A Joshua Stance

  A couple of months ago we did a series called “Not political”. In that series we talk about how there are issues that happen in our government and society that have been co-oped as political, but really are not. An example of this is abortion. We showed how this isn’t a political issue, but rather something the Church has been standing against since the beginning. 

I want to briefly dip our toes into another non-political issue just for the sake of helping us understand the calling of God on our lives. In the last few years a bill has been circulating capital hill. A few years ago it was passed by the House of Representatives, and more recently this year, it has passed again and is currently in the Senate. The bill is referred to as the “Equality Act” (https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5/text). In summary the bill would expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include LGBTQ+ people. Now not discriminating is a good thing, because impartiality is a sin, yet the thing we as believers must realize is that the language of the bill opens a door for the Church’s work to be impacted.

Let me give you three examples from the bill. The first coming from Section 2a, subsection 8a. It reads, “(8) Both LGBTQ people and women face widespread discrimination in employment and various services, including by entities that receive Federal financial assistance. Such discrimination— (A) is particularly troubling and inappropriate for programs and services funded wholly or in part by the Federal Government…”

This could impact the ability of students at Christian Colleges to get financial aid, if the college takes a biblical stance against LGBTQ lifestyles. 

The second example comes from Section 3a subsection 2a and c, where it reads, "(a) Prohibition On Discrimination Or Segregation In Public Accommodations.—Section 201 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a) is amended—in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (3), by striking “stadium” and all that follows and inserting “stadium or other place of or establishment that provides exhibition, entertainment, recreation, exercise, amusement, public gathering, or public display…“(4) any establishment that provides a good, service, or program, including a store, shopping center, online retailer or service provider, salon, bank, gas station, food bank, service or care center, shelter, travel agency, or funeral parlor, or establishment that provides health care, accounting, or legal services…”

This could impact para-church organizations or churches themselves who rent out shopping mall spaces, who build community centers, or who put on youth programs. 

The third example is Section 9, subsection 2 - 1107, which reads, “The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.) shall not provide a claim concerning, or a defense to a claim under, a covered title, or provide a basis for challenging the application or enforcement of a covered title.”

Now, I’m not saying that if this bill passes, the next day the gestapo is going to break down the doors of Christians and start closing churches. But we need to be aware of what is happening around us and be prepared for the slow escalation of changing social norms that will challenge our faith. 

It’s this understanding that the world around us is putting us into a position where our faith will be challenged, that we open up to Joshua chapter 24 today.

As we get into Joshua 24, starting in verse 14, we need to know what’s happening in the context of the verses we’ll be looking at. We’re coming into the book of Joshua at the end; in fact, this is the last chapter of the book. Joshua has led the people of Israel for about twenty years after Moses, the previous leader and Joshua’s mentor, passed away. Joshua had seen and done amazing things in his life. He had been a young man at the parting of the Red Sea. He had seen God supply Israel’s needs through the 40 years of wandering. Joshua had seen the Jordan River backed up, the walls of Jericho fall, and the sun stand still. In all of this, Joshua had also seen God’s fulfilled promise of giving the land of Canaan to the people of Israel. 

And in the first 13 verses of chapter 24, Joshua reminds the people of all that God has done for them. It’s in this midst of remembering what God has done for the people, that we find ourselves in verse 14. Let’s read it together, as Joshua says…

“14 Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’ 

“16 Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.’

“19 Joshua said to the people, ‘You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.’

“21 But the people said to Joshua, ‘No! We will serve the Lord.’

“22 Then Joshua said, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.’ 

“‘Yes, we are witnesses,’ they replied.

"23 ‘Now then,’ said Joshua, ‘throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.’

“24 And the people said to Joshua, ‘We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.’

“25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws.”

This is Joshua’s farewell to the people. Right after this interaction, we’re told in verse 29, “ After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten (v.29).”

In Joshua’s last days on earth, he wanted to call the people of Israel to stand firm in their faith towards God. Joshua had seen the the generation before him, and how they had worshiped other gods even as the God of Israel performed miracle after miracle in their sight. From the plagues of Egypt, to the cloud by day and fire by night. From water out of a rock, to the bread from heaven. From the earth opening up to swallow those that had deceived the people, to the snake that had been lifted up so the people may be healed. Joshua had seen it all. Yet, even with all the miracles that had been done for the people of Israel, they still made themselves a golden calf to worship. Though God had destroyed one of the greatest armies of their day in the Red Sea, still the people doubted that God could lead them victoriously into the land of Canaan.

Joshua had seen what happens when the people failed to follow the God of Israel. And at the same time, Joshua had seen what happens when the people fully trusted in God. In his own leadership time, Joshua had seen city, and stronghold, and fighting force destroyed by the power of God in his people. Joshua understood both sides of the coin. He understood that to follow God meant victory, and to not meant destruction.

And so, Joshua calls the people to throw away the gods of their fathers, who led the last generation astray. Joshua calls the people to fully weigh all that has happened in the last 60 years, and decide where they are going to stand. Will they choose the God of Israel, who has done great things for their people in years past and into their lives, or will they return to worship the gods of Egypt or appropriate the gods of their new home land.

It is a moment of truth. Joshua leaves no room for fence sitting. There can be no maybe here. It’s either all or nothing. And then Joshua speaks, probably his most famous line, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

In those words, Joshua sets a precedence for himself and his family. Joshua knows that this decision to follow the God of Israel or not, has to be on an individual basis. And as the leader of his household, he has chosen to follow the Lord no matter the decision of the entire nation of Israel. No matter if the whole nation turns against God, Joshua has publicly declared his intention to only follow his God. If at this point the nation turns away, Joshua’s family line might be in jeopardy, because he has chosen to be on God’s side, and not anyone else.

Even after the people declare their intent to follow God, Joshua challenges them on it. In verses 19-20, Joshua emphasizes the severity of playing around with following God. God is holy, there is no wiggle room here. This brings to mind the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other…”

But the people agree to follow God and to make that covenant right there that day. And later on in the chapter, we’re told in verse 31, “Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.”

We stand at a day of declaration ourselves. There is movement in our government and in the world, that seeks to stand against the Word of God. There are decisions being made to follow the gods of lust, sloth, greed, gluttony, wrath, envy, and pride. More and more books will be banned, and more and more we will see the sins of the world, be placed centered stage to be indulged in. We are marching at a quickening pace towards the day when Christ will come in his fully glory. 

And as the world hastens its pace towards that day, we must be careful that we are not swept along with it. Right now, as things are happening, and it seems like every day there’s something new that has popped up that challenges the Holy God, we must not allow it to take our eyes off of the One who has called us to himself. The world, and all its tappings, have as its goal to fight the fight on its terms and with its weapons. Yet we must stand on the Word of God, and trust in his might. 

There’s been a lot of talk, videos, and sermons that focus on the fulfillment of prophecy. I believe that we are seeing prophecy come to pass, yet our hope is not in in the fulfillment of prophecy, but the God who spoke it. In Matthew 24:8, Jesus says, “All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

And after those words in Matthew 24:8, Jesus gives us two clear commands in his prophetic sermon, on what is required of us in when the end is near. Starting in verse 12 Jesus says, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

First we must stand firm. We must have our Joshua moment. We must see a clear foundation on which we build our faith. We must decide today not to follow the gods of our fathers, nor the gods of this era. We must publicly stand for the God we serve, and speak in love against the things this world would have us worship. Moses, Joshua, Daniel, Peter, and Paul stood when others said kneel. We must follow our brothers and sisters in standing firm in our faith. Doing so with love, mercy and grace.

Then secondly, we must share the Gospel. Jesus said that the Gospel will be preached in the whole world before the end comes. We must be witnesses to the Gospel. The end will come, how fast it will be, who knows, but what we do know that in times such as these, the relaying of the Gospel is the most important thing we can do.

So, brothers and sisters, Beloved of God, what will you choose this day. When the government calls on you to receive its benefits at the cost of your faith, what will you choose? The stimulus check or the cross? When your neighbor needs to hear the Gospel, but to tell them would be breaking a rule or a mandate, what will you choose? We must head the words of Joshua, “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”

I desire to speak the words of Joshua, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Today I want to challenge you to stand firm in your faith of the Holy God, who brought Israel out of Egypt, who brought Israel out of Babylon, and through Christ, brought us out of sin. Today, make a decision to either stand firm in trusting God, or not. Let us no longer be half-minded, double minded, or any other minded, except for a mind made up. In the notes there’s a space for you to write out a declaration of standing firm in your faith. This week seek God to develop the words you will say when the time comes for you to choose between the world and him.

Let us be firmly standing on the Word of God, for the work of God, for the times in which he has called us today. Amen.