What happens when Christians forget

Posted on December 3, 2013 by | Comments Off on What happens when Christians forget

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They are located in every town and city in our nation.  We have all seen them and wondered what happened that would cause it to happen.  In my town of Henderson, Kentucky, a ride through the older neighborhoods contain a half-dozen churches that are now silent and cold.  No more does Amazing Grace ring from its sanctuary; no more do its members walk down the aisle to pray at the altar.  No more does the nursery hold the younger generation of church faithful; no longer does the church impact the community.

Within the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah wrote A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God (Jeremiah 3:21). After all that God had done for the children of Abraham, Jeremiah is bearing witness that they forgot God.  The prophet Ezra wrote Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening (Ezra 3:2-3). Not only did the children of Israel forget God but they also neglected to keep up the things that God had prescribed – which is why Ezra recorded that they had to “set the altar upon his bases” – essentially rebuilding the altar that had fallen down after years of neglect.

We read those scriptures and similar passages in the New Testament and wonder how God’s chosen people could allow such a thing to happen – how the altars were forgotten, neglected, and allowed to deteriorate.  We wonder what could3450741598_382a81c3e5_o have caused those of so long ago to forsake the teachings about the deliverance, goodness and grace of God and act with indifference when we find ourselves following the same path. Just as the altars of Israel had fallen in decay, there are churches across America that are in the same shape.  The question must be asked is why?  Why did this happen to the church?  Unfortunately all we have to do is to look what happened to those Old Testament lessons and we can see exactly why the church is in decay.

They forgot to teach their children about the things of God 

During the exodus out of Egypt, the Lord, through Moses, was trying to teach the children of Israel and the mixed multitude that accompanied them the importance of remembering the mighty work that God had done. According to the leading of the Holy Spirit, Moses wrote Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons (Deuteronomy 4:9). Those that were brought out of Egypt had a divine obligation to teach their children and their grandchildren of the mighty works that God had done. Somehow, they even ignored the warnings given by God, Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day (Deuteronomy 8:11) and continued to ignore the responsibilities to teach the younger generations.  Within a few generations, the nation of Israel found itself with its altars broken and God had left them to their own devices as He had warned: And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 8:19-20).

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What are you offering on your family altar?

Posted on November 26, 2013 by | Comments Off on What are you offering on your family altar?

VineyardCurvedBrown_fThis week we gather around our tables with family and close friends and as a nation to give our thanks to God for the many blessings He has bestowed on us as a nation.  I often think back to the stories of the Old Testament where the patriarchs were instructed to build an altar, to offer a sacrifice and praise to God for his mercy and deliverance.  In fact, we find this concept of building altars and offering beginning with the children of Adam and Eve and continuing throughout the Old Testament through the stories about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and even the prophets, we see the concept of building an altar and offering sacrifices, praises and thanksgiving to God.

Back when I was living in Louisiana, I was listening to a local AM station dedicated to Christian programming.  I remember two shows that I enjoyed listening to, one by Lester Roloff and the other by J. Vernon McGee, actually had spent considerable time talking about the importance of the family altar.  It was a concept that I found interesting but never put much thought to until a few months ago – and then I realized the importance of such a simple concept.  As Christians, the sacrifice for sins has already been done – so this altar has a different purpose.  In the book of Joshua, God introduces the concept of this second type of altar to the children of Israel: Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD. Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you (Joshua 22:26-28).

This altar was not ever to have a burnt offering laid upon it, nor was blood ever to be poured out for a sin offering.  It was to be a memorial – a place of reflection to serve as a reminder of a promise between two people – those children of Israel that remained on the eastern side of Jordan and those that would cross the river into the promised land.  The altar had a second purpose as well – to remind all that would come to look upon it that they were called to serve God.  It would become a place of prayer, a place of spiritual renewal, and even a place to simply seek his presence.  It would also become a place of praise – a sacrifice that I know in my life I have not readily given God the praise that He deserves. Twice in the Bible we are taught that God does see our praise as a type of sacrifice – The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD (Jeremiah 33:11) and By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15).

Earlier this year, as I was thinking about the spiritual need for a personal altar, I began thinking of the things I had noticed in my travels. In Louisiana, some of my Roman Catholic friends had a place inside their house where they would display their Crucifix, maybe a Bible, and family photos that was their family altar.  While I was in the Army and again, while living in Carbondale, Illinois, my Jewish friends had a spot in their house where a copy of the Torah, Sabbath menorah, and other items were placed on a fireplace mantle or a small table that served as their family altar.  When I was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, one of the church families that often invited soldiers to their house had an area set up, a simple concrete bench with a Bible verse inscribed on it under a tree, that served as their altar.  In each case, these families set aside an area of their home to worship and fellowship with God.  It was an intentional act done out of a sincere desire to be obedient and mindful of God and His gracious blessings.

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Taking a stand within the “old tyme faithe”

Posted on November 22, 2013 by | Comments Off on Taking a stand within the “old tyme faithe”

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One of my favorite places to go for a day trip is St. Louis, Missouri.  From where I live at in Henderson, Kentucky, it takes about two and a half hours to reach the east side of the city.  Two of my favorite attractions are the St. Louis Metropolitan Museum and St. Louis Metropolitan Zoo.  One Saturday morning, while wandering along the various art exhibits, I encountered one of the museum’s star bronze statues – called The Puritan.  As I took the picture above, I remember overhearing a couple of young people commenting that the statue looked menacing, judgmental, and angry.  As I thought about what the young girls said, I knew that the reason they felt this way was because of the world’s perception of Puritan life and culture.

During his earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus Christ did teach his disciples and all that listened in that day, Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets (Luke 6:22-23).  What is it about the Puritans of Colonial America that the lost world still hates?  What is it about the Puritans that the lost world ridicules, mocks, and scorns? What is it about the Puritans that the lost world sees as menacing, judgmental, and angry?  The answer is simple from the perspective of a Christian – it is their stand on the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The legacy of the Puritans in Colonial America bears witness to the very thing that Christ taught – If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you (John 15:18-19).

As an American historian by trade and training, I have always enjoyed studying the faith and life of those early American settlers. Because of this background, when I saw that sculpture I didn’t see the same things that the young people saw; in fact, I saw someone who was sincere, dedicated, firmly rooted in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and a staunch defender of his faith hating the very things of the flesh that tend to weigh down the typical Christian of our day. In fact, the Puritan faith of Colonial America can be summed up in three verses: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment (Mark 12:30), But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil (Matthew 5:37), and No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Luke 16:13). These three verses are the keys to understanding the reason for the stand of the Puritan.

Because of their love and devotion of God and the things of God, they tended to live a life as close to their understanding of Biblical principles as possible.  While a part of their faith was based on the concept of Calvinism – the belief that God has predestined some to Heaven and others to eternal damnation – they did believe that one’s lifestyle determined their eternal destination.  This was driven by the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 7:16-20). While I do reject the teachings of Calvinism, I do believe that a holy lifestyle does show a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The drive for a holy and chaste lifestyle also came from a second scriptural reference: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16). Their dedication to the teachings of Christ, especially the importance of drawing others to Christ was also based on this verse: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).  In their personal lives, and as a community of believers, they felt compelled to live a lifestyle that reflected the holiness and love of God and would serve to remind the lost world of the offer of salvation available to those who were willing to submit their lives to God.

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