SIGNS OF DEADNESS IN A CHRISTIAN’S LIFE

A danger for Christians is that one can pretend to be what they are not. It is possible to go through the motions of the ceremonies or the rituals of Christianity and yet be far away from God. One can say with their lips what they do not mean with their lives. It is possible to teach great truths of Scripture and assume because you have taught them you have lived them. Furthermore, it is very possible for anyone of us to actively and faithfully serve and be involved in church programs and yet not know God. Just as it is possible to be free from scandals and still not be walking with the Lord. In light of these truths let me suggest three things that might be an indicator that you are not walking with the Lord.

Absence of confession and repentance for sin

One reality for a growing believer is the daily realization of his sinfulness as a result of daily beholding the holiness of God (Isaiah 6:1-9). A Christian who is walking with the Lord is never under any illusion of their greatness or goodness; they instead constantly cry with the apostle Paul “wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death?” However, also like Paul, they do not remain in despair because they find comfort: “thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24-25). A mark of Christians who are walking with the Lord is daily confession and repentance of their sins against God and man. A person who never acknowledges sin nor repents of it is a person whose relationship is not right with the Lord. A red flag should go off when someone habitually justifies, explains away, excuses, belittles or blame shifts their sins. You cannot walk with the Lord and not be in the habit of confessing and repenting of sin.

A general apathy towards church life

While being active in church is not always a sign of spirituality, apathy toward and a lack of desire to be involved in the life of the church is definitely a sign of serious spiritual problems. It is a refusal to heed the exhortation of Scripture:

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25.

It is important to note that other people’s shortcomings and failures do not justify your apathy. If the reason you are not involved in the life of the church is because you think other believers are hypocrites (and they may well be), then you are clearly not in the habit of self-examination leading to daily confession and repentance.

A critical spirit of other believers

People who do not regularly self-examine in the light of God’s holiness often ooze with a rather disturbing self-righteousness in which they are not only apathetic toward the things of God, but they are also critical of those who are faithful in service. They will tell you everything that is wrong about you, inform you of how everything you did was wrong, and then advise on what you should have done.

“Among the seven deadly sins of medieval lore was sloth (accidie)—a state of hard-bitten, joyless apathy of spirit. There is a lot of it around today in Christian circles; the symptoms are personal inertia combined with critical cynicism about the churches and supercilious resentment of other Christians’ initiative and enterprise. Behind this morbid and deadening condition often lies the wounded pride of one who thought he knew all about the ways of God in providence and then was made to learn by bitter and bewildering experience that he didn’t.[1] 

Guard your heart from a dead Christianity which simply goes through the motions. Guard your heart from a deadly pride that thinks there is nothing wrong with you and convinces you of being good. Cultivate the habit of seeking God and enjoying communion with him. Do not underestimate the importance of your local church and attending to the various means of grace. Develop genuine friendships that will provide meaningful accountability so that you are daily walking with the Lord.

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[1] Packer, J.I., Knowing God. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1973, pg 94.

AN EASTER MESSAGE THAT CHALLENGED MY SOUL

A few weeks ago we joined Christians around the world in reflecting on the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection is such a cardinal teaching that the entire Christian hope stands on it. It is no wonder that from the time of Christ to today people have sought to discredit the resurrection either in subtle ways or in more direct and brash ways. People’s view of the resurrection is seen in the way they respond to the message.  My dear brother Ben Straub preached a brilliant sermon showing four different responses to the resurrection of Christ by the eyewitness of that day.

The Guards

After the death of Jesus and his subsequent burial, the Sanhedrin (the council responsible for his death) requested for guards to be posted at the entrance to the tomb as they feared the disciples might come and steal his body since they remembered that Jesus had said he would rise from the dead.

After three days, Christ truly rises. The guards were the only people to actually witness the resurrection in its full glory. They ran away in fear and reported what happened to the Sanhedrin who in turn bribed them to keep quiet and say that the disciples came and stole the body. Having seen the resurrection with their own eyes, they chose to accept the bribe and deny it all together. They chose immediate gain over eternal life. If they could only hear Christ’s warning: “what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his soul?”

Peter and John

Peter and John had been with Jesus for three years, and they even heard him constantly teach that he would die and rise from the dead. They were supposed to know. And yet when they found the empty tomb, they left confused, fearful, and indifferent. As a result, they went and locked themselves in. They should have known better, yet they missed the main thing all together.

Mary

Mary, on the other hand, worshipped the resurrected Christ and that worship led her to be a witness as she went and told the disciples that he had risen. Worship leads us to witness.

Thomas

The famous doubting Thomas! He like the other disciples also heard Christ predict his death and resurrection and yet when it happened, he doubted and demanded proof before faith. When Christ eventually shows him the proof he demanded, Christ rebukes him and says, “blessed are those who believe without seeing.”

All of these people except the guards claimed to follow Christ! The resurrection changes everything, and it demands a response from you! How will you respond?