by Pastor Andrew

               The vast majority of us have, at some point in our lives, visited a used car dealership or lot.  I imagine that each of our individual experiences at said lots would be viewed very differently by each other and that some could be described as good while others would be less than desirable.  In most cases, when a customer arrives at a used car dealership, a salesperson uniquely approaches the potential customer masking their latent overwhelming desire to make a sale.  The questions are fairly standard and consist of what brings you in today or what exactly are you looking for in your next car?  Sometimes they even go as far as fishing for what you do not like about your current vehicle with the intent of pointing you in the direction of the right car.  Needless to say, the used car salesman is eager to sell you a vehicle at price that is most often above what the right car is worth.  They are usually well versed in all the high points and selling features of their cars and are adept at making something negative sound good.  One of my favorite lines is: This car only has “blank” miles, and they are highway miles.   While arguments can and have been made as to the impact of highway and city miles on a vehicle, a mile is 5,280 ft whether you are on a highway or a country road.  Technology and advancements in machining may have improved engine life, wear and tear on the transmission, suspension and body components still have the potential to make the right car a lemon.  The used car salesman will spend all the time you require telling you how good a car is but rarely will even spend a nano-second on what is bad or will cost you in the long run.
               I do not believe that any part of salvation or Christian living is bad in the same sense that we view a used car in; however, I do believe that the Gospel, salvation, and Christian living has been sold to, and is still being sold to in some cases, to America much like a used car salesperson sells a lemon or jalopy to the unsuspecting consumer.  Many who have answered the call to pastorate have memorized and used as a platform all the high points and benefits of salvation and Christian living, leaving them shouting from a platform of prosperity, blessings galore, and a trouble-free life when you fill a seat, turn on a tv program, and fill the offering basket.   This, sounds too good to be true experience, may build a following or audience for a while, until the followers can’t understand why they aren’t rolling in dough after they have given all their money to a televangelist or multi-million-dollar minister.  The follower may be left wondering why they are battling and dying from cancer or an illness after they were promised blessings, favor, and healing.  Similarly to when our lemon the used car salesperson sold us breaks down for the tenth time, the duped Christian feels lied to, double crossed, and used. 
               Recovery from used car salesman theology is possible, but in many cases, the damage runs deep and is slow to be healed.  Some may say, “well,” “that’s their problem” or, “it’s sad, but it happens.”  How then does one sell Gospel, especially after lengthy periods of prosperity preaching, scandals, and division have wreaked havoc among the church in America.  The first step is to stop trying to sell it.  Take the proverbial 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s cliché cheesy used car salesman sport-coat/suit jacket off and be authentic.  Start with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, please help me God.
              What is the truth? The truth is that yes, blessings, favor, and healing are all components of the Bible and Christianity; however, there is so much more than that.  While I am sure that if you dig, read, dig some more, twist some words, and squint you can paint an extravagant picture of a “perfect” Christian life filled with blessings, health, and God’s favor.  If you open your eyes, stop twisting the words, and read in context you will find that adversity, challenges, and hardships are abound in a Christian life.  Many of the same adversities, challenges, and hardships that you find in an unsaved life you will still experience in a Christian life.  The difference in the two lives can be found in faith, hope, and love.   A life with Christ introduces hope with reward, while a life without Christ offers no hope and no reward.  A life of faith provides a tool to combat the inevitable adversities, hardships, and challenges while a life with no faith leaves one hopeless.  Being redeemed and justified expands and encourages the love and subsequent relational growth between the believer and God while the individual who rejects Christ is not only rejected in return, but will inevitably be used by the world instead of loved. (Matthew 10:33; 1 John 2:15-17; Romans 12:2; James 4:4; Colossians 2:8).
               This past Sunday’s sermon covered Joseph and part of his time in jail after being wrongfully accused and convicted of an infraction against Potiphar’s wife.  It was pointed out that after the life that he had lived up to this point, Joseph probably had more cause to gripe, or wallow in self-pity more than most people. Instead of falling to pieces or squawking like a goose, Joseph chose to minister to those in the prison just has he had chosen to minister in Potiphar’s house after being sold into slavery.  I found it interesting the word usage in chapters 39 and 40 traces back to the concept of ministering.  Today, many Christians do not see acts of service, menial labor, or undesirable tasks as ministering; however, Jesus associated with undesirables, washed feet, and in accordance with His indication that the son of man came to serve and not be served, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28) which in this guy’s opinion, is the greatest example of service ever.   I want to highlight a few things before closing this blog.  Even in Genesis, Jesus’ influence was evident, Jesus never taught or promised and easy life as a Christian (in fact, one could argue, He taught the contrary), and it is generally agreed upon that Jesus’ teachings, principles, and life are what Christians are supposed to exemplify.
         If Christian’s understand and agree with the last statement made, why is it that when we face adversity, we go to pieces, or feel that we need to focus on something other than God’s work?  Joseph ministered while in slavery and found favor.  He ministered while incarcerated and found favor.  Jesus facing perhaps the greatest adversity of all, continued to minister to humanity by giving His life, even for those who would reject Him, living lives of slavery to sin that He paid the price for us to leave.  The truth is the same for the believer and the non-believer alike.  Life is hard.  Life in the world is difficult, but hopeless.  There is no eternity worth investing in in the world.  Life as a Christian is hard; however, life as a Christian comes with an advocate, a guide, and merciful father who longs to have a restored relationship with us should we endure through our adversities in reliance upon Him opposed to rejection for hopelessness. We should not only be straight forward with our explanation of Christian life, but we should also serve as an example by serving through adversity, keeping our eyes on God and our subsequent eternity. What are your thoughts…

by Pastor Andrew

​          2018 is here and in full swing.  Yesterday’s sermon was called Making Camp: Where will you set up your tent?   We started the account of Joseph in Genesis but stuck to the overall theme of contentment.  The message contrasted Joseph’s contentment in his circumstances with his family’s and overseer’s discontent.   We closed with the idea that you can make camp in discontent or contentment, ending the sermon with the question where will you camp this year? 
          Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, says this: “11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13, ESV).  This passage is often reduced from its greater context, and we frequently reduce it further, leaving it to declare simply: “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”  It is a powerful declaration for Christians to make.  It is motivating and easy to rally behind, or even to shout as one of our battle cries. It is so inspiring that it has the potential to drive a believer, who is not cautious and is being fueled by emotions, to exercise a behavior or action that aims to satisfy one’s flesh instead of bolstering one’s spirit. 
          In this chapter, Paul is referring to the difficulties that accumulate while living and/or serving the Lord.  In Paul’s case, he was talking about being supported in his missions to further the Gospel.  Many translations of the Bible have a heading over this section of Philippians that states God’s Provision.  Comparing this title with the text that follows it helps us to begin to identify the applicability of Paul’s words to our lives.   I think that it is here that it should be noted that one’s search for contentment must be driven by a righteous cause, or righteous discontent in order to truly have the full weight of God’s support behind them as indicated in our power verse, Philippians 4:13.  Yesterday’s sermon included a brief description of Rueben’s attempt to dissuade his brothers from killing Joseph (Genesis 37:22).  On the surface, this reads as a genuine act where Reuben did not want to see his brother killed.  We could even draw the conclusion from this verse that Reuben was discontent with the idea of killing Joseph.  Discontent perhaps, but his greater discontent was rooted in the fact that he wanted Jacobs favor and position within the family.  He believed his contentment could be found in that position; therefore, his discontent with the murder plan was not with the act of murder, but with his own situation.  This discontent drove him to seek contentment within his flesh rather than in something righteous which in the long run would have only led to further discontent. 
           We seek provision from God in many of our life situations and we should believe that through Christ we can accomplish wondrous things; however, if what we are trying to accomplish is not for the glory of the Lord then we should not be surprised when Christ does not help us accomplish things.  It may sound harsh or extreme, but if you step outside of the fleshly, human, box that we are often stuck in, it begins to make sense.  We declare and stand behind statements like, “God never changes” or “God’s rules are black and white, He doesn’t deal in gray,” but then we try (both consciously and unconsciously) to bend the scriptures to our own personal desires.  If we can do ALL things through Christ, then why do some of our endeavors fail, why do we lose jobs, and why do relationships with those we care about fail?  Another, more simplistic, example is this:  In this world, we need money to function and survive.  If we do not have the money to pay for our basic needs, but a bank does; can we then rob the bank under the justification that having that money would make us content and therefore, with the strength that Christ gives us we can take it by force?  Of course, the answer is no.
          The application of this verse is fulfilled when we are in any circumstance that is good or bad and we say with our words and actions, that we are fine with where God has us.  If we are financially well off, healthy, have a good job we praise Him.  Conversely, if we are poor, sick, or lose a job we must say it is well with my soul and praise Him still.  This is the point that Paul was getting at. Regardless of where he was in life, on a high point or even at the lowest of low points, he was fine because that is where God brought him while living his life for the Lord.  He expands on this idea by indicating that regardless of his situation, he could handle it because he had the strength that could only come from Christ through the Spirit.  Contentment comes from knowing and accepting that wherever you are at in life, that God is in control, has not forgot about you, and has a much better plan to get you through and out of the lows.  The ability to do all things through him who gives us strength comes after we are content with wherever God has us and we choose to seek righteousness opposed to our flesh. It is perhaps better understood if we look at it not as I can do all these things (indicative of accomplishment), but rather, I can endure the difficulties that I will face because I have God (indicative of being provided for).
          Are you camping in content or discontent?  If you are camped in discontent and are struggling to endure, perhaps it is time to change campsites and move to be content.  What are your thoughts?