10-11
Aug 2019, Christ Mountain Top
Aug 2019, Christ Mountain Top
Praying
the Scripture, Psalm 88, selections
the Scripture, Psalm 88, selections
Children,
Mark 1.14-20
Mark 1.14-20
Message,
Jonah 2.1 – 4.1
Jonah 2.1 – 4.1
Last
week: the accidental evangelist, how NOT to witness
week: the accidental evangelist, how NOT to witness
Today:
the hypocritical evangelist, how NOT to pray
the hypocritical evangelist, how NOT to pray
Next:
the suicidal evangelist, how NOT to be happy
the suicidal evangelist, how NOT to be happy
Then:
Jonah and Jesus
Jonah and Jesus
Hypocritical
evangelists? We’ve seen them…
evangelists? We’ve seen them…
The
TV preachers who encourage extravagant generosity yet live in extravagant
wealth.
TV preachers who encourage extravagant generosity yet live in extravagant
wealth.
Those who select certain sins to emphasize, as long as they don’t have to convict themselves.
An internal disconnect,
beliefs/values not aligned with practice
beliefs/values not aligned with practice
A created distance, between the evangelist
and others
and others
exceptional:
the rules that apply to you do not apply to me
the rules that apply to you do not apply to me
judgmental:
I am better than you, and you’re a failure
I am better than you, and you’re a failure
Hypocritical
driver’s ed teacher, bus driver: Do what I say, not what I do. Any disconnect?
But he was MUCH better than the bus driver who smoked a joint before driving us
home. And, that comparison is at the root of hypocrisy’s distance and
disconnect, a huge part of hypocrisy’s defense.
driver’s ed teacher, bus driver: Do what I say, not what I do. Any disconnect?
But he was MUCH better than the bus driver who smoked a joint before driving us
home. And, that comparison is at the root of hypocrisy’s distance and
disconnect, a huge part of hypocrisy’s defense.
Hypocrisy
is a part of life, woven into our lives, and most of the time we do not
recognize the different faces we wear.
is a part of life, woven into our lives, and most of the time we do not
recognize the different faces we wear.
Dad is a chauvinist, the nice kind.
He goes to a woman doctor. He’s open to a woman being president. He loves and
respects his wife. He holds the door open. He’s even open to a woman preacher.
He goes to a woman doctor. He’s open to a woman being president. He loves and
respects his wife. He holds the door open. He’s even open to a woman preacher.
Dad’s compliment to Robin: “You think like
a man.”
a man.”
“You’re such a chauvinist, Dad.” “No. I’m
not. Well, I guess I am.”
not. Well, I guess I am.”
Story of racism and welcome in a local church
OR
– Elias Chacour, memorial wall
– Elias Chacour, memorial wall
White privilege is a real thing
And like other forms of hypocrisy, we too
easily minimize
easily minimize
Hypocritical
evangelist and How NOT to pray:
evangelist and How NOT to pray:
How
NOT to pray?
NOT to pray?
But both prayers (Jonah, Nineveh) are
answered!
answered!
Jonah
misses the true function of prayer. True prayer is about:
misses the true function of prayer. True prayer is about:
NOT to get God to do what we want
(mechanical)
(mechanical)
but to help us become aligned with the heart
of God
of God
In
the first case, answers are accidental to our praying
the first case, answers are accidental to our praying
purely the grace and the glory of God
In
the second case, answers are incidental to our praying
the second case, answers are incidental to our praying
when compared with God’s transforming work
Yet,
God answers
God answers
Nineveh
is simply ignorant spiritually. God describes them metaphorically in chapter 4
as people who “do not know their right hand from their left.”
is simply ignorant spiritually. God describes them metaphorically in chapter 4
as people who “do not know their right hand from their left.”
Even so, God answers
Jonah
not only misses the true function of prayer. He is hypocritical in his prayer
itself: “Deliverance belongs to the LORD”
not only misses the true function of prayer. He is hypocritical in his prayer
itself: “Deliverance belongs to the LORD”
But, only Jonah, not Nineveh should be
delivered!
delivered!
There’s the judgment of hypocrisy showing
up
up
Disconnect, distance, defense
Jonah
as comedy
as comedy
· This
preacher has his own deathbed conversion: “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried.”
(place of the dead)
preacher has his own deathbed conversion: “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried.”
(place of the dead)
· This
preacher spends three days and three nights in solitary and has his own
jailhouse conversion
preacher spends three days and three nights in solitary and has his own
jailhouse conversion
Yet,
he doesn’t seem any better for all that conversion and salvation.
he doesn’t seem any better for all that conversion and salvation.
· He’s
just as mad after as he was before.
just as mad after as he was before.
· He’s
just as hateful and racist toward the Ninevites.
just as hateful and racist toward the Ninevites.
You’d
think he’d be happy to have a successful and high profile mega church. You’d
think he’d be jumping for joy at the over 120,000 people who listen and repent.
But no: “this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry” (4.1).
think he’d be happy to have a successful and high profile mega church. You’d
think he’d be jumping for joy at the over 120,000 people who listen and repent.
But no: “this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry” (4.1).
Judgmental:
Who are you to judge someone else’s
servant? To his own master he stands or falls (Romans 14.4a-b).
servant? To his own master he stands or falls (Romans 14.4a-b).
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the
one who is able to save and destroy. But you – who are you to judge your
neighbor? (James 4:12)
one who is able to save and destroy. But you – who are you to judge your
neighbor? (James 4:12)
Judgmental living is IDOLATROUS
Distance:
Jonah and Nineveh
Jonah and Nineveh
So when you are offering your gift at the
altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
leave your gifts there beside the altar and go; first be reconciled to your
brother and sister, and then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-24).
altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
leave your gifts there beside the altar and go; first be reconciled to your
brother and sister, and then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-24).
Husbands … show consideration for your
wives in your life together … so that nothing may hinder your prayers (1
Peter 3:7).
wives in your life together … so that nothing may hinder your prayers (1
Peter 3:7).
Jonah
is doing everything wrong, and his prayer is still answered
is doing everything wrong, and his prayer is still answered
Nineveh
is spiritually ignorant, yet their prayer is answered
is spiritually ignorant, yet their prayer is answered
glad about that graciousness of God
“deliverance belongs to the LORD”
