Mediation

I was listening to a podcast today addressing the topic “Morality of Disobedience”. The context of the discussion centred on the issue of clerics who violate trust. Many believers have become disillusioned with all things related to faith because of paedophile, philandering, embezzling, perjuring and faithless clerics (Isaiah 56:10-12). In the cases when church leaders engage in these blatant violations of trust, is it moral for the congregants to be disobedient? Well this depends on what standard we are choosing to obey or disobey. Many have come to equate God with the church, so when the church and its leadership fails, individuals become disillusioned with God and stop believing in His goodness (Ezekiel 34:1-6). This is a direct work of the enemy of souls. He has orchestrated a system, manipulating our desire for the visible and the tangible, causing us to equate the sinless, infallible God with sinful fallible human beings. God’s standard is sure and perfect and can, through His help be obeyed. Church standards and traditions tend to fall short of God’s perfect will (Matthew 15:3-9).

With this knowledge how do we overcome the faults of human beings to see the never-failing God? First, we need to know where to find God. In His infinite wisdom God has provided us with a book in which we can find all the information we need to know about Himself and ourselves (John 5:39; 2 Peter 1:19). An honest reading of the Bible will bring us to an understanding that this book is very different from all others. However, many believers in the Bible have been made to think that scripture cannot be understood by an individual without the interpretation of an organized system. This is fallacy. The Bible clearly teaches how it can and should be interpreted. The Bible is inspired by the God and written by individuals with varying writing styles all conveying the same message of the love of God (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible interprets itself, one passage is related to another that give more clarity to the previous passage (Isaiah 28:9-13). When the Bible is earnestly studied as a whole, with dependence on God, the giver of this word, we will all come to the same conclusions, as seen during the time of the reformation.

So, what of the church community? Scripture teaches that we are not to forsake the assembly (Hebrews 10:25). So then, are we all expected to congregate under the administration of those that cause injury and harm through wanton violation of God’s laws? Following the principle of ‘line upon line’ and precept upon precept’ we learn that assemble does not require an established “mainstream” church body, Jesus said that where ever two or three are gathered in His name He is there to bless (Matthew 18:20). Therefore, the key to obeying God’s command of assembly requires that we gather with others that truly believe in Jesus and He will bring a blessing (Acts 2:1-4). The reality is even when we are alone and unable to find another soul who shares our belief in Jesus, He is there to bless, because we as believing individuals are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). There is an old saying that rings abundantly true in these circumstances “you plus God is a majority”. Elijah stood on his own, with God behind him, in the face of a completely apostate Israelite nation and was victorious (1 Kings 18). Therefore, if we would have victory and genuine peace in our lives, we need to seek for God not the church.

Then if the church is not necessarily the way to God, then how do we gain forgiveness? As we read the Bible we learn of our sinful condition (Psalms 51:5). We also learn that Jesus came in the form of sinful man and by living the obedient life conquered sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:3). By virtue of His victory, Jesus is our only mediator, and the only way back into favour with the Father (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). Through this gift we are now able to come boldly to the throne of grace to receive forgiveness and mercy (Hebrews 4:16). The churches of today may claim to be our one route to God, but a careful study of God’s word will reveal that Jesus is the only way to the Father and in searching the scriptures we will find Him (John 5:39). When we come to know Jesus and learn how to love Him, we will find true peace and atonement with the Father (Matthew 11:29; John 14:15; Hebrews 4:15, 16).

Keep the Faith

Déjà vu

According to the dictionary worship is “the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity”. Then what is reverence? – “deep respect for someone or something”. Okay, let’s summarize. To worship is ‘to express deep respect or adoration for a deity’. Reading scripture, we learn that there is no being worthy of worship but the Almighty God (Exodus 20:3-6; Psalms 99:5; Matthew 4:10; John 9:31; Revelation 22:9). With this understanding how does one worship? According to scripture worship is expressed by obedience to commandments (1 Kings 9:6; 2 Kings 17:13-17; 2 Chronicles 7:17-22). Therefore, the commandments of the one we choose to obey is the one we worship.

God in all His omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent complexity, as He relates to man is very simple and straightforward. God, in all His creative majesty, chooses to create beings and bless them with life. In recognition of God's position in the universe and in gratitude for the gift He has blessed His creatures with, God demands our worship (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14). However, for this worship to be perfect it must be given freely. Therefore, when God creates any living, sentient being He gives them the free will to choose whether to worship Him or not. In order to determine loyalty God therefore presents His creation with a test.

For the first beings of our race this test came in the form of a fruit. This test in its simplicity was profound (Genesis 2:17). In all respects this test was easy. Hundreds and thousands of fruit options from which to choose. One to avoid. Worship God and eat the others or worship self and eat the one. The first of humanity was duly warned of the consequences of self-worship – disloyalty to God would sever them from their Source of life resulting in death. Loyalty to God would cement their attachment to their Source of life resulting in everlasting life. As we are all painfully aware our first parents chose disloyalty and ate the fruit, thereby plunging us into the condition in which we find ourselves.

However, God in His infinite mercy chose to pay the debt we owed for disloyalty. As a result, we now have a second chance at the same test - will we be loyal to God or disloyal. Will we acknowledge Him as the Creator of all things and Lord of the universe? The test this time is also elegantly simple, worship God on the day He asks or on another (Revelation 14:6, 7). Some see it as so simple that the world's fate could not possibly rest on so basic a choice. Why would an infinite God care about something so small like a day or a fruit? However, what we need to understand is that God is not in need of our grand gestures. He does not require our good deeds. He is able to accomplish, without us, all the good deeds we prioritize over His actual requirements. He created it all and can do with it all as He pleases, when He pleases and how He pleases (Psalms 50:12). The one task He has placed in our hands is to choose whether to be loyal to Him or to self.

Will you worship Him on His day or worship yourself on your own chosen day (Exodus 20:8-11) in the manner He requires (Isaiah 58:13)? Will you receive the rest He gives from your weekly labour or will you seek to find your own way (Genesis 2:1-3)? Will you keep the day God blessed and sanctified, holy or will you attempt to make another day holy (Daniel 7:25)?

This is the choice with which we are now faced. Will you make the simple choice and be loyal to your Creator, the Omnipotent God, though the heavens fall?

Be Blessed