Christians are Crazy! John 3:3 (MEV) - Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a man is born again,[a] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Introduction: Christianity doesn’t make sense to the people of the world. They see religion itself as nothing more than irrational nonsense. If you can’t sense it, then it’s not real. If you can’t see it, smell it, touch it, taste it, or hear it … then it’s just made-up gobbledygook. This attitude produces such questions as, “If God really exists, then why so much evil in the world?” Christians have an answer for that, but it doesn’t meet the approval of the world. When we talk about God’s power, inane questions surface like, “Can God make a rock so big that He Himself can’t lift it?” It was Karl Marx who called religion “THE OPIATE OF THE MASSES” - Religion was used by the powerful to oppress workers and make them feel better about their situation. He thought that religion was a "comfort blanket… that distracted workers from their poor economic conditions and exploitation. Today Christians have been called “Bible-thumpers”, “Holy Rollers”, and “bitter deplorables”. Even “Christian” was originally intended as a pejorative term. The world sees Christians as gullible people who believe anything. They have drunk the Kool-Aid and are swept up in a fairy tale that, in the end, gets them nowhere. In short, Christians are crazy. Maybe We Really Are Crazy - If you think about it, Christians certainly do some crazy things. Some Christians limit spending on themselves so they can share their means with others. That’s just crazy. Instead of spending their Sunday’s golfing, fishing, or shopping, Christians gather in song and prayer while metaphorically eating and drinking the body and blood of the historical figure they claim to follow. That’s just crazy. Christians don’t use profanity or get drunk or do drugs. They don’t have indiscriminate sex. Come on, man! That’s just crazy! When the circumstances of life fall all over them, Christian’s walk around with a smile on their face saying stupid stuff like, “Count it all joy when facing trials of various kinds.” That’s crazy talk! We look crazy to the people of the world. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12). Cool Christianity is compromised Christianity! Progressive Christianity is Pagan Christianity! Relevant Christianity is rebellious Christianity! Stop trying to make Christianity cool and embrace the crazy! The Godless…are crazy Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind Daniel 4:33-34 (NLT) - That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws. 34 After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever…” Pharoah lost his mind - (Exodus 10:7) Saul lost his mind 1 Samuel 16:14 - But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him. When the whole world is running toward a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind. - CS Lewis We live in a world where there is a new normal every single week. I'm not so sure that I want to embrace what this world considers normal. We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, that we are not a product of random chance of evolution period We believe that God created mankind male and female - that gender is assigned at birthed and not chosen later. We believe that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman. We believe that family is sacred and is worth fighting for. We believe that life starts at conception, and we believe Abortion is murder. We believe that all life is sacred and must be protected. We believe that God became a man and was born of a virgin. That he lived A perfect life yet died a painful death of the sins of the whole world. We believe that he arose from the grave and conquered death hell and the grave and is alive right now at the right hand of the father. We believe that one day he is coming back and will establish his kingdom upon this earth and of that kingdom there will never be an end. We believe that every politician great and small will bow their knee to the king of all kings and the lord of all lords whether they want to or not. We believe that there are not many ways to heaven, but there is only one way to heaven. That Jesus is the way the truth and the life and nobody comes to the father except through him. So, if this makes us a little crazy so be it! The Godly…should be crazy Jeremiah 29:26 (NLT)- The Lord has appointed you to replace Jehoiada as the priest in charge of the house of the Lord. You are responsible to put into stocks and neck irons any crazy man who claims to be a prophet. Jeremiah the prophet told the truth, and the religious false prophets locked him up because of what he was prophesying. "The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." — Albert Einstein Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter. STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT - EVEN IF IT MEANS STANDING ALONE! Mark 3:21 (NLT) - When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said. Jesus, because of his passion for ministry, was thought at one time to be crazy / insane His family was calling passion insanity! The reason so many people are comfortable in a woke culture and a woke Church, is because they have no real zeal or passion about the things of God. When you are passionate about what you do, you don’t need an alarm clock to wake you up. Acts 26:24-26 (NLT) - Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!” 25 But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. 26 And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner!  Paul was preaching the truth, and the government was calling him crazy for his teaching. What I am saying is true and reasonable. The government called truth insanity! You say, “but Pastor I don’t think that is such a big deal at all…” It’s because you don’t understand history which the Bible says is cyclical (it repeats itself). “It’s dangerous to be right when the government is wrong” – Voltaire His ideas and criticism of the social order were a key inspiration for the French Revolution beginning in 1789. Voltaire's beliefs in the importance of freedom of expression and religious toleration heavily influence ideas of freedom of speech and religion in most Western democracies today. You can only fight a WOKE AMERICA with an AWAKENED CHURCH You can only awaken a WOKE CHURCH with a POWER ENCOUNTER You can only have a POWER ENCOUNTER in a SPIRIT-LED ATMOSPHERE The early church had more demonstration than rhetoric. They had more power than pulpiteering. They had more miracles than mundane gatherings. They had more Spirit than structure. Ephesians 5:13-14 - But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead and Christ will give you light.” Atmosphere is important 1st thing God created Genesis 1:3-7 Jesus in Nazareth Mark 6:4-6 - But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Jairus Daughter Mark 5:35-40 - While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.”40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. Blind Man in Bethesda Mark 8: 22-25 - 22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.” Blessing Houses Luke 10:3-11 - Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ Atmosphere attracts spirits Atmospheres create environments and environments create ecosystems Example Babylon and Greece in the book of Daniel Man of Gadara – living in the tombs among the dead filled with demons Mark 3 – Man with the withered hand in the synagogue Ephesians 2:1-2 - And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience… 1 Samuel 16:23 - 23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him. James 3:16 - For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. One of the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit is “the discerning of spirits” Conclusion: Worship Creates Atmosphere Psalm 34:1-8 A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech (of Gath – Goliath’s home) 34 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. 8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Attitude Creates Atmosphere Words create atmosphere Relationships create atmosphere