Reflecting the SON: September 2013

Friday, September 6, 2013

Wishy Washy Discipleship

KJV - Luke 19:37-38 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; (38) Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

There is a term in politics known as “Flip-Flopping” It is a term that indicates a politicians inability, lack of courage, or unwillingness to stick to a political position. A “Flip-Flopper” will have the tendency to pander to any and all influential groups to make them believe that they share values and points of view. It is when a politician does this with diametrically opposed concepts that he is labeled a “Flip-Flopper”. For instance a politician goes to a gathering of people that oppose war and tells them that he too opposes war and then goes soon there after and vehemently agrees with a group that sees the need to take some sort of militaristic action. He has flip-flopped in his views of the use of military action.

Unfortunately, politicians do not have the market cornered on being wishy washy or flip-flopping. It happens in Christianity on a regular basis. Our text today shows one side of a major flip flop. Our text tells of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem one week before he is arrested, beaten and hung on the cross. As he comes into town, he is greeted as a conqueror coming home from a major victory. Notice their reaction.

1. The multitude Rejoiced

2. They Praised God with a loud voice (they were shouting)

3. They Celebrated Jesus’ Mighty Works (Miracles)

4. They Shouted “Blessed be the King” (that will work against him)

5. They Shouted that he came on behalf of God

For most people that claim to be followers of Jesus, this is all stuff that we can get behind. These are general concepts that we accept and would agree with. Even in the right setting, we too might shout these praises onto him.

Now for the flip side.

KJV - Luke 23:13-21 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, (14) Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: (15) No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. (16) I will therefore chastise him, and release him. (17) (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) (18) And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (19) (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) (20) Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. (21) But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

Just a week after he makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, a crowd gathers after the arrest of Jesus to hear the trial by the Romans via Pontus Pilate. PIlate questions Jesus and in verse 15 says that he did not find a crime worthy of death and was willing to release him. But the crowd intervened. Instead of praising him and celebrating his mighty works, this crowd yells: Crucify him!

Now that is wishy washy!

Some might say..surely that is a completely different crowd. Was it? Do we know that? I know of at least 12 men that were in both crowds. Is that all that was common to both?

Even if it was...where were the 12 apostles when Jesus needed defending? They were SILENT and allowed Jesus to be tried and executed without a soul defending him.

Are we equally Wishy Washy? Do we Flip-Flop our positions, values, morals and loyalties depending on who we are around? Do we pander to the world to get their approval? Do we praise Jesus’ name on Sunday and sing “Oh How I Love Jesus” during Sunday worship and then hide the rest of the week when Jesus, his will and his commands need defending?

We must know WHO we are, to whom we are loyal and be willing to go to the grave in defense of our Master!

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (33) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Reflecting His SON,

Dennis Hogan

Minister, North Hardin Church of Christ

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

1804 Sam Stewart Dr.

Radcliff, KY 40160

Questions, comments or further explanation? Contact me at: dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

You Cannot Be A Spectator!

KJV - Luke 19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. (13) And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. (14) But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. (15) And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. (16) Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. (17) And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. (18) And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. (19) And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. (20) And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: (21) For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. (22) And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: (23) Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

When it comes to sporting events, there are two basic groups of people: The Participants (the players, coaches referees etc.) and the Fans: those that sit back and watch. The participants do all of the “work” putting on a show for the fans to see. Often in our society, the fans live vicariously through the players that they watch. In doing so, fans can get irate at those actually doing the work because, in their minds, they could have done it better. In reality many of those spectators just doing the watching, could NEVER do what the players do.

In our text today, Jesus describes these same two kinds of people that claim to be followers of him: The Doers and the Watchers. He tells of a nobleman that takes a trip to a far country and leaves his business to 3 servants. The first two servants were Doers. Each took what was given for them to manage and invested it to benefit their master upon his return. Due to their responsible stewardship, they were rewarded handsomely for their effort. One important point to note is that our Lord did not require the same results for everyone. Instead, he only expected results based upon their individual abilities and talents.

The third servant was just a watcher. He simply did nothing. He claimed that he did nothing because he was afraid....but in the end....he still did nothing. What was Jesus’ reaction to the one man that did nothing. Jesus called him wicked! The words “Wicked” and “Evil” have all but been struck from our modern day language. Most people think its too judgmental. Many think the words are too absolute (How can we possibly attribute such an absolute characteristic to anyone with different values). If those words are used, they apply only to the most extremes like Adolf Hitler. But Jesus uses the word “Wicked” to describe a man that DID NOTHING. We are NOT to assume that he was wicked for some other reason. He was being compared to the others for only one thing. We are to assume then, that all other aspects of his life were comparable to the other servants. The ONLY difference was his lack of action!

Are we required to DO something once we become Christians? Jesus says we do.

In fact, Jesus calls us wicked if we don’t. We do not “DO” in order to gain or earn salvation....We must DO because we HAVE salvation! We must “DO” because Jesus “DID”! We must “DO” because God “DID”!

James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

There is an old saying among groups like religious organizations: 20% of the people do 80% of the work. If that is true, there are a LOT of spectators! Doing the bare minimum to get by is not a reasonable attitude. Having our names on a church roll is not enough. Wearing a crucifix around your neck everyday is not enough. Just occupying a pew on Sundays is not enough....Even if it is every week. There is more for each of us to do.

Christianity is NOT a spectator sport. We MUST be the participants not the watchers!