Asking the Wrong Questions

Then the disciples came, and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?” But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted. Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

(Matthew 15:12–14)

When it comes to the most important things in life—spiritual things (2 Corinthians 4:18)—too many ask the wrong questions. Rather than asking what makes a certain practice right (i.e., pleasing to God, see Ephesians 5:10), most are going to ask: “What’s wrong with doing _____?” It’s as if that—since they’re the ones doing the questionable things and being asked to show from the Bible where they’re getting their authority for doing those questionable things—they can’t be really questioned. Paul said, “Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). 

Essentially, their motives are wrong, and so they ask the wrong questions. And the reason why their motives are wrong is because their heart is wrong—seeking to establish their own righteousness, they are unwilling to submit to God’s (Romans 10:3). For example:

Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25–29).

The truth has nothing to hide and if we’re sincerely wanting to please God now—glorifying Him, and seeking the eternal reward of being in His presence forever—then we must boldly ask of ourselves and others about the Scriptural reasons why we do what we do, and the way we do it: because it matters to God what and how we do His commands (1 John 5:2–3). Jesus said, “But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23–24).

Currently there are many religiously-minded people who are doing things the way they want to do them without biblical foundations. They didn’t read from God’s word what they are practicing. Some have basically defended themselves—what they’re doing and how they’re doing it—by saying that they can’t be wrong because they’re the ones doing these things from sincere hearts. “These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion” (Colossians 2:23). I am reminded of Uzzah and the ark of God (1 Chronicles 13:5–14). Uzzah was sincerely wrong.

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace (Leviticus 10:1–3).

“Unauthorized fire … which he had not commanded them.” If we are open to God’s word—reading and understanding it—then we are going to find out first what it is that He wants before offering what we think or hope is pleasing (Matthew 6:33; Proverbs 2:1–10).

Again, too many are asking the wrong questions, concerned about the wrong things, and ignoring the source of the problem, which is a heart set on their own gain (Ezekiel 33:31). “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:21–22).

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us (1 John 3:18–24).

If we want to please God as true worshipers, then we must first go to His word to find what it is that He wants us to be, think, and do. “All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2).

The Benefit and Service of Showing Up

I was glad when they said to me, 

“Let us go to the house of the Lord!” 

—David, Psalm 122:1—

Sunday! For a lot of people reading that word, they already knew they were going to be here today—it’s their developed habit, their pattern for living, their joy, and nothing short of illness or natural disaster is going to hold them back from being here with their spiritual family. Yes, there are a few who are reading these words who know they won’t be coming to worship on Sunday—there are clearly valid reasons for them to not attend worship on a given week, and we compassionately understand that God’s love for us does not waver when we’re sick or on maybe on the road or otherwise unable.

The truth is that there are a host of those who are between these two categories. They are the ones who plan to worship on Sunday, but they won’t actually gather together with others to do it. Here’s the thing: they have every intention of going. As the weekend begins, they have every intention of showing up for worship, to be encouraged and to be an encouragement. By Saturday evening they still intend to go. If we call them up, they’ll say, with all honestly, that they’re planning to be there, of seeing us come Sunday morning.

But one of the big problems is that they won’t have done much to prepare for it—to make the time to stop from their distracting activities, to remind the family to make sure they’ve got something to wear, to get to bed at a reasonable hour, to set an alarm. By the time Sunday morning rolls around and study or worship begins, they will be nowhere to be seen.

It’s these to whom we want to speak the truth in love—the many who genuinely intend to get to worship every week, but who consistently fail to show.

Some might call it a “ministry of presence”—of simply gathering with  others of like precious faith in worship to our heavenly Father on Sunday (2 Peter 1:1). This may seem like such a little thing, an almost inconsequential thing, but it matters immensely and affects us eternally. It matters that much! It’s genuinely a service, a ministry (Ephesians 4:12–16) as every part does its share. It’s a clear way of Christians serving one another in love (Galatians 5:13; Hebrews 10:24–25).

When we come together, it shouldn’t be a mere exercise of doing things that carry no actual meaning—a mere going through the motions. Our fellowship together is because of the direct connection we have with our heavenly Father: “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7; also read 4:7–8).

Are we committed to serving God and one another? It shows by whether or not we show up. It’s easy enough to intend to do this, but it takes loving effort and diligence in doing it. Remember what Jesus said about the wise and fool?

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great” (Luke 6:46–49).

How else do we fulfill “one another” commands unless we’re together? (Hebrews 10:24–25; 1 Thessalonians 5:11) Every congregation (including ours) needs more commitment from those who see their presence as a wonderful contribution and a superior benefit to themselves and their spiritual family. It’s not about having to, but wanting to be here and be a part.

Problem Finders and Solution Seekers

Anyone can find a problem. The world, and more specifically the Lord’s body here and everywhere else, could benefit tremendously from having fewer who find problems and offer nothing more. We all could profit from those who seek solutions.

Years ago I preached a sermon that I’m sure was designed by me to point out a problem the congregation was having. In my mind’s eye I see myself getting a worked up and all “preachery.” Afterward, one dear sister said the lesson was needed, but then she asked, “What can we do to fix this?” Her question has stayed with me through the years because I know deep down that I am one who can triumphantly find problems while offering little to nothing in solving them.

It’s difficult sometimes to find a solution to a problem. Here’s one: rather than complaining about attendance, say something to someone who is not making it a priority, and saying that needed thing in love —“speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Eph. 4:15–16; also see Col. 4:6).

When it comes to attendance to Bible studies and worship, it is honestly discouraging (at worst) and disappointing (at the least) for brothers and sisters to willingly not show up.

A solution to this problem? “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed” (1 Cor. 16:22).

The truth is, there’s a heart problem with some, and one of the ways it shows is by a lack of attending as we should. Not attending shows it’s not a priority with you, and that there are times when you come before the Lord and your brethren (suffering from “I” trouble). Don’t go looking for exceptions, because you know better. Yes, there are exceptions, but too many are wanting the exception to somehow serve as the rule. “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17).

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries (Heb. 10:23–27).

When the Lord addressed the saints in Ephesus he charged them with abandoning the love they had at first, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent (Rev. 2:4–5).

We desperately need godly grief (2 Cor. 7:9–11). And godly grief, which leads to repentance, begins with a humbled heart —“But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isa. 66:2; also see Matt. 5:3–4; Php. 2:12–13).

Again, finding problems is easy; anyone can do it. But being willing, open, and eager to find and implement a solution is tougher. It begins with an acknowledgement that something needs to change (cf. James 3:13–18), and then doing what we know we should. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

The Enormity of What God Has Done

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

It is very humbling to meditate upon the enormity of what God has done for all of us by approaching mankind as that which He created — “Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:5). As the psalmist so beautifully asks: “What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (v. 4). And what God has done for mankind is so unique that there’s only way the story can be told: in the light of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-5 / 2 Timothy 1:8-10).

“For God so loved the world …” (John 3:16). “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. … We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:9-10, 19). Without God’s love, there would be no love at all.

The purpose, though, for our humility in light of the gospel and what God has done for us through His Son on the cross is not simply to make us feel bad (though we, at times, should). God’s love is designed to elevate us — “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as

you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11).

This “elevation” is not just to make us feel better about ourselves — although that might happen as a result of the relief which comes from our realization and acceptance that our sins have been completely forgiven in Christ — but to also help us be better in every station of life: whether at home (as parents and children), work (whether as an employee or employer), school, or even when we’re alone and no one but God knows what we’re up to. In Christ we find a fresh start, a new beginning, and an ultimate hope of heaven where “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4 / Isaiah 25:8).

With a new year beginning today, we generally like to view things as “new.” The calendar has indeed changed, but really just from one day to another. So how can we see a change within ourselves? The real benefit today is that we, as Jesus’ followers, are coming together as His body to worship Him and to remind ourselves of His indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15) as we participate in the Lord’s Supper — “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).

Furthermore, we come together to pray to and worship in spirit and truth the God of the universe, and to encourage one another by stirring up love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). In other words, we look up and we look around in our time together in worship and spiritual refreshment; if you will, our time together is a kind of spiritual huddle — where we plan and then go out into the world to put into play God’s wonderful words of salvation.

Our adversary, the devil, wants us to miss out — and the more we miss worship and Bible studies, the weaker we become spiritually. As Paul said to the Corinthians about their abuses of the Lord’s Supper, “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That at is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep [i.e., died spiritually]” (1 Corinthians 11:29-30).

God’s salvation is offered freely (Isaiah 55:1-7 / John 6:27). Take full advantage of this opportunity before it’s eternally too late (­2 Peter 3:8-13).

Jesus Is Not a Burger King

And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."      —Revelation 19:11-16

Most people know the name Jesus Christ. Most probably don't realize that the term "Christ" was interpreted by the Jews (Luke 23:2) to mean "King." When Pontius Pilate directly asked Jesus if He were a king, Jesus did not deny the claim (John 18:33-37). 

Westerners don't know much about kings. We read our history books, and wonder how anyone could be loyal to death to one person. We're acclimated to the concepts of temporary influence and rule—our American presidents can only serve 2 terms, or 8 years; and we've only had one exception.

A lot of people who quickly identify themselves as "Christians" actually offer service based mostly upon their own ideas of submission. We read or hear what Jesus commands, but we'd rather put our own spin on these things.

For example, marriage: We know the divine rules (one man and one woman for life), but we'd rather bend the rule to our own views. This is willful sin. God said, "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery" (Matthew 19:9). How many books have been written to say that this is not what He really meant?

In Mark's gospel account, we read: "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery" (Mark 10:11-12). It's simple, until we deceive ourselves into thinking it's not. 

There are other issues: worship services! A lot of people will claim to follow Jesus, but absolutely refuse—for whatever excuses offered—to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). And how dare anyone put a subjective spin on Hebrews 10:24-27?

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

If we have the attitude that Jesus is King, then we will unreservedly and without hesitation follow His commands (John 14:15, 23-24; 15:14). But when we know His will, and simply brush it off because we esteem Him like any other man suggesting what we're to do, then we are woefully deceived and in danger of eternal damnation. 

I know many scoff at God's eternal rule. But one day He will come in perfect judgment. Wouldn't we rather err on the side of loyalty and mindful obedience to the King of kings? Why are we so willful? 

Jesus is not a symbol of prosperity! He's not a joker! He's not a hippie! He's not a gimmick! He is King of kings, and Lord of lords!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.      —Isaiah 9:6-7