Yesterday I went to a guys-only church conference in Appleton. It was AMAZING! I grew up in a family where the guys went to church to make the ladies happy, but this event was something completely different. The guys spent an entire Saturday in church because they wanted to be there. They wanted to praise God. I think i cried like 10 times in the course of 8 hours. There was only one downside: the keynote speaker was too good. Well, it wasn't that he was too good, it's just that his message was too alarming.
The speaker, Voddie Baucham (www.voddiebaucham.org) stated that America is at an all time low for biblical literacy. People don't know who Matthew is, whether Jesus sinned, how to get to heaven, and more importantly what the core of the bible is about. The bible is the story of Jesus. Yes, even the old testament is about Jesus. An article that goes more in depth can be found here: http://www.theologicalstudies.org/page/page/1573625.htm
What does this mean for America? Well, i don't know, but Voddie's message was clear: many people claim to be christians, but in fact will never get to heaven. He made reference to Matthew 7: 21-23 in which Jesus states, "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
Voddie said that where he lives in the south, people have to be lost before they can be found. He explained that many of the people down there claim to be christians because they prayed a "secret prayer" or a big-shot evangelist told them that there name was written in the book of life because they gave money to the church...but are they all saved? And if so, then why did Jesus say "I never knew you. Away from me evildoers!" Even those who use the name of Jesus to perform miracles? It comes down to whether or not they did the will of God.
Voddie again referenced Matthew 17 to help illustrate the difference between a christian and a non-christian in a christian t-shirt:
"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus by their fruit you will recognize them."
So here are the facts:
The conference was awesome imo.
Christian unity is powerful and will tremble the earth.
Voddie Bauchman is a phenomenal speaker imo.
Not everyone who thinks they are christians are christians.
Genuine Christians bear good fruit.
The bible is about Jesus. Both the old and new testament.
What's next? Where do you go from here? Heaven is full of people who do the will of Jesus' Father, so what is His will? What does Jesus want us to know about Himself?
