Article: Christianity without Christ?

A recent article by the BBC entitled "Dutch rethink Christianity for a doubting world" focused on a pastor in The Netherlands who "can offer his congregation little hope of life after death".  His church is a member of a "mainstream Protestant church" where they sing hymns and read the bible, but he does not believe that "God exists at all as a supernatural thing."  In fact, he believes that Jesus "may never have existed". 

So how can a Christian church teach that there wasn't really a Christ or God?  Perhaps the following quote might help us understand this strange reality.  Another church in Holland is trying to reach young people.  One of it's coordinators says

"The Church has to be alert to what is going on in society," he says. "It has to change to stay Christian. You can't preach heaven in the same way today as you did 2,000 years ago, and we have to think again what it is. We can use the same words and say something totally different."

This is Post-Modern thinking at its best, yet, it is not new thinking.  Paul warned Timothy to stay away from people who "[have] a form of godliness, but [deny] the power thereof: from such turn away."  (2 Timothy 3:5)

You can not have Christianity without a living Christ.  Paul told the Corinthians that "if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain."  (2 Corinthians 15:14)

This biblical truth is contradicted by Dutch pastor Klaas Hendrikse who says, "You don't have to believe that Jesus was physically resurrected".

Christ is the Cornerstone of the Christian faith.  There is no "alternative" way of looking at it.  Believe that Christ lived a perfect life, died on the cross absorbing God's wrath, and rose again conquering death and sin.  Or don't believe it.  If Jesus wasn't the Christ, there is absolutely no point to follow a faith that is based on a fictional or finite character.  As Paul said, it is extremely vain.  There is absolutely no purpose.

Let's pray for the churches in The Netherlands and around the world who deny the living Christ.  May they "see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."  (2 Corinthians 4:4)

You Gotta Have Faith!?

America is full of faith. It's a miracle. Everywhere I go, people are talking about it. Just today I saw a car with a bumper sticker with a simple question - Got Faith?

And yesterday a co-worker was telling me how important "faith" was to her. After all, faith is a good thing.

A couple of weeks ago my wife left her job and her co-workers gave her some parting gifts.
One of the gifts was a mug with the simple word of (you guessed it) "Faith". The friend who gave it to her said "faith" was a special part of her life.

But I'm concerned. Everyone's talking about "faith" but no one is defining what they have "faith" in. If you believe things are going to work out, what are you trusting in to make those things work out?

Pressing the "Faith Full Faithful" to define what they are relying on to make their lives better gets a little tricky. Some say they believe in some form of a god. Others aren't sure, but they just know deep down inside that "all things will work out".

Sadly, some of these people have a "personal" version of the God of the bible. What do I mean by that? They take all of the caring and loving passages about God in the bible and forget about the holy and righteous verses. By doing this, they constructing a God they don't need to be accountable to, but who is obligated to make their lives better because they have "faith" that he will do so.

As George Michael once sang, "You Gotta Have Faith - Baby!"

The Bible defines "faith" as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." But to a person of "faith", this is easily redefined. The problem is they hijack these words and forget to continue reading in Hebrews 11 who their faith should be in - the very God who created them and the universe.

Take a moment to consider our grand planet. Then think about how big the solar system and galaxy is compared to us. Now move on to the universe. It's mind blowing! The very God we should be trusting created everything we see (and have yet to see). We should tremble to think that we treat Him so haphazardly.

I was reading in 1 Peter the other day and was reminded why we should trust God. Peter writes:
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

This is true faith. Faith comes from an understanding of who you're trusting in. When we repent of our sins and humble our selves under God's might hand, then and only then, can we trust that He will care for us. The same hand that could easily tear us apart (Ps. 50:22) can through the righteousness of Christ comfort and care for us. This is amazing!

Faith in anything but the God defined by the bible is false-faith. From time to time it might offer a few tingly moments, but in the end it leads to confusion, frustration, and death. So the next time someone asks you if you've "Got Faith?", ask them "In What?"