Yeast

I recently watched a video online from a pastor warning his congregation about false teachers. It was sent to me by a Christian friend who wanted me to understand why our church was questioning whether to continue singing songs produced by Hillsong and Bethel in our services. In the video, the pastor called out several famous teachers and preachers who he believed were teaching false doctrine, and for many of them he was able to prove it. Several of the people he claimed were false may be spiritual leaders and pastors that you follow. Many are household names and have hundreds of thousands of believers buying their books and listening to their podcasts. I appreciate the boldness of this pastor who preached an unpopular message in an effort to warn his flock about the dangers of false teaching. Jesus did the same. It says in Matthew, chapter 16, verse 6: 

“‘Be careful,’ Jesus said to them. ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’”

After Jesus chastised his disciples for not understanding his meaning, they eventually got the hint as it says in verse 12:

“Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 

There are hundreds of preachers, teachers and spiritual leaders who have gained quite the following. Some of them are teaching the scriptures accurately, but there are others who have strayed away from the truth. There are some who are subverting the scriptures, teaching what is false either on purpose or in ignorance. The preacher that I watched on YouTube warned his congregation about such people. Jesus warned his disciples concerning the spiritual leaders of his time. And now, I hope that you can consider yourself warned as well. The Pharisees and Sadducees were heralded as spiritual rockstars in Jesus’ day, people who were believed to have known what was right and true. Even still, Jesus warned his disciples about their teaching because even though they were clergy, they were teaching falsehoods. So I would challenge you also, to test what you hear. Make sure that what is being taught in your church lines up with scripture, because in the end, none of us wants to be deceived.

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When it comes to spiritual matters, Jesus, as well as Paul, teaches us to test what we hear. We are warned against false preachers and false teachings. They were present in Jesus’ time and they are present today. So I challenge you to test what you hear from your pastors. Test what you read in Christian books. Test the validity of the Christian songs you listen to. And test the truth of the Christian podcasts you hear, including this one. Many believers are being led astray. Don’t be one of them. Become intimately familiar with the Bible so that you can identify what is counterfeit when you see it because you’ll know the truth so well. We are living in a time where you can find Christian materials anywhere and any time with the click of a button. I encourage you to only accept what is biblically true. Because there is no other way to protect yourself from being led astray.

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Three Strikes

In First Corinthians 5:12 and 13, Paul tells us that we are not to judge those outside of the church, but that it is our job to judge those inside. He said: “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked man from among you.’” But what does it look like to judge those inside the church? Is there some kind of protocol that we are to follow? Is there any mention of a method that could help us in this difficult task? I believe there is, and I believe that it is outlined by Jesus himself in Matthew, chapter 18, verses 15 through 17 which says: 

“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” 

It can be incredibly difficult to call our Christian brother or sister out on their sin. After all, who are we? We are imperfect Christians who are subject to sin as well. But the main difference between a repentant believer and a non-repentant one is our ability, or inability, to agree with God that we are in error. We must agree that we have sinned; that we have rebelled against God and that we need to adjust our ways. When a believer is unwilling to acknowledge his or her sin, Jesus outlines three opportunities we are to give them to repent from their behavior. First, talk with them one on one. Second, put together a small intervention with a few believing friends. And third, take the issue to the church itself. After three strikes, Jesus said that we are to treat them as we would a pagan. It is our collective job, as believers, to hold our Christian brothers and sisters accountable. If we don’t, we will begin to see what is happening in many churches around our country, where they allow sin into the church, and like yeast, it works its way throughout the congregation.

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It may sound like an incredibly daunting task to speak to a Christian brother or sister who has sinned and is unrepentant. But that is what Jesus calls us to do. Even in our imperfection, through the Holy Spirit and through the words of the Bible, we can discern what is right and wrong; what is permissible and what is sinful. It is our duty to make an effort to bring our brother or sister back in right relationship with the Father. In truth, it is an act of love. And I would submit that if the body of Christ were active in practicing this principle, we wouldn’t see so many churches who have veered away from what is right and true. We wouldn’t see so many congregations accepting the values of the world over the steadfast truth of the scriptures. So I would challenge you, as I challenge myself, to exercise the kind of love that Jesus has for us toward our fellow brothers and sisters. Follow the principle Jesus outlined in Matthew and lend a helping hand to the one who seems to be unrepentant. Who knows, you may be the very person God wants to use to bring them back in right relationship with him.

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Faithful Come Home

We’ve all seen it - a handful of men and women of God consistently living a life that is biblically faithful, mature, and an example to all believers; people who are models of what it means to be a Christian. From iconic servants such as Billy Graham and Martin Luther King, to martyrs in hostile countries who are only known by a few, their identity is intertwined with their Christian walk in a way that serves as a lesson to us all. Inevitably, as with everyone on this earth, they pass away. And for those of us who looked up to these modern day saints; those of us who want to live a life similar to theirs, feel a tremendous loss when they leave this earth to be with the Father. But did you know that it affects our God as well? They were faithful servants on this earth and as Psalms proclaims, as they return home, they are considered precious in God’s sight. It says in Psalms, chapter 116, verse 15: 

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” 

There are several believers who’ve sown into my life while they lived and have since gone to heaven. But there are only a few who’ve made a major impact, living as if they had life all figured out. They knew what it looked like to live a life that was pleasing to God, and they seemed to never waver. I realize they were subject to sin just like you and me. Even still, I wasn’t able to see any crack in their armor. They were true followers of Christ, loving their fellow man and faithful servants to God. Fortunately, there are still a few that I know who are still alive. But I also know that one day they too will go on to be with the Lord. When they do, I’m sure I’ll remember Psalm 116:5; “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” Knowing this truth will hopefully give me peace. If you know a faithful servant of God who passed away, I hope this verse gives you peace as well.

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We will all die one day. No matter if you are young or old, your days are numbered. Are you one of God’s faithful servants? I’m sure there are several Christians who truly believe in the salvation that Christ provides, Christians who faithfully attend church on Sunday, and pay their tithe faithfully. But are they one of God’s faithful servants as referenced in Psalm 116? Maybe. A different NIV version uses the word “saints” instead of “faithful servants”. And when I think of saints, I conjure in my mind someone who serves Christ with abandon; someone who makes it their mission to be about the work of the Lord, and loves the Lord their God with all of their heart, mind, soul and strength; someone whose mind is on what pleases God over what pleases themself; a true reflection of God’s son. No one is perfect. Even still, Jesus calls us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. That is the goal. That is the bar. And some have done such a good job of pursuing it that even God feels it when they die. May we all seek to attain that level of favor with God.

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New Testament

We are all living in a really good time right now. I’m not referring to the amazing technological advancements we’re able to enjoy, the freedom to share Christ openly in America, or the leaps and bounds we’ve made over the past few decades concerning equality in the United States. No, I’m referring to the past 2,000 years where we’ve enjoyed living within the new covenant. When Jesus came to earth and died for our sins, a new set of rules were put in place - well, it was more of a revision on the old rules. This new covenant; this new way of connecting with God, changed everything for us - so much so, that the Bible needed to be divided into two parts: the Old Testament, and the New. God says this through the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah, chapter 31, verses 31 through 34: 

“‘The time is coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,’ declares the Lord. ‘This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the Lord. ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’”

This new covenant isn’t only for the Israelites and the Jewish nation, it is for everyone. God said that he will be our God and we will be his people. This was the plan from the very beginning before the fall of Adam and Eve. But once man fell, this utopia wasn’t to be. So God gave us the old covenant with its laws and commands, the most famous of which are the ten commandments. But today, we live in the new covenant; a time where we do not rely solely on the rules and ways of the old covenant; a time when we can know him through the Spirit. From the least to the greatest, we all have access to the Father. We can all be in relationship with him. Through Jesus, a way was made. God said “for I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” That is good news - no, that is great news! We live in a time that those who walked the earth before Jesus’ arrival could only dream of. I hope you can appreciate that today.

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Today, we live under the New Testament - the new covenant. No longer is there a need to sacrifice animals for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus paid that price. And at that moment, a new covenant was made; one where we are truly able to know God. When Jesus left the earth, he sent the Holy Spirit. Now, every believer has him living inside of us. He can guide us, teach us, encourage us and heal us. I encourage you to allow your heart to be sensitive to him. Listen to his promptings, obey his leadings, and though him, walk in close relationship with our creator. Today is indeed a good day to be alive. We have the New Testament. I encourage you to read it. If you do, and I’m not one to usually give away spoilers, but you will learn that Jesus is coming back for you, me and every believer.

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A Mother Comforts

So many times in the Bible we find that the characteristics of our Heavenly Father are compared to the characteristics of a good earthly father. God is often times described as strong, a protector, and a husband to his bride - the church. And like a good father he carries us, disciplines us, trains us and rewards us. But did you know that he is also compared to a mother in the Bible? In Isaiah, chapter 66, verse 13 God says this about himself through the prophet Isaiah: 

“As a mother comforts a child, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” 

I believe that God compared himself to a mother because it is a mother’s natural instinct to comfort her child. When I think of a good mother I conjure images of her kissing a child’s boo-boo, making sure that her child is dressed warmly for the winter, nursing her child back to health when sick, and holding her child close as she sings them to sleep. It is true that fathers have a loving nature as well, but when I consider the roles of my mother and father, it was always my mother who did the lions share of the comforting. So when God compares himself to a mother who comforts her child, I would encourage you to consider why he decided to chose a mother over anything else. The Holy Spirit, one of the three persons of the trinity, is described as the comforter. Even before I was aware of this verse in Isaiah, I automatically thought of a mother’s arms wrapped around me, providing comfort. And it seems that God may have had a similar idea when choosing the comforter to describe the Holy Spirit as well.

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Isaiah says, as a mother comforts a child, so God will comfort you. When you hear that, I hope your mind is flooded with images and memories of when your mother comforted you. I hope that it stirs a feeling of peace, warmth, protection and love because that is what I believe God wanted to inspire by this verse. If you haven’t already, I would encourage you to appreciate your mother today. If you are one who was raised by a loving mother, honor her with how you live and how you show love. And if thoughts of your mother conjure thoughts that are negative and hurtful, I would encourage you to reflect on the kind of mother God envisioned for his children - one who is kind, loving, supportive, and proud of you. Only then can you truly appreciate the sentiment behind the saying; as a mother comforts a child, so God will comfort you.

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