Among Pagans

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Our sermons on these Sunday mornings are about "Being a Christian" in today's world. This morning we are to think about "Being a Christian AMONG PAGANS". But what do we mean by "pagan"? A pagan world for many means a world where there is spiritual decline and moral decadence. Originally the word "pagan" meant "rural" or belonging to the countryside. But it means what it means today because the Christian faith orginally took root in the cities of the Roman world. Indeed, people were first called Christians in the city of Antioch. So while the Church grew and the faith spread in cities, the countryside was, as it were, left behind. It remained idolatrous and lacking the fruits of the gospel. The word "pagan" works something like the word "gentile" worked for the Jews. Literally gentile refers to non-Jews. But because non-Jews so often lacked the civilizing and restraining forces of Jewish culture, the word "gentile" came to stand for degeneracy and decadence. The issue for us, therefore, is how as Christians we are to react to the spiritual decline and moral decadence that is all around. And it is all around.

"Breakdown Britain" was the name of a serious report last summer, documenting the sexual and moral decline that leads to marriage and family breakdown with huge negative consequences for our society. And "Binge Britain" was a newspaper headline last Friday for Britain's drunken excesses, especially among the young. So how are we to react? Well, a key answer the Bible gives is: "we are to evangelize." You are to tell others about Jesus Christ and his kingdom. That is the message of Matthew chapter 10 verses 1-23 - our New Testament reading for this morning. And as we look at this passage my headings are going to be first, EVANGELIZE; secondly, FACE REALITY; and, thirdly, BE WISE.

First, EVANGELIZE;

Matthew 10 give you Jesus' teaching on mission and evangelism. Its context, of course, are those last verses of chapter 9. Just have a look at them - verses 35-36:

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

Here was "breakdown Palestine" - "crowds ... harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd". In Jewish thought "shepherds" were the leaders of the nation. And when their leaders forsook God and his word, the nation suffered. Our Old Testament reading from Jeremiah shows how, when leaders fail, society collapses - Jeremiah 5.26:

"Among my people are wicked men ... their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful ... Their evil deeds have no limit ... Should I not punish them for this?" declares the LORD."

But then Jeremiah writes this (5.30-31):

"A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way."

Religious or church leaders can distort God's truth and say what they think is right and not what God thinks is right. They can "rule by their own authority" and not God's. And when they can get away with it because the laity "love it" - "my people love it this way" - there will be social chaos and "evil deeds" will "have no limit". You don't need rocket science to tell you that. But what does Jesus do when he sees people "like sheep without a shepherd"? Jeremiah and other Old Testament prophets were wonderful at analyzing the problem. Jesus similarly analyzes it. He also has a solution.

First, he says there is need to pray. Look at Matthew 9 verses 37 and 38:

"Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'"
This decadent and degenerate and declining world is a "harvest".

I love going into the countryside north of here at this time of year and seeing the fields, when it is sunny, bursting with standing corn - ready for harvesting. But one of the great tragedies is when, like last year and we had such rain in August, you see some of these same fields not harvested but with the corn beaten down by the wind and rain and almost destroyed. How important that when there is a good harvest, you harvest the crop. Today, I believe there is a "spiritual harvest" out there that needs to be harvested. It is tragic not to harvest it. There is a new openness on the part of many people. People are getting angry with the paganism in government, in our schools, in the media and, yes, in our churches. They are seeing, at last, where it is all leading. They see greed leading to economic collapse; and lust leading to marriage and family breakdown with lawless young people. So Jesus says,

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask [or pray] the Lord of the harvest [God is wanting new disciples and growth - a harvest of more disciples - so pray the Lord of the harvest ... ] to send out workers into his harvest field."

That, then, is to be our first response to paganism - to pray for workers to help people discover the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. Are you praying for workers to work in that mission for Christ?

Notice what happens next. The very people who have been praying - "the disciples" of chapter 9 verse 37 (or certainly 12 of them) - are the answer to their own prayers. For Jesus then calls these pray-ers and gives them authority and he sends them out evangelizing. Look at chapter 10 verses 7-8:

"As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."

Of course, you have to be careful about taking this event - this mission of the 12 Apostles - as a precise model for today. For one thing it was a mission only to Israel - to the Jewish people. Look at verses 5-6:

"Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel."

But at the end of Matthew's Gospel, after the Resurrection, you have Jesus' Commission that we should go "and make disciples of all nations" (Matt 28.18). Also the 12 Apostles had special powers that other believers did and do not have. Paul could talk about "the things that mark an apostle - signs, wonders and miracles" (2 Cor 12:12). We know from the Acts of the Apostles that some of them actually did "raise the dead". While God in his sovereignty still can work miracles, it is clearly not like Apostolic times. Nor is that surprising as we no longer have these foundational Apostles with us. Nevertheless, having said that, and while this mission was unique, there are fundamental lessons here for all time. Indeed, later on in this chapter it presupposes a time of wider mission. You read in verse 18 about "governors and kings and ... the Gentiles." So what lessons are there for us as we seek to win over pagan Britain or whatever country we come from? Answer: we learn about motives and the message.

First, there is something about motives. Jesus' own motive here was "compassion" when he saw people "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." So the mess people are in today should motivate us to evangelize. It motivated Jesus! And it needs to be a concern not just for now, but for eternity. Look at verses 14-15

"If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town."

Who said Jesus never spoke about homosexual behaviour? Jesus knew his Old Testament and he knew what men got up to in Sodom. But notice what he is saying: and, remember, the Bible is against all sexual sin and especially homosexual sin. For what Jesus is saying is this: nice middle class Jews who reject Christ's message and his workers are worse than the men of Sodom (who never had a chance of responding to Jesus or his apostles). Do you believe that? Perhaps there is someone here this morning and you are saying, "how terrible is this modern pagan world". But you have never yet accepted Jesus Christ - the second person of the divine Trinity - God the Son come in human form. You have never accepted him as your Saviour and Lord. To use the Bible's words - he is not yet "dwelling in your heart by faith" (Eph 3.17). Well, Jesus here tells you that you don't need great pagan sins to go to hell. You just have to neglect him. You see it is possible to come to church without coming to Christ and seeking his forgiveness and his new life, by the Holy Spirit. If that is you, why not by faith come to him this morning and welcome his message and his messengers.

So compassion for people's present experience and future destiny should motivate us in our evangelism. And, then, there is straightforward obedience to Christ as a motive. He gave a commission to the Apostles on this occasion. He has given us a universal Commission in Matthew 28. How we should all obey! But you don't only need motives for evangelism.

Secondly, you need a message. What is that message? It is there in verse 7:

"As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'"

That was Jesus' own message - Matthew 4.17:

"From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.'"

It is the message that God's plan for renewing the world after the fall of man - that cosmic event of Adam's primal disobeying God that changed the universe - that plan is fulfilled in Jesus Christ the man of Nazareth. His coming means that God's kingdom is now truly near, in the person of the great king - Jesus Christ. The ultimate fulfilment was in Christ's death and resurrection and is in his present reign. The Good News - or Gospel - is that Christ is reigning, with sins forgiven at the cross and a new order of existence now possible through his resurrection and the giving of his Spirit. And that is the reality. Reality is not what you see in the fantasy world of TV, or the utopian nonsense spoken by politicians. Reality is what you read about in the Bible. And that message our pagan world needs to hear. But as we speak we should also do good. These Apostles were not only to preach the message - they were to heal the sick and raise the dead. We have said that they had special gifts. But in a more modest way we can still do good in the world in which we live. We can care for needs and contend for truth where lies are damaging people. That is all part of our mission. Yes, in all of this there will be a cost. It wasn't an easy ride for these Apostles, as we shall see. But as Jesus said, verse 8:

"Freely you have received, freely give."

We rightly use that verse in regard to giving money. But it means that if you are going to be a Christian worker evangelizing (as all Christians in some way should be) you have to give time and energy as well as money. So, the first way of being a Christian in a pagan world is by evangelizing.

Secondly, you are to FACE REALITY;

First, face the reality that in a pagan environment - as we have it today in the West - you will find corruption not only in the world but also in the Church. It was the same in Jesus day. Right at the very start of the Church's life there, in the 12 apostles, was corruption. Look at verse 3 where you read about ...

"... Judas Isacariot who betrayed him [that is, Jesus]."

So don't be surprised when in the churches today you have corrupt clergy who teach quite contrary to what they should be teaching - the apostolic truth (the truth of the Bible). This past week the papers have been full of an American bishop who is living with his male partner and proud of it. I haven't time to go into the issues now. But Matthew has already told how Jesus warned us of this sort of person in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 7.15):

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. "

So when you see someone teaching something that is plainly contrary to Scripture, you know that you have a false prophet who is a "ferocious wolf", however nice and plausible or like a "sheep", they seem. Sadly, as with all fruit, the fruit of such false teaching can take time to ripen - but ripen it will. So as you evangelize and live in this pagan world, face this reality.

Secondly, face reality in terms of your expections in a pagan world. Here were Apostles healing the sick and raising the dead. But Jesus is predicting that not everywhere will they receive a warm welcome. Not only that, but later on they will be flogged and some will face death. They will suffer hatred and persecution. Verses 17-23 make that clear. So don't think that if you try to evangelize, 1000s will immediately respond. In life it is not rare to find a slow response to vital challenges. Sir Richard Doll did his research on the effects of smoking on lung cancer in the 1950s. It took 60 years before that found its way into serious legislation. Josephine Butler, the great 19th century social reformer, took decades to overturn the Contagious Diseases Act that legalized prostitution, demeaned women and was not effective in reducing venereal disease. It also took Wilberforce a long time to see slaves freed. Don't, therefore, have wrong expectations as you evangelize. And don't be discouraged. I always say, most people overestimate what they can do in one year, and underestimate what they can do in five. So, first, evangelize; secondly, face reality; and ...

Thirdly, and finally, BE WISE

Look at verses 16 - 20:

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

The pagan world is a nasty place. People out there are gunning for you if you are a believer and evangelizing. But Jesus wants you to be on the winning side. True, we can have no prosperity gospel that says, "trust Jesus and you will automatically be rich." However, in the end Christ is looking for victory and success, but his way. And that is not the world's way. So how does Christ's success come? One thing is that his people are to be ...

"... as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (verse 16).

You are to out think the opposition, but never plan to do wrong to achieve your goals. The end never justifies the means. And, says Jesus, "be on your guard against men" (verse 17). For some are looking for an opportunity to attack you. Sometimes they will succeed. If they do, take it as an opportunity for the Gospel.

So when you are in a disciplinary situation like Lillian Ladele was recently with Islington Council for refusing to register homosexual partnerships, be like her. She used this as an opportunity for the Gospel.
nd (praise God) with the help of the Christian Institute, she has been victorious. But she was shrewd and innocent and on her guard..

Nor should you court persecution. Look at verse 23:

"When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another."

If there is a way of getting out of a tight corner but without compromising, get out of it and "flee". It is not easy getting all this right. There is a line between two extremes. One extreme is where, to avoid persecution or opposition, you say nothing and keep you convictions to yourself – people hardly know you are a Christian. Of course, you must not err in that direction. The other extreme is where you court persecution or opposition and you force your your beliefs on everyone you meet, without concern for the place, time or situation. The Christian is rather to “propose” not “impose” their beliefs.

But the extreme that tempts most Christians in Western Europe is where you don’t “propose” but you cowardly keep silent and say nothing. Old bishop J C Ryle, the nineteenth century first bishop of Liverpool, spoke of …

“… our so-called prudence that is apt to degenerate into a compromising line of conduct, or downright unfaithfulness [and where] laziness and the devil are often the true explanation. On the other hand [says Ryle] there is a holy zeal that is ‘not according to knowledge’ ... Our Lord Jesus Christ does not require us to throw aside our common sense when we undertake to work for him.”

Wise words. So pray that God gives you the right balance between those two extremes as you seek to evangelize and face reality in an increasingly pagan society.

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