From the first episode to the last viewers were entertained and enticed by the ABC drama Lost. I only watched one season and a few shows after that so most of you know the recurring characters and multiple story lines far better than me. But I think the writers may have unintentionally defined the post-modern approach to Bible understanding.
“. . . On Lost, says co-writer Damon Lindelof, "the question has mostly been, What's going to happen next? But that question no longer exists after the series finale. And we anticipate that it will be replaced by a question along the lines of, What did they mean by that? And the question that we would throw back at the audience is, Well, what did it mean to you? Your own personal relationship with Lost actually trumps any intention that we had as storytellers.(Italics mine) And we wanted that to be the legacy of the show."
This post-modern goal of individual truth is all that exists may be excusable in a fictional story that has little bearing on real life. When it enters the church it is a tragedy. Yet this is the model of Bible interpretation in many modern congregations, encouraged by emerging shepherds. ‘Your personal relationship with the Bible actually trumps any intention the writers had.’ ‘What God meant is not as important as what the verse means to you.’ This is not the church that Jesus promised to build. In fact, a priority calling of Christ’s church is to be the pillar and ground of the truth. Churches and church leaders who leave the legacy of Truth will never be lost.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Putting Grace Back into the Gospel
What do people actually do to get saved? That’s the question that drives this title.
There is good reason to invite people to come to Christ. One of the most comforting passages of Scripture is Jesus own request to “come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” And come we must. But what does that mean in regard to salvation?
If I raise my hand, does that save me? If I come down an aisle and kneel at an altar am I going to heaven? How about repeating a prayer? Maybe asking Jesus into my heart. Or the various outdoor events like putting a stick in the fire. Surely these are all part of the process?
Here are a couple other suggestions, a little more severe but nonetheless encouraged by some to secure salvation. In the first century circumcision was an invitation to salvation. Many today preach a gospel of penance. When you have punished yourself enough you will be delivered.
But do any of these things actually save the person who participates? I hope your answer is a resounding NO! “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Salvation is through faith on the basis of grace. This type of salvation is not because of any work that anyone might do.
Most evangelical ministers and missionaries know this and believe it. That is why you will hear, have heard, various caveats in an invitation that asks for some action. “Raising your hand won’t save you.” “Walking down the aisle won’t put you in heaven.” Which begs the question, why then do some ask for these things to be done?
What is the purpose of doing anything that doesn’t save as part of the process to be saved? I have heard the suggestions. “These are outward signs that show inward belief.” “We want to know who to pray for.” My purpose is not to argue those points. Rather I would like to provoke thought and discussion about this type of invitation.
Does the Bible teach that man must do anything beyond belief to be saved? The reality is that God even gives the grace to be saved. John 1:12 claims that the authority, the right, to be born again is not at all related to man. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” It is simply through belief that man is saved. And it is not man’s right to claim even that. Philippians 1:29, “For it has been granted (engraced) to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” Belief is a gift. No one will be let into heaven on the basis of a raised hand, walked aisle, or burned stick. Only through belief in Christ. Specifically, that belief is that He became a substitute for you- that your sins, which would carry you into hell, were placed on Him and caused His death, so that you, through faith alone, may enter heaven. None of that requires any physical action.
Here’s the big deal. Is it possible that the past years, centuries, of asking for some sign of belief have produced confusion in the church? And resulted in a shallow lifestyle? It seems to me that two results have marked this confusion.
The first is false security. As much as one may try to explain otherwise pride is so powerful a sin that many who raise their hands do indeed believe that they had something to do with their salvation. Even the repetition of a prayer can produce a self-confident stature. That leads to the notion that since I raised my hand, etc. I am good with God. I can live any way I want. And when they do live any way they want we begin defending them. “Well, ‘Joe’ is a believer. He went forward two years ago and prayed the prayer. It’s too bad he isn’t living for Jesus.” Maybe that’s because Jesus isn’t living in him! But he thinks so; because he raised his hand and boy it felt good to get right with God.
The second potential result of ‘physical action invitations’ is false purity. It works this way. “Maybe it didn’t save me but I did do something when I got saved so I must do something(s) now to prove I am saved.” That attitude leads to legalism. And the ‘to do’ list is endless. But then we set the standard too low. God wants hearts that produce Christ like patterns. Would God rather that I not go to movies or that I live in purity that reflects His? But if I don’t go to movies but think impurely I am okay in many places because it is what I do that matters.
So do we give invitations? Absolutely. Jesus did. Paul did. (Even John Calvin did.) We all need to be challenged on issues of the heart. But we must be careful not to ask those to whom we are speaking to do anything that would foster false security or false purity. Jesus didn’t ask for raised hands. Paul didn’t ask anyone to repeat the sinner’s prayer.
Jesus did say that his sheep hear His voice and know Him and follow Him. And He gives them eternal life. Will they hear Him without an altar call? Will He know them without a raised hand? Will He give them eternal life based on belief or must His sheep prove they are sincere by doing something?
As always your comments are appreciated. Click on comment and follow the directions.
There is good reason to invite people to come to Christ. One of the most comforting passages of Scripture is Jesus own request to “come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” And come we must. But what does that mean in regard to salvation?
If I raise my hand, does that save me? If I come down an aisle and kneel at an altar am I going to heaven? How about repeating a prayer? Maybe asking Jesus into my heart. Or the various outdoor events like putting a stick in the fire. Surely these are all part of the process?
Here are a couple other suggestions, a little more severe but nonetheless encouraged by some to secure salvation. In the first century circumcision was an invitation to salvation. Many today preach a gospel of penance. When you have punished yourself enough you will be delivered.
But do any of these things actually save the person who participates? I hope your answer is a resounding NO! “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Salvation is through faith on the basis of grace. This type of salvation is not because of any work that anyone might do.
Most evangelical ministers and missionaries know this and believe it. That is why you will hear, have heard, various caveats in an invitation that asks for some action. “Raising your hand won’t save you.” “Walking down the aisle won’t put you in heaven.” Which begs the question, why then do some ask for these things to be done?
What is the purpose of doing anything that doesn’t save as part of the process to be saved? I have heard the suggestions. “These are outward signs that show inward belief.” “We want to know who to pray for.” My purpose is not to argue those points. Rather I would like to provoke thought and discussion about this type of invitation.
Does the Bible teach that man must do anything beyond belief to be saved? The reality is that God even gives the grace to be saved. John 1:12 claims that the authority, the right, to be born again is not at all related to man. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” It is simply through belief that man is saved. And it is not man’s right to claim even that. Philippians 1:29, “For it has been granted (engraced) to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” Belief is a gift. No one will be let into heaven on the basis of a raised hand, walked aisle, or burned stick. Only through belief in Christ. Specifically, that belief is that He became a substitute for you- that your sins, which would carry you into hell, were placed on Him and caused His death, so that you, through faith alone, may enter heaven. None of that requires any physical action.
Here’s the big deal. Is it possible that the past years, centuries, of asking for some sign of belief have produced confusion in the church? And resulted in a shallow lifestyle? It seems to me that two results have marked this confusion.
The first is false security. As much as one may try to explain otherwise pride is so powerful a sin that many who raise their hands do indeed believe that they had something to do with their salvation. Even the repetition of a prayer can produce a self-confident stature. That leads to the notion that since I raised my hand, etc. I am good with God. I can live any way I want. And when they do live any way they want we begin defending them. “Well, ‘Joe’ is a believer. He went forward two years ago and prayed the prayer. It’s too bad he isn’t living for Jesus.” Maybe that’s because Jesus isn’t living in him! But he thinks so; because he raised his hand and boy it felt good to get right with God.
The second potential result of ‘physical action invitations’ is false purity. It works this way. “Maybe it didn’t save me but I did do something when I got saved so I must do something(s) now to prove I am saved.” That attitude leads to legalism. And the ‘to do’ list is endless. But then we set the standard too low. God wants hearts that produce Christ like patterns. Would God rather that I not go to movies or that I live in purity that reflects His? But if I don’t go to movies but think impurely I am okay in many places because it is what I do that matters.
So do we give invitations? Absolutely. Jesus did. Paul did. (Even John Calvin did.) We all need to be challenged on issues of the heart. But we must be careful not to ask those to whom we are speaking to do anything that would foster false security or false purity. Jesus didn’t ask for raised hands. Paul didn’t ask anyone to repeat the sinner’s prayer.
Jesus did say that his sheep hear His voice and know Him and follow Him. And He gives them eternal life. Will they hear Him without an altar call? Will He know them without a raised hand? Will He give them eternal life based on belief or must His sheep prove they are sincere by doing something?
As always your comments are appreciated. Click on comment and follow the directions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)