Western Obsession with god without God

I know the title may seem strange at first, but bear with me. There seems to be a growing obsession with people, particularly in the West, in 'god' without God. I mean, there is this undercurrent, and at times an overt, desire to know God, or to commune with God, or talk with God; but this is without the true Biblical God. It boils down to a desire to commune and have peace with the idea of a god, namely self or whatever one makes God to be.

I recently read Eckhart Tolle's book, A New Earth, and it made me sick. It really is an eye-opening shocker to this idea that you are your own god. Propagated by Oprah, among others, Tolle believes we are the "I AM". So, God no longer is God, we are. This idea is conveyed multiple times throughout the media each day. We have stripped God of being God and relegated Him to one of countless millions of gods of worship.

Just like the people at Mar's Hill, the West has created gods for everything worthy of worship, contemplation and adoration, and there is even a spot for the 'unknown god' just in case we have left one out. No need to cause offense where none is intended.

Just like Paul in that time, true believers need to declare the same message Paul did! There is an unknown God among the plethora of gods in the West. He is the Triune God represented by God the Father, Jesus the Son and Holy Spirit. The Bible declares His attributes and character and only when we receive His Word as our authority and quit relying on every nut job and wacko that crawls out of the woodwork and receives an endorsement from some celebrity, only when we accept His Word as truth, will we truly know God.

I am also amazed at how easily Christians are believing this New Age crap. Talk about being deceived. I recently heard one preacher tell me how good Tolle's book was. In fact, he was using some of it in his sermons. He even made a comment concerning A New Earth that the author quoted Jesus. Yeah! Out of context and with a new interpretation that is heresy! I almost choked on my Starbuck's!

Only when true believers repent of their sins, seek Jesus with unhindered passion, trust His Word completely, will we have the discernment necessary to see through the smoke. It is time we develop an obsession, an enthusiasm, a passion for the true, living and risen King Jesus!

Then, and only then, will this Western obsession with god without God be made right.

The Necessity of Repetance

What is repentance?

This is a question I have examined before, and I always find it interesting. In light of our church finishing up revival services this past weekend, and a couple of church members reading a book by John Owen, Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, I thought it a good idea to look at a couple of definitions of this word, and maybe we can come to a simple one.

Repenting - intransitive verb 1: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life 2 a: to feel regret or contrition b: to change one's mind transitive verb 1: to cause to feel regret or contrition 2: to feel sorrow, regret, or contrition for - Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

REPENTANCE — a turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning back to God (Matt. 9:13; Luke 5:32). In a more general sense, repentance means a change of mind (Gen. 6:6–7) or a feeling of remorse or regret for past conduct (Matt. 27:3). True repentance is a “godly sorrow” for sin, an act of turning around and going in the opposite direction. This type of repentance leads to a fundamental change in a person’s relationship to God. - Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Repentance
Our English word “repentance” has come to signify penitence, remorse, or sorrow for wrongdoing, a meaning to which in general usage it is practically confined. The word in the original, translated “repentance,” presents a more comprehensive view. Only by a careful consideration of its use in the New Testament can we arrive at a right conclusion as to any bearing it may have upon the presentation of the Gospel. In the New Testament there are two words rendered “repent.” The first is metanoia, literally, “an afterthought,” a change of mind. * The literal meaning does not cover all that the word suggests. Literalism is often an unsafe guide in the interpretation of a language. - Collected Writings of W.E. Vine

Repentance - A feeling of regret, a changing of the mind, or a turning from sin to God. - Holman Bible Dictionary

While each of these definitions say essentially the same thing, they do speak to a particular audience, whether they are the etymologist, the Biblical scholar, the pastor, or the person in the pew. For that reason, I am partial to the simplicity of the last definition.

I see two primary applications of this word. First, the initial call to repentance is a call to repent of sin and accept/trust/receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

John the Baptist is the first we see in the NT of one who preached repentance. Recorded for us in Mark 1:4 and also in Matthew 3 and Luke 3. Here John is "proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." It is important to look at Luke's record of John's preaching [Luke 3:10-14]. In this passage, John is asked by the crowds, the tax collectors, and some soldiers what they must do in response to the message of repentance. John tells them to bear fruits worthy of repentance. Therefore, if you have two coats, share one with a person in need, collect no more taxes than what are necessary, and to the soldiers, be content with your wages and stop extorting others. These are some of the fruits worthy of repentance.

So we find here an excellent example of what repentance looks like. Turn from sin and disobedience and do what is right and honorable before God. This usage of repentance then implies one coming to Jesus for the first time and turning from their sin and turning to Him. This is evidenced by Jesus Himself preaching the good news of God in Mark 1 [also in Matthew 4]. Jesus proclaims the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near and the people should repent and believe in the good news. We know the good news is the reality of King Jesus coming to earth to live a life we can not life, to die a death He did not deserve, so we can have forgiveness of sins and the promise of a heaven we do not deserve.

So, to begin with, repentance happens when the person who is lost is made aware of their sin, made aware of the remedy of sin, and turns from sin to the Son, who forgives and cleanses them. This is salvation, the new birth, regeneration, conversion... the beginning of a new life whereby we have been buried to the old self and risen to walk in newness of life.

Now, after that fact, we don't put repentance on the bookshelf (along with our Bibles) to collect dust and refer to it as something in the past (that we have already read). When we look at Revelation and the word of Jesus to the 7 churches we encounter the word repent again.

After reading this passage again, specifically Revelation 2-3, here is what I discover. King Jesus, speaking to the 7 churches (for this point it doesn't necessarily matter whether you lean toward 7 literal churches, dispensations, or eras) commands the majority of them to repent of their sin and return to Him. Let me state clearly, this is not returning to salvation, in other words, being saved again. The Bible clearly and repeatedly teaches salvation is completely a work of God and is not irrevocable. Therefore, we learn that repentance should and needs to take place when the believer has indulged in temptation and fallen into sin.

When reading of the sin of the churches in Revelation 2-3 one can glean that every form of sin can be found. Therefore, it behooves us as believers to continually allow King Jesus to examine our lives, reveal sin, confess that sin and repent of it. Turn away from it and turn to Him.

So, what is repentance? First, it is the action a person takes when they receive King Jesus as Lord and Savior as they confess sin, turn from it and turn to King Jesus. This is salvation.

Then, it happens when believers grow in grace and knowledge before God and man. As the word of God richly dwells in us, as we hide its word in our hearts that we might not sin against God, as we study to show ourselves approved, as we renew our minds daily by it, sin will be revealed and we then must confess it and repent of it.

This leads to putting sin to death and the blogs concerning the book by John Owen. Personally, repentance is not something that I find favorable, although the renewal and subsequent growth is indescribable. While I might not need to repent of 'big' sins, there are countless sins of thought and mind that I must deal with. There are sins of bitterness, discouragement, and anger that need to be exposed. There are sins of selfishness and pride that I battle often.

Why does it seem churches aren't growing? Why does it seem believer's aren't living lives of holiness? Why do the 'churched' youth seem more apathetic than their parents? Why don't we see an increase in evangelism and baptisms and discipleship?

One word: repentance. It is not happening as it should in our lives. We are quick to justify sins rather than repent of them. It is more tolerable to assign repentance to 'religious nutjobs' that we view as 'over zealous' and categorize them as 'holier than thou' and not want to be associated with that. What we need to realize is attitudes some display as 'repentance' is an front displayed before others to hide 'legalism' and 'pharisee' attitudes.

It can be seen when the pharisee prays exalting himself and putting others down for not being as holy as he is. Then a tax collector standing far off asks for mercy, acknowledging his sinfulness. Jesus says the tax collector was justified, not the pharisee.

Genuine repentance happens when Sovereign God places His grace on a lost person and they receive the gift of salvation. It then continues to happen as this regenerated believer lives a life of obedience before King Jesus. Confessing sin and repenting of it. Turning from sin and turning to God.

I know of no person who has reached a state whereby they never need to repent. Therefore, may Holy Spirit speak to us about our need to repent of sin, and press forward to the goal that is before us...

The Nature of Mortification

We return to John Owen's book, Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers. It has been a couple of weeks since my last post on this book. With everything else around me, I don't have the time to blog like so many others. I wonder how they have the time to do it. Anyhow... to the next chapter...

Summary

I will begin this chapter by using a section from the introduction of chapter 5 that has not left me:

Suppose a man to be a true believer, and yet finds in himself a powerful indwelling sin, leading him captive to the law of it, consuming his heart with trouble, perplexing his thoughts, weakening his soul as to duties of communion with God, disquieting him as to peace, and perhaps defiling his conscience, and exposing him to hardening through the the deceitfulness of sin, what shall he do? What course shall he take and insist on for the mortification of this sin, lust, distemper, or corruption, to such a degree as that, thought it be not utterly destroyed, yet, in his contest with it, he may be enabled to keep up power, strength, and peace in communion with God?

Three ares will be examined in upcoming chapters:
1. Show what it is to mortify any sin, and that both negatively and positively, that we be not mistaken in the foundation.

2. Give general directions for such things as without which it will be utterly impossible for anyone to get any sin truly and spiritually mortified.

3. Draw out the particulars whereby this is to be done.

This chapter focus on what mortification is not:
1. Mortification is not the utter destruction and death of sin

2. Mortification is not the dissimulation of sin

3. Mortification is not the improvement of a quiet, sedate nature

4. Mortification is not the diversion of sin

5. Mortification is not just occasional conquests over sin


Personal Thoughts

To save time, I am going to comment on point number one above: Mortification is not the utter destruction and death of sin. While there are some sincere believers out there believing in a 'second work of grace' and living sinlessly on this side of heaven, I will believe what the Bible teaches me, we are not and will not be perfect this side of heaven.

I agree with Owen, that it is the thing to be aimed at, but we must also acknowledge it will not be attained on earth. As believers, we will have moments, in fact seasons, of victory over particular sins, I will not say we will ever have complete victory over it. For this I turn to the same verse Owen quotes; "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect (Phil. 3:12)."

It should be the desire of every genuine, born-again believer to live a life apart from sin, yet it is also the constant duty and battle of every believer in this life. One must acknowledge the devil is the accuser of the brethren and masquerades as an angel of light seeking whom he may devour. When I look at the temptation of Jesus, I see how sneaky and corrupt the devil really is. His greatest sin is pride, and in tempting us, his approach is still the same. By weaseling his sinful doubts about God's word in our minds, the temptation, no matter the exact sin, comes back to being like God. We become the authority, not Him. So our temptations, while varying from believer to believer, fall altogether the same before us. Doubt God's word, become our own authority, and no one will be the wiser.

We must continue to follow after those things, striving for them, making every effort to overcome temptation and to mortify sin. This can only be accomplished by the Holy Spirit in us. For some, it might be possible to avoid certain temptations for a time, but eventually the temptation will become so strong and call out to us in such a fashion, we look back and can't believe how far we have stepped in it. All the while, affirming the scripture:

1 Corinthian 10:13 (NKJV) "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

There is a statement that Owen makes about the desire to kill sin: "There is no man that truly sets himself to mortify any sin, but he aims at, intends, desires its utter destruction, that it should leave neither root not fruit in the heart or life." As for me, I would agree. I don't want to sin, but I do. Temptation is all around me. The devil knows how to shoot his fiery darts at me. When I turn my back to him, they sting as they hit the target. It is then I repent and confess and desire to not fall into that trap again. But I do, it gives me great encouragement to hear Paul:

Romans 7:15-25 (NKJV) "For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen and Amen...

I will only mortify sin in my life when I come to the cross of Jesus and receive the forgiveness secured for me by the shedding His blood. I will still battle with the flesh and sin, I will still be tempted by the devil, I will even fall into his snares, but I stand firm on the promises of God, I am His, and He is mine! How I look forward to the day to be free from the presence of sin forever!

Your Turn

There is much to be said about this chapter, and what I am learning personally, but I will refrain. Now it is your turn to comment, vent, question, agree to disagree, or whatever is on your heart to share. I enjoy reading your comments and seeing how each of you are growing! It is exciting to see what He is doing... until chapter 6,

it is an honor to serve King Jesus as your pastor!

Ricky