"Changing Efforts, Unchanging God" Romans 8:37-39

 

“Changing Efforts, Unchanging God”  Romans 8:37-39  Ben Sloan at Foundation Pres Ch at the lake
[Heard much below from Thom Rainer and Jason Tucker at the Fellowship Community Conference]

We live in a super rapidly changing world. This has been accelerated by COVID.   It is easy to see and even focus on the negative.  We can focus on the devastation in the Ukraine and inflation, but I would like to focus on how we are relating to God in our culture.  In my mind that is the major issue of our day and of our lives.  It could be that God uses things like the Ukraine and inflation, the crisis in mental health, violence and addiction to get our attention to the deeper call to listen to God.   While things change around us- nothing changes about God's love for us.  Nor does our status as "more than conquerors" change.  In God's eyes we are more valuable than a conquering Roman general or a conquering Roman emperor, as we keep the faith in changing times.  
I just got back from the Fellowship Community Conference in D.C.  and we heard some pretty astonishing statistics- some of which you know or maybe feel. 
One out of every five  Christian churches closed their doors forever during Covid.  While ¾ of those over 55 identify as Christian when asked,  Only ½ of those under 30 identify as Christian.  The church has specifically lost people who came to church as cultural Christians- namely for networking, profit, or political/monetary gain (that may not be a bad thing- except when people come to church they are at least exposed to the Gospel).  Attendance in person compared to pre-Covid is only at 20- 50% of what it was.  Frankly, FPC and LMPC are exceptions to this- ours is about 80% pre-covid attendance.  This makes our calling to speak for Christ not less important, but more important.  Many have quit telling the good news, and some have quit listening.  But we are, like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, called to speak whether people listen or not.  We do this because we know nothing can separate us from the love of God.  
     1) WE NEED TO KEEP THE SAME GOSPEL- BUT TRANSLATE IT WELL-  The first gift of the Holy Spirit was to let people hear the gospel in their own language.  At Pentecost it says (Acts 2) “How is it that each of us hears them speaking in our own language?  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Capodocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia and Egypt and Parts of Lybia near Cyrene?  Visitors from Rome, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues?  What does this mean?  It means the Gospel is for everyone.  It means we need to see this- and make sure that we tell others this.   Nothing can separate us from Gods love.  But we have to hear it.  Part of that is people who will tell others about their faith- this is NOT just the preacher.  How can they hear unless someone tells them. 
    HOW DO WE HEAR?  I want to ask you in what medium did you use to buy your first song?  How many bought from a vinyl record?  How many from an 8 tract?  How many from a cassette?  How about CDs?  Now, how do you listen to music today?  Most commonly from a digital version in our phone.  I think I have every one of those old songs I listened to when I was about 13 on my phone today- James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Hall and Oats, and more.  I couldn’t think of carrying around all those records/cassettes with me wherever I go.  So today we need to make sure that the original song doesn’t lose its clarity and original quality. So we want to make sure though the mediums change, the song of salvation gets out.  
      2) WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE SAY WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE-  What about our new member class?  Some say we should make it hard to join so people will be more committed when they actually do join.  This was the strategy of some of the group they call “Judaizers.”   They wanted everyone to be circumcised to join the church.  That is a tough new members class.  James stood up and said, “We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”  Many people are glad for James’ instruction!  Nothing should separate us from God’s love- not legalism- not false requirements. 
    Some of you may remember a time when churches didn’t have a nursery.  People had to bring babies into church- and out of church when they cried.  Someone got the idea of providing a nursery- one church did it and then many.  If you don’t have a nursery, young parents will go somewhere else.  We should do all we can to reach the next generation for Christ.  They may speak almost a different language, but we are called to reach them.  It is by God's grace that we are more than conquerors- not anything we did.  It is by God's grace that nothing can separate us from God's love.  We did nothing to deserve God's gracious, wonderful, freely-given love that began for us before we were ever born.  
3) WE NEED TO HOLD THE TRUTH IN HUMILITY-
Never stop holding the truth, but know that truth should always be held humbly and with love. 
Jesus did that- and though he was humbly crucified, He was raised. 
I know Joshua was told by God- “Moses my servant is dead- but you be strong and courageous.” 
All those great leaders- Abraham, David, Elijah, Isaiah, all the disciples, Peter, Paul, Barnabas- even Lazarus are dead.  But they trusted in God in their lives, in their death- and He will raise them up. Leaders go- God does not.  Have courage, move forward. 
All those great churches are gone- It is said that Paul started 14-20 churches.  But every church Paul founded is gone today.  Yet, here we are- despite the death or retirement of these leaders and despite the death of these churches.  What is important is the God that the faith points to and linking to that God and each other in faith, hope, and love.  I do not know the future of Foundation Presbyterian Church.  It could die.  It could live again and grow to be bigger than LMPC.  But in the end, it doesn’t matter.  What matters is that we answer God’s call in faithfulness t Him.
       What matters is what is in our passage we read today.  We are more than conquerors.  Paul wrote that when the church was starting to be persecuted by both the Jews and the Romans.  The faithfulness of God does not depend on the faithfulness of people.  We must hold firmly to the faith. 
       Nothing can separate us from God’s love.   I invite you to believe that, hold fast to it, do not give up though the mountains fall into the heart of the sea; though the Ukrainian War roars and foams; though inflation raises its ugly head;  though leadership changes; though Foundation Church moves about- none of that changes the fact that we are more than conquerors and unseparated from the love of God!     

"One Anothering- The Christian Life"

 

“The Christian Life: One Anothering”  5/15/22 1 Cor. 1:10;  1 John 4:11-12;

“I appeal to you, brothers and sister, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is made complete in us.” 

I’d like to begin with an old pastors joke.  Three pastors had bats in their community and in their church (I guess bats in the belfry).  These bats were difficult to get rid of, and made a mess and were scaring people away from worship.  One pastor said, “I got so mad, I used a shotgun.  But it just made a hole in the roof.  Another said,  “I trapped them but then they came back after we released them.”   A third pastor said, “I figured out how to do it- and it worked.  They asked, “How?” “I caught them and then baptized them- and then I never saw them again.”  For some the church is about being baptized or confirmed and then they disappear.  The Church is so much more than an insurance policy into heaven or just meeting together.  It is more than being enriched by a sermon, or inspired by an anthem.  Blaine touched on love last week, but one concrete expression of love is found 100 times in the New Testament.  It is not a verb, but it is the Greek word “alleylon” which means “one another.”  In many ways, the church is about one anothering.  This is a unique New Testament church phrase.  It is not found much in the Old Testament and not much in the secular Greek of the day- but it is as common (as one scholar said) as “salt on popcorn” in the New Testament.  It is the idea: I serve you- you serve me; I bear your burdens, you bear mine;  I love you, you love me;  I come with you to worship- you come with me. 
I want to group these into 3 parts- love, sin, helping. 
LOVE ONE ANOTHER- 16 passages
Jesus said it (Jn. 13) - “A new command I give to you, “Love one another.”  Then to make sure we didn’t think it was trivial he said it again in John 15: “”My command is this: Love one another as I have loved you- greater love has no one than this- that he lay down his life for his friends.”  Later 1 John 4 says 3x to love one another.  It says, “Love one another for love comes from God.  He who loves has been born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God because God is love.”  The test for knowing God is not your theology or your ethics.  I know churches who split apart because of supralapsarian theology and infralapsarian theology.  Most of us don’t know or care what those beliefs are.  There are churches that split apart because one if premillennial and one is amillenial.  Then they split apart again because one is premillennial post trib and one is premillennial pre trib.  Once you start splitting thinking you will have the perfect church- you will not find it.  In the 1700s churches had rifts over dancing.  Indiantown Presbyterian near Hemmingway had a rule that Christians don’t dance.  An elder went to the town’s only crossroads after church, and danced publicly.  At first he was threatened with excommunication- but the better angels of their nature won in the end.  In the early 1900s in the prohibition era- churches were splitting apart over being dry or drinking.  Where is the grace and the love in all of that?  1 Corinthians 13 says, “If you have faith that can move mountains, but you do not have love- you are nothing…  Faith hope and love abide- but the greatest of these- the greatest of these- the absolute greatest of these is love.”  Love one another.   
Romans 12:10 says, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.”  We are so lacking in real love.  This is not just coming together to be shallow and simply play games.  But it is to focus our love on God and then on each other. 
Three times (Rom. 16:16; 1 Thess 5; 1 Peter 5:14; 2 Cor. 13:12)in scripture it says that our greeting to one another should be a thing of love- so “Greet one another with a holy kiss.”  That probably went the Covid way, but I would like to see us greet one another- just say “Hi.” 
In our day there are many people taking selfies or Tik Toks of themselves to show the world.  That comes close to narcissism and the opposite of agape love.  But being able to “one another- one another” is so very important. 

There is a dark side to one anothering.  We know it, and if you are not careful you can be so afraid of the darkness that you will never go into the place of light.  DO NOT SIN AGAINST ONE ANOTHER- People can come together to sin.  We recognize that.  I know one man who doesn’t want his wife to come to church because he thinks she will come to church to sin.  I see it happen in other ways.  In fact the Bible warns us-
1) Do not sin from your lips: Gossip, Lie, or Slander one another- that is not why we come together.  My father used to say, “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say it at all.”  James 5:9 says, “Do not grumble against one another.”  James 4:11 says, “Do not slander one another.”  Colossians 3:10- says, “Do not lie to one another since you have taken off your old self and its practices.”   The Christian way is not to lie, gossip, or slander.  That may be the way of the world, but that is not God’s way.  The positive command in contrast is “Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what will build up one another.”  (Eph. 4:29).
2) Do not judge one another- we are not here to say, “I am better than you” we are all at the foot of the cross.  When you are in small group or Bible study you are not to take notes so you can condemn that person.  We are quick to judge, but grace teaches us to hold the truth in humility. 
The Bible- recognizing sins in the body also says, “Confess your faults to one another.”  Jesus said, “Forgive one another as I have forgiven you.” 

HUMBLY HELP ONE ANOTHER-
A) Submit to one another- 1 Thess 5:5; Eoh, 5:21 says, “Submit to one another out of fear of God.” 
     Why should we submit to one another?  After all I know I’m right and she’s wrong.  Or he is just being a bully male- why should I submit;  She makes such a long list of things for me to do- why should I submit?  The-  answer is out of fear of God.  If you are always getting your own way- and you don’t want to listen to anyone else, then you are not one anothering- you are simply listening to yourself- gazing at a mirror thinking how beautiful you are.  This is a problem.  In society there are those 20% who think they are so beautiful, and then there are those 80% who think they are so ugly.  Social media and bullying enhance this.  But then there are those who look to listen, who look to humbly help.  Not help so they can get more from you- but help simply out of fear of God. 
B) Serve one another Galatians 5:13 C- In our consumer society, we seek to look for others to serve us, and if they don’t do it right, then we call up, email, text customer service and say, “I can’t believe you do such a poor job of serving others.”  Coming to church is not about the minister.  It is not about the music.  It is about your getting the opportunity to one another one another.  It doesn’t matter whether your church is big or small.  Coming to church is not about who has the best recreation program, or counseling program, but who will allow you to love them and love you in return. 
C) Bear one another’s burdens- Gal. 6:2 Look for ways to carry someone elses’ burden.  Look for ways to care.  If you know someone is bearing a heavy load, look for a way to help. 
D) PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER-  James 5:16 says, “Pray for one another that  you may be healed.”  Again, secularists and those who discount the power of Almighty God, think prayer is nothing.  But for those who believe, prayer is what draws us together, and helps us in our time of need.  People tell me all the time how much the prayer cards from the men, the deacons and others mean to them.  Some ask how I know so many names here.  I know many of you simply because I pray for you.  If you are a member here, I pray for you- each week.  Prayer is one way we can get to know and love one another. 
So my point is- The church is about one anothering. 
Here are some of the ways we do it best at LMPC: 
When the Men of the Church build a wheelchair ramp- that is one anothering. 
When Helping Hands brings a meal for someone- like when a baby is born, or someone is sick. 
When the deacons help when there is a death in the family- ushering and having a reception. 
When a Sunday School class lifts up a member who is discouraged. 
When a committee doesn’t just do committee work, but cares for one another.
When the youth gather around a young girl whose boyfriend just broke up with her. 
When a group prays for a stranger- or prays for those hurting. 
When we celebrate the confirmands joining the church, or celebrate a new baby with a baptism,
When we celebrate a marriage as a church, or when a marriage is hurting/breaking and we care this is one anothering. 
Look for ways to one another one another.  But also look for ways to let others one another you.  Love does not mean just giving it out- it also means letting others love you in return. 
The last apostle living, John- according to strong tradition, went to church in Ephesus.  He didn’t have livestream then- they carried him in on a cot.  He had a word to say at the end of each service it was this:  “Little children, let us love one another.”  Amen. 

 

Staying Forever Young

 

“The Christian Life: Forever Young”  Confirmation & Communion Sunday (week after announced retirement).  Ecclesiastes 12:1; Psalm 37:25 Preached at Lake Murray Presbyterian 5/1/22 by Dr. Ben Sloan

Last Sunday I announced I am retiring as pastor here and seeking to be honorably retired by Trinity Presbytery and also the denomination.  This year one of my grandchildren was confirmed in the church.  Yesterday Patrick and Chris Dunbar reminded me that theirs was the first wedding I did along with Ron Shive.  Now their daughter Eliza, whom I baptized, is getting confirmed. Many of these young people I have baptized.  Next Sunday I am performing the wedding for Emily Coleman who was in one of the confirmation classes I taught early on.  

We grow old, God never does.  Our faith may grow, develop, mature, but it should never, ever grow old.  The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of our Lord endures forever.   As I moved boxes this week I discovered boxes of old pictures with people who had weird poofy hairdos and bell bottom jeans, ruffled dresses and more.  Fashions change and the world says we better keep up with these trends.  But the grass withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of our God endures forever.  My hope is we are not keeping up with the grass and the flowers as they dry up, but with the Word of God as it endures.  How do you stay young?  Bob Dylan had a song later remade by Rod Stewart that they both wrote for their children called, “Forever Young.”  In it they kept saying, “May you stay forever young.”  That is the question.  How do you keep your energy, your desire to live, your hope, your strength going?  Some young people give up on life too young.  I believe that God keeps us young at heart. 
CONFIRMANDS- You will be tempted later to look on this moment as irrelevant for your soul.  You will be tempted at some point to think that your public profession of faith or the water of baptism means nothing to you.  You will be tempted to think that only what you see matters.  But love is the greatest, and the love of God is the greatest love.  He will never stop loving you.   

REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH-  Before you can’t remember.  Our minds fade.  This is eternal life- that they may know you the only true God- and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  He has come to give us the abundant life.  Not we must live free before we are shackled- but live free in Christ and not be shackled by the world.
We tend to think the very opposite.  I want to be wild before I can’t be wild anymore- and I have no pleasure in my days.
But you will be blessed and kept from a ton of heartache, and kept from a ton of evil if you will enjoy the blessings of God and seek to grow in Him when you are young. 
      Years ago I knew two identical twins.  They shared the same basic DNA and environment.  But one stayed in the youth group, went to Montreat every year, and stayed true to their faith throughout.  She went onto college, got a nice job and family afterwards- and she knew who she was.  The other twin rebelled in order to be different and identify herself away from her family.  She went the route of trying different drugs and many parties and rebelling against her faith.  She too went to college, but ended up dropping out and living alone.  Her parents called and asked that I pray for her.  A few weeks later they found her. But she kept saying over and over out loud- “I don’t know who I am anymore.”  
    Today the confirmation class is making a choice about who they are and what they believe.  But the question to everyone is can you remember your Creator?   When Jesus instituted the Last Supper He said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”  Remember who you are and whose you are.  It will guide you like a beacon into the harbor.   

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IS CONSTANT- The Psalmist said, “I was young and now I am old but I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”  This is a general principle about God’s faithfulness.  Though we are not always faithful to Him, He is faithful to us.  He is our NorthStar to point us to the right direction.
Remember that God is always like the father of the Prodigal- looking for the Prodigal to come back ready to welcome them. 
The Church with a capital C will always be there for you.  Ministers always come and go.  Never follow the ministers.  It is not the instruments in the orchestra that are important or the ones playing them.  Rather it is the song that is important.  Follow the song of God.  Listen for His voice calling to you. 
Confirmands- You have made the commitment of faith.  As such, you have the pass- the membership card to enter into service in any Christian church.  The doors are open to you especially now.    
Ponce De Leon was commissioned by the King of Spain to find Bimini and thus the Fountain of Youth.  He never did.  But people are still searching.  The Chinese talked about the Elixer of Life- which Harry Potter mentioned in the Sorcerer’s Stone.  People are still trying to find a way to live longer.  Prevagen claimed to take jellyfish and increase your brain cells.  It sold about $165 million a year with a huge ad campaign in tow.  In 2017 the FTC sued it as a hoax.  People still buy it.  But here are some basic scriptural principles to staying young. 
BE EVER LEARNING AND LISTENING- Prov. 3:2 “son do not forget my teaching, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.”  Honor your father and mother that your days may be long.  It is not just an extension.  
BE EVER LOVING- Love energizes us.  Deut. 30:20- Love the Lord.  The Lord IS YOUR LIFE. 
His life giving love keeps us young. 
BE EVER LEANING- Trusting in God and not giving into fear of death and worry.  Fear the Lord and you will have life. 
What is the secret to staying forever young?  It is not drugs.  It is not sex.  It is not wealth.  It is not age cream.  It is no secret.  It is learning, loving and leaning on the Lord God who gives us life abundantly and eternally every day.