Friday, August 12, 2011

Too Much For One Sermon

It's a short week after getting back (a day late - thank you United!) from vacation with my family. (it was a FABULOUS week together!) (read Amanda's blog for more details on that)

Anyway, I have been using this short week to get ready for Sunday and have just finished my sermon except that there was more I wanted to talk about!  It just didn't all fit.  So I decided to write a little about it here to get it out of my head and hopefully not get too sidetracked on Sunday.  (nobody likes two sermons squeezed into one!)

I am preaching from Ezekiel 47:1-12 and referring to Jesus' comments in John 7:37-39.  The sermon will focus on the power and spiritual healing of the Holy Spirit that we recieve when we believe in Jesus. I can only touch on the point that we then become LIKE Jesus and the Holy Spirit will flow through us to others.

That is where the sermon could get much longer!  I was reading and thinking about the balance that God put in the whole idea and how we too often fail to maintain.  Right from the start I want to affirm that I believe BOTH ideas are needed, otherwise there would be no balance and our life and faith would not be what God has intended for us.

So allow me to begin my second sermon.  In Ezekiel 40-46 God had the prophet measuring the boundaries of the land and walls of the temple.  One commentator pointed out that these represent legalism which emphasizes the need for separation and holy living.  This has for many believers constituted the main emphasis of being "Christian."  We point to Jesus Himself laying down the law to the rich young ruler and say, "See, THAT is what it takes to be a 'Christian.'"  That leads us to focus our efforts at presenting the gospel to sin as humanity's problem, forgiveness as our need and the gospel as the means by which we reach forgiveness and peace with God.  It's what the Romans Road and many gospel presentations are based on, "All have sinned...the wages of sin is death...but there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."  Understand that is all 100% true but it is best suited for people with a strong ethical, moral sense of what is right and wrong, and who feel an obligation to live up to a certain standard or code of morality.  "It is a way of showing those who believe in the existence of walls, like the rich young ruler, that they themselves are on the outside."  To that person showing them their sin is the best way to invite them to forgiveness so they can come inside.

The problem is when we start to believe that this is the ONLY way to present the good news of Jesus.  We currently live in a society that is not merely immoral but actually moving fast to becomeing amoral.  So many people just can't see the world in black and white; right and wrong. (thank you postmoderism)  To continue the imagery of walls, many today don't believe that spiritual walls actually exist.  It is a world of many ways to get to heaven, if there is one. So if I don't believe that walls really exist, then I reject the premise that I am on the outside needing to come in.  If I don't believe I am guilty, I don't need to be forgiven.  And so we need to be able to present the gospel (same good news) in a different way.  Instead of the sin - forgiveness - gospel equation can we look at the problem - need - solution this way?  We still have a problem but instead of guilt could we focus on bondage?  That would make our need, liberation and the gospel then is our solution that enables us to be free to be what God created us to be.

This is seen in the River of Ezekiel's vision in chapter 47 that flows from the temple.  It represents a gospel of freedom and fullness.  No walls can contain it and it grows in depth and power able to wash away any barrier and bring life to all that it touches.    It still leads us to a relationship with God through Jesus but is presented in a different "language."

It's sad that so many today have abandoned the walls of the temple (the church) in search of total freedom; a life with no rules or restrictions, do whatever I please. And they fail to see that the one true free flowing River begins right there.  It often involves us not understanding that, "Sin is not just breaking the rules, it is living a life centered around something other than God."And equally sad is how the church too often tries to put a wall around the river, too, not inviting sinners to approach and be healed for fear they may contaminate us. 

I guess it reminds me of the Apostles on Pentecost speaking one truth - God longs for a relationship with everyone - and each man was able to hear it in his own language.  I'm not saying that we can/should never lead someone down the Romans Road or use the Four Spiritual Laws.  I guess I am just thinking we ought to know who we are talking to enough to know what "language" they speak.  If they believe in walls, show them the walls. If not point them to the River that flows freely from Jesus and invite them to believe and drink their full.

(the quotes above and the impetus for some of my thoughts came from the Ezekiel volume of The NIV Application Commentary written by Iain M. Duguid)