Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continually.’”
In her new book “Almost Christian,” United Methodist Church minister Kenda Creasy Dean has drawn startling conclusions from the results of a major study of religion among American youth. Although 75 percent of the teenagers surveyed claimed to be Christians, the study found that a majority were non-practicing and could not articulate their own beliefs or the importance of holding them.
The term “moralistic therapeutic deism” has since been coined to describe this “new religion” among youth that bears little resemblance to traditional Christianity. It is characterized by the paramount importance of personal fulfillment, moral rules are vague and sometimes flexible, and God is barely relevant except when a problem arises to be solved. In other words, God is only good for 911 situations. He is solely a 911 emergency God.
How tragic! If this is true, then the words of Jesus calling His disciples to a life of self-sacrifice and surrender to the will of God is quickly fading away. What is the answer? Pulpits must begin preaching true Christianity again, not the watered down, cultural version that focuses only on earthly success and material wealth. And true disciples of Jesus must become more aggressive in their discipling of others in the lifestyle Jesus taught.
Remember, it is only in dying that we truly live, only in giving up that we gain, and only in walking the narrow way that we find genuine life. Let’s tell it loudly and clearly!
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Phil.3: 12).
One freezing night a 32-year old man stood on the ice-covered shores of Lake Michigan. He stared into the freezing waters contemplating the ultimate act—suicide. He was a bankrupt dropout. Life had lost its meaning. The skies were clear as his eyes scanned the starry night. As he pondered what he was about to do, an arresting thought shot through his mind: Do I have the right to end my life? The answer shot back: You do not have the right to eliminate yourself. You and you alone are responsible for grabbing hold of life.
He did just that. He walked away from the darkened waters with a new sense of purpose. Bucky (as he was affectionately known) went on to become an engineer, mathematician, architect, philosopher, and poet. He created the geodesic dome and held 170 patents to his credit at the time of his death. You may know him as R. Buckminster Fuller. On that telling, decisive night a fresh dose of purpose changed the course of his life forever.
Victor Frankl said of purpose, “Everyone has their own specific vocation or mission in life…Therein, we cannot be replaced, nor can our lives be repeated. Thus, everyone’s task is as unique as their specific opportunity to implement it.”
The bottom to this is—no one can do what you’ve been called to do as well as you can. The God of the Bible is a God of purpose. To know Him through Jesus Christ is the shortest route to learning why you’re here. When Jesus came knocking on your door, He came with a purpose for you. Paul said that you and I were “apprehended” by God for a purpose. The very thing for which you were designed and created is found in Him. So let’s live life on purpose!
Something fairly alarming has been taking place and gaining steam in the church world of America. Denominations once considered bulwarks of the truth are caving in to the culture and literally coming into agreement with the ungodly. For instance, the Presbyterian and Lutheran churches now ordain openly homosexual clergy. And this stunning controversy is banging on the door of every other church in America.
The world is taking note. Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker wrote categorically and blissfully that “Evangelicals under 30 believe there are many ways to God, not just through Jesus.” She quotes a survey showing that nearly two-thirds of evangelicals under 35 believe that non-Christians can go to heaven. The clincher comes near the end of her column where she says that “transcending the notion that only some prayers are the right ones might get us closer to the enlightenment we purportedly seek.”
Well, one man’s enlightenment is another man’s darkness. If we were to turn to the clear and transparent teachings of Jesus, we would find that He does not agree with the two-thirds of so-called evangelicals, or the sentiments of Mrs. Parker. Jesus stated emphatically, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by (through) me.”—John 14:6
The real Jesus Christ would be quite unpopular in our day of Political Correctness. In fact, He apparently wouldn’t be welcome in many of our churches. Even so, I embrace the old adage that we should, “Dance with the one that brung ya.”
I don’t know about you, but Jesus is the One that “brung me” to the place I am today. No other God forgave me of my sins. Nor did any other world religious leader die in my stead. And I can’t think of even one other inspirational personality in history who lived a sinless, perfect life, and was willing to grant all that to me. In fact, when taken as a whole, there is not another in all of history who is worthy of sharing the spotlight with Jesus who is called the Christ!
So excuse me as I step off of the train of Political Correctness and plant my feet firmly on the Rock of my salvation. The world didn’t give it to me, and the world can’t take it away. I owe this old world nothing but my testimony and a church that is happily Politically Incorrect. At least then they may actually hear the unvarnished truth of what Jesus actually said, rather than what someone wants Him to have said. May God grant it, and may our tribe increase!
Ecc. 3:1,8 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...a time for war and a time for peace."
Reverend Wayne C. Sedlak writes something of our American history we all need to know. Read slowly and be inspired!
“During the Revolutionary War there was a group of heroic men referred to as the 'Black Regiment.' As heroes in the war, their courage and leadership were hailed throughout the early thirteen colonies from Massachusetts to Georgia. As a 'regiment', they never once drilled together, yet the strategic impact of their highly disciplined attacks was overwhelming. As a unit, they never fought together on a particular field of battle, yet without question, their leadership provided the spark which ignited victory after victory.
This "Black Regiment" was responsible for providing the conviction and wisdom necessary for winning a war against the cruelty of an unjust government. What was the 'Black Regiment'? Actually, it wasn't a regiment at all. It was the American Presbyterian, Congregationalist, and Baptist clergy.”
British sympathizers had tagged them with this name because of the black robes they wore when ascending their pulpits each Lord's Day. America’s enemies knew that the seeds of what the British called "sedition'' or "revolution" were being sown via the pulpits of America. Without the outspoken, tenacious and courageous leadership exhibited by the pastors of the "Black Regiment", it is doubtful whether American independence could ever have been achieved.
What brought things to this breaking point? King George had provoked many of these very men to leave England by demanding that they submit to licensing by the crown. In other words, King George wanted a state religion over freedom of religion. These men of God staunchly opposed such a notion. Their cry was, “Restore the crown rights of King Jesus!” Many of the Black Regiment ultimately joined the Continental Army. When George Washington asked Lutheran pastor John Muhlenberg to raise a regiment of volunteers, Muhlenberg gladly agreed. Before marching off to join Washington’s army, he delivered a powerful sermon from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 that concluded with these words:
The Bible tells us there is a time for all things and there is a time to preach and a time to pray but the time for me to preach has passed away, and there is a time to fight, and that time has come now. Now is the time to fight! Call for recruits! Sound the drums!
Then Muhlenberg took off his clerical robe to reveal the uniform of a Virginia Colonel. Grabbing his musket from behind the pulpit, he donned his Colonel’s hat and marched off to war.
The freedom gained through the shed blood of these brave men and women is once again under assault. Our freedoms of religion, speech, and assembly are in the crosshairs of forces that hate the church and the Christianity it stands for. We must again let freedom ring loudly, clearly, and bravely from our pulpits and pews. The tide can yet be turned. The time has come for another Black Robe Brigade, not comprised of men carrying muskets, but of those carrying the Word of God fearlessly into the public arena. May God grant it!
“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse…”—Gen. 12:3
The Bible promises that in the last days, the eyes of the world will be focused on the tiny geographical dot on the world map called Israel. “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling…On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.”—Zech 12:2-3
Just as Zechariah predicted, the nations of the world are now turning against the land of Israel. No matter how hard she tries, she can do no good in the estimation of more and more of the world’s leaders. The Middle East has now become a seething cauldron of anti-Semitic hatred. The same anti-Semitic disease is once again stretching its icy fingers across Europe. Even in the west, the national media are increasingly defending Arab/Muslim loathing for the Jew.
Yet that doesn’t mean they are right! You can mark this down and take it to the bank: Those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who seek to harm her will “injure themselves.”
Turning Point Church wants to bless Israel, especially now. In light of this, we welcome today to our services Melva Jo Beacham. Melva has served as a missionary to Israel for a number of years, and will be helping us to connect to worthy evangelistic and church planting endeavors in God’s sacred land. Please make her feel welcome as she shares and sings as only Melva can. It’s going to be a blessed day!
