Preach the Gospel, Use Words

Ezekiel 36:21-32


21But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.

 22Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.

 23And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

 25   Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

 26    A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

 27    And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

 32   Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

We are sinful in nature. The Bible makes it clear that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Most of the time, our own selfishness and pride makes us behave in ways that bring shame and bad consequences on us. There are times when we, as Christians, fall into a situation where God’s name is at stake. A  situation where the underlying premise of those who may be against us is that our God is being humiliated, by proxy.

I have friends who seem, on a worldly level, to be so much better than me in charctaer and disposition. They do good works and seldom loose their temper. They are sacrificing of their time and money to help others. They treat their colleagues very well and aid their friends selflessly. Yet they cannot and will not, accept that they are sinners in need of grace, in need of salvation. It is a mystery. How do we share the gospel with them? How does God make Himslef known to them, when we, his followers, are no where as “good” as we should be, and may actually be behaving in a way that is inimical  to the gospel?

The passage today tells us that it is not our actions but that God is sovereign. In the context of Ezekiel 36, the chosen people are Israel. They have been so disobedient to God that they lost it all. Their homes were destroyed and they were carried away to Babylon as captives. This resulted in their shame. Who would then serve their God?

Would someone who sees you at school, or in the office or work place want to serve your God? Want to know Jesus?

In this passage, God says that they were a chosen people. Just like us; “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light They carried God’s name. And God cares for His Name” 1 Peter 1:9.

Despite our failings, God still is sovereign, He will guard His name.

21But I had pity for mine holy name

23……….for mine holy name's sake

23And I will sanctify my great name

Often as Christians, our life ends up as a poor witness because we do not live, act or serve as we should. And we profane the Name of our God. Each of the verses above (21-23) ended up with God saying they had “profaned His Name”.

                                                                                                    

There is a saying, falsely attributed to Francis of Assisi, that goes something like this “Preach the gospel, if necessary, use words”.

This is the premise of lifestyle evangelism. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that this will be the main determinant of whether communities can be won for Jesus. I have seen, on the mission field in India and Africa, better lifestyle and better services, given by adherents of other religions. The 2004 tsunami drew help from not just Christians but also Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. Medical and surgical services to the poor are much better funded by the god-men of India than by Christian missions.

It is essential therefore, that the gospel is actually shared or preached. Our lifestyle, while important, is not the determinant of whether a community will accept Christ. While we are working on our own character change in Christ, we are called to sahre the gospel. That is His sovereign will and plan for us. Bringing people to Christ is finally the work of the Holy Spirit. He will do it for His Name’s sake. All we are asked to do is share the gospel.

Divine Healing

James 5:14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

Coming across a large number of people with debilitating conditions has often caused me to think about how much of my medical training is able to help alleviate their pain and suffering. There are two ways doctors look at their role:

1. Many doctors just use their skills and knowledge to heal in the here and now. Some patients will get better and others will not. The doctor concerned develops a mechanistic view of the failures and strives to develop new diagnostic and therapeutics to help.
2. Others realise that even as they use their skills, there seems to be an ineffable quality to healing that is a mystery. Some patients seem to heal despite medical efforts. Others succumb to illness despite the very same treatment.

Into this mix comes the new spirituality – the post modern worldview that anything that feels good may be valid. Recent neuroscientific studies do reveal that there are processes we still do not understand that could explain the temporary healing of psychosomatic illness.

But the vast majority of anecdotal healing therapies and cures are just that – anecdotal. It is based on the power of suggestion. That explains the proliferation of metaphysical modes of healing e.g. most rely on the age old method called faith healing. These alternative systmes have become a multi billion dollar business. While some of the new age health practitioners would baulk at being chracterised a faith healers, the definition of such healing is that it requires “faith”.

Christians who try to seek out miraculous healings, which is often confined to large meetings or specific times or to people with professing to have divine healing power, seem to be seeking a "christianised" version of faith healing. Whether this is of God is left to be seen. But all traditions have their faith healers.

Recently I read about the Irish faith healer, Danny Gallagher (http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Irish-seventh-of-a-seventh-son-makes-international-press-as-faith-healer-119113929.html?page=1). His claim to the power lies in the fact that he is the 7^th son of the 7^th son- an Irish folklore belief. The way the Danny Gallagher’s website touts the healing process (http://www.danny-gallagher.com/) is similar to “christian” faith healers . 

Christians should ensure that they do not end up with a defective understanding of divine healing, since this can leave the unhealed disappointed in, and often reject, Jesus Christ.

As a Christian doctor/pastor, I believe that all healing is divine healing. But the main way God effects divine healing today is through the medium of medical care. Modern medicine may have originated in a pagan system but over the last 300 years, influenced and changed by Christian world view,  has been based on a very simple biblical principle – that God is sovereign and has created the world with a set of clear absolute principles. Doctors have thus sought to seek out those principles and use them to heal. In recent times, unfortunately, the busy medical practice and time constraints results in limited empathy. This drives people to seek more empathetic “faith healers”.

Time magazine reviewed a book by Dr Nolan, a Christian doctor who investigated faith healers, including those who called themselves Christian.

“Some healers offer patients more warmth and compassion than physicians do." More important, Nolen acknowledges that, in some cases, the healers actually heal. Faith healers can and often do cure psychosomatic ailments. But they cannot cure organic illnesses. The problem is that the psychics as well as their patients frequently do not know the difference. Doctors do, or at least should”

(http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,913003,00.html#ixzz1ITPbOXwj)

In the rare circumstance that God does heal real disease in a miraculous way (ie where the healing is beyond the scope and explanation of medical knowledge and not clearly psychosomatic), it is done for His glory. Have realistic view of how God has created you, preserves and sustains you, and that in illness, He is there with you. If he heals you in the usual medical way, praise Him. 

If medicine does not help, seek Him and pray for healing (James 5:14). 

Will we be always healthy in this world? No

Will we always be healed miraculously? No

Can we demand that God heal us? No

Is Jesus with us in sickness and in health? Yes

If he does heal you, testify. 

If he does not heal you, testify. 

Testify to what? No what but who…………testify about Jeus Christ, who He is and what He has done for you on the Cross. In all circumstances, He is with you. And we are His witnesses.

Is there no physician?

Why is there no recovery?
Jeremiah 8:18-9:16

Recently I took up a new job assignment with a group of physicians in a new province. Financially it appeared to be a good option, allowing me to earn my keep in a shorter amount of time, leaving a few months free for church ministry and medical mission work.

But I found myself in that insidious mental snare the world places us in, a snare that seems to be in our very psyche – the need to be reliant on monetary aspects of life. And in the present recession, there is always the pervasive fear I may not earn enough to spend money on overseas travel and mission work. It niggles at the periphery of my consciousness, insinuating to the centre at times, despite my affirmation of trust in God.

Why is the recession still with us. Where is the economic recovery? The land is hurting, the financial system is under strain, real people are suffering, and we ask, like Jeremiah, “why then is there no recovery?” (8:22)

Well, it is so easy to look at the problems of this nation through secular lenses. But God wants us to understand that there is a spiritual reason for the morass the world is in. It happened years ago to nation Israel, it is happening to day to nations around the world. There seems to be no cure, no “balm of Gilead” in sight (8:22). Is the nation or economic system or moral compass going to “perish and burn up like a wilderness”? (9:12). And why is that so?

1. It is that we have strayed far from God these days (Jeremiah 9: 13). It is not only a question of disobedience to God anymore. It is indifference and a disinterest in the things of God. People do not care whether God exists anymore, let alone feel they must obey Him. We have forsaken His law. And we have disobeyed His voice.
2. It is that we follow our own dictates (Jeremiah 9:14). Don’t know what to do in a situation? Just make up your own decisions, we are told. As long as no one is hurt, it is fine. It is NOT fine, unfortunately. For when we neglect to acknowledge God and to seek His Word to guide us, we will end up in ruins (9: 11).
3. Worse still – proving this is a spiritual problem – we seek after the “Baals” (Jeremiah 9:14b). “Baal” is the word the gentiles used for the god of the day. Today’s “Baals” is the pantheon of spiritualities endemic in western society and overtly practiced in the east. All of us are gods, and all religions lead to god, we are told. The “Baals” of the past have taken root today, and God is unimpressed.

Why is there no recovery?

Because we have not factored in the Master Physician, Jesus Christ, who can cure any ailment. He is waiting to be asked. Jesus came to pay the price for our sin; to be called into our lives personally as our Lord and Saviour.  And as more in society genuinely call upon His name, healing will come to the nation.

If we continue as we are, we will drink the “water of gall” (9:15). The results of sinful and wanton behaviour are catching up. The world in general and each person in particular, will keep on enduring the vagaries of today’s dysfunctional society, and not know why it is happening.

Turn to the Lord our God. Give your life to Him. Trust Him. Let us start each one, one at a time.

Why is God waiting so long?

They do not know the judgment of the Lord

Jeremiah 8:8-17

I find it hard to fathom the norms of society just a few hundred years ago. Rules were explicitly followed. The Elizabethan era in Britain saw people lose their heads, literally, for no other reason than the ruler thought them to be subversive. Justice was swift and harsh, especially when the ruler was defied.

Thousands of years ago, the same mentality held true, in even more barbaric style. The Assyrians would impale conquered civilians on sharp poles, allowing them to die slowly. Defeat in battle meant death to the whole city and community. All conquering hordes followed the same pattern.

Jeremiah talks of judgment. He saw this first hand in what Babylon had done to his people. The killing of King Zedekiah’s sons, for no other reason than they were royal family, seems monstrous today. It was the norm then.

It was probably the patience of God in this milieu that made the people of God, the Jews, complacent. They were used to secular warlords exacting swift revenge. Yet, for flouting the clear laws of God, there seemed to be no quick judgment. Looking from the vantage point of time, we look back and see that God did indeed punish Israel and Judah. But since Jesus came, it has now been over 2000 years. And God has no exacted judgment on those who profane His name or malign Him. So what gives?

1. Firstly, God says that he will judge (v. 13). He will surely “consume”, he says. But His timing is not the same as ours. There are so many mysteries we do not understand. The main one is why is He waiting so long. Most commentators understand this waiting period to be a time given so that as many unbelievers can repent as possible. But to me, and maybe to you, there seems to be greater unbelief today! Rather than seek the answer, the best option is the obvious one. Just trust God, and admit that we do not know why he is waiting this long. But also admit that when he does come again, God will judge everyone.
2. Secondly, many people do not know about the judgment of the Lord (v.8). There are a lot of Christians today who go to happy and loving churches where there is little mention of judgment. The seeker friendly church tries “not to offend”. Worship has become a case of offering praise on our terms, not God’s terms. We walk in and out as we please. We dress as we like. There is no “fear” of God. Fear, you ask. “Why “fear” him when He is all love?”, answer many of the leaders of today. And there is a feel good atmosphere. People cannot envisage God can ever punish. Everybody thinks this is a party!

To some extent, pharisaic style religion may be a default position of those who take th ejudgement of God seriously. However, those who advocate God’s love and total  liberty, that they dilute the gospel to mere sound bites and Sunday morning flip flop parties default the other way.

We need a healthy balanced theology of grace and righteousness, the expression of God’s immutable natures of love and justice. Paul presented this  discussion between too many rules (legalism) and too much liberty (antinomianism) very well in Galatians. Please read that book many times. God is a loving God AND a just God. He loves us but man’s rebellion has also brought the wrath of God upon us.

He cannot deny His nature. That is why His wrath had to be satisfied by the once for all work of Jesus on the Cross, when he died for our sins.

The Day of Judgment will come. We need to stand with the righteous to avoid judgment. This righteousness is a free gift. Believing in Jesus cleanses us of sin in the sight of God and brings us back into His loving presence.

It is amazing how people today can ignore or reject God today.

They do not know the judgment of the Lord………..

Does silence mean "No"?

If  God Does Not Say Anything, It is Usually No

Jeremiah 7:28-8:3

I attend court regularly to give evidence in personal injury cases. Over the years, I have seen how judges have to adapt to new specialist orthopaedic evidence, especially if there is no precedent. For example, many years ago, if someone lost his thumb in an accident, the courts awarded 80% loss of function of that hand for compensation purposes. But recently, I am able to give a new reconstructed thumb to the patient. Does that mean he receives no compensation? Not really – for the new thumb is never the same as the original. The rule book was silent on how to compensate for a reconstructed thumb, so we have to try to find compensation for pain and suffering in spite of the silence of the law.

Somehow, this approach has permeated into the Christian world. The Bible reveals a message of grace. We are accepted into the fellowship with God only by accepting the finished work of Christ on the cross, but faith alone. As a group of believers, however, the scriptures give us an indication of what God would like us to be and how we are to behave. The moral imperatives in the Ten Commandments remain a guide for us. But what happens when the Bible is silent on something? Does it mean we can indulge ourselves anyway, in the name of freedom? Can we incorporate all kinds of activity into our worship services? Is God pleased with us bringing so much of secular cultural influences into the church? Is our noble aim to keep youth and the unchurched in our fold pleasing or actually grieving to God?

In Jeremiah’s time, the people of God somewhat worshipped God they way he has asked them to. Yet the people had added practices form the nations around them. The most egregious of these was the child sacrifice. While this is an extreme, we find today soft versions of these types of activity creeping into churches. For example, is not yoga or transcendental medication rooted historically and spiritually in Hinduism? Yet church condone such practices by saying they have removed the hindu element. What does God say about doing things he does not prohibit?

1. God knows what we do and calls it disobedience (7:28). Practices that he has not commanded are not to be added to worship or our daily Christian walk. It is convenient to use the argument form silence and say that what God has not forbidden, is acceptable! But God is watching and is grieved. Is it not better to avoid adding new things to our worship and our daily lives until we are sure that the practice is not rooted in pagan culture or religious systems? I know this sounds intolerant, but read this passage again and make your own determination. It is God’s word.

2. What God does not command, is also not allowed (7:31). This puts to rest the argument that if the Bible is silent on some activity, belief or practice, that means that God allows  or condones it. God said that the people had built “high places” which he did not command. High places were a place and a style of worship in the land of Judah. Are we building “high places” today? Are we building ministry models that He has not commanded? Seeker friendly church models use psycho-kinetics and other attractions to bring people to church. Are members coming for the entertainment or to worship our Holy God? Pastors now walk on stage in shorts and slippers. Are we disrespecting God?

3. The “new” visible churches will be irrelevant (7:32). The “high places” created by the Israelites will be no more, says God. The modern “high places” are these entertainment oriented “churches”. Messages are diluted to avoid offending people. The church members who come in easily, tend to fall away just as easily. And these church models will likely disappear too. The “Toronto Blessing”, with its laughing and barking, seems to have passed on. Many churches that were built on the word of God and the testimony of fervent Christians, will do well to avoid the trap of bringing in new things just because it is the craze.

We should avoid building the new “high places” that God says “ I did not command, nor did it come form  My heart” Jeremiah 7:31. If you have been unconsciously doing this in your life or your church is going down these roads, please heed what God spoke to the Hebrews, and how it speaks to us today.

Please look at my earlier post on “Out with the New, In with the Old”

Going Backwards, Not Forwards

Going Backwards, Not Forwards

Jeremiah 7:19-27

Many Christians genuinely believe that sincerity in their own heart trumps clear biblical teaching.

The Old Testament has a story about a king who won a great victory in God’s name. He was still confronted with further enemy troops, so he waited for the priest to offer a sacrifice to God. Unfortunately the person who could legitimately lead worship (yes, God considers all of us equal in his sight, but not all of us are given the same function) was not there. So the king - he is the leader, after all - took matters into his own hands and offered the sacrifice himself. And God was really displeased.

This story is told in 1 Samuel 13:1-14. Think of it, King Saul had all the good intentions. In his mind he was thankful for the victory and wanted further protection. But God has given us some direction in scripture and He expects obedience to His Word. The prophet Samuel told Saul that he had done “foolishly” (1 Sam13:13). Leaders and believers today make the same mistake. Many Christians genuinely believe that sincerity in their own heart trumps clear biblical teaching. Lay people assume leadership roles or make decisions which pastors should be making. And the question women in leadership are an emotive issue. Many of these will not be an issue if we read the bible in its plain meaning and obeyed it, even if we felt it was uncomfortable or contrary to what society is forcing us to accept.

Continuing in Jeremiah, we learn lessons from how God approached his people (today it is the church).

1. God was not pleased (7:19). The context here is hypocrisy and deceipt within the community of God. But it also applies to milder versions of disobedience. We all can point out overt instances of disobedience to God but it is actually the “soft” sins of disobedience that may ultimately weaken the church. Is there any part of scripture that is disconcerting to you? Do you genuinely feel called by God to do something or take up a role that the Bible clearly tells you you should nto be doing? Do not rationalise by looking at the ends to justify the means. Success today can be driven by  force of will and savvy marketing. Not everything successful is of God. The litmus test is obedience to His Word.

2. This is what God commands – Obey my voice and I will be your God….that it may be well with you (7:23). There are many areas where we have all been influenced by the world and its philosophy. Culture has begun to creep into church activities. We belive we have to cater to cultural trends to keep people in church. But God is more interested in His people obeying Him, not just mouthing that they are Christians.

3. Disobedience (even benign indifference) makes us go backwards, not forwards (7:24). Think of it. Why is the church declining in influence in society today? Why is it we are on the back foot when confronted with moral issues and losing the battle of the worldviews? Read in its plain meaning, the people of Israel in those days just thought that they could obey only what they felt they felt comfortable with and ignored inconvenient truths of scripture. We have fallen dangerously into the same rut. God have mercy on us.

Has your spiritual life become dry? Is your church consumed with gossip and politics? Are you subscribing to the secular or new age worldviews of the majority around you without even knowing it?

Resolve to read scripture as it is written. Ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher. The Spirit will NOT tell you that some scripture can be ignored because it was only relevant for the 1^st century. Take the whole counsel of God as true and necessary for Christian living. And when you read something inconvenient or opposite to what you believe is true, just obey scripture by faith. Obedience is better than sacrifice (worship).

God promises that, contrary to what we think, we will go forward, and not backward, if we humbly obey His word.

Sola Scriptura -  Amen.

Trust the Deeds, not the Words

Trust the Deeds, not the Words

Jeremiah 7:1-16 “Do Not Trust in Lying Words”

Recently we were deceived by a couple who claimed to be pastors. Though they were self appointed, we trusted them because they used the “ministry” usual words that Christians leaders use. They had an independent church of about 80 people. On hindsight we should have asked why they had a high attrition rate among their members.  Or questioned the contradictory statements they made. Rather naively, we helped this couple with significant financial resources. We lost a lot of money and they put the blame on us by making all sorts of angry accusations. They even spread malicious rumors about us and our ministry. This made me ponder about what trust, especially among Christians, should look like. It is probably best to say that we should, against all instinct, observe the deeds of friends rather than their words. Words can deceive.

As we continue in Jeremiah 7, we come across some hard words from the Lord, spoken 2600 years ago, to his chosen people in Judah. And this is applicable to the people of God (church) today. He tells his people to amend their ways (7:3). That means he looked at their deeds. Why would he tell us that?

1. Because leaders would lie (7:4). “Do not trust in lying words, saying the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord”. This is what happens today. Lying leaders who want to control people have infiltrated the church. And they say, “We are the church, we are the church, we are church”. Sound familiar? Those of us who would like the church to stand for what the Bible says are asked to compromise with those who simply claim they are Christian. Beware “pastors”, “evangelists” and “healers” who make extravagant claims for their ministry. Observe their deeds to make sure that they are “walking with God and in the Word”.

2. Because leaders would try to profit (7:8). God made serious accusations against leaders who seek to profit. They would degenerate to stealing, murder, adultery, lying, idolatry (7:9) and then come and stand before God to lead the congregation! (7:10). My experience showed how little regard these two “friends” who claimed to be pastors, had for the fact that I had lost so much money because of their lying words.

I believe that often we are blinded by two things about false teachers and leaders:

• We are reluctant to judge their words and actions, afraid to be branded unforgiving. This is the tool the two “pastors” used to prevent me from voicing concern. As I searched for answers after being cheated, I realized that to judge what a Christian says or does is not only biblical, it is essential. (Jude 3). We must confront these leaders by correcting them in love. Do you speak to your pastor if you feel something is amiss? Do not be a divisive person but constructive criticism, in love, is biblical.

• Secondly, we are reluctant to take action and warn others. This is probably my greatest regret – the damage done to younger believers. I had seen the way these “pastors” controlled their members, using direct prophecy and “God speaking through them”. They talked down and gossiped about almost everyone else. Later I found they had done the same about me. But by not warning others, I allowed this cycle of damage to be done to others. Those of less faith may even drop out of church. While we know that God holds believer in His hand, these members may not have the joyful life God wants them to have.

Beware Christian leaders who keep talking about their church (7:4), loving the sound of their own voice,  and subtly asking for money and controlling people (7:8). The genuine leader humbly goes about his work in Christ, and allows the Lord to lead and guide his ministry. All glory goes to God.

We are only as useful as how much we make ourselves available to God. As leaders in our home and church, are our words and actions consistent with God’s word?

Out with the new, IN with the old

OUT with the new -  IN with the old

Jeremiah 6:10-30

Recently we purchased a MacBook computer and it came with a free iPod. The iPod had wifi and GPS features that amazed me, coming in such a small package. I am told that technology is advancing at such a pace that we “oldies” have been left behind. In church, this mindset has come in as well. But I believe it is more than just the usual generation gap. Previously, the generation gap applied to forms and styles. Today it is not just the forms and styles. It is also a world view battle. Previously what the church said about Jesus was accepted as true. Today, in addition to style, the gospel message is watered down or even reinterpreted.

It is “so yesterday” to want to read the bible as it is plainly written. We are told to look at scripture in a cultural context and reinterpret scripture in light of contemporary issues relevant for today. If that means watering down the exclusiveness of Jesus, so be it. Seeker friendliness or emergent church theology is the ”new” thing. As long as a “church” says they are “Christian”, we are to accept them without judging. Apart from subtle reinterpretation of long held theological beliefs, the ministry models as described in the new testament has been replaced by the “new” corporate models of church growth.

Nothing changes, I suppose. Even in the days of Jeremiah noted that the people of God were deviating from the plain meaning of God’s revelation. I wonder why it is so difficult to just read the scriptures plainly and believe it. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” Heb 11:6.  I suppose it is the fact that some of what the bible says is inconvenient and contrary to prevailing culture. And we are uncomfortable with it and thus demand something new.

The passage in Jeremiah 6:10-30 reveals that this inclination to tamper with God’s plain  teaching in the scripture is not a “new” phenomenon. And he starts with the reason.

1. Everyone is give to covetousness (6:13). “Covetousness” involved the prophet (preacher) to the priest (pastor). It leads to various falsehoods and sin. They were dealing falsely, says Jeremiah. Is it possible that we are doing the same today? Pastors exaggerate the numbers in their church. I have seen ministry leaders exaggerate the numbers of conversions at revival meetings. Short term mission fund raising exaggerate what the team members were actually going to do. This is not a broad accusation but a call for all of us to examine our motives carefully. What is our true motive for what we do? For what we do in ministry? For what we say when we preach? Are we scared of being labeled intolerant?  Let us not deal falsely for God see the heart.

So what is the solution to being misled by “new” ways?

Jeremiah 6: 16 Thus says the Lord: Stand in the way and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it. Then you will find rest for your souls.

1. Stand in the way and see (6:16a). I believe this is the Lord asking each of us individually and collectively to look clearly at the plain teaching of scripture. This is only found in the Bible. Do you read the bible in its plain meaning? Do you read the bible at all? Do you find excuses to ignore inconvenient passages (e.g  Jesus the only way to heaven, on the grace of God that saves us, on holiness, on Christian living issues - sexual issues, male leadership, nature).

2. Ask for the old paths (6:16b). We have the benefit of the writings and reflections of the church fathers. We have the creeds. These are condensed versions of biblical teaching. It helps us focus. Why have so many churches rejected the creeds? Why are we so averse to the historic faith writings? Book stores are filled with meaningless and feel-good, how-to books. How many of our children know the Lord’s prayer or Apostles creed? Do they not need to know these so that they will not stray? Yes, there are many who know the creeds but do not behave like Christians. And you feel that it is hypocrisy. Even contemporary Christianity has its hypocrites. This is hardly an excuse to reject the “old paths”.

3. Know the good way and walk in it (6:16b). Know the proper teaching and walk (obey) in it. A simple formula that we, in this post modern world are tempted to change because it somehow does not sound right. Do you know the Bible? Do you walk in its ways?

4. You will find rest for your souls (6:16c). Proper understanding of who God is and what he has done will result in proper worldview, proper worship and proper Christian living. It does not require “how to” books and teachings on how to be holy. Just know what the Bible plainly says to you, by the inspiration of the Spirit of God and counsel of the people of God and do what God impresses on your heart.

Are you seeking rest for your soul in this restless age? Do not seek to change the teaching of the Bible to reflect what you think may be right. Just trust God. He has taught us through his word and the counsel of godly forefathers. You may find that it may be old fashioned. Or boring. But you will find that it is enough.

Dr Joshua Raj

 www.southasiamission.com

They have lied about God

Jeremiah 5:12-31

What is a delusion? I had great difficulty when I did my psychology rotations in medical school with otherwise normal patients who had delusions. A delusion is a false belief that is firmly held to be true, even in the face of evidence of its falsehood. Most of us will have some false beliefs in our lives, but the difference is that we will change our minds once evidence is presented to the contrary.

In this world, the secular media and prevailing worldview suggests that Christians are deluded into believing in God. We hold to a false belief, we are told. There is strong evidence for atheism, we are told. Anyone who believes in an exclusive way to God is a fool, we are told. We are pitied for our “ignorance” and bullied for our “intolerance”. However, when we want to engage in a genuine discussion of h the evidence, the pluralists and atheists (strange bedfellows they may be) only respond with polemic.

Jeremiah’s days in ancient Judah reveal a similar pattern of ridiculing the people of God and God Himself. The prevailing worldview was pluralism and seeking after any and all gods. Prosperity had brought about the delusion that man had achieved success n his own.

1. God says his people had lied about God (5:12). They had lied to themselves. There were people who were deluded and people who deliberately lied to others. Do we not see the same pattern today? We need to identify who is genuinely seeking God and deluded by the world. These are those we must share the gospel with. As for those who deliberately lie or are argumentative, we should leave them alone, especially if they claims to be Christian leaders (Titus 3:10), because the word is not in them (Jer 5:13)
2. What we trust in will be destroyed (5:14-17). In Jeremiah’s day, it was dramatic. Violence came form the north and their idyllic life was shattered. Today, the idyllic life in the west has fallen short. The society which has everything has produced the largest pool of mental health patients ever. Psychiatric medicines like SSRI’s have overtaken painkillers as the most prescribed drugs. Teen suicides have burgeoned. What or who are we trusting in today? Money? Our nation? Our leaders? Leaders can mislead (Jer 5: 26). Our spouse? None will satisfy, and none will protect. Apart from the true God, revealed in Jesus Christ, everything else will be destroyed. Trust Jesus today.
3. God gives second chances (5:18-19). The word “nevertheless” is comforting. Jeremiah tells the people that God will no make a “complete end” of them. Jesus came for just that purpose. Man may be deluded in his sin and unable to know God or experience His grace (Romans 3:23). Sin is not necessarily doing bad things. It is a disposition of the heart that rejects God and places trust in other things, as noted above. God is waiting to help us through life, whatever our circumstance. We are called to trust Him.

If only the people of God had trusted Him all those years ago. We are going down the same path. Are we going to do something about it? Maybe we can start in our homes and local community?

My people are foolish

My people are foolish

Jeremiah 4:22-5:6

The intellectual and visionary of today is often characterized by their ability to think differently. In fact, it is this need to find new ways of thinking, novel methods of analyzing data and discovering esoteric explanations for what is obvious, that defines modern scholarship. It has infected biblical scholarship as well. All doctorate students and professor wannabes find they have to “publish or perish”, and to publish means to find new explanations for established truths.

That is why seminaries are producing “research” that change the obvious truths of scripture. When the Bible says that man has a sinful nature, there is little to debate. But bible scholars need to publish and appear to be thinkers. So they analyse and dissect the word sin, sinful and sin nature. They redefine the terms. And in the process, change the intent of what God says.

It goes to both extremes. At a recent seminar in South East Asia, a prosperity gospel preacher said we have to engage culture to be relevant to modern man. So his church uses songs by Lady Gaga and other pop icons at service. Those who attend say that the church service resembles a rock concert. The words of God, “worship in spirit and in truth” is made to mean something else. On the other hand, we see the US Episcopal church consecrating a lesbian bishop. We are told that modern research “proves” that homosexuality is normal. The modern versions of the bible have replaced the word homosexuality with “sexual immorality”, because modern biblical scholarship says this is the ‘correct” meaning. In a few years, the next generation will never know the true word of God.

Jeremiah called his people “fools”. A fool is not a stupid person, as we may think. A fool is actually an intelligent person who is misled. He is duped by someone or chooses to be misled because he cannot accept the truth.

1. My people are foolish – they have not known Me (4:22). The people of Judah chose not to know God, because it would affect their cushy life. God called them silly children. They had no understanding of the consequences of their foolishness. Are we behaving like silly little children? We need to really look at whether we know God. To know God is to know His heart. And we then do not change or obfuscate His word. Do you know God? He wants to know you. Just seek Him by sitting still and asking Jesus to reveal himself to you.
2. They are foolish – for they do not know the way of the Lord (5:4). For those who did know God, they were not in the way of the Lord. They were either disobedient or indifferent. Israel at that time ignored almost all of what God was telling them about Himself. They listened to the ‘prophets” who told them what they wanted to hear. Are you listening to pastors and teachers who tell you what you want to hear? Or are you listening to the Lord? There are many clear propositions in the Bible. Do we ignore or disobey inconvenient teaching sin the Bible? If so, these passages call us fools. Do we want to be foolish in the eyes of God or man? The choice is yours and mine.

Fool me twice, shame on me

Jeremiah 4: 10-18  Fool me twice, shame on me

We have all fallen for a con job at some time in our lives. Often it is a minor deception – paying too much for a trinket in a bazaar. Or it can be expensive – fraudsters who fool pensioners into investing their life savings in worthless investments. If we learn form mistakes, we may not be fooled by the same person or trick again. Yet some do get fooled again. Usually when that happens, the tricksters use common human desires to accomplish their task. The human desire of greed and pride are the prime targets. Greed (or covetousness) is the desire to possess something more, way more than what we have. And pride because we think we can never be fooled.

The greatest deceiver in the world works on the quiet. He plants seeds of doubt, and nurtures greed and pride in individuals. As more people believe his lies, society has come to believe the lie. And man is hurting his own soul. Modern man has become the fool.

Society today has bought into the lie of universalism, that all gods are the same and all religions lead to heaven. A cursory look at each religion makes it obvious that they do not teach the same thing. Hinduism teaches that everything is part of god and that all is god. There is no individuality to the soul. Judeo-Islamic religions teach that God is the creator but is transcendent. Thos two views are polar opposite. Yet man will deny the true God and chase after untruths and things that please their sinful nature.

In Jeremiah’s day, Israel, God’s chosen people had done the same. They were running after pagan gods, the enticements of the Baal worship and turned away from God. And God, being the Father (see Jer 3:19) has to allow them to go their merry way in their prideful ignorance and greedy consumption.

1. Jeremiah said that God has deceived the Israelites (4:10). This is similar to a parent today, who cannot control his child. The child insists on his autonomy and keeps making bad decisions. The parent has to allow this because they have no other choice. Yet when the child faces the consequences, e.g. having to go to jail for theft, for example, the child may ask the father, “Why did you let me do this?” And all the father can do is to say that he had to let him go because child would not listen.

God has let modern man and society go. Dangerous as it may be, he allows us that freedom. We have abused it and turned away form him. Can we not seek God again? His word is there for us to learn from and obey.  

2. Israel would face the consequences (4:19). So will we if we continue to ignore or deny the true God. Unless we repent and turn to God, we will suffer the eternal spiritual consequences of our actions. We will lose our soul. Are you scared by this truth? If you are, God is here, waiting to receive you, by His grace. He does not condemn the one who comes back to him and confesses his sinful attitudes.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation Romans 10:9-10.

Sin is not just doing bad things as people seem to assume.  Paradoxically, even those who do not believe in God get outraged when they are referred to as “sinners” in God’s eyes!  It should not even be an issue for them, but it seems to offend something in them. But I believe it is in their heart – they have that innate “god-desire” in them, even if they do not know it. Sin is a disposition or attitude toward the true God, an attitude of rebellion and disobedience, and acting on that by denying Him, that constitutes sin. Repent and turn to God. He will receive you with open arms.

+Joshua

www.southasiamission.com

Jeremiah 4:1-2 Seeking God? He is with us!

Jeremiah 4:1-2 Seeking God?  He is with us!

Have you ever looked for something that you lost? Often it is a difficult mission, since it is not uncommon to search over and over, with no success. After a time, you get disillusioned, and may even give up the active search, though you still harbour the hope of finding the object in question. Conversely, if we do not even know we have lost something, we will not even begin the process of seeking.

So it is with God. Society seems to have people with all kinds of opinions with regard to seeking God. They search high and low for “god”. Many believe that “god” is within themselves. It has become the dominant worldview today to uncritically accept any notion of God, no matter how implausible it may sound. The sole validity lies in the person who believes in it. On the other hand, there are those who lead lives as if God is irrelevant. They do not even look for Him. They do not know they have lost something.

1. Israel was told to return to God (4:1). They had lost God. They were distracted and unfocused. They allowed their vanity to decide who they would worship. What about you today? Have you returned to God? Do you vene know that you have lost God? And that he is helping you find him? Do not be beguiled by the philosophies of today which suggest that there are many ways to God.  It is really odd that a belief, dogma, cult or visible idol that is made by man, is then worshipped by the same man as a “god”. God promises that if you sincerely and humbly seek Him (note the operative words – sincerely and humbly), he will be found (Jer 29:13).

2. The Lord lives (v. 4:2a). Israel was told that only the God of Israel lived. The others were but dead idols and ideologies. Do you accept that message today? The truth of the resurrection convicts us and gives us hope. No other religious leader or founder has ever come back from the dead. Jesus has risen from the dead– He lives! That’s why we sing……………

I serve a risen Savior, he's in the world today;

I know that he is living whatever men may say;

I see his hand of mercy; I hear his voice of cheer,

And just the time I need him, he's always near.

He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way.

He lives, he lives, salvation to impart!

You ask my how I know he lives?

He lives within my heart.

Do you really  KNOW that He lives? Do you live with that reality every day? Jesus Lives and he wants you to know that He is with you in every circumstance. If you do not know Jesus, seek Him sincerely, not with skepticism but in humility, and you will find Him.

God's Love - Do we really understand and know?

Jeremiah 3 - God is love

Human beings have to face each other every day. We seem to be made for relationship. Indeed the bible says that fellowship is an integral part of the ecclesia. But relationships are fraught with difficulties and problems. Philosophers have admitted that it is very difficult for human beings to get along. Thomas Hobbes is quoted as saying that the life is one of a war between men. And that the consequences are that life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short! Man is inherently a selfish creature, prone to choose evil.

A recent study by Prof. Paul Bloom of Yale University seems to confirm that the knowledge of good and evil is hardwired into babies from the time they are born. These are conclusions based on observable phenomena. Of course, our parents knew this form day one! And of course the Bible has been clear that man is born with a sinful nature.

No wonder man is always in rebellion against God. Yet God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son (John 3:16) to redeem us and give us eternal life. There is no other worldview or religious teaching that suggests that man is sinful from birth. Against all evidence, all other major religions believe in the basic goodness of man, and that the problems of this world are due to ignorance.

Hundreds of years before Christ, God revealed His heart for His people to Jeremiah - addressing Israel, God’s chosen people. The people of Israel were rebellious and disobedient. They had tasted so many blessings from God but as per human nature, could not acknowledge and submit to God. They had to run after things of their own heart. Like all men, selfishness was the order of the day.

1. God is merciful. Despite all the rebellion and idolatry, He asserts that He is merciful. (v. 12). Do you know His mercy? Do you really His grace? That is the essence of John 3:16. The reality of the Cross – where God gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins – this is the reality that we should live in. Knowing what Jesus has done, frees us from the slavery of sin.  A life under the Cross helps us know that we are forgiven and that is a liberating truth.

2. It is a personal choice (v. 14). God takes us “one from a city, two from a family”. Have you decided to follow Jesus? If not, why not? Ask God to reveal Himself to you and be open to the truth of the Gospel. If you have made the choice, then live in the truth that you need to crucify your flesh daily and live your life by faith in Jesus (Gal 2:20).

3. He superintends us. He calls Himself our “Father”. (v. 19). It immediately impacts our life and our actions. It impacts our response to circumstances – because we can bring anything to Him. This is the practical aspect of our faith. If you are not experiencing this reality to the fullest, talk to your pastor or godly friend.

Counterfeits seem better than the original

Jeremiah 2: 9-37: Counterfeits seem better than the original

The world today is full of counterfeit stuff. Every good thing that comes out into the public domain is rapidly followed by similar items. Rarely is the copy better than the original. The most populous country in the world had a mil scar some years back. The temptation to make money was so great that babies who were fed the counterfeit milk products died. They paid the ultimate price.

It is no less urgent to avoid the counterfeit in the spiritual world. At a recent talk that I gave, someone challenged me by saying that religion was just a creation of man. The external forms may be different but the inner spiritual self is what matters, he said. As such, all ways to God were valid, as long as the “believer” was sincere.

I answered that analogy by suggesting that if the inner self was what mattered, it was of the utmost importance to ensure that what we believed was true. Any counterfeit would destroy us spiritually. Truth could not be mutually exclusive. A belief in a creator God was totally different to a belief in a universal ‘consciousness”. It was illogical to suggest that they represented the same thing.

It was like saying that it did not matter what milk was being given to the babies, as long as the person giving the milk was sincere. That sounds so silly to say, but so is the statement that all religions lead to the same God, even though the beliefs totally contradict each other.

God gave us the truth. As Christians we have the word of God to guide us. Yet we ignore the obvious statements of the Bible and try to accommodate all manner of teaching. Many church leaders and members are even reluctant to accept the plain teaching that Jesus is the only Way (John 14:6).

In Jeremiah’s time, God told him to indicate to His people (Israel) that ambivalence on this issue was not acceptable to Him to His people. The message is for us today.

1. God’s absolute truth is replaced by what man thought was true (v. 11). Israel had changed Gods. Most likely they thought they could add to what God has spoken or done. Do we add to the gospel today? Do we deny that Jesus is the only way? We may not say it, but our silence may speak to what we believe. Do we chase after things of this world? What are our other ‘gods”? (v.11a).

2. Israel had committed two evils against God (v. 13). They forsook God and made cisterns (”gods”) for themselves. Are we doing the same today? If you are looking to the world for ways to make a better life, make more money, advance up the corporate ladder etc, then you are trading dependence on God for the tools (“gods”) of the world. It may appear that we are doing nothing wrong, but it is still sin (v. 19 - a rebellious stance against God).

3. Israel denied they were ignoring God (v.23). Today, we often rationalize and mislead ourselves by saying that we still believe God and the Bible, even though our actions indicate otherwise. In the difficult times, our intellectualism and efforts will not be sufficient to help (v.23-28). And that is why God may allow difficulties to assail us, because that is when we will really seek the truth and stick with it.

We need the fear of God to be in us (v. 19). Otherwise we will end up doing everything on our own strength and agenda. The “fear” of God is not to be afraid of Him but to reverence Him to such an extent that we fully rely on Him and earnestly seek to do His will. There is no better way to live life. And avoid any indictment of our spiritual walk when we do meet Jesus face to face. It will happen.

Remembrance is the key to faithfulness

Jeremiah 2: 1-9 Remembrance is the key to faithfulness


Human beings have short memories. Many of us have faced a situation where people we have helped or friends we have supported, have forgotten our support and gone their merry way. While the indifference can be hurtful, even more upsetting are situations where people we have helped have actually turned against us, to the extent of making derogatory or hurtful comments.

In Jeremiah’s time, God lamented Israel’s unfaithfulness. Not only was Israel indifferent to the God who saved it form slavery, it was actually actively and consciously turning away.

1. God loved Israel as His chosen people (v. 2,3). Today, the church, God’s visible people on earth are looked upon by God in the same way. But many churches, and people in the church, are flirting with the culture of the world, and the “gods” of this age. Even worse, some in the church are even questioning and making derogatory comments about God.

2. God called His people to remember what he had done for them (v. 6,7). The powerful effect of remembrance cannot be discounted. Do we ever think back and see how God has guided us throughout our lives? I believe a constant look back, with thankfulness, will keep us focused on God. A determined effort to remember can overcome the corrosiveness of a short memory.

3. God’s “leaders” led the people astray (v. 8). Firstly, they did not look for God in any circumstance. They seemed to rely on worldly wisdom to handle issues. Does it not remind us of today’s leaders? They make little effort to look at how God has led His church through history and want to change the beliefs and forms of our faith based on worldly cultural norms.

4. God’s “leaders” even transgressed against God (v.8). They did not follow God’s precepts. They went after things which were not of God. Many of our leaders today look for secular acclaim and position. They have become toothless tigers, so keen to please politicians or society’s expectations, that they are transgressing God’s laws.

I am amazed at how much we have allowed the world into our church. A recent survey in the USA revealed that 37% of evangelical Christians believed in reincarnation and nearly half believed that all religions were valid ways to reach God. Both of these are basic Hindu tenets. Reincarnation and universalism are incompatible with the Bible. Yet, our leaders do not forcefully teach these truths any more. We want to be “accepted” by the world and willing to disobey God’s clear precepts to do so.

Jeremiah chapter 2 will later reveal the consequences of this continued indifference and open disobedience to God’s word. What is your personal reaction? If you are in a church where the leaders are conforming to the world, no matter how popular or “contemporary” they may be, think about finding a church which holds onto a biblical world view. If you are challenged for your faith and biblical world view, will you, with a gentle spirit, stand for God? Ask God for Hs Spirit to guide you.