Sometimes saying something unpopular or politically incorrect is like this. Like when Christians repeat things Jesus said that were most definitely unpopular and un-PC. Like when Christians talk about sin or hell or judgement like they’re real, and refuse to pretend that God is so ‘loving’ He arbitrarily accepts all people in heaven.

Several weeks ago, we displayed a series of 4 signs on our church signboard that were probably both unpopular and un-PC to most onlookers.

School violence, racism, GFC

- do society’s problems run

deeper than our solutions?

—

Does a solution exist

that runs as deeply

as the problem?

—

GK Chesterton said -

‘the problem is I’.

Will anyone else agree?!

—

Biblical Christianity offers

both diagnosis and solution -

Sinners need a Saviour.

Hardly politically correct,

but worth investigating?

But we were trying to be carefully confronting, because what good is being popular, palatable, and PC, if it also means being deceptive? If Jesus presented his Father in words that were comfortable to his hearers but not actually true, what good would that do them when they came to meet God in judgement? So as Jesus showed integrity to his mission by being ruthlessly true to his message, we believe as Christians we have to show integrity to Jesus by not mincing our words either.*

So back to our church signs. In one sense we are sorry if they caused offence. We don’t want to turn people off or away from Jesus and his message, because he said that it’s only through trusting in him that we can have forgiveness and Life. But we acknowledge these can be difficult ideas to swallow. Heck, many of us in this church found this to be the case and wrestled hard against them before being won over by them.

Ultimately that’s our hope (and prayer) for you if you’ve come across our signs or this blog post and find yourself offended by biblical Christianity. Could we humbly, respectfully, sincerely ask you to not just dismiss Jesus’ claims, but to wrestle with them?

Because we truly don’t like being unpopular in presenting them to you; we don’t enjoy the feeling of causing offence! But we’re bound by the spirit of integrity to risk our mutual embarrassment now, for the sake of minimising some awful repercussions later.

Because Jesus said -

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

—

*Contrary to popular opinion, this doesn’t equate with being judgemental. Judgementalism has to do with standing above another person by showing personal disrespect or disdain to them or their beliefs. However, respectfully disagreeing with another is simply that (unfortunately seen as intolerant and unpopular when Christians do it, but acceptable practice otherwise!).

It’s been particularly good to examine the ‘Historical Contenders’ – the Christians through history who have stood boldly in the face of opposition to defend these truths. I think they are braver than we are. There’s lots about biblical Christianity that is (and always has been) terribly unpopular in the eyes of the rest of society – not least the doctrine of ‘total depravity’ that we learned about 2 Sundays ago. Sin and the global, all-pervading presence of sin in every human is not nice to think about. But it’s a very necessary starting point isn’t it, if we’re going to even begin to consider the person and work of Jesus Christ and decide that he’s not just ‘a good man for you‘, but ‘the Saviour for me too’.

So all this is by way of preface to typing out some of Spurgeon’s blunt remarks about sin which I read this morning. They struck me as incredibly un-PC, and so I thought all the more I could take the time to share them with you readers here, by way of ‘contending for the faith once for all delivered’ (Jude 3). Even if you’ve never been before, may you too be convicted of your sin and your need for a great Saviour.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Sin is that evil power that is in the world in rebellion against the good and gracious power of righteousness that sits upon the throne of God. This evil power of unholiness, untruth, sin and contrariety to the mind of God, holds the great mass of our fellow men beneath its sway at this hour. The rations with which it rewards the most desperate valor of its champions is death.

Death is the natural result of all sin. When man acts according to God’s order, he lives; but when he breaks his Maker’s laws, he wrecks himself and does that which causes death. When any man commits sin, he dies to holiness and purity. The further a man goes in lust and iniquity, the more dead he becomes to purity and holiness: he loses the power to appreciate the beauties of virtue or to be disgusted with the abominations of vice. Our nature at the very outset has lost that delicacy of perception that comes of healthy life; and as men proceed in unchastity, or injustice, or unbelief, or sin of any kind, they enter deeper and deeper into that awful moral death which is the sure wage of sin. You can sin yourself into an utter deadness of conscience, and that is the first wage of your service of sin.

CH Spurgeon, At the Master’s Feet, March 1

If you could put in a request for what you’d like to be taught about or interact with in a sermon or a seminar, what would you ask for?

Unfortunately we can’t make any promises, but it’d be great to have your input as we plan for next year…

“The Bible’s purpose is not so much to show you how to live a good life. The Bible’s purpose is to show you how God’s grace breaks into your life against your will and saves you from the sin and brokenness otherwise you would never be able to overcome.

Religion is ‘if you obey, then you will be accepted’. But the Gospel is, ‘if you are absolutely accepted, and sure you’re accepted, only then will you ever begin to obey’. Those are two utterly different things. Every page of the Bible shows the difference.”

Tim Keller

Part of what validates the Apostle Paul’s understanding of faith, is that faith’s object must be true… Of course, faith is more than recognising that something is true. In the Bible, faith characteristically involves trust in God and His Word, trust in God’s Son. In the book of Hebrews, faith includes the element of perseverance (see Hebrews 11). But without exception, faith is invalidated if its object is untrustworthy, or where ostensible facts are concerned, if the object of faith is not true. The Bible never encourages us to put our faith in what may or may not be true… In other words, the Apostle Paul does not think faith is virtuous because those who exercise the faith are sincere or devout (1 Corinthians 15:19). Faith without a true object, Paul asserts, is pitiful…

Faith is not only something we exercise, but a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-10). Faith enables us to have confidence in God where we do not see, because it is grounded in the immutable character of God that we have come by grace to perceive as entirely trustworthy. (D.A. Carson, Christ & Culture Revisited, p109-110)

How can we be sure that what we believe is actually true, and not simply a subjective grasp at something that may or may not be true? D.A. Carson again helps us:

It is important to return to the actual language of Scripture. Biblical writers are never embarrassed to talk about truth, including propositional truth; equally, they are not hesitant to speak about knowing people, knowing God – and knowing things and knowing truths. See, for example:

It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:3-4)

He (Jesus) presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)

Of course, many biblical writers also stress the crucial importance of faith. My point is that they can talk about faith and truth, about believing and knowing. Clearly this knowing is not the knowledge of omniscience. The certainty that Luke wants Theophilus to enjoy is not the certainty that belongs to God alone. But this is the language of Scripture, and it is entirely appropriate to the modes and extent of knowing of which human beings are capable (p.108).

Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, lived his entire life with one simple slogan: “Have faith in God!” (Mark 11:22). It is a simple slogan, yet profound. Simple in the brevity and clarity of the statement, profound in our human (God-given) ability to both know the God who made us, and to live a life trusting Him – for what He has done, is doing and promises to do.

May Mark 11:22 be a slogan for our lives too.