Candy Cane Christians

 

Deut. 32:18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

2 Cor. 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

I. Trip to Bronners

    A.        Description

          1.  World’s largest Christmas store

    B.        Family Tradition

          1.  Stocking

          2.  Ornament

              a.  Personalized Ornaments

    C.        Signs

          1.  Candy cane

II. Candy Canes

    A.        Origin

          1.  Red + white colors

              a.  Blood to remove sins

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow

          2.  Cane or J?

              a.  J for Jesus

III. Candy Cane Christians

    A.        Forgotten

          1.  The world is so used to looking at Christianity upside down that it has forgotten what true Christianity looks like

              a.  Everybody is a “Christian”

              b.  Whether they look like one or not

              c.   Whether they act like one or not

2 Cor. 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

    B.        Misshaped

          1.  Canes

              a.  Canes are symbols of loss of power

          2.  J stands for Jesus

              a.  Jesus has all power

          3.  You’ve never heard of a Candy J

IV. How did this happen

    A.        Time

          1.  Sherlock Holmes Musgrave Ritual

          2.  That which is most important is forgotten and discarded

          3.  Baptists & the Holy Ghost

    B.        Evil Influence

          1.  Turning the things of power into the things without power

          2.  Forgetting the power of the name of Jesus

              a.  Baptism

              b.  Forgetting the need for redemption

          3.  Calling evil good and good evil

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

          4.  Speak truth

              a.  Don’t be judgmental

              b.  Taking pleasure in others sins

V. Change Perspective

    A.        Candy J is still the Candy J

          1.  Whether the world sees it that way or not

          2.  The Power has not changed

    B.        The crown is still the crown

          1.  Still has value

          2.  Still important

          3.  Whether the world tosses it away or not

    C.        The Word is still the Word

          1.  It will continue forever

          2.  No matter how society may try to change and alter it