the basic message #E281

8/22/04

What is the purpose of going to school?  Is it: (A.) To be able to say, "I go to school"?, or (B.) To get an education?  If any of you answered "A.", then you probably have a diploma from one of those "universities" that advertise in the back of the National Enquirer.  We go to school, of course, to get an education.  So using this logic, why do we want to say, "I'm a Christian"?  Is it to impress others?  Is it to fool ourselves into having a false sense of security?  There are some fundamental reasons that we should want to be a Christian, and those reasons often parallel the reasons for going to school.

For sake of conversation, let's narrow our educational example to college.  A college freshman says, "I'm a college student", and a new believer says, "I'm a Christian".  If, after 4 years the student is still at the academic level on day 1460 as he was on day 1, we can safely say that he is clearly uncommitted to his degree.  If, after 4 years or 40 years a Christian is still at the same level of holiness, we can safely say he is clearly uncommitted to his salvation.  Slice it and dice it all you want, but there should be some evidence of changes in the believer's heart.  What my detractors will say, almost on cue, is: "So John, how much evidence has to be there to prove that a person is really saved?"  Good question, but I'll turn it around and send it right back to them like this: "How bad can a person be and still consider themselves saved?"  It could be argued that both questions have merit, but which one would God prefer?  Think about it, would God appreciate a person wondering, "Just how much bad stuff can I do and still make it into Heaven?", or would he prefer the question, "How much obedience and repentance does God expect from me?"  Although the questions consider the same variables, it's all about attitude.  Is the glass half-empty or half-full?  An old Chinese proverb goes something like this:  "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step".  Many Christians make the first step but nothing more.  It's the Billy Graham version of Christianity, make a profession of faith and then go back into the world and conduct yourself like you did prior to the crusade.  Yes, I fully realize that Graham has had a positive effect on the world, but if anyone turns on a Graham Crusade and thinks that the thousands of people who come forward continue on in their new found faith, they are mistaken.  Even Graham himself has expressed concern about the number of new Christians that never move to the next level.

"But John, there is no next level- once you take Jesus as your Savior, there's nothing else to do."  Oh?  What did Paul mean when he said this:?

Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Paul is often considered to be one of the biggest "all grace" characters in the Bible, yet Paul often speaks of actions taken by the believer.  Over the years I've encountered quite a few people that seriously disagree with my approach to practical Christianity, but after the dust settles and the smoke clears we often find that we're in agreement much more than they think.  I say, "if you're a Christian, you will live like such and such", and they say, "if you're a Christian, your life will show the evidence of being a Christian, which is such and such".  The end result is the same, but I'm inclined to put more emphasis on the action of the believer rather than emphasis on the changes that God might make in the life of the believer.  Can God change us whether we want to change or not?  Perhaps, but as long as humans have free will, we can accept or reject whatever God has for us.  Most Christians would argue that every believer wants to possess every trait God wants them to have, but take a look at the lives of people who call themselves Christians and then you decide if their lives reflect what God wants. 

When you were a little kid, were you ever forced to "play nice" with another kid?  You might have despised the little brat, but you were told in no uncertain terms that you will play politely with the kid.  What usually happened?  After it was all said and done, the experience probably turned out okay.  You see, when we're "commanded" to do something, we often adapt to the situation at hand and make the best of it.  People who walk around in a fog with the notion that every Christian automatically does the right thing must be smoking their lunch.  The basic sin nature that is built in to every one of us must be fought tooth and nail.  Can we do it on our own?  No way.  That's what the Holy Spirit is here for- to give us the supernatural power to overcome.  We wouldn't have a Holy Spirit if there had been no Jesus Christ to leave behind the Holy Spirit, so the whole package should now come into view.  Jesus represents us in the ultimate court- God's court.  He steps up and presents his followers to a Holy God that would cast us out otherwise.  There's only one catch: you must be a follower, not just profess to follow.  Big difference.