Prone To Wander

"Return, Israel, to the LORD your God, Your sins have been your downfall! ... 'I will heal their waywardness [backsliding] and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them" (Hosea 14:1,4, NIV). 
"Backsliders get what they deserve..." (Prov. 14:14, NLT).  
"Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself..." (Isa. 45:15, NIV).  
"But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night...[?]'" (Job 35:10, NIV).
"... God left him to test him and discover what was in his heart" (2 Chron. 32:31, ESV).  

Robert Robinson wrote the famous hymn  "Come Thou Fount" to show his struggle with the faith and how God got him through the hard times. Everyone is subject to backsliding, depression, and wandering from the faith because this is the natural inclination of our sin nature.  Robinson was indeed a man of struggles and hardship and suffered melancholy, known today as depression.  In fact, in his later years, he would've given anything to feel like he did at twenty-two writing that hymn.  It would seem it was a self-fulfilling prophecy.  The feelings come and go like a yo-yo and a weather-vane in a storm, but our faith must endure.  We must learn Reality 101 that we also must not depend upon feelings as a measure of our faith, but obedience.  Sooner or later, we must face the reality of the test of our faith.

We may wonder about the whereabouts of God as Job did ("If only I knew where to find him..." in Job 23:3, NIV) and if He is meeting His end of the deal and if we do really have faith after all.  The fact is, is that the same trials make some bitter, and some better.  We ought to rejoice in our sufferings (cf. Rom. 5:3) and that we are considered worthy to suffer for His name's sake.  There may be times when there seems no hope like Job experienced, or one may be at the end of one's rope and their hope has perished like Jeremiah's.  But we must learn to acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of the storm and if He got us to it, He'll get us through it!  We don't have to wonder where God is, but where our faith is!  God can calm all the storms of life and every stormy relationship or stressful event.  We hang in there like Job in Job 14:14, NIV:  "...All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come."

We must feel the pain to be able to relate and to and comfort others in their afflictions (cf. 2 Cor. 1:10)!  That's one reason Jesus felt our pains and was a "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief"--to identify with us.  Even believers may wonder periodically if God is really there, and if He is aware of our situation.  But no problem is too trivial or too big for our God to be able to take care of.  But note that God didn't explain Himself to Job and doesn't need to explain Himself to us--He's too profound!  We all have a cross to bear, a crucible that comes with the territory--no cross means no crown!  It is adversity that builds character and if we had no problems our faith could never be tested--and it's more precious than silver and gold.  So, when your storm comes, learn to seek God and His presence and the comfort of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Jesus isn't asking anything of us He didn't go through Himself (He didn't exempt Himself from predicaments, adversities, and exigencies) but He was honest enough to warn us to count the cost.  No one gets through life trouble free or without any stress or trials; we need it to grow by them though.  We must not question where God is, but ask ourselves:  Where isn't God?  And we must celebrate the fact that the battle is the Lord's, and we are fighting from victory, not for victory.  This is where we find out if we have the right stuff to be disciples and what we are made of.  We cannot skate through life problem-free!  Let's echo Alfred, Lord Tennyson's words:  "I hope to see my Pilot face to face when I have crossed the bar."   In the meantime, we are to go over to the other side with Jesus at the helm and simply live a life following Him in obedience to prove our faith and love. 

Note that God is not playing cosmic hide-and-seek and He is not MIA or missing-in-action!  Next time, don't wonder about God, but where you are!  The late Francis Schaeffer said, "He is there and He is not silent."    St. Augustine of Hippo said, "You made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you."  Pascal, in the same vein, talked of a "God-shaped blank" or vacuum only God can fill!   Soli Deo Gloria!

The Obedient Believer

"And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him"  (Acts 5:32, ESV).
"[T]eaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..." (Matt. 28:20, ESV). 
"And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal [not temporary, probationary, nor provisional!] salvation to all who obey him" (Heb. 5:9, ESV).  
"For they have not all obeyed the gospel..." (Rom. 10:16, ESV).
"[I]n flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus"  (2 Thess. 1:8, ESV).

"... [A]nd a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith"  (Acts 6:7, ESV).  Unbelievers are called "sons of disobedience" in Eph. 2:2 and God delights in obedience:  "To obey is better than sacrifice..." (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22).  Jesus said that you cannot love Him and be disobedient, for if we love Him we will obey Him as the proof of the pudding.  Christ doesn't give suggestions, hints, or good advice, but commands!  He instituted two ordinances to be done in His name and memory (baptism and communion).  Jesus said, "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me..."  (John 14:21, ESV).  What are these commands that are so pivotal to our salvation being fulfilled?

Jesus did say that His yoke is easy and His burden is light in Matt. 11:30, and John said in 1 John 5:3 that His "commands are not burdensome."  "And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us"  (1 John 3:23, ESV). Note that in the Upper Room Jesus instigated a new command:  to love one another as Christ has loved us.  He who loves another has fulfilled the Law!  Paul says in Gal. 5:6 (NIV) that the only thing that matters is "faith expressing itself through love."

At the Bema or tribunal of Christ, our works will be judged, not our shortcomings and mistakes or sins, because they were judged at the cross, and this includes sins of omission.  If Jesus commanded us to do something and we fail, it's a sin of omission.  He is not going to inquire as to what school of theology or denomination we subscribed to, but will be interested in granting us rewards for the deeds done in the Spirit--the ones done in the energy of the flesh will be burned as wood, hay, and stubble in a fire (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10-13).  Sin can be defined as knowing the right thing to do and falling short or not doing it.  There is a legitimate place for ignorance if it's not willful.

There is a danger in sectarian pride and bias, such as feeling you're right and everyone else is wrong or disobedient to the Word of Truth.  Churches aren't saved en masse, but members individually as if going through a turnstile one at a time.  A good believing and faithful Lutheran has the edge over a disobedient Baptist because churches don't save and aren't necessary for salvation, as Roman Catholics espouse, Christ alone is the Savior.  However, it is important to remain faithful to the faith you were taught and to abide in the truth without apostasy or heresy.  A church is a cult when they get exclusive and think they have a monopoly on the truth, or think they are superior to other churches or denominations.

The real reason we get baptized is that we are disciples who desire to follow our Lord and His example in baptism to inaugurate or make our testimony official and public.  We should never feel that it is just a hurdle to jump over or test to pass to get accepted and that we "have to do it for salvation."  Grace-oriented believers never feel they "have to" but that the "get to" or "want to" obey their Lord and do as He did, following in His steps.  Baptism is a chance in a lifetime to get on track and give your testimony in public in order to be welcomed with "the right hand of fellowship" per Gal. 2:9 (ESV).

There are many measures and standards of obedience, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes: "And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him"  (Acts 5:32, ESV).   Whether we pray regularly and walk in the Spirit, abide in the Word, witness and fellowship and worship through association with the body of Christ are also crucial factors to weigh and consider.

You cannot say that Baptists are the obedient believers because they are correct in this ordinance (i.e., baptism), while Lutherans are disobedient.   There are way too many aspects of obedience to just label believers like that due to sectarian bias.  As Paul says in Rom. 1:5 that he wants to "bring about the obedience of the faith," he is primarily concerned with the entirety of the person's walk--the whole package, net effect, or sum total and result.

The church needs to fulfill the Great Commission to be obedient as a body, though individuals can do it, it's usually a joint and cooperative effort to evangelize, preach, teach, baptize, and disciple.   As Jesus said, "To whom much is given, much is required."    But teachers are especially responsible for disseminating sound doctrine and being good examples to the flock.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Are There Disobedient Christians?

To answer the question ahead of myself for your benefit, it depends on what you mean by disobedient. The Navigators call the obedient Christian one who prays, witnesses, reads the Word, and fellowships or worships regularly, regardless of where else he may fall short: smoking, drinking, Sabbath-breaking, or what have you. Read on to draw your own conclusions.

The big question: "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Pet. 4:17).

"But as for Israel, He says, "ALL DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE" (Rom. 10:21). "The wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 5:6). '...the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2). For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all" (Rom. 11:32).
Unbelievers are called disobedient but disobeying God after salvation doesn't make you a son of disobedience, but persistence in disobedience proves one isn't a child of God. "For I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19). "Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience" (Rom. 11:30). We are talking about being obedient to the faith and to the gospel.

A caveat in Scripture: "They stumble because they were disobedient to the Word, as they were destined to do" [This is called reprobation: cf. Jude 4 and 1 Thess. 5:9] (1 Pet. 2:7).
A pertinent promise: "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land" (Isa. 1:19).
A word to the wise: "For your obedience has become known to all..." (Rom. 16:19).
A challenge to those who stumble: "Who hindered you from obeying the truth?" (Gal. 5:7). The right attitude: "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey" (Josh. 24:24). Priorities: "Obey those who rule over you..." (Heb. 13:17). "...For we must obey God rather than man" (Acts 5:29).

Intrinsic motivation: "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed" (Rom. 6:17).
Warning: "If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed' (2 Thess. 3:14).

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "Only he who is obedient believes, and only he who believes is obedient." These two are linked together as in Hebrews 3:17-18: "And to whom did he swear that would not enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient? And so we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief." John 3:36 says, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." These two are distinguished but not separated--they go hand in hand and are complementary or two sides of the same coin. Did not Abraham believe God and obey to leave Ur, and Noah obey to build the ark? "Faith without works is dead," and one must obey the gospel to be saved; to obey the gospel ("in flaming fire inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus," according to 2 Thess. 1:8). is to repent and accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior or trust in him for salvation (believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ) and submit to His Lordship or ownership of your life.

You can disobey God and not lose your salvation. Salvation is not contingent or probational, but permanent and once for all ("He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him", says Heb. 5:9 "He who comes to Me I will in no wise cast out," says John 6:37). Contrary to what Romanists teach, there is a continuity in the state of grace after salvation and the permanency of our relationship and position in Christ doesn't change, though our experiential life in Christ does fluctuate. We cannot be unborn as a child of God. Jonah disobeyed God by going in the opposite direction. Moses disobeyed God and struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it (and consequently was not allowed to enter the Promised Land). The Bible doesn't gloss over King David's faults and mistakes and gross sins but shows us that even the best of us can fail on occasion--look at Solomon! As they say, "To err is human," and "Nobody is perfect." There is no such thing as sinless perfection or "entire sanctification." We are all works in progress and even Paul said he did not claim to have been there yet (at perfection referred to in Phil. 3:13, "...I do not claim to have laid claim of it yet...").


The Christian doesn't obey God out of some fear that he will lose his salvation but from gratitude. He does it because he wants to not because he has to. When you feel you have to, it is legalism. God says he will give us the heart to obey him. "And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules" (Ezek. 36:27).

Many priests became obedient to the faith and got saved in Acts 6:7, and Paul talks about the obedience of faith. We obey God in the Spirit and not according to the Law. The Law kills but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor. 3:6). We become obedient from the heart because the true circumcision is in the heart (Rom. 2:29). "...so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit" (Rom. 7:6). As Christians we learn to walk in the Spirit: "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law" (Gal. 5:18). "And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to those who obey him," says Acts 5:32).

There is a great reward and there are many perks to being obedient: answered prayer, prosperity, success, family blessings, abundant life and the bearing of fruit. In Job they questioned whether it was profitable to obey God, but found out it was--God restored him twice his former worth. Psalm 19:11 says that "in keeping them [the law] there is great reward." 1 Sam. 15:22 sums it up as an exhortation: "To obey is better than sacrifice...." Jesus also said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). In God's economy, there are paradoxes: poverty comes before riches and trial before success. Even Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered (Heb. 5:8). "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits" (Psa. 103:2). God was angry at the people in Malachi who said that it was "vain to serve God" (Mal. 3:14). Isaiah 48:10 announces, "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go." Other passages that are food for thought are Psalm 1:3 and Joshua 1:8.

Israel had good intentions, but poor follow-through as they promised to obey the Law in Exodus 24:7 instead of asking for mercy, and ended up in disobedience. Jesus saw the disciples sleeping in the garden and said "the spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak"--recognizing human weakness, and not necessarily sin itself--in all its ugly colors. We all fall short of our ideals and standards, but that doesn't make us hypocrites (they pretend or make a show to impress their faith). Jesus talked in a parable of two brothers and asked which one obeyed. The one that finally decided to obey not the one who had good intentions. As they say, "The road to hell is carved with good intentions." sincerity counts but it is not everything: there are many sincere people who are lost. God is looking for "sincere," and "unfeigned faith" and not necessarily perfect faith (1 Tim. 1:5). "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.," (cf. Mark 9:24).    Soli Deo Gloria!