February 2, 2024) Richard Winter questions and challenges …

I was in the 9^th Grade Science Class… it was a new year, a new class. We were going to learn about experiments, how to find truth and how to test a hypothesis. And we were given directions –
(I’m sure you’ll remember something like this…)

• Define a question to investigate.
• Conduct research, make observations and collect data.
• Based on research and observations, come up with a hypothesis.
• Gather and analyse data, draw conclusions, make predictions.
• If you feel to, ask more ‘Why?’s.

Why?
To summarise this process you could say it’s a case of many Why? Why? Why? enquiries to make you wiser with each step until you finally get the truth in a repeatable way.

Being students educated in the west you will remember this process came from Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and others. We’re told that Socrates (right) was wise because he asked ‘Why?’ questions… not because he knew the answers.

Take that position for a moment – Why? Why? Why? – for example: Why does this happen, or why is this here?

Nothing will get you to the bottom of an issue quicker than continuing to ask ‘Why?’ Think of a child who constantly asks ‘Why?’

‘Why?’ asked Jesus
In the Old Testament God asked ‘Why’ thousands of years before Socrates. In dealing with His creation He questioned motives and actions –

• He asked Cain, ‘Why are you angry?’ (Genesis 4:6).
• Abraham: ‘Why did Sarah laugh?’ (Genesis 18:13).
• Moses: ‘Why are crying out to me? (Exodus 14:15).

And in the New Testament, His Son did likewise. In fact, ‘Why?’ seems to be our Lord’s favourite question!

Take Matthew’s gospel alone as an example of Jesus asking ‘Why?’–

1. Why do you worry? (6:28)
2. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye… ? (7:3)
3. Why are you so afraid? (8:26).
4. Why do you entertain evil thoughts…? (9: 4)
5. Why do you doubt? (14:31)
6. Why do you break the command of God…? (15:3)
7. Why do you not do what I have asked? (19:17)
8. Why are you trying to trap me? (22:18)
9. Why are you bothering this woman? (26:10)
10. (Of God) Why have you forsaken me? (27:46).

Why? the Church
I have a few questions concerning the church today! (Church as in church worldwide).

Now I could ask some ‘Why?s’: Eg
(i) Why have many Christians not returned to church after Covid?
(ii) Why do people think watching a church service on TV or YouTube is acceptable, constitutes being at church and
(iii) Why they call that particular feature ‘their church’?

But… the question that I want to centre on goes to the heart of Christ’s church en total: Why does the church exist? The answer is the taproot of Christian purpose!

Like Socrates we want to ask the right questions so that we can uncover what is not so obvious on the surface. Some will answer that the church exists to:

1. Share the gospel of good news.
2. Give people hope who are hurting.
3. Act as a hospital to those who are broken in either body, mind or spirit.
4. Provide a centre for believers to gather and worship God.
5. Be a place to teach about how to be a Christian.

Classic answers indeed! No doubt you can add more, all a part of a larger understanding of what the church is. But they are not the primary reason it exists. The answer lies in 1Corinthians 10:31 – ‘…whatever we do, do it all for the glory of God.’

Whatever you do whether it be working and learning, eating and drinking, teaching, fellowshipping, singing, praying… it all has to be done for God’s glory! The real church is meant to glorify God!

Why? and our beliefs
Starting from the first century the church has sought to make it easy for people to answer the question about why it exists – and our beliefs…

• The Apostles Creed gave the essentials of belief.
• The Nicene Creed clarified Jesus is of the same essence with the Father, begotten not made.
• The Westminster Confession said that the chief end of man is to glorify God.

Those who have written about the church start with the fact that we must –
(i) Align ourselves in the church with the mission of God as our goal.
(ii) Awake to the fact that we can be filled with the anointing of His Holy Spirit!
(iii) Accept God’s plan, His assignment, for our lives whatever that may be.

This will be an answer to ‘Why the Church?’ We will be the body of Christ in action, honouring and glorifying God in our living exemplary Christian lives and being about His business!

Why? and you
Take accepting God’s plan for example: For me when God called me, it meant leaving academia and being trained for the ministry. For you, it may be to connect neighbours and others, leading them to Christ and inviting them along to church. Someone else may be called to raise finances for missionary work; someone else to care for the church property.

The apostle Paul said it this way: ‘… your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you… You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies (1Corinthians 6:19-20).

Many Christians actually believe that:

• We know that God is good and the devil is pure evil.
• We give assent to Christ’s sacrificial atoning death for our sins.
• We understand the moral compass Christ gives to us.

But… the Western world life today can be more in tune with Instagram,TikTok,Twitter, X, Hollywood, entertainment in general, individualism, an abrogation of Godly rules and laws they don’t like, than with the heartbeat of the church!

Many Christians have forgotten that we are a priesthood of believers who have a purpose in society – and it’s not to hide in front of a TV or to be quiet and let those close to us slip away to a lost eternity! (1 Peter 2:4–5, Revelation 5:10).

Why? and deceptiveness
If I evaluate the church prior to Covid, I suggest that we then promoted the idea of…

• Bigger is better – look at our numbers.
• We have a great band – come and listen.
• We make quite an impression – look at us.
• Our sermons are quite evocative – attend and hear.

But none of these thoughts really tell us how each of us should glorify God as the church. We were acting more like a club, expecting people to come and join us so that we would build bigger and better.

When I recall the words of the Westminster Confession, I am immediately drawn to Matthew 5:16, ‘… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’

Why? and God’s help
God wants to help us (the church) move forward in the right direction. And He will! Remember how He helped Israel on their release from the bondage of Egypt to be the inheritors of the Promised Land? (Which was, is, and always will be Israel’s). He provided a great light –  a pillar of fire – a supernational sign indicating Come This Way, It’s Safe, and they could even travel during the dark night (Exodus 13:21-22).

Exodus 14:10 tells that Israel panicked and cried out to God. Now they were asking ‘Why?’ – in fear! (verse 11). Moses’ answer from God was ‘Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today’ (v12). And God did! His bright light saved them! (v20).

Have you ever stood in a pitch-black room or a street corner without a light?When a light is turned on you know which way to go.The light attracts you to it!

So we should always let our light shine in today’s dark world and glorify God! Today God says your light, which is the reflection of Jesus in you, will guide others to the promised land of heaven.

When we glorify God it means we elevate Him and diminish and deny ourselves – just as John the Baptist said as Jesus entered His messianic mission: ‘He must become greater; I must become less’ (John 3:30).

Simply restated this means being committed to God’s ways rather than being preoccupied with ours. As He proclaimed though Isaiah ‘… my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’ (Isaiah 55:8-9).

When life seems uncertain and you’re in a quandary, wait on Him to give His direction to your life. Remember that the Bible will reveal His will for your life. When you don’t know which path to take, remember you are part of the church family and your family will help you glorify God in your decision making whether it’s a new job, an education, a relocation.

And regarding playing your role in building the church… Jesus gave us the promise of His powerful Holy Spirit helping us (John 14:26)!

Why? and accountability
In our public and private lives we must be consistent – what we say is what we do (And this is the hardest thing to do because the devil will come in ‘the dark of night’ eg our most trying times, when there are no human observers, no church family to assist you in your thoughts and actions).

When we say: ‘Jesus, I’ll check in with you’ and mean it, this means that we will not seek to be the centre of attention. Nor will we be proud and obnoxious. Rather we will be accountable to others because the world is watching every individual Christian… and every church where Christians worship.

To assist your decision-making when the world is asking Why? Why? Why?, you are to be seeking to glorify God. So, remember to ask this, whatever you are about to do, say or think: ‘Will this bring glory to God?’

The Pharisees pretended to be holy and faked their calling! Another ‘Why?’ here,  and a lesson there for us… ‘They loved to be seen by others’ (Matthew 6:5).

We are to be saints of God who love to be seen being obedient by a loving Father because we have –

• Aligned ourselves with God’s mission of love for all people.
• Awakened to the availability of the Holy Spirit’s supernatural power (Ephesians 5:18).
• Accepted our assignment of telling the world.

Paul’s 1Corinthians 10:31 words above said it best: Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Aligned and assigned let your light shine. Let your good works glorify God in all that you do. Show the world that you are a member of Jesus’ church, a church that cares for others!

What the ‘Why question’ does is peel back the husks of a grain to reveal the germ that reproduces life. Superficial husks are removed to reveal the inner gold.

Know that the inner gold of the church worldwide is to point people to the goodness and glory of God. Be a living beacon of Christ’s life-changing hope! Heed the words of that great English cricketer and missionary, C.T. Studd…

‘Only one life, ’twill soon be past.
Only what’s done for Christ will last.’

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Dr Richard Winter pastors The Connection Church, Huntington Beach, California. Link: OnlineConnect@lifefocus1
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