[Scripture: Matthew 11:7-15]
I want to talk about Christian spirituality. As we all know, each person has their own unique personality. We judge a person’s personality and character by his words, actions, and behaviors. Likewise, every Christians has their own spirituality. The definition of Christian spirituality is a set of beliefs, values, and practices of life that reflect the teachings of Jesus.
Christian spirituality in Wesleyan theological language involves holiness of the heart and life, also called Christian perfection. John Wesley said that Christian perfection is not moral perfection, but it is the perfection of heart. Therefore, the definition of Christian spirituality is to keep the right motivation in our heart. It is the deeper inner voice of our heart.
Today’s passages begin with questions that Jesus asked his disciples in verse 7. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?” In other words, Jesus really asked them the question, “What was your intention and motivation when you went to the wilderness?” because Jesus knew that many of the disciples of him were once followers of John the Baptist. When John proclaimed the gospel of repentance in the wilderness, many people came to listen to John’s messages.
Jesus continued to say in verses 7-9, “Why did you go into the wildness? To see the spectacular scenery or to see the performance and fashions of the people? If you want to see a human performance, you are in the wrong place.” Jesus made it clear that the wilderness is the place to see the prophet who proclaimed the Kingdom of Heaven.
This is the same question that Jesus is still asking Christians. When you come to church, what is your motivation? What are you expecting when you come to church to worship? If you want to see colorful decorations and exciting performances, you need to go to an art gallery or museum or pop concert. However, if you come to listen to the Gospel and be part of the Kingdom of God, Jesus will say that is the right motivation to come to church.
God Began a New Religion
In verse 12, Jesus revealed the heavenly secret about how to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said, “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” The people of Israel believed that they were the chosen people because God elected Abraham and promised that Abraham’s descendants would soon be God’s chosen people. So the people of Israel truly believed that they needed nothing to become God’s people because they inherited the privilege of being chosen from birth. Jesus said it was true, but that was before John the Baptist.
After John the Baptist, God closed the old way and opened a new way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Hebrews 10:20 says, “It is a new and living way open to us by his body.” In other words, children born according to the genealogy are not children of God, but children born through the power of the Holy Spirit are the true children of heaven.
There were two kinds of religious people in the day of Jesus. The first group of people were born as Jews and worshiped God in the temple according to the Law of Moses. They were born into Jewish families, were circumcised at a young age, and were lifetime members of the local synagogue, but they did not have any personal relationship with Jesus.
The other group were born-again Christians who were born Jewish but converted to follow Jesus Christ with a sincere, genuine heart and life. Jesus said that such a person could see the Kingdom of Heaven.
The story of Nicodemus gives us an example in John 3. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and asked how to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” After that conversation, Nicodemus became a born-again Christian. The evidence is in John 19:39 when almost every disciple ran away from Jesus after his crucifixion. Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds, and took the body and buried it.
What Kind of Christian are You?
There are two kinds of Christians. The first group are born Christians. They are born into Christian families, are baptized at a young age, and have been members of the Church for many years, but they are not interested in spiritual maturity.
Christian Smith, a sociology professor at Notre Dame, identified that the younger generation’s faith in America was like “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.” The central goal of their life was to live a good and happy life and be a good, moral person. Dr. Smith said, their view of God is that He’s “something like a combination Divine Butler and Cosmic Therapist: God’s always on call, takes care of any problems that arise, professionally helps his people to feel better about themselves, and does not become too personally involved in (their life).”
The other second kind of Christian is a born-again Christian who decided to follow Jesus. Their ultimate goal is to keep their heart pure before God and intentionally try to listen to the teaching and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” This means there is no longer the privilege of enjoying the Kingdom of Heaven from birth, but each individual can enter the Kingdom of Heaven through faith in Jesus Christ and responsible actions through the Holy Spirit.
If you were born into a Christian family, you should be born again by the Spirit into Christ through the sanctifying process. Wesley said it is “The Scripture Way of Salvation.” He understood salvation as a process of achieving spiritual maturity to unite with God through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. The ultimate goal of Christian salvation in Ephesians 4:13 is “to reach unity in the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Please continue to work out our complete salvation until we see Jesus face to face.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, being born in Christian family, keeping Christian tradition even from infancy, and being baptized as an adult is not a sign of being born in water and the Spirit. If you have someone in your family who was born in a Christian family and baptized in the Church but does not act and practice Christian faith anymore, here is good news for them.
I have a biblical example of how to break down the walls of heaven for them. In Mark 2:1-4, it says, “When Jesus went to Capernaum, so many people were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door.” At that time, there were four people who carried a paralytic man. When they could not get near Jesus, they removed the roof above him and made an opening and let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
If there is someone who is not spiritually active, like a person lying in bed, it is time to grab the four corners of that person’s bed and bring them into the presence of Jesus with our prayers and good deeds. Jesus will tell them that they are forgiven and share his joy with them.
“Forceful men lay hold of it” means that it is not only an individual’s activity and responsibility, but also it is a community activity and responsibility. Our church stands here to do the work of God together.
2021.11.14. Pastor Cloud Poy
@ Photo on Unsplash
