Don’t’ “Fall Back”

Tomorrow, most of you in the U.S. will be turning your clocks back one hour: it is the end of Day Light Savings. (In March, we set our clocks ahead one hour.) Thus the expression, “Spring forward; Fall back.” This clever phrase brings to mind a practical spiritual principle: whenever we are in a season of hard growth (making progress) we will be tempted to turn back to something familiar (regress).

Upon ‘discovering’ this principle, Sigmund Freud ‘coined’ the term “regression” as the  psychological tendency to “revert to an earlier stage of development rather than handling unacceptable impulses in a more adult manner.”

Centuries before Freud, Paul spoke of regression. He called it "turning" or "shrinking back."  Its opposite is “endurance.” In other words, at any given time, we are either enduring (which results in progress) or regressing. Then Paul declares: “But we are not of those who shrink back… but we are those who … endure” (Hebrews 10:39, 36). In other words, by God's grace, we won’t “fall back.”

The Church Must Be Warned

I know my warnings of Joel Osteen's teaching must trouble some of my dear friends. But his doctrinal omissions can confuse, even deceive, the sheep. We live in a time when the integrity of the Bible faces great challenges—from liberal theologians, from the new emerging church teachers, and from psychologically oriented purveyors of happiness and self-fulfillment.  But where are the warners?
 

Who will warn them?

Too few of today’s shepherds are warning the sheep. Given the aforementioned attack on sound doctrine, I do not understand why. It makes me wonder if “political correctness” (concern about offending people) has so penetrated the church, we have become fearful of appearing confrontational.  I wasn't shocked when Joel Osteen wouldn't say that Mormons are not Christians, but when Franklin Graham, appearing on CNN, avoided answering the question, I was a little surprised. 
 

While I understood that Graham wisely chose not to feed the Media's appetite for sensational soundbites, the question remains: who will speak the truth? It appears “truth has stumbled in the streets and is nowhere to be found” (Is. 59:14). Paul said, "For 3 years I never stopped warning you that men will distort the truth" (Acts 20:30).  John said, “Do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit, but test them to see if they are from God; there are many false prophets” (1 Jn 4:1). When did you last hear a sermon warning you of false doctrine or teachers?

The Ruinous Rapture

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post, I think I must clarify that many credible biblical scholars believe the Rapture will occur before the tribulation (Matt. 24:29-31; 1 Thess. 4:16-17). Therefore, some think there’s a strong likelihood that the rapture of the Church could be the event that precipitates the final collapse of the world economy. Not only will the raptured ones leave behind houses, cars, jobs, etc., but their unpaid debts could be ruinous to banks and mortgage companies and the housing market.

If this happens, those who are left behind will have a monumental task on their hands to restore some sense of security. I don’t think anyone cay say the Rapture will definitely occur before the tribulation. But whenever it does occur, just imagine the damaging impact on the world—economically, psychologically, spiritually. “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:21).

A Bad Apple

Apples appear in many religious traditions, often as a mystical or forbidden fruit. In the development of language, the word "apple" was used as a generic term for all fruit. For instance, in Europe, tomatoes were first called "love apples,” and cucumbers and potatoes were fist called "earth-apples.” In some languages, oranges are called "golden apples" or "Chinese apples.” To this day, many uneducated persons refer to the forbidden fruit on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil as an apple.

The proverb “a bad apple spoils the bunch,” means a bad person who can have a negative influence on those around him or her. It occurs to me that our negative thoughts can be like ‘bad apples.” A basic premise of the therapeutic approach, called “cognitive restructuring,” is that there are “lies” or wrong beliefs that drive our unwanted behaviors. Think of your mind like like the "produce" department at Safeway, and the fruits representing our many thoughts: the ‘bad apples’ are spoiling everything.  I wonder, was Hosea referring to ‘bad apples,’ when he said, “You have eaten the fruit of lies” (10:15). To get rid of the bad apples, we must eat a diet of God’s thoughts (the Word) in order to recognize our bad ones. Without the Bible’s renewing affect on our minds, we will continue "eating the fruit of lies [those bad apples].”

Where on Earth is God?

I believe having my PhD in psychology allows me ‘license’ to make the following statement. Over the last 4 decades, psychology has gained significant influence in Christian preaching and programs. And speaking as a Bible teacher, I believe the attempt to integrate psychology and the Bible, i.e., interpreting doctrine through a psychological grid, is hazardous to sound doctrine. The psychologizing of Jesus’ message has led to a man-centered message: self-development over improving one’s relationship with God.

Any pastor knows that a seminar on the 'Holiness of God’ will draw smaller crowds than one called ‘How Christians can have a healthy sex life.’ (By the way, which would you rather attend?) In our hug yourself culture, the popularity of self-centered, ‘you can have it now’ messages should not surprise us. You don’t have to listen long to these psychologized messages before you ask: “Where on Earth Is God?"

We must all—including myself—pay close attention to our teaching (1 Tim 4:16) to question how the philosophy of psychology has affected our thought process, our biblical interpretation, our world view. Even in teaching the treasured truth of “abundant life,” I must be alert to doctrinal distortions. The precious truth of “Christ in me” can be inadvertently displaced with a focus on “who I am”—more about my son-ship than his Lordship. Is this why Paul said: “For I resolved to know nothing… except Jesus Christ and him crucified...for 'I' have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer 'I' who live but Christ lives in me” (1 Cor. 2:2; Gal. 2:20)?

Do You Really Need Another Piece of Chocolate Pie?

I had an unusually strong “felt need” for God as long as I can remember. I used to wonder if other people needed Him as much as I did. I didn’t know it then, but now I know I was normal!

God knows we are NEEDY—He made us that way. But He WANTS us to need HIM! When any person acknowledges his need, God is ready to reveal Himself. Our greatest need is God Himself--for life, strength, peace and joy.

Our problem is not that we are needy.
The problem is we are not turning to God to meet our needs.

Most of us have learned to be self-sufficient and independent—anything but in need. As a result we settle for far less than God wants to give us. We have learned to meet our needs from relationships, career, money, food, entertainment, sports, hobbies, personal affirmation, even from ministry. But God loves us too much to leave us there in that place which will only lead to dissatisfaction and futility. As well-provided American Christians we must be especially careful not to be like the Laodiceans who said? `We are rich. We have everything we want. We don't need a thing!' (Rev. 3:17).

In the Garden of Eden, God provided for all of His children’s needs. He provided their physical needs, but also for psychological and spiritual needs by way of the fruit of the Tree of Life (which foreshadows the life of Jesus). But by choosing to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they were saying “we will meet our own spiritual needs.”

As you know Jesus better, you will know His divine power gives you everything you need to live a godly life of fulfillment (2 Pet. 1:3 NLT). And that He will generously provide all you need (socially, psychologically, spiritually) in abundance (2 Cor.9:8 NLT).

The next time you feel your neediness do not quench it with another piece of chocolate pie. Go to your secret place and let Him fill you up with Himself.