This week Joshua Harris (a well-known pastor/author (perhaps you recognize the book I Kissed Dating Goodbye) announced that he was “renouncing Christianity”. Much has been shared about what he has said about this, but it is not my purpose to re-hash this, or weigh in on where I think he is at spiritually. There are plenty of people out there who will do just that. Nor is it my purpose to really make this blog about Joshua Harris. Instead, I want to focus on the notion of turning away from Christ. Obviously this is not a new concern, as much of the book of Hebrews and some of the verses in the Epistles draw attention to this matter in great depth. Here are some verses that bring the issue to light: “19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[e] 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” Hebrews 10:19-32. The author of these verses is concerned for those who “suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.” He is concerned that some people are in danger of turning away from Christ, and are set to dismiss the significance of all that Christ has done. Such as:
- Made a way for those in Christ to “have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body”
- Becoming our “great priest over the house of God” so that we may “draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
Hebrews warns against:
- The danger of judgment from God
- Trampling God’s grace underfoot
- Treating the blood of the covenant as an unholy thing
- Insulting the Holy Spirit
- Throwing away confidence in God’s redemptive plan
For me, as I consider all that Christ has done, I am horrified at the notion of trampling His grace under foot. Where would we, as people be, without the grace of God and His mercy which is without measure? What is left for mankind except judgement if we proclaim our own righteousness, and therefore dismiss the righteousness that God offers only through Christ? How can we ever approach the Lord, let alone with confidence, if we dismiss His holiness and truth and our need to be forgiven by Him? Why would we turn our backs on our beautiful and gracious High Priest? May I ask something of you? I said that I wasn’t going to make this blog about Joshua Harris, but I didn’t say that I wasn’t going to ask you to pray for Him. Would you do that right now? Kissing Jesus goodbye is no small matter. It didn’t go well for Judas, and it has not gone well for anyone else who has ever done so. We don’t know what is in Joshua Harris’ heart, but God does, and He can draw him to Him. Please pray for him and any others who you believe are in danger of throwing away their confidence in Christ. They so need our prayers. And God is not done with them, even if they think they are done with God. For Jesus, Rob