The Authentic Disciple – Part 2 (27.02.2013)
Introduction:
Last week this series was
introduced by stressing that all true Christians are called by our Lord Jesus,
called to be authentic disciples and not just Christians in name only. We are
called to sit at the feet of Jesus, learn from Him and follow Him. No special
qualifications are required and called to belong to one another.
This morning we look at the
reasons for our calling. The entire theme of the Bible is that God is calling
out a people for himself and is summoning us to be entirely different from
other people. “Be holy” God repeatedly says to His people, “because I am holy.”
(Leviticus 11:45; 1 Pet.1:15-16)
- The
negative perspective - Called not to conform with the ways of the world.
- The
positive perspective - Called to be transformed into the image of God’s
Son.
CALLED TO
NON-CONFORMITY
Through Moses, the Prophet
Ezekiel and in the Gospel and New Testament, God is telling His people not to
conform to the ways of the world: Read: Leviticus 18:3-4; Ezekiel 11:12;
Matt.6:8; Roman 12:2; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15
When the nation of Israel entered the promised land they were surrounded by many paganistic nations that worshipped all kinds of idols and even child sacrifice (Moabites, Ammonites, Hittites, etc.) Also the Israelites had not totally abandoned their old ways e.g. the worship of the golden calf was an Egyptian practice. Similarly many Christians in our country bring into their new life many baggage’s of the past:-
1. Moral
relativity: it is all right to tell a “white lie.” Corruption is “normal”
–everybody does it. Gambling is O.K. I do not harm anyone; if god wants to
bless me, I will give to Him
2. Religious
syncretism: adopting many practices which has ancient religious undertone e.g.
acupuncture; yoga meditation; chi-kong. May appear harmless but they rob you of
your faith loyalty and priority you give to the Lord. Worst offender was King
Solomon see 1 King 11:9 “heart stealers”
3. Worship
& Idolatry: In Hongkong, Catholics use joss-sticks and worship Kwan Yin (
representation of Mary). Joss –sticks are objects used in worship; Christians
should not use at all.
4. Pluralism: The belief that “all religions are
the same” “I will not influence my children” After all doesn’t all roads lead
to Rome? The answer is NO! Many roads lead to destruction. Many
Christians are ignorant of the uniqueness and exclusiveness of their faith: 1.
The only religion where God became man, Word became flesh (Incarnation); 2. The
Son of God died for our sin. (Atonement) And 3. Jesus’ resurrection (conquered
death) and alive in us.
CALLED TO RESIST
MATERIALISM
Christianity is not against
material things. God has provided us with much material things to enjoy. Homes
to live in, food on the table and clothes for our body. We are called not to be
materialistic! This is the preoccupation with material things to the
point of neglecting our Lord. and our spiritual life.
Jesus warned us not to store
up treasures on earth and warned us against covetousness. Paul in 1 Tim 6:6
said godliness with contentment is great gain and said that we have brought
nothing into this world and will take nothing out of it. Job 1:2 “Naked I came
form my mother’s womb, naked shall I depart”
So often we have seen a
young man or woman very active in serving the Lord. Then their career or
business pick up and soon we do not see them anymore-caught up in the material
pursuit of prosperity and wealth. No wonder, the common composition of most
churches is made up of the very young who do not know anything about this
pursuit and the very old who understand the folly of this pursuit. The middle aged
are caught up in this rat race.
CALLED TO DENY
SELF-LOVE (NARCISSISM)
Narcissus (in Greek
mythology) was a very handsome young man who fell in love with his own
reflection in the water of the pond. Every day he would go to the pond to
admire himself until he fell into the pond and drowned.
Narcissism is the excessive
love of self, an unbounded admiration of self.
Many Christians believe that
the greatest commandment in the Bible has 3 parts; 1. Love God; 2. Love your
neighbor; 3. Love self; so it is justified to love self.
But the correct
interpretation there are only -2 Love God, Love neighbor Love self is only a
description of how to love God and neighbor. And the way we are called to love
is “agape” which is sacrificial love towards others. It cannot be a
self-centered love.
Today we live in a “ME”,
“MINE” “MY” and “I” society. No wonder Facebook and Twitter are so popular in
the Net world. Everybody wants to express his/her opinion. Everybody wants to
be heard irrespective whether it is true or false.
If you go to any bookshop
you will find a large section on “Self-Help” Here you will find many books that
extol the virtues of self-love. They call us to look inside ourselves, explore
ourselves; discover the “secret” for the solutions to our problem lie within
ourselves. There is no need for a savior, no need for Jesus. God is everywhere
and in everything. We can be ‘god” too when we have this special knowledge.
(Gnosticism) Christians are unwittingly attracted to these unbiblical
teachings.
The teaching of
“self-actualization” is directly contradictory to the call of discipleship.
Jesus pointed out explicitly the cost of discipleship in Luke 9: -25 “If anyone
would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and
follow me; whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for me will save it.”
Summary:
- The
Call to Non-Conformity
- The
Call To Resist Materialism
- The
Call To Deny Self-Love
If
you fully understand and apply these negative calls, only then will you be
prepared for the positive calls to be transformed.