Wood, Hay, and Straw Part 2

1. 1. Kitty Litter Christianity
      1. Treating sin like a cold rather than a cancer; fill the room with the smell of our sin, and think we can just kick a little dirt over it, and all is good; we get so used to the smell that we think it is normal, not problem in the eyes of God
      2. On the contrary…

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (Lk. 13:1-3, ESV)

When this (news of what happened to the sons of Sceva) became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. (Ac. 19:17-20, NIV)

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Heb. 4:13, NIV)

1. 1. Twinkie Christianity
      1. Can’t tell the difference between the church and the world; they look the same on the outside (same movies, same attitudes, same use of money), and on the inside, both filled with the same thing
      2. On the contrary…

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (Jn. 17:16-17, NIV)

Brothers, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, because you are still fleshly (“worldly” [NIV]; “still acting just like the rest of the world” [BHT]). For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and living like unbelievers?  For whenever someone says, “I’m with Paul,” and another, “I’m with Apollos,”  are you not unspiritual people? (1 Cor. 3:1-4, HCSB)

1. 1. Monster Truck Christianity
      1. Running all over people; the bigger, the stronger, the louder, the more intimidating, the better; doing things in our own strength and power; lots of hype; loving the applause and awe of the crowds; ministry machines that grind people down and become self-serving; more money, more personnel, more education, more planning and strategy, we’re unstoppable!
      2. On the contrary…

You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. (2 Cor. 11:19-21, 23, NIV)

1. 1. Battleship Christianity
      1. Trying to sink each other’s ships; different groups (denominations, schools, local churches, etc.) build up the fortifications (money, networks, name-dropping, etc.) and take fire (Proverb: “a cat in its own house has the teeth of a lion”); more time attacking or warning against those we think to be enemies/dangerous than praying for them; rejoicing at winning and sinking their battleship, rather than grieving and weeping over the loss and damage
      2. On the contrary…

What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings (“passions” [ESV, NET]; “selfish desires” [ISV, NCV]) that are at war within you?  You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. (Jm. 4:1-2, HCSB)

For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered  his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates  you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. (1 Jn. 3:11-15, HCSB)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn. 13:34-35, NIV)

1. 1. 1. Bill’s dream
      2. This one pretty fresh to me personally
   2. Country Club Christianity
      1. Superficial connection and relationships; “shake your neighbor’s hand” every week, but ten years later still don’t know each other; not much transparency or willingness to deal with issues; hobby, versus real contending together for the gospel; the “tax collectors and prostitutes,” the poor, those in real need of deliverance, would never step foot into the building; lots of activities and busyness and money, but no power; little accountability or transparency; Laodicea
      2. On the contrary…

When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!…Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep “some have even died” [NLT]; “falling asleep”=a euphemism for deah; cf., e.g., Jn. 11). But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. (1 Cor. 11:20-22, 27-32, NIV)

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?  Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? (Jm. 2:2-5, NIV)

1. 1. Slippery Soap Christianity
      1. Need to be cleansed, need to hold fast, but can’t get a grip on anything; everything slippery; relativism, extreme post-modernism; no way to arbitrate claims or to affirm strong/well-substantiated interpretations versus poor ones; can’t really know anything; any of kind certainty=modernity; laziness of study, etc.; no solid “anchor for the soul” (Heb. 6:19)
      2. On the contrary…

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality (“who twist into an excuse for licentious conduct” [BHT]) and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. (Jude 4, NIV)

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance (Gk. plērophoria – “complete certainty, full assurance” [DBL Greek, #4443) of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery (“and so that they may be stirred to full conviction about the reliability of what they have come to understand, to a complete certainty about the truth of God’s mystery” [BHT]), which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments (“fine-sounding arguments” [NIV]; “arguments that sound reasonable” [NET]; “well-crafted arguments” [NLT]. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. (Col. 2:1-5, ESV)

Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me (“follow my example” [NCV, TEV). For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. (1 Cor. 4:15-16, NIV)