THE RESURRECTION

 

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.”
— John 20:1

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The Cornerstone of History

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single most pivotal event in human history.
It is not merely a religious claim—it is the cornerstone of reality, the bedrock upon which all Christian faith, hope, and meaning rest.

If Christ did not rise, then Christianity collapses.
But if He did, then nothing else matters more.

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1. The Empty Tomb

All four Gospels testify that Jesus’s tomb was found empty on the third day.

After His crucifixion, His lifeless body was laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a well-known member of the Sanhedrin. The tomb’s location was public knowledge. Three days later, the women who came to anoint His body found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.

Had the body been present, Christianity would have been disproved instantly.
Even the Jewish leaders didn’t deny the empty tomb—they tried to explain it away (Matthew 28:11–15).

The empty tomb is not merely a theological symbol; it’s a stubborn historical fact that demands explanation.

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2. The Roman Guards

Roman soldiers guarded the tomb under the authority of the Empire.
They were disciplined, armed, and sworn to protect the seal placed over the stone. Breaking that seal was an act of treason against Rome—punishable by death.

Yet, despite the seal, the watch, and the threat of execution, the tomb was found open and empty.

The soldiers’ report to the chief priests and their acceptance of bribe money (Matthew 28:12–15) only strengthens the case—they didn’t deny what happened; they simply tried to hide it.

No Roman guard would risk death for a fabrication. The simplest, truest explanation remains: Christ rose from the dead.

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3. The Faith of the Followers

The disciples’ response to the resurrection is one of the most powerful evidences of its truth.

• Post-Resurrection Appearances

The risen Christ appeared to men and women, to individuals and groups, indoors and outdoors, to believers and skeptics alike.
He invited Thomas to touch His wounds (John 20:27) and ate with His followers (Luke 24:42–43).

These were no hallucinations. Hallucinations are private, not shared by multiple witnesses across multiple settings.

• Martyrdom

These same disciples who fled in fear on Friday stood boldly before rulers and mobs after Sunday.
They were beaten, imprisoned, tortured, and killed—yet not one recanted.
People will die for what they believe to be true, but not for what they know is false.

• Transformed Lives

Peter the denier became Peter the preacher.
James, the skeptic brother of Jesus, became a leader of the church in Jerusalem.
Saul the persecutor became Paul the missionary.
The resurrection didn’t just change their beliefs—it changed their entire existence.

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4. Historical and Theological Anchors

• Early Creeds

Paul cites a creed in 1 Corinthians 15:3–7 affirming the resurrection.
This creed dates within a few years of the crucifixion—too early for legend to form.
The resurrection was not a later addition; it was the heartbeat of the earliest Christian proclamation.

• Cultural Impact

Within a few decades, the gospel spread across the Roman world.
No political power, persecution, or opposition could stop it.
The message of a crucified and risen Savior turned the world upside down.

• Failed Counter-Theories

Theories of body theft, wrong tomb, or “spiritual resurrection” all collapse under scrutiny.
The tomb was guarded, publicly known, and empty.
And a merely “spiritual” resurrection would never have inspired the disciples’ courage—or Christianity’s explosive growth.

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5. The Implication: He Is Risen Indeed

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a fable to admire; it is a fact that demands a response.
If He rose, then He is who He claimed to be—the eternal Son of God, the Judge of all, and the Savior of those who believe.

The evidence compels us to confess with Thomas:

“My Lord and my God!” — John 20:28

The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is available to transform our hearts, forgive our sins, and grant eternal life.

“Because I live, you also will live.” — John 14:19

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The Invitation

Whether you approach this truth as a skeptic, seeker, or believer, the empty tomb still speaks.
The stone has been rolled away—not just from a grave, but from every heart that turns to Him in faith.

He conquered death so that all who trust in Him may never die but live forever.
This isn’t wishful thinking. It’s the most historically attested, theologically consistent, and spiritually transformative reality the world has ever known.

He is risen. He is risen indeed!

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Blessings & love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com

EMPTY SEATS

 

“For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
— 2 Timothy 4:3–5

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The Pied Piper Problem

The old tale of the Pied Piper is chilling.
A town hired a man to rid them of rats. When they refused to pay him for the work, he retaliated—luring away all their children to their deaths.

It’s a haunting picture of manipulation, deception, and tragic consequence—an apt metaphor for what happens when people reject truth and follow voices that promise good but lead to destruction.

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When “Good” Leads People Away from God

Jon Saunders once wrote,

“You must go above and beyond to make sure your ministry funnels students into the church, not away from it.”

That is a needed word of correction for all parachurch ministries and for the churches that support them.
Any organization that draws believers away from deep participation in the local church, no matter how “good” it seems, is working against Christ’s design for His Bride.

At the top of Saunders’ article was an image of empty seats—a haunting symbol of what happens when good intentions replace biblical obedience.

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Empty Seats and Empty Theology

Perhaps those empty seats don’t merely symbolize people distracted by outside ministries.
Perhaps they expose a deeper problem: the modern church’s own failure to teach and live out what the Church truly is.

Too often, churches have reduced Christ’s Body to a building or a brand—somewhere to sit for an hour, sip coffee, and consume spiritual goods before heading to lunch.
That’s not the ekklesia Jesus died for.

When was the last time you had a deep, meaningful conversation about the sermon after worship? When was the last time the preached Word provoked repentance, application, and change within your local fellowship?

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Parachurch Ministry and Mission Drift

Years ago, while serving on church staff, I noticed a disturbing pattern:
Many members invested enormous time, energy, and money in a “Christian weekend retreat ministry.” Yet those same individuals were absent from service within their own local church.

They believed they were “doing good.” But in reality, they were participating in what Scripture calls mission drift. Christ’s Great Commission isn’t about “doing good” or merely “winning souls.” It’s about making disciples and building His Church—the Body and Bride of Christ.

Any ministry, regardless of fruitfulness or fervor, that fails to strengthen or integrate believers into the local body is a Pied Piper ministry—leading people somewhere Christ never called them to go.

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The Pharisee’s Trap

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for this same kind of misplaced zeal:

“You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.” — Matthew 23:15

Their problem wasn’t passion—it was misdirected purpose.
They worked hard for converts, but their work didn’t glorify God or build His kingdom. It glorified them.

Likewise, Paul declared:

“Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” — 1 Corinthians 14:26

That is the measuring rod for every ministry: Does it build up the Body of Christ?

If it doesn’t, it may be doing harm under the banner of good.

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“Doing Good” Isn’t the Goal—Obedience Is

History is full of examples of sincere people doing “good” that turned disastrous:

• Doctors prescribing thalidomide in the 1950s thought they were helping; it caused birth defects.

• Nutritionists in the 1990s promoted a high-carb diet; it fueled diabetes.

• Governments enforced pandemic restrictions claiming “public good”; the spiritual, social, and psychological toll continues to echo.

“Good intentions” are not a biblical measure of righteousness. God’s Word is.

“To obey is better than sacrifice.” — 1 Samuel 15:22

We must measure our “good” by whether it aligns with God’s revealed purpose: the sanctification and strengthening of His Church.

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The Real Commission

The Great Commission isn’t a call to random acts of Christian kindness.
It’s a call to discipleship—to new identity in Christ, teaching obedience, and integrating people into Christ’s Body, and to equipping the saints for ministry (Ephesians 4:11–16).

If what we’re doing doesn’t funnel people into active, functional membership in His Body, we’re not obeying His command.

Anything less is not ministry—it’s mission drift.

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The Deception of “Good Enough” Religion

When we insist that our version of good must be right, we expose pride and unbelief.
Paul warned,

“The Spirit expressly says that in later times some will abandon the faith, following deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.” — 1 Timothy 4:1–2

The deception of our age isn’t the absence of religion—it’s the abundance of counterfeit Christianity.
Satan doesn’t need to get people to hate the Church; he just needs them to think they can follow Christ without her.

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Rethinking the Empty Seats

Maybe the empty seats in the sanctuary aren’t a tragedy—they’re a challenge.
What if those seats are empty because the Church is actually active—out in the world, clothed in the armor of God, proclaiming His name in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth?

Now that would be something.
That’s the picture of a living, breathing, working Bride—every ligament connected, every member engaged, every part functioning in love.

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Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com

Equipped to Honor

 

“The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”
— 1 Timothy 5:17

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True Pastor Appreciation

Every November, churches across America celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month. But that raises an uncomfortable question:
What about the other eleven months?

If my congregation ever asked what I truly desired for Pastor Appreciation Month, my answer would be simple—and spiritual:

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1) Be Kind to My Wife and Family

Kindness is not saying, “Bless your heart, we love y’all so much,” and then turning around to gossip, criticize, complain, and sow division.

The pastor’s family is not a target for venting frustrations, but a sacred trust for the church to guard.
Nothing drains a shepherd’s heart faster than watching wolves—disguised as sheep—tear at his wife or children.

When Paul wrote,

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:31–32

he wasn’t talking about a slogan. He was describing what love looks like in Christ’s Body.

You want to honor your pastor? Protect his home. Bless his wife. Encourage his children. Refuse to participate in gossip or criticism.

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2) Contribute—Don’t Consume

Whenever you gather with your church family—on campus or off—bring your A-game.
Be an active listener. Take notes. Highlight Scripture. Nodding, smiling, saying “Amen”—these aren’t theatrics; they’re spiritual participation. They tell your pastor, “I’m with you. I’m engaged. I’m learning.”

Outside of Sunday service, dig deeper. Study the Word.

If your church is walking through a book of Scripture, read it. Know the author, audience, context, and main theme.
Hebrews 5 rebukes spiritual immaturity:

“By now you should be teachers, but you still need milk… Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” — Hebrews 5:12–14

Knowing Bible stories is not the same as knowing the Bible.

Study the text historically, theologically, and contextually. Learn its language, purpose, and place in the redemptive narrative. Excellent resources like The Bible Project can help—but ultimately, nothing replaces a humble heart and an open Bible.

If you can binge-watch a show for hours but can’t study God’s Word for thirty minutes, you don’t have a time problem—you have a treasure problem.

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The Measure of a Disciple

If your pastor has spent weeks preaching through a book of Scripture, and you still can’t recall its author, audience, theme, or the message’s application, that says something about your spiritual soil.

Jesus said,

“The seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop—yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.” — Matthew 13:23

Are you consuming, or are you producing?

Honoring your pastor is not a one-time gesture with a $20 gift card. True honor is reflected in spiritual fruit—growth, obedience, and maturity.

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The Pastor’s Call and the Church’s Purpose

Paul wrote:

“It was He who gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God—maturing to the full measure of Christ.” — Ephesians 4:11–13

A faithful pastor’s goal is not to make you feel comfortable, affirmed, or entertained. His aim is to exalt Christ by equipping the saints to do the work of ministry.

That means your calling as a believer isn’t to be a spectator but a servant. Don’t just ride along as a passenger—join the crew.

Many treat Sunday like a spiritual pep rally. It isn’t.
That’s why Scripture calls it “The Lord’s Day.”
Our worship gathering is not for self-expression but for self-denial—an hour where all attention turns to the Triune God who alone is worthy.

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The Right Kind of Honor

You can honor Christ Jesus by honoring those He has called to shepherd you.

• Respect your pastor as Christ’s appointed servant.

• Treat his family with dignity.

• Pray for him earnestly.

• Engage with the preached Word actively.

• Receive correction humbly.

• Apply Scripture faithfully.

• Bear fruit abundantly.

That’s the kind of “double honor” 1 Timothy 5:17 speaks of—an honor not measured by money or gifts, but by obedience, engagement, and maturity.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” — Romans 12:2

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In Summary

Pastor Appreciation Month should not be a token gesture.
It should remind the church of a year-round responsibility: to love, support, and partner with their pastor for the advance of the gospel.

Gift cards fade. Sermons are forgotten.
But hearts transformed by the Word and believers equipped for ministry—that’s the pastor’s true reward.

“The elders who lead well are worthy of double honor.” — 1 Timothy 5:17

So honor them by living the Word they labor to preach.

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Grace & peace,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com

 

“Don’t become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written,
‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party.’”
— 1 Corinthians 10:7

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Freedom or Folly?

Modern culture celebrates the “last night of freedom”—a pre-marriage blowout meant to indulge every forbidden appetite before the supposed “constraints” of commitment begin.

These events often include drunkenness, crude entertainment, risqué imagery, and a “free pass” mentality: whatever happens tonight is fine—as long as it’s before ‘I do.’

Ironically, what begins as a celebration of freedom frequently ends in shame, regret, or destruction. Relationships collapse, dignity evaporates, and reputations shatter. The illusion of freedom exposes itself as slavery—to sin, to self, and to Satan.

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The Bondage of Sin

The Apostle Paul described this pattern two thousand years ago, listing “fleshly desires,” “disgraceful passions,” “envy,” “drunkenness,” “idolatry,” and “carousing” as symptoms of humanity’s condition—“dead in trespasses and sins.”

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 4:4

Whether or not we acknowledge God, reality does not bend to our denial. Creation testifies that we are not autonomous. Every heartbeat, every breath, every moment of life depends on the sustaining will of our Creator.

We cannot escape the truth that we are slaves by nature. The only question is—whose slaves are we?

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The Lie of Autonomy

Sin promises freedom but delivers bondage.
Every violation of God’s wisdom—whether sexual immorality, deception, greed, or pride—tightens the chains of slavery.

The criminal who robs or kills is bound by law, guilt, and fear. The liar becomes trapped in deceit. The addict becomes enslaved to the substance or behavior that once promised escape.

“Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud those who practice them.” — Romans 1:32

The more we sin, the less free we become. And yet the world applauds this spiral into death as “self-expression” or “authenticity.”

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The Words of Christ

Jesus declared,

“If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:31–32

The religious leaders replied, “We have never been slaves to anyone.”
Jesus answered,

“Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin… You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires.” — John 8:34, 44

These are not metaphorical words. They are diagnostic. Every human being is either enslaved to sin or enslaved to righteousness—no middle ground.

We are born “children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3), and Christ exposes that truth not to condemn us but to rescue us. His diagnosis is the first act of divine mercy.

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The Mission of the Messiah

When Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth, He read from Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives,
recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed.” — Luke 4:18

Jesus’ death was not an accident of politics or circumstance. It was the foreordained plan of God (Revelation 13:8).
The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world turned humanity’s ultimate act of rebellion—crucifying our Creator—into the ultimate act of redemption.

Through His cross, He shattered the prison bars of sin and offered true freedom to those enslaved by their own desires.

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The Father of Lies vs. the Lord of Life

Satan’s strategy has never changed:
Convince humans that freedom means rejecting God’s authority.

But that supposed “freedom” always ends in chains. Each indulgence multiplies guilt, shame, and bondage until the sinner’s prison becomes self-sealed.

King Jesus reveals the only true liberty:

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” — John 8:36

Christ liberates us not from authority but into the right authority—the joyful obedience of sons and daughters restored to their rightful Father.

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The Slavery We Choose

Every addiction, every obsession, every idol exposes whom we serve.

• The alcoholic is enslaved to the bottle.

• The lustful to their passions.

• The greedy to their possessions.

• The glutton or anorexic to food and image.

• The fearful to their circumstances.

• The angry to their rage.

• The proud to themselves.

Each master promises freedom. Each master lies.

“Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteousness.” — Romans 6:16

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The Tragedy of False Freedom

Pop icon George Michael once sang about “Freedom,” lamenting how fame devoured his soul.
He longed to “take these lies and make them true somehow,” but without Christ, he couldn’t.
Though he had everything the world offers—money, fame, pleasure—he died a lonely, addicted, broken man.

That is what happens when we chase freedom apart from God. Every idol ultimately kills its worshiper.

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Choose Whom You Will Serve

Joshua’s timeless challenge still stands:

“If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…
But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:15

We will all serve someone. The only question is whether it will be the deceiver who enslaves or the Redeemer who frees.

The Apostle Paul captures the paradox of grace:

“Having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.” — Romans 6:18

Slavery to sin destroys. Slavery to Christ redeems. One ends in death; the other in everlasting life.

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The Only True Freedom

King Jesus alone can break the chains forged by our rebellion.
He bore our punishment, conquered death, and now reigns as the risen Lord who sets captives free.

His invitation still stands:

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

You are not autonomous. You are not your own. You were made by Him, and for Him.
And in His service, you will finally know what freedom truly means.

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Which will you choose?

Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com

THE VISION

 

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
— Revelation 21:1–2

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Christianity’s True Center

Christianity is not primarily about personal salvation—any more than elementary school is about recess or nap time. Those may be pleasant side benefits, but they are not the purpose.

To major on the minors and minor on the majors is to lose the gospel’s heartbeat. It may sound shocking to call “personal salvation” a byproduct rather than the core of Christianity—but that is precisely the perspective Scripture demands.

From Genesis to Revelation, the biblical narrative centers not on isolated souls escaping judgment, but on God redeeming a people—a united Bride—for His Son and restoring creation under Christ’s eternal reign.

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The Cultural Confusion of “Personal Salvation”

Since the First Great Awakening (1730–1740 A.D.), evangelists and preachers—especially in the West—have emphasized the idea of a “personal relationship with Jesus.” While intimate relationship with Christ is real and precious, the biblical context for that intimacy is always corporate: the Body of Christ, the Church.

Tragically, modern individualism has twisted “personal” into “private.” Many who “tried Jesus on for size” expected an endless stream of individualized blessings, only to find themselves disillusioned when life remained hard and sanctification required community, discipline, and obedience.

The problem isn’t with Christ—it’s with our vision.

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Vision: Whose Eyes Are You Seeing Through?

“Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who keeps the law.” — Proverbs 29:18

The issue Proverbs identifies isn’t a lack of vision, but the replacement of God’s revealed vision with our own.

That’s what happened in Eden. The serpent deceived the woman into believing she could define good and evil for herself.

“The woman saw that the tree was good for food and desirable for gaining wisdom… so she took and ate.” — Genesis 3:6

Her vision supplanted God’s. Humanity has done the same ever since—each generation “doing what is right in its own eyes” (Judges 21:25), blind to the ruin it brings.

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A Glimpse Through the Fog

The poet Robert Browning captured the ache of misdirection and rediscovery in Paracelsus:

“So long the city I desired to reach lay hid;
When suddenly its spires afar flashed through the circling clouds;
… I had seen the city,
And one such glance no darkness could obscure.”

Browning describes that sudden glimpse of the long-sought destination—momentary yet life-defining.
Spiritually, that’s what happens when God pierces our self-focused fog and lets us glimpse His eternal vision: the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, radiant as a Bride for her Husband.

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The Destination: God’s Kingdom, Not Ours

The “personal salvation” narrative has replaced the kingdom of God with the kingdom of self. But Jesus didn’t come merely to save us from hell; He came to redeem us for Himself—into His kingdom, His reign, His family, His Bride.

“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” — Luke 19:10

Yes—but that same chapter warns that those who refuse to invest the treasure He entrusts will lose everything (Luke 19:11–27).

Human autonomy, egocentrism, isolation, and hyper-individualism are not virtues—they’re symptoms of rebellion. God’s vision is covenantal, communal, and Christ-centered.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13
“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” — Matthew 16:24

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The Journey: Sanctification in Community

The Apostle Paul writes:

“It has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for Him.” — Philippians 1:29

Faith and suffering are plural blessings. We walk this narrow road together.
Christianity was never intended to be a solo expedition but a shared pilgrimage of saints.

Ephesians 2:10 makes it plain:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

We, not I.
The “I’m fine on my own” Christianity of modern Western culture is a contradiction in terms.
You cannot follow Christ faithfully apart from His Church.

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The Glimpse: The City of God

Those who have never known genuine Christian fellowship or experienced the beauty of the Body of Christ often live like wanderers who never glimpse the City of God. They hear about heaven but have never tasted the joy of kingdom community.

If that’s you, read Revelation 21. See the New Jerusalem—radiant, unified, holy. See the Bride “prepared and adorned for her Husband.”

That’s our future. That’s the Church’s destiny.
Anything less is a counterfeit gospel.

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A Kingdom, Not a Theme Park

If your church’s mission sounds more like a marketing slogan than the marching orders of a holy army, it’s time to repent and recalibrate.

If your approach to church is consumer-driven—showing up to “get something when you need it”—you’ve missed the entire point.

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation.” — 2 Corinthians 7:10

Noah didn’t build a fleet of individual rafts; he built one ark.
God didn’t call scattered individuals; He formed a nation.
Jesus didn’t establish private devotionals; He founded a Church.

“On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” — Matthew 16:18

“Everything must be done for the building up of the church.” — 1 Corinthians 14:26

Or as Rick Warren aptly said: “It’s not about you.”

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Living Worthy of the Gospel

Paul’s repeated exhortation echoes through every epistle:

• “As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.” — Philippians 1:27

• “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” — Ephesians 4:1

• “Live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way.” — Colossians 1:10

• “Encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12

The gospel calls us out of our little worlds and into His vast kingdom vision—into the unified Bride, the radiant City, the everlasting people of God.

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Seeing and Living by God’s Vision

When you finally catch that glimpse of the heavenly city—of the Church radiant and redeemed—you’ll never be content with spiritual consumerism again. Like Browning, you’ll say:

“Soon the vapors closed again,
But I had seen the city,
And one such glance no darkness could obscure.”

Hold fast to that vision. Let no fog of cultural Christianity or darkness of self-centered religion obscure it.

When we align with God’s revealed vision, we find joy even in battle, endurance even in pain, and unity even in diversity. Empowered by the Spirit, we stand together—firm, armored, and aflame with gospel purpose—citizens of the kingdom that cannot be shaken.

“Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;
But blessed is the one who keeps the law.” — Proverbs 29:18

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Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com

REPENT!

 

"Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did."
2 Kings 17:41

Find the podcast audio version of this blog >HERE<

The inescapable truth is that human beings were created and hard-wired for worship. There are only two expressions of worship: it can either be the legitimate worship of our Creator God of Holy Trinity -or- idolatry. Legitimate worship reveals our identity and inherent value as determined by God the Father in Christ Jesus. Contrastingly, idolatry establishes false identities through corrupted values. All religion emerges as the synthetic gods of our collaborative design and construction and manifest as functional atheism.

The book of Romans states, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse." Therefore, contrary to popular belief, atheism is not merely disbelief in any god. A more accurate description of atheism is the intentional willful attempt to live without (a) the one true God (Theos). Atheism is the worship of one's autonomy, free will, and self as the byproduct of suppressing truth rather than embracing it.

Adam & Eve were the first functional atheists.

Adam & Eve didn't deny God Almighty's existence. They met with, walked with, and talked with Him. They knew God and even feared Him. Despite all this, they made the willful choice to suppress the truth by their wickedness. Adam willingly neglected his God-ordained function: to serve and watch over his life-mate (Gen 2:15). Meanwhile (Gen 3:1-6), Eve willingly engaged the crafty serpent in a debate regarding God's character and made the choice to eat the forbidden fruit.

Functional atheism isn't the outright denial of God's existence. Instead, it is the worship of autonomy, free will, and self through the suppression of truth by wickedness. Functional atheism has taken countless overt and covert forms ever since: Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Mormonism, New Age, Scientology, Human Secularism, Ontological Monism, and Moralistic Therapeutic Deism just to name a few.

• Intellectuals tend to worship intellect.
• Artists tend to worship art.
• Scientists tend to worship science.
• Philosophers and Seekers tend to worship ideas.
• Celebrities tend to worship fame and popularity.
• Feminists worship their gender.
• Dictators worship power and control.
• Pagans, Druids, and Wiccans worship nature.
• Socialists, Capitalists, Communists, Conservatives, and Liberals all worship humanity.

Like Eve in Eden, whenever we desire anything but God Almighty, our Creator, as a source of identity, power, purpose, enlightenment, satisfaction, fulfillment, beauty, wisdom—life—we expose ourselves as functional atheists.

When God set Israel apart to serve as His mediators to the nations (Ex 19:6-7), the community responded, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken!” They didn't. Israel's adoption of the despicable practices of the surrounding cultures and rampant idolatry is documented throughout Hebrew Scripture. Despite God's supernatural provision (vision, commission, leading, guiding, food, water, revelation, signs, miracles, power, etc.), Israel chose to respond with perpetual grumbling, complaining, rebellion, and the worship of their perverse syncretism, dogmas, doctrines, traditions, and customs. The expression of their functional atheism reached its apex in the crucifixion of Jesus, their own prophesied and anticipated Messiah, humanity's exclusive Redeemer.

Throughout history, Christians, by and large, are no exception. Rather than making every effort to preserve unity through the bond of peace so that Christ's Body & Bride can flourish in doing the good works God prepared in advance for us to walk in as our new way of life, we are instead known for our splits, schisms, inquisitions, indulgences, hypocrisy, judgment, apathy, and conformity to the pattern of the world.

Functional atheism, the unrelenting lust for idolatry, manifests as the false gods of our abhorrent prayers, despicable lives, and depraved worship. Love degrades to lust, benevolence is reduced to materialism, peace shifts to tolerance, obedience gives in to opinion, freedoms become slavery, and ideals like justice, cooperation, charity, equality, diversity, and inclusion are subsequently warped, perverted, and mangled beyond all recognition.

"Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did."

Serving idols is as prevalent today as it was in the Old Testament. Our worship centers and sanctuaries are overflowing with people more concerned with brunch plans than the Gospel. Men are more interested in careers and hobbies than serving and watching over their families. Women are more interested in their appearance and the latest gossip than in Christ's kingdom. Our kids are the casualties and byproducts of our functional atheism. They are slowly being devoured by AI (artificial identity) leading to gender dysphoria, disconnectedness, depression, and suicide.

Are we truly grieved by our brothers and sisters bound for perpetual torment? Many are seemingly content with their kids learning about Jesus rather than ever encountering Him. Are we truly leveraging everything for the ministry of the Gospel as if The LORD might return tomorrow? Are we building His kingdom here or establishing our own little comfortable religious communities?

The Son of Man is coming again soon. He's already exposed all of our functional atheism through the book of Revelation:

To the Church in Ephesus: "But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love."

King Jesus isn't impressed with anything we do apart from the leading and power of The Holy Spirit.

To the Church in Pergamum: "You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam... In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans."

When King Jesus isn't the goal, center, and fullness of everything, we leave the doors wide open for the garbage of the world to creep in. We call it "progressive," but God calls it sin.

To the Church in Thyatira: "You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess..."

As the trash of the world creeps in, it's only a matter of time before sexual immorality and the pattern of the world become the new normal. That's the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.

To the Church in Sardis: "You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead."

As the garbage and trash of the world take over, we attempt to convince ourselves that our programs, productions, activities, and sheer numbers will somehow offset our idolatry and impress Jesus. His response to us will be the same as it was to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:15.

And to the Church in Laodicea: "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth."

The crown jewel of functional atheism is lukewarm indifference. Idolatry unavoidably devolves into an insincere form of religious ceremony and empty ritual. Adherents surround themselves with leaders eager to scratch itching ears by saying exactly what the masses want to hear. That's 2 Timothy 4:3.

Are the leaders, elders, and overseers of your church truly men of God or are they functional atheists? Is your church a legitimate expression of His Body & Bride or is it an abomination? The keyword to listen for is "repent." It was the LORD's primary and overt message from the onset: From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Scripture exposes the absence of repentance as inviting God's judgment: Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed because they did not repent. 

Repentance is repeated in Revelation 2-3 for the churches that have converted to functional atheism: “Repent and do the works you did at first... listen to what the Spirit says to the churches... the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life... be zealous and repent... Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

It's not about what we believe—even the demons believe and shudder. It's not about our doctrinal statements, vision statements, mission statements, creeds, or confessions. It's about our functional response to what God has revealed as true. Adam & Eve were the first functional atheists. They knew God and met with Him in the Garden of Eden daily, yet they still chose to go their own way.

The Cross of Christ has made it possible for us to choose. We can choose to repent of all desire to find and experience life apart from God Almighty—by denying self, picking up our cross daily, and following Jesus as functional members of His Body & Bride (Eph 2:10; 4:11-16). The other choice is to remain functional atheists, nameless, faceless members of the multitude screaming down the wide path of destruction that ends in perpetual torment.

“The time has come,” He said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the Good News!”

Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley

unstoppablekidsbooks.com

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