MAKING passionate disciples …..TRUTH
Its Advent.
Not Christmas, note. But Advent.
A time of waiting, preparing, growing and anticipating.
The coming of Jesus. Not just his first coming and a celebration looking back to the beginning of the next phase of God’s glorious plan. But to the second coming and the consummation, the reconciliation, the redemption made real in the new creation.
And it’s a time to look forward to 2022. A year that’s not 2020 (and all that goes with that) or 2021 (and the unravelling and readjusting that went with that) but the next of the Lord’s years and all that he has in store for us, for his church and for his world.
In anticipation of all that I would like to re-focus us on our stated aim.
Making passionate disciples for Christ.
It’s said that you cannot repeat or re-emphasise a vision too often if you want it to embed in people and the way they think and act.
So here we go. What does that phrase actually mean? Well I would like to explore it in line with this Advent season but also within the theme of our devotionals and reading. In the next four weeks we will look at:
1. MAKING: by considering truth
2. PASSIONATE: by considering hope
3. DISCIPLES: by considering freedom
4. FOR CHRIST: by considering….well, Jesus!
The book recommendation for this Advent is Live no lies by John Mark Comer. His basic thesis is that we are in a spiritual battle, a war. But that very term is misunderstood. Its not a red horned beast on one shoulder and an angel on the other. Its not The Omen. It’s a battle where the primary tactic of the enemy of God is lies.
Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
The enemy seeks to undermine all three ideas so that we follow another way, we believe lies and we are taken into death and destruction. Its as simple as that – in or out. There are is no centre ground.
Church is seen as being “a good thing” and a place where you might expect to find “nice people”. It is and should be both of those things. But its also a barracks. And the defence is the gospel, faith, salvation, peace and truth. And the weapon is the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6)
Jesus himself said “whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace , but a sword” (Matt 10:33-34)
To become a disciple of Christ means to become a warrior in a truth war. A defender of truth.
Pilate was able to ask Jesus an age old question – “What is truth?” Jesus had just said to him “for this reason I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37)
We see Jesus grapple with the enemy of course in Luke 4 where he was tempted in the wilderness, on the cross where death is defeated, and the assault on humanity in the garden in Genesis 3. In each case the tactics of the enemy are the same. Jesus himself describes his nature and his armoury in John 8 “there is not truth in him. When he lies , he speaks his native language, for he is a liar, the father of all lies” (John 8:44)
This devil is real. He is powerful in his proliferation of lies. And we live amongst the effects of his tactics today.
He feeds deceptive ideas into our disordered desires which creates a sinful society. Lies lead to temptations that lead to sins that separate us from God.
And the biggest deceptions are ideas – about God about us and about morality.
Three of the biggest philosophical questions are – A) who is God? B) who are we? And C) what is a good life?
The bible tells us that:
A) God is creator, sovereign, goodness and source of all things and creates and desires order.
B) We are the pinnacle of his creation charged with obedience and stewarding the rest of creation, made to worship and obey; our identity is in Christ as adopted sons and daughters of God.
C) A good life is one lived with and for God and that he will perfect that life by bringing believers into his fully formed Kingdom in the new creation.
The result is order and contentment.
Culture tells us (because the enemy has fed and fuelled these ideas):
A) God does not exist or is at best irrelevant
B) We are self-determining beings who can choose our own path and identify as we choose to be
C) A good life is one of self-fulfilment often measured by what others say about us; we can do whatever we like
The result is chaos and frustration.
As a recent example, I watched a documentary on BBC about the storming of the Capitol building in Washington DC on 6th January. It was the day that Congress would validate the election result; an election where Donald Trump had been defeated. The footage starts with a rally where the President speaks about fighting the result. Gradually thousands of supporters move towards, protest outside, then move into, by force, the centre of Government of the largest western democracy. There are vocal Christians and Shamen alike to be seen.
Some protesters shouted at the few police and guards on duty “you work for us. We are the people. You are traitors”. When some got into one of the chambers it was notable that, with no resistance, they did not know what they were doing there or what they should do next. The strong-arming had no purpose, other than to show strength of feeling based on an idea.
There is much more that can be said, more than I have space here to explore, but safe to say, it is a documentary of chaos.
We live in a chaotic world, full of lies and untruths. Social media and the scramble for 24 hour news serves to amplify these lies and pour gallons of fuel on already burning fires. People are attracted to tribes and the social media space allows one to not only choose ones echo chamber but also pour vitriol on others anonymously.
What is the clarion call to the church in this environment?
Lets go back to the original command:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)
Four things to note:
1. The one for whom we make disciples has all authority
2. Making a disciple means teaching them all that Jesus commanded and how to obey – teaching the truth
3. He is in this with us – forever
4. This truth is for everyone; this order is for everyone, no matter their past or present, no matter how chaotic they may seem – he calls us all into order and shalom.
For we are his children and he wants to adopt us, if we will allow him.
Will you proclaim the truth?
Wishing you every blessing
Doug
Vicar@christchurchpurley.org.uk