Today's Sermon: " God-Traditions-Self"

God – Traditions – Self

Scripture: Second Corinthians 10:4-6; Mark 7:1-13; Ezekiel 18:24-26      

Good morning Strangers Rest. The title of my message this morning is “God – Traditions – Self” and I promise it is going to challenge you. Some people, when challenged with information, get defensive, angry or put off when they are presented information they do not want to hear or receive. Others become contemplative as they thoughtfully and genuinely evaluate what they are hearing. This morning, as in the past, I am the messenger and if you are challenged by what you about to hear, I pray that you will go home and seek God about it because how you respond to what you will hear today will impact the future of this Church.

As you listen to this message and contemplate what you are hearing, I want to remind you of what Paul told the Church in Corinth. He said and I will be reading from the Amplified Bible, “(4) The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. (5) We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ,  (6)  being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete. (Second Corinthians 10:4-6) As thoughts arise in your minds that may not agree with what you will hear from God’s Word this morning, I hope you will take them captive.   

I preached my first sermon here on February 18th. Prior to this opportunity being presented to me, I knew nothing about this Church, its history or its current situation. What you heard in that message was what God told me to tell you. The message was titled, “Your Steps Are Ordered” and in that message I described in detail the man that God would send to you as your next Pastor if you would accept him. After I delivered that message, many of you stated that you were ready to receive such a man and soon you will have the opportunity to do so. A lot has been said about what “you” want in a pastor. So this message, to close out 2024, will bring my first sermon here full circle. This Church is about to change in 2025 and what that change will look like will depend on you and how you respond to the person you select as your pastor. At the last business meeting, many of you professed, in agreement with one another, that you will get behind and support your new pastor and the changes that he might bring forth. Well, I hope you meant what you said because this morning I am going to give you some ideas as to what real change for Strangers Rest could look like.

In every Church there is a constant battle amongst the people. You have some who have put God first and foremost and then you have others who have placed themselves or the traditions of the Church first and foremost. Anyone who does not have God first will struggle with those who do and that struggle, oftentimes, is open and very public. When you look around this Church, what do you see? When you evaluate how people make decisions and how they choose to act, are you witnessing people who are putting God first and foremost or their Baptist traditions or what they want personally first and foremost? Church, you need to understand something and the gravity of what it means to you going forward: if your arms are not opened wide to God and inviting Him to partner with you in what you are doing as a Church (with Him leading the way of course), then you have a problem that cannot be solved and will not be solved until He is. And Strangers Rest, you already know that there is a problem here because you openly talk about it. So, the question going into 2025 is this: “Are you going to address the problem?”

Several months ago, I baptized two young girls on a 4th Sunday and that act caused turmoil with some of you to the point that you stopped speaking to me and others who “instigated” the act. Do you want to know why we received such pushback? What we did went against one of the traditions of this Church. Phone calls were made, and questions were asked. The bottom line was that this Church baptizes people on the first Sunday and there is a process in place to determine the worthiness of the candidate being baptized. We had two young girls who had given their lives to Jesus, and they wanted to show the world that they had done so by being baptized. Their baptism was not on the first Sunday as is customary according to the Church’s tradition. But let me assure you, it was absolutely in agreement with Scripture and with the heart of God. Sadly, the pushback did not stop there. I let it be known that I would like to serve them their first communion with their family members at the close of that service. Following your protocol, I was told to talk to the deaconesses who handles such things but was told by the person I talked to that they didn’t know where it was kept and if any was available. They referred to someone else and they too said they also did not know where it was kept. The last person I asked said they would find it and make sure it was available but that did not happen. No one could locate the sacraments. What I found out later was that there was communion available in the Church and I will let you figure out why it wasn’t available to the two young girls and their family members on that 4th Sunday.

I am not here this morning to air the Church’s dirty laundry or the attitudes present in some of you in this Church, but I will challenge you this morning in hope that everyone will evaluate where they stand on the changes that need to happen for this Church to move forward with God. I chose to share this example because it shows how deeply entrenched animosity and hostility are by some of you when traditions are not followed and that needs to be addressed. And just so you know, when word spread in the community about the turmoil, because you freely talked about it, one of the pastors in this district told me that his Church baptizes candidates as soon as possible regardless of the Sunday. Praise God! Like I promised, this message will challenge you and I hope for the better.

During the last business meeting, something was said that caught my attention that also gives me pause as to whether God, traditions or individuals are first in this Church. A person made the statement that the search committee needs to make sure that the candidates who are brought forward are Baptist preachers. This same person also stated that the Church has By-laws which need to be followed. I found that interesting, especially the statement about making sure the candidates are Baptist preachers. Why would a Baptist church hire a non-Baptist pastor who knows nothing about what Baptists believes? After that meeting I had the opportunity to listen to a group of Baptist pastors discuss the training of their associates. I am a big believer of associate ministers being trained and being prepared to Pastor, not just preach, but pastor, which is a different calling. In that discussion, it was stated that the associates needed to be trained in Baptist traditions and doctrine so that when a Church became available, they were ready. Why is it so important that they be trained in Baptist doctrine and traditions? Well apparently there have been Churches that have called pastors who did not fit the Baptist profile for a Baptist pastor and he started changing things. According to what was said, the next thing they knew the Church was no longer Baptist. I sat there thinking “Wow! This is a very real concern and fear.” Apparently if something is done in one Baptist church then there is a chance that it could spread to other Baptist churches. Now imagine if this Church put God and His word first and that began to spread to other Baptist churches. Would that not be a good thing?

So Strangers Rest, as this also seems to be a major concern for some of you, and I know you want to ensure that your next pastor is a Baptist pastor and knows the Baptist doctrine and traditions, I have a question for you. Do you know your Baptist doctrine? Do you know what makes a person a “good” Baptist? Do you? If you are going to demand that your next pastor be a “good” Baptist minister, shouldn’t you know what it means to be a Baptist as it relates to the Baptist doctrine? There are eighteen tenets of the Baptist confession and faith. Can you name them? If you do not know what Baptists believe, how can you select a “good” Baptist preacher? If you want your next pastor to agree with Baptist doctrine would it not make sense for you to know what they are so you will know it when you hear it. If I have time before I leave here, I will do a Bible study lesson on Baptist doctrine so that those of you who attend Bible study will know, but for this morning I will tell you what they are and then you can go and dig into them later.

Now, according to your By-laws, which was said during the business meeting that each of you should be following, Strangers Rest statement of beliefs are based on the “New Hampshire Articles of Faith.” If you are a Baptist and member of Strangers Rest Baptist Church, you profess to believe that the Scriptures teach that:

God: there is one, and only one, living and true God in the form three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Fall of Man: man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgressions fell from that holy and happy state.

The Way of Salvation: the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through Jesus Christ.

Justification: justification includes the pardon of sin, and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness.

Freeness of Salvation: the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel.

Regeneration: in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again.

Repentance and Faith: repentance and faith are sacred duties, whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy.

God’s Purpose for Grace: election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies and saves sinners.

Sanctification: Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness.

Perseverance of the Saints:  such only are real believers as endure to the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors. The only thing I will say about this is what God said as recorded in Ezekiel 18:24-26 which says, “(24) But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die. (25) Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? (26) When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies.” Death in these verses are spiritual death so I will let you figure the rest out.

The Law and Gospel: the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his moral government; that it is holy, just and good.

Baptism and the Lord's Supper: Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost. The Lord's Supper, by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ.

The Christian Sabbath: the first day of the week is the Lord's Day, or Christian Sabbath, and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining from all secular labor and sinful recreations, by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private and public, and by preparation for that rest that remains for the people of God.

Civil Government: civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for.

Righteous and Wicked: there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem.

The World to Come: the end of the world is approaching; that at the last day, Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave for final retribution; the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy.

A Gospel Church: the Scriptures teach that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its only scriptural officers are Bishops or Pastors, and Deacons whose Qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.

Now if you believe all of this, why are you not living it? You are supposed to be associated by a covenant in faith. By tradition, we read the Church covenant every first Sunday and then, right after reading it, some of you ignore it by not speaking to the person sitting across the aisle or behind you. In my Sunday school class, a question was raised as to why we read the Church covenant if people are not going to follow it? These are the young adults who hopefully will one day lead this Church asking this question. These are young adults who are watching how you live and how you are supposed to be demonstrating the love of God. Last week one of our deaconesses transitioned to her heavenly reward. When she became too sick to attend Church, how many of you leaders and officers called her to check on her. Deaconesses, she was one of your fellow board members who were terminally ill, did you check on her? If you are a leader of this Church and one of your fellow leaders is terminally ill and for whatever reason you do not find the time to check on them shame on you! That is the minimum of you your service to God as a leader! These are the attitudes that must change for this Church to move forward with God. I am challenging all of you to change because those of you who have placed God first in your lives you are going to have to take a stand for God to become first in this Church. A change is coming in 2025, and you must decide what that change will be. The final tenet of the Baptist faith pertains to God’s word and this is the focus of this challenge for you. As Baptists, you profess and believe that:

The Scriptures: the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit and that God is its author. Therefore, it is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. Paul told Timothy, “(16) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (Second Timothy 3:16-17)  By being Baptists you profess to believe that the Bible is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. In other words, everything you say, think and do should be in line with God’s Word. Are you doing that? This is the standard that you will be looking for in your next pastor, right? If God’s Word is to be first and foremost, then what happens when your traditions bumps head with His word? What happens when your desires and wants bumps head with His word? Right now, God’s word might lose out with some of you.

Listen to what Jesus told the Pharisees when they placed their traditions above God’s word and thus nullified it. Mark 7:1-13 records the following, “(1) Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. (2) Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. (3) For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. (4) When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. (5) Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, ‘Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?’ (6) He answered and said to them, ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. (7) AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.’ (8) For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.’ (9) He said to them, ‘All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. (10) For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO CURSES FATHER OR MOTHER, LET HIM BE PUT TO DEATH.’ (11) But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban,’ (that is, a gift to God), (12) then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, (13) making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.’” 

Jesus chastised the Pharisees for placing their unbiblical traditions above God’s word. Even though they were the teachers of the Law, they placed more importance on what they created versus God’s word and when their traditions opposed or bumped heads with God’s word, their traditions won out every single time! Strangers Rest, you cannot undo what was done in 2024. However, you can choose to enter 2025 with a different mindset. Your traditions need to take a backseat to the Word of God! Your traditions MUST take a backseat to the Word of God! Let me give you a few scenarios for you to think about as you continue praying about your new pastor and if you want the type of man that God wants to send to you.

Do you want a pastor who will come in and place God’s word first or your traditions and your desires first? Do you want a pastor who will come in seeking to do God’s will or your will? If you want a pastor who will place God’s word first and will focus on doing God’s will, then you need to prepare for true change. And, you need to decide if you are going to support that change. Let me give you some examples, not to scare you, but to prepare you for what a man who is focused on God will do.

That man will believe what Jesus said in Matthew chapter twenty-eight. Jesus said, “(19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20) The pastor who is following God will baptize every single Sunday if there are candidates. You see, Jesus didn’t say baptize on the first Sunday, he said baptize. A pastor following God might want to baptize when the candidate is available, which could be any day of the week. Would that be a problem for you? I hope you are ready for a change.

And then there is communion. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, but it wasn’t on a first Sunday. Paul wrote in First Corinthians chapter eleven, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.”  (First Corinthians 11:26) Paul did not say “as often as you do this on the first Sunday of the month…” He said as often as you do this. What happens if your new pastor is led by the Spirit of God to do communion every Sunday for a month? What happens if he wants to do it on a Wednesday evening during Bible study? What happens if he decides to do it on a 3rd Sunday versus the 1st Sunday? Will you support him? He will be standing on the word because the word says simply, “as often as you eat….” I hope you are ready for a change.

And what if he makes changes to the leadership of this Church? How are you going to respond if your new pastor comes in and is led by God to make changes to some of the deacons, deaconesses, trustees, teachers, media team, musicians, and other officers as he begins to get the Church focused on God and making His word the main priority of this Church? If he is following God and you do not want to follow him as he follows God, should you be a part of his leadership team? Should he and God have to fight with you about every decision that God wants to implement in this Church? I hope you are ready for a change.

What changes are you going to fight against as your new pastor and God come in and attempt to refocus this ship known as Strangers Rest? If you select a pastor whose sole focus is doing God’s will and placing His word above everything else, then I guarantee you that things around here are going to change and that change will include some movement of personnel. But, if you want a pastor that will come in, placate you and make you happy by keeping all of your traditions intact regardless of what god’s word says, then I can promise you that nothing will change. You can continue the path you’re on and then witness how it ends.

Paul wrote the following to the Church in Thessalonica, “(13) But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, (14) to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (15) Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” (Second Thessalonians 2:13-15) The Thessalonians are exhorted to stand fast in their Christian profession, to hold fast the traditions which they had been taught, or the doctrine of the gospel, which had been delivered to them by the apostle, by word or epistle. As the Bible as we know it, had yet to be completed, some things were delivered by the apostles in their teaching, under the guidance of the infallible Spirit, which Christians were bound to observe as coming from God. Later on, other things were committed to writing, as the apostle had written a former epistle to these Thessalonians. But what I want you to see is that the traditions that we should be honoring above all is the word of God and how it tells us the way to life. For example, the Bible says, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (First John 3:18) That means that our love is to be evident in how we act, how we live and not just what comes out of our mouths. This is why some of you falsely believe that you can love someone with words while treating them like dirt. Again, I hope for change in 2025.

And finally, Paul identified a commandment for Christians when it comes to us not wanting to follow the “traditions” of God’s word. He wrote, “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.” (Second Thessalonians 3:6) Some of the brethren were guilty of disorderly walking; they did not live like a professed Christian nor govern themselves according to the doctrines of Christianity. In other words they lived contrary to their professed faith. Please understand it is required of those who have received the gospel, and who profess a subjection to it, that they live according to the gospel. If they do not, they are to be counted as a disorderly person. How many of you “will be” counted as disorderly “when” this Church places God’s word first and foremost? Again, I hope you are ready for a change.

Strangers Rest, I have grown to love you and I sincerely want the best for you. But what I want for you is not important because it comes down to what you want. God sent me here to show you love and to pull back the curtain and allow you to see what He sees. I have done this simply by giving you God’s word and allowing you to determine for yourself if how you are living agrees with how God says you are to live. I have done what God has told me to do. As you close out this year, be honest and ask yourself what you want for 2025, individually and for this Church. If you do not have God and His word as most important in your life, are you willing to make changes to place Him there? For those of you who have placed God and His word first in your life and have witnessed what has been taking place in this Church for far too long, what are you going to do? In 2025, will you fight to ensure that God and His word is the number one priority of this Church? I hope you will for the sake of this Church and those who will follow you. I pray that you will be ready for the change coming in 2025.

Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.”  (Numbers 6:24-26)