Jesus of Orange County or Jesus of Nazareth
David Platt wrote a book called “Radical” about a radical faith for such a time as this. Erwin Lutzer wrote a book called “When a Nation Forgets God.” The theme of Lutzer’s book is that the political and spiritual doctrines that led to the atrocities of Nazi Germany are similar to philosophies embraced in America today. According to Lutzer, If you read this book with the intention of finding grist for your political mill then I’ve missed the point. God doesn’t expect us to become filled with vindictiveness. We must bear the undeniable witness of the saving grace of God. Our culture is in a spiritual free fall and the solution is only in the Word of God. The scriptural promises give hope for our nation and hope will rise in this dark time when the nation returns to God. There are parallels between the church today and the church in Nazi Germany. Naziism didn’t arise in a vacuum. It was precipitated by myths and widely accepted ideas that culminated in the horrors of the gas chambers at Auchwitz. The godless Nazi doctrine of nihilism says that life and the earth that sustains life are worthless. Life is nothing except the accidental convergence of blood and soil. Naziism indoctrinated the masses that Christian beliefs have no worth or value and that political institutions are worthy to be destroyed. When man proclaims that God is dead, then man becomes an untamed beast. Similarly, when godless doctrines of Devils and philosophies of men are taught in American universities today, our freedoms are bound to erode and crumble.
God allows judgement to fall on a nation that turns its back on God. When a nation’s people disrespect law and authority… when they allow the churches that dot the landscape to disappear one by one, then they won’t be able to hire enough policemen. The law must be in the hearts of the people. The solution is the Gospel of the good news…for we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and him crucified.
When Pete was called to be a minister, God said, Preach a crucified Christ, not a feel-good sanitized Jesus of Orange County.
When Christians become casual, then they will become casualties in the spiritual warfare. Therefore, be alert…watch and pray, standing as watchmen on the wall. As servants having their lamps lit in anticipation of the return of their lord.
When Christ returns in glory, He will subject all things to himself. As Christians our citizenship is in heaven. The question is are we Christian Americans or are we American Christians. Our political persuasion must be an allegiance to our Sovreign Lord. Our charge as bond servants of our Lord Jesus Christ is to trust and obey the word of God. It is required of a servant that he be found faithful to do his master’s will.
There is a stark contrast between the Jesus of Orange County and Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus of Nazareth is a crucified Saviour whereas Jesus of the OC is uncrucified.
Jesus of Nazareth says there is a narrow way through a narrow gate. Jesus of the OC says there is a broad way.
Jesus of the OC preaches material prosperity, social inclusiveness, and equality of outcomes. Jesus of Nazareth preaches, “blessed are the poor in spirit.” Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth but treasures in heaven.
Jesus of Nazareth calls Christians to be holy…separated according to the purpose that God intended.
We as men of God must decide which side we’re on. The question is not whether God is on our side, but whether we’re on God’s side. Not my will but thy will be done. Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve…as for me and my house we shall serve the lord.
Jesus said, bless them that persecute you. Pray for those who are held captive by the devil at his will.
Jesus of the OC says that there is no cost for following him. Jesus of Nazareth says, unless you forsake mother, father, sister and brother and give up everything for my sake, you cannot be my disciple.
What if God takes his hand of blessing from our country? The only reason that the devil has not had his way with America is because of those men of God, filled with the spirt of God, who stand in the gap to withstand the onslaught of the wicked one.
The Jesus of Nazareth is biblically correct. The Jesus of the OC is politically correct. The devil and his minions stand against the truth of the word of God. For he that doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved. In some circles, if you carry a bible and quote scripture, you’re guilty of hate speech.
Jesus of the OC says that pain is the enemy. Jesus of Nazareth says that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.
Jesus of the OC says, you’re in control of your own life. Jesus of Nazareth says, Jesus is Lord. He who loses his life for my sake shall find it.
Jesus of the OC uses others and serves himself. Jesus of Nazareth serves others and when we do likewise we serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “in that you have done it unto the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me.”
Jesus of the OC says there is no such thing as sin. Jesus of Nazareth says, the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ.
As followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we’ve been called as lights in a world of darkness. The spiritual battle is fought with prayer and the sword of the spirit, the word of God. Our job is to shine the light…to wield the sword of the spirit and to pray for them that persecute you and despitefully use you. Our power is in his strength alone. Therefore watch and pray.
If we’re committed to the gospel, then we as men of God will stand in the gap on the wall against the onslaught of the wicked one. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high.
We’re not defined by what we’re against. Rather we’re defined by what we stand for. Therefore stand up for Jesus, stand in his strength alone. The arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own. The way to defeat the darkness is to live in the light as he is in the light. He who has the son has life. He has written these things so that we know that we have salvation.
We’ve been called to finish strong…we press toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. When we’re weak then we’re strong. Our heart may be broken so that He can weave it back together according to his will. As the Apostle Paul said, Thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me.
We’ve been called to fellowship with other godly men as individual fittings within the body of Christ… From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.
Our calling as men of God is to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the schemes of the devil in the evil day, and having done all to stand. “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…”
Therefore, beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ.
According to 1 Corinthians 1:23-25, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks (non-Jews) foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael