The Danger of Unbelief - Hebrews 3:7-19

By David Woods

Linda was a wonderful, godly Christian woman. She was considered part of the "core" of her local church. Her spiritual gifts greatly enhanced the community life of the church. Then Linda made a friend who began challenging her Christian beliefs.

A few months later, Linda decided to leave the church. She no longer believed in the Gospel, though she considered herself to be very spiritual.

Her former church was struck hard by Linda's decision to leave. Many felt like church was no longer church because of Linda. Many struggled to understand how and why Linda could stop believing that which she had believed her whole life.

Big Idea: Disbelief is a real danger for the Christian.

Many Christians would probably laugh if you said they were in great danger of disbelieving the Gospel. (Disbelief is the "refusal or reluctance to believe.") Yet the Hebrews considered disbelief to be a real danger for the Christian and so he writes to us of the Israelites' belief on the way to the Promised Land.

Discussion: What are some of the privileges the Israelites enjoyed as "the people of God"? (The following list is not intended to be exhaustive.)

Discussion: Of what did the Israelites "prove" God? (The following list is not intended to be exhaustive.)

Consider the great privileges the Israelites enjoyed. God came to them in a cloud over Mt. Sinai and spoke the Ten Commandments to them in an audible voice!

Discussion: If God spoke to you in an audible voice, do you think you would ever be tempted to distrust Him?

Despite the great privileges the Israelites enjoyed and the confidence they should have received from proving God, the Israelites continued to rebel against Him. Finally, they provoked God to such great anger that a whole generation was doomed to perish in the wilderness, so close to home and yet far, far away.

Now, the Hebrews writer says we Christians should also be careful that we do not lose our salvation. Note three truths concerning disbelief:

1. Disbelief is the result of drift in our faith, v. 12.

In Historical Drift Arnold L. Cook writes that drift (especially in organizations) is inevitable. He writes, "Based on my observations over forty years of ministry, I resonate with the blunt ad hoc suggestion of an elderly and unidentified bishop: 'All Christian organizations should be scrapped every 100 years and started over, except for the women's missionary prayer circle.'"

Discussion: How would you respond to this quote?

Discussion: Cook's thesis for this book is: "Organizations don't drift, only their leaders." Please respond.

Discussion: What would you suggest are some causes of spiritual drift?

In Historical Drift, Cook discusses a book entitled Why Conservative Churches Are Growing by Dean Kelley who Cook describes as a member of an ecumenical church. Kelley's book was the result of a phenomenon he saw in that narrow, sectarian groups tended to grow much better than churches such as his own that tried not to offend anyone. Kelley extended his research even into groups beyond evangelicals (i.e. Jehovah's Witnesses). Cook writes, "Kelley uses 'conservative' in the sociological sense of 'adhering to very strict regulations and requiring high commitment from their members.'" (pp. 29-30)

Kelley lists four "unfulfilled expectations":

1. It is generally assumed that religious enterprises, if they want to succeed, will be reasonable, rational, courteous, responsible, restrained and receptive to outside criticism; that is, they will want to preserve a good image in the world (as the world defines all these terms).
2. It is expected, moreover, that they will be democratic and gentle in their internal affairs (and will want to work cooperatively with other groups to meet those needs).
3. They will also be responsive to the needs of men (as currently conceived), and will want to work cooperatively with other groups to meet those needs.
4. They will not let dogmatism, judgmental moralism or obsessions with cultic purity stand in the way of such cooperation and service. (p. 30)

Discussion: Would you agree or disagree with Kelley's conclusions? How could these attitudes/desires/policies result in spiritual drift?

Discussion: What are some ways we can impede spiritual drift? Personally? As a local church?

2. Disbelief is destructive to the community of faith, v. 13.

Our culture of self-reliance and independence in America, in my opinion, has resulted in a failure to realize the strong community relationships evident in the Church as recorded by the book of Acts.

Discussion: How can we support our culture of self-responsibility, avoid meddling in other's affairs, and yet build a community of faith that is more involved and concerned for one another than simple inquiries concerning each other's welfare on Sunday morning?

John Wesley lived during a time of great spiritual darkness. However, God used him and a few others to bring spiritual revival to England and America.

One of the distinguishing features of Wesley's work was the society, which was composed of up to twelve members. This group met weekly to study the Bible, pray, and to encourage each other in the faith.

The following is "John Wesley's Rules for the 'Band Societies' (1738)":

"The design of our meeting is to obey that command of God, 'Confess your faults one to another, and pray for another - that you may be healed'" (James 5:16).

"To this end we intend:

1. To meet once a week, at the least.

2. To come punctually at the hour appointed, without some extraordinary reason.

3. To begin (those of us who are present) exactly at the hour with singing or prayer.

4. To speak, each of us in order, freely and plainly the true state of our souls without the faults we have committed in thought, word, or deed, and the temptations we have felt since our last meeting.

5. To end every meeting with prayer, suited to the state of each person present."

"Some of the questions proposed to every one before he is admitted among us may be to this effect:

1. Have you the forgiveness of your sins?

2. Have you peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ?

3. Have you the witness of God's Spirit with your Spirit that you are a child of God?

4. Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart?

5. Has no sin, inward or outward, dominion over you?

6. Do you desire to be told of your faults?

7. Do you desire to be told of all your faults, and that plain and home?

8. Do you desire that ever one of us should tell you from time to time whatsoever is in his heart concerning you?

9. Consider! Do you desire that we should tell you whatsoever we fear, whatsoever we hear, concerning you?

10. Do you desire that in doing this we should cut to the quick, and search your heart to the bottom?

11. Is it your desire and design to be on this and all other occasions entirely open, so as to speak everything that is in your heart, without exception, without disguise, and without reserve?

Any of the preceding questions may be asked as often as occasion offers; the five following at every meeting:

1. What known sin have you committed since our last meeting?

2. What temptations have you met with?

3. How were you delivered?

4. What have you thought, said, and done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?

5. (Sometimes omitted) Have you nothing you desire to keep secret? (http://www.parousianetwork.com/Wesley's_Society_Rules.htm)

Discussion: What do you think of such a group? How could such a group help impede spiritual drift?

Discussion: Does our church have too low of a standard for Christian living? What should we do to raise that standard?

3. Disbelief destroys the assurance of our faith, v. 14.

Discussion: Was the Hebrews writer concerned that Christians would not believe or could not believe?
(The concern seems to be primarily with a refusal to believe rather than a smallness of faith that results in a lack of belief, although I am not sure that the latter is ruled out.)

Discussion: Why would one who believes in Christ begin to question his beliefs and stop believing?

Reflection: Is my knowledge of Christ (my relationship with Him) growing, stagnating, or weakening?

"The mission of the Church of God (Holiness) is to exalt Christ, equip the Church, and evangelize the world."

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