Exodus 32_31-34      Christian's List

Rev. David Holwick  I

First Baptist Church

Ledgewood, New Jersey

March 2, 1997

Exodus 32:31-34


CHRISTIAN'S LIST



  I. Never again?

      A. Seven years in Germany.

          1) Going to school past bomb craters in Munich, Germany.

              a) Flak towers and bullet scars in Berlin.

              b) Friends lived in an SS officer's house.

                    He committed suicide in basement.

          2) Seeing Dachau as a child.

              a) Square yard of earth:  ashes of 15,000 Jews.

              b) Germans don't touch topic.

          3) Anti-Semitism in New Jersey.


      B. Holocaust a defining event in modern history.

          1) Highlights cruelty of sophisticated people.

          2) Apocalyptic dimensions.

          3) Disturbing questions about conduct of Christians.


      C. Overriding principles.

          1) Doesn't just apply to Jews.

              a) Millions of others perished in concentration camps.

              b) Application to Rwanda, Bosnia.

          2) Someday CHRISTIANS may face such a holocaust. (Trib)

              a) Images of Tribulation.

                  1> 50 churches burned recently in Indonesia.

              b) Our values under attack.

                  1> Evil and arrogance seems to be winning.

          3) What really matters in life?


II. The power of the gun and gas chamber.

      A. Nazis held the power of life and death.

          1) Random atrocities and degradations.

              a) Shooting loafers from balcony.

              b) Jews forced to walk on ancient gravestones that

                    pave the main road.

          2) Schindler: Power is not taking vengeance when it is deserved.

              a) Capt. Amon says, "I forgive you."

              b) But doesn't really change.


      B. Christians have the power to forgive.

          1) Forgiveness is a choice.

          2) Who do we need to forgive?


      C. God has the ultimate power.

          1) Miraculous deliverances.

              a) Rabbi-machinist taken out to be shot, but two pistols

                    repeatedly misfire.

              b) Children hiding in latrines.

          2) Humans can only kill us.                           Luke 12:5

              a) God can send us to hell.

              b) Have you made your peace with him?


III. Incongruence - things that don't mix.

      A. Soldier stops to play piano during extermination of ghetto.

          1) Cultured?

          2) Compassion should be a part of real faith.


      B. A sinful saint.

          1) Schindler a rotten scoundrel.

              a) Fraternizes with Nazis.

              b) Womanizer, corrupt.

              c) Holocaust makes him a millionaire.

          2) He does one good thing.

              a) He makes a list of Jews.

                  1> By hook or crook, he saves each one.

              b) The descendants on that list outnumber surviving

                    Jews in Poland today by 2-1.


      C. The world needs more bold sinners.

          1) Doing good may be more important than personal holiness.

              a) Holiness important, of course!

              b) But wrong to fret over personal faith when you could

                    do something to save lives.

              c) Don't be too inward.

          2) Jesus says don't neglect justice, AND be holy.    Matt 23:23

              a) Holiness and compassion are powerful combination.


IV. The courage to go against the flow.

      A. If Jews rounded up in America, what would Ledgewood Baptist do?

          1) There are times you have to speak up.

             Sometimes it's a matter of life and death that somebody

                speak up.

             Take the case of Martin Niemoller, a Lutheran pastor in

                Germany in the 1930's.

             Here is his often-quoted, honest confession:

             In Germany they came first for the communists, and I didn't

                speak up because I wasn't a communist.

             Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because

                I wasn't a Jew.


             Then they came for those in trade unions, and I didn't speak

                up because I wasn't in a trade union.

             Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up

                because I was a Protestant.

             Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left

                to speak up.

                                                                    #1578

          2) Many social problems seem far away, beyond our control.

              a) Newark is a world away.  Not my neighborhood.

              b) Kids overdosing on drugs in Roxbury?  Not my kids.


      B. True believers ought to do SOMETHING.

          1) Christians should be transformed, and transformers.

          2) John Hanford speaking out for oppressed Christians.

          3) Example of Lutheran bishop who stopped gassing of retarded.


  V. People are worth it.

      A. Schindler bribed officials with booze, women, diamonds.

          1) A specific price per head.

          2) He spent all his wealth for others.

          3) Quote from Talmud:  He who saves one life, saves the world.


      B. Modern people put value on life in a negative way.

          1) Industry - cost analysis.  (especially in health field)

          2) Abortion - save welfare costs.


      C. Our lives are valuable, our souls invaluable.

          1) Jesus paid incalculable price for us.

          2) We must also pay - lose life to save it.


VI. Making lists.

      A. Schlinder made a list of Jews he wanted to save.

          1) At end of movie, Schindler cries over unnamed people he

                could have saved.

          2) Each thing he owned - watch, Nazi pin, car - was worth

                lives.


      B. Christians should have lists.

          1) Those we can help.

              a) When we get to heaven, asked how we helped people.

                  1> Matthew 25 and "sheep and goats."

                  2> Your commitment to poor and outcasts may be a

                        hidden blessing - or a curse.

                  3> What are you doing that makes a difference in

                        people's lives?

              b) Note that righteous did it by nature, not to "get in."


          2) Those we can save.

              a) Not arrogant to say we can "save" people.

              b) Paul speaks of wives saving their husbands.  1 Cor 7:16; cf. 9:22

              c) Of course, God does the real saving.

                  1> But he uses us to spread the message.


      C. God has a list.                                  Exodus 32:31-34

          1) Those who believe on Jesus.

          2) Another Holocaust is coming.  Eternal judgment.



Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick

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