Identity Crisis

1 Corinthians 10:31- 1 Corinthians 11:3 "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. [32]  Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: [33]  Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.  [1 Corinthians 11:1] Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. [2]  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.  [3] But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."

In a recent survey of Christians it was discovered that most believers come away from Church dissatisfied and feeling incomplete. Church growth today is largely a matter of believers going from one Church to another, seeking a better place to be. Pastors have encouraged members from other Churches to join with theirs in an attempt to inflate the numbers, to show growth, to hold on to the pulpit at any cost.

What is the source of this dissatisfaction? I know, in my heart of hearts, that Jesus is the same today as He was 2000 years ago. When I leave Church I should leave energized, empowered, and look forward to coming back every time the doors are opened. I remember, as a young Christian, that sense of despair every time the service was about to end. I remember thinking, praying, that the meeting could go on for one more hour, one more minute. I remember ...
 

William P. MacKey was a medical student at the University of Edinburgh, and he was also the president of an atheistic group called "The Hellfire Club". One night he and his atheistic friends were mocking the Lord's Table, and MacKey held up a glass of wine and jeered "the blood of our Lord Jesus". Immediately something came over him. He turned pale and started to tremble, for in his hands it looked like the wine was turning into literal blood. He fled the meeting, found his mother, and that night they prayed and he became a Christian. One day at a meeting he was called to lead the prayer, and MacKey prayed "We praise thee, O God, for the Son of thy Love; for Jesus who died and is now gone above". God gave through him, William MacKey, one of our hymns that will never die.

Do you know why you're here today? Do you know who you are? If I were to ask you, "Are you a Christian?", I have no doubt that you'd answer yes. You see, this would be the expected answer. But then I ask, "Why are you here?", and I'd probably get a variety of answers. The most simplest answer would be "because this is my Church", but let me tell you, this is a wrong answer. This is not your Church. You see, I feel the Lord is telling me the reason we have so much dissatisfaction among members of the Church today is because we have an identity crisis. We have forgotten who we are. Scientists tell us that we are primates, descended from the apes, and some of you have started believing this bilge. That we're animals, creatures. That's no what we are. You see, this isn't your Church, but each and every one of you are the Church. Do you see what I mean? This isn't a place where you just come - no, Church isn't a place where you come - but you are the Church when you come together, wherever together might be, in the name of our Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 10:31  "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

The first way that the Church has slipped today (and by Church I mean each one of us in Christ) is that we have forgotten our calling. On the day that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior the Holy Spirit entered my life and started "cleanup operations". Yet these cleanup operations are not a solo act on the part of the Spirit - no, there's still the matter of my human will. The Holy Spirit is pushing and prodding, cleansing my life, but like the child told to take a bath I have to be willing to submerge my will to His. I have to be willing to say, in my heart, "Lord, clean me, and I'll do whatever you ask to keep me clean". Many believers have fallen into the trap of Gnosticism, the thought that the salvation of the Cross cleanses the believer from sin so now he's free to sin. Look, whatever you eat - if you can't eat it and glorify God while doing it, you're eating sin. Whatever you drink - if you can't drink it and glorify God while doing it, you're drinking sin. This is a simple test for the Christian walk - if you can't glorify God while you're doing it, then just plain don't do it!
 

Billy Graham said "Satan does not care how much you theorize about Christianity or how much you profess to know Christ. What he opposes vigorously is the way you live Christ -- the way you become an instrument of mercy, compassion, and love through which He manifests Himself to the world. If Satan can take the heart, motive, and mercy out of Christianity, he has killed all its effectiveness. If he can succeed in getting us to talk a good case of religion but to live a poor one, he has shorn us of our power." (The Secret of Happiness, pg. 103-04)

Let's put this in a context we can all understand. Barely a week goes by when I don't have someone tell me, "I don't have to go to Church to worship God". Again, this shows an identity crisis in the speaker. If you are a believer, you are automatically part of the Church. The membership roll doesn't make you a member of His Church, His Body. Listen:

1 Corinthians 12:27-28  "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. [28]  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."

"Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular". You are the Church, Church isn't something you go to. Church isn't a building, but a gathering of those saved by the Blood of the Lamb. Each member has a God given function in this Body, this Church. Can you honestly glorify Christ while saying "I don't have to be with my family"? Can you say, "Praise you God, this is to your glory - I'm going to withhold myself from joining in the Body today because I don't feel like going?" If you can say this, then you have slipped. Church isn't where you go, it's who you are. And if you forsake who you are, then who are you?

1 Corinthians 10:31  "... whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

"Do all to the glory of God". Can you backbite another member of that family and do it while glorifying God? Are you like the Pharisee or like the Publican?:

Luke 18:11-13 "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [12]  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. [13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."

Do you recognize how blessed you are to be in the Family, chosen of God, or do you self righteously smite with your tongue those who are less than you perceive yourself? It is an honor, a privilege to be a part of this Family. Not a day goes by that I do not thank my God for leading me here to serve you with my pitiful abilities. You are the Church. Be the Church that glorifies God.

1 Corinthians 10:32-33 "Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:  [33]  Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."

The second way the Church has slipped today (and by Church I mean each one of us in Christ) is that we have forgotten our purpose. In the early Church believers, once they discovered the wonders of Christ, could scarcely contain themselves. And why not? We were destined to hellfire and damnation, and Jesus  took our punishment on the Cross. He paved the way that will guarantee our entrance into Heaven. Before Christ men feared death. I remember many a lonely night as a young man when I laid down in bed and hoped that I wouldn't die. I remember thinking, "Is this all there is?", and wondering about the terrible end of my pitiful life. Then one day Jesus came, and with His soothing hand He touched me. He took all of me that was fragmented, torn apart, and joined the pieces together again. He cured me of the fear of death - death is an enemy that has been defeated at the Cross - and gave me the wonderful certainty of an eternal life with Him.

We as the Family of God, Jesus' Church, have a mission - to lead others to Christ. We should be hopping up and down to share this message with others. Why aren't we? Could it be because we don't know Him? Could it be because we have really never accepted Him in our hearts, have mouthed the words and took the water bath. Nothing drives people away from the Church faster than a member that doesn't live his or her faith. Just the other day I was waiting to turn into a parking space in front of the Christian bookstore when a woman gunned her car forward and stole that space. On her bumper sticker it said, "Jesus is coming soon", and the woman got out and went into the book store. It was all I could do to not run after her and shout, "You're of the Body, You're in Christ! Live your faith in all things, not just when you go to Church!".

We have a mission to lead others to Christ, to be non offensive in our walks, to be non hypocritical in our love for Christ. We must be a Body, Christ's Body, or we will be nobody! We must not seek our own comfort and ease, but seek the salvation of the world we are in for Him who loves us.

1 Corinthians 11:1-2  "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. [2] Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you."

The third way the Church has slipped today (and by Church I mean each one of us in Christ) is that we have forgotten our leadership. God has set servant leaders in every Church who are there to serve you, to love you, and to lead you. Most Christians can take the "serve you and love you" part of Church leadership, but many have problems with the "lead you" part. This is an ancient problem, and one that started in the Garden of Eden. God placed Adam in the Garden, made him a wife, and then told him "guard and keep my Garden". Adam was to lead Eve, and Adam was to serve God. What happened? Well, Adam stood far off while Eve had a discussion with Satan. At the end of that discussion Eve took a bite of the forbidden fruit and Adam, rather than lead, bit the fruit too. That's what got us into this mess in the first place.

Those who are set in authority over you have that authority from Christ, not from the Body. Most of you know me well enough by now to know that I'll walk through fire to get to you if you're in need. You are in my heart, in my life, and without you I am nothing. But, dear Family, you have a responsibility as well. Follow my lead in Christ. If you feel that my leadership is wrong, show me in the Word - I'll change. I have never been ashamed to admit I was wrong. I have wept with bitter tears of remorse with some of you, asking your forgiveness for misunderstandings that I accidentally created. There is no pride in me when it comes to this Body I'm a part of, I'll do anything for you with one caveat: It must be in Christ!

On the day of Pentecost fire from Heaven descended on the Apostles and Peter stepped out to preach. He preached with power, and to glorify Christ. He preached harsh things, but these things were of Christ. When he was though about 3000 souls were saved. These believers followed after Peter and the Apostles, and became the foundation of the Church we have today. Do you want to grow as a Church? Follow me as I follow Christ. Follow me as I preach the Word, follow me as I direct this Body as I am commissioned by Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:3  "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."

You are the Body of Christ. Your "Head", KEPHALE, "that which controls all things, the leader, the One in charge", is Jesus Christ. All things have order in the Body. Christ cannot be in charge of you if you're in charge of yourself. Who is in charge of you today? Though you may have surrendered your eternal soul to Christ for salvation, though you may have walked the aisle and been baptized, though you may faithfully attend Church at least once a week - if you have not surrendered your life to Christ, if He is not the Lord of your life, then you still don't know who you are. You have an identity crisis.

Come out from among the world, Christian, and return fully to Christ. You cannot do that if you oscillate between the world and God. You cannot be fully Christ's if you refuse Him your rightful service in the Body. Repent, realize your value, function as a Body. And, if you discover, while the Holy Spirit talks to you this morning, that you are yet dead in your sins - then heed the sweet words of God:

Romans 10:9-11 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10]  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [11]  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
 

One night Dwight L. Moody was preaching when an officer brought a little boy to the platform. The child was wandering in the auditorium, totally lost. Moody said, "The father of this child is much more anxious to find this child than the child is to be found. So has it been with your Heavenly Father. For long years He has been following you, o sinner. He is following you still!" Right then the father elbowed his way onto the platform, and the child, seeing his daddy, ran to him. The crowd broke out with a cheer. Moody said, "Thus will God receive you if you'll only run to Him today".