Why Jesus makes God not a Hypocrite

Summary:

1.     God made a contract with us that He is very serious about. (Deuteronomy 29:9-29)

2.     God seems like a hypocrite because He says and means two very opposite mottos.

3.     God isn’t a hypocrite because He gave us Jesus.

Intro:

Why is Christianity so confusing?

The answer is because it’s paradoxical. It’s self-contradicting. God is a hypocrite. These statements are all true about Christianity, which is why I think many people choose not to believe in God and the Christian faith.

Here is the ultimate secret to God though. He is a hypocrite. Except, he isn’t.

Here is why God isn’t a hypocrite and more like a uniquely honest non-hypocrite. A hypocrite is someone who says one thing but does another. God says one thing and means it. BUT He also says the opposite of that first thing he said, and means that too. For example, God says, “break my rules and you go to Hell (Deuteronomy 29:19-26)(2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)(Matthew 13:49-50).” But he also says, “break my rules and I’ll forgive you…you’ll be saved…come to Heaven (1 John 1:9-10)(Romans 10:9-13)(John 14:1-4).” Those are two very different statements. The mystery behind God is that He means both of these statements at the same time. How can He do that?

Body:

The answer to this question comes from the Bible in Genesis chapter 15, referred to as “The Lord’s covenant with Abraham.” Here is a quick summary of the chapter:

1.     God and Abraham are making a covenant (a contract that makes “binding mutual promises and vows to be faithful and loving no matter what the circumstances”) about how Abraham, who is 75+ years old and childless, will have a son with his wife Sarah. God promises that Abraham will also have many descendants for generations to come after he dies.

2.     Abraham asks if God really means this. Abraham asks this because with a covenant, if someone breaks it then there are very bad consequences.

3.     In other words, Abraham asks God if He (God) will punish himself if He (God) breaks this covenant. God says yes.

4.     He then tells Abraham to cut animals into pieces and line the pieces up in two parallel lines. This was an old-time custom where a master would make his servant walk through an alley of cut up animal pieces while making a contract…basically making the servant state, “If I break this contract then I deserve to be cut up into pieces.”

5.     So revisiting Abraham’s question, how does Abraham know God will stay faithful (that God will destroy himself (God) if He (God) breaks the contract)?

6.     At the end of Genesis chapter 15, the Bible says that after Abraham made the alley of animal pieces, God came down as fire and passed (“walked”) through the alley of animal pieces. This is good. God showed that He was willing to face the consequences if He himself (God) broke the contract and didn’t give Abraham a son or heir. HOWEVER, He never made Abraham walk through the contract-binding alley of animal pieces. Why didn’t he make Abraham walk through it?

Conclusion:

In not making Abraham walk through, God basically told Abraham, “See, I signed this contract by walking through this alley of animal pieces, but I also signed this contract in place of you. If I break my own rules, then I will destroy myself. If you break my rules, then I will destroy myself instead of destroying you (Matthew 27: 32-50)(John 19:28-30).”

That statement is the whole basis of the Christian faith and is why Jesus is the ultimate answer to God’s mysterious and paradoxical ways (John 14:6). If God messes up, He will destroy Himself. If we as humans mess up and don’t follow His rules (if we sin), then God will destroy Himself as Jesus instead of us. We just have to believe in Jesus in order for this to work (Romans 10:9-13).

If God will destroy Himself as Jesus for us, then can’t we mess up as much as we want and He’ll still forgive us and die for us anyway, allowing us to avoid Hell? The answer is yes but that doesn’t mean we should take advantage of that. It would be utterly rude and disrespectful and evil not to respect someone who died for you. Jesus died for you. God died for you. God died for us. Thus, we should obey God’s laws and his commands the best we can with intentionality to not break them. At the same time, we should have peace knowing that He will forgive us even when we mess up and break His rules. If we have this mindset, then we’ll have a loving relationship with God (Deuteronomy 7:9). We’ll respect Him. He’ll love you (Proverbs 8:17). He’ll love us. He already loves us (John 3:16-17)(Romans 5:8-11)(John 15:12-17). He’ll give us the opportunity to go to Heaven so that we can meet Him face to face and live in a place of peace and joy with Him forever (Revelation 21:3-8).

This is why I believe in a God and a religion that seems hypocritical. And I trust God because He gave us Jesus.

-Brody Forbes

*Based on the sermon “A Covenant Relationship” by Tim Keller

http://podbay.fm/show/352660924/e/1381345988?autostart=1

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by Chris Tomlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I

My American Dream

After watching the presidential debate, I thought about my American dream. What is my American dream? I realized I don’t have an American dream, but rather just....a dream. It doesn’t deal with materialism or power or even social status. My dream is to be in Heaven one day with God who loves me and where no evil exists. But while I’m living in the United States of America, here are three American dreams of mine motivated by what God has told me in the Bible.

DREAMS

1) Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I love this Bible verse because it tells me to store up treasures in heaven. Thus, I go about my life seeking out joyous experiences and loving relationships, not cars, clothes, or the latest technology. My dream is to live in a nation where people focus on storing up treasures for Heaven and not treasures for their basement.

2) Matthew 8:24-27

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

I don’t want my house to be built on the sand of the United States of America. My dream is to build my house on the rock of a country that acts out Christian principles.

3) Mark 12:30

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

This verse inspires me treat everybody with kindness, compassion, and empathy. My dream is to live in a country where everyone loves God with all their heart and each other as themselves.

The United States of America is a country I am thankful to live in. It gives me freedoms that other people don’t have. I just wish we as Americans would seek out the wisdom of the Bible, whether we believe in God or not. I hope we can store up for ourselves treasures that last, not material goods that wither away. I hope we create policies that motivate us to act out Christian principles. But if anything, I hope that we treat our fellow citizens and non-citizens with respect and love, whether they have a different ethnicity or even a different religion. That’s my American Dream.

-Brody Forbes

John 3:16

Romans 10:9-10

John 15:9-12
 

100 Random things I am Thankful For

Nov. 26, 2015

100 things I am Thankful For

1.     I am thankful that I can take a breath every day without feeling any pain.

2.     I am thankful I can walk.

3.     I am thankful that God loves me and saved me

4.     I am thankful for my family

5.     I am thankful that I have brothers to hang out with

6.     I am thankful that I was able to play sports growing up

7.     I am thankful that I live in West Lafayette

8.     I am thankful that I have a house that is warm and doesn’t leak

9.     I am thankful that I have running water to take a shower, wash my hands, and quench my thirst

10.  I am thankful that Alex bought me a Bible my freshman year of college

11.  I am thankful to have gone through the West Lafayette school system

12.  I am thankful to go to Indiana University and for the opportunity to be a college student

13.  I am thankful for all the vacations I’ve been on

14.  I am thankful for being a part of IUDM

15.  I am thankful for the experiences I’ve had through Cru

16.  I am thankful to be a brother in Alpha Sigma Phi and for all that I’ve learned from my brothers

17.  I am thankful to be a son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend

18.  I am thankful for all the amazing experiences I’ve had as a Camp Tecumseh camper and counselor

19.  I am thankful for washing machines

20.  I am thankful for my bed

21.  I am thankful for the refrigerator

22.  I am thankful for whoever invented the toilet and for the person who had the even better idea to attach sewage pipes to it

23.  I am thankful for blue skies

24.  I am thankful for my bike

25.  I am thankful for my roommates Nick and Michelle

26.  I am thankful for living in the Great State of Indiana

27.  I am thankful for my van Winniefred

28.  I am thankful for my dad letting me use his guitar

29.  I am thankful for music

30.  I am thankful for laughter

31.  I am thankful for snuggies

32.  I am thankful for sweatshirts

33.  I am thankful for couches

34.  I am thankful for toothbrushes

35.  I am thankful for my dogs Murray and Sebastian

36.  I am thankful for owning a laptop

37.  I am thankful for being able to learn

38.  I am thankful for being able to run

39.  I am thankful for girls

40.  I am thankful for my friends

41.  I am thankful for being able to dance

42.  I am thankful for knowing what it feels like to tackle someone on the football field, make a sharp pass to my teammate on the basketball court, and catch a fly ball in the outfield

43.  I am thankful for my mom and the way she cares for me

44.  I am thankful for when my dad makes me laugh

45.  I am thankful for Keegan always keeping me on my toes

46.  I am thankful for Aidan always being excited to see me

47.  I am thankful for my grandparents coming to all my sports games

48.  I am thankful for all my aunts, uncles, and cousins

49.  I am thankful for orange juice

50.  I am thankful for good cereal

51.  I am thankful for milk

52.  I am thankful for my backpack

53.  I am thankful for gum

54.  I am thankful for the sun

55.  I am thankful for grocery stores

56.  I am thankful for the radio

57.  I am thankful for summer

58.  I am thankful to know what it feels like to go tubing on a lake

59.  I am thankful for having gone skiing

60.  I am thankful when someone gives me a smile or a hug or a compliment

61.  I am thankful for books

62.  I am thankful for bike lanes

63.  I am thankful for sidewalks

64.  I am thankful for knowing what it feels like to kick a fieldgoal

65.  I am thankful for underwear

66.  I am thankful for shoes

67.  I am thankful for silverware and plates and cups

68.  I am thankful when the birds chirp

69.  I am thankful that squirrels don’t attack me

70.  I am thankful that mosquitos aren’t six feet long

71.  I am thankful that I live in the United States and have the freedom to write this among all the other freedoms I have

72.  I am thankful for Wrigley Field

73.  I am thankful for The Fray

74.  I am thankful for when it rains and how peaceful it is

75.  I am thankful for knowing what snow looks like

76.  I am thankful for Jesus dying for me

77.  I am thankful for Microsoft word

78.  I am thankful for Wikipedia

79.  I am thankful for campfires

80.  I am thankful for my church

81.  I am thankful for electricity

82.  I am thankful for the light bulb

83.  I am thankful for having lived for 21 years

84.  I am thankful for when my mom would read to me as a kid

85.  I am thankful for when my dad would play me guitar as a kid

86.  I am thankful for fishing

87.  I am thankful for shade under a tree on a hot day

88.  I am thankful for bug spray

89.  I am thankful for sunscreen

90.  I am thankful for carpet because it automatically makes a room cozier

91.  I thankful for the stars on a clear summer night

92.  I am thankful for singing

93.  I am thankful for being able to read

94.  I am thankful for comedians

95.  I am thankful for doctors

96.  I am thankful for teachers and for all of those people who have taught me something

97.  I am thankful for sadness

98.  I am thankful for happiness

99.  I am thankful for janitors and secretaries

100. I am thankful that you had the curiosity to read what I’m thankful for; Hopefully you are thankful for things too. Happy Thanksgiving.
- Brody

The Comparison Myth

Myth: If I succeeded like him or her, looked like him or her, possessed his or her personality, status or achievements, I would be satisfied, content, and happy.

           

Intro:

Although this myth can apply to anyone, it is especially prevalent at universities where competition is walking past us college students day in and day out. In college, many undergraduates have this urge to constantly compare themselves to other students. They are driven individuals who want to be the best of the best. However, if we have aspirations to gain what others have, then we lose focus of what God really wants for us. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” During this talk, I will outline how comparing ourselves to others’ success, looks, and possessions doesn’t lead us to happiness but how seeking out God’s Will does. And the reason I want to share this is because I strongly believe true satisfaction comes from a relationship with God.

Success:

Success is very desirable in this world because it gives us something to be proud of. It separates us from others, making us feel special and more talented than the common man. The success that I want to focus on is the prestige that comes from accumulating lots of money. 

Most of us in college are striving for a diploma because we want to get a job, make money, and use it how we see fit.  However, the pedestal that young entrepreneurs are put on these days puts even more pressure on us coming out of college to make big bucks. The recent phenomena of these twenty something year old geniuses creating a social media app and making billions of dollars is tantalizing. Many say they are set for life. But I challenge you to think about what life they are set for. Are they focused on the earthly life or eternal life? Money is not a bad thing, but let’s remember that we shouldn’t make it our everything. Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” And further in Matthew 6:24 it says, “You cannot serve both God and money.” Hopefully we make God our treasure and surely he will reward us in Heaven.

Looks:

The next comparison I want to talk about is looks. Looks are probably the easiest way we compare ourselves to others. Looks aren’t obtained like money though. We are all born with specific characteristics and those features develop overtime to make us the unique individuals God intended us to be. Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” God made us in a beautiful way and that should be enough to bring us satisfaction with our appearance. 

 However, I want us to take caution not to fall into the status that is often associated with Indiana University. Whether it’s true or not, IU tends to be a sweet spot for good-looking people. For instance, let’s do what this talk is supposed to be disproving and compare ourselves to Purdue. Two years ago at a basketball game, an IU male student wrote on a sign, “Purdue. Keeping ugly girls out of Indiana since 1869.” Obviously the joke is meant to be humorous, but it reflects the belief among IU students, especially males, that IU has lots of attractive people on its campus. And as fellow IU students, we might feel pressure to uphold that reputation.

But let’s go back to scripture and read what God says. For guys, we might feel conscious if we’re not exercising or making sure our muscles look tight and chiseled. But 1 Timothy 4:7-8 says, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” We can still make it important to be fit, but let’s train to be men of god.

For girls, appearance tends to be an even more important attribute than it is for guys. But in 1 Peter 3:3-4 it states, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” Obviously, you are allowed to wear jewelry and clothes and make your hair look pretty. And those things do make girls look beautiful. But if you are spending hours and hours fixating over those things, I think God would much rather have girls spend those hours seeking Him. And as a guy myself, it is attractive to me when I see a girl who loves seeking God and is confident in the way she looks, no matter what she’s wearing.

Possessions:  

            The last point I want to bring up is how we think about possessing what others have. This is similar to success and looks, but it can relate to anything. The common misconception is “If I had what he or she has, I would be so much happier.” How many of you have seen something someone has, whether it’s their car, a dress, or their popularity, and said “I want that.?” I sure have. Often I’d think to myself, “Man. If I had his height and athletic ability, maybe I’d be a college athlete.” Or, “If I was as sociable around girls as him, maybe they’d like me more.”

            Maybe you have that one person in your house who seems to have it all. They’re nice. They get good grades, and they seem to have peace even when they’re stressed out. Maybe you’re like, “Wow, I wish I could have whatever is making them so happy.” But again, God doesn’t call us to compare ourselves to others. He doesn’t want us to take the paths of others or be jealous of someone else’s status. He wants us to go on our own journey and follow his lead. For in Matthew 16:26 it says, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” I love this verse because it challenges us to think about what we really want out of life. Do we want to live horizontally and gain everything only to have it perish, or do we want to have a vertical mindset knowing that God’s eternal love is worth it?

Conclusion:

To conclude, I want to challenge us to see that comparing ourselves to others will not bring us happiness. When we see someone and say, “I’d have such a better life if I succeeded like her, looked like him, or possessed her status,” let’s stop and put our lives in perspective. Are we longing for God’s Will for our life or are we pursuing personal ambitions? I’ll close with this verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”