Slip-Sliding Away - No Way!

I saw a car bumper sticker on a truck today. It said, “Do you always follow Jesus this close?”  

The beginning of Christianity was full of challenges. Christianity was a reformation. Christianity was a whole New Covenant given a New Testament by a new supernatural Leader with a new group of people indwelt by God's Spirit who would reform how life and culture were perceived and lived. They were there for liberation, not domination, contribution, or conquest. Christ changed everything. It was an upgrade for all of humanity.    

Christianity challenged the norms of existing governments, cultures, philosophies, humanities, religions, and societies of that time. These very young Christians and churches would have a challenging ride. You can't be a reformer and stay friends with everyone. They would learn by experiencing the difference between the old human power model and the new power of Christ model. They would learn firsthand the real meaning of the verse that says, "Greater is He who is in us (the church) than he who is in the world."

Such was the narrative of the church and people in the book of Hebrews in the Bible. The Hebrews writer helps them navigate the tough times they were experiencing. The church in the Book of Hebrews was under siege. Members were imprisoned and "ill-treated." Some were enduring great suffering, being made public spectacles of, and their property seized. Some were going to jail.  (Hebrews 13:3; Hebrews 10:32-34). Ouch! It was the perfect imperfect storm.

These new Christians were getting bitter about it. They were getting mad at God. "How could God let this happen?" They were getting angry at other people too. Maybe they thought everything would be perfect when they became Christians. The outcome was that many were getting ready to check Christianity in and give it up. They were becoming dull to God. The hurt, bitterness, disappointment, anger, and just plain drama were driving them from God, not to God.

The writer of Hebrews notes some signs of becoming dull toward God. They were forsaking the assembling of the brethren by not going to church. (Hebrews 10:25). They were closing their homes to strangers and homeless Christians. (Hebrews 13:2). They forgot to visit Christians imprisoned unjustly. (Hebrews 13:3). They were letting bitterness destroy their marriages. (Hebrews 13:4). They were looking to the security of their money and the insecurity of losing their money and property rather than looking to Jesus. (Hebrews 13:5). 

We would probably feel the same way too. That is a lot to ask anyone to go through! But the writer of the book of Hebrews writes them a letter of "exhortation," not a letter of warning or condemnation. He encourages them to keep on keeping on! Don’t give up. Christ will turn this mess into a message. Don’t go to the dark side. God always makes a way where there seems to be no way. Corrie Ten Boom summarizes the "keep on keeping on" idea perfectly. “Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.” Many things can break our hearts, but those things also can fix our vision. 

The book of Hebrews reveals the process of slip-sliding away from God if we get bitter at God or churches or Christianity. The first step is drifting or neglecting the Word of God. "For this reason, we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:1). The next step is doubting God's Word. We get hardhearted. We start questioning God and truth, "Hath God said? "But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today,' lest anyone of you be hardened …” (Hebrews 3:17). 

The third step is dullness to God's word. We become sluggish, lethargic and close our ears to God and truth. The writer of Hebrews says, "…concerning him, we have much to say, and it is hard to explain since you have become dull of hearing. (Hebrews 5:11). The fourth step is despising God’s word. We become jaded and caustic toward God. “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth…" (Hebrews 10:26). The last step is defying God’s word. That means intentionally refusing to hear. “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.” (Hebrews 12:25).

Drifting – Doubting – Dullness – Despising – Defying. Do you see the progression of slip-sliding away from God listed in the ascending chapters? By the way, don’t be critical of the Hebrews. It can happen to us, especially in today’s tumultuous world. Hint: People will never truly understand something until it happens to them. 

The Hebrew church and its people had a dilemma. Amid the perfect storm, they could draw near to God or draw back from God. The Christian life is like riding a bike. Keep pedaling, or you will fall. Our only safety is going on. The main idea of Hebrews is endurance, not shrinking back, persevering, and holding fast. Think about this. They said Noah was a crazy conspiracy theorist. Then the rain came, and the “fact-checkers” drowned. Everything works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out, it’s not the end. 

Let me finish with the ‘lettuce’ (let us) of Christianity in Hebrews 6:18, 12:1, and 12:2. Let us go on to 1. “The hope set before us” (salvation). 2 “The race set before us” (sanctification), and 3. “The joy set before us.” (glorification). 

Storm over, safely in port – on earth or in heaven.