion of the biblical message:
"In
this book, my intention is to break with the defensive strategy of
dealing primarily with passages that are alleged to support
homophobia and gay bashing," Jennings writes. "This
strategy gives greater plausibility than is deserved to the
traditional (mis)reading of the Bible. Instead I will focus on an
examination of what is, in fact, the preponderance of the evidence:
that which includes and affirms homoerotic desire and relationships."
Although the United Methodist Church's Book of Discipline
opposes homosexuality, Jennings
says he has not been disciplined by his denomination.
"I've not yet had any backlash from [Methodists leaders]," he
says. "I know that
[the incompatibility of homosexuality with scripture] has
been the official position of the [Methodist] Church.
I love my church and I work
very hard with the Methodist Church, but if the Church were always
right, it would have no need for theologians, we'd be out of work."
While
Jennings admits that Old Testament law and the Apostle Paul's writings condemn homosexuality, he argues that churches
have failed to do a study of the gospels on the issue. In addition, he says the biggest difference in
responses to his book have not been between liberals and
evangelicals, but between those who have and have not read his book. "Those
who have not looked at the book tend to be reacting to some fairly
sensational ways ... the
book [is described] in the
press, and react in ways that quite naturally express their alarm,
their concern, their perplexity," he says. According to
Jennings, all
of his colleagues, as well as the administration and board of
trustees at Chicago Theological Seminary have been supportive
of his so-called "scholarly
inquiry into the Bible." Support from the seminary should
not be surprising. Its mission statement says that "while
church and society are threatened by new forces of division under
the banner of homophobia, [we are committed] to
developing leadership for a more inclusive church and society."
The seminary also grants special considerations to "self-identified
gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered students who show
exceptional promise for ministry."
Additionally, the denomination with which the
seminary is affiliated (United Church of Christ) claims to be "one
of the most diverse Christian churches" in the U.S.. Open
homosexuals hold a number of national church offices, and the
denomination requires that homosexuals are included on all church
agency boards. In
an article by Concerned Women for America, Mark Tooley of the Institute on
Religion and Democracy describes the UCC this way: "The most liberal of America's mainline denominations, the UCC marries
gays, ordains witches, and prefers sit-ins (just name the cause) to
evangelistic rallies," Tooley said. "It's also been one of
the fastest imploding churches, having lost about 40% of its members
in 35 years."
(9/25/03,
AgapePress).
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Its
Okay to be Real
By Doug Post
The
world is looking for a place where people aren't putting up fronts
or wearing masks. "Be
real" is a common expression in our day, and is some very
good advice for all of us.
Hypocrisy is not confined to religion; it is everywhere. I've heard
people reject religion because "There
are too many hypocrites in the church."
Yet
these same people are not influenced by them in other areas of life. Society is crowded with them, and yet they never
think of becoming hermits. There are hypocrites on the job, but they
won't quit. Hell is full
of them, and yet they don't do a thing to keep from going there.
During His ministry Jesus had a lot to say about the traits and
destiny of hypocrites. In general, the Greek word "hupocrisis"
means
to play
a
part, act, false, deceptive, deceived; formally and outwardly
religious and good, but inwardly insincere and unrighteous.
The play actor may deceive himself as well as others.
This is why "the way of
the hypocrite's hope shall perish" (Job 8:13).
On no other class did our Lord pronounce such severe condemnation as
on the "play actors"
of his day. (See Matthew 23.)
Only
God knows who is real and who is merely playing a part.
John Milton, in Paradise Lost, Book III, wrote, "For
neither man or angel can
discern hypocrisy, the
only evil that walks invisible, except to God alone."
If hypocrisy is part of your
lifestyle, let me encourage you to lay it aside before it is too
late (1 Peter 2:1).
It's
okay to be real.
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