CHRISTIANS SIDETRACKED ON THEIR WAY HOME

MIKE CUNNINGHAM

JULY 19, 2009

The more I plumb the depths of the sacred Scriptures the more aware I am of how shallow my understanding of the full riches of the Bible actually is. After almost forty years of constant study of His Word I have to admit I don’t know very much. I’m trusting our Lord will never allow me to con myself into believing otherwise because I know there are still many more biblical dots left for me to connect. The more I gain a deeper understanding of the magnitude of the eternal torment awaiting all those who reject God’s Son; folks through whom He has blessed me in various ways throughout the years; the more I’m committed in doing my utmost to become able to offer straight-forward answers to the ones who are sincerely searching for the Truth. Quite frankly I would have a hard time living with myself if I were to someday learn that someone I knew went to his or her grave with certain unanswered questions concerning the truthfulness of the Bible and credibility of its divinely inspired authors; questions I didn’t do my very best to try to answer is such a way that the person would be convinced I truly cared about him or her and that I’m constantly searching the Scriptures and pleading with the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth. The thought that perhaps my lack of concern about biblical truth was a contributing factor in such a person’s dismissal of the Bible and its author’s as being credible would lay heavily on my conscience.

The more I sincerely struggle to follow the Spirit to become a Christ-like man and thereby glorify God, the more acutely aware of how far short I still am of reaching that goal.“…whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God,” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV). I can’t truly say that I glorify him in my every thought, word and deed throughout the day. He knows I try, but also that I’ve got a long, long way to go. The more I try to encourage fellow Christians to take this command seriously, the more conscious I am of Satan’s relentless opposition to my efforts. One of his favorite tactics is to try to divert a Christian’s attention from struggling to glorify God by sincerely striving to become increasingly Christ-like and instead sidetrack themselves into being preoccupied with something else. I was reminded of this reality shortly before starting my recent vacation when a fellow Christian told me they no longer wanted to attend a bible study with other Christians who understood the Book of Revelation differently that they do. In fact, this person doesn’t want to attend any more bible studies or even meet with a pastor who shares their view point. This person appears to have become obsessed with the Rapture or what so-called prophecy experts refer to a being “The Blessed Hope.” For a Christian such as this person to insist the “The Blessed Hope” is the only thing they are looking forward to or which makes their life worth living, is to me indicative of a Christian who has been sidetracked by Satan on their way to heaven. The back cover of an excellent little book written in 1984 by Joyce Halsell entitled “FORCING GOD’S HAND, Why Millions Pray for a Quick Rapture…And Destruction of Planet Earth” characterized the mind-set of the person I’m talking about to a “T”.

“Fundamentalist Evangelicals believe there will be catastrophic events on earth, some occurring already, including the turmoil in the Middle East, culminating in the Battle of Armageddon in which Christ will triumph and begin ruling the earth. At this point, they believe, non-believers will be destroyed, good Christians saved and any remaining Jews converted to Christianity.”

The Apostle Peter says Christians should “…always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;” 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV). However, that task is a lot easier said than done, especially if we have to contend with fellow Christians who insist theirs is the only correct understanding of a highly controversial issue such as biblical prophecy. Although they will never admit it, they are implying their understanding of biblical prophecy is infallible and everyone else is wrong.

To drive home the point I’m trying to make, I’m going to pick up where I left off in a story I wrote almost ten years ago. It’s entitled “The Wise Man and the Wise Guy. It involves a dysfunctional family and a bible teacher who are next door neighbors. The family consists of a Christian mother who has a rather anxious and worrisome temperament, so much so that it has gotten to the point where she has developed a full blown ulcer. The father is a controlling, obnoxious, argumentative, judgmental, know-it-all who thinks he is a Born-again Christian because he walked the aisle several years previously, said the sinners prayer and has been a regular churchgoer ever since. They have a teen age son who is following in his father’s footsteps, and then some. The boys a prankster and views himself as being a real cool dude. His father sees his son as a wise guy kid who’s been a walking mouth ever since he learned to talk.

Needless to say, the father turned his son off to Christianity ever since he became “saved.” The parents have been trying to get the boy to attend a Saturday morning bible study at the home of an elderly new neighbor who picked up a lot of biblical knowledge throughout his lifetime. Folks around town affectionately refer to him as “the wise man.” The boy steadfastly refused to go until the day he came up with a prank he was convinced would fool the old man and make himself look good. It backfired and the teacher used the boys prank to drive home the point that Christians have the choice of choosing to worry or trust God instead.

The boy quickly shot back: “My Bible says that Jesus was only talking about worrying about food, clothing and something to drink. But he doesn’t say I shouldn’t worry about things like will my best friend Rick be able to move his legs again or be paralyzed for the rest of his life; or will the tests show that my favorite teacher’s cancer has spread? You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that if I didn’t worry about these things there’s something big time wrong with me. Anyone who doesn’t worry ain’t right. How can I not worry,” the boy said?”

“Funny you should say that,” the man replied. “Lord willing, next week we will be studying just how we can overcome worry. Why don’t you join us,” he asked? “I might just take you up on that,” the boy answered. “You’ll need a Bible,” the man said. “Do you have one,” he continued? “Just this little one I lifted from the hospital last summer,” the boy replied as he took a well-worn New Testament out of his hip pocket. “But I want a bigger one like you have so that we’ll be evenly matched,” he added.”

“You got it kid,” the boy’s father joined in. “I picked up a good study Bible for you about six months ago in case you changed your mind about joining us on Saturday mornings. Do you want it pal,” the father asked his son? “Deal,” replied his son. “I won’t be like you though,” he said to his father. “I’ll read it during the week and not just on Saturday mornings. “We’ll see if this wise man here is a smart as everyone says,” he added.”

“The boy’s mother may have appeared to be a silent observer to this scene but her mind was on fast forward. “O my, look how worn his pocket New Testament is. He’s been reading it and I never even knew. Did you hear what he said about Jesus and worrying,” she thought to herself? “And he brought up poor Rick and that nice teacher. My boy’s been looking for answers. Didn’t Jesus say that everyone who searches will find,” she asked herself?”

“Next the thought that faith comes from hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17) flashed through her mind. And from that moment on she knew without a doubt that her boy was being drawn to the Savior and her prayers were being answered. “Thank you Jesus, thank you,” she prayed silently while dabbing her eyes with a tissue.”

Now let’s imagine the following scenario taking place at the following week’s bible study. After welcoming everyone, the teacher asked the boy how his week has been going. “I’ve been holed up in my room studying the bible my old man gave me plus this other one I picked up at the Salvation Army Thrift Store for a quarter. What do you think of them, the teacher asked. I was robbed and my old man threw away his money. Both of them stink! That does it, kid. You and me are out of here,” shouted the boy’s father. “Let him continue, Charlie. Your son has aroused my curiosity. Why are you so upset young man?” “I’m only telling the truth. Here I was looking for answers and trying to make sense out of what my friend Rick and favorite teacher are going through. I thought I was getting someplace and beginning to have hope after checking out this little New Testament over and over again during the past year. Look how warn the thing is. Jesus and His disciples seemed like real nice people. Except for that guy, Judas! I was beginning to like them. Jesus did a lot of nice things for people. I was wishing He was still around and living in our town. He could have fixed up my friend Rick and my favorite teacher if He wanted to.” “Yes He could, young man.” “I was beginning to trust them guys and had my hopes up until I found out they didn’t know what they were talking about or else they were a bunch of con artists who broke all sorts of promises. And those guys who wrote their study bibles tried to cover up for them. But they didn’t fool me.” “Is that so?” “Yeah and do you want to know why?” “As I mentioned a moment ago: I’m very curious.” “Deal! Here goes. I want to start at the part where the guy who wrote my Thrift Store bible called the blessed hope.”

¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (ESV)

¹ Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (ESV)

“Now let’s move over to another part that speaks about the same stuff.”

“…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels ⁸ in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, ¹⁰ when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 (ESV)

“Do you see what I’m getting at?” “Yes I do, young man but I doubt if the others do. Why don’t you continue?” “OK! Let’s move to the part in the Acts of the Apostles where it talks about some of the really rough times they were having.”

¹ Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ² And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” ⁴ And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. ⁵ But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. ⁶ And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, ⁷ and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” ⁸ And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. Acts 17:1-8 (ESV)

“Those people were being dumped on big time just for being Christians. If you don’t believe me you can read the rest of the chapter for yourself.” “I’m very familiar with it, young man. Please continue.” “Ok! Let’s go back to another part I read from before.”

¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind ¹⁶ by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God’s wrath has come upon them at last! ¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 1 Thessalonians 2:15-17 (ESV)

“I said it before and I’ll say it again. Those Christians were really dumped on big time. It was non-stop! Here’s another example:”

¹ Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. ⁴ Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. ⁵ This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5 (ESV)

The boy continued. “You have to be an idiot not to see that the stuff I just read was written to guys who lived back in those days about all the suffering they were going through and The Apostle Paul told them to hang in there because it was all going to come to an end soon. Those bad guys were soon going to find out what goes around comes around. You can’t possibly believe these suffering Christians would have understood the things the Apostle Paul wrote to them about any other way. They expected to receive the Blessed Hope and be snatched away to safety when Christ came back with a vengeance. Do you see what I’m getting at, teacher? Everybody knows Christ didn’t come back. Christians everywhere are still waiting for the Second Coming. And those guys who wrote my study bibles just brushed it all aside and said the end is going to happen in our day.”

“What do you think, teacher?” “If you stick with it, you’re going to make a fine bible student, young man. I love the way you think for yourself and search the scriptures for yourself to see if what people are teaching is correct. It’s sad but many Christians view the notes in study bibles as though the authors’ comments have the same authority as Scripture. I hope you will return next week and, Lord willing, I’ll attempt to help us all get a better understanding of these issues.” “I’ll be here!” “Lord willing, young man, Lord willing!” “Lord willing,” echoed the boy as he picked up his two big study bible’s and notes he had taken and raced happily across the yard to his own home. He was thinking about how unlike his father the old bible teacher was. His father constantly put the boy down and the old man seemed to lift him up and encourage him at every opportunity. The boy’s spirits soared and he looked forward to returning the following Saturday.

Lord willing, next week…