God and Me Makes a Majority

1I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3“Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”^a ? 4And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”^b 5So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. (Romans 11:1-5)

Thoughts: Paul was writing to Christians reminding them that he was a Jew by birth and was part of the believing remnant.  In his mind, Paul was saying just as God left a remnant in Elijah's day, he left a remnant in his day.  In the time of King Ahaz of Judah, the Temple was shut by the king and false idols were placed in the Temple.  The majority of people turned away- but the Lord raised His people up again.  In the time of the Judges, everyone did what was right in their own eyes (17:10), but the Lord left a remnant.  When Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, Lot and his family were a remnant.  In the time of Noah- the majority rejected the faith to the point that God relented in making human beings.  But Noah was a remnant.  The word remnant is still used today in referring to cloth or carpet or wallpaper.  It is a small part leftover that matches a larger part that can repair the hole or the bad place.  Remnants are used to repair.  But the Church's remnant is also a living remnant- much like the shoot of the stump of Jesse- cut down but growing back.  In the Western church, the church has imposed itself into exile.  There are more non-denominational churches than denominational ones- because the bureaucracy in almost all the old-line churches has become skeptical of biblical teaching.  So the Lord has taken away the glory of that church and put it somewhere else.  The numbers, the power, the influence on society these old line churches has dwindled to non-relevance.  It is sad to watch.  Yet God has not destroyed His church.  There is a remnant in non-denominational churches.  There is a remnant in the churches that split off.  There is also a remnant in those who believe but stayed in the churches that are erring.  God does not reject His church- but leaves a seed to grow- a remnant.  

Prayer: Lord, make me a faithful, loving, gracious remnant wherever you place me.  

"Athanasius Against the World"

⁴ It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, and that he will rebuke him for the words the LORD your God has heard. Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives.”³¹ Once more a remnant of the house of Judah 
will take root below and bear fruit above. ³² For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant,  and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 31:4,31,32)

Thoughts: Sixty-five times the word "remnant" is used in the Bible. It is an important concept, and I believe especially important for our time.  When we think of remnant we think of something leftover that may not be worth much (like a carpet or tile remnant on sale cheaply).  But the remnant of God's people are those who are left who are still maintaining the faith, and they are precious in God's sight.  The remnant are the preservers and guardians of the faith.
    There were many times when God left a remnant- Noah and his sons; Abraham who was but one and God made him many; Moses when the people worshiped the golden calf; Gideon; Elijah who thought he was the only prophet left; Jeremiah; The New Testament church saw itself as a "remnant" of the Jews (Romans 9:27; 11:1,5);
    Calvin (IV.1.2) said "Although the melancholy desolation which confronts us on every side may cry that no remnant of the church is left, let us know that Christ's death is fruitful, and that God miraculously keeps his church in hiding places. So it was said of Elijah, `I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.'"
   The church today in America is under increasing secular pressure.  Francis Schaeffer in 1975 that the west is a "Post-Christian world."  Christianity may be growing in other places, but the moral focus and unity in the West was gone.  The American president said that America was "no longer just a Christian nation" (3/9/08).  The mainline/oldline churches have not only not been keeping up with population growth, but have been bleeding members as they drift away from fidelity to the scriptures.  Yet there is a remnant.  It is a remnant that is still being purified.  Tomorrow we will look at what a remnant is supposed to do. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you always leave a remnant of your church to be salt and light in the world.  

4/15/12- A Remnant

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.(Romans 11:1,5) 

(Jesus can take a remnant and make a quilt)

The word "remnant" is an important concept in the Bible.  it is used about 65 times.  John Calvin said that God will always leave at least a remnant of the church until the end of history.  A remnant is a sign of God's grace.  One of the key verses about a remnant is Isaiah 9:2 that speaks of a shoot coming forth from the stump of Jesse.  Images of a remnant are a leftover piece of cloth that is used to make a quilt; or a ruined building whose stones are used to make a new one; or a severely pruned tree or bush.  But the point of a remnant is a pruning time where the cut back is meant to be a healthy choice. 

    In American and western culture, the church was once strong.  There was once a universal consensus by people or the rulers that the Christian truth provided common values and shared commitments.  In America, 3500 to 4,000 churches will close their doors this year.  About 1,000 new churches will get started.  Over half the churches in America will not have a single adult convert this year.  The church is shrinking for many reasons, but one major one is that so many have a lack of faith.  A church without faith will not grow and prosper and have purpose.  But more importantly a church without faith will not be near to God.
   The challenge of a remnant is two fold.  A Remnant by definition remains.  It remains true to God and true to its calling.  So Elijah was part of a remnant of 7,000.  Jeremiah was part of a remnant of a few.  Jesus was part of a remnant.  Paul said the New Testament church was a remnant (Romans 11).
    The second challenge of a remnant is to not just stay true to itself, but to begin to bear fruit.  A remnant begins to turn things around when it begins to grow and bear fruit, and multiply.  A remnant is not so concerned about political power or influence.  It is concerned about survival, remaining true, and witnessing.  For the people talking about a church not looking at survival, they are wrong.  Churches need to focus on God, but also have their survival in mind.  The church survives by reaching out, by continually being open to others and seeking to please God. 

Prayer: Lord, let me be a part of the remnant.  Help me to be true to you- salt and light.