Stage In The Sky

If you believe in Jesus, all of your sins are forgiven. Everything you’ve done in the past and everything you’ll do in the future…it’s all forgiven by God no matter how many times you mess up. Why do I hate this message?

That’s the main message being pushed in this Men’s Group I joined at church.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe the message of Forgiveness should be repeated to those who are already deeply committed Christian believers. Yes…remind them of this message, that no matter how many times they mess up, God still loves them and they are saved. Preach it!

However…when it comes to my generation of lukewarm Christians, the ones who say they believe in Jesus and call themselves Christians without ever having picked up the Bible…not going to lie, dear readers, I hate preaching this message to them.

Why? Let’s talk about it.

1. Lukewarm Christians are a Problem
2. Ashamed to be Called Christian
3. What Does it Mean to “Believe”?
4. Do “Believing Christians” Have a Free Pass?
5. Should Christians Feel Shame or Guilt?
6. Is it Okay to Wait Until the Last Minute to Believe?
7. Is Forgiveness of Your Sins the MOST Important Message to Preach?
8. Epilogue: Replacing Religion with Equality and “Reason”

Lukewarm Christians are a Problem

I hate it, because I blame them for having perverted the word of God, diluting it, and encouraging people to conform Christ’s teachings to their lives, instead conforming their lives to Christ’s teachings.

I blame them for my years of suffering, where I had to walk alone because so many people claimed to be Christians but refused or outright rejected how the Bible calls us to live.

I’m not mad about them possibly getting the same reward that I’m getting. That’s all up to God’s grace and generosity as Jesus taught with his parable of the Workers on the Vineyard. I’m mad because they haven’t set foot on the vineyard at all…and what’s worse, they called me stupid and foolish for working at all.

That’s right. While they accused me of trying to “shame them,” they were the ones shaming me for being too conservative or self-righteous. They called me arrogant and accused me of acting or thinking I’m “better than everyone else.”

I had an older cousin, who’s since passed away, tell me that I needed to do a Pharasee-Check because I was writing about how immoral and lopsided my generation’s become, which is no different from what Jeremiah or Elijah did. Was I supposed to keep the Word to myself?

I never condemned anyone. I never declared a person was going to hell. I merely showed everyone the Scriptures to combat the lies, primarily when it comes to sexual immorality, adultery, divorce, and homosexuality. Because I believe these are the top things that have ruined my generation more than anything.

When I was 29, still in the middle of my first read through of the Bible, I remember talking to a potential love interest about my conversion and submission to Christ, the process of Sanctification.

This love interest…she was very loose with her sexual morality. I never shamed her. I never said, “Stop and wait until marriage to have sex.” We used to work-out together and I merely preached the necessity to read the Bible for herself.

She said, “I don’t think I need to read the Bible because I already know God. God is in my heart.”

That’s what this girl said, the same girl who first introduced me to the concept of Tinder and lauded how great it was to find people in your area to have casual sex with. That’s my generation. THAT’S what I had to deal with for years.

One Christian after another. Almost everyone used the excuse of “these are the times we’re living in” and God will forgive us because he understands what we have to go through.

Ashamed to be Called Christian

Dealing with “Christians” like that…not only did it make me feel like I was the foolish one for actually living by Bible principles…they made me ashamed to be called a Christian.

“Well, Rock. No one can make you…”

Let me stop you right there. It’s called Influence. It’s a real thing.

If every Christian you meet, your age, and in the same world has given into sinful behavior and act like it’s no big deal or that it’s acceptable…you are susceptible to feelings of “maybe I’m wrong. They call themselves Christians too. So, maybe it’s okay to do what they’re doing? Maybe I shouldn’t obey. No one else is.”

I’ve had this debate with a close Christian friend years ago. This friend is a former cop turned Criminal Defense attorney. The main reason why I’ve been hesitant to go to his church is because his pastor preaches the message of: “if you believe in Jesus Christ, you’re saved no matter how many times you sin. You’re still forgiven as long as you believe.”

Having read the entire Bible, I knew two things:

1) He was correct.

2) It bothers me to the nth degree that we overlook the importance of the word, “believe”.

John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Thus, it’s true that all who “believe” in Jesus are saved. But what does it mean to believe? Demons believed Jesus Christ existed and was real. Are they saved?

Here’s my stance on it. When it comes to those who “Believe,” I think the Bible is primarily talking about the belief in Christ being our lord and savior who sacrificed himself in death, and was resurrected, which atoned for all our sins.

“Alright, Rock! I believe that too!”

How?

What Does it Mean to “Believe”?

Is it enough for you simply tell yourself over and over again that something is true? Is that “belief”?

Let me give you an example.

If you believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior, and He says that homosexuality is abomination but the world says that it’s okay and acceptable…who do you believe?

If Christ tells us that your love of God should come before your love of humans, and you still went to a Gay Pride event knowing full well that God thinks homosexuality is an abomination, what does that mean? What does that say about you? (Leviticus 18:22)

I say these things not to scare or put undue pressure onto Christians…but to emphasize the healthy amount of fear and respect all should have for our Lord and Savior. God is love. He is merciful, patient, and abundant with undeserved kindness…but he is still our Heavenly Father.

Disobedience is no small thing.

I always say, the Old Testament teaches us about the Character of God, while the New Testament teaches us how to live and emphasizes the good news (Gospel) of everlasting life for every true believer.

If you read the Old Testament, you’ll find that almost every true man of God (David, Isaiah, Moses, Noah, Abraham), some may have questioned him, some might have even been angry with him…but all recognized his sovereign power and authority. All had a healthy fear and reverence for Jehovah.

Do “Believing Christians” Have a Free Pass?

Since September 8^th, I’ve been going to a weekly Men’s Group at church. This is a good group of men. Strong, mature, striving. The leader of this group emphasizes our roles as family heads and why it is on us to really understand the Scriptures so we can explain it to others.

I respect this group.

The 6-week series we’re currently going through however, is called “Are You Really a Christian” by Daniel Indradjaja.

It’s a lovely series with a lot of uplifting messages. It aims to address the fear and confusion surrounding salvation and eternal security.

I’ve found that Daniel’s core message is: If you believe in Jesus Christ, you’re saved. So, you should rest easy and be settled in the peace and security of knowing that no matter what, you’re forgiven.

He used an awesome example of someone at an airport terminal. He said that those who are on the waiting list are likely stressed and antsy about whether or not they have a place on the airplane.

But those who have a ticket with their seat numbers printed on it, those people are more relaxed and taking it easy.

Similarly, we as Christians should be more relaxed and take it easy because we know we have a place in the Kingdom of Heaven as believers in Christ.

Again, I don’t believe he’s wrong…And yet…I do believe there’s a couple of Scriptures that should keep us on our toes as believers.

Should Christians Feel Shame or Guilt?

When you go through Daniel Indradjaja’s 6-part series, there are a number of Scriptures that support and give strength to the notion of “all who believe are saved no matter what we do” and “no one can snatch God’s followers from his hands.” (John 10:28-30)

Still…the words that can’t be overlooked are “believe”. And in John 10, linked above, Jesus is talking about “his sheep”.

The question you should ask yourself is do you really “believe” and are you really his “sheep”?

Daniel Indradjaja’s series goes on to explain different terms like Justification, Sanctification, Salvation, and Discipleship.

He seems to opine that not every believer is necessarily a disciple. And yet, the believer who doesn’t live like a disciple is still saved.

I’m not so sure about that. (open for discussion, I could be wrong)

Off the top of my head, I recall the Scriptures that say:

– Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. (Revelations 3:16)

– Take up your cross and follow me (Matt 16:24-26)

– If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15-17)

– Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven (Matt 7:21-23)

That last scripture…I’m sorry, but there’s no way I can read that and think to myself that I’m good no matter how many times I sin and mess up.

If I keep sinning, if I keep willfully going against how God calls us to live no matter how much I try to justify it, one should reasonably ask themselves if they really “believe.” God gave us a conscience for a reason.

Even in the Men’s Group where everyone’s allowed to speak and give their thoughts, I brought up the Scriptures at 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 where it says certain behaviors have no place in the Kingdom of God.

Sins like, adultery, sexual immorality, idolaters, and homosexuality. Sins that are promoted, accepted, normalized, and celebrated by this wicked world. The Scriptures say the “unrighteous” have no place in the Kingdom of Heaven.

So, if you partake in these activities and behaviors, are you righteous? And since we know that righteousness is imparted on us by God’s grace, then isn’t it an indicator that those who continuously indulge in such behaviors aren’t righteous?

Again, I’m not pointing this out to condemn anyone. But to counter the argument that all who “claim” to believe are saved.

Talk is cheap. Anyone can SAY this or that. But are you really?

As much as I’ve been called arrogant and self-righteous by those who clearly live however they want, I’d think it’d be true arrogance and self-righteousness to assume you are good and guaranteed a place in heaven no matter what you do, think, or don’t do (like read the Bible and put forth an effort to draw close to God)

I’m not talking about legalism or “works,” which I honestly think is foolish for Christians to get hung-up on. But by God’s grace and the Holy Spirit, it will be evident by your priorities, your desires, and your will to serve and obey.

It may not be evident to me. Again, I’m just a human like the rest of you. But having read the entire Bible twice over now, you come to realize that Jehovah has seen the best and worst of us. He’s seen those who call themselves clever and cunning. He’s seen every trick and deceit in the book. He knows our hearts.

Another Christian in our Men’s Group, countered the notion of “you’re saved no matter how many times you sin” with the scriptures at Hebrews 10:26-27 that says:

“26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.”

When he brought that up, the Church Group leader tried to make some argument about how “context matters” and the message was given primarily to the Jews…but I’m not buying it.

Context does matter, yes, but there are plenty of Scriptures that are pretty explicit.

Is it Okay to Wait Until the Last Minute to Believe?

Still on Daniel Indradjaja’s series, there were a number of guys in the group who seem to think that if you wait until your deathbed and then, just then, you ask for a priest or simply allow yourself to believe in Jesus Christ…then you’re saved.

Someone brought up the example of the man dying on the cross next to Jesus as an example. And another member made it personal by talking about how his Grandmother did such a thing, by waiting until her deathbed and confessing in Christ minutes before her death.

I wasn’t about to openly tell this guy who deeply loved his grandmother that he’s wrong.

But I am dubious.

Are those who say they believe on their deathbeds doing it for their love for God, or for their own self-preservation and the love of themselves? Only God knows. And again, I think you’re playing with fire by taking such risks.

I say that as one who once thought of such a tactic way back when I was a teenager. I looked around the church and realized there weren’t many people in their 20s and 30s. Just kids, and old folks.

I asked my mom, “How about, if I lived my life however I wanted to and when I get older and closer to death…then, I’ll ask for forgiveness and turn my focus to God?”

My mom answered, “It doesn’t work that way. Because you know the truth, you can’t claim ignorance.”

It takes me back to Hebrews 10:26. “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.”

Oscar Wilde was a hedonistic gay man who was widely known as the life and soul of the party. While I can’t say whether or not Oscar was a true Christian at heart who struggled with his faith given his weakness of the flesh, what is known is that he didn’t get baptized until a day before his death in November 1900.

So, does Hebrews 10:26 apply to him? Only God knows. Is it worth risking? Do you really want to be one of the great multitude doing whatever you want, waiting for the first drop of rain to suddenly start running for Noah’s Ark.

Is Forgiveness of Your Sins the MOST Important Message to Preach?

In the church group, they made mention of the Apostle Paul and how bad he was before he called to Christianity.

But the thing is, he did convert. He did repent. He became a believer. That isn’t to say he never sinned again. But by all (or most) accounts, he demonstrated his “belief” in Jesus Christ by the way he lived his life and onto death.

So, I guess the main question is…is forgiveness of our sins the MOST important message we should be focusing on preaching to Lukewarm Christians, nonbelievers, and Agnostics? (Mark 2:17)

It IS important. I’m not saying it isn’t. But is it the MOST important?

I don’t think it is.

Jesus Christ said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. (Matt 22:36-40)

In so doing…even with the most fervent of us Christians, I truly believe it’s natural and inevitable that we’re going to feel shame, guilt, and embarrassment when we fall short, stumble, and sin. Especially since we’re aware that we’re doing something wrong in God’s eyes.

I spoke about Oscar Wilde’s “weakness of the flesh.” Who hasn’t struggled with that?

This messed up Satanic world wants us to cast off shame and embrace the sin with a smile on our faces. I can’t do that.

Why?

Because I strive to love Jehovah God with my whole heart, soul, and mind. If I know that he thinks something is an abomination, if I know that he detests something, if I know how he calls us to live through his Word the Bible…how can I deliberately do it anyway?

In those scriptures at Matt 22:36-40, if you go on to read verse 40, it says, “all the laws and prophets hang on those commandments.”

If you put God first, if you consider his will and wants above your own, above your girlfriend’s own, above the the community, or even the liberal church…everything else will fall into place.

It’s just like what Jesus said at Matt 6:33, when you seek first the kingdom of Heaven, all things will be added onto you. Seek FIRST, the kingdom of heaven. Obey FIRST, the word of God. Love FIRST, Jehovah our father in heaven.

Once a person has settled his mind and committed himself to that commandment, then yeah…we can talk about the perks of “belief.”

That is my opinion. Of course, I could be wrong.

…

Epilogue: Replacing Religion with Equality and “Reason”

That’s the end of the essay, but just continuing my thoughts (as is my way)…I can’t help but look at France during the so-called Enlightenment era, particularly the September Massacres, and see what the world was like without God, when they tried to supplant God with their own human created, “Goddess of Reason.”

The Goddess of Reason represented the Enlightenment Ideas of “logic and reason” over religion.

I immediately recall a verse in Proverbs that calls us not to lean upon our own understanding, but to Trust in the Lord and submit to him. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

But during those Bloody Massacres in France where people were dragged out of prisons and hacked to death by a ruthless mob, there was a thing called the oath of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy.

Essentially, priests were faced with the choice of swearing their allegiance to France (humans) over religion (God), and if they didn’t…they were dragged into the streets and killed by the mob.

When I read about how the Princess de Lamballe was killed, something struck me about the oath they wanted her to declare. According to Wikipedia, which could be wrong, she was ordered to, “Swear to Liberty and Equality, and hatred of the King and Queen.”

Liberty and Equality…

In Love is Blind Brazil, when people were getting married, they had female pastors officiating the marriage where they said, “In the name of equality, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Not in the name of God. But, in the name of equality.

Ladies and gents…if you don’t think this is a form of idol worship, I don’t know what to tell you.