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Truth Exists and Knowing it Really Does Matter

TRUTH EXISTS AND KNOWING IT REALLY DOES MATTER

MIKE CUNNINGHAM

APRIL 15, 2007

One of the thoughts that occurred to me as I was working on my Easter sermon was the fact that Easter and Christmas are the days when Christian churches are apt to have visitors who are not followers of the Risen Savior. And as I was thinking about that reality my mind wandered to the events that occurred behind the scenes on September 11th when terrorists hijacked two large passenger planes, crashed them into The World Trade Center, and almost four thousand human beings suddenly had their lives snuffed out.

The more I thought about that tragedy the more awful I felt about what had happened to those unsuspecting victims and the impact it had on their loved ones. I was especially saddened as I visualized the spirits of the non-Christians amongst them being swept away from their dead bodies by what the Bible refers to as terrors, (Psalm 73:19) and then descending into a place of torments from which Jesus said it is impossible to escape (Luke 16:23; 26).

Obviously, I have no idea if we had any non-Christians at our Easter service last week. But I do know I had an obligation to proclaim the truth of the Gospel which I did. No one present last Sunday will ever be able to say they didn’t know about the need for them to believe in Christ and accept His love and then to repent, to turn from their sins and struggle to lead a godly life.

Some folks may not have liked it when I quoted Jesus as saying that belief in Him is the only way by which sinners such as you and I can escape the anguish of being eternally separated from the love of Him and His followers. There was one visitor however who thanked me afterwards saying: “I loved hearing what you said. I never get tired of being reminded about what Jesus did for us on His cross.” Another expressed appreciation for all the Biblical references and the way we projected them on the Sanctuary wall.

After sharing the Gospel I refreshed the memory of those of you who are regular attendees. I have been saying that in order for us to accurately understand the meaning of something Jesus said over two thousand years ago, you and I must take into consideration the historical context in which He spoke.

Admittedly, there were occasions when Jesus spoke to individual people such as His disciples or certain folks who sought Him out for healing or religious leaders such as the Scribes and Pharisees. Often He was addressing each individual person in the vast crowds of people about themselves, and sometimes He was speaking to all of them collectively about their entire nation.

The bottom line is that some of what Jesus spoke about did in fact apply only to those first century people He was addressing.

Matthew 23:23-24 (ESV) 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

However, there were also occasions when the truths He conveyed applied not only to the individual people He spoke them to, but also applies to each of His followers throughout this New Covenant Church Age in which you and I live.

John 13:34-35 (ESV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

It’s very foolish to read the Bible without bearing in mind the facts I just mentioned. Disregarding these sound principles of Biblical interpretation plays directly into the devil’s hand and leads to all sorts of confusion amongst Christians as we are witnessing today. For instance, the ominous times in which we are living, coupled with an erroneous understanding of certain prophetic Biblical passages, have led millions of Christian’s to conclude you and I are living in “the end times.” In other words, these folks believe the return of Christ and the end of the world are fairly immanent.

However, events were so perilous during the early years of Christianity, that, according their understanding of the teachings of certain Old Testament prophets followed by those of John the Baptist and Jesus Himself, first century Christians interpreted certain signs of their times as being proof that they were living during “the time of the end.”

Phenomenal best sellers such as Lindsey’s “The Late Great Planet Earth,” and the current “Left Behind” series by LaHaye and Jenkins have contributed to the belief that you and I are currently living in what Lindsey has referred to as being “the terminal generation.”[1] At this point some of you may be thinking: “So what else is new. Christian’s disagree about some things. Who knows which are right? We won’t know until the Lord calls us home. Meanwhile, let’s agree to disagree and move on to something more interesting.

I believe the vast majority of Christians are greatly confused by this kind of stuff, and in order to preserve their sanity, have taken a hands-off approach. I know I certainly did for thirty some odd years. But there came a point when I became convicted that there is such a thing as truth about Biblical prophecy and that knowing it really does matter, especially as it pertains to the so called “end times.

Not just to you folks, and your children, but to their children as well. And it’s my job to use all available resources to try to ferret it out and bring it to you for your consideration, and then try to persuade you to search the Scriptures for yourselves to see if what I am teaching really is from God. That’s how important I believe learning the truth of the things we have been considering really is. As your pastor, I can’t agree to disagree and move on to something which is perhaps more interesting. I care about each of you too much to let this matter go.

Allow me to share some of my concerns. Comparing today’s evangelical Christian’s with those of the first century, has persuaded millions of our unbelieving neighbors to conclude that these Christians are fatalistic escapist nut cases who have given up on the world. They view these Christians as being pathetic people who cherish the blessed hope of soon being beamed off the planet and becoming joyfully reunited with their recently deceased loved ones when Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth and overthrow the forces of evil.

In the view on many unbelievers, the only difference between first century Christians and today’s evangelicals is that those of our day are crazed by their political influence and are extremely dangerous. I believe well-informed non-Christians know that shrewd politicians court the so called Religious Right in order to advance their own quest for power, while many of the most influential Christians knowingly allow themselves to be used in order to hasten “the Day of the Lord.” In other words, they want to see Christ return and bring about the end of human history and they long for it to happen soon.

Some knowledgeable unbelievers are terrified that today’s Christians who are on the extreme right of the political spectrum are determined to do their utmost to hasten the return of Christ. These folks believe that people who believe we are living in the “end times” or “the Terminal Generation” as Lindsey phrases it, are hoping that Christ will return soon and rapture them to safety before triggering a nuclear holocaust killing billions of people and bringing about the end of human history.

In her authoritative little book, Grace Halsell writes: “In the sermons I have heard preached by Jerry Falwell, Tim LaHaye, John Hagee and other dispensationalist pastors, I have not heard any mention of Christ’s universal love–or of the Sermon on the Mount.”

“Jesus was no sissy!” I heard Jerry Falwell shout. He and other Armageddon theologians portray Christ as a five star general, astride a horse, leading all the armies of the world-and, armed with nuclear warheads, slaying billions of unbelievers.[2] Can you imagine a Christian with those kinds on end time beliefs ascending to the presidency and having his or her finger close to “the button”? I can because there are a number of these kinds of Christians in our government already. This is one of the reasons why I have been insisting that truth exists and knowing it really does matter.

Many evangelical Christians including me are upset that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi violated the law when she recently met with the leader of Saudi Arabia in an effort influence that government’s policies without the authorization of our own government. I wonder how many of those same Christians were as bent out of shape when: “In 1998, John Hagee, dispensationalist pastor in San Antonio, raised $1 million for Israel, to help resettle Soviet Jews in Palestine lands. Asked if he realized his plan went against international law, Hagee said, “I am a Bible scholar and a theologian and from my perspective, the law of God transcends the law of the United States government and the U. S. State Department.”[3]

Do you see why I have been strongly encouraging you folks not to follow the teachings of any man including me unless you first diligently search the Scriptures for yourself to see if what is being said really is of God?

Acts 17:10-11 (AMP) 10 Now the brethren at once sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea; and when they arrived, they entered the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these [Jews] were better disposed and more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] with inclination of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Romans 15:4 (AMP) 4 For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope.

2 Timothy 3:16 (AMP) 16 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),

Not just some of the Scriptures but everything contained in the Bible with one exception. All too many Christians have come to accept the study notes which are in some bibles as being the inspired Word of God. We ought to cultivate the habit of viewing those notes as being the opinions of fallible men such as myself. And search the Scriptures for yourselves to see if these notes square with the inerrant Word of the Living God.

I believe an understanding of the synonymous phrases the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God will help us to arrive at the truth of the matter concerning whether or not we are living in the end times. For instance, speaking of John the Baptist and the kingdom of heaven, Jesus said”

Matthew 11:10-15 (AMP) 10 This is the one of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who shall make ready Your way before You. 11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied up until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive and accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come [before the kingdom]. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing.

Later after John had been arrested and thrown into prison we read about Jesus coming into Galilee.

Mark 1:14-15 (AMP) 14 Now after John was arrested and put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled (completed, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent (have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the better) and believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to) the good news (the Gospel).

Luke 4:42-44 (AMP) 42 And when daybreak came, He left [Peter’s house] and went into an isolated [desert] place. And the people looked for Him until they came up to Him and tried to prevent Him from leaving them. 43 But He said to them, I must preach the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God to the other cities [and towns] also, for I was sent for this [purpose]. 44 And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Galilee.

Luke 9:1-2 (AMP) 1 THEN JESUS called together the Twelve [apostles] and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases, 2 And He sent them out to announce and preach the kingdom of God and to bring healing.

Allow me to ask you this question. If you were to read the Bible for the very first time and you came across those verses we just read concerning the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven, and those phrases were something completely new to you; would you have a clue as to what they mean? Don’t feel bad because no other human being would either. But those first century Jews certainly did know.

At that time, “the nation cherished in its innermost heart the hope of a coming deliverer, a scion of the royal house of David, who would be the theocratic king, the liberator of Israel from Gentile domination, whose reign was to be so happy and glorious that it might deserve to be called ‘the kingdom of heaven.’[4] This is the kind of kingdom those first century Jews longed for. And it is the same kind of kingdom some Jews and Christians today are still awaiting. However, according to Jesus, this view is not factual. Lord willing, next week….


[1] Cited in Biblical Worldview.

[2] Grace Halsell, Forcing God’s Hand, Why Millions Pray for a Quick Rapture…And Destruction of Planet Earth, Amana Publications, Beltsville, Md. Revised and enlarged edition 2003, page. 115.

3 Ibid pages 95-96.

[4] James Stuart Russell, The Parousia, Kingdom Publications, Bradford, Pa. Page 9.

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