Counterfeit Christianity

Money has been counterfeited in countless ways over the years and across societies, but it isn’t just money that gets counterfeited. People counterfeit watches, handbags, sunglasses, clothes, and much more. I would argue that people have found ways to counterfeit almost anything truly unique or valuable in our world. And that includes Christianity.
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There are those in our world today who would gladly shave the rough edges off of Christianity, who would punch the very heart out of our religion, who would copy the general outline but then fill in the particulars to their own liking. Then they do what all counterfeiters do…they try to pass their fake off as the real thing. As Christians we must make sure that we know the difference between the real deal and these counterfeits. So, I want to give you a kind of litmus test for evaluating various expressions of Christianity. And that is this: any version of Christianity that the world approves of is counterfeit. 

Allow me to give you just one reason why this is the case...one reason why seeking the world’s approval of your christian convictions is a fool’s errand...one reason why the world can never approve of true Christianity. Here it is. The world rejected Jesus, therefore it must hate and reject any religion that is true to who He was. ‌

In John 7:7, Jesus said this to his unbelieving brothers. “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.” You can’t get much clearer than that. Jesus says the world hates Him. Over and over again wicked men plotted to destroy Jesus until they eventually succeeded in doing so at the cross. Do you really believe the world has changed? It hasn’t. It still hates Jesus and it still hates anyone who testifies that its works are evil like He did. Those who reject Jesus can’t approve of the religion He established. And we should stop expecting them to!

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Don’t expect people who reject Jesus to approve of your Christianity. Don’t allow people who hate Him tell you what to believe about Him or His Word!

Choking

Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Mark 4:18-19

Some think this passage speaks about unsaved people, but I disagree. I believe that this piece of the Parable of the Sower speaks of believers who prove to be tragically unproductive in their faith. In fact, I fear that this may even be true of a majority of believers today. We should read this passage then as a solemn warning that if we are not careful our faith in Jesus will amount to nothing. 

The passage points out three things we ought to be especially careful to avoid. Three things that rob the Christian of his fruitfulness in the Lord: the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and desires for other things. Let's look at each briefly.

Have you ever considered that the worries of life, both big and small, might be distracting you from more important, eternal matters? Wouldn't it be a shame to get to Heaven only to realize that you never really lived for God because you were too busy fussing over earthly things of no eternal worth. What a shame it would be to squander your chance to store up treasure in Heaven because you were living instead for dirty laundry, accounts payable, sporting events, new cars, politics, and entertainment. Ruthlessly prioritize your life according to what matters most!

There is perhaps no greater or more effective deception in our world today than the lie that money will make you happy. We all claim to know this is a lie, but deep down inside most of us still believe that a little more money would somehow make us happy. It won't! Money won't solve your problems, and it won't fulfill you. Beware the love of money! Satan is skilled at using money to wage war against our souls. Both rich and poor alike must work hard to avoid being deceived by the lure of money. One of the best ways I have found to combat this is to regularly give my money to the Lord. This serves as a constant test and reminder of which one I love more. Sacrificial giving keeps love of money in check. 

Lastly, Jesus warns us that our desires can choke our fruitfulness. Luke's version of this parable refers to these desires as "the pleasures of life." We get used to having certain pleasures or comforts, don't we? I can say for certain that I tend to want life to become easier and more comfortable as I age.  If I'm not careful I quickly begin to see something that was once a nicety as a necessity in my life. Satan has plenty of shiny bobbles and trinkets to distract us with in this world. Be careful that you don't fall prey to a sales trick. Don't chase pleasure, chase the LORD!

Take a moment to walk through the fields of your life and check on your harvest. Is the bounty coming in or are there thorny weeds that you need to pull? 

House of Mercy

Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

John 5:2-7

Our world is very much like this scene at the Pool of Bethesda. There were broken, hurting people everywhere. But Jesus didn't avert his eyes or walk on by. No. Instead, like a child that is drawn to the runt of the litter, Jesus instinctively approached the man who must have been the most desperate case there that day and He helped him.

This man had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Think about that. That's longer than most people in antiquity lived. Though we don't know the exact nature of his disability, it is clear from John 5 that he was unable to walk. He and others at that time believed that these pools were periodically stirred by an angel of God, and that when stirred were able to heal the first person who stepped down into them. He complains that he has no friend to help him and he is, of course, unable to drag himself into the pool quickly enough to be healed. How extremely sad it is to think of a man bearing so great a burden for so very long and having no friend to help him. 

Bethesda means "House of Mercy" but this man found no mercy there apart from Jesus. No one else was willing to put his need above their own. There is a lesson here for our churches. We are called to be houses of mercy. That means bearing the burdens of others, placing their needs above our own. May no one within our reach ever be able to say what this man said, that he had no friend to help him. Let this be our church’s mission. Let it be our personal mission. Those in crisis and those in great need are often more open to hearing about Jesus. So, tell them the good news. Offer them help. Be a friend. Carry their burdens.

Traitors for Christ (W.o.W Rewind)

...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead…You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

James 2:17, 24-26

Do you remember the story of Rahab the prostitute? I know… it’s been a long time. Let me refresh your memory. Joshua has just taken over for Moses as leader of Israel. They're at the edge of the Promised Land ready to take possession of it when Joshua sends out two spies to check out a city named Jericho that is well-known for its fortified walls. While in the city they stay with a woman named Rahab, a prostitute. Somehow the King finds out and sends guards to Rahab’s house to seize them. But Rahab hid the spies and sent the guards off in the wrong direction.

To explain to the spies why she helped them Rahab says, “I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you… for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below” (Joshua 2:9 and 11b). Then she asked the spies to swear to spare her life and the lives of all her family when they come take possession of the land. The spies agreed and Rahab let them down by a rope from her window. They returned to tell Joshua all that happened. Shortly thereafter Israel marched into the Promised Land and defeated Jericho. Rahab and all her family were spared.

So why are we talking about this obscure Old Testament character? Well, because the New Testament seems to think she is worth talking about. Notice that Rahab is the only woman mentioned by name as one who had faith in the great faith chapter, Hebrews 11. The apostle James also mentions her as an example of justification by faith in action. Not only that, but we also find out in Matthew 1 that this Rahab is an ancestor of Jesus Christ himself. So the real question is, what did Rahab get right that we need to imitate?

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as being “certain of what of we do not see.” From the account in Joshua 2 it is clear that Rahab is certain of something she does not see. She was certain that Israel’s God was the true God of heaven and earth. She had faith in a God whom she hadn’t even encountered yet. Hearing testimony of the great miracles that He was working on His people’s behalf was enough. She believed. But James rightly points out that Rahab did more than just believe; she acted on her faith. She was so certain of this that she was willing to wager her life on it. She was willing to betray her king, her city, and all the people in it (save her family) in order to be in right relationship with the one, true God. She was a traitor for Christ.

Now I want to ask you two questions. First, does your faith work? James says that “faith without works is dead.” If you have a living faith, then it will produce action in your life. It is this “living faith” that is dangerous. It is this type of faith that brings about change in our world and lights hearts on fire for the Lord. Do you have a living active faith? If not, then you should ask God to renew and revive your faith. We serve the originator of all life. It was He who breathed life into Adam and Eve’s lifeless forms, and He can breathe life into your lifeless faith if you ask Him to.

Second, are you willing to be a traitor for Christ? Rahab valued being in right relationship with God more than she valued anything else…even her own life. She knew she would be killed if the king’s guards found out she had lied, but she feared God more than death. She valued God above all else. She was willing to turn her back on everyone and everything in order to follow Him. The Bible teaches that this world is at odds with the world to come. James 4:4 says “friendship with the world is hostility toward God.” This world is so at odds with God’s kingdom that we must choose between the two. Where does your allegiance lie? Are you willing to “betray” this world in order to be a citizen of the next? Are you willing to choose God over any and everything else in this world that could compete for your time or passion? That’s what it means to be a traitor for Christ. You choose Christ over all else. You choose Christ over anything that comes between you and Him, because you value Him more than anything.

Make your choice.


For further reading this week…

• Joshua 2: Get the whole story.
• Hebrews 11: The great faith chapter.

It's Your Fault God!

But they said, “We will not come! Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? And now you also want to lord it over us! Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you want to treat these men like slaves? No, we will not come!”

Numbers 16:12-14

These are the words of two men who blame God for the consequences of their own sin. Two men who love the things of the world more than the things of God. Two men who throw God's kindness back in His face then have the audacity to impugn His goodness. The earth opened up and swallowed these two men, Dathan and Abiram, whole (Numbers 16:31-33). But don't think that you are incapable of falling into the same trap. Scripture tells us that the human heart is deceitful above all else (Jeremiah 17:9). So let's take a moment to learn from their sin.

These men were part of Korah's rebellion which took place after Israel was condemned to wander in the dessert for forty years. You'll remember that 12 spies were sent out into Canaan and brought back a unanimously good report from the land. They all said that it was indeed a "land flowing with milk and honey" just as God had said. But in regards to their ability to possess the land, there was a split decision. Only two of the spies believed that God could drive out the inhabitants of the land. The other ten filled Israel with fear. When the people refused to go up and possess the land God condemned them to wander in the dessert for forty years. After they had all died their children would learn to trust Him and would possess the land.

This is the context into which these men speak, and it casts light on the true nature of their sin. Look again at what they said. "Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness?" They never entered Canaan. The place they are calling a land flowing with milk and honey is Egypt, where they were enslaved and treated like animals! When they use this phrase which was used repeatedly in Scripture to describe the land God had promised to give to His people they are in essence saying, "Compared to where following God has brought us, being slaves in Egypt was like being in the Promised Land." They are unhappy about being stuck in the wilderness, but they wholly ignore that it was their own sin that put them there. Instead of taking responsibility for their sin, they lash out at God. After all that God had done for Israel in their lifetime, how could they possibly have such disdain for Him?

They were deceived. They loved the world and the things of the world more than God. I John 2:15 says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them." Are you mad at God for not giving you the things of the world? Be careful or you may end up despising the holy things of God and pouting that He hasn't given you material possessions, fame, the approval of men, athletic prowess, or an easy life. The New Testament doesn't suggest Christians should expect any of these things. Rather, we should thank God for giving us His Son, forgiveness, grace, righteousness, hope for eternity, a clear understanding of the truth, and the church. Or maybe, like these men, you blame God for things that are actually the consequences of your own sin? Take a long look at the reason you are angry with God. Is He really withholding something from you that you have a right to? The truth is that we have no rights before our Creator God, and though we deserve punishment He has given grace instead. Fall back on that grace today in gratitude.

We Love Jesus Far Too Little!

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ... 

Philippians 3:7-8

It's easy to overlook the verb tense shift in these verses from "I counted" in verse seven to "I count" in verse eight. Paul says that at some time in the past he counted (past tense) as loss all the things that were previously gain to him. All the things that were to his credit in this world, he laid down in order to gain Christ. Paul is talking about laying aside all of his hard-earned religious achievements that impressed men in order to receive Christ by grace. 

I believe Paul serves as an example of what happens to all believers here. All of us, in order to receive Christ at salvation, must let go of the things of this world. In order to receive God's grace and grasp hold of the cross, we must first empty our hands of our current gods. It makes no difference if that god is pleasure, or self-reliance. Jesus will not share the throne of our hearts with anyone. 

If you haven't already, let go of all that our world considers gain so that you may gain salvation in Jesus. Turn to Him in faith asking Him to forgive you of your sins, believing that His death on the cross paid the price for your sin and His resurrection from the dead set you free from the power of sin. Look to Him for grace and salvation.

For those of us who have already accepted Jesus, Paul has a further word. In verse eight Paul makes a subtle shift to the present tense to indicate that now, having progressed further in his Christian walk, he has let go of even more things to gain Christ. In the past Paul counted as loss the things that were previously to his gain. He had to do this for salvation. Now that he has tasted of Jesus' grace, now that he has seen how surpassingly good Christ is, Paul has willingly counts all things in this world as loss in order to have more of Jesus.

Many believers fail to live as courageously for Jesus as Paul did. Why is that? Why was Paul willing to suffer to take the gospel to new places? Why did he never take a wife, build a home and have children? Why was he willing to lay down his life and die as an example for the church and as a testimony to unbelievers? Because Paul was thoroughly convinced that Jesus was far better than anything this world has to offer. Here is a man who was deeply in love with Jesus, and he was willing to sacrifice anything...everything in order to that he might grow closer to Him. Paul wanted to know Him more and serve Him better.

Why is it that we can never find time for Bible study or prayer? Why is it that we are still so entangled by the cares of this world: by money, fear, reputation, success, and the opinions of men? Why is it that we are still struggling with the same old sins so many years after our conversion? It is because we love this world far too much and we love Jesus far too little!

O Lord, help us to fall more deeply in love with You today! Remind us of Jesus' surpassing greatness. Give us a glimpse of His beauty and His goodness again. Call us back to you in gentleness and in love. As we grow in our relationship with You, help us to let go of this world and to cling to the cross of Jesus more closely day by day.

You are Barabbas

Today, I want you to put yourself into the story of Jesus' crucifixion. Put yourself in Barabbas' place. Imagine that you are rotting in a Roman cell having been found guilty of murder and of rebelling against the Roman government. One day while you are awaiting your certain execution a guard comes and hauls you before the governor. You know this is not good. Judgment day has come. You are brought out on a platform before a large crowd of people. There on the platform with you is the governor and another prisoner, already black and blue from the beatings he had received. As the governor points at this other prisoner he says to the crowd:

“You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” (Luke 23:14-16)

It is then that you realize that this other prisoner is Jesus of Nazareth. You have heard enough about the man to know who He is. You can't help but notice the irony in the situation. Jesus has been falsely accused of the very thing you are guilty of, involvement in rebellion against Rome. Just then the whole crowd, having been churned up by the religious leaders cries out as with one voice.

“Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (Luke 23:18)

A sudden swell of hope rises up inside of you. Never did you think the religious leaders would be lobbying on behalf of a man like you! Could it be possible that you would be released today in keeping with the governor's tradition during the feast? The governor continues making appeals on Jesus' behalf, but the mob begins to shout.

“Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Luke 23:21)

The governor quiets the crowd and appeals for a third time.

“Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” (Luke 23:22)

But the crowd responds with even more insistent shouting. It could actually happen, you think. I could be set free! The governor knows that he cannot allow a riot so he gives in to their demand. He orders your release. A guard comes over and removes your shackles pushing you toward the stairs that will lead you down into the crowd. He then shuffles over to Jesus and leads Him away to be crucified.

*****

We don't know how the historical Barabbas responded to the great gift he had received. Did he grow to love and appreciate the man who had died in his place? Did this encounter change him in any way? We don't know. But maybe the question I should be asking is how will you respond?

The truth is that you are Barabbas, and so am I. We are guilty; Jesus is innocent. He died the death that our sin deserved while we go free. The crowd likes us better because our guilt makes them feel comfortable, better about themselves even. The world applauds and cheers for us as long we continue in our sin; but it hates Jesus. His innocence and the truth He speaks shine a light on their own guilt. The guilt they are so desperately trying to cover up. They cannot tolerate his blinding righteousness any longer. He must die to assuage their consciences.

So how will you respond to Jesus' death on your behalf? Will you continue living for yourself? Will you live for the cheers of the crowd? Do you realize how great a pardon you have received? Will you call Jesus Lord? Will you live for Him?

Never forget that you are guilty. Never forget that you are forgiven. These two truths must be ever before the minds of Christians.

When Love is Bad

Quick! Stop and make a list of ten things you love. What's on your list?

Now read today's passage.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

I John 2:15-17

Now evaluate your list of loves in light of this challenging command from God. Where is your heart focused? Do you love this world and the things of the world or do you love the things that come from the Father? Well, to answer that question you first need to understand that Scripture often uses the term "world" as a metaphor for all the things, people, actions and attitudes in this life that are set against God in rebellion. The term is sometimes applied in such a way as to include all that finds its origin in this posture of rejection of God and all that is tainted by it. Thus, when the Apostle John says "do not love the world or anything in the world," he is not speaking of the planet Earth, as though we would be safe from this sin if we lived on Mars. Nor is he saying that it is wrong to love physical things in this world like dogs or Dr. Pepper (my current indulgence of choice). Rather, he is telling Christians that we must not love this attitude of opposition to God or the many sinful things that often accompany or spring from it.

The Apostle John taught a lot about the love a Christian should have. And rightly so! The Bible says a lot about it. In a sense John is urging believers to do nothing other than what the book of Proverbs said so long before: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Prov. 4:23). Jesus also spoke of the importance of loving the right things.  He said that the greatest commandment is for us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). It makes perfect sense, then, that loving rebellion against God and those things which find their source in this rebellion is wholly contemptible to God. Christians must be wary of the seduction of this world. If we are not careful, then little by little, our enemy draws us in with promises of entertainment, threats of missing out on something good, hints of endless pleasure, and hopes of a relaxing escape from the daily grind of life. Before we know it our hearts are captive to sin.

It is a terrible thing when something so noble as love is degraded by having lit upon something so debase as sin. Love is the noblest of all emotions. The Apostle John himself says that God is love and that we know true Christian love only because we have seen it personified in Christ's death for us. This helps explain why loving the right things is the greatest command. We love God first and our neighbors (especially our brothers in Christ) next. Having a heart that is bent towards these things in love not only makes obedience easy but is admirable. In the same way it is bad enough to participate in sin, to willingly reject and mock God, but to actually love these things, to have a heart that longs for them- what could be worse? Nothing.

This brings us back to what challenges me most about this passage, the second half of verse fifteen. "Do not love the world or anything in the world." Can I really say that I do not love anything in the world? Is my heart completely free of love for sinful entertainment, sinful behavior, jokes that make light of sin, sexual misconduct, the glorification of violence and killing. It saddens me to admit that there are still parts of my heart in love with sin. Thankfully there is hope in this passage as well. The command to love rightly presupposes that Christians have the ability to exercise control over what we love (presumably through the Spirit's help within us). So I lift my diseased heart up to the Lord in prayer and pray with King David,

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 51:10, 1-2