Joy in face of Danger & Paul & Silas in Prison

To circle back on our last night together, we’ve talked about the spike lately in celebrity & youth suicides which I don’t think is detached from the base ideas we’re considering together of a sense of purposelessness, hopelessness, faithlessness & tonight joylessness.

About 400 years after God used Martin Luther to lead Protestantism out of the Catholic Church, came WWII & another German theologian, pastor, seminary professor, and participant in the resistance movement against Adolph Hitler, he had been imprisoned by the Nazis for his activism. In the final days of the war, Bonhoeffer and his fellow prisoners had experienced a strange mixture of hope and panic as they heard the Allied guns on the horizon. Moved from place to place in advance of the American and British forces, the little group of prisoners was finally brought to a schoolhouse in Schonberg, Germany.
Time finally ran out for Bonhoeffer. An interrogator from Berlin named Huppenkothen arrived with orders for Bonheoffer’s immediate trial and execution. On the Sunday prior to his execution, Bonhoeffer was entreated by his fellow prisoners, among them Roman Catholics and even a Communist from Russia, to hold a worship service. The sermon touched his fellow prisoners deeply, encouraging them. Following this message, Bonhoeffer was called out of his cell and transported to Flossenberg, Germany where he was interrogated, tried, and condemned.
Bonhoeffer truly embodies the principles inherent our Acts 16 passage today & in Hebrews 4:14-16, namely that joy depends on one’s relationship to Jesus.  This was a truth Bonhoeffer lived to the very end, one that left an enduring picture of true Christian faith & perseverance in the midst of adversity.

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Opening quote - From James regarding Joy in face of danger

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

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Read text

Paul and Silas in Prison

¹⁶ As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” ¹⁸ And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
¹⁹ But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. ²⁰ And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. ²¹ They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” ²² The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. ²³ And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. ²⁴ Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, ²⁶ and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. ²⁷ When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” ²⁹ And the jailer^[e] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹ And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³² And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³ And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. ³⁴ Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
³⁵ But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” ³⁶ And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” ³⁷ But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” ³⁸ The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. ³⁹ So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. ⁴⁰ So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

Pausing here – any thoughts our questions on this passage before we move into the breakdown?

What can we learn from the account of Paul and Silas in Jail?

How is it Paul & Silas can face beatings, trials & imprisonments without complaint?

Is their fearlessness tied to something deeper than their immediate surroundings? (Peter - Acts 5:41)

If Paul & Silas can take even imprisonment as an opportunity to minister to others, worship & spread the gospel why are Christian’s today so unlikely to evangelize?

I think Brian said the Barna group reports that 92% of American Christians will not tell someone about the Gospel in the next 12 months!

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Answer: Paul and Silas ministered together on the Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 15–18). Paul and Silas are first mentioned together after the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, as both men were part of the group that took the council’s decision back to Syrian Antioch (verse 22). Silas is called a “prophet” who “said much to encourage and strengthen the believers” in Antioch (verse 32).

After Paul and Barnabas parted ways, Paul chose Silas as a traveling companion, and they went to Syria and Cilicia, ministering to the churches (Acts 15:41). After that, Paul and Silas traveled to Derbe and Lystra, where they picked up another companion, Timothy (Acts 16:1–3). Following a journey though Asia Minor, the Spirit led Paul and Silas into Macedonia (verses 6–10). During the missionaries’ time in Philippi, people were saved and a church was established, but Satan opposed their work. Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten, and put in prison for their preaching (Acts 16:16–24). While in prison, Paul and Silas sat with their feet in stocks singing hymns. At midnight, an earthquake broke open the prison doors, setting the prisoners free. The jailer feared that his superiors would blame him for the jail break, and he prepared to run himself through with his sword rather than face the punishment. Paul and Silas convinced him not to harm himself, they preached the gospel to him, and he was saved, along with his entire household that night (Acts 16:25–34).

From the biblical record of Paul and Silas we learn the value of faithful companions and dedicated servants of the Lord in spreading the gospel. Paul and Silas were likeminded and equally committed to the service of God. Whether they were praying for guidance in Asia, blazing new trails in Europe, preaching in synagogues, or singing in jail, Paul and Silas did it together. Their loyalty to the gospel and to each other is a model of how believers should work together today.

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Closing quote - The joy in life is to be used for a purpose. I want to be used up when I die. George Bernard Shaw

 

I have no greater joy then to hear that my children walk in truth. -- John 4

“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Faith, knowledge & Thomas

What do you know about Jupiter?

It’s a planet, the 5^th one from the Sun.

Its huge; about 1/1000 the size of the Sun but about 2.5 times larger than all the other planets in our Solar System combined.

Jupiter is named after a Roman god.

It’s a gas giant; consisting of helium & hydrogen.

It was studied by the Juno NASA mission.

Now how do you know what you know about Jupiter?

You were probably taught about it, probably read a bit about it, and probably saw some PBS special on planets as a kid. But how do you know that anything you’ve been taught about Jupiter is true?

Have you seen it through your own telescope to confirm facts about its size & relative distance? Have you been there or sent your own satellites & rovers & ultra-powered Hubble telescopes to be sure others are not lying to you about it?

Did you fact-check your kids science & astrophysics textbooks before you allowed the school district to use them? How do you know your teacher or your kid’s teachers are qualified to educate?

The sneaky thing about education is its almost entirely founded on faith, trust in the lessons learned in the past by people personally unknown to us, researched by yet others, and accredited by other unknowns, built upon by yet others we don’t know, taught to us with little to no question no matter if we’re public school or private school or home schooled.

Yet, if education were not done this way each fact taught would have to be personally re-evaluated by everyone & not merely trusted & accepted. In this scenario, we could not build upon the past, we’d still be reinventing our basest products. In fact, we’d still be the cartoonish stereotypical hunter/gatherer cave-dwellers studying the concept of the wheel or pointy stick to see if it’s really a valid idea for our own families or not.

So last night one of the “universal” needs we looked at was Hope. Today its faith (or trust) & what can we learn from the story of “doubting” Thomas.

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Opening quote from a skeptic - If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss bank. - Woody Allen

Answer: I think we should thank God for the example of "doubting Thomas"! The famous story of the disciple Thomas is recorded in John 20:24-29. All Christians suffer doubt at one time or another, but the example of doubting Thomas provides both instruction and encouragement.

After Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, He appeared alive and glorified to His disciples to comfort them and proclaim to them the good news of His victory over death (John 20:19-23). However, one of the original 12 disciples, Thomas, was not present for this visitation (John 20:24). After being told by the other disciples of Jesus’ resurrection and personal visit, Thomas “doubted” and wanted physical proof of the risen Lord in order to believe this good news. Jesus, knowing Thomas’s human frailty resulted in weakened faith, accommodated Thomas.

It is important to note that Jesus did not have to fulfill Thomas’s request. He was not obligated in the slightest bit. Thomas had spent three years intimately acquainted with Jesus witnessing all His miracles and hearing His prophecies about His coming death and resurrection. That, and the testimony Thomas received from the other 10 disciples about Jesus’ return, should have been enough, but still he doubted. Jesus knew Thomas’s weakness, just as he knows ours.

The doubt Thomas experienced in the face of the heartbreaking loss of the One he loved is not unlike our own when facing a massive loss: despair, heartbreak, and exceeding sorrow, all of which Christ sympathizes with (Hebrews 4:15). But, although Thomas did in fact doubt the Lord’s resurrection appearance, once he saw the risen Christ, he proclaimed in faith, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Jesus commended him for his faith, although that faith was based on sight.

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What do you think was it wrong of Thomas to doubt?

Why do you think so many Christians struggle with times of doubt?

As an extra encouraging note to future Christians, Jesus goes on to say, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29, emphasis added). He meant that once He ascended to heaven, He would send the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who would live within believers from then on, enabling us to believe that which we do not see with our eyes. **This same Purpose is echoed by Peter, who said of Christ, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9).

Although we have the Spirit within us, we can still experience doubt. This, however, does not affect our eternal standing with God. True saving faith always perseveres to the end just as Thomas’s did, and just as Peter’s did after he had a monumental moment of weakness by denying the very Lord he loved and believed in (Matthew 26:69-75). This is because, “he (Jesus) who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Jesus is “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Faith is the gift of God to His children (Ephesians 2:8-9), and He will mature and continue to perfect it until He returns.

So how do we keep from doubting as Thomas did?

Or what lessons can we learn from this?

First, we must go to God in prayer when experiencing doubt. That may be the very reason God is allowing a Christian to doubt—so that we will depend on Him through prayer. Sanctification is the process of growing in our understanding & need of Him, which includes times of doubt and times of the feeling of great faith. Like the man who brought his demon-possessed child to Jesus but was unsure whether Jesus could help him, we go to God because we believe in Him and ask Him for more and greater faith to overcome our doubts, crying, “I do believe; but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:17-27).

            Could be skipped - Second, we must recognize that Christians fight a spiritual battle daily. Many in our church are reading a great book called Pilgrim’s Progress which is an allegory of the Christian’s spiritual walk. In it we read how we have to gear up for the battle. The Christian needs to daily be armed with the Word of God to help fight these spiritual battles, which include fighting doubt, and we arm ourselves with the “full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-19). As Christians, we must take advantage of the lulls in spiritual warfare to polish our spiritual armor in order to be ready for the next battle. Times of doubt will become less frequent if we take advantage of the good times to feed our faith with the Word of God. Then when we raise the shield of faith and do battle with the enemy of our souls, his flaming darts of doubt will not hit their target.

Doubting Christians have two things doubting Thomas did not have—the indwelling Holy Spirit and the written New Testament. By the power of both the Spirit and the Word, we can overcome doubts and, like Thomas, be prepared to follow our Lord and Savior and give all for Him, even our lives (John 11:16).

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Closing quote

Skepticism has never founded empires, established principals, or changed the world's heart. The great doers in history have always been people of faith. Edwin Hubbel Chapin

Hope & Resurrection of Lazarus

John 11 & 12 - Hope & Resurrection of Lazarus

There are a few things people today both young and old seem to need as much as food & shelter. In an age of fear, terrorism, taxes, wars, divorce, abandonment and unemployment one of these concepts people are searching for is Hope.

Not long ago American celebrity chef, author, travel documentarian & TV personality Anthony Bourdain took his life by hanging himself with a bathrobe belt. This event took place not long after another celebrity & KC born fashion designer & handbag guru Katie Spade hung herself and if you aren’t aware this isn’t a bit of randomness among adults there are constant news articles on the shocking rise in youth suicides to the point that the Olathe School District emailed me things to look for in my kids’ lives & while we can callously not care & move on, or momentarily feel bad & move on OR we can take this opportunity to see behind the events at the what the effects of hopelessness lead to and then consider some bigger issues in life rather than just our busy day to day task-lists.

Here is a quote from Anthony Bourdain "Life is complicated. It’s filled with nuance. And it’s unsatisfying... If I believe in anything, it is doubt. The root cause of all life’s problems is looking for a simple f.....ing answer.” And for Bourdain & Spade & others the simplicity of worldly success just wasn’t enough.

The reason why I bring all of this up because you could be pulling an extra shift at work tonight, or at a financial investment meeting, building your empire, making money, getting more “successful” by worldly standards but you took the time out of your week to briefly consider the higher things with us in an Adult VBS class. So tonight, I’d like to consider Mankind’s need for Hope in the context of Jesus’ resurrection of Lazarus. 

So who was Lazarus?

He was the brother of Mary & Martha well known ladies from the gospels. The 3 were friends and disciples of Jesus’.

This is from John 11-12

Once, an urgent message came from Bethany to Jesus: His friend Lazarus had become ill, and Mary and Martha wanted Jesus to come and heal him, for he was near death. Jesus then puzzled His disciples and friends. He started by saying that the illness would not ultimately lead to death; rather, the event would be for God’s glory (John 11:4). Then Jesus delayed staying two days where He was before suggesting going back to Judea, where Lazarus was but also where Jesus' enemies had also recently tried to stone Him (John 11:5–8). During Jesus’ delay, Lazarus died, but Jesus referred to Lazarus as “asleep” and told the disciples He was going to wake him up (John 11:11). The disciples responded, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better,” clearly thinking of physical sleep (John 11:12). Then Jesus told them plainly that Lazarus had died, but they were still going to see him (John 11:14). Thomas perfectly expresses the disciples’ confused frustration by saying, “Then let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16)—Thomas saw that Jesus was resolute, but knew the dangers of such a trip (John 11:8).

When they arrived at Lazarus’ home in Bethany, they found Mary and Martha grief-stricken. They had buried their brother four days earlier. And despite being a famous healer & their friend Jesus had not come to help. They were confused and frustrated, but their faith in Jesus was intact (John 11:17–36).

-     Why did Jesus delay? Did Jesus want Lazarus to die?

-       I’m going to pause here – So far, any comments or questions you have on the story so far.

-       Why did Martha go & Mary stay home? Personality

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the Last Day.” John 11:20-23
Jesus had been teaching his followers about the resurrection. From Martha’s response however, we see she does not have a clear understanding of what she had been taught. She believed Jesus when He said that one day there would be an event where all those who are in Christ would be raised from the dead to live again. To her, the resurrection is a day; it’s an event. Based on Martha’s understanding, the resurrection is limited to a certain period of time, mainly the last day. Martha is right that this event will happen, but what she did not understand was that the resurrection is not simply an event.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
Jesus is the resurrection. He has the power to take that which has died and bring it back to life. Not only that, Jesus is life. He has the power to take that which is now living and ensure that it will never die. The resurrection is the manifestation of God’s glory and power to defeat death and give eternal life to those that believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus wanted Martha to see that God’s glory was not limited to time. Jesus wanted her to understand that all things, even time and death, were subject to Him.
Everything became clear to the spectators when Jesus did the unexpected: He went to Lazarus’ tomb and raised him from the dead (John 11:43–44).

Importance of 4 days dead, ancient superstition
Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go." John 11:39-44
*Purpose - Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is God showing us what He actually has the power to do for us. It is a shadow of what Jesus will do for those who believe in Him.

The entire episode of Lazarus’ sickness, death, and resurrection worked toward giving glory to God and increasing the faith of Jesus’ followers, just as Jesus had said when He heard of Lazarus’ illness. Just before He raised Lazarus, Jesus prayed, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me” (John 11:41–42). Jesus’ prayer was answered: Lazarus came back to life, and “many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him” (John 11:45).

When Jesus called to Lazarus, Lazarus emerged from the tomb—not a zombie or half-dead or undead, but fully alive and well. Such is the power of God in Christ.

After Lazarus was raised from the dead, the chief priests and Pharisees plotted to kill him, because so many witnesses to the miracle believed in Jesus (John 12:9–11) because of the miracle. The enemies of Christ couldn’t deny the miracle; the next best thing, in their view, was to destroy the evidence—in this case, the evidence was a living, breathing person. But they couldn’t stop the truth from spreading.

On Easter (or Resurrection Sunday) we reverence and honor an even more powerful resurrection: that of Jesus Christ Himself. The followers of Jesus were taught about the resurrection, but they did not understand that He would have the power to resurrect Himself. They saw Him give sight to the blind, heal the sick, and raise the dead as in the case of Lazarus. They knew He had power, and He even told them that He Himself would die and rise three days later (Mark 8:31). So why at the death of Jesus are His followers left hopeless? Why did they not expect a resurrection? They saw Him raise Lazarus. Did they not think He could raise Himself? Did they believe the power of death was greater than that of Jesus?
Looking back, we have a privilege they did not have at the death of Jesus on the cross. We know how it ends. We know that although He in fact died, He did not stay dead. We now know that the power of Christ is not limited by death.
The question Jesus asks Martha has stayed with me as I’ve read these verses over and over: “Do you believe this?”

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What does this story tell us about Jesus? Powerful, authoritative, life over death

Why did Jesus resurrect Lazarus? Was it just because he wanted his buddy back or more?

To give his disciples a glimpse to show us who he really is, more than just a man.

What hopes, or lessons, can we take from this event for our daily lives? 

Do you believe that Jesus has the power to overcome death?
Do you believe that He gives the gift of Eternal Life?
Do you believe that on Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate not only the day itself, but the very person, power, life, and hope that the resurrection brings?

study questions

Hope in the story of the Resurrection of Lazarus

John 11-12

Why did Jesus delay?

Did Jesus want Lazarus to die?

Why did Martha go to meet Jesus & Mary stay home?

What does this story tell us about Jesus?

Why did Jesus resurrect Lazarus, was it just because he wanted his buddy back or more?

What hopes, or lessons, can we take from this event for our daily lives? 

Do you believe that Jesus has the power to overcome death?

Do you believe that He gives the gift of Eternal Life?

Do you believe that on Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate not only the day itself, but the very person, power, life, and hope that the resurrection brings?

Baptist Order of Worship 2

Order of Worship 2

Call to Worship –

Worship leader           Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations

Congregation              Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hast formed the earth & the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God!

Confession of Sin –

Worship leader           What must I do to be saved?

 Congregation             Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved – you and your household!  

Forgiveness of Sin –

            Worship leader           Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

Thanksgiving –

Remember to do good to one another, seek justice, correct oppression, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. For he that sows sparingly shall reap sparingly & he which sows bountifully shall reap bountifully. 

Lord’s Supper –

For I have received of the Lord that which I deliver to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took bread, and when he’d given thanks broke it & said – take eat this is my body, which is broken for you, this do in remembrance of me.

After the same manner also he took the cup, after he ate saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood this do, as often as you do it, in remembrance of me.

Benediction –

In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; for Christ has already overcome the World!

Baptist Order of worship

Order of Worship 1

Call to Worship –

Worship leader           Bless the Lord all my soul, and forget not all his benefits

Congregation              Who redeems my life from destruction, who crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies

Worship leader           That Lord is gracious, slow to anger & plenteous in mercy.

Confession of Sin –

Worship leader           Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according unto the multitudes of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

 Congregation             Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me.

Forgiveness of Sin –

            Worship leader           The Son of Man is come to seek & save that which was lost.

Congregation              Neither is there Salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven give among men, whereby we must be saved. 

Thanksgiving –

All the silver is mine, the gold is mine, every beast & seed in the field is mine! says the Lord. Honor the Lord with your substance. Every man according as he has purposed in his heart. Let him give generously not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

Lord’s Supper –

For I have received of the Lord that which I deliver to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took bread, and when he’d given thanks broke it & said – take eat this is my body, which is broken for you, this do in remembrance of me.

After the same manner also he took the cup, after he ate saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood this do, as often as you do it, in remembrance of me.

Benediction –

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christian-ish?

Is Your Church Christian or Christianish?

May 7, 2018   Tim Challies

 

Three little letters make a world of difference. Together i, s, and h distinguish Christian from Christianish and mark the difference between right and wrong, life and death, heaven and hell. There is nothing better for your spiritual wellbeing than to be in a Christian church. There is nothing worse for your spiritual wellbeing than to be in a Christianish church. Here are a few marks of each.

A Christian church teaches the Bible. It is committed to the inerrancy, sufficiency, clarity, and authority of the Word of God and therefore preaches it week by week with confidence and consistency. A Christianish church teaches about the Bible. It is committed to imparting life lessons and uses the scriptures as a starting point to teach people how to live lives of success and fulfillment.

A Christian church admits the deep depravity of human beings. It acknowledges that we are all deeply disordered so that not one of us has even the least righteousness to plead before God. A Christianish church proclaims the inherent goodness of humanity. It acknowledges that we aren’t what we could and should be, but encourages us to believe that with enough effort we can get there.

A Christian church makes its core declaration the finished work of Christ. The good news of grace frees us from the impossible task of earning our own salvation and instead simply receives what Christ has already accomplished. A Christianish church has its core declaration the unfinished work of humanity. The bad news of works becomes the brutal and impossible path to impressing God with deeds that will catch his eye and win his favor.

A Christian church proclaims the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. Believing that our sin has provoked the just wrath of God, it declares in awe that the Son of God willingly took our sin upon himself and absorbed the full fury of the Father’s wrath. A Christianish church proclaims the wrathless love of God and the exemplary life of Jesus Christ, upholding Christ as the ultimate example of what a human being can and should be.

A Christian church preaches the gospel of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It calls people to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness. A Christianish church preaches a gospel of social justice or personal prosperity. It calls people to right social wrongs or to claim financial enrichment, to repent only of insufficient action or insufficient faith.

A Christian church gathers each week to worship the God of the Bible according to the Bible. Knowing their desperate need for divine wisdom, they read the Bible, preach the Bible, pray the Bible, sing the Bible, and fellowship around the Bible. A Christianish church gathers each week for empowerment or entertainment. Their services are shaped more by pop culture or personal preference than by holy Scripture.

A Christian church preaches the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. It echoes scripture in saying Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and that there is no other way to be reconciled to the Father but through him. A Christianish church insists Jesus Christ may be a way but not the way, and proclaims instead that all roads lead ultimately to the same destination.

A Christian church proclaims the existence of heaven and hell. It takes hold of the authority of the Bible to plead with people to turn to Christ and be saved from destruction. A Christianish church affirms an afterlife but denies the possibility of eternal punishment for those who have chosen to reject the free offer of the gospel.

There is nothing in all the world as precious as a truly Christian church. There is nothing in all the world as dangerous as one that is merely Christianish. Choose your church well.