7 “Christian” Rules that Every Christian Ought to Break as Often as Possible by Jonathan Fisk

This is the fifth and last in a series of articles expounding on the quotes from the book 7 “Christian” Rules that Every Christian Ought to Break as Often as Possible, by Jonathan Fisk. As you read the quotes, honestly think about the answers to the following questions: Does this “belief” remind you of anything (denomination, preacher, philosophy) in our world today? Have you ever had this “belief”?

“The Ever-Lie: The belief that you find God. The counterfeit ‘Christian’ rule behind all other counterfeit ‘Christian’ rules, then, is nothing more than worship of yourself.” The Christian faith is not about you, it is about Jesus, the cross and the tomb. Yet, care must be taken when we examine our faith so that when we become aware of Jesus’ true love for us, we do not think it was something in us, which then focuses us back on ourselves.

We hear this stated many times and often we even say it ourselves, such statements as, “Well I did not reject Jesus,” as if we had some part in “accepting” Him. We have a difficult time expressing our faith without pointing to ourselves, because our whole society and world always focus our attention on ourselves. We are taught from early on that we need to make right decisions, right choices and so forth. It seems difficult to be able to express the Christian faith, one’s own faith, keeping faithful to our doctrine of justification, yet as always we get confused and we confuse others when we point to ourselves. We get it right when we are pointed back to the sure and certain source of salvation, the very Word of God.

How do we express our faith, pointing to Jesus and not confusing the doctrine of justification? By pointing to Jesus. I am saved because Jesus lived, died and rose for me. I am saved because Jesus wrote His name on me at my baptism. I am saved because Jesus gives me faith, forgiveness and eternal life. I am saved because Jesus does it all for me and gives it all to me.

“The only true Christian Rule: The Truth - Because your salvation is not dependent on you, but has all been done by Jesus and credited to you as righteousness, you will never ever land on the wrong side of God’s justice.” Thus, as always we get it right when we are pointed back to the sure and certain source of salvation, the very Word of God.

Our response of faith is to give thanks to Jesus. Our response of faith is to have an urgent and eager desire to be where the means of grace are so that we might be given even more of the gifts the Lord has to give. Our response of faith, worked in and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit is to live in our vocations serving God by serving others, to the praise and glory of His Holy Name.

7 “Christian” Rules that Every Christian Ought to Break as Often as Possible by Jonathan Fisk

This is the fourth in a series of articles expounding on the quotes from the book 7 “Christian” Rules that Every Christian Ought to Break as Often as Possible, by Jonathan Fisk. As you read the quotes, honestly think about the answers to the following questions: Does this “belief” remind you of anything (denomination, preacher, philosophy) in our world today? Have you ever had this “belief”?

“Revivalism: A philosophical movement arising in eighteenth- and nineteenth century Protestantism that believed an increase in spiritual interest and renewed life could be achieved in all churches through the introduction of so-called ‘new measures.’” “Restorationism: A nineteenth-century movement of Christians who sought to bring back, or ‘restore,’ the Church of Jesus Christ, which they believed had ceased to exist. Instead of ending denominationalism (as they had hoped), they only further splintered the American spiritual landscape, giving rise to such new denominations as the Plymouth Brethren (1827) and the Disciples of Christ (1849).” The Threefold Path to a Failed Church: The Idolatry of Oder, thinking that the right church structure will solve the declining church. The Idolatry of Worship, thinking that the right recipe for the way we worship will solve the declining church. The Idolatry of the Leader, thinking the right charismatic leader will solve the declining church. The problem with all these solutions is that the focus is on the wrong thing, in the wrong place, on the wrong person. The idol of spirituality is religion, to think that you can find God in the churches.

Some of the thinking that went into Revivalism and Restorationism can be seen in the so called Church Growth Movement and the new version the Missional Movement. One of the underlining ideas of these movements is that church “success,” usually meaning numbers of people or prosperity can be achieved apart from the very means God has given His Church to “succeed.” Of course, God never uses the word “succeed” when speaking about His Church, rather He gives us His Word and Sacraments as the means through which He grows His Church and His Church grows, not necessarily numerically, but in faith, in nurture and in admonition of the Lord. As a matter of fact our Lord even reminds us that as the end days approach the visible church will struggle.

Studies confirm that neither the polity of the church (the governing orders), nor the type of worship (tradition, blended, contemporary), nor the charisma of the leader are what achieve “growth” and “success” in the church. The question should be asked, “How does the Church grow?” and the answer is, “God makes the Church grow.” God grows His Church and He does so through the very means He has given to grow His Church, the means of grace, thus where the means of grace are eliminated, so is the ability for the church to thrive.

When we point to ourselves and our own reason and strength, our own imagination and ideas, we end up with false hope. As always we get it right when we are pointed back to the sure and certain source of hope and salvation, the very Word of God.

“Freedom: The belief that God’s will for you is that you choose your will for yourself, that His strongest presence is found in His absence, that His only law is that you become a law unto yourself. Freedom, then, is nothing more than worship of lawlessness.” “Freedom’s lie: You can’t really find God.” The idol of lawlessness is freedom, that you can find God in God’s absence.

“I don’t believe in organized religion.” Nice out we might think, although my usual response is that we are not really that organized. “I worship God in nature.” So, is that a worship of the creation rather than the Creator? Truly any excuse is a good excuse, yet that is what most excuses are, simply excuses.

God loves us and He has shown His love in His Son. God speaks this love to us through His very Word, the Bible. And in His Word He tells us not to cease meeting together, for our own benefit and for the benefit of others. Indeed, He has given us His Word as well as His Sacraments as means through which He promises to pour out on us all His good gifts and blessings. The antithesis of making regular and diligent use of the means of grace, and being where those means are distributed, is to refrain from Divine Service and Bible Class, thus refusing and rejecting the gifts God has to give, and ultimately putting our very souls in eternal peril.

As we have been saying over and over, we get it right when we are pointed back to the sure and certain source of salvation, the very Word of God.

Sunday, September 22 Preview

Luke 16:9 does not tell us that worldly wealth should be an end in and of itself, rather Jesus is telling us that we should use the gifts of this world that God has given us in order to help others. More specifically, Christians should use worldly wealth in order to increase Christian charity. One more way of saying that is to say that as Christians we are to use our worldly wealth responsibly, to help those in need, understanding that the wealth of this world comes from outside ourselves, from the Lord, and so we are to use it in service to Him and His Kingdom.

7 “Christian” Rules that Every Christian Ought to Break as Often as Possible by Jonathan Fisk

This is the third in a series of articles expounding on the quotes from the book 7 “Christian” Rules that Every Christian Ought to Break as Often as Possible, by Jonathan Fisk. As you read the quotes, honestly think about the answers to the following questions: Does this “belief” remind you of anything (denomination, preacher, philosophy) in our world today? Have you ever had this “belief”?

“The Enlightenment: A cultural movement in eighteenth-century Europe and America that sought to improve society through the advancement of knowledge.” “Rationalism: The belief that contact with God can be found through the clarity of your observations or the consistency of your logic. Rationalism, then, is nothing more than the worship of your thoughts.” The idol of rationalism is your reason which suggests that you can find God in your mind.

The Enlightenment and Rationalism, in a sense, put Religion on the back burner with the idea that knowledge can be observed and trusted apart from religion and that religion was something that could not be proven but must be believed. The post-modern world put science back on the back burner with religion because even science, as we know, can be wrong.

When it comes to who can be trusted to tell the truth we might ask, “Have human beings ever been wrong?” and of course the answer is “Yes!” But we might also ask, “Has God ever been wrong?” and of course the answer is “Never!” Thus, when there is a question and a discrepancy of and answer between what God says and what man postulates, I will side with God and suggest that man reevaluate his answer until it falls in line with what God says.

This approach, that man is fallible and God is infallible works in all areas of life, from translating and interpreting Scripture to science and archeology. We all have the same “facts,” or “data,” how we interpret those “facts” and “data” flows from our understanding (presuppositions) and trust in the most logical and reasonable explanation.

Here again, as always we get it right when we are pointed back to the sure and certain source of salvation, the very Word of God.


“Modernism: The belief that the new economic, social, and political conditions ushered in by the Industrial Revolution made more “traditional” forms of art, literature, architecture, and faith increasingly outdated.” “Romanticism: A cultural movement that reacted against the Enlightenment by validating personal experience as a significant source of authority.” “Postmodernism: Rising in reaction to Modernism, the belief that reality is only apparent, a variety of evolved social constructions, always subject to change.” “Pragmatism: The belief that knowledge found by evaluating the consequences of actions can create more efficient or “intelligent” future actions.” “Prosperity: The belief that the way God feels about you is measured by how good your life is right now. Prosperity, then, is nothing more than worship of health, wealth, and wellness. Prosperities lie: you can find God in this world.” The idol of prosperity is material things and the thought that you can find God in the world.

History bears out the fact that one generation rebels and pushes back against the previous generation, thus Romanticism pushes back at Modernism and Post-moderism pushes back against Romanticism. Pragmatism mediates with the idea that what works is the best, thus we have less interest in tradition, doctrine (beliefs and teaching), core values and the like and instead we want to do what works, i.e., “Build it and they will come.” Using what works, whether or not it is grounded in our beliefs brings “success” as defined by the one defining success, so that the ultimate goal is “prosperity” which implies success.

God’s covenant with Abraham, although a covenant concerning the Promised land, was broken by His people, the Children of Israel, yet that was not the main thing or the most important thing in the covenant. The main thing in the covenant was the promise of a Savior who would earn forgiveness and lay claim to an eternal inheritance, an eternal land in heaven. Thus, earthly prosperity truly means nothing because “You can’t take it with you.”

Here again, as always we get it right when we are pointed back to the sure and certain source of salvation, the very Word of God through which the gifts and promises of God are distributed, including an eternal inheritance in heaven.

The Christian and the Culture

I am not sure what Pastor White will be presenting during this conference, so I am not sure if my opening devotion will contradict, overshadow, or compliment his material, but one thing of which I am sure, God will work it out! Most people do not think in terms of culture or world views let alone what goes on in society outside our own circle of influence, thus Jay Leno is able to make fun of the, and forgive the term, ignorance of many people in his “Jaywalking” segment, speaking to and asking people about things outside their life experiences, which many people simply believe does not affect them.
 

I believe we all need to be very aware of our culture, not simply popular culture, but the various cultures as well as world views that we have in our nation, our country as well as the world. We need to be aware lest what happened in Germany and other countries happens to us, we wait until it is too late and we have lost everything. And believe me, Satan is alive and well wreaking as much havoc as he can in our world today.
 

Thus, our theme this weekend is to help us to understand and bear witness to the cultures in which we live and move and have our being. With that said, let us look at what God says.
 

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Gen. 6:5)
 

1I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths (2 Tim. 4:1-4).
 

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
 

24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
 

26For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error (Romans 1:18-27).
 

We live in a culture and society in which God is not accepted. We live in a culture and a society in which God is being pushed out. Yet as Christians, we know that Holy Scripture is true and God’s Word is true.
 

The religion of evolution and atheism cannot stand the truth of God’s Word. The immorality of homosexual, gay/lesbian, trans-gender community cannot stand the moralism of God’s Word. Satan is working overtime in our world even as we speak.
 

Would that the world would do Christianity the favor Christianity has afforded the world over the last too many years, live and let live, but that is not even the case anymore. Anything that is Godly is now target, not simply because it is Godly, but for the sole aim and purpose of destroying what is from and of God.
 

Most recent examples of the demise of this world is the fact that instead of starting their own organization, the homosexual community has joined the Boy Scouts of American and is working to make it into its own playground of immorality. Of course, this behavior does not surprise us in the church, as this behavior has been happening for years, people working to change the church into their image, I say this, rather than they going off and starting their own church and leaving us alone.
 

Indeed, every intention of the thoughts of man’s heart is evil continually.
 

What is our response? We heard the words of Paul to Timothy, to “be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
 

As Paul says to the Galatians, “1Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:1-2).
 

We have Jesus giving us His authority to speak as such and His promise that He will be with us when we speak, “16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:16-20).
 

We also have Jesus promise that He will give us the words to speak, “16“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you (Matt. 10:16-20).
 

And finally, we have Peter’s encouragement to always be ready to give a defense of our faith and to do so with gentleness, “13Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame (1 Peter 3:13-16).
 

As Christians, we have the greatest gifts of all, faith, forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation, earn for us and paid for by Jesus life, suffering, death and resurrection. Rather than simply “Keeping the faith,” we have God’s authority to give it away, to share it with others and His promise that He will be with us as we do so, even giving us the words to speak, with gentleness. Thus, we see the importance of having our finger on the pulse of the culture, having our hearts, our noses, our eyes in the Word of God and being ready to give an answer, a defense for our faith. And we have God’s promise that His Word will not return void. Yes, we may not be good at it, but God never asks us to be good, simply to be ready to give an answer with His promise that He will bring out the best in any given situation.
 

My prayer this weekend is that we might all be enlightened and encouraged so that we may all be ready to give a defense of our faith so that God’s Kingdom may be extended, that we His people might be strengthened and that praise and glory may be given to His Holy Name, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Let us Pray
Almighty and gracious God, send Your Holy Spirit to bless, with His grace and presence, all those here assembled in Your name. Bless our presenter with words of teaching, learning and wisdom. Bless our hearers with ears that hear. Bless our conference that Your Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline, may do the will of Him who loved her and gave Himself for her, even Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

7 “Christian” Rules that Every Christian Ought to Break as Often as Possible by Jonathan Fisk

This is the second in a series of articles expounding on the quotes from the book 7 “Christian” Rules that Every Christian Ought to Break as Often as Possible, by Jonathan Fisk. As you read the quotes, honestly think about the answers to the following questions: Does this “belief” remind you of anything (denomination, preacher, philosophy) in our world today? Have you ever had this “belief”?

“Mysticism: The belief that direct knowledge of God can be attained through your subjective experiences of God or something godlike. Mysticism, then, is nothing more than worship of your emotions.” The idol of mysticism is your emotion which suggests that you can find God in your heart.

Back in the late 60s and early 70s there was a “program” of Bible studies using what was called the serendipity approach, which, more or less was an approach for Bible study in which each participant was asked, “So, what does this passage mean to you?” This “emoting” was expounded in the Star Wars movies with the understanding that it was the feeling of the “force” that led one to act. A corollary to this approach is the post-modern belief that truth is relative, that what may be true for me may not be true for you and visa-versa, but what is true is what you feel to be true for you. As someone, and I do not remember who, said, if you were on an airplane and the pilot would announce over the loud speaker, “We are approaching the runway. I am going to turn off all the instruments, close my eyes and let the force lead my landing.” My response would be, “No, no, no, open your eyes, turn on all the instruments, or let someone else land the plane!”

Our emotions are often fickle and change according to our experiential experiences. In other words, as we move through the day and experience each part of the day, our emotions change. To make our emotions the root of our faith would lead us on a very traumatic roller coaster ride.

Rather than let our emotions, which are not very trustworthy, rule the day, we depend on the unchanging Word of God. It is God in His Word who gives us knowledge of Himself, and it is the Holy Spirit working through the very Word of God, when and where He pleases giving faith, forgiveness and eternal life. We always point people to God and His Word as the only sure and certain source of salvation.

“Moralism: The belief that access to God can be achieved through your personal efforts or attempts to improve yourself. Moralism, then, is nothing more than the worship of your works.” The idol of moralism is your vocation, that is that you can find God in your hands.

Today we hear moralism in those who would teach (and preach) that you can be the person God wants you to be; you can achieve being a morally good person on your own, without any help from God. Now certainly, to some extent people can be morally good and have a morally good character, but this social moralism does not and cannot achieve access to God. God’s command is quite clear, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). Since we are conceived and born in sin (Ps. 51:5) and since every intention of our hearts is evil all the time (Gen. 6:5), we cannot achieve access to God through our morally good character. And interestingly enough, to suggest that we can achieve access to God through our morally good character, if that were true, we would have no need for God, for Jesus, for salvation as we would indeed save ourselves.

Moralism, therefore, leads one either to despair because we cannot be the people God wants us to be, or it leads to works righteousness thinking that we have earned God’s good pleasure. Pointing back to God and His Word, He tells us that we are sinners and yet because of His love for us He sent His only Son, Jesus, to live perfectly for us in our place and then trade His perfect life for our imperfect life, our sins in order to pay the price for our sins on the cross. As always, we get it right when we are pointed back to the sure and certain source of salvation, the very Word of God.