Thinking Out Loud About...The Message

What are people hearing in the Church today, and does it match the message of Jesus?  I've found that there have been a few times in the ministry that I've come across something that isn't quite right, but I can't quite put a finger on it.  A great deal of the teaching we hear in the Church is bothersome to me.  I think I've finally figured it out.  The problem: most of the preaching we hear is about us.  At the heart of the most preaching is advice on how I can become a better me.  You'll hear sermon titles like this: "Five ways to become happier."  "Three ways to save for retirement."  "How to have a happy marriage."  Is there anything wrong with this?  Of course not.  The problem is not the message but how the message is delivered. 

Christianity is a supernatural religion.  It teaches that there is a world of the supernatural.  What do we ever do in the Church that is rooted in that idea?  If the Church stops growing we institute a remodeling plan, we hire more staff, or we change our message.  We always seem to look for our own solutions.  We rarely think about a supernatural solution to a natural problem.  How about instead trying prayer, fasting, or sharing our faith. 

There is a greater issue: dying to self.  It is our lack of understanding of the Gospel itself that is the problem.  We are dead in our sins, but God offers us new life in Christ.  Jesus spoke repeatedly about his own death and issued the call for anyone who wanted to be his disciple to also lay down their life.  This is where the Gospel begin; "we are dead in our trespasses and sins."  We are not good, we are not wise, and we cannot see.  That's what today's preaching is missing. 

Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  The Bible teaches that the Christian life is a death.  It also teaches that the Christian life is a rebirth.  John 3:5, "Unless a man be born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God."  John was a replay of Genesis.  Both begin with the words, "In the beginning."  The first creation was flawed; the 2nd creation is perfect.  Jesus said, "Behold, I make all things new."  2 Corinthians 5:17, "If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation…"  Literally! 

Christianity is not safe.  C. S. Lewis said in his book The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, "Aslan is not safe, but he is good."  What did he mean by that?  Jesus is not safe, because he will meddle in every area of your life.  But it's worth it.  As far as today's preaching goes, I ask the following questions:  Where is the sacrifice?  What about dying to self?  Does the preaching inspire us to the pursuit of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit?  Is there a call to die to self at the core of the messages we're hearing?  

Thinking Out Loud About Podcast The Message