Foxhole Religion

Intro: There's an old move which has the following scenario: a man was close to drowning, so he started praying and asking God for help. He started promising God that if He would get him out of this situation, he would be faithful at church, give lots of money, stop many of his sinful ways, etc. As the man swam toward shore and started feeling more confident of his chances of survival, he kind of changed his mind. Eventually, once his feet touched bottom and he was hauling himself out of the ocean, he reneged completely on his promises to God and even doubted whether God really existed.

Maybe you have heard of "foxhole" religion. Foxhole religion is the tendency of those who are irreligious to become religious when they are in a tight spot. It’s called "foxhole" religion because many soldiers suddenly become religious when they are under fire during a battle and need some help.

Many people are guilty of foxhole religion because they have a self-centered, rather than God-centered, focus. That is, they want God to help them out when they need it. The rest of the time they don’t think much about God, but in a time of difficulty or danger, they call out to God to help them. Those who want God to intervene on their behalf are often quite disappointed when He doesn’t.

Tonight I want to talk about several reasons why foxhole religion is wrong.

1. God doesn’t take orders from us. No special formula or recipe/procedure that will get God to do what we want Him to do.

   Illus.: Some preachers insist that you can get God to do things for you if you fast, pray all night, have faith, etc. They see these special efforts as a kind of special button to push that will get God’s attention.

   1. God does as he pleases in the universe. Eph 1:11; Psalm 135:5-6 [read]. All things are running according to God’s plan. God is sovereign over all things.
   2. God cannot be coaxed into doing something that He has not planned to do. In other words, you can’t persuade/convince God to do anything.
   3. Question: is prayer legitimate? Yes, often God does what He planned on doing in answer to prayer.
   
   
2. We are totally dependent upon God for every aspect of life. Rom 11.36; Col 1.16-17
   1. Some people see God as a kind of lifeguard, just quietly waiting on the side of the pool for something bad to happen. Then God intervenes.
   2. People often pray that God will intervene in a situation, as if He was quietly waiting around and not really already involved.
   3. This is totally wrong. God is currently in charge of everything that happens, big and small.
      1. God controls the details of nature. Animals, plants, weather, planets all exist and move under God’s controlling hand.
      2. Every person’s life is under the direct control of God.
      3. Even sin and calamities are under God’s sovereign control.

      
      Illus.: (a "good" person going thru some great trial)

      
      App: This truth should be a great source of encouragement for us. God is actively controlling every aspect of our lives. Nothing happens by chance, and there is a purpose for all events. No place for chance or random events.

3. Foxhole religion is really false religion.
   1. Those who seek God only when in dire straights have no true relationship with God.
   2. Only those who have already established a relationship with God have the right/privilege to ask God anything, or to expect anything from Him.
      1. One of the great privileges of being saved is that we have the right to ask God to help us, and to expect that He hears us and desires to help us.
      2. E.g. Peter saying "Help Lord" when he was sinking.
      3. E.g. David praying for the life of his son.
      4. No unbeliever has this right or should expect anything from God. An unbeliever should be grateful that God even allows him to live.
   3. This makes sense. Think of this logically: An unsaved person is at enmity with God, is under the wrath and condemnation of God, sins against God, and really hates God. Yet when he gets into a difficult situation, he runs to God for help. How smart is it to expect help from the very one whom he curses and sins against?
   4. So foxhole religion is illegitimate/invalid/false.

Conc: Most of you haven’t been in a foxhole lately, but you may be guilty of foxhole religion. Foxhole religion is wrong because

1. God doesn’t take orders from us. We can’t persuade Him.
2. God is not like a lifeguard at a pool, just waiting for us to need Him. He is actively in control of every aspect of life.
3. Those who have no relationship with God cannot expect God to be at their beck and call. A person who hates God cannot expect God to do anything positive for him.