Liberal Theology and Materialistic Blindness

The words of Paul in his first letter to the church at Corinth chapter 2 verses 2-5.

"For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God."

I was once again of how lucky we are tonight to live in America. I watched the film Blood Diamond this evening, after this I was inspired read some reports from the BBC and Amnesty International on the horrors taking place as we speak in Africa.

I have learned/been reminded of two very important lessons this evening. I feel lead to discuss both.

The first major lesson I learned, which pertains to the scripture presented, is the utter horror of liberal Christian theology. As I watched and read tonight I was reminded of the only hope that the world has, Jesus Christ. Liberal Christians present to us vivid pictures while crying out for help for these people, but in the same breath they will deny the divinity of Christ. Oprah will build an orphanage and show you the happy children on her TV show, showing everyone how she is helping by throwing money at these problems. The problem with both of these solutions is that they are taking the real solution out of their solution. To take anything away from, or to not preach, the gospel is providing these people with no true hope. There is no hope for these people without Jesus Christ. As Christians we must not stop preaching Christ and him crucified. When liberal theology takes away from the gospel while deferring to the wisdom of men they are effectively denying the people of the only hope that they have. I am horrified at what is taking place in Africa and other places around the world, and I am more horrified that liberal theology is denying them of the one hope that will truly help their states. Never give credence to any theology that takes away the hope of Jesus Christ. The power of God through Jesus Christ is the only hope any of us has.

I pray for the mouths to be shut of those liberal theologians who are taking away the only true hope of this world.

The second thing I learned tonight is just how blind I am to the problems of the world. I prefer to sit at my coffee shop sipping lattes and talking about these problems. Our wealth in this country blinds us to the problems of this world. We are so materialistic. I remember a line from the movie that stated, "I bet women would not want those diamonds on there fingers if they knew it cost someone their hand." How convicting...We hide here in America behind a trillion dollar economy and the average person is ignorant to the problems that are occurring all over the world. Does anyone realize that there are hundreds of thousands of people dying in Darfur? Does anyone realize that people are starving to death in North Korea by the tens of thousands? Does anyone realize that there are people starving to death in the Anacostia region of Washington D.C., the West End of Atlanta, in Harlem, in illegal immigrant farms all along the border? There are drug wars raging in our ghettos. As Christians do we even care? Do not be blinded by your wealth friend realize the plight of people around the world. As a Christian you and your message are the hope of the world...Do you care? Brethren, Wake UP! Wake UP! Wake UP!

Matthew 5:14
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden."

Do not turn away from the pictures on this screen. These are the faces in need of a true savior (not Oprah). Will you go? I pray that God burdens your heart from this message. I heard John Piper in his sermon here at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary say these words, "If you have the means and never go on an international mission trip to share the gospel, then there will be blood on your hands on judgment day."

We must put more resources towards stamping out liberal theology in our churches and materilaism, both of which blind us.

Pray for sight.

Look down at that ring on your finger; perhaps it was mined at the cost of a hand. Do not let our materialistic society clog your vision and your heart. We are so very lucky, but shame on you if you forget those who are not. May we never forget how blessed we truly are and what a great responsibility we truly have. I pray that our eyes will be opened to the problems around our world. Take to the world...they need Jesus. We must not give them our money or our sympathy first, but we must...Give em' Jesus. Give em' Jesus. Give em' Jesus...To the world without end. Godspeed!