Post by disciple on Jun 9, 2010 18:29:08 GMT -5
10 Shekels & a Shirt
Judges 17
Judges 17
I. Basic story
a. Micah returns the money he had stolen from his mother
b. She uses it to make idols for him
c. He combines some of the things of God & some of the things of the world to make his own “temple” (v. 5)—made something that was “right in his own eyes” (v. 6)
d. Traveling Levite comes by, looking for a “place”
e. Micah hires him to be his priest, so that the “Lord will do him good” (v. 13)—gives him 10 shekels of silver & a shirt / suit of clothes yearly (v. 10)
f. The tribe of Dan comes along & wins the Levite over to be with them by making a better offer that would allow him to minister to more people & gain more wealth (c. 18)
II. Application to today’s Christianity
a. Our generation is ruled by a philosophy of pragmatism (“if it works & gets grand results, it’s good”)—by this standard, Noah, Jeremiah, Jesus, & many others were failures
b. What is the standard of success? Is God an end, or a means to my own end? (Micah & the Levite saw God as a means to their own end of perceived spiritual success)
c. Our generation is ruled by a philosophy of humanism (“the end of all being is the happiness of man”)—we want “the Lord to do us good” (17:13)
d. “Salvation” then becomes getting all the happiness you can out of life, doing what is right in one’s own eyes (17:6)
III. Effects of humanism
a. Historical examples: influence on politics, relationships, education, philosophy
b. Effect on religion/Christianity
i. Liberals: be a Christian so you can be happy while you live
ii. Fundamentalists: be a Christian so you can be happy when you die
c. Humanism has reduced the Christian gospel to “accept Jesus so you can go to heaven & not have to be hurt in hell” (a humanist position, appeal to selfishness)
d. As a result, people are considered Christians just because they agree intellectually with a presentation of doctrinal statements, & Christians believe that God’s actions are primarily for the benefit of man
e. What is the philosophy of a Christian???
IV. Personal example
a. Went to Africa on missions motivated by humanism (wanted poor sinners to have a chance to go to heaven)
b. Found out that they knew about God, didn’t want to go to heaven, & didn’t care; very disillusioned & angry with God as a result
c. God’s word: I didn’t send you for their sake, I sent you for MY sake!
d. Philosophy of humanism: end of all being is the happiness of man (serving man’s religion for 10 shekels & a shirt)
e. Philosophy of a Christian: end of all being is the GLORY OF GOD! (serving God because it’s the highest honor in the universe)
f. Why did you repent?
V. Gospel of repentance v. “gospel” of self-preservation
a. Repentance comes from conviction, & conviction is a work of the Holy Spirit that shows a man the depths of his iniquity & depravity before God
b. Examples: George Whitefield, John Wesley, John Wesley Redfield in US
c. Only reason for a sinner to repent: because Jesus Christ deserves the love, worship, & obedience of his heart (not to go to heaven or have a blessed life—this is just trying to make a deal with God)
d. This kind of repentance is the only way God can get glory out of a human being!
e. Only reason for a Christian to seek after the fullness of Christ: so He can get glory by living His life out through us, filling our empty vessel for His own sake (Gal. 2:20)
f. Example: pastor who was seeking power for his programs instead of surrendering all to God & acknowledging that everything will have to be done by Him & for Him
g. It’s not about what you will get out of God, it’s about the glory He will get through you!
VI. Moravian missionaries
a. British slave owner who refused to let his 3,000 slaves hear about Christ
b. 2 young Moravians were convicted & sold themselves into slavery to reach them
c. Their friends & relatives wondered why
d. Their parting reason: “May the Lamb who was slain receive the reward of His suffering!”
e. This is the reason for our existence, that Jesus Christ may receive the reward of His suffering