Sitting here in my family room.  Stunned.  Shocked.  Feeling like many of us Christians have been tricked.  Big time.

Have you ever had a moment when things you've been working on and learning crystalize for you a bit?  I just had one of those.  Here is a question:

Do you think it's possible that our enemy, Satan, has used "love" against us?

Now I'm gonna ramble a bit here.  I'm sure clear writing will come in a later post. LOL.  But here is what I mean....

The modern church has every innovation.  We have buidlings.  We have websites, blogs, and twitter.  We have TV programs.  We have programs and counseling centers and food banks and clothes closets and latte machines and rock-climbing walls.  We have a zillion bible translations.

Yet look at the number of Evangelicals in my previous post.  4%.  If if that number is 3 times wrong: 12%. What in the world is wrong?

I've been racking my brain and heart over this for months.  Why aren't we able to reach lost people effectively?  And here is the rub...I don't think there is a huge lack of "love."  Most Christians are very loving.  Most pastors are very loving.  Most churches are very loving.  Christians all over are taking people food, funding missions, encouraging people, tweeting kind thoughts, etc.  What's wrong?

Here is what I've noticed.  I could be wrong so check me.  There is a LOT of "love," but it's only the love culture accepts.  Love doesn't leave people in darkness and sin.  Yet there is the problem.  The church does just about everything BUT deal with the thing that TAKES THE MOST LOVE...the sinful heart.  Everytime we see a cross, we are reminded of both the wrath and love of God!  The Law required death for sin...that's why we needed a Savior.  Jesus came to "save his people from their sins!" (That's in the bible somewhere.) LOL

In other words, Jesus came to heal broken hearts, bind up the wounded, and set captives free.  We read that and say ok, we need to be loving like that.  And we should!!!  But in keeping with His mission "to seek and save" the lost, the healing, wound-fixing, and captive freeing was first and foremost from sin...the thing that separates man from God.  Isn't the whole point eternal life?

So, back to my original question.  Is it possible that our enemy has used our understandable desire to love broken people against us?  Now...true love...the love that Jesus displayed....is considered UNLOVING.  Calling people to repent, turn from sin and to God that they  might be saved is actually considered a not-so-loving thing to do...even by the church!  What?  IT IS LOVE that compels a christian to minister the gospel!

So people come to our altars because of life's tough circumsances (one must never make light of those), but not necessarily because they see sin as exceedingly sinful.  Why?  Because we don't teach that anymore.   No wrath, no coming judgment, etc.  The problem is, brokeness over life's issues though painful, in and of itself doesn't save.  One must truly repent!  But if we don't love enough to lay down the therapy and address the reason that Christ came (to deal with man's sin), people are in danger of false conversion!  That's even worse than just straight up being lost!  I'm sitting here tripping at how pervasive this is!  The VERY THING that sets captives free (the preaching of the whole Gospel) seems untenable to Christ's church!  What?  And then we wonder why our "decisions" fall away rate is 80-90%.  Oh help Lord.

Help me out somebody.  I'm not posting this in arrogance or like I know it all.  And I'm not talking about yelling, spitting, accusing, or being a jerk.  I'm talking about helping someone see WHY grace is GRACE!  This issue REALLY hurts.  Eternal punishment is no joke.

On April 27, 1997, we launched (the then) Closer Walk Christian Fellowship.  By God's grace, it has really been 15 years!  WOW!

Anniversary time always makes me reflective for some reason, and this year is the same...maybe even greater.  I can't help but think of all the wonderful families we've had the honor to serve over the years.  All the joys and pains.  All the good times and some of the bad as well.  But all in all, our God has been so faithful to our humble church.  I just cannot thank Him enough.

Sometimes, I trip over the honor I've been given to stand up every week and speak His holy words.  I still tremble at that.  And then the honor to sometimes see people transition from darkness to light; to see people lift their hands and magnify God; to see people give their all for Christ and His Word....what a privilege!

And then there is the honor of loving God's people.  I know this sounds sappy (LOL!), but I truly, deeply love the saints of God I serve.  Sometimes its tough love (Haha!) but love nevertheless.  For fifteen years I've been somebody's pastor.  That is still amazing to me.  I've made lots of mistakes over that time, but I'm so grateful to have been forgiven and given more opporunties to serve the church He purchased with His own blood.  I've been able to walk with God's precious chosen through sickness and death, marriage and birth, divorce and unplanned pregancies, and new jobs and healings!  What a ride.

And I praise God that I've learned so much.  I'm so glad the Master was patient with me.  We've learned so much about the nature of the fight now...and why it is so hard to engage in it.  As we've gotten away from clear precepts, principles, and patterns...the battle as gotten harder:

Why the Sufficiency of Scripture is so Important

The Problem of Consumer Church

Decreasing Number of Evangelicals

May Christ give us a greater sense of Sola Scriptura going forward, and may He use our humble efforts to glorify Himself and soundly save many of those who are without Him.  May the next 15 years be filled with more fruit, more love, more obedience, more souls saved, and more glory for Christ.

Going to see this tonight with my daughter!

UPDATE:

Awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome!  May the Lord use this movie powerfully!   Everyone, get the DVD and learn about the National Monument to the Forefathers.  Sadly, America is a long way from this, and moving faster and faster away....

In response to a question on our New Members Application, we recieved the below recently.  I met with this couple today, and the encouragement they gave me was a true blessing.  May Christ strengthen all pastors with such people!!!!

Please share a few thoughts about why you want to join Calvary Revival Church Chesapeake?:

(Husband) - CRCC is a biblically driven Church, radically pursuing the cause and the person of Christ.  The Church boldly and without apology promotes a biblical world vision (worldview).  It seeks to please God by cultivating families, shining light on sin, and lifting up the Sufficiency of Scripture.  Who would not want to be a part of this???

(Wife) - I agree with my husband!  Today's "church" has gotten so far away from the true meaning of Christ's mission.  It is disheartening so see, but even more difficult (to see so many) participate in it.  When I first attended CRCC, it was like a breath of fresh air.  I finally felt like I was home again.  I know that no church is perfect, but I expect the full Word of God to be taught and not what is the latest trend.

Wow!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Linky!

Hey friend...come to Jesus!!  He promises you health, wealth, and ease and comfort!  Just look....

• Philip: Crucified, Phrygia, A.D. 54
• Matthew: Beheaded, Ethiopia, A.D. 60
• Barnabas: Burned to death, Cyprus, A.D. 64
• Mark: Dragged to death, Cyprus, A.D. 64
• James (the Less): Clubbed to death, Jerusalem, A.D. 66
• Paul: Beheaded, Rome, A.D. 66
• Peter: Crucified, Rome, A.D. 69
• Andrew: Crucified, Achaia, A.D. 70
• Thomas: Speared to death, Calamina, A.D. 70
• Luke: Hanged, Athens, A.D. 93

(--From the book, Way of the Master by Ray Comfort, p. 23)

And let's not forget about the Neronian Persecution of the early church prior to 70AD.  From the Annals of the Roman historian Tacitus (not a Christian):

“And so, to get rid of this rumor, Nero set up [i.e., falsely accused] as the culprits and punished with the utmost refinement of cruelty a class hated for their abominations, who are commonly called Christians.  Christus, from whom their name is derived, was executed at the hands of the procurator Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius. Checked for a moment, this pernicious superstition again broke out, not only in Judea, the source of the evil, but even in Rome…. Accordingly, arrest was first made of those who confessed [to being Christians]; then, on their evidence, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much on the charge of arson as because of [their] hatred for the human race.  Besides being put to death they were made to serve as objects of amusement; they were clothed in the hides of beasts and torn to death by dogs; others were crucified, others set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed. Nero had thrown open his grounds for the display, and was putting on a show in the circus, where he mingled with the people in the dress of charioteer or drove about in his chariot. All this gave rise to a feeling of pity, even towards men whose guilt merited the most exemplary punishment; for it was felt that they were being destroyed not for the public good but to gratify the cruelty of an individual.”

Or maybe the story of Polycarp will show us the wonderful plan.  From Foxe's Book of Martyrs:

"Polycarp, the venerable bishop of Smyrna, hearing that persons were seeking for him, escaped, but was discovered by a child.  After feasting the guards who apprehended him, he desired an hour in prayer, which being allowed, he prayed with such fervency, that his guards repented that they had been instrumental in taking him.  He was, however, carried before the proconsul, condemned, and burnt in the market place.

The proconsul then urged him, saying, "Swear, and I will release thee;--reproach Christ."  Polycarp answered, "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King, Who hath saved me?"  At the stake to which he was only tied, but not nailed as usual, as he assured them he should stand immovable, the flames, on their kindling the fagots, encircled his body, like an arch, without touching him; and the executioner, on seeing this, was ordered to pierce him with a sword, when so great a quantity of blood flowed out as extinguished the fire. 

But his body, at the instigation of the enemies of the Gospel, especially Jews, was ordered to be consumed in the pile, and the request of his friends, who wished to give it Christian burial, rejected.  They nevertheless collected his bones and as much of his remains as possible, and caused them to be decently interred."
 

Hmmmm....maybe the "wonderful plan" doesn't fit a modern definition of "wonderful"....

Mark 8:34-38 (ESV) - And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (35) For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. (36) For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? (37) For what can a man give in return for his soul? (38) For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Friends, read this link and send an email...whether you homeschool or not.  ENOUGH!

Link

For the last few weeks prior to beginning my sermon, I've mentioned something that has been on my heart of late.  Maybe it was the difficulties of 2011 (there were many).  Or maybe it is just a matter of getting older, seeing and experiencing more of the fallen nature of the world, or moving closer to a better understanding of the gospel.  I don't know.  But I've really been feeling this message in my heart:

Life is short.  Walk with Christ.  Spend time with family and friends.  Disciple others.  Not much else really, truly, matters.

As I look at the Scriptures daily, the futility of so much we spend our lives thinking about and doing has really jumped out at me.  I mentioned to CRCC Sunday that we only have a VERY small window of life to expand His Kingdom.  We'd best spend the little time we have involved in, fighting for, and pushing those things that matter for time and for eternity.  As I've been thinking about this more and more, the things that REALLY matter seem to be:

1.  Giving our all each day to Christ!  Truly, without Christ and His glorious gospel, the pain and misery of this life is overwhelming.  Sure there are many joys and good times, but they don't last long.  As we often say, "There is always something!"  Sadly, many Christians are as suseptible to the emotional ups and downs of this life as those without Christ.  Something is wrong with that.  It is our walk with our Lord, and the hope that lies in eternal life that causes true joy.  We'll never have the joy of the Lord until the Lord becomes our joy.  I truly believe that.  This life is too flaky to put our hope in anything that is in the world.

2.  Spending time with family and friends.  At CRCC, we call this hospitality and fellowship.  Dear reader, you and I simply don't know how much time we have left.  I'm trying to look at my children and my wife through that lens right there each day.  The time we have together is precious.  Each and every moment.  The time I have with friends and church family is precious too.  Walking together, encouraging each other, being there in good and bad times...these things matter.  I've said for years that church is much more than a place to go get a need met or get a blessing.  It truly was designed to be spiritual family.  It matters.

3.  Disciple others.  Beginning with my wife and children and going out to friends, church folks and the unchurched and lost I don't even know...I must preach the gospel and teach others about Jesus.  And I must preach it rightly.  Life is short.  We do not know when the Lord will return or when we will go to Him.  Spending hours and hours watching junk on TV doesn't matter at all, but the time we spend reaching, teaching, and releasing others in the Lord matters.  Eternity is a long time.  It matters when we open the Word with our children.  It matters when we talk to a stranger about Christ.  It matters when we are involved in missions or feeding hungry people.  It matters when we preach the whole gospel that men might be broken, then transformed by grace. 

And truly, I can't think of other things that matter nearly as much.  Sure there are other really good things, but these are the top 3 in my opinion.  Will you consider reorganizing your life around what really matters today?

A wonderful post over on our D6 blog by Sis. Sherry Wilson.  Good reading for both men and women!

Here

That's what our heavenly inheritance is!  Friends, as I get older, the more this means to me.  To put our hope in ANYTHING in this world is folly.  This world and everyone/everything in it suffers from the effects of sin (Rom 8:19-24).  Therefore our hope cannot be put here if we are to have true joy in this life!  Here is how the Apostle Peter put it....

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1 Peter 1:1-25 (ESV)

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (2) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, (5) who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (6) In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (8) Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, (9) obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (10) Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, (11) inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. (12) It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

(13) Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (14) As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, (15) but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, (16) since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." (17) And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, (18) knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (20) He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you (21) who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (22) Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (23) since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

(24) for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, (25) but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.