November 26, 2001
Explore the Bible Series for Dec. 9
Sorry if it's narrow-minded; Jesus is the way
___Deuteronomy 4:32-40
___By Pete Freeman
___First Baptist Church, The Woodlands
___Is there any doubt that we live in the age of pluralism and political correctness? It has become unfashionable either to possess or express a view that Jesus Christ is the "way, the truth and the life."
___Recently, I was engaged in an all-religions forum. We were actually discussing the meaning of the phrase "interfaith." I used the expression "Judeo-Christian" to describe my theological background. Furthermore, I stated that I respected the views of others but also must be allowed to function within my own convictions concerning Jesus Christ. A Reformed rabbi suddenly said to me, "You don't really believe that stuff about Jesus being the only way to the Father, do you?" I responded, "I most definitely do." He looked me right in the eyes and said: "I'm appalled. I thought all Baptists were universalists. I'm disappointed that you're so narrow-minded." I then went on to explain to him that much of my theological understanding about one God came from his sermon source book, the Old Testament.
___Our culture is very similar to that of the first 150 years of Christianity. It is pluralistic in every sense of the word. Eddie Gibbs, in Church Next, points out, "Churches in the West are discovering that they have much to learn from growing churches in the Majority World (non-Western world), which are thriving in the midst of pluralisitic environments without either the social influence or the material resources the churches of the West enjoyed for many centuries."
___We have thrived in the West through both the traditional and modern eras, but now we are entering a new post-modern era. We will be faced with quantum changes in the way we do church. Yet like the first century church, we must remain faithful to our message about God.
___Israel is faced with what every generation of believers is faced with: The acknowledgment that God is who he says he is. Let us be reminded that "any church is potentially just one generation away from extinction." Therefore, we are faced with the task of both being "reminded" and "reminding" our generation who God is.
___Deuteronomy 4:32-40 cites just one of many times the Lord chose one of his prophets to remind the people about the true nature of God. It is interesting that in this text, the writer appeals to his hearers' understanding of history. The theological foundation of Judaism is premised by the historical revelations of God to the Israelites. When God wanted to reveal himself to his people, he chose historical activity as his primary vehicle. Such revelation reveals the majesty and power of God. Note in verses 32-34 the references to God's speaking from Sinai and delivering the Israelites from Egypt. The writer refers to the "former days" as times in which God revealed his power directly to his people. He asks, "Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived?"
___Historical verification is very important to people of faith. It allows them to point back to a time in which God performed all kinds of miraculous deeds. Such times are to be cherished and used as tools for inspiration, not as instruments to be worshipped. They are down payments and guarantees that the God who "came through in the past will come through in the present and the future."
___Believers sometimes need to revisit those times of revelation in their lives, times when the Lord became real to them. Such revisits help us to remain sensitive to those who do not know Jesus. There also are times when, as believers, we personally have experienced the hand of God in our lives. Such revisits help us to continue our faith journey. It is through these historical reviews that we are able to discern God's power.
___Deuteronomy 4:35-38 reminds the people of Israel that God has a plan and purpose for their lives. In language they easily would identify with, Moses alludes to the "redemptive purpose" of their "being chosen." He refers to the "land" as an "inheritance." In all of this, they have been continually "disciplined" and "instructed." These are words pointing to training or education concerning their covenant relationship with God. The intent of this training is to help them further realize "the Lord is God; besides him there is no other." Their covenant relationship is with the Living God and him alone.
___Moses then concludes that such a revelation should lead to a commitment on the part of the people to worship God alone and to obey his commandments. He certainly is not being politically correct in stating that "there is no other god." He clearly and without apology to anyone states his conviction about who God is. We are never to speak about our faith with a sense of arrogance or rudeness. Yet we are to speak boldly the truth in love.
___Note that 4:40 has a connection with 4:1-2. Both passages express that the purpose of God's instructions is humanity's well-being. God's laws and instructions are given for our good, period. Why do we have such difficulty in obeying them?
___A deacon friend of mine in Kilgore used to say, "Preacher, what is it about the word 'no' that people don't understand?" We might add another to his home-spun philosophy, "What is it about the word 'obey' we don't understand?"
___Questions for discussion
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