Worship War: The Search for Truth

[Gary Petty] What is the most important reason to go to church? As many young people are returning to religion, research shows that they're exploring Christianity, but from two different directions.

One group is searching for absolute truth—truth that isn't bent to fit societal trends or popular culture—a search for a practical application and stability. And these people are drawn to churches that have clearly defined doctrines and rituals.

The other group is searching for deeply personal and emotional experiences, mainly through praise and worship music.

What's interesting is that the first group—those looking for simple rules to everyday life—is comprised mainly of men. And the second group—those searching for emotional connection and inspirational music—are primarily women. And the tension between the head and the heart has led to a debate among these new Christians—a debate that one writer for Christianity Today has dubbed "worship war".

So who's right? Is the pathway to God found an absolute truth and a basic set of rules for life? Or is it simply emotional experiences?

Well, let's look for that answer in the incident in the life of Jesus. Jesus is walking down a road and a man runs up to him, kneels before him, and asks, Good teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

Now it's important to understand something about this man. He is dedicated to Judaism. He believes many teachings from the Bible and these teachings give his life meaning and stability. He believes in the God of the Bible and he is searching for the answer to life after death.

Now Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good but one that is God. Now we'll come back to that statement in a little bit. So then he gives the man this answer to his question.

He said, You know the commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Do not defraud. Honor your father and your mother. And answering the question about eternal life, Jesus zeros in on the most fundamental rules of life. And these are uncompromising truths from God.

Now if you're searching for the basic God-given rules of life, start with the Ten Commandments. But do you actually know the Ten Commandments? Do you know what it means to be truly honest? Not to misuse your God-given sexuality. Or to not worship an idol.

Recently I was watching a debate on whether the Ten Commandments should be publicly displayed. A woman gave a very logical argument for posting them. One of the legislators asked her if she knew the fourth commandment. She did. And she stated that it is the command to keep the Sabbath as a Holy Day. He asked her what that meant to the people who first received the commandments. She replied it meant the seventh day, the day we call Saturday. He then asked if she observed the seventh day Sabbath, as it says in the command, and she said that she didn't. But as a Christian, she observed Sunday. The legislator then responded with, why do you want to post commandments that you don't keep?

That's a very good question. You see, the rules of life as designed by God, they're the rules of life. Compromising with the simplest of God's instructions means that your life is already off course.

Remember, in the biblical story, we've been talking about this man who asked Jesus what he must do. He wanted to know the basic truth about the rules of life. And Jesus told him, keep the 10 commandments. The man answered Jesus by saying, teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth. Now understand, this isn't a statement of an arrogant man. In an elementary way, he had kept the basic rules of life. I mean, he had never stolen, never committed adultery, he never murdered anyone, but something was troubling him. A realization that God wanted something more, and he had come to Jesus to find the answer.

In this story from the Gospel of Mark, we have this little added statement. Mark wrote, then Jesus, looking at him, loved him. Isn't it interesting Jesus doesn't call him a hypocrite? The man had observed these basic rules of life. Jesus loved the man and offered him the most profound invitation anyone can ever hear. He said, one thing you lack, go your way, sell whatever you have, and give it to the poor. And you will have treasure in heaven, and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

The man must have been stunned. He was a descendant of Abraham. It was to his people that God had given the Ten Commandments. He had tried to obey God all of his life. And now he's being told to give up physical blessings, take up the cross, which in that day he really means to bear a burden of sacrifice and even suffering. And follow Jesus as a disciple.

Now remember, the question the man asked isn't how to have physical blessings, but what he must do to have eternal life.

This man who was searching for eternal life couldn't face the price of being a disciple of Jesus. And what's amazing is he walked away.

Now Jesus isn't necessarily asking you to sell everything you have and take a vow of poverty. He is teaching you through this example that the Ten Commandments are the most basic rules for life. And it is true that obeying these rules, you will receive physical blessings. But God wants something more from you.

If you are searching for the basic rules of life and what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, go to ucg.org/bt492. There you will find an in-depth help, much in-depth help, on what we're discussing. When you go to ucg.org/bt492, you will find a study guide on transforming your life. And this will help you see how God is working in your life and how you are to respond to Jesus' invitation to follow me. You will also find some instructive videos and articles on how to experience repentance and walk in the way of God. ucg.org/bt492.

Remember the man asked Jesus, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

There's two lessons we learn from this interaction between Jesus and this very rich man.

First is that there is no one good but God. Every one of us needs the sacrifice of Jesus Christ applied to our account as the substitute for the penalty we deserve because of our sinful nature. There is no other way, no other path to God. And this is absolute truth. It's the basis of the absolute truth you're searching for.

Repentance literally means to have a change of perception which causes a change of direction.

Have you ever heard it takes a big man to say, I'm sorry? Well, to repent before God takes a very, very small man. It means to recognize that you are spiritually flawed and you are too weak to save yourself. You are too weak to save yourself. And here's the kicker. To have this special relationship with God, you have to ask Him to make you see yourself as small enough to respond to the greatness, the goodness, and the mercy of God.

The second lesson is that after you repent, you must give your life to God as a sacrifice. In the Jewish temple at the time of Jesus, animals were being sacrificed daily as a substitute for the justice human beings deserve for a perfect God.

Let me read to you what Paul said about this in writing to Christians here in the first century. Paul says, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. This is what God expects. It's just reasonable. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Authentic Christianity is a life of purpose and joy found in sacrifice.

How does that make sense? Well, it only makes sense if you first repent and find yourself very small before God. It is only when you really recognize what God did for you through Jesus Christ that you become willing to sacrifice your stubbornness, your lust, your anger, and your selfishness, and be, as Paul said, transformed by the renewing of your mind. God will then teach you how to be strong enough to sacrifice for a wife and children. How to be strong enough to sacrifice for those who are weak and in need. And how to be strong enough to give up, fall down, and abject humility and worship the God who made you and loves you.

The man who came to Jesus and asked about eternal life was unwilling to pay the price. How about you?

To begin to understand God's personal call for you to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, go to ucg.org/bt492. You can read Transforming Your Life and find other articles and videos of what it means to actually respond to Jesus when He says to you, like He said to that man, follow me.

How do you sort through all the Christian messages on YouTube?

Well, to start with, an authentic Christian message will follow the example of Jesus by teaching the basic rules of life. It will explain that you are not inherently good. I need Christ's sacrifice for your salvation and promote a lifestyle, an entire lifestyle for an entire life of repentance, sacrifice, and struggle against your own human nature.

God invites you to live the adventure of a lifetime, but it's the adventure of repentance and struggle. The struggle that happens at the core of who you are when God gives you overwhelming purpose for life and you find Jesus Christ saying to you, keep the commandments and be willing to sell all that you have and all that you are and come and follow me.