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Issues the church misunderstands; love, judgement, 3 of 3

12/28/2024

Hi all,

I close this series offering a more historical perspective on our faith. For what was, will be again. People will flock to teachings about how God wants us blessed (He does), but what about the hard part of walking with God?

Obedience is hard on the flesh
"If you love me you will obey me", Jesus said in John 14:15.
"In this world you will have tribulation, but rejoice, for I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you." John 15:18

In I Peter he uses the word 'suffer' or 'suffering' 15 times, with 4 times referring to Jesus' suffering, and 9 times for Christians suffering persecution. 1 time for suffering because you did wrong and deserve it. 1 time to describe a Christian dying to the fleshly sins of this world. (4:1)

Most of I Peter is about suffering persecution just because we are Christians. Modern western Christianity isn't used to persecution like most of the rest of our brethren in other nations endure every day.

Peter was writing I Peter just 1-2 years before his martyrdom, from Rome.
He confirms this was written from Rome by saying in 5:13:"The church at Babylon, chosen together with you, greet you, as does my son in the faith, Mark." Babylon was a code commonly used to describe Rome, as it was the source of commerce, persecution, and culture at that time. (John also calls Rome 'Babylon' in The Revelation) Christians were being killed in the city just for being Christians.

Remember a foundational rule of Bible interpretation is that scripture has to have made sense to the original hearers or readers. In context at the time, if you were a Christian you were risking your life. Lifting verses out of context gives rise to error, so much so that some will fight 'tooth and nail' to defend the error they believe as truth.

This is the foundational verse for 'pleading the blood':
(Greek) "And they have overcome him (the devil) by reason of the blood of the lamb, and by reason of the word of the testimony of them and not have they loved the life of them (they did not love their lives) unto (their) death." Revelation 12:10-11

This is a verse about martyrs. "They overcame the devil by the blood of the Lamb who saved them..." Their salvation was bought with His blood. That is the ONLY way the precious and holy blood of Jesus is taught throughout the NT. It is NEVER taught to be lifted from that most holy and one time use of buying our salvation to be some sort of talisman against the devil. We ARE taught however, to use the name of Jesus to take authority over demons. Even in the OT as a type of Jesus' sacrifice, the blood of the animal was ONLY used to cover that person's sin.

"...and the word of their testimony"
...which was refusing to renounce Christ when Roman officials gave them the choice of worshipping Caesar and renouncing their faith, or proclaiming their faith in Jesus, under penalty of death. But because we in the west have not suffered this life or death persecution, verses are today lifted out of context to say something only a soft and self-focused faith could do. "They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony for they loved not their lives to the death." Just read it like the original readers of these words, in fear for their lives, would have read it.

What faith was for them, it is for us - all of it
We read the NT and can rightly say as our brethren 2,000 years ago were cleansed by the blood of Jesus, so are we. As they prayed for others, so do we. As they wrestled with family and work issues, so do we. As they wrestled with sin and forgiveness and walking in love, so do we. All these are written about in the New Testament.

If all that is the same for us as it was for them, so also is the rest of the message:As they suffered persecution, so will we. As they lived hard lives, so will we. We cannot pick and choose what verses or what part of the message we want to apply, and what part to ignore. My point in closing this series is to cause us to reflect that we who belong to Christ are hated by the spirit in this world. We need to have a right perspective on the whole of the Word.

A well-traveled minister acquaintance and I were having lunch one day. He told me about an experience in an asian country. His host told him:"You preach a different gospel in the US than we do." He asked what he meant, and the man replied:"You teach if you believe in Jesus you will be healed, your job will be blessed, your money will be blessed, your family will be blessed. We teach if you believe in Jesus you may lose your health, you may lose your job, you may lose your money, you may lose your family, you may lose your life."

Which one is closer to what Jesus taught and what the rest of the NT teaches? He does want us blessed, yes. But hardship comes with the territory. Faith in Christ is serious. We gave ourselves to Him, we didn't add Him to us. He tells us what to do, we don't tell Him what to do.

Some things to consider here at the end of the year, when we contemplate our walk with Him in the coming year. Are we mere believers, or are we disciples (always learning)? Next subject next week, blessings!

John Fenn
http://www.cwowi.org and email me at [email protected] or [email protected]

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Issues the church misunderstands; love, judging, 2 of 3

12/21/2024

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Hi all,

Acts 18 describes the founding of the body of Christ in Corinth, initially starting in the home of a Roman named Justus (18:1-11). Some 5 years after its founding, the body of Christ has grown to many other homes in the city and beyond. It is then Paul writes his first letter to the Corinthians.

We don't judge the heart, we are to judge the fruit of their lives - but with balance
In chapter 5 Paul writes to the church about a man having an immoral relationship with his step mother. That sin was known by all in the church. They met in homes, so the man's sin was known by all, but no one confronted him. At the end of chapter 5, in v12-13, Paul makes this statement:

"What have I to do with judging those outside the body of Christ? God will judge those. Are you not to judge those on the inside (of the body of Christ)? Expel that wicked person from your midst." Fortunately, the church and the man repented, which Paul mentions in II Corinthians 7. Judging his immoral action which affected the whole church, brought the man to repentance. Paul didn't preach 'seeker friendly'. He expected seekers to grow in Christ, giving their lives to Him, not just adding Jesus to their schedule to the extent He blesses them.

From witnessing the fruit of their lives we make judgements. These judgements establish boundaries by which we protect ourselves. We set boundaries but also doors that we may open to a person worthy of our trust. This is true in friendships, even how close we allow blood relatives, or even coworkers to get to us. Sometimes we close a door to a person, loving them at a distance.

"Don't judge by appearance. Judge with righteous judgement." John 7:24
Jesus had just made the point to look at the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law. He had given an example that they will circumcise a baby on the Sabbath day, breaking one law to keep another. Yet they were angry with Him for healing a man on the Sabbath, for they considered healing the man 'work'.

Proverbs 6:30 says this:"Don't despise a thief if he is stealing because he is hungry." It then lays out punishment if that thief is caught and what he will have to repay. Both these show us to make judgement, but do so by considering the spirit of the law - the intent behind it, and the motives of the person.

Years ago in one of the house churches there was a pregnant 19 year old who was living with her unsaved boyfriend and father of the child. They came to house church regularly. The young woman knew the Lord, had fallen away, and returned to Him - now pregnant and growing in size weekly for all to see, unmarried in house church.

Some wanted to kick them out. My counsel was to cooperate with God and what He was doing in their lives, measured by:"Is there progress in their walk with Lord?" If yes, we knew God was at work and we didn't want to work against Him. If not, kick them out as they weren't serious about Christ.

Is there progress? The answer was a resounding 'yes'. So the couple was allowed to stay and their growth in the Lord, and Him doing things to bless them were evident - all of this discussion taking place without them knowing about it. Within a few weeks the young man was born again, and they were shortly married after that. The last I heard they were still married and had 3 or 4 children together. Mercy won. (Mt 9:13; 12:7)

Church culture misunderstands having a backbone for righteousness
And as I write this, Christians and the world alike think Jesus not only loves everyone (yes), but accepts everyone (yes) without expectation of any change (no). That's the issue. We are to make disciples. A disciple by the meaning of that name, is a 'learner'. If you aren't learning and growing in Him, you may be a believer, but you aren't a disciple.

Came to bring a sword
In one place, Matthew 10:33-35, Jesus stated "...I have not come to bring peace to the earth, but a sword..."
He came to bring a sword in which even family members will be put against one another. That comment was sandwiched between statements that being a disciple of His is all or nothing, in or out, not a wishy-washy faith. it seems accepted that today a person can believe in Jesus without being a disciple (learner). In the NT, that isn't the case. If you believe, you ARE a disciple. There is no getting born again and then stopping all growth. Change is the norm for a Christian - constant, life-long, unrelenting requirement to become more Christ-like.

Of course Jesus's statement about bringing a sword to the family was not talking literally. He was making the point the gospel would divide families. We understand therefore how this fits with Hebrews 4:12-13:"The Word of God (the person of Jesus is the Word of God) is a two-edge sword and divides between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and critiques the thoughts and motives of the heart. And all things are open and naked before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Seeing then we have a high priest, Jesus..."

Jesus is that sword coming into families because He is that sword that sees motives and thoughts, and causes people to judge themselves, to change their lives for righteousness. In relationships, if someone comes to the Lord, He beings to critique their thoughts and motives, and that can take a person in a different direction in their lives.

The Greek word for 'critique' is in fact 'kritikos' and means a 'decisive critique'. This is the sword Jesus brings into the earth. People must decide for righteousness, or not. For Him, or not.

Does being redeemed mean all consequences from past sin are wipe away?
Consider:Who will render to every man according to his deeds." Romans 2:6 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked:for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7

“…God is not mocked….” The word “mocked” is the Greek word mukteridzo, and it means to turn up one’s nose at someone, as if mocking or laughing at the person. Paul equates thinking we have no consequences for our actions as mocking God - turning up our noses at Him in arrogance - by thinking He has redeemed everything so we don't have to face the consequences of poor decisions. Paul says what we sow, we reap. He is faithful to make sure we do. It is the only way on this earth for us to learn about free-will, about truth and error, life and death, action and consequences. We are disciples - learners - so we are expected by God to learn.

Spiritually we are redeemed. Paul wrote in Romans 8:23 however, we are waiting for the redemption of our bodies. This means things of this earth like poor decisions sown, are not wiped out by the blood of Jesus. We await that day when righteousness will be over all the earth, but for now we are redeemed spiritually, but await the redemption of our bodies.

That means what happens in earth stays in the earth. This ties into next week's subject. The subject of his series is 'Issues the church (body of Christ) misunderstands'. Next week the gospel of 'God always wants us happy and blessed.' Until then, blessings,

John Fenn
http://www.cwowi.org and email me at [email protected] or [email protected]

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Issues the church misunderstands; love, judging, 2 of 3

12/21/2024

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Issues the church misunderstands:Love, judging 1of 3

12/14/2024

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Hi all,

Many countries have a day of Thanksgiving, and nearly all those holidays were founded with the idea of giving thanks to God. Over time however, God became separated from the thanks, so that people are now just expressing what they are thankful for - without ever rendering to God the credit for the good things in their lives.

So too has love become disconnected from the One who is love. "For God so loved the world" and "God is love" has become 'love is love', 'just love everyone' and, "If you don't accept me on my terns you don't love me."

Seeker friendly and the loss of absolute truth in church
In recent years that kind of 'God loves everyone so any lifestyle is accepted by Him' thinking has crept into church culture leaving Christians confused. Many are asking how to deal with people who call themselves Christians, but who live alternate lifestyles or hold to clearly anti-Christian political views. "God is love" has been lost in the noise of voices saying 'love is love'. The lines defining love have become blurred.

I can trace the confusion in church culture to the start of the 'seeker friendly' movement. Pastor Bill Hybels of Chicago is credited with the term, but it was Rick Warren of Saddleback church in California in the 1990's that caused that form of church to spread like wildfire. 'Seeker friendly' means there will be no confrontation about sin in an effort to welcome everyone. It is the removal from church anything that might make someone uncomfortable or offended.

It is no wonder Christians who are part of the auditorium church culture are confused.
The irony of seeker friendly churches is that those who are truly seeking, seek definition, seek absolutes, seek someone to tell them right from wrong. They want to know where they went wrong, how they can straighten up their lives. Not finding it in seeker friendly church, they look elsewhere. Seeker friendly churches are therefore left with people who invite Jesus to be part of their busy lives rather than giving their lives wholly to Him.

This has led to people thinking they can believe in Jesus but live however they want. People talk of how Jesus forgave the woman caught in the act of adultery in John 8:11 when He said:"Neither do I condemn you", but they forget He continued:"Go and sin no more." He didn't make excuses for 'soul ties' or listen to her that her lover gave her money or put a roof over her head. He would have known that. He commanded:"Go and sin no more."

People want to be forgiven or their sin accepted, without facing any consequences for their actions. In the world and in church culture no one wants to talk about taking responsibility for their life. They think because they are redeemed, all consequences from their past life are magically wiped away. Love isn't wishy washy, it is very clear, very much about personal responsibility. Guilt of sin is wiped away but that is spiritual. We live in a world of every action having a reaction. Spiritually we are forgiven, but we must renew the mind to prove in our lives the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

It's created a culture of victimhood, people looking to see what could offend them, and divided people into tribes. Defining God's love and how love is received brings unity for God brings absolutes.

Love always has conditions for how to receive that love
God so loved the world that He gave His only son....that is unconditional love. Here is the condition to receive that unconditional love:That any who believe in Him will have eternal life. He loves you, but if you want His eternal life you must believe in Jesus. He loves you, but His love is poured out through His only Son, Jesus. To many, the idea unconditional love has conditions by which to receive (and remain in) that love, is revolutionary.

But here are some examples:You love your spouse and they love you, but you each swore vows to one another to state to each other your love has conditions. If one of you break a vow and you may be headed for divorce. Love has conditions in order to receive that love. It has consequences if that love bond is broken.

You love that puppy, but if it grows up and bites people continually or destroys the house regularly, you may sell it or give it to an animal shelter. You love it unconditionally, but there are conditions to it receiving that love.

You love your neighbor unconditionally, as yourself, and show them kindness and do good things for them. But if they become angry with you because you fail their expectations one day, they shut themselves off from your love for them by refusing your friendship or future help.

God loved the world so gave His Son. But His unconditional love is expressed through the Son.
The Old Testament Law of Moses with its 613 laws, was the way God outlined a nation was to behave, treat each other, and the means by which each Israelite could approach God. Walking in that law was however impossible for God is perfect and man is not. God so loved us that He sent His Son, whom He named Jesus (Hebrew:salvation) to perfectly fulfill that law, then die innocent so that death and subsequent life could be for others.

He died to put His Will and Testament into effect, then the Father raised Him from the dead so He could be the Executor of His own Estate. Now He is overseeing that His will is done - but just for those who receive Him.

Love therefore cannot be separated from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. When love is separated from God and His ways, then love becomes an undefinable mushy, feel good, anything goes acceptance of anything except God.

Love without expectations isn't love. Grace is an inward affection, love is the outflow of that grace. Because we are loved by God, and in turn love God vertically, we are expected to love our neighbor as ourself as an outflow from that love. I've taught before how the word 'righteousness' is the Hebrew word tzedakah, translated 'charity'. For when we are made right vertically with God, He expects us to let that rightness with Him flow horizontally to our neighbor. Thus the 2 greatest commandments upon which hang all the law and prophets is:Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.

Love judges others
Jesus said not to judge a person's heart in Matthew 7:1-2, but He did say we are to judge the fruit of their lives a few verses later in 15-20.

And that's where we'll pick it up next week. Until then, blessings,
John Fenn
http://www.cwowi.org and email me at [email protected] or [email protected]

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Peace as a weapon, 2of 2

12/7/2024

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Hi all,

I used to carry all my fear and worry right through my prayer. At times, the main reason for going to Wednesday night church was to remind the Father I had bills due that I was counting on Him to provide.

Fear and worry in prayer
Years ago when our 3 boys were young and money was especially tight, I would pray about a bill coming due and found myself as worried and afraid at the end of the prayer as I was at the start of the prayer.

My prayer was along the lines of Philippians 4:6-7:
Do not be anxious about anything. But in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I knew the Greek word 'guard' meant to guard like a city wall, to hem in, to stand watch over. But I had no peace at the end of the prayer, and wondered why what Paul promised wasn't happening to me.

One day I looked at that verse as a step by step process,
Starting with:"Be anxious for nothing." The Greek word 'anxious' is 'merimnao' and means 'to be pulled apart in different directions', 'divided, distracted'. That was me - thoughts running all over the place in fear and worry about what would happen if the bill didn't get paid. I was trying to figure a Plan B & C if 'God didn't come through.'

I decided to take it as 'step 1', 'step 2' and so on. The first thing he said was to stop being anxious and in fear and worry. It took me 2 weeks to work through the fear and worry. I began actively rejecting thoughts of 'what if' and other fears, replacing them with specific examples from my past where the Father 'came through' for us.

It 2 weeks to deal with the fear. I had many things I prayed about daily, but that one bill, the rent, that was coming up in 2 1/2 weeks, I didn't pray about. I kept that to myself until I had dealt with the fear. I battled for 2 weeks countering every fear with a remembrance of the Father's faithfulness, sometimes even before I was saved.

Finally, the fear was gone and I could proceed to Paul's next instruction:
In every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. I did that. I humbly took that rent bill to Him, stating how faithful He had been in the past, and thanking Him for continued faithfulness....and then it happened. That message from heaven, that rainbow to my spirit - PEACE!

It happened just like Paul. The peace from the Father came and I knew that I knew that I knew that rent was paid - How, I didn't know. But I had peace it was paid.

I have followed Paul's instructions just like that since. But now it doesn't take me 2 weeks to work through the fear, I can deal with it in a matter of seconds, or less than a second - the more you learn to deal with fear, the easier the next time becomes, and soon it isn't a battle at all.

I have learned the word 'guard' as in 'the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds' is both offensive and defensive in such cases. When a thought of fear or worry starts to come against the peace I have, it is like an attack against a castle wall. Or like a wall around an ancient city. Peace stands guard, and I keep the gates closed by refusing to take the bait of thinking about that fear.

If you refuse to fear, it is like refusing to open the gate
It is refusing to let the draw bridge down. Refuse the thoughts of fear and worry. It takes discipline and training, and is difficult at first, but soon becomes natural.

Peace becomes an offensive weapon when you once again fight that fear and worry with a statement - out loud so you can hear yourself say it - about the Father's faithfulness in the past. Peace overwhelms fear and worry when you do that.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 'take no thought therefore about tomorrow'.
"Take no thought." Thoughts come - but don't take them. He had just finished telling the faithful that Gentiles, those outside the covenant we have with the Father, worry about their food and clothing. Jesus said our Father knows what we need - He is OUR Father, He is not THEIR Father. Therefore 'Take no thought' about these things.

That is how you do it - when the thought comes you don't take it, you meet that thought with the peace pushing back from the walled city of your heart and mind, and reject any thoughts contrary to peace. It is that simple, but it is a discipline and at least for me, difficult at first. But stay with it and it will become your first response.

Peace is one of the fruit of the spirit of Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

I believe Paul's intent was the fruit of the human spirit, not the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The reason is simple:The context is comparing works of the human flesh against the fruit of the born again spirit.

The Spirit of God is love, joy, peace, and such. Fruit is a product of the tree. The tree is an apple tree, the apple is the fruit. The Holy Spirit IS love, joy, peace and such. The fruit He produces in our spirit is meant for others to consume.

The fruit of a tree is the means of reproducing that tree, so we are to reproduce disciples. That is our fruit which is seen in our lives. People eat fruit. It provides nourishment. It tastes good. People want it.

Peace is a fruit of the born again spirit. People want the peace you have. They want the fruit of your life - they see the fruit of love, joy, peace, gentleness, long suffering, patience, kindness - and they want it in their lives.

Walk in peace. Learn to guard it, and when necessary, use peace as a weapon against the darts of the enemy, or to help a person get out of strife or fear or worry.....

New subject next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected] or [email protected]

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