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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
August 31,2007; I Love Jesus with All My Heart
Focus Text: John 14.15,21
In case you miss the connection, The Friday Flyer is a holiday weekend substitute for Monday Miscellany (this is due to next Monday being Labor Day). I plan to resume How God Treats Sinners on Tuesday.
It was a TV show whose title piqued my interest. I had never seen it before, it was late in the evening, and I thought it might be interesting, so… here’s the rest of the story. It was one of those reality shows where real people are put to test in the face of other real people without script and just enough rules to liven things up. There were four contestants and 5 panelists. As part of the routine of the show, the panelists were required to question each of the contestants. It was during this interview period that a most interesting and almost unbelievable response was elicited from one of the contestants.
It had already been established that this contestant was a “born again Christian” and that by his own proclamation. It later came out that he was a practicing homosexual, so one of the panelists asked him how he reconciled his lifestyle with the teachings of Jesus on the matter (no specific scripture was cited; just this general question was asked). Then came the response that literally made me do a double take and shake my head to make sure I really heard what I heard!
“I do love Jesus with all my heart,” he said, “but sometimes I don’t agree with Him!” This may not be an exact quote, but it certainly captures the essence of the man’s response. I thought about this statement and how someone could make this statement with a straight face on national television. I think I know the answer; it is simple but difficult for me to admit that such an attitude really exists in our culture. However, I am convinced that the attitude is far more prevalent than I want to admit; it just isn’t stated quite as openly and candidly.
One could make that statement in sincerity only if he/she did not believe the Bible to be the very word of God! There are many who do not believe the Bible to be inspired, yet profess to be Christians and followers of Jesus. Of course, if the Bible is not the inerrant word of God, how does anyone really know what Jesus taught anyway? So if that be the case, it would not be a big thing to disagree with the teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Bible; after all, who’s to say those things are what Jesus really taught anyway? Jesus can be my best friend and I can love Him with all my heart and still disagree with Him! That is actually a logical conclusion of the first position that the Bible is not the inerrant word of God!
Jesus really said, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” (John 14.15). There is compelling evidence to support this conclusion. The presentation of this evidence is beyond the scope of this message, but it exists. A commandment from someone in legitimate authority is not something that one can ponder, elect to disobey, and go on being a friend of the one who issued it; by definition he becomes his opponent! Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” (John 14.21).
Questions:
1. Does the contestant’s response shock you? Have you heard similar statements? How prevalent is this attitude?
2. Could this man believe that Jesus Christ has “all authority” and yet casually dismiss one or more of His teachings by saying, “Sometimes I don’t agree with Him”?
3. What connection did Jesus make between loving Him and obeying Him?
4. What is implied by affirming that Jesus is Lord? What is implied about His Lordship if we “cherry pick” from His commandments, obeying only those with which we agree?
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