which?

[Mike Abendroth]

Which “Resurrection” did you observe today?

April 4, 2010 by Coram Deo

As an addendum to The Pilgrim’s recent post “Which ‘Jesus’ do you worship” I submit the following question for your consideration this Resurrection Sunday:“Which ‘Resurrection’ did you observe today?”

If the ”Resurrection” you observed was “pretty much a non-event”because you were busy viewing the annual LDS Conference televised from Salt Lake City, Utah; or else you were attending or participating in a temple pageant designed to draw non-Mormons into an area teeming with Mormon missionaries . . .

. . . then you observed the Mormon “Resurrection”.

_________________________________________________________________________

If the “Resurrection” you observed includes the belief that “Jesus Christ”(a.k.a. the archangel Michael) did not rise bodily from the grave, but instead that “Jesus/Michael” was “resurrected” as an invisible, non-material spirit creature who made his post-”resurrection” appearances in a “special body” that Jehovah (his Creator) made for him…

. . . then you observed the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ (a.k.a. Watchtower Society’s) “Resurrection”.

_________________________________________________________________________

If the “Resurrection” you observed affirms the orthodox Christian confession that Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Triune One True and Living God rose bodily from the grave on the third day, in accordance with His own claims and in fulfilment of  numerous Old Testament prophecies - and you then combine this truth with the blasphemous lie that He lives to be repeatedly “called down from heaven” and immolated on an altar by a human priest in the “unbloody sacrifice” of the Mass countless thousands of times so that sinful men and women may be justified by their good works in cooperation with His grace in plain contradiction to the Scriptures which teach that Christ’s perfect sacrifice was “once for all” and fully sufficient to secure the salvation to the uttermost of all those who come to Him by grace through faith and not of works (Eph. 2:8-9; Romans 4:4-5; Romans 11:6). . .

. . . then you observed the Roman Catholic “Resurrection”.

_________________________________________________________________________

If the “Resurrection” you observed was primarily designed to enhance your “sojourn” through “holy week” as you meditated upon your deepening role within the “Jesus story” as your “faith journey” into the “meta-narrative” of your “inner/outer-spiritual life” unfolds as you earnestly pursue a hunger and thirst for “social-justice” and a re-committment of your time, efforts, and focus to becoming more “missional”through “spiritual formation” and “contemplative prayer”, as you invite others to “join the conversation” so that they might bring their own, unique and various spiritual insights to the “discussion” as each individual experiences the “transformative power” of “becoming whole” within each of our own living, ongoing stories of “incarnational living“ . . .

. . . then you observed the Emergent “Resurrection”.

_________________________________________________________________________

If the “Resurrection” you observed involved binding the devil’s attacks against your personal health, wealth, and prosperity because it’s God’s will that you  be “blessed going out and blessed coming in”, because “you are to be the head and not the tail” and “all the legions of hell together can’t overcome the blessing power of God towards those who sow their seed in faith, fully expecting and believing for 30, 60, and 100-fold increase” and if somehow you should fall ill, or lose your job, or get a divorce, or lose a family member it’s either the attack of Satan, or your own lack of faith (or some combination thereof) and you must show your faithfulness to God by increasing your “seed-faith” in order to “reap your harvest” which will be based on your “positive confession of faith” as you “believe and receive”that “you may prosper even as your soul prospers” because “God is glorified when you’re out of debt and driving a Lexus” and Jesus died primarily for your material well-being. . .

. . . then you observed the Word of Faith/Health, Wealth, and Prosperity ”Resurrection”.

_________________________________________________________________________

If the “Resurrection” you observed included a sound and sharp rebuke to the leadership in Congress, the Senate, and the White House because of the evils of national healthcare, creeping socialism, and a hard-line position on new settlements being built in Jerusalem by the nation Israel that’s been propagated by pro-abortion, godless, anti-christ Democrats (a pox be on their houses!), and if your pastor explained in animated, agitated, and clear terms how Christians can – and must! –“take America back for Jesus” through public (non-violent of course!) demonstrations, writing letters to our elected representatives, participating in “Tea Party” events, giving to the Republican National Committee, and organizing to “get out the vote” for the upcoming November elections as part of your Christian duty . . .

. . . then you observed the Republican “Resurrection”.

_________________________________________________________________________

If the “Resurrection” you observed focused on how by “rolling the stone away” from the garden tomb the Scriptures are teaching us practical, relevant lessons about how God can “roll away the stones of debt, discouragement, bad relationships, low self-esteem, financial problems, etc.” because He cares so much for His children that He never wants anything negative or bad to happen to them, mainly because He’s all kindness, love, forgiveness, mercy, and encouragement, sort of like a really, REALLY good daddy who would never, ever withhold any good thing from his innocent, sweet adorable, terribly cute children because, after all, it’s not their fault this big bad world is all messed up. . .and if you had the chance to win some REALLY COOL PRIZES like X-box 360’s, iPods, and other cool gadgets just for showing up…

. . . then you observed the seeker-sensitive “Resurrection”.

_________________________________________________________________________

If the “Resurrection” you observed preyed upon your emotions by presenting a tear-jerking drama, accompanied by swelling music, and followed by a sermon that explained how God has done everything He can do, and that Christ is now in heaven wringing His hands and pleading with you to “make a decision for Him right now, right where you are“, because all the power is in your hands, your own free will is binding the Infinite Creator and Judge of the universe; omnipotence itself bows the knee to your free moral agency and He can’t, as much as He wants to, and even though He died for you personally, He just can’t save you unless you take the initiative, make that first step of faith in His direction, and make a decision for Christ.

He wants to save you, but He’s helpless.

It’s all in your hands.

It’s all up to you. . .

. . . then you observed the semi-Pelagian “Resurrection”.

_________________________________________________________________________

If the “Resurrection” you observed exalted the God-man – the Risen Christ – and extolled His incomparable virtues of utter purity, holiness, and faithfulness unto death - even the shameful and painful death of the cross in loving obedience to His Father - whose claims were affirmed through His glorious bodily resurrection and ascension to the right hand of power in heaven; where holy angels and saints even now proclaim His absolute divine sovereignty over all things whether they be in heaven, or on earth, or under the earth; whether principalities, powers, or dominions of angels, demons, nations, or individual men and women; the One by whom all things that are created were made, the One to whom one day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord to the eternal glory of God Almighty to Whom be all praise, and glory, and power, and honor, and strength, and wisdom, and riches forever and evermore; to the glory of Him who is the inheritance of the saints and the express image of the One True and Living God, the hope of nations, the King of glory, the Lord, Master, Savior and infallible redeemer of the church, the ekklesia, the “called out ones”, the saints for whom He laid down his life and of which He will by no means lose even one whom His Father has given Him, but He will raise them up at the last day in incorruptible, glorified bodies wherein they will rule and reign with Him in exalted perfection and exquisite bliss for all eternity. . .

. . . then you observed the Biblical Resurrection.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Thanks.

 

HBTN

 

Mike Abendroth

www.nocompromiseradio.com

 

www.bbcchurch.org

 

Ephesians 3:21 auvtw/| h` do,xa evn th/| evkklhsi,a|

Thomas Watson, "[Jesus] alone is the Prince of Preachers.  He alone is the best of expositors."