AN IDIOT’S GUIDE TO TREATING GOD WITH CONTEMPT
MIKE CUNNINGHAM
MAY 21, 2006
Several years ago I found myself in a nice home visiting a middle aged Christian couple. I soon discovered that they had been growing increasingly disenchanted with the contemporary evangelical and fundamental churches in the Burlington area. So much so, that they were seriously considering writing every one of them off.
Why not just stay at home to pray and study the bible together? What could possibly be wrong with that? Counting on the Lord’s presence, they would be a fellowship of three. After all, it certainly wasn’t their fault that these churches were, in one way or another, deviating from the truth.
So called seeker sensitive type churches with lots of entertainment and loud music were as much of a turn-off to this couple as those with a strong emphasis on speaking in tongues and the ones which encouraged folks to name a blessing and then just claim it. Church’s insisting that the King James Version is the only true bible translation was viewed the same way.
This couple also wouldn’t go near a church whose members were constantly getting themselves all riled up by trying to interpret the “signs of the times;” folks who allowed themselves to be greatly influenced by those self-proclaimed prophecy experts screaming that the Rapture is imminent every time a big volcano erupts or there is a devastating hurricane, earthquake, giant tsunami or when someone belches in the Middle East.
Compounding their dilemma, the husband had reached a point in his life where he had his fill of the corporate “rat race.” He had grown to hate his job with a passion and wanted out. However, with a couple of kids still in college he felt trapped. Needless to say, he was a very unhappy person, harboring lots of anger and bitterness. And our Sovereign Lord had preordained and planned for the two of us to cross paths at that precise moment in human history.
You can imagine my surprise when the man told me that a few years previously he had sensed that God was calling him into the Christian ministry. Ever since, he has had a burning passion to study the bible. So much so that he had been spending more time immersed in independent bible study that he previously had in following the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriot’s. His wife sat there silently agreeing with him by nodding her head up and down. Her husband wanted to be a pastor more than anything in the world.
The following weekend my wife and I were able to get away over to North Conway. While she browsed through factory outlet stores, I leisurely scoped out The Book Warehouse which stocks and sells publisher’s closeouts at highly discounted prices. I spotted an excellent bible commentary on First John which I already owned and from which I had received a lot of helpful insight. Thinking that the man would find it as useful in his studies as I had, I bought it for him.
What a waste of my hard earned money that turned out to be. As soon as I had given it to him, he quickly flipped through its pages, glanced at the back cover, shook his head from side to side and slid it across his dining room table back to me. Then with one of those know-it-all looks of disgust on his face which I was soon to learn was sort of like his trademark, he said: “thanks but no thanks. I don’t need this thing.”
Next he attempted to set me straight. Didn’t I know that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit Himself would lead us into all truth? Didn’t I believe that the Bible was God’s Word and that through it God speaks directly to us? What kind of a pastor was I anyway?
Regardless of what I said, there was no way I could convince the man that the commentary would be helpful. He kept insisting that the Holy Spirit doesn’t need help from any of those intellectual Bible scholars and theologians and neither does he. Then he told me I better be sure I really was a Christian? He reminded me that on the Day of Judgment many pastors will come before Jesus and say, “Didn’t I preach in Your name,” and He will say to them, “Depart from Me. I never knew you.”
My first inclination was to look the guy straight in the eye, smile, and then say under my breath something like, “I’m glad you don’t go to my church you proud, stupid, arrogant, rude, judgmental, sarcastic, know-it-all fool. Have any of you folks ever thought like that of a fellow Christian?
This time I was pleasantly surprised because God had enabled me to see the reality of the situation.
I realized I was looking at a brother in the Lord who had allowed himself to become snared by Satan. Whenever the Lord helps me to see and understand what’s really going on in this kind of a situation I can’t seem to resist wanting to do everything I possibly can to help the poor guy break free of unknowingly manifesting such a contempt of God and His church.
Usually there’s an element of truth sprinkled in with whatever falsehood Satan wants to spread through a Christian he has been able to deceive in this manner. For instance, what do you think of this man’s unwavering conviction that the only help he needs to study and understand the Bible is the Holy Spirit? After all, what would you say is the most important thing we need to learn in the first place? Writing to a young pastor, Paul said:
2 Timothy 3:14-15 (AMP) 14 But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them], 15 And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].
If the only reason the man studied his Bible was to learn how to become saved he certainly doesn’t need any help from a bible commentary does he? But that isn’t the only reason he or you and I study our bibles is it?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (AMP) 16 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), 17 So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
But do we absolutely need a teacher or bible commentary or any other fallible human instrument to assist us in our study of the Bible? Would you believe me if I said we certainly do? Well I sure hope not, because we don’t. Any Christian can learn everything they need to know in order to live his or her life in a manner which is pleasing to God by studying the Bible on their own. But if someone wants to be a pastor and teach other Christian’s spiritual truth they must avail themselves of all available resources.
There is however something which all Christian’s must have whenever they enter into a time of studying the Sacred Scriptures. You will find that most non-Christian’s certainly don’t bring this essential element whenever they read the Bible. It’s sad to say that there are many Christian’s who don’t either. The man I have been speaking about certainly didn’t.
If I were to write a book entitled, “An Idiot’s Guide to Treating God with Contempt,” and in it I had a list, at the top I would have to exclude this one key element which I have been insisting is an absolute necessity. The thing which I am alluding to is so important that without it we won’t get very far in learning and understanding everything God desires to communicate to us. You would think that if it so obvious why then is it so often ignored not only by virtually all non-Christians but by many Christians as well? Allow me to explain.
John 14:15-17 (ESV) 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
John 16:12-13 (ESV) 12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 17:16-21 (ESV) 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
I will send the Spirit of truth to you and when the Spirit of truth comes He will actually live right inside of you and He will guide you into all truth. Father, sanctify them, set them apart for holy service to You in the truth. Father Your Word is truth. I’m not just asking this on behalf of My beloved disciples Father. I’m asking for everyone who hasn’t even been born yet, all those who will come to believe in Me through the truth My faithful followers will teach.
Earlier in His ministry Jesus told a woman from Samaria something that you and I must always do.
John 4:19-26 (ESV) 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." 26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."
There is just no way you and I can worship Him unless we worship Him in spirit and in truth. Elsewhere Jesus said:
John (ESV) 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:42-45 (ESV) 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
By this time I hope you folks know that it is absolutely necessary that we believe what the Holy Spirit has said in these verses concerning the truth and the Bible. The Psalmist has put it this way:
Psalms 119:160 (NKJV) 160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
In what is known as His high priestly prayer Jesus said:
John 17:17 (ESV) 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
We can be certain of the absolute truthfulness of the Sacred Scriptures. So what’s necessary whenever we study them? Before I answer I want to remind you folks that we can’t approach the Bible with our mind absorbed on ourselves like every unbeliever does. The reason being,
Romans 8:7 (ESV) 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
We should study our bible with a mind that is focused on God as being Number One in our life. We need to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Our spirit ought to be filled with a heart of gratitude because, among other things, God has, out of all the inhabitants of this planet, given His Son’s followers the Bible and in its pages revealed spiritual truth to them.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (AMP) 14 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.
To think that out of all the billions of people that inhabit our planet; God, the One in whom we live and move and have our being, the One through whom all of our blessings flow, the One apart from whom no human being can do anything, the eternal, immortal, invisible, unsearchable, all holy, all wise, all just, never changing almighty Spirit Being who is present everywhere, has made it possible for the people He has adopted into His family, and only them, to accurately understand the spiritual truth of the Sacred Scriptures is mind boggling to say the least. Think about that.
Assuming that we have been convicted of the truthfulness of the Bible; what is that one key element I have been alluding to which is absolutely necessary in order for anyone to profit from the truth contained in it? That man I spoke about earlier, the one who wanted to be a pastor; he certainly didn’t have it. That poor demonically deceived man was clueless.
Would you believe me if I were to tell you that we must sincerely desire to know the truth? It’s as simple as that. That man wasn’t interested in truth. He convinced himself that already knew it all. Anyone with such an attitude towards truth revealed in the Bible is treating God with contempt. Unbelievers approach the Bible with the same attitude. They aren’t really interested in learning truth.
Psalms 145:18 (ESV) 18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
If we humbly call upon God with a heart filled with a sincere desire to learn the truth, we can be absolutely certain He will reveal it to us through the Bible. How about you? Do you really want to know the truth? So much so that when God reveals the it to you, you will readily accept it and eagerly respond to it regardless if it is contrary to something you had always believed and cherished for a long time?
If some of you who are members of this little Baptist Church after an honest study of the issue came to believe that the truth of the matter is that infant baptism is indeed true baptism; would you do everything possible to persuade the rest of us to change our membership requirements in this area? Or would you choose treat God with contempt by not making waves?
Suppose that I were to start teaching that the Holy Spirit had given me the ability to change the Communion bread and grape juice into becoming the actual Body and Blood of Christ during next months observance of the Lord’s Supper or that from now on I am going to perform Civil Unions? Would you treat God and the truth He has revealed about these issues with contempt by simply disagreeing with me and doing nothing? Or would you honor God by doing everything possible to convince me and the rest of the church that I was wrong. And if you were unsuccessful, would you leave this church?
Are you a lover of truth? Does it really matter to you? Do you sincerely want to know the truth? Well, study the Bible and get as much outside help in your search as you possibly can. Read it with a humble teachable spirit and you be receive countless blessings because in doing so you will honor Him by worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. And then ask Him to give you the strength to respond to the truth in a way which is pleasing to Him.
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