Confessing Christ In A Hostile World

It is not likely that any of us will end up in a courtroom having to defend our practice of Christianity. 

It is even less likely that we would be wrongly convicted of something and have our property confiscated, or be confined in prison, or put to death, at least in America. Yet, we do know it is a reality for many in history, many around the world today, and perhaps we have even known a few Christians personally who have suffered greatly.

Nonetheless, we do experience many types and levels of challenges to our Christian way of life. Our society can be quite subtle and sinister in its challenges at times. Sometimes it is veiled and sometimes it is not so veiled in its hostilities toward us who profess Christ.

This can become quite personal at times, too; and when it does, we can see the benefits of giving in to daily pressures in order to keep or enhance our finances, or keep or enhance our reputations.

Never Easy, Always Necessary

Confessing Christ in a hostile world has never been easy, but it is always necessary. Luke gives us confidence for this by supplying us with words that Jesus spoke to His disciples on this matter on one occasion.

Luke 12:11–12 ESV “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.””

Since persecution is inevitable and very personal situations of testing will keep coming, we constantly need to be preparing ourselves. Yet, we need to prepare our heart and our mindset more than the words we might say.

Since the power of the Holy Spirit is so substantial and so palpable, we should be greatly encouraged to speak up for Christ. As disciples we take the promise of the Holy Spirit above as a source of great courage. Christians need not worry about the Day of Great Persecution, or even little days of persecution, for the all powerful Holy Spirit will witness through them!

Jesus told His disciples that when they would be charged in synagogue tribunals by the elders, and even by Gentile authorities, they had no need to be anxious about their words of defense or jurisprudence. This is because the Holy Spirit would give them the perfect words at that time. Besides, it is not really possible to prepare adequately for these types of trumped-up situations anyway.

We will be aided in our testimony by the Holy Spirit as our “defense attorney;” and He is very good. God Himself will supply with the words and the courage necessary when we need it.

Trials as Opportunities

Later on, Jesus will teach about such trials as opportunities.

Luke 21:13–15 ESV “This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.”

Luke would have us remember that Jesus would be our perfect example in this. Jesus was tried by the Jewish religious authorities (i.e., Annas and Caiaphas) and by the Roman political authorities (i.e., Herod and Pilate). And He gave answers displaying great wisdom and power. Luke goes on to show us the same pattern repeated by Peter, John and the Church in Acts 3-4, and then by Stephen in Acts 7, and then again by Paul in Acts 21-28.

These examples should fill us with courage to speak out regarding Christ Jesus. The Church in history past, and the Church today, reveals the power of the Holy Spirit in action. Some of the most eloquent, bold, and inspiring words of faith have come from ordinary Christians who have suffered, even been martyred.

Besides, has not God amazed you in your times under scrutiny for the Gospel with powerful and wise words that you know could not have come from yourself, but must have come from the Holy Spirit?!

Faithfulness when under interrogation or examination is extremely important; and when the time comes we will trust God and fear God, confessing Jesus Christ, assisted by the Holy Spirit.

Our Lord Jesus Christ comforts us in John 16:33 ESV “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Five Themes Of Consolation

While recently reading Martin Luther’s letters of spiritual counsel to the sick, dying and bereaved I was struck by the helpfulness of his simple and spiritual method.

Luther was comforting and guiding those with severe illnesses, chronic conditions, and sudden tragedies. The recipients were relatives, colleagues, friends and politicians even. He wrote to those who had lost husband or wife, and many whose children had died. 

Five themes from Luther’s letters stood out to me that can help us better help one another through difficult times.

The Sovereignty of God and the Reality of His Goodness

God orchestrates both good events and evil events in our lives, Luther said. He is wise and inscrutable in His purposes, and trustworthy and good as our Father. We must humbly submit to His sovereign rule and will, while at the same time rest in His goodness and faithfulness. We can worship at all times.

Today, we tend to think God only sends us good and that bad just sort of happens. Bad things may come from ourselves or others, or even the devil, but not from God. This faulty reasoning causes much unnecessary pain and confusion. Instead, we should learn to trust Him who rules over all and ultimately will bring good to His children.


The Activity of Satan and the Reality of His Evil

Satan is very active in our world and in our lives to destroy our faith in Christ, to bring doubt and despair and to stir up many other forms of evil. Not only does he use our circumstances against us, but also works through other people and his army of demons. Spiritual warfare is a major part of the story of our lives.

Today, we rarely admit his influence or dare to talk about it. We chose instead to offer secular and naturalistic explanations almost exclusively. This avoidance of the truth weakens our spiritual resolve. Instead, we should learn to make full use of biblical terms, categories and reasonings to fight the good fight of faith. 

The Frailty of Humanity and Our Mutual Compassion

We live as weak people in a broken world. We should extend compassion to others when they are suffering, even if that is all we can do. Tragedy is a part of life and our lives will only be free from it later in heaven and the coming Kingdom. We need to help one another see the larger picture of life and death, and Christ and eternal life.

Today, we are mistaken in thinking that we can change or prevent most troubles in our lives. Consequently, we tolerate too much grief or we allow too little of it. Our grief should be moderated by the hope of the Gospel; and yet, we should give people space and time to grieve appropriately to our common human condition. Instead, we should accept the hard realities of life, and in the midst of them grant people dignity and offer them compassion that directs them to Christ.

The Power of Christ, the Gospel and Faith

Christ is alive! And He meets the needs of His people in their pain, suffering and heartache. The Gospel message brings truth, peace and hope into our life stories. Our faith will be strengthened by meditating upon the Word of Christ and pouring out our affirmation of faith in the Gospel in prayer to God. We will make it through safely and powerfully to the end.

Today, we look too quickly to man-made solutions to solve our physical condition and even our spiritual condition. We explain too much, when what we need to do is recognize that in reality it is Christ who heals both body and soul through His gifts. Instead, we should encourage one another to go to Christ as the healer and find His Gospel and our faith powerful in our circumstances.

Joy and Glory in the Larger History of Redemption

Joy and excitement overtake us when we spend time reviewing the larger history of God’s work in the world and for our redemption. Believe it or not, some of the most comforting passages of Scripture are historical narratives precisely because they lift our heads and hearts to what God is doing.

Today, we look for isolated Bible passages that might apply in a deeply personal way. We are way too introspective and focused on personal meaning in our personal pain. Our story is not the only story, nor is it the most important story in the universe. Instead, we need to find our proper place in His story and rejoice in Him and His glory.

One final observation from Luther’s letters that stands out and one that will help us help others is this. He uses one, two or three Bible verses in each letter, or he refers to a Bible story. He finds examples that are stronger than a person’s current crisis to encourage him or her. He will sometimes share his own experience to identify with another’s pain. Most importantly, in the majority of the letters he reminds the sufferer of the greater sufferings of Christ and His greater victory in the end. 

This is how Luther models for us pastoral care that will help us help others better.

The Seven Deadly Sins Get More Deadly

There are many lists and many sins.  But one of the earliest and famous is that of the seven deadly sins. Pride. Envy. Gluttony. Lust. Wrath. Greed. Sloth.

Their prevalence in all societies and people (though to varying degrees) testifies to the depravity of humanity and its need of Christ our Savior.  These seven sins are certainly dangerous paths to follow, and can lead to places that are difficult from which to escape.  

Stories of Great Failure and Sometimes Recovery

We all have the stories or know those who can tell them. We have read about them. They are lived out in our churches year after year, even if they never make the evangelical news sources. They are the stories of great failure and sometimes recovery.

Recently, I was reading a book entitled Sanctification: Explorations in Theology and Practice.  Oliver O’Donovan opened his essay on “Sanctification and Ethics” with this fascinating statement, “The doctrine that the elect commit no post-baptismal sin is generally known as heresy; why, one wonders, has indulgence been accorded to the doctrine that the elect commit only venial [lesser forgivable] sins after age fifty?”

Sometimes we think that older Christians have less of a struggle with sin. I am not quite fifty, but I can see from here that this is not true. I have made many observations from my own life and others’ lives. And I have many friends who have told me many stories about how life’s changes bring new and often intensified temptations.

Seven Sins in Stages

Let’s take a quick look at the seven deadly sins, contrasting our experience as younger believers and older believers.

Pride for the young man or woman is obvious to all while often not to themselves. This is the time of life to learn to deal with pride. However, pride for those further along often takes the form of pride in their experience and expertise, learning when sharing it is relevant and when it is not.

Envy for those who don’t yet have much in material possessions seems like a simple problem to avoid, but it is in fact real, although on a smaller scale. Those who are older look around at their contemporaries’ possessions and can wonder why they don’t have more by this point in their lives, and realize they may not be able to do much about it.

Gluttony is a matter of self-control. Youthful over indulgence in eating, drinking and frivolity can be handled situation by situation. But later on in life the typical reasons to avoid such behavior can become less motivating because of boredom, giving up on our image not caring what others think.

Lust early on is based upon what you see and anticipate, often driven by emerging passions. Later on in life, past lusts can become a haunt, lustful habits have solidified and we are involved in many more relationships that offer many more opportunities.

Wrath in youth centers primarily on controlling angry outbursts, and making sure our expression of emotion properly fits the situation. As experience builds we can see deeper into systems and patterns of behavior and likewise anger can run deeper.

Greed starts out as acquiring things upon things, and maybe hoarding our resources. But, when the worries of life increase with time it can be even easier to deny others our practical generosity.

Sloth hides under the name of relaxation quite often, but it also can be seen early in our adult lives by failing to be diligent in the basics of life and work. As years go by, the appeal to give up shows up and we may find it hard to stay focused on our purpose and calling.

These comments were brief one sentence incomplete observations. Certainly there is a lot more to add, explore and even research.

Real Danger that Gets More Dangerous

This real and growing danger requires real perseverance in real faith, great faith, deeper faith and just plain more faith in Christ.

Our lives are not lived in a straight line, and our sanctification is not experienced as a straight line either. There is no guarantee that spiritual maturity will develop as rapidly as we age. In fact, our lives often become harder in new and surprising ways, demanding from us a much greater faith in Christ and the Gospel.  

On the other hand, we have been strengthened by God’s grace in the past, and as a result we are often stronger than we think. We most likely have become even more sanctified than we realize or feel. 

The classic virtues contrasting with the seven deadly sins are these:  humility, kindness, temperance, chastity, patience, generosity, diligence. The Scriptures teach us to pursue them by faith in Christ and prayerful reliance upon the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 3:1–4,17 ESV “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. . . . [The Apostle Paul next lists vices to “put off” and virtues to “put on” and then concludes with verse 17.] . . . And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” 

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control . . .” 

Romans 8:1–6 ESV “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

My guess is that O’Donovan’s statement about the age of fifty applies at each of the following decades, as well. Our lives in this world and our journeys of faith in Christ are fascinating! I’ll have to revisit this topic in another 25 years.

What it Takes to Get in, and Why You Might Want to Stay Out

A pastor I know was eager to get involved in mission work in a particular country and had started educating himself and his congregation and taking trips. The pastor contacted his denomination about partnering in the mission.

He was told over and over how great that would be, but was never given the names and contact information of the mission leaders. So, he and his church just went ahead working on their own, with other grass-roots partnerships developing along the way.

For five years they labored successfully in the field, all the while trusting their denomination to make good on their promises for partnership. He eagerly wanted to get in on what they were doing and share in the larger work together. He kept receiving polite affirmation, but never trust and partnership.

Eventually, he was allowed to look inside the tent and meet a few of the leaders, probably because they saw that he was doing good things. They started listening to his strategic thinking and observing his results, which were much better than their own. This denomination’s cautious treatment of one of its own pastors is not uncommon and is sadly revealing.

Getting In

In order to get in one has to fit in with the existing structures and prevailing theories. One has to follow along with the established goals and strategies and manner of doing things. One has to be a follower for a long time before being considered worthy of making original contributions.

However, depending on your goals, this may not always be the worst option. If all that is desired is to support the current mission, then things are usually setup for just this kind of involvement. But, don’t expect to be allowed to contribute leadership gifts or even input from pastoral experience over the years. It can be perceived as too threatening.

Staying Out

By staying on the outside one is free to create new things and start new works. One can be active in setting goals and developing strategies. And then, developing relationships with those on the inside can be very helpful, once one is seen as reasonably legitimate.

Staying on the outside allows one to be a leader. Leadership by pastors within the organization is not often appreciated. After joining up, don’t expect to be called upon for expertise in preaching, biblical knowledge, leading people, starting churches or even caring for people. This, and a whole lot more, is what often has to be sacrificed to get in, and so one might want to consider staying out, and so being able to do what we do best and what we are called and gifted to do.

A Better Result

In reality, it might actually be better for the mission overall to have these pastors leading outside the existing structures and mission works. They are usually very good at forming new partnerships and forging ahead to multiply the ministry. Then, with mutual appreciation and respect, partnerships can be formed that have great potential for a much better result.

(See related blog entry, “We Are Just Pastors After All”)

What Do They Pay This Guy For, Anyway?!

Even I knew at the time that the Bible would transform people’s lives. It already had transformed mine!

I can still remember my first years as a Christian, and the feelings easily return. It was so exciting to know God personally! It seemed like I couldn’t get enough of the Bible, and meeting with other Christians to worship and pray about everything in life! One of the best parts, though scary at times, was learning to tell others about Jesus Christ!

Finding a Church was Exhausting

Trying to find a church was much harder than I had expected.  The town I was living in at the time was saturated with evangelical churches. The problem in many of them was the preaching.

I didn’t know anything about preaching at the time, having only been a Christian for three years. I thought preaching was about teaching people the Bible, so they could become Christians and know God in Christ more truly and deeply. But I was in for a surprise.

They were Preaching Many Other Things

In many churches I visited, one didn’t even need a Bible. This was not because they provided them, or published the verses in a bulletin or projected them on the screen, but because Bibles weren’t even used. Go figure!

Some sermons didn’t even mention Jesus, except maybe at the very end, believe it or not. So many focused on personal moral issues or current political issues, harping on them week after week. Way too many sermons were way too cute or clever to be true, at least I knew they couldn’t be from the Bible. A few talked about theological concepts at levels that were beyond me, and from looking around the room, beyond most people. Some preachers obviously enjoyed their illustrations too much, and some congregations did as well.

The list of unimpressive preaching examples could go on and on. But, honestly, for most of the sermons I heard, I could have stayed home and learned more from the Bible on my own, if that were the only reason to go to church. It was so depressing.

Why didn’t pastors preach the Word of God? This was so confusing to me. All I wanted was the Bible, nothing fancy.

What was so Hard about Just Doing the Job?!

I had a hard time figuring out what some of those pastors must do all week, if that was all they could come up with on a Sunday morning. I knew the pastor had to run the church and care for people in need. But, after sampling so many churches, I was beginning to wonder what they even paid this guy for? He was not even doing his main job, for crying out loud!

Maybe I was wrong, but if the primary responsibility of the pastor is preaching the Word of God, then it seemed to me that it should be given primary attention by the pastor. These were the verses I knew at the time, and maybe a few others:

Acts 20:27 ESV “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” 

Ephesians 4:11–14 ESV “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” 

2 Timothy 3:16–4:5 ESV “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Eventually, the Lord led me to a church that preached the Word very clearly, simply yet deeply. Over the next two years, I came to know God much better, love Him more and serve Him as a new believer under spiritual transformation in Christ.

That was what I was thinking in 1988, anyway. I have grown much since that time, but this adventure of mine as a young Christian trying to find a church that taught the Bible has forever shaped my view of preaching, and pastors.