“God reigns supreme over every plot point in God’s plan for man.” Chandler, 16.

That’s the way life should work for a Christian but does it? Does God really reign supreme?

Do “we see clearly the work of the cross in our lives and the lives of those around us, the capturing and resurrecting of dead hearts?” That’s how Matt Chandler refers to his idea of the “gospel from the ground”.

The Christian life is all about worship.  It should be, but is it?  Let me be honest, worship is about praising God, showing him how much we appreciate His glory, loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Those are admirable goals but oh how much we fall short.  Paul encourages us to “offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.”  Worshipping anything or anyone else is idolatry.

Let’s speak the truth.  Chandler says too many Christians are deep in the practice of idolatry.

Yet they still consider themselves Christians   “I am a Christian” says today’s Christian…… “thank you very much!”

Instead of worshipping God and His glory, Chandler says “We take His toys and run.”

God blesses us with a good job with an excellent paycheck but we forget the Source of the blessing.  We live in a beautiful house and drive a late-model shiny car.  We forget the Source of the blessing.  Our family is loving and caring.  We fail to thank our Lord God almighty.  Our breath, our ability to see, our ability to move [for those who have health problems and struggle to do these things, they are aware] but the rest of us take these simple things for granted.  The “rest of us” forget to thank God.

“I did it.  I worked hard.  I am smart.  I know the right people.  I am so attractive, that things just come my way”.  Really?  There is nothing worse than a self-centered human being taking credit for all the gifts of God.  As the Apostle Paul says in Romans 9, there is nothing that can cause more wrath from God than God being disrespected by man.  “Who are you, O man, to talk back to God?”…the lump of clay talking back to the Potter.  God’s wrath is ignited by self-centered idolatry.

Today’s Christian hears almost nothing about that…

In Chandler’s chapter on “Man” he warns us about the severity of God, God’s wrath.  Pastors are not trained to preach about God’s wrath.  They are taught that type of message would not go over well with today’s Christian.  Today’s pastors are trained to preach and lead congregations in activities that will boost the church [by that he means build buildings, increase budgets and get more parishioners in the pews].  People coming to church don’t want to hear about God’s wrath; they would prefer to hear about a God who is never angry at anybody, a God who tends to express pleasant “bumper-sticker platitudes.”  Chandler calls this a dangerous combination.  A preacher whose ultimate concern is good public relations and Christians who never want to hear that they are doing anything wrong, anything that would make God mad.

Let’s stop for a minute and “give God” His due [how absurd that I would write that].  I don’t want to exaggerate the idea that God is wrathful.  He is not angry or disappointed with all Christians all of the time.  He gives us grace.  He loves us.  He forgives and heals us.  What we lack however, is a balance in our knowledge of God.  By this I mean we are fed the positive spin about God all the time and no one wants to admit that God can get mad at all [what Chandler refers to as God’s severity]. 

Chandler goes so even far as to say that failing to get a balanced message about God’s kindness and God’s severity “falls short of His glory” Chandler likens the messages we get about God as neglect.  No good parent would fail to tell their child of the dangers inherent in walking around on the street at two in the morning or jumping in the deep end of the pool without some knowledge of swimming.  Some say that is negative talk.  “You are focusing on the dangers of this world and causing fear.  I am not sure about that.  I think it can be positive and loving for a parent to tell their child about how they can avoid danger. That form of love keeps them safe by helping them avoid dangerous activities. 

I began this post with Chandler’s call to do the work of the cross, to heed God’s call for praise and worship.  I also stated that too many Christians want the benefits of God but are unwilling to look at personal sacrifices and personal commitments that mark a true Christian life.  It is the recognition that Christian living is not all fun and games, all the time.  Paul writes in Romans 11: 22 “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God.”  What makes God stern?  Chandler feels it is “glory theft.”  When we should be giving God the glory for our blessings, we take the credit ourselves. 

I refer to the expression he uses to describe this situation:  “What happens when the mouse tries to steal the lion’s dinner?” 

The severity of the Lion…