Fri, May 22, 2009
NO...I'm not going to do a study on the book of Revelations
Disclaimer: I am about to get on a soapbox. So if it sounds like I'm on one, you won't be surprised.
In the years I've been in Pastoral ministry, I've noticed a pattern. There are usually two types of people who dawn the doors of the church that call themselves believers. (I know...you can't categorize people, but this is a soapbox and you agreed to read on after finding out the fact.)
1. People who believe in Christ because they realize they are sinners in need of a savior and willfully desire to commit to repentance and holy living and to submit to Him and His Word.
2. People who believe in Christ and the bible (sorta) because the Christian faith fits most closely to their moral beliefs and the God of the bible most closely fits their preferred perception of who God is, or should be, or they'd like him to be...you get my point.
And what I've noticed is that those who fit the latter description are the first to always come up to me and say things like, "We should really do a study in Revelations!" When I say no, they often say, "Why?" Then I tell them this:
"First, other than the letters to the seven churches, there are a whole lot of other books of the bible I'd like to study with you because they will help you mature in your walk with Christ. Knowing whether Jesus comes Post, Mid, or Pre-trib won't me or you become a more mature follower of Christ. But I could spend all of our time studying the greatest commandments and the great commission 'til the cows come home! Why do you want to study Revelations? Wouldn't you rather study how we can become more like Christ and be REAL salt and light in our community?"
Why do some people want to major on the minors - especially when the actions of their lives have proven that they are still in need of understanding and putting into habit the majors - like loving their neighbor, avoiding gossip and slander, etc? My only conclusion is that these "believers" have placed their faith in things SEEN and in PROPHECIES FULFILLED. They've accepted idea of Christ with their mind and therefore feel a commitment toward the God of the bible.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (NKJV)
Maturing believers in Christ are not encouraged by the biblical facts which support their presuppositions on who God is, but are growing because of their faith in the UNSEEN and the THINGS HOPED FOR.
In the years I've been in Pastoral ministry, I've noticed a pattern. There are usually two types of people who dawn the doors of the church that call themselves believers. (I know...you can't categorize people, but this is a soapbox and you agreed to read on after finding out the fact.)
1. People who believe in Christ because they realize they are sinners in need of a savior and willfully desire to commit to repentance and holy living and to submit to Him and His Word.
2. People who believe in Christ and the bible (sorta) because the Christian faith fits most closely to their moral beliefs and the God of the bible most closely fits their preferred perception of who God is, or should be, or they'd like him to be...you get my point.
And what I've noticed is that those who fit the latter description are the first to always come up to me and say things like, "We should really do a study in Revelations!" When I say no, they often say, "Why?" Then I tell them this:
"First, other than the letters to the seven churches, there are a whole lot of other books of the bible I'd like to study with you because they will help you mature in your walk with Christ. Knowing whether Jesus comes Post, Mid, or Pre-trib won't me or you become a more mature follower of Christ. But I could spend all of our time studying the greatest commandments and the great commission 'til the cows come home! Why do you want to study Revelations? Wouldn't you rather study how we can become more like Christ and be REAL salt and light in our community?"
Why do some people want to major on the minors - especially when the actions of their lives have proven that they are still in need of understanding and putting into habit the majors - like loving their neighbor, avoiding gossip and slander, etc? My only conclusion is that these "believers" have placed their faith in things SEEN and in PROPHECIES FULFILLED. They've accepted idea of Christ with their mind and therefore feel a commitment toward the God of the bible.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (NKJV)
Maturing believers in Christ are not encouraged by the biblical facts which support their presuppositions on who God is, but are growing because of their faith in the UNSEEN and the THINGS HOPED FOR.
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