Friday, February 15, 2019

Cancelling the Resurrection

Monday, February 18, 2019

But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?  For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either.  And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.  And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave.  But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.  And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.  In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!  And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.  1 Corinthians 15:12-19(NLT)

Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”  Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning.  For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.   1 Corinthians 15:33-34(NLT)

Did we hear that correctly?  Did Paul, writing to the beloved church he established in Corinth, that group full of spirituality and fully-gifted to serve Christ, write for everyone to read that some of the believers were only so-called believers?  Well, in a word, Yes; Paul said some of you don’t know God at all.  The Apostle didn’t leave much wiggle-room there.  Some who were part of that church, met with them daily, served others, and were really nice people, were not part of the Kingdom of God, they were lost, headed for Hell.
Ouch!  That would not have made for a feel-good sermon point during the  Homecoming service at Frist Methodist Church of Corinth.  It’s no wonder Paul had a reputation of starting a riot or revival every time he arrived at a new place.
Sometimes preachers, wanting to be liked, and paid, and not-lynched, err on the side of safety, rather than full-disclosure.  On the other hand, Paul’s kind of statement said in a modern-day church, that some of the church members were lost people, would, without question, set all kinds of things in motion:
·      Shade tree discussions after the worship service
·      Dusting-off of the denominational qualifications of preachers
·      Meetings of boards, committees, and calls to the resident bishop’s office.
I am so thankful that Paul was willing to tell the truth, no matter how it was received.  In the case of the Corinthians believers, it was received in such a way as for them to get their act together, quit their monkey-business, and get down to serving Christ instead of their pride.  In today’s self-serving, me-first culture, Paul’s kind of sermon would almost certainly get the preacher kicked-out of the club, if not sued for lack of political correctness.
Of course, that kind of preaching is never without fall-out.  It has been my experience that Hallmark story kind of endings are incomplete when it comes to church.  Any time you hear such a story that there was a crisis, and someone spoke up with the truth, unvarnished, and then we all lived happily ever after, well, you’re just not getting the whole story.  Pride and other kinds of evil do not let go that easily.  Neither does the father of pride.
But all that is OK, because the story is not yet over.  God is not done working on things in this world, and will not be done with this continuing story, until that last trumpet sounds, and all of God’s enemies are put under his feet.  So, for now, those who want to cancel the resurrection and act like this life is all that matters…they will have what they shoot for – the praise that tickles the ear, and a measure of control over little kingdoms built to honor human preferences.  But, in the end, those who are pitied for placing all their eggs in Christ’s basket of grace, forgiveness, humility and service until resurrection dawns, are the ones who will experience true victory, that well done, good and faithful servant.[ii]
For You Today
God’s Holy Spirit uses what Paul called the foolishness of preaching to stir hearts and change people, leading them into more faithful service, and more faithful hearts.  So, if it stings, don’t cancel the resurrection…offer your heart to Him; God may be up to something beautiful in your life.         
You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[i] Title Image:  via Pixabay.com
[ii] Matthew 25:23

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