Truly Saved? (Part 1)

Time to tackle the single most important aspect of Christianity: salvation.  It’s a hard topic for me to write about, since contemporary American Christianity has somehow managed to distort the biblical view of salvation.

What is salvation?  In the US, people speak of having “been saved.”  What exactly were they saved from?  Biblically, we are saved by Christ from hell, through His sacrifice on the cross, where he paid the penalty for our sins which separate us from God.  Most Christians agree on this.  

But here is where contemporary Americanized Christianity starts to fall short.  Some of us remember when we said a special prayer; many evangelical Christians even point to a time where they “asked Jesus into their heart.”  But what happened after that?  Was there a real change in our lives?  Evangelicals like to talk about being “born again,” but are their lives after their “salvation prayer” any different from their lives before?  Can you tell a difference between the Christian and everyone else in the crowd?  Do they live differently, act differently, think differently, dress differently, speak differently?  Statistics show us that Americans who claim to be Christians live basically like everyone else, including similar rates of abortion and divorce.

Here’s where traditionalists usually throw up two arguments.  The first argument is that it sounds like I’m advocating legalism; like I’m saying we have to follow certain rules to be a Christian.  Leaving aside the fact that we are supposed to follow certain “rules” (I’ll tackle that in another blog), this has nothing to do with legalism.  It has to do with being a new creature in Christ, living a Christ-filled life (2 Cor 5:17, John 3:3, Rom 6:1-14).

The other argument is actually just a witty saying: we are called to bear fruit but not be fruit inspectors.  Well, it may sound witty, but it’s not biblical.  We are supposed to examine ourselves to be sure of our faith (2 Cor 13:5).  I’m not saying we can lose our salvation.  On the other hand, you can’t lose something you never had!  If you say a prayer and get your name on the congregation’s membership role, you may boost a pastor’s ego but it doesn’t mean you are saved.  True salvation is a gift from God, lived out by us in turning away from sin, trusting in Christ, and living a Christ-centered life.  We don’t create our salvation, but we do reflect it.

So, how do we reflect our salvation?  Since I’m sure this post has already set some people’s hair on fire, I better save that for the next one!

Stay Out of the Ditch!

Here’s a radical thought: living the Christian life is largely about managing to stay out of ditches. 

After passing on the Ten Commandments, Moses instructed the Israelites “You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you.  You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” (Deut 5:32).  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matt 7:13-14).

So, one way to view our Christian journey in life is that of following a narrow road, being mindful to stay out of the ditches on the right and left.  And there are plenty of ditches along the road!  

There are legalists on the right who want to burden us with rules, while there are libertines on the left who would have us abuse our liberty in Christ.  Some demand we follow only a specific Bible translation, while others completely deny the divine revelation of Scripture.  Some preach only hellfire and brimstone while others focus exclusively on social justice.  These (and other) extremes are ditches we need to avoid to stay on the straight and narrow path.

How do we avoid the ditches?  Look to Jesus.  He completely fulfilled the Law, yet He consistently showed mercy.  He forgave sin, yet accompanied it with the instruction to “sin no more.”  He gave us a tough example to follow, but also showed us that He is the narrow way (John 14:6).  If we are growing in Christ, and He is growing inside of us, then He gives us the light to see the narrow path and stay out of those ditches!

Basic Beliefs

In a couple of posts, I’ve mentioned core Christian beliefs.  So before moving on to more controversial topics (!), let’s answer this question: what does a radical Christian consider “core” Christian beliefs?  Well, since a radical Christian focuses on the essential roots of Christianity, we’ll begin a long time ago, in a land far, far away…

Early in Church history, Christians realized they needed to document their core beliefs in order to combat heresies that were clothing themselves as “Christian.”  They had the Bible (yes, the Bible as we know it today—a topic for later).  But they wanted something that summarized their basic beliefs and opposed the heretics that were already popping up.  

What developed were creeds. The earliest creeds were the Old Roman Creed (http://www.focus-on-god.org/text-collection/creeds/old-roman-creed/)--later becoming the Apostles Creed—and the Nicene Creed (http://www.creeds.net/ancient/nicene.htm).  Over the centuries, many other creeds followed, but these two are accepted by most denominations (even the Anabaptists—the extremists of the Reformation—accepted them).

But enough of the history lesson.  The real question here is: what are the core beliefs that affect salvation—not just initial conversion, but also lifelong sanctification?   The list is pretty short:
- There is one God who eternally exists in three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- All people have sinned and separated themselves from the holy God.
- Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God.  He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, atoned for our sins in His death, bodily rose again, and is at the right hand of the Father acting as our mediator and advocate.
- Jesus Christ will return in power and glory to judge the living and the dead and to reign forever.  Those that are saved will be resurrected to life and those that are lost will be resurrected to damnation.
- Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential for salvation.
- The Holy Spirit indwells Christians and enables them to live godly lives.
- Christians are spiritually united.
- Although written by men, the Bible is inspired by God and infallible in divine revelation.

That’s it.  The basics are the basics. On these, Christians can agree.  If someone disagrees with these and holds a contrary belief, then I suggest they may believe something, but that “something” isn’t Christianity.

Remember the basic beliefs are only the basics.  They can’t capture the whole of the Christian experience or biblical revelation.  As we delve deeper into biblical study, God reveals more truths to us.  At the same time, we will have different interpretations and applications.  But while we Christians can debate secondary issues, we shouldn’t divide over them.  An old saying that still rings true is “in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

I can guess what you’re thinking.:“So what?  This sounds like theology.  What are some practical aspects of the radical Christian life?”  Prepare to be challenged in a future post….

Changing Church (Part 2)

I ended the last post stating that any change in your church must begin with you. What does that really mean?

The point is that your church won’t grow, won’t mature, won’t reach more people with the Good News of Christ, unless you personally get involved. 

You are an important member of the body; just like a human body doesn’t function as well if it’s missing a leg (or an arm, or an eye), the body of Christ (the church) doesn’t function well if one of its members is missing or not operating at 100% capacity.

Maybe you’re thinking: “Great, but I’m not sure where I can fit in and contribute in church.”

Well, don’t worry—that’s not for you to decide. God already decided. God has a purpose for you. In fact, He created you for a purpose (see Eph 2:10).  What you have to do is figure out what God’s purpose is for you.

Easier said than done, right?  I’ll be honest: yes, sometimes it’s a bit difficult, since He doesn’t normally come to you in blinding white light and tell you exactly what He wants you to do (although that did happen to Paul!).  But there are ways to find out His purpose for you.

First, read the Bible. But don't read it like you’d read a novel.  Read it as if you expect God to reveal His plans for you right there in Scripture.  Maybe not as specific as “Tim, start a small group Bible study on Friday nights.”  But see how His Word speaks to you through principles and in circumstances.

Next, pray.  Pray for God to reveal His plan for you.  Ask Him to reveal specifically what He wants you to do.  Be sure to listen as you pray; He may give you a sense (sometimes a very vivid sense) of what He wants, but you have to be listening to get it.

Third, look at the circumstances surrounding your life.  Have you had life experiences that can uniquely contribute to God’s Kingdom?  Take a look at what God is doing around you in your life; maybe He’s already leading and you just need to join Him in His work.

Finally, speak with other Christians.  Ask them to pray that God will reveal His will for your life.  Ask them if God has perhaps given them an indication of what you should do.

Be sure to do all four of these activities together.  For example, if you believe God is revealing through His Word what He wants you to do, then pray about it, ask others to pray and help you discern if that’s what they believe is God’s will for you, and take stock of the situation.

When it’s clear what God’s will is for you, get started as soon as God wants you to start.  Step out in faith and depend on Him.  Expect difficulties, because Satan will oppose anyone doing Kingdom work.  But also remember, if it’s His will, then you will be His instrument to do His work--and God doesn't fail!

Your Church is A'Changing! (Part 1)

The church you attend is changing. 

It doesn’t matter where it’s located, its denomination, or how long it has been around. Your church is changing. 

It’s growing, dying, or transforming, but it definitely isn’t staying the same.

Now someone is going to say, “my church hasn’t changed in the last [insert number here] years.”  Well my friend, if you think that, then you might want to take another look at your church. 

How many adult conversions have taken place over the last year, or two years, or three?  Now, how many members have died, transferred, or simply quit coming to services?  Are a significant number of your folks noticeably growing in Christian maturity?  How is attendance at Sunday School, Training Union, small group studies, etc.? 

Here’s some trivia that isn’t trivial: the Millennial generation—born in the 1980s and 1990s—is larger than the Baby Boom generation (roughly 80 million and 76 million respectively).  Take a look at your congregation.  What is its composition age-wise? 

Maybe your church is holding to its core beliefs and decidedly growing in membership, baptisms, discipleship, and other relevant measures.  If that’s the case, then great… you’re apparently doing something right.  Maybe you’d like to share your secrets.

On the other hand, if your church is declining (or, at best, holding steady) in these areas, then please realize that it’s not a matter of needing to change.  Your church is already changing.  And the change is not for the better. 

Some may point to their new carpeting, repaved parking lot, flashing sign out front, or increase in “fellowship meals” as evidence they are changing for the better.  All those are nice and potentially worthwhile, but we’re talking about changes that God deeply cares about; changes that matter for eternity.

If your church isn’t noticeably growing or positively and visibly transforming, then you may be wondering, “What should our church do?” 

But the real question is: Are you willing to adapt to changing circumstances, hold true to core Christian beliefs, and step out in faith to follow where God leads?

Why? Because it’s not solely your pastor’s job to adapt the church to changing situations.  It’s not your deacons’ job.  Or elders, presbyters, trustees, etc., etc.  It has to start in you.

To be continued…

A Radical Christian?

Since we love to label things, label me a radical Christian.  There, it’s out there and I stand by it.  I even named my blog "A Radical Christian!"

So what is a radical Christian? Well, first let me say it is NOT any type of organized movement, sect, denomination, or official flavor of Christianity.  If you Google “radical Christian,” whatever you find will most likely not match what I’m talking about.

First and foremost, a radical Christian is a Christian (pure genius, huh?!?).  But the “Christian” label is so distorted nowadays that no one can seem to agree on what it means.  A follower of Jesus, the Christ?  Yes.  A member of a body of fellow Christian believers?  Yes.  Get much beyond that and we’re liable to be calling each other un-Christian names!

That’s where the “radical” in radical Christian comes in.  Not a radical in the sense of some wild-eyed fanatic, standing on a soapbox and yelling at folks on street corners (those people creep me out, too).  "Radical" comes from the Latin radicalis and means “from the root.”  Radical Christianity attempts to get back to the very roots of earliest Christianity.  To strip away the man-made additions and return to the foundations of belief.

Easier said than done.  In fact, I’d say most of our modern denominations came from someone’s attempt some time in the past to get back to Christian basics.  And then what happened?  Each denomination started adding some man-made improvements to Christ’s basics.  Sometimes intentionally, sometimes not.  Sometimes by doctrine, sometimes by tradition.  Either way, we all have added extra rigging (yes, even non-denominational churches).

Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong in having denominations, if it’s for the right reasons and in the right spirit. But that's a topic for later (maybe). 

To not offend anyone else, I’ll focus a minute on my own Christian tribe. I affiliate with Baptists.  From the many denominations I’ve been exposed to, Baptists most closely represent what I understand to be a New Testament church model (well, in many ways anyhow).  We Baptists pride ourselves in rejecting creeds and using only the Bible as our basis of belief.  But guess what.  Many (let's be honest: most) Baptist congregations have added rigid man-made rules.  Since we Baptists tend not to write things down, our straightjackets typically come from traditions (although we also have the dreaded Church Bylaws. Aaagh!!!).  I’ve picked on my own tribe here (we're such easy targets), but let’s face it: every denomination does it!

The radical Christian doesn’t haphazardly toss out doctrine, or traditions, or historical understandings, or anything else.  Those are fine if they help to shine light on Scripture and reveal truth.  But it has to take its proper place and—if found wanting—needs to be changed or shed. 

Instead, we should focus on the essentials… those core Christian beliefs that define us. And the list is probably a lot shorter than you might think.   I’ll tackle those in a future posting…..