Radically Relevant

Radically Relevant
Sermon Notes – Ps. Jim White
Sunday 4th July 2010
• Last week we discovered that the meaning of the word “radical”, is also a fitting definition of the word “repentance.” My bible dictionary calls repentance a “change of mind, a change of purpose and a change of life.” And that’s pretty radical.

• Where many versions of the bible use the word repentance – the Message Bible calls repentance a “radical life-change.” When we come to Jesus Christ, in true repentance, He will cause a radical exchange to take place in our lives. Hopelessness turns to hope – death to eternal life – sickness to health – rejection to acceptance – shame to glory...

• But this radical transformation is not about us then becoming so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good. It doesn’t mean we become irrelevant to the reality of everyday life – or irrelevant to the lives of our family and friends and those in our world that we are connected with. In fact, it means the opposite.

• I’ve titled my message today – “Radically Relevant”. But I’ve had to wrestle a bit with what that really means. In the end, I’ve stayed with what I believe God was saying to me – that the radical life-change that we are called to is so that we can become “radically relevant” to our world.

• To be relevant means to bear upon, and to be connected to... – and it comes from an original Latin word which means “to raise or to lift up.” It’s an incredible thought – but not surprising - that to be relevant, we are called to not only be connected to our world in a way that we have a positive influence on it – but we are to raise up and lift up our generation.

• And it’s a radical message that we carry – the gospel of Jesus Christ. But we’ve been called to bring the uncompromising message of salvation through the love of God, and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to the world we live in.

• But my wrestle first came when I immediately thought of 1Cor 1:23 – “...but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness.” Obviously, even back in Paul’s time, many people considered the gospel irrelevant!

• The religious Jews struggled - they couldn’t get it – that their Messiah – their Saviour, would come as a baby – born to a lowly peasant in a shed full of animals – to be raised as a carpenter’s son – challenge their religious doctrines – and suffer and die on a cross. They expected a knight in shining armour – a heavenly prince who would bring a revolution to overthrow the Roman empire, and sit on a royal throne on earth, to rule and reign with them forever...

• There are many today who can’t or won’t accept Jesus Christ as Lord because pride or self importance or self centredness gets in the road – and they refuse to humble themselves to anything that might challenge them to live differently. And for them, the relevance of Jesus Christ is reduced to a picture on a Christmas card.

• And it says that to the Greek, it was all foolishness. These were men who were wise in their own eyes, men of the arts and sciences, men of reading and knowledge. Their human reasoning – and their pride in it – would not allow them to entertain such a foolish notion as a Saviour who had to die on their behalf.

• Aren’t there still plenty of “Greeks” around today? Men and women so full of their own egos and human cleverness that they have no need of a Saviour?

• But the truth is, it’s those who are wise in their own sight that are actually the foolish ones. 1Cor 3:19 says that, “...the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” His thoughts and perspectives on life are so much higher and different to ours.

• I started thinking – how can we be relevant to these people, if they choose not to see?

• But in 1Cor 1 it goes on to say in verse 24, “...but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

• In other words – there are those who will hear and respond – and the message of Christ crucified will be the power and the wisdom of God to them.

• For us – to be radically relevant means that we do whatever it takes to reach the ones who will hear and respond. Because our message is relevant. Isn’t forgiveness relevant? Isn’t eternal life relevant? Isn’t healing of the soul relevant? Isn’t heaven relevant? Isn’t the choice between life and death relevant?

• Of course, all these things are extremely relevant. But for many, their own pride, idolatry of self, even religion, will cause a stumbling block – and for some it will all be seen as foolishness.

• Just an intervening note here – don’t get caught up with the statement – “those who are called” – as though some are not invited into the kingdom of God. We are all invited. 2Pet 3:9 says, “The Lord... is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

• This is God’s heart. That all of His children come to Him and receive His gift of grace. Being called and being chosen is not about God being picky – it’s about how we respond to the invitation...

• But there is no compromise in the message. The message is still a call to a radical decision and a radical life-change. We are relevant because the message is relevant, whether people choose to receive it or not.

• I remember Trish McDonald being blown away by something her son Nathan said on a worksite, where he was working as a labourer. A few of the men were challenging his Christian faith and asked him, “how can a loving God send people to hell?” His simple response was – people aren’t sent to hell – they make a choice to go there. It was a wise response for a young teenager just out of school. But it’s the truth. We either accept or reject the gospel and all that it means.

• On the one hand – it is a person’s choice. But on the other hand, we must do everything – whatever it takes – to at least make sure they have every opportunity to respond.

• If you are like me – you will have to push through the tragic reality that some will see Jesus as a stumbling block – and others as foolishness.

• If we are to do whatever it takes to break through to those without Christ in our world – perhaps we need to think about Paul, when he said in 1Cor 9:19-23 – “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law,[c] that I might win those who are under the law;

• “ 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God,[d] but under law toward Christ[e]), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as[f] weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”

• What did Paul mean here? I can tell you what he didn’t mean. He didn’t mean he would compromise the gospel. He didn’t mean he would change his message and methods with every new situation. He didn’t mean he would be a man pleaser.

• What he was saying, was that he would do whatever it took to help bring someone to Jesus Christ – to enter into their world and meet them where they are at. He would take whatever measures were necessary to share the life-changing good news of Jesus with someone who was lost.

• He did mean that he would be the servant of all. He would make no judgements or partialities, even though he knew that many would stumble with the truth because of their own self centred issues. And many would see it as foolishness. And yet Paul gave himself to all.

• What does it mean for you to become all things to all men?

• Perhaps, just like Paul, it means denying ourselves some freedom, for the sake of others. I know I could have a drink of alcohol and God wouldn’t blink an eyelid. But I choose not to for the sake of those who have fought a battle to get free of alcohol addiction – and for the sake of those who have had their lives turned to misery because of its abuse.

• At the same time – I can go out with someone to a restaurant and not give a second thought to them having a glass of wine or a beer with their meal. I’m free to be, or not be, in an environment with alcohol.

• Neither of these situations compromises the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Becoming all things to all men means not stressing and striving in situations and environments that might be different to what we are used to – and certainly not thinking that we have to change them – or become everyone’s saviour.

• Sometimes it’s more about “being” rather than doing. It can be a powerful thing simply to carry the presence of God into your workplace – or someone’s home – to let the light of Christ shine in an otherwise dark or empty place.

• But then there are times when the practical “doing” is the most powerful testimony to a radically changed and relevant life. Matt 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

• It reminds me a bit of the whole Mary and Martha scenario. Mary was the one who just wanted to sit at Jesus’ feet, and simply be with Him – gleaning from every word. Martha on the other hand took up the responsibility to get a meal prepared for her very special guest, and take care of all the stuff that needed to be done. She had a servant heart.

• The truth is, there’s place for both positions. Right at that moment however, Martha was being distracted by her chores, and Mary had chosen the better position. But there would be a time for Martha to serve. Thank God for Martha’s. Otherwise we might all live in “pigsties” and starve to death...

• Certainly, a church that just meets on a Sunday and expects people to come flocking in through the front doors – is not going to be a relevant church. There can be a mindset that the church is here simply for its members to enjoy being together – but the church was always meant to exist for those who are not yet part of it.

• I believe we need a revelation as individuals and as a church, that we are positioned for a reason. Positioned in this generation. Positioned in this city and region. Positioned as a church in the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit.

• Perhaps there needs to come a sense of responsibility for the timing of our existence. Remember what Mordecai said to Esther, when she was positioned as queen in the king’s court. She was there at a time when she had the opportunity to stand up and speak on behalf of her people, the Jews, and be an integral part in their deliverance as the people of God?

• Mordecai said to Esther, “...who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

• Doesn’t that speak to you of radical relevance? Relevant to God? Relevant to His plans and purposes for the very season of life we are in?

• Esther could have looked at her natural circumstances and thought, what on earth am I doing here? Why have I been taken from my people and placed in the courts of a foreign king? But in the end, she saved her people from destruction.

• We are also in a radically relevant position of being called to save our generation from destruction. They mightn’t all see it. They mightn’t all respond. But just like Esther, we need to take a “whatever it takes” attitude to reach those whose hearts are open.

• I know there are still people today who walk around with wristbands on, with “WWJD” – what would Jesus do? And the truth is, He would do anything – in fact He did everything to make a way for us to be reconciled to God the Father.

• A young lady was asked once, what do you think WWJD stands for? And she said, “Why Would Jesus Die?” It was a good answer. Because His death was the most relevant thing that He could ever do for us. What would Jesus Do? He would do whatever it takes to save us and reconcile us back to our Heavenly Father.

• Our Christian faith – and the reason we are gathered together as a church, is the most relevant thing we can offer our world. That’s why we have Seacoast Pantry. That’s the reason we are outreaching to Mullumbimby.

• It’s the reason we are launching into a whole new ministry in a couple of weeks, called “Mainly Music.” This is a place for young mums and dads to come and bring their preschoolers and have fun with music and songs together, and have some time together over coffee. It’s another connecting point with our community.

• But underpinning the whole thing is the belief that as a church, as Christians, we are relevant – radically relevant – because it’s a radical message that we carry.

• We will be here to love them with the love of God – to serve them – to be servants to all. To be all things to all men. To meet them where they are at. To agree with them that their children, their family, is important and precious and worth investing time and money and effort and relationship into.

• How can you be a radically relevant Christian? How can you join with the church – your church – in being a radically relevant presence in our city and region? Are you willing to do whatever it takes? Are you willing to do what Jesus would do?

• Not to die for them – but to live for them – to become a “living sacrifice” for this world we live in. Afterall, we are born and positioned for such a time as this.

• And do you know what it’s for in the end – it’s for the gospel’s sake. It’s for salvation’s sake. It’s for the power and the glory of God. In the end, it’s not about a program – a ministry – or even a church.

• It’s about the love of God for all of His children. Radical love, radical hope, radical mercy, radical grace. A change of mind, a change of purpose and a change of life. There’s no denying – our world needs to turn around – and we are the ones who are called and positioned to see it happen!