“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey is so popular that many evangelicals use it as a blueprint for disciples. How many, I wonder, are aware that Covey’s Mormon faith underlies his success-building philosophy? It is called the doctrine of “eternal progression”—an upward-spiraling development of the human soul that spells success and perfection, and leads to one's own deity.
Why has this self-help, you-can-be-a-better person view point found such wide acceptance among evangelicals? Is it because it fits better into what they would like to believe? One thing I have observed is that those who expound on messages of success seldom teach the harder things of discipleship—like brokenness, suffering, humility, or delay. An unbiblical view of success and prosperity has the potential to do more damage to one's faith than almost any other misunderstood doctrine.
The largest power failure in history (since electricity) occurred last month! No, not the one in the Mid-Atlantic states, but one in India that affected 670 million people, nearly 10% of the world’s population. While some Americans (and probably some Indians too) may have been mostly annoyed that Starbucks was closed, the real danger, of course, was the lack of energy to homes and hospitals for air conditioning and medical equipment. Without power, people die.
But that pales in comparison to the greatest power failure in human history: the day Adam sinned, after which, “death spread to all men” (Rom 5:12). Despite that, men tried to be powerful in their own right. They built cities, and eventually the tower of Babel (Gen. 11:4), a monument to their abilities and achievements: man power. But it failed, as did all subsequent attempts at self-empowerment!
And even though, at new birth, God’s power is turned back on: resident within us (Acts 1:8), most of us experience personal power shortages all too frequently. And these are the moments to ask ourselves if we have built any towers of self-reliance, because our attempts at self-empowerment will always result in power failure. And in the spiritual realm just as in the physical, without power, people die.
I am convinced one of the most important ministries we have is encouraging one another—“Let us… stimulate one another to love and good deeds… and encouraging one another all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25). Our souls are stressed by living in this sense-oriented world; we get weary and discouraged (Gal. 6:9). We need to lift each other up!
When Abraham and his men were exhausted from battle, and most vulnerable, God sent someone to lift him up—Melchizedek, king of Salem. Though his place in history is brief, much has been said about Melchizedek as a type of Christ. He shows up right after Abraham has won a war against the kings of Canaan, with a well-deserved & much-needed meal for Abraham and his weary men. Then, after dinner, Melchizedek delivers a 2-verse sermon: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." (Gen.14:19-20)
Imagine that, you pastors and teachers, a two-point sermon that can be delivered in less than a minute! Point One: The Most High God owns the heavens and the earth. Point Two: the Most High God had defeated the enemy! The sermon was very relevant: Abraham would have been tempted to 1) covet the spoils of war, thus enriching him, and 2) lift himself up in the pride of his victory. In other words, at the moment of self-exaltation, God sends Melchizedek to lift Abraham’s eyes to the Most High God.
The best sermon is one that lifts you up to see God’s “higher” perspective, one that helps you to “set your mind on things above” (Col. 3:2), and turns your attention away from your ‘self’ to the Most High God. This is how we are to encourage one another—it is the Melchizedek ministry!
