Dr. Gary VanDeWalker

July 12, 2009

Evangelical Free Church of Mount Shasta 

Adapted from a series from LifeChurch


PRACTICAL ATHIEST - 2

I BELIEVE IN GOD BUT I’M NOT A FANATIC

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Isa. 29:13

 

PRACTICAL ATHEIST: SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN GOD, BUT LIVES AS IF HE DOESN’T EXIST.

1.      The man who carried a cross

Today, I want to talk to you about those who claim to believe in God but don't want to take it too far.  They don't want to go overboard with the religion thing.  They don't want to be a fanatic.  We want to believe in God but still just kind of blend into society. We went to believe in God which is acceptable in our part of the world but we don’t want to be a fanatic.  And you can believe in God without talking about Jesus.  When you believe in Jesus, it does kind of bring some tension.  Believing in God is okay but you bring the whole Jesus thing in and you don't want to become one of those fanatical Jesus born again people.  We went to believe in God but don't want to be too serious about it.  Practical atheism. 

 

2.     There is a twisted fanaticism to be avoided

 

3.     There is a deadness opposite of fancticism which means you are not of the kingdom

Laodicea.  It was a phenomenally wealthy city and 35 years before these verses were written, Laodicea was destroyed by this big earthquake and so the whole city was just laid waste.  Well, because they were wealthy, they were able to quickly rebuild and they built a beautiful extravagant city much like kind of the world that I live in.  They had huge theaters.  They had gigantic stadiums.  They had public baths that were very fancy and they had these beautiful shopping centers, these big malls.  I picture it maybe a little bit like the strip on Las Vegas.  It just seems like overnight, boom, it's just like this big just fantastic development that just kind of easily sucks you in to it because there are so many things to enjoy and that's what these people did.  They started to enjoy this world and they forgot about God.

 

They were actually a very wealthy city but they had a hard time getting water and so it had to be shipped in and it came from two places, one where there were hot springs but by the time the hot springs got there, they became lukewarm, they cooled off.  Another shipped in cold water by the time it got there it warmed up and it was room temperature and so it wasn't hot, it wasn't cold, it was lukewarm.  What's also interesting to me is this city, they had these huge religious festivals.  These big we're going to sacrifice and put on our big outward show for God and then to celebrate they would drink one of two kinds of drinks, like we do today.  They would serve hot drinks or cold drinks because hot tea is good, cold tea is good.  Hot coffee is good, cold coffee is good.  Hot milk is good before bed, cold milk is good.  No one comes in and goes hey, anybody got like a lukewarm glass of milk, one that's been sitting out all day, just kind of room temperature?  That's gonna make you throw up and right, and this is kind of what's going on here.  So, the important people got served the hot or cold drinks up front.  The people who weren't so important got the drinks in the end and by the time they got there the hot drinks had cooled down, the cool drinks had warmed up and it was nasty so that was very insulting to them.  Here's what Jesus said, verse 16.  He says, okay people, you guys in the church, so because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I'm about to what?  Jesus said I'm about to spit you out of my mouth.

14 To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Rev. 3:14-16

spit: emeo (em-eh'-o); spew, spit or vomit.

LUKEWARM BELIEF IS NOT CHRISTIANITY

-Crave acceptance from people more than acceptance from God.
-Rarely share their faith in Christ.
-Do whatever it takes to alleviate their guilt.
-Think more about life on earth than eternity in heaven.
-Gauge their morality by comparing to others.
-Want to be saved from the penalty of sin without changing their lives.
-Only turn to God when they are in a bind.
-Give whenever it doesn’t hinder their standard of living.
-Are not much different from the rest of the world.
-Want the benefits of what Christ did without conforming to who He is.
 

17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked… 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:17, 20

THE PEOPLE OF THIS CHURCH DID NOT KNOW JESUS

4.     There is a healthy emotional response to faith.

       ·         Spiritual emotion is valuable when it is in response to the truth.

       ·         Be rich in spiritual treasures

       ·         Learn to be needy for the things of Christ

       ·         Desire to have the clothes of the Kingdom

5.       Why you should be a fanatic:

·         You will see the unseen

·         You will invest in what is of greater value

·        God will take care of your needs

·         You will see the world in the right perspective

6.       A  Godly Fanatic:

     ·         Craves acceptance from God.

     ·         Shares their faith in Christ.

     ·          Let’s the sacrifice alleviate their guilt.

     ·         Think more about life in heaven than on earth.

     ·         Auge their morality by the cross of Christ.

     ·         Wants to be saved from the penalty of sin and change their lives.

     ·         Turns to God for every need.

     ·         Gives whatever Christ calls them to give.

     ·         Are different from the rest of the world.

     ·         Want the benefits of what Christ did and wants to conform to who He is