To Be or Not to Be

 To Be or Not to Be

1 Corinthians 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 

 

May I ask you to consider for a few moments; 

What are you?

 

A few years ago my doctor warned me that I had become insulin resistant. Since then I have done a considerable amount of research in an attempt to prevent that from turning into diabetes type 2. 

 

Today I take no medication, but I have to constantly monitor my blood sugar levels and eat a strict diet to keep those levels below what would be classified diabetes. 

One of the things I’ve come across and try to keep in mind is to say something like, “I have diabetes” rather than to say “I am a diabetic.”

If I identify as a diabetic I can consider myself a victim. Diabetes has overcome me. It has become who I am. 

If, on the other hand, if have diabetes, it is merely a condition. I am in control. I can make choices that allow me to overcome diabetes. 

 

We teach something similar in our addictions ministry. We teach not to identify as an addict but to rather say I have an addiction. The term addict, like that of the alcoholic, is an identity rather than a condition. 

The addict may think he has no hope of ever being anything other than an addict. 

If it’s an addiction there are choices, steps that can be taken to overcome and gain victory. 

 

There is great power in our identity. Who we are and how we perceive ourselves. 

 

I would like to suggest that Christianity is an identity rather than a lifestyle. It is who we are and not what we do or where we go. 

 

Some years ago I read about the ministry of John Wesley. The man was a working machine. While in college he and a group of other students formed a fellowship built around a series of methods they believed would aid them in godliness. Keep in mind that, at this period in his life he had not yet made a profession of faith. That did not happen until, while on a storm tossed trip across the Atlantic, when he thought he was coming the new world to be a missionary to the Indians, he witnessed the peace of heart in a group of Moravian believers that he did not have. He return to Europe to meet the Moravians and there claimed a genuine conversion to Christ. 

Wesley left the Moravians to return to England and aggressively preach salvation through Christ. Because his message was not approved in the Church of England where he had been trained and ordained, he took to preaching on street corners, open fields and factories across England and on this continent. Those who claimed conversion were organized into Methodist Societies. Wesley (and later those who trained under him) would move on to preach in other field and then return some months later. What I read was that he asked three questions of new converts 

Had they changed their language?

Had they changed their clothing?

Had they changed their manners?

If the answer to these was “No” he declared them false professors and urged them to turn to Christ or else leave the society. 

His was a religion of action rather than identity. His was a method to godliness, not a birth into a new family. 

Contrast that with the ancient Anabaptist group known by those who hated them as the Cathari “the pure ones.” Their faith had transformed them to such a state that those who observed them were incensed that they could live out such godliness. 

 

I fear that, among a good many independent Baptists we have devolved into a kind of methodism. We have replaced an identity with Christ for a Christian culture and lifestyle. 

We have become doers rather than be-ers 

We make a profession of faith possessing more or less degrees of meaningfulness, and from there it’s just a matter of learning how to behave in the house of God. 

 

The world around us, observing us, witnesses what we do and seldom either positively or negatively would call us the pure ones. 

 

I want to ask you to examine your own faith. Is your faith who you are or just what you do?

 

Allow me to give you several areas we would do well to consider

 

A Christian does not worship.

He is worshipful 

Mat 15:8 -9

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 

 

 

A Christian does not witness

He is a witness

Act 1:8  

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

 

 

A Christian does not go to church or even attend church.

He makes up the church

 

Eph 2:19-22  

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 

 

 

A Christian does not have devotions

He talks to His Father

 

Mat 6:1-7  

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

 

 

 

A Christian does not do what Jesus would do

He has Christ living in him

 

Gal 2:20  

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

 

 

Conclusion

 

1Co 3:9-15  

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

 

One of those areas that Christians can spend a good deal of time debating is what exactly would constitute the sort of work build wood hay and stubble. 

I doubt very seriously that the context allows it to be our sins or our worldliness, when we are focused on selfish goals. 

I believe the context must be those times when we build upon the foundation of Christ but we build with inferior materials. 

 

Could it be that it is when we do what GOD teaches because that’s what we do, and not because that is who we are?

 

I want to challenge you-die to self. 

Trust God give yourselves to God. 

Allow Him to live through you and build with Gold Silver and Precious stone

 

 

Preached at Teen/Family Camp July, 2021

WHAT WE ARE LEARNING

WHAT WE ARE LEARNING

1 Corinthians 14:23-26 (KJV)

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

Focus for a moment on the last phrase,

Let all things be done unto edifying.

Let all things: 

·   Build you up, 

·   Make you more like Christ, 

·   Improve your fellowship and relationship to God and one another.

Let all things strengthen the unity of the church.

Let all things teach us something.

And

Let all of this glorify the Lord.

With that in mind, I want to share with you some lessons I think I am learning these last couple of weeks.

I. WE LEARN THROUGH TRIALS

And when we learn, God is glorified.

A trial like this is never pleasant, but there are lessons to be learned. If we are able to grow as believers because of it, God is glorified.

What are we learning? The list might be as varied as the members of our church, but here are some lessons we may hope to receive.

A. We are learning to trust the Lord

Will He pull us through this?[1] We know the promises of the Word of God. We get to see if they are true.

B. We are learning to forgive

I think I learned many years ago to forgive the multiple attacks upon my person. These attacks have been directed toward my wife and my son. It’s a new bent on forgiving.

C. We are learning patience

Patience is perfected in persecution, trial and tribulation.[2]

D. We are learning to love

We are taught to love those who hate us and do us evil. We get the chance to practice it.

E. We are learning unity

Those who rally to support and defend us when we are attacked become truly precious to us.

II. I CAN TAKE THE WIND OUT OF THE SAILS OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS BY BEING TRANSPARENT  

BUT I can’t take the wind out of the sails of gossip. That must be the work of you as an individual member. 

If I share too much information two negative things happen

A. I risk burning the bridge for their repentance

B. I imply to the congregation that I will do the same to them if ever they disagree with me

What that means is that I cannot always tell you why I do certain things.

I, therefore, must risk my own reputation for the sake of preserving the character of those who are opposed to me.

What will not help is for everyone else to talk about the thing to each other. That’s just gossip and serves no purpose. 

Instead, pray.

My heart’s longing is to see people come to love God, love each other and repent when in sin. Pray to this end.

III. WHO PAYS THE PASTOR?

There was no complaint about finances at all. Our brother’s complaints were all about our ministry. 

He did not like Pastor .... preaching Wednesday. He felt like that wasted his time preparing to work with the teens, saying, “That’s what we pay the pastor to do.”

I do not believe the church pays me to do anything. I am called by God and supported by God. People in the church give as an act of obedience and worship to God. 

The money, once given, belongs to God and not to the people who gave it.

To “provide for things honest”[3] we have in place several protocols.

· 

III. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE MINISTRY BELONGS TO THE PASTOR

This is, in fact, the very thing Apostle Paul addressed in 1 and 2 Corinthians and Galatians.

It’s doctrinal, but it’s also practical.

Hebrews 13:17-18 (KJV)

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

Every one of us will stand before God.

But I am the only person in this room tonight who will give an account for how I watched for your souls.

It is a person’s right to choose the sort of church they wish they wish to be part of. 

It is not their right to attempt to change the philosophy of one that exists.

IV. IF IT BE POSSIBLE, LIVE PEACEABLY  

Romans 12:18 (KJV)

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

But sometimes, to avoid "doubtful disputations" a separation is necessary.

V. THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEACONS 

This is a common misconception in a Protestant church. 

One person I know (not in our church) likened deacons to the job stewards on union sights. It is the deacon’s job, in some people’s eyes, to represent the membership in opposition to the pastoral staff.

Biblical deacons are servants of the pastors, relieving them of necessary tasks so they can give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. 

A pastor might ask them to do more, but this is all they are in the Bible.

Finally,

VII. I LEARNED A VERY VALUABLE LESSON FROM BROTHER ..........

Since this revolved around the will of God and who knows it for the ministry of the church. Brother ....... said, when discovering the will of God about a thing, we have three resources:

A. We have the Word of God

If the Bible clearly teaches it – that is the will of God.

B. We have Bible principle

Sometimes the Bible doesn’t give “chapter and verse” on a subject, but there is clearly a principle established in the Bible.

Lacking those

C. We have good old common sense

This is by far the least reliable of the three and any two good men might disagree on what is common sense. 

It is not a good policy to get in a conflict over a disagreement of this nature.[5]

---

[1] For the most part I think He already has.

[2] James 1:3 (KJV)

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

[3] Romans 12:17 (KJV)

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

[4] I’ve been thinking on that. How much should I have tried to protect my wife and son? If I had put them in a room where no one could ever hurt them, would they have been healthier for it? We grow stronger through trials, but there has to be some time for recovery AND it’s nice to have some support through it. 

[5] Dr. David Gibbs says, “How many of you understand that good men can disagree and still be good men?” I would add that what makes a bad man is how he responds to the disagreement.