The Dark Night of the Soul

 

Our Dark Nights

The Christian teacher and writer from Spain, St. John of the Cross, June 24, 1542 –December 14, 1591.

John spoke from his own experience(s) , when he expressed the despair and dryness of soul that we all encounter in our Christian journey from time to time as we walk this life toward eternity with our lord Jesus Christ.  His poem called “the Dark Night” expressed his, (and on occasion our), painful experience(s) that Christians undergo as they seek to grow in spiritual maturity and union with God. 

Whether we agree with all of John’s Theology or not, we can agree that all of us, either have are or will pass through times that truly seem to be “Dark Nights of the soul”, when God appears to be so distant and removed, we feel so alone and abandoned. Our Spiritual moorings are shaken, we feel adrift.

Our pain can be so intense, barrenness grips us, and our faith we realize is so inadequate, our own resources dwindle. Despair can envelop us, we want to give up, we ask ourselves, is it worth it? How can we go on? Will it ever get better? Life feels meaningless and empty, prospects are fading.

We cry out and from our point of view, the heavens are as brass; it is as if our prayers have no reception at the Throne of our God. We ask where is God in these times?, does He care?, is He there?  We look ahead and see a dark road which leads to more empty darkness.

Yet in spite of how we feel, or how we perceive these “Dark Night(s)”, it is in times as these, that our Lord is there, watching, and sustaining us. As alone as we may “feel”, we are not.  If you are now passing through a time of deepening darkness in your Christian life, when all seems amiss, then I encourage you to take hold of the words inspired by the Holy Spirit and penned in the Epistle to the Hebrew Christians; for this admonition is not just for our spiritual ancestors of 2000 years ago, they are for all of us  in all ages,  for us now. And if we are in a “Dark Night” of the soul, then these words will minister comfort to us.

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” Hebrews 13:5.

Jesus Christ has made an eternal commitment to us. Even as we grope our way in despair, He is there being for us, in these moments, what we can never be for ourselves.  When our prayers seem so ineffectual, Jesus is there as our abiding Intercessor, able to succor our deliverance.

 “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25

Jesus is always standing with and for us, even in our darkest times, this means that when our own prayers seem so weak, or we have despaired to the point when we have no elegant words that come forth out of our being to cry out with, it is in these times that we should then know that Jesus Himself prays for us, knowing that our names are upon the lips of our Savior, should give us hope.

Jesus’ “Dark Night”

Jesus Himself knows these moments. In His humanity when facing the cross, knowing that the hour was near at hand Jesus said-

“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” John: 12:27

When   upon the Cross , as He hung there for the sins of us all , Jesus uttered the words in that “Dark Night” of His Soul, which came at noon day – quoting from  Psalm:22

“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" Matthew: 27:46

Jesus understands and knows firsthand the “Dark Night” of the Soul, that sense of being abandon and alone. However we want to say it, Jesus knows it.

Yet, Jesus also knew something else,  as He was upon the cross; He knew what was  beyond His (and our) “Dark Nights”..When Jesus cried our using the words from Psalm 22:1, he did so not just  for what those verses expressed, but for what we read latter on in the Psalm: 22, in verses 22-31.

²² I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
²³ Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
²⁴ For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
²⁵ My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
²⁶ The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live forever.
²⁷ All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
²⁸ For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.
²⁹ All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
³⁰ A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
³¹ They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Jesus knew what was the end result, that there was real hope, an end to the “Dark Night”.

In Our Dark Nights

In these times, when all seems night and darkness, we will find comfort in Jesus. God’s Word is a help even as we struggle, along, reading the Scriptures, prayer, worship all these will help. So often it is the very things that will help us the most that we often set aside first. But above all we have Jesus, to aid and carry us, when our spiritual legs give out.

Dawn Will Come

The Apostle Peter, knowing that many Christians were and would pass through these times, wrote of what lay beyond that there is a dawning which awaits us.

“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
 2 Peter: 1:19

After we have been in the “Dark Night “ of our Souls, when we have passed through them, we will look back, and viewing these moments of despair , forsakenness, in retrospect and  in the clear light of dawn and we will see that in our times of deepest darkness , that it was our Lord Himself who bore us up ,Who was (and is) ever present and with us through it all, dealing mercifully with us , and has (and will) seen us through theses “Dark Nights” through which we all pass into the glory of endless day in Eternity with our Lord and King...Amen.

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

Fountain of Life Church

Washington, Pa 

Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on RKP Radio 1710 & 1670 in Washington, Pa.

And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com 

Poor Beggers

 

In the section of the Sermon of the Mount, which may have been a composite of the general message that Jesus was beginning to introduce in the early years of His ministry in Galilee, these Scriptures show the posture of the heart, and the corresponding blessing that come upon believers, known as the Beatitudes – We find here that Jesus calls theses dispositions Blessed. We want to look at just one of these Beatitudes for the moment.

In Matthew: 5:3-, we read the following   “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

It is useful for us to note that the author, of this account of the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ was Matthew, who in his pre-ministry day had been a tax collector for the Roman provisional government that administered the land of Palestine. Matthew was writing to a very Jewish audience who would have been steeped in certain cultural biases , one such biases was that if you were poor there was little or no esteem shown toward you.

The Greek  word that the Holy Spirit inspires Matthew to uses here is “ptokhos”   for “poor” , this word like many Greek words carries with it not only a meaning but implications and connotations, this word literally  means  a “poor humble Beggar” – as well has having a verb component- meaning to seek support – to be in  a state of “dependency” – and  relying  on  that support, otherwise the "beggar"  would be helpless  and could not survive without it.  In other words, the “poor humble beggars” are "dependent" on others for help, and they know it.

The Beggar Needs Help

In other words “poor humble beggars” know their state and humbly ask for support and is fully dependent on that support else they would not ask for it. They know their “dependency”.  Without the grace of those around them they would go without could not survive. The “poor humble beggar” knows  he need help.

Illustrates the Point

To Jesus’ immediate audience the image of a “poor humble beggar” would have been quickly understood they were a common sight sitting with a bowl in their hand, out stretched, extended, asking for whatever help they might receive from those who pass by.  The “poor humble beggars”   knew where to place themselves to find the most help, often at the city gates, market place or the routs to the Temple at Jerusalem.

 This image would have proven to be a paradox for many who heard Jesus use it as a description of those he called Blessed, that some of the lowest in social standing would be called blessed by Him. ...A condition of “dependency” many of them despised, and we, would like very much to avoid if possible.

Yet, we hear that they, theses “poor humble beggars”, are blessed, and it is this exact state of “dependency” that theses “poor humble beggars” have, this is why they are blessed.  What is the blessing that theses ones have?   He is not just telling them, that it is  just  because of the low social  status they occupied that will  confers this blessed state upon them here and now and on into eternity.  Again, the “poor humble beggar” knows they need help.

Disciples should be Beggars

How would have Jesus’ disciples of understood this complete “dependency”? The word “spirit” in Jesus’ pronouncement helps to point us to His meaning.  It becomes clear that He is not just speaking of one’s lack of economical means that is the cause of being blessed, rather He speaks of the true need that all of us are in need of. Spiritually we are all in need, we are all in a state of want,  acknowledged or not, we are all dependent, just some of us have come to see ourselves as we truly are, that is apart from Jesus Christ. 

This “dependency” that Jesus is illustrating for us, and is actually a blessing for us to have it so .It is a quality of those who follow Him, that is ,that we come to see our dependency on  Him.

They are humbly are aware of their need for His support – in the Spiritual life- and in every need,  even in His humanity Jesus acknowledged His dependency on the Father for everything in the fulfillment of His life “I can do nothing of My own self” John:5 30

During His earthly ministry before the crucifixion Jesus Cried out to God is Father in times of need knowing His "dependency" on the Great God in  times of His need. He was totally "dependent" on the Father.
"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission". Hebrews:5:7

It is when we see as ourselves we are, broken and in need, with our the spiritual ware-with-all to live the spiritual life as we ought to, then and only then will we, like those “poor humble beggars”   position ourselves in such a place to ask for help. We see that in Jesus, who alone is able to fill our lack, all that we need.  It is then our “dependency” our “poor in the spirit” become a great blessing we come to see all we need do is ask of Him, Who will so freely assist us and generously provide. Being “poor humble beggars” rather than a reproach, it become a great blessing to us as we await His every blessing knowing that in Him is all we will ever need. Let us all be completely “dependent” on Jesus and be blessed as  “poor humble beggars” .  Amen

 Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

Fountain of Life Church

Washington, Pa 

Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on RKP Radio 1710 & 1670 in Washington, Pa.

And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com 

SIN UNDER GRACE

SIN UNDER GRACE

If it’s not about Jesus, it’s not about anything

Motto of the Fountain of Life

Dear Brethren, let’s adopt Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 8:1-2. This is my free rendering. "Regarding idols we have knowledge of them. Yes, knowledge makes us feel important, but love glorifies Jesus. If anyone thinks he knows it all, he knows nothing. But if anyone loves God, he is blessed." Regardless of what we think, if we don’t look to Jesus as the author and finisher of our salvation (Hebrews 12:2) our speculations are not about anything.
Orthodox confessions agree that our good works cannot get us into heaven. We are saved by grace through the work of Christ. But can sin keep us out of heaven and how much can we sin? To answer that we will discuss sin the heart and conduct.
Grace Communion International (GCI) teaches that Christ died for the sins of the whole world and He paid the price for all sins. Read Romans 5:18: "Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." All our sins are forgiven. 1 John 4:10 reads, "…and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." These and other scriptures teach that through Jesus all sins are forgiven and all penalties are paid.
The words are simple to understand, but the spiritual concept is very hard to grasp because we filter it through human perceptions. Inevitably when someone is told that Jesus paid the price for all sins, human reason deduces that we can sin all we want, since the penalty is already paid. At this point many reject it because it violates our concept of human justice. It lacks teeth. Having no penalty removes personal accountability. Rather than enforcing justice, it appears to allow criminals to "get away with it."
Others receive it as a license to sin. Several years ago, a man killed many people in a Pittsburgh health club. The radio news claimed that the criminal said he could kill as much as he wanted because he is a Christian and his sins are forgiven.
Is this acceptable Christian conduct? After all, 2 Timothy 2:13 says "if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself." And the blood of Christ forgives sins, even multiple murders. We know that salvation is not a mater of keeping laws or obeying standards of conduct. But does that mean Christian conduct includes a license to sin? This is a good place to ask, what is sin?

SIN

GCI theologian Dr. Mike Feazell said, "First, let’s clear some ground. Sin is a condition of the heart, not merely individual acts of wrongdoing." In like manner morality or Christian conduct also is a condition or change of the heart, not merely a catalogue of righteous acts.
The GCI Statement of Beliefs says: "Sin is lawlessness, that is a state or condition of rebellion against God." The phrase "state of rebellion" means lukewarm or passive indifference as well as active opposition as well as unbelief. Jesus was harsh with the lukewarm Sunday Laodicean Christians (Rev. 3:16). Paul was harsh with Elymas who actively opposed him Acts. 13:8. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness (Jas. 2:23). If belief is righteousness unbelief remains as unrighteousness. And Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 6:9, "Know ye not that the unrighteous (or unbelievers) shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" Ultimately no sin keeps anybody out of heaven. Only unbelief does that.
Now we are discussing those who accept the blood of Jesus as a license to sin. That is not passive indifference but rather willing active ignorance to the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Any gratitude for forgiveness is ultimately subsumed under a desire to please self.
That means there are Church members who think they are Christians but are not. Paul wrote that fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortionists do not inherit heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). But the Church is populated with sinners. That means there are Church members who are fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortionists yet are Christians. This fact illustrates the difference between the heart of the sinner and the sin itself. The sins are the same, but the hearts are different. What does that different heart look like? How do people respond to the Good News that Jesus forgave all sins and paid the price for them? Here are three hypotheticals:
Exposed to the Gospel: Convicted of sin, joyful over grace and salvation. Resist unto blood striving against sin. (Heb 12:4). This point is important: They resist sin to bring glory to God.
Exposed to the Gospel: Convicted of sin, joyful over grace and salvation. Resist unto blood striving against sin. This contrast is important: They resist sin to escape hell.
Exposed to the Gospel: Happy over freedom from punishment. Do not change. They sin with indifference and impunity. There is a primary focus on self.
In each case the mind receives knowledge. The heart forms an attitude toward that knowledge. What do these three above attitudes look like in operation? 

THE DIFFERENT HEART

A couple fed their children because they wanted to, not because they had to, not because Child Services would punish them. Another couple fed their children because they had to, because they feared Child Services. The same act but different hearts. And each couple believe themselves parents, but only one couple was.
A couple wanted to feed their children and did not because they could not and Child Services punished them. Another couple did not feed their children because they did not care for the children or fear Child Services. Child Services punished them. The same act, the same result with Child Services but different hearts. And both couples believe themselves parents, but only one couple was.
Saul and David were both shepherds, both chosen by God, both anointed by Samuel, both powerful soldiers, both kings of Israel, and both murderers. How very alike yet one was vexed by God’s Spirit (1 Samuel 16:14) and one was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).
Here we see that sin as an individual act is forgiven. Sin as an attitude of the heart is unbelief.

CHRISTIAN CONDUCT

1 John 2:5-6 – "This is how we know we are in Him. Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." How do we do walk like Jesus? A starting point is found in Amos 3:3. "Surely, two cannot walk together unless they be agreed."
How do we agree? 1 John 2:3-4: "We know that we have come to know him if we obey (agree with) His commands. The man who says, ‘I know Him’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
SIDE COMMENT: John is not talking about legalism. Although obedient acts, or standards do not save us, obedience and right conduct has inestimable value and tremendous benefits. Please brethren, never discount this simple fact. Our obedient acts please God. Our conformity to Jesus pleases the Trinity. Obedience pleases God more than building a hospital (1 Samuel 15:22). One obedient act encapsulates what it means to be in a personal relationship with God through Jesus. Our act touches the Father; the Father smiles on us; our act benefits our brothers. Yes my friend, you have the power to make Dad (Abba – Romans 8:15) smile. That is sobering knowledge.
What are His commands? Jesus commands us to believe on His name and love one another (1 John 3:23). Our love cannot save us. Love identifies the standards of conduct that please God and mark us as belonging to the Body of Christ (John 13:35).
What are the standards that please God?
Col. 3:20: Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
1 Tim 2:1-3: pray for kings and all in authority for this pleases the Lord.
Psalm 5:4: For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness.
I Thessalonians 5:12-22: live in peace with each other; warn those who are idle; help the weak; be patient with everyone; make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong; always try to be kind; be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; do not put out the spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt; test everything; hold on to the good; avoid every kind of evil.
Please notice that Paul writes, avoid every kind of evil. In fact, Paul has hash words for so called Christians. 1 Corinthians 5:11: "But now I have written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one go not to eat." REMEMBER: Paul is not talking about anybody’s individual sin. He is talking about a persistent attitude of heart toward that sin. For example: If Adam gets drunk once, he is a sinner. Paul is not talking about him. If Ben plans to get drunk every weekend Ben is the drunkard Paul is discussing.
Dr. Tkach commented on 1 Corinthians 5:11, "Paul did not want the church to become a haven for blatant, defiant sinners. The church is a hospital for reform, not a ‘safe zone’" (for sinning).
Let us remember that these commandments or standards listed above do not save us. Yet they have great value. Just as the Old Testament Ten Commandments are our teacher to show us what sin looks like, the New Testament commands are our teacher to show us what Christ living in us looks like.
Christians make decisions with their hearts based upon the working of their Holy Spirit born nature. The rebellious, lukewarm or unbelieving are not true Christians. They make decisions with their hearts based on the workings of their carnal nature. And the human heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). The gulf separating the understanding of Jesus that comes from the Spirit and that which comes from the carnal heart is as great as the gulf separating Lazarus and the rich man.
Philippians 2:11 reads, "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." The Spirit led heart confesses Jesus as Lord. That means willing submission to the authority of Christ as Lord of their hearts and lives.
Human hearts may partially confess Christ as Lord and assume all is well. They acknowledge the identity of Jesus without confessing the authority of Jesus (James 2:19), thereby distorting and abusing the mercy of God. Rev. Todd Crouch's recent article, "Facing The Critics" teaches that some diminish Jesus' divinity or augment His humanity. That eventually distorts and diminishes the grace of God. And some appropriate the authority and govern without the heart of Jesus, thereby distorting and abusing the love of God. This means that an idol of Christ can be worshiped and obeyed. But willing obedience to an idol of Christ is not submission to the real Jesus. A great gulf exists. Atrocities committed in Jesus’ name stem from idolatry not from Jesus. Wherever the real Jesus is not…unbelief is.

THE TRICK QUESTION

"What about those who never heard of Christ?" That is an honest question, but a topic for another discussion. Here we ask, "Can we sin as much as we want?" The question is very misleading. The word "can" focuses on capacity and ignores intent. Using "we" as the subject tacitly combines categories, Christians and unbelievers. It manipulates words proposing that Christians "want" to sin.
Christians and unbelievers are not alike. They have different natures. Unbelievers have the nature, capacity and the intent to sin. Christians have the capacity to sin with impunity under grace. Christians do not have the intent to sin. Christian intent is radically different. It is formed by the knowledge of who Christ is and who we are in relationship with Him. Dr. Tkach wrote: "Paul’s message is clear… We are under the authority of Christ, under His law, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our lives are based on faith, motivated by love, characterized by joy and peace and growth. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25)."
Although Christians do sin (1 John 1:8-10) it is not their spirit nature’s intent to sin (1 John 3:9). To say that a Christian intends to sin is as meaningless as saying that cast iron intends to rain or the tree intends to dance. Since the activity violates the nature of the subject, the subject has no capacity to perform the activity. 

CONCLUSION

God is not manipulated by His own words. The Good News is that we are free from sin, not free to sin. The heart chooses which. Works cannot get us into heaven. Sin cannot keep us out of heaven. Sin as an individual act is forgiven at Calvary. Sin as an attitude of the heart is unbelief. This means that all the sins of all believers and unbelievers are forgiven. And this is God’s final judgment: Unbelievers refuse heaven and freely choose hell. God’s judgment ratifies their verdict. Why do they make that choice? I don’t know, but the mystery, not the logic, of God’s total complete sovereignty subsumes and makes the gift of free will possible for all.
The knowledge that Jesus forgives and pays the penalty of every sin is the Good News that we are free from the bondage of sin. We are free to enter into a relationship with Jesus. We are free to worship and thank Him. We are free to enjoy His lordship and friendship. We are free to call Him brother. We are free from the crushing burden of guilt. We are free from the uncertainty of final judgment. We are free at last, free at last.
Brethren may the mercy and grace of God our Father and of Jesus our confessed Lord and Savior fall heavily upon you.

Rev. George Relic, Assistant Pastor
Fountain of Life, Washington, PA
A Congregation Of Grace Communion International

Facing the Critics

Second Century Graffiti: Insulting an Early  Christian named Alexamenos,   for Worshiping  Jesus.

Matt: 16:13-19- “who do men say that the Son of man is?”

This is the Greatest Question of all time- the one question that all will be called upon to answer

The Culture of the day, 2000 years ago, had its view of Jesus, and some of those views were very respectful yet they were not complete, nor good enough. Many accepted his rabbinical credentials, they saw in Jesus a new voice among the religious leaders of the day, yet they still did not have a complete grasp of just Who He was (or is).

From the pages of Scripture the Holy Spirit speaks regarding Jesus:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 14- “And the Word became flesh” John: 1:

This is Who the early church understood Jesus to be, that is, He is the Son of God, having taken on our humanity- Fully God yet Fully Human, and they understood that Jesus’ humanity was just as important as His deity and equally vital for the Salvation of us all.

For these beliefs, that is this truth, Christian have and still are, dying for; the faith in Who the Holy Bible tells us that Jesus is.

Peter’s Confession

When Jesus took his disciples to Caesarea Philippi, He asked them “who do men say that the Son of man is?” (The Son of Man was Jesus’ favorite title for Himself)

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” , (those are good things, respectful things, but not good enough)
¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter,  and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades   will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be  bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be  loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah” .Mtt:16:13-19
Notice that Jesus is quick to Bless Peter at his confession regarding Who Jesus is, as well Jesus describes the Church, after His exchange with Peter, showing that the Church is comprised of those who, like Peter, have come to confess that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”   
This was the message the early church proclaimed – That Jesus is both fully Deity and Humanity- That One Who God has provided Salvation for and to us.

Distorted Views

There were, and are ,many distorted views regarding Who Jesus is- In the early Church many ideas surfaced among groups which appropriated the name "Christian"  yet their views of Jesus differed from the ideas of that of the Apostle.

Even into the late first century down to our day some of theses circulated and were talked about among group of "gnostics" , those who believed that they had a secret and superior knowledge then others around them.

Some of these views

Some saw Jesus as one who became “good enough” to become the Messiah-

Some believed that He was an angel who took on human form-

Some believed that Jesus was an apparition – who only appeared to be “real”

Some believed that Jesus was a man who was “possessed” by the divine spirit which abandon him on the cross leaving Jesus to die alone.

Some in the  culture of early church    would grant , even as some today do, that Jesus is great teacher , prophet  or enlighten philosopher, but  His Messianic credentials are rejected. Some even assert that Jesus Himself did not claimed to the Christ and that this was an invention of His disciples, yet it is for this belief,  that they died . It is safe to say that  someone does not generally  give their life for a known falsehood. 

Apostolic Swagger

Many early Christian, and others down through history,  faced the critics, with what one Biblical Historian called the "Apostolic Swagger", this was not a vain arrogance, but rather a boldness born out of the  certainty that Jesus lives.This certainty , this knowing that our Redeemer   lives , helped empowered Christians to face harsh persecution even death with Godly confidence. The disciples and Christians down through the generations have given up everything for the belief that Jesus "is the Christ the Son of the living God", Jesus God's uniquely born Son, Fully God and Fully human. 

Diminished Deity- Augmented Humanity

Why is it so vital for us to have a solid grasp  that Jesus is fully God yet fully human?  Simply put ,when we have a distorted view of Jesus, if we diminish His deity or augment His humanity then we have to add something to the grace of God, which Scripture tells us is extended to all of us- .

 Any Theology that Diminishes the Deity or Augments the Humanity- adds something to

grace, in order to “accomplish” salvation. – Grace is what we could never earn or deserve, but that which is freely given.  

   

Below are some of the additions to grace that a distorted view of Jesus produces, and when this happens Christianity moves from being a relationship with God and becomes a religion.

Ergonomics- Works

Asceticism- Self Deprivation

Esoteric- Secret Information

Ecstatic- Experience

These things, produce a legalism, which is performance based. The legalistic can never be at rest for there are always things left undone or not done well enough; the legalistic has to live in a constant state of uncertainty as to their standing before God. The legalism, in the end has two things that it produces; the legalist either overvalues their performance and it manifest in self righteousness or they undervalue their performance and manifest as self condemnation. They can never really know the rest in Christ that can be theirs.

We cannot earn God’s grace. If we could ,it would not be grace, in that case we could not earn it and we would all fail. But by Jesus being both one of us and yet God, Jesus  accomplished for all of us what none of us could ever do. He had to be  “us”, for us. This is what the ancient church called the “vicarious humanity of Christ” – But in order to have this role and accomplish it Jesus had to be fully  God and Humanity- being God His life is worth more than the sum total of all humanity and being human He could, and does stand for us all.His blood (life) was worth more than all of ours, because it sustained the life of God in the flesh.

If Jesus is less of one and more of the other, then humanity does not have a Savior.

Jesus has to be fully both, without the diminishing of one for the augmenting of the other. 

The Great Question

The question as to who we say Jesus is and preach that He is, is the great question that will test us all – at some point- especially in the years to come – As we face the coming years, there will be times of revival and renewal, but at some point the world’s tolerance toward Biblical Christianity will be, eroded away as Roman’s   did in the time of the Apostolic church.

The unwavering devotion and focus on the person of Jesus Christ- and insistence on the exclusivity – of Christ as the Savior, and no other- they would call no other LORD was what truly brought the persecution against the early Christians.

The Only Way

The Apostles proclaimed that in Jesus alone there was found Salvation, and that He was, and is the only Savior of humanity. That He alone is LORD.  “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts4:12

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7:13, Jesus gave the parable of the narrow gate, or door. Jesus mentions that it is difficult.  This is speaking not so much, that it is hard to perform, but rather, what is hard, is humanity willingness to accept the exclusivity that this gate, which is Jesus, is the only way in. In humanities’ thinking it is hard to see Jesus as the only way;  this is why it is hard. If they saw Jesus for Who He is, it would not be so hard.

 You see this is the world’s issue with Jesus- and Christians- It always has been, and is and will be again.  It is the uncompromising focus and stance that Jesus is “the Christ the Son of the living God” in the face of critics that brings persecution.

Pluralistic Culture of Rome

At the time of the early church- Rome was a “religious” society, there were varies cults of every sort- Rome believed unity in the Empire could be produced by two routs- one being Syncretism- which is mixing elements of many religions,  that is religious tolerance and validation of many beliefs.  This policy manifested at Rome with building of the Pantheon, the “temple all gods”. The other policy was Emperor worship- demanding- that worship of the Empire in the person of the Emperor- be given, those who would not do so were targeted and penalized.

Rome’s policy of allowing people to worship their gods as long as they made no trouble for the Empire- worked for a time, and actually gave early Christians freedom to proclaimed the Gospel  unfortunately when it became apparent  that Christians placed Christ above all else,  then in Rome’s view it had to react.

For Rome, two groups Jews and Christians were a problem for they refused acknowledging the legitimacy of   other “gods” including the Emperor. They were viewed as “fanatics”.

Christians and Jews insisted they worshiped the One True God –they refused – to worship the Emperor. The great question is who will you, and I worship- who will we call LORD, when we face the critics of our day?

Christian Scapegoats

As they refused to worship the Emperor- they found themselves being blamed for troubles within Empire.  In AD 64 Nero blamed Christians for the great fire of Rome. As well there were a series of natural disasters in some Roman Provinces, for which the Imperial Priest blamed as being punishment sent by the “gods of Rome” due to the presences of Christians.  It became easy to point to Christians as being the problem. Riots started in the streets of Rome, which was blamed on Jewish reaction to the Christians preaching about Jesus.  The early Church had many critics to face.

Second Century graffiti- ridiculed a Christian named Alexamenous, for “worshiping his god”, Jesus is depicted as a mule headed criminal on a cross.

Martyrdom

Yet in spite of it all, many Christians gave up everything even their lives. Speaking about early Christians, and Christians down through the ages we read in Revelation,

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much   as to shrink from death” Rev: 12:11

They were bold even to the point of death- willing laying down their lives all for Jesus and the belief that He is the Christ. In the early church martyrdom was considered a great honor, early letters and notes by Christians reveals that many thought of martyrdom as a calling. We get the English word Martyr from the Greek, máryts    = μάρτυς, which means to  witness to something. It means by  laying down their lives  that they were witnessing to the critics that Jesus lives.They believe who He said He was and is.

That Jesus is LORD, not any Emperor, that is, in Jesus alone there is salvation- this is the point- called into question that we started with , “who do you say that I am?” Not which day you attend church, or what foods that you eat or do not eat, not escotrological (that is end of the world views) views, or a focus on a given nation or events or personalities. Not political or social activism- not how much material gain you can amass,  or if and what gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifest in your life or do not,-  but who do you say Jesus is when critics arise-

This is the question, who will you call Lord? The refusal to bend on this issue has brought persecution from the world system- Rome in the early church and throughout history- and unfortunately even from within the church- where others have wished for a different emphases.

Now & Future

The world of the early church was very much like that of  today, tolerance toward those whose focus is fixed on Jesus and face critics with the answer that Jesus is “the Christ the Son of living God” is waning.  The world that is emerging now and in the years to come, will at some point, grow intolerant of the Christian  this assertion , its reactions will be as it has been in the past.

Facing the Critics

What will our answer be when the critics as ask about our view or ridicule us for our faith in the living Jesus will there be sufficient evidence in the    witness in our lives to convicted us of believing in Jesus;  will we answer our critics when asked about of faith in Jesus, when we are asked who do believe He is, will we answer and profess as did Peter ,  that He is the “Christ the Son of the living God”   Will we love Him More than our lives?

 Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

Fountain of Life Church

Washington, Pa 

Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on RKP Radio 1710 & 1670 in Washington, Pa.

And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com 

“Jesus on my Mind”:Experiencing the Relationship

Experiencing the Relationship

I am flesh and blood. God is spirit. You might argue that we can hear God, you know, hear His Word, hear the preacher. That is one thing, but can I have a full relationship with someone I cannot see, taste, touch, or even smell? Yes you can. God offers a real personal relationship to all of us.
This personal relationship is a miraculous process blending God’s will to redeem and sanctify us and our human free will. We can refuse, but it starts with God. He offers a personal relationship to us. He put a longing into us to seek Him. We intuitively sense this both spiritually and humanly. Spiritually speaking we know what it is. Ps. 42: 1-2 “As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so my soul panteth after thee.” God put that longing there. Humanly speaking we recognize a thirst, an empty space in our lives and we don’t know how to quench it. How do we respond?
Some try to quench it with money and a bigger house, drugs, sex, or power and a better job. Yet, no matter how much they drink themselves full, at the end of the day they still are empty. There is a great line from the movie Key Largo. Humphrey Bogart’s character asks the gangster Rocco, played by Edward G. Robinson, this question. “What is it that you want Rocco, do you just want more?” Robinson’s character replies, “Yeah, more. That’s it, Rocco wants more.” And Rocco’s quest to fill the void with “more” ended in self- destruction.
Yes, I believe that we can all agree that in our quiet moments there is an empty spot in all of us. Filling that emptiness starts with God, not us. And to fill it God offers a relationship to all of us. Not a figurative all, but a literal all. Let’s look at some examples that prove that God offers it to all without distinction.
Hagar:  We know her story. She could not stand Sara and ran away. Later, Sara could not stand her and cast Hagar out into the desert. See Gen 16:7, 21:17 and please take note of the Angel. Of special importance in the Old Testament is the Angel (Gen. 16:7; 22:11; 31:11). This angel is depicted as a visible manifestation of God Himself. He has powers and characteristics that belong only to God, such as the power to forgive sins (Ex. 23:20–21). His similarities to Jesus lead many scholars to conclude that He is the pre-incarnate Word present with God at the creation of the world (John 1:1, 14).. Once the ANGEL came to Hagar. Once He called to Hagar. This relationship was face to face. It was personal. It started with God. He met with a run-away slave girl in the desert.
Solomon: Gibeon was the great high place. It was about 10 miles north of Jerusalem in the hill country. We read in 1 Kings 3:5-13, 4:29 that the Temple was not yet built. The construction had not begun. Solomon is, maybe 23 or 25 years old. David brought the Ark to Jerusalem, but the tabernacle and the brazen alter were at Gibeon. There, Solomon offers a thousand burnt offerings on that alter. He was already governing for perhaps three years or more. Solomon already made treaties with Egypt, married Pharaoh’s daughter. He dealt with Joab and Shimei. He is experiencing the intoxicating flush of raw power. Yet when God enters into a dialogue, he says “I am a little Child.” “Give me wisdom to govern.” The request he made, the prayer he made, he made them to God, while he was sleeping. This relationship was personal. It was a real dialogue between real entities and it started with God. God came to an anointed king in the high place.
Buck:  I hiked 6 miles and three hours deep into the wilderness of the San Gabriel Mountains, north of Pasadena, California. Heavy rains had washed out the trail across the head of a gully and it was now a barren slope made of loose shale. I crossed and started to slide downward toward the drop-off. There were no trees to grab. Happening so fast. Did not have time to be frightened. Did not think to pray. Mentally preparing myself to go over the ridge and try to do a paratrooper tuck and roll landing on the rocks and boulders about 15 feet below. The uncontrolled slide stopped right at the lip of the drop-off. I remember thinking. “I don’t know why you stopped, but you did, now get off right now,” and scrambled my way to a tree about 8 feet off to my left. I felt the presence of a protective spirit being and was holding on safely to a real tree, the real evidence of that protection. This relationship was felt and was personal. It started with God. He came to a clueless Christian in a mountain wilderness.

   God offers it to everyone

Solomon was a young man. He was a king. He had everything. He was in a high place. God appeared in a dream. Hagar was a young woman and a runaway slave. She needed everything. She was in a desert. God appeared to her. Buck was a mature man. He was a working man. He wanted everything. He was in a wilderness. God appeared in an emergency.
We are surrounded by the presence of God, even when we are not aware of it. God always seeks us. 

Getting to know you

A complete relationship is two-way, not just one-way. Deborah Kerr and Yul Brenner stared in the movie “The King and I.” It was the story of the English school marm and the King of Siam. They were complete strangers. She was a prim widow with one son. He had dozens of wives and children. They were separated by race, by culture, by religion, by economic status, by education. Yet Anna and King Mongkug spent time together. They got to know each other. They built a relationship. They learned to care deeply for each other.

Getting to know Jesus

In like manner spending time with Jesus leads us to a deeper relationship and understanding of Him. He already knows what we like. We get to know what He likes. We get to know what He is doing in the world and we want to join him in that. For example we get to know that He is patient with everyone and does not pay back wrong for wrong. We learn that He likes it when we are patient with everyone, when we do not pay back wrong for wrong (I Thessalonians 5:14-22): And we want to please Him through acts of service such as cutting grandma’s lawn for free or saying bed time prayers with our pre-schooler or through organized ministries such as a Sunday School program or a Community Service Kitchen or County Food Bank.
The act of service does not lead to a relationship with Jesus, the relationship with Jesus leads to the act of service. We see Him working in the world and we find we want to imitate Him and be where He is working. When we have a relationship with Jesus, Jesus is on our mind. When He is on our mind, the things that please Him are in our thoughts, and our actions flow from our thoughts.
The key is that the closer we stay to Jesus by prayer, by regular Church attendance and fellowship, by reading the bible, by fasting the better we can get to know Him, to hear Him speak to us and the more on guard we are against making a carnal knee-jerk response to insult, pain, frustration, desire or time depravation stress. We choose to make Him a part of our lives.

Jesus on my mind

We mentioned prayer, study, meditation and fasting. There is an additional approach to the relationship. Start to think of Jesus often and talk to Him. Start to think of Him as really being there. Not figuratively as “He is here in my life”, but literally as He is right here. He is a friend who is standing there behind you while you are cooking or fishing or shopping or laying brick. You don’t see him, since He is behind you, but you can talk to Him, out loud if you like, and even listen to Him. You don’t need to see Him, because you know he is just behind you, He is real and He is there. Since you know that he is there, it is easy to talk to Him, always. Is this silly, delusional? Does it work? You be the judge.
Here is an interesting example from history. As events unfolded, Europe would be devastated. Germany would lay in ruins with one half of its population dead. The Holy Roman Empire would die. The Catholic Counter-Reformation would be blunted and a new political religious realignment would be imposed upon all of Europe. Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (1614-1691) was a French soldier captured by the Germans during the 30 years war, accused of espionage, and was sentenced to hang. He was released and returned to his unit. He was wounded in the leg at Rambervillers in 1635. His military career was ended. He attempted to live as a hermit at the bottom of society. He later served as a valet to the treasurer of the king of France at the top of society.
In the Practice and Presence of God, originally published posthumously in 1692, Lawrence said, “There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God: those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive; it is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise; but let us do it form a principle of love, and because God would have us.”

Continual conversation with God

A concrete example of this is found in a letter he wrote to a soldier friend, “…one act of inward worship, though upon a march, and sword in hand, are prayers which, however short, are nevertheless very acceptable to God. …Let him then think of God the most he can; let him accustom himself, by degrees, to this small but holy exercise; nobody perceives it, and nothing is easier than to repeat often in the day these little internal adorations.”
Is this constant talking to Jesus delusional? Around Pittsburgh, some have joked that there is no 20 year-old alive today who has seen the Pirates with a winning season. Consider this, in 1640, when Lawrence entered into the Carmelite monastery in Paris as a lay brother, there was no 26 year-old alive who knew a day of peace in Europe. I can’t believe that a man of his experience was silly or delusional or naive. In fact Lawrence himself addressed critics and said that the union he had with God was not delusional.

Results of Jesus in us

What Christians should take from Lawrence’s example is that we can be in contact with Jesus constantly, at work, at play, at force of arms. And the habitual practice of staying in contact with Him will change our character. When faced with a situation we may very well, without knowing why, ask, “What would Jesus do”? And the more we get to know Him, when faced with a situation we may very well, without knowing why, just do what Jesus would do. And that is a relationship worth experiencing.
Brethren, may the grace and peace of Jesus be with you and your families.

Rev. George Relic, Assistant Pastor
Fountain of Life, Washington, PA
A congregation of Grace Communion International

No Shame

Have you ever done something of which you were latter ashamed of?...I think most of us, if we  are honest will have to confess that this is true of ourselves…often we carry the guilt and shame  of past actions and or thoughts around with us as if it is some sort of “negative badge of honor”. Other times the shame of past words ,  actions and thoughts linger;  and we just wish we could jettison them from our lives once and for all.

Often, even after we have come to believe in Jesus Christ and are immersed in His grace, we still feel the sting of shame, we succumb to the flesh or have a momentary lapse of judgment, or whatever, and the next thing we know thoughts, words or actions are coming forth that we latter are ashamed of and we feel as if no one would want us or want to be near us….We feel ashamed.

Well, whatever we have done or whatever is in our past that hounds us, whatever we are ashamed of; whatever it is, for whatever reason we are ashamed of who and what we are, what we might, in the view and estimation of humanity be something for which we find ourselves withdrawing and cowering in our shame, whatever our limitation(s) whatever we are ashamed of….Let me tell you this, Jesus loves you and understands you!

At times we tend to think of Jesus’ sensibilities being offended by our brokenness.  Well, He is not.

 He knows and understands exactly who and what we are , yet loves us and accepts us in spite of our selves.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin”.Heb:4:15

This means that Jesus  “gets” our humanity. He understands us.  There is  nothing in our condition that He is unaware of,  or unfamiliar with. He knows what we are. He is not shocked by our behavior. That does not mean He approve of it, it just means that He understands what we go through and why we are as we are, and He can ,and is willing to help us.  After all,  it is while we still lived in a life style of sin that He died for us.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rm: 5:8

We did not have to become good enough to experience salvation, it came while we still lived our lives in ignorance of, or avoidance, of Jesus Christ. He has reached out to you and all of us and has, and is, and will include you into the love of God. 

But we might protest that “there are things that I am ashamed of in my life”…Well in spite of our shame in our ourselves, Jesus is not ashamed of you or me.  Nor is He ashamed of His relationship with or His association with us.

“Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

“He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises. And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." Heb: 2:11-13

He declares that He is there with us and is  unashamed to be so. He is grateful to God the Father for us.

This for us is nothing to be ashamed of. 

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

Fountain of Life Church

Washington, Pa 

Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on RKP Radio 1710 & 1670 in Washington, Pa.

And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com