Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Making God a Liar?

1 John 5:6-12 (ESV)
This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. [7] For there are three that testify: [8] the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. [9] If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. [10] Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. [11] And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

“Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar.” It blows my mind at times how little a thing people make of false doctrine. Today people don’t even seem to be concerned about doctrine at all. Perhaps this has always been the case, I don’t know. But it seems to me that when looking for a church more should go into your decision than finding a good band and youth group. I understand wanting good influences for your children, but I have a news flash for you. Other youth will never really be good influences for your children. Youth are given to passions of youth. A good youth group often becomes little more than blind leading the blind, especially when the leader is all but 3 years older than the oldest in the youth group.
I would think that investigating what a church teaches and preaches would be a might bit more important. The word of God is the only thing that lasts forever. What they are taught is what they will bring with them to college, or military. What they are taught at Church is what determines their salvation. So it matters not just a little bit what a Church teaches. Some churches make God out to be a liar, and teach you and your kids to do the same.
Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar. It is not a small thing. Morals have gone out the window. No one considers anyone else immoral today. Judge not lest ye be judged, that has been pushed to the limits. It is even now used to judge others. We are judged for judging, and no one cares what Jesus really meant to even go and find where he said it and see what he meant by it, because no one cares. Go to church. That seems to be the thing for most people. It is enough that I go to church. Is it? In most cases I think people would be better off not going to church at all than to attend the church they go to. Is the forgiveness of sins proclaimed there? No really. Is Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection on the cross proclaimed there? If not then don’t bother. Sleep in, watch a foot ball game. You are better off for doing so. Really you are. God does not demand that you go to church for the sake of going to church. He wants you to go where he is not made out to be a liar, where eternal life in his Son, Jesus Christ, is proclaimed, where it is said that God gave us eternal life. Yes, where it is given! That is as a gift! Not where our sin is ignored, or where we are told to earn salvation. But were our sins are rather forgiven, and with that forgiveness we are given eternal life. And there is a church worth going to.

3 comments:

Steve Martin said...

Well said, Bror!

Is the gospel freely given???

Does the church in question even know what the gospel is???

Or is it another law project, from either the right, or the left?

Brigitte said...

Yes, yes, yes, Amen, Amen, Amen.

... but I want a youth group, preferably pastor-led.

Bror Erickson said...

Brigitte,
Right, we do. It isn't the youth group itself that is bad. It is youth group for the sake of having a youth group.
And often times something parents want much more than the youth. The parents often thinking it will get their kids more interested in church etc. Not necessarily.
But all of this must needs be secondary. I know of many churches that seem to think there "programs" are primary, and word and sacrament are secondary. That's when you have a problem.