The Awakening – Page 5

“Jesus Tribe”

Posted on August 4, 2011 by johnmarkum

“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. You once were not a people, but now are the people of God.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

Beginning this Saturday, 6pm, at Edgewood’s Saturday night service, a series about the people of God: the Church. We are God’s own people and we are on mission. We are not a people of this world. And for 5 weeks, we reconnect with the one another and the holy calling God has placed on us.

It will be a series full of vision for where God’s leading us, passionate worship, and bold steps of faith as a church. Don’t miss this week!

Blessings,

John

The Questions You Asked… Part 1

Posted on August 3, 2011 by johnmarkum

Question: “Why doesn’t the church spend all or nearly all of it’s money on missions (local and foreign), providing for those who cannot provide for themselves, etc.?” Answer: We do spend all of our money on missions. That’s all we do. The church is not a country club that occasionally does benevolence. We are not even a church with a mission. We are a mission with a church. Our primary command is to make disciples. So whether it’s paying full time staff to do the work of ministry, sending a missionary overseas, or building an orphanage in the Ukraine (all of which we’ve done recently) everything about how we spend God’s money is part of making a missional impact. It’s just not all for social justice causes.
Question: “Is it ok to have sex before marriage?” Answer: No. But that isn’t a good enough answer. The real question you’re probably wondering is “Why does God not want us to have sex before marriage?” The best, shortest answer I can give is because of the safety and security that marriage provides. Sex is too good and beautiful not to be protected. Because of that, God already knew that sex outside of marriage ruins good relationships, or prolongs bad ones.
Questions: “Why does God cause so many hard roads in life?” Answer: First of all, I’m not sure that God deserves all of the credit for the hard roads in your life. But at the least He’s allowed you to go through the difficult circumstances you’ve endured. We need to remember that God never gives us a test to try to fail us, but to promote us to something better. I don’t know your story, but I know that God uses everything He puts into our lives. God doesn’t even waste pain. Circle yourself with people who will encourage you through these difficulties. We’re the church. We’re in this together.
Question: “If Bigfoot exists, then what is he, like the aftermath of a failed gorilla?!?” Answer: “IF” being the operating word here. And by “failed gorilla” I simply have to say no. That implies that either God failed at something He made, or that science has attempted to create life, with some resemblance of success. IF he exists, God created it, and there could be dozens of exciting explanations. None of which, regrettably, I’ll entertain at this time.
Question: “Is it possible to become apostate?” Answer: Most people who use this language of “apostate” or “reprobate” in a theological sense are referring to Romans 1 where it gives a laundry list of immorality and says that God “gave them up” to an unclean mind. But if you read less than 10 verses into chapter 2 you realize that God was not talking about specific individuals, but all of us. There will one day be a collective falling away from truth and morality on a global scale. But individually, God never forsakes those who are of His family. Period.
Question: “Is gay pride a sin? Or just being gay a sin?” Answer: According to Genesis, Exodus, Matthew, and Romans, homosexuality is sin. I reject the the idea that homosexuality is genetic for a variety of reasons: 1) There’s been no scientific proof. 2) Too many heterosexuals have turned homosexual. 3) Too many homosexuals have turned heterosexual. 4) I have had good friendships with many, many homosexual people. Without exception, they have all had other blatantly obvious relational issues that easily explain their orientation. Truthfully, I hurt for these people. Not because of the lack of acceptance they get, but because of how our culture has told them they are normal to feel the way they do, causing them to repress the real reasons for their orientation. Most of them have counseling issues starting with their childhood. God loves homosexuals and wants to see them come to a relationship with him through Jesus Christ. Yes, it is sin. Yes, God loves them anyway. Just like He loves me.
Question: “Balaam blessed the nation of Israel 3 times when his king commanded him to curse them. So why is he seen as a bad guy in the New Testament?” Answer: If you read Numbers 22, you get the idea that Balaam continues to ask God for permission to curse Israel, which frustrates God though He told him through a variety of means (not the least of which was his donkey) not to go curse the Israelites. Many believed that Balaam intended to curse Israel, but when he opened his mouth to do so, God caused him to only say blessings.

Fake Christians

Posted on July 18, 2011 by johnmarkum

No the title is not redundant…

This weekend I preached at our Saturday night service, as usual, but also at our youth service, “Elevate”. I preached the same message as part of our series, “You Asked For It!” which I am teaming up with Pastor Craig Stevenson to tackle. I dealt with a question that was submitted:

“Why do Christians try so hard to act perfect?”

Great question. In short, I said that we all become fakers when we forget that character is more important than image. Whenever we behave hypocritically, we are telling ourselves that we care more about the opinions of others rather than the opinion of God. Then I gave the following 4 points about being a faker from Acts 4:32-37 and 5:1-11:

Attitude is more important than action. Because God cares more about what we are becoming than what we are doing.
When I’m hypocritical, I’m really only lying to 2 people: myself, and God. Neither of which lasts for long.
The truth eventually comes out. “Be sure your sin will find you out.”
God takes hypocrisy seriously. Two people died in this passage for being fakers. Imagine if God treated fakers in the church the same way today!

The good news: God already knows what I’m trying to hide from others. He’s aware of my habits, my past, my baggage, my failures, and fears… and loves me still. I don’t have to be a faker. God loves me – faults and all. But He wants us to drop the act, be real, and allow Him to make us more like Jesus. So what do you say… ready to put the mask down?

Blessings,

John