Micro-Church | Fall 2022 | Week 5
Romans 3:1–4 (ESV)
1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”
One of the things that we talked about a few Sunday mornings ago is the idea of people's perception of God being based on what they have seen other people portray. In other words, our experiences impact our perception.
Consider this article written by Neuro Science News entitled: "Do you see red like I see red?" It poses a question that I tend to irritate my nerdy children with. What if the color that you see as red, is interpreted by your brain as what I actually would see as blue? The article gives this quote at the conclusion of an experiment with colored lights on normally easily recognized objects:
"Sometimes what you know, or think you know, influences what you see."
We are all guilty of allowing our past experiences to influence what we perceive about God. There are countless people in our circles, and PROBABLY even in our Micro-Churches who have experienced some sort of pain that they would classify as "church-hurt". When we allow our experiences with a fallen world dictate what we perceive about God we can sometimes be guilty of misunderstanding who God really is.
Romans 5:6-11 is a really good summation of the gist of the Gospel:
Romans 5:6–11 (ESV)
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
What do we learn about God specifically from this passage?
What do we learn about people specifically from this passage?
We've often pastored people who had grown up with a very painful home-life. It was difficult for them to understand God revealing himself in scripture as a loving "Father", because their own perceptions of their earthly parents. We've all been touched by painful experiences that will affect our thoughts about who God is.
Have there been moments in your life when you allowed an experience to affect your perception of who God is? How did you overcome that?
Going back to Paul's statement in Romans 3 - he's making a point that the inconsistency of people does not change the fact that God is steadfast and completely trustworthy. This brings us face-to-face with an opportunity to respond to the Word.
We have a responsibility to represent the character of God to the best of our ability. We cannot save. We are not God, but according to 1 Corinthians 5:20 his representatives on this earth.
2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV)
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
In practical terms, what are some things that can we do to help the people in our community to reconcile false perceptions about who God is?
In closing, it is important to pause here to give opportunity for God to heal someone who may be deeply impacted by hurt inflicted by someone who may have misrepresented Christ.
Is there someone in your Micro-Church who needs healing from a church-hurt?
I believe that God desperately wants to reveal His true nature to that individual. Take time to pray for the reconciliation of perceptions versus the reality of the love of God.
