Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts
Monday, April 10, 2017
Behind the Scenes of The Case for Christ
Featuring the testimony of the real life Lee Strobel, and testimonies of the cast members.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Orlando and Its Aftermath: It's Spiritual
It takes an unspeakable evil to murder.
There's a phenomenon that happens during deer season called "buck fever." This is when a first-time hunter has a buck in his sights for the first time. The adrenaline of bagging your first trophy buck, combined with the focus to keep the deer in your cross-hairs while squeezing the trigger without flinching and missing the shot can wreak havoc on a hunter's steady hand. Many a hunter missed their first shot at a buck as a result.
Recently where I live, a gunman grabbed a rifle, went to his neighbors house, killing them and their dogs for no other reason than one of the dogs had "used" his yard. Police responded, and immediately came under fire from this deranged individual. As the responding officer was pinned down by the gunman's rapid fire, another neighbor retrieved a pistol, and "neutralized" the shooter, killing him with about three shots fired. The good neighbor, later dubbed "the Good Samaritan Shooter" was honored by the local Sheriff's Office, the County Commissioners and the Governor of Texas.
During one of the ceremonies, a war veteran approached me, and said, "His hand must have been shaking something fierce. Buck fever doesn't even begin to describe what you go through when it's another man in your sights." The veteran then shared with me his first combat experience.
Here you have two men, the Good Samaritan Shooter and the War Veteran, placed in a position where they had no choice but to take the life of someone to either (a) end a murderous rampage, or (b) survive combat and defend the country. Both expressed the anguish and intensity of having to make that choice. In situations where the shooting was completely justified, it troubled these men to have to do it. This is the natural reaction for most people.
However, for the hundreds, if not thousands of people who commit murder each year, and those who have perpetrated terrorist attacks, that anguish seems absent. The idea of taking human life is no big deal to them. In fact, it becomes their means to an end. It's the vehicle they use to achieve their goals.
The Orlando shooter was evil. Plain and simple. There are those who say I shouldn't judge. If you cannot call someone who takes 50 lives and wounds 53 others, who carried out this attack for three hours evil, then what can you call it? Whereas most people shutter to think they could take another person's life, and whereas most hunters shutter before they bag their first deer, the Orlando shooter placed another person in his sights and pulled the trigger no less than 103 times. This is evil personified.
The tragic part about this is that we've seen this evil manifest itself many times, in America and around the world. Whether it's the San Bernadino shooting, Aurora, Newtown, Virginia Tech, or Charleston, the root cause of these tragedies is evil. The motives are different, but the root cause is evil.
From where does evil originate? Satan. Satan was the one who entered into Judas' heart, prompting him to betray Jesus. Isaiah 14:16 says Satan has made the earth tremble and has shaken kingdoms. On three different occasions, Jesus referred to him as the "prince of this world." Satan is evil, and he influences men, and human events.
Why are we experiencing so many mass shootings and terror attacks? Simple. Evil. And Satan is the one influencing that evil. If it seems like all of this is part of some well-coordinated conspiracy, well, it is. However, it's not the so-called Illuminati coordinating these events... it's Satan.
Which brings me to the coordinated response to these shootings, particularly the one in Orlando. In the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, there was the predictable call to enact more gun control. There was the predictable outcry about the persecution of homosexuals. And, I'd be remiss if I didn't include the predictable call to "not judge all Muslims by the actions of this one."
While there was outcry that we shouldn't judge all Muslims, suddenly there was a backlash against Christians. While there are extremists all over the internet who post insanity on Twitter, I was shocked to find that a high-profile cable news commentator decided to lash out at Christianity.
In a series of tweets following the Orlando shooting, CNN's Sally Kohn called Christians who offered prayers and comfort to the victims of the shooting as "hypocrites" whose "guilt was showing." In the aftermath of a massive terrorist attack on homosexuals perpetrated by an Islamic extremist, Kohn said that Christians value the humanity of homosexuals less than moderate Muslims do. That must be why homosexuality is a crime punishable by death in many Middle Eastern countries, but I digress.
Meanwhile, according to the Washington Examiner, an ACLU attorney tweeted that the Orlando shooting was caused by a homophobic atmosphere cultivated by Christians.
Somehow, these commentators, as well as a number of others not worth mentioning, have found a way to blame Christians for a terrorist attack committed by a man who pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State, who professed Islam, who claimed to represent a religion that dominates the Middle Eastern countries that execute homosexuals. An Islamic extremist representing a religion that bans homosexuality kills homosexuals, and Christianity is blamed. How can any reasonable person follow that logic? Simple. It's not logic. It's evil.
The same spiritual force that influenced the attack is influencing the reactions.
Satan opposes Christ. He opposes Christianity. His name literally means "opponent." So, it should make sense that, given the opportunity, he would try to steer the rage of a nation against Christians. So, he puts it in the mind of political influencers that Christianity bred the homophobic atmosphere that led to the attack. If people don't believe that argument, simply state that Christians are no better than the Orlando shooter. The only way to prove that they are better is to reverse Bible doctrine and accept homosexuality as a righteous behavior. Many Christians are following that path today.
Stephen Colbert said it best. He said it is as if we have adopted a national script, and we follow that script every time. If it all seems collaborated and coordinated, it is. Where there is a script, there is a screen writer. In this case, that screen writer is Satan.
We are in a Spiritual battle. Satan, his demons and his followers are seeking to turn the world away from God and toward destruction. God, and His followers, seek to lead the world to repentance and restoration. The battlefield is the heart and minds of all people. The battle will continue until Christ returns and wins the final victory.
Our role as Christians is to wage that battle by speaking the truth in love, and spreading the Gospel of salvation. As we do this, we recognize the Spiritual battle for what it is, and look forward to the return of Christ.
My heart, and prayers go out to the victims of the Orlando shooting, and their families. The last thing I wanted for them was what happened this past weekend. May God comfort them, may God help the rest of us to know how to minister to them, and may God forgive us where we fall short.
There's a phenomenon that happens during deer season called "buck fever." This is when a first-time hunter has a buck in his sights for the first time. The adrenaline of bagging your first trophy buck, combined with the focus to keep the deer in your cross-hairs while squeezing the trigger without flinching and missing the shot can wreak havoc on a hunter's steady hand. Many a hunter missed their first shot at a buck as a result.
Recently where I live, a gunman grabbed a rifle, went to his neighbors house, killing them and their dogs for no other reason than one of the dogs had "used" his yard. Police responded, and immediately came under fire from this deranged individual. As the responding officer was pinned down by the gunman's rapid fire, another neighbor retrieved a pistol, and "neutralized" the shooter, killing him with about three shots fired. The good neighbor, later dubbed "the Good Samaritan Shooter" was honored by the local Sheriff's Office, the County Commissioners and the Governor of Texas.
During one of the ceremonies, a war veteran approached me, and said, "His hand must have been shaking something fierce. Buck fever doesn't even begin to describe what you go through when it's another man in your sights." The veteran then shared with me his first combat experience.
Here you have two men, the Good Samaritan Shooter and the War Veteran, placed in a position where they had no choice but to take the life of someone to either (a) end a murderous rampage, or (b) survive combat and defend the country. Both expressed the anguish and intensity of having to make that choice. In situations where the shooting was completely justified, it troubled these men to have to do it. This is the natural reaction for most people.
However, for the hundreds, if not thousands of people who commit murder each year, and those who have perpetrated terrorist attacks, that anguish seems absent. The idea of taking human life is no big deal to them. In fact, it becomes their means to an end. It's the vehicle they use to achieve their goals.
The Orlando shooter was evil. Plain and simple. There are those who say I shouldn't judge. If you cannot call someone who takes 50 lives and wounds 53 others, who carried out this attack for three hours evil, then what can you call it? Whereas most people shutter to think they could take another person's life, and whereas most hunters shutter before they bag their first deer, the Orlando shooter placed another person in his sights and pulled the trigger no less than 103 times. This is evil personified.
The tragic part about this is that we've seen this evil manifest itself many times, in America and around the world. Whether it's the San Bernadino shooting, Aurora, Newtown, Virginia Tech, or Charleston, the root cause of these tragedies is evil. The motives are different, but the root cause is evil.
From where does evil originate? Satan. Satan was the one who entered into Judas' heart, prompting him to betray Jesus. Isaiah 14:16 says Satan has made the earth tremble and has shaken kingdoms. On three different occasions, Jesus referred to him as the "prince of this world." Satan is evil, and he influences men, and human events.
Why are we experiencing so many mass shootings and terror attacks? Simple. Evil. And Satan is the one influencing that evil. If it seems like all of this is part of some well-coordinated conspiracy, well, it is. However, it's not the so-called Illuminati coordinating these events... it's Satan.
Which brings me to the coordinated response to these shootings, particularly the one in Orlando. In the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, there was the predictable call to enact more gun control. There was the predictable outcry about the persecution of homosexuals. And, I'd be remiss if I didn't include the predictable call to "not judge all Muslims by the actions of this one."
While there was outcry that we shouldn't judge all Muslims, suddenly there was a backlash against Christians. While there are extremists all over the internet who post insanity on Twitter, I was shocked to find that a high-profile cable news commentator decided to lash out at Christianity.
In a series of tweets following the Orlando shooting, CNN's Sally Kohn called Christians who offered prayers and comfort to the victims of the shooting as "hypocrites" whose "guilt was showing." In the aftermath of a massive terrorist attack on homosexuals perpetrated by an Islamic extremist, Kohn said that Christians value the humanity of homosexuals less than moderate Muslims do. That must be why homosexuality is a crime punishable by death in many Middle Eastern countries, but I digress.
Meanwhile, according to the Washington Examiner, an ACLU attorney tweeted that the Orlando shooting was caused by a homophobic atmosphere cultivated by Christians.
Somehow, these commentators, as well as a number of others not worth mentioning, have found a way to blame Christians for a terrorist attack committed by a man who pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State, who professed Islam, who claimed to represent a religion that dominates the Middle Eastern countries that execute homosexuals. An Islamic extremist representing a religion that bans homosexuality kills homosexuals, and Christianity is blamed. How can any reasonable person follow that logic? Simple. It's not logic. It's evil.
The same spiritual force that influenced the attack is influencing the reactions.
Satan opposes Christ. He opposes Christianity. His name literally means "opponent." So, it should make sense that, given the opportunity, he would try to steer the rage of a nation against Christians. So, he puts it in the mind of political influencers that Christianity bred the homophobic atmosphere that led to the attack. If people don't believe that argument, simply state that Christians are no better than the Orlando shooter. The only way to prove that they are better is to reverse Bible doctrine and accept homosexuality as a righteous behavior. Many Christians are following that path today.
Stephen Colbert said it best. He said it is as if we have adopted a national script, and we follow that script every time. If it all seems collaborated and coordinated, it is. Where there is a script, there is a screen writer. In this case, that screen writer is Satan.
We are in a Spiritual battle. Satan, his demons and his followers are seeking to turn the world away from God and toward destruction. God, and His followers, seek to lead the world to repentance and restoration. The battlefield is the heart and minds of all people. The battle will continue until Christ returns and wins the final victory.
Our role as Christians is to wage that battle by speaking the truth in love, and spreading the Gospel of salvation. As we do this, we recognize the Spiritual battle for what it is, and look forward to the return of Christ.
My heart, and prayers go out to the victims of the Orlando shooting, and their families. The last thing I wanted for them was what happened this past weekend. May God comfort them, may God help the rest of us to know how to minister to them, and may God forgive us where we fall short.
Friday, February 12, 2016
In Times of Tragedy
Anytime a tragedy occurs, ranging from personal tragedies to national tragedies, the question will arise, "Why did God let this happen?"
This is not a bad question. It's natural to wonder why the Creator of the universe who holds us in our hands would allow something so terrible to come into our lives. This is a question, I will admit, that I cannot answer. I do believe God has a reason, but any attempt to explain the reason does both a disservice to God, and to the one who is suffering. So, with that in mind, I can only offer the following...
In times of tragedy, we need to have faith in the place, in the plan, and most of all, in the Man.
We need to have faith in the place. In John 14, Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." The fact is that God has prepared a place for us in His Kingdom where we will live forever, in His presence, without pain, without suffering, and without so much as the fear of pain and suffering. It will be a place of eternal peace and prosperity, where we can walk with our Lord, and be reunited with loved ones.
1 Timothy 4:17 tells us that "We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." The "them" with whom we get caught up together are those who have passed on before us, and we will all be with the Lord forever. Better days are ahead.
We need to have faith in the plan. Often during times of tragedy and hardship, someone will quote Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." These words can ring hollow without eternity in mind. After all, none of us want a bigger house, car, better job, or more luxuries. We want back what the tragedy took from us, whether it's our ability to walk, or the close presence of a loved one.
All things work together for our good because all things are working together to bring about God's plan. God's plan is our reunion with Him in His Kingdom. God is working His plan to get us all into His Kingdom together. Anything that comes into our lives comes for that purpose. Anytime tragedy enters our lives, we need to remember that God is still on His throne, and God is still bringing us into His Kingdom.
I cannot explain how or why, but I can affirm that God's plan is perfect, and is designed to bring us to that place of eternal blessing. We don't have to understand it, and we are not prohibited from grief. All God asks of us is that we trust Him through the process. As one of my church members often sings, "The God of the mountain, is the God of the valley. The God of the day, is still God in the night. The God of the good times, is still God in the hard times, the God of the day, is still God in the night."
We need to have faith in the Man. The man is Jesus Christ. John 3:16 tells us that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The way to access God's Kingdom and plan is by faith in Jesus Christ. He died on the cross, removing the stain of sin, so that we can enter His Kingdom, if we know Him as Savior.
Furthermore, having trusted the Lord to save us based on His death, burial and resurrection, we can trust that the Lord, who now lives and sits at the right hand of the throne of God, pleads on our behalf daily before God the Father. Hebrews 7:25 says Jesus "is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Christ is your advocate before God, and you have no greater advocate than Jesus Christ.
Because of Jesus, we can trust that God hears our prayers, and that He takes our situations into consideration as He executes His plan. We are not just pawns on His chess board.
On top of that, we can trust Jesus to be more than fair to us and our loved ones. The Bible says that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to the knowledge of the truth. This means that the Lord pulls out all the stops when it comes to reaching folks with the Gospel. Furthermore, when it comes to our loved ones who have passed on before us, the Bible says "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." It's precious, because it represents the physical reunion of God with His people. He gets to bring us back into His presence.
In all things, God is good. Things are not always good, but God is always good. God is good all the time, and in all times God is good.
If you are suffering right now, these words may seem hollow. That's okay. Grief was never banned in scripture, in fact, it was encouraged, as the Old Testament saints took 10 full days to grieve (that's 10 days where they did nothing but grieve, no work, no commitments, just mourning.)
My only hope is that as that dark cloud passes, you can be brought back into God's presence by remembering to trust in His place, His plan, and in His Son, Jesus Christ. May God bless you in all things.
This is not a bad question. It's natural to wonder why the Creator of the universe who holds us in our hands would allow something so terrible to come into our lives. This is a question, I will admit, that I cannot answer. I do believe God has a reason, but any attempt to explain the reason does both a disservice to God, and to the one who is suffering. So, with that in mind, I can only offer the following...
In times of tragedy, we need to have faith in the place, in the plan, and most of all, in the Man.
We need to have faith in the place. In John 14, Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." The fact is that God has prepared a place for us in His Kingdom where we will live forever, in His presence, without pain, without suffering, and without so much as the fear of pain and suffering. It will be a place of eternal peace and prosperity, where we can walk with our Lord, and be reunited with loved ones.
1 Timothy 4:17 tells us that "We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." The "them" with whom we get caught up together are those who have passed on before us, and we will all be with the Lord forever. Better days are ahead.
We need to have faith in the plan. Often during times of tragedy and hardship, someone will quote Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." These words can ring hollow without eternity in mind. After all, none of us want a bigger house, car, better job, or more luxuries. We want back what the tragedy took from us, whether it's our ability to walk, or the close presence of a loved one.
All things work together for our good because all things are working together to bring about God's plan. God's plan is our reunion with Him in His Kingdom. God is working His plan to get us all into His Kingdom together. Anything that comes into our lives comes for that purpose. Anytime tragedy enters our lives, we need to remember that God is still on His throne, and God is still bringing us into His Kingdom.
I cannot explain how or why, but I can affirm that God's plan is perfect, and is designed to bring us to that place of eternal blessing. We don't have to understand it, and we are not prohibited from grief. All God asks of us is that we trust Him through the process. As one of my church members often sings, "The God of the mountain, is the God of the valley. The God of the day, is still God in the night. The God of the good times, is still God in the hard times, the God of the day, is still God in the night."
We need to have faith in the Man. The man is Jesus Christ. John 3:16 tells us that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The way to access God's Kingdom and plan is by faith in Jesus Christ. He died on the cross, removing the stain of sin, so that we can enter His Kingdom, if we know Him as Savior.
Furthermore, having trusted the Lord to save us based on His death, burial and resurrection, we can trust that the Lord, who now lives and sits at the right hand of the throne of God, pleads on our behalf daily before God the Father. Hebrews 7:25 says Jesus "is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Christ is your advocate before God, and you have no greater advocate than Jesus Christ.
Because of Jesus, we can trust that God hears our prayers, and that He takes our situations into consideration as He executes His plan. We are not just pawns on His chess board.
On top of that, we can trust Jesus to be more than fair to us and our loved ones. The Bible says that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to the knowledge of the truth. This means that the Lord pulls out all the stops when it comes to reaching folks with the Gospel. Furthermore, when it comes to our loved ones who have passed on before us, the Bible says "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." It's precious, because it represents the physical reunion of God with His people. He gets to bring us back into His presence.
In all things, God is good. Things are not always good, but God is always good. God is good all the time, and in all times God is good.
If you are suffering right now, these words may seem hollow. That's okay. Grief was never banned in scripture, in fact, it was encouraged, as the Old Testament saints took 10 full days to grieve (that's 10 days where they did nothing but grieve, no work, no commitments, just mourning.)
My only hope is that as that dark cloud passes, you can be brought back into God's presence by remembering to trust in His place, His plan, and in His Son, Jesus Christ. May God bless you in all things.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Roll Me Away!
and right away I made my choice,
Headed out to my big two-wheeler,
I was tired of my own voice,
took a bead on those Northern Plains
and just rolled that power on."
- Bob Seger, "Roll Me Away"
Okay, I admit it. Over the past two months, I have come to understand the fascination with motorcycles that so many of my friends and family members have... freedom! Maybe it's the amount of time I spend at work, maybe it's summer and I have a house full of kids, or maybe I just need a real vacation... whatever the reason, I have found myself in a never ending Southwest Airlines commercial... "Wanna get away?"
I have friends who have itinerant ministries... they travel from place to place, from church to church, holding revival meetings, VBS events, camps, etc. What a life, huh? Be able to travel the U.S., or even the world, working for the Lord and having one big adventure. (Truth be told, they'd probably tell you it's not all it's cracked up to be.)
Meanwhile, every scripture I read, every radio sermon I hear, every conversation I have, seems to remind me of one fundamental fact... God is not finished with me in Brownwood... I am to stay right here, and honor my commitment to Him, and allow Him to work through me and Grace Pointe to minister to the people of Brownwood... oh, look at how pretty that sun looks setting behind Bangs Hill... maybe I'll just take a drive...
Basically, I just need to get my mind back on my business.
Romans 14:23 says "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Anything you do that is in disobedience to God, or that even disregards God, is a sin.
In this case, my sin is not being thankful for the blessings God has given me, and not being thankful for the things that He has done in Brownwood. Further, my sin is not completely trusting Him to bring Grace Pointe to a point where she is self-supporting... not trusting Him with the results... not trusting Him to bless His own work. There have also been times I have failed to recognize His hand in Grace Pointe's successes. I could confess more, but my father once told me that inner-most thoughts are called that for a reason, and many times, it's best that they stay that way. (Not exactly canonized scripture, but Dad does have a point every now and then).
I share this to warn you. Temptation doesn't always come in the form of an enticement to commit an act of immorality... it's not always an enticement toward sexual sin, greed, anger, theft or even murder. Sometimes, Satan tempts us by luring us into disobeying what God has called us to do with our lives.
When Satan tempted Jesus, he tempted the Lord to do three things. (1) Make the stones into bread. (2) Jump off the pinnacle of the temple to see if the angels would catch Him, and (3) to bow down and worship Satan. Each of these three temptations would have derailed God's plan of Salvation through the Gospel. Nevertheless, in Christ was no sin, and the Lord stayed obedient to the plan.
In the same way, Satan often tempts us to stray from what God wants us to do. If we fall for that temptation, we can derail our lives and miss God's blessings. To fall for this temptation is just as much of a sin as if you had fallen into immorality. Remember, after you are saved, the most Satan can do is destroy your testimony and render you useless in this life. If he can't get you to fall into immorality, he'll get you to do something that will silence your voice for the Lord. Be on guard.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Daily Devotion Time: James 2:18
Back in college, my wife and I were part of a youth group that travelled to different churches and performed skits that illustrated certain Biblical concepts. In one of those skits, my wife portrayed a lady who was on trial for being a Christian. In the skit, her case was dismissed for lack of evidence.
James 2:18 says "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (Italics added for emphasis).
The Bible is very clear that salvation is by God's grace through our faith apart from any works. Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16, and Romans 3 all speak to this, as well as many other verses of scripture. You are saved by grace through faith, without works.
However, when it comes to works, many people get uneasy. If you preach that saved people ought to have works to show for their salvation, some will turn away, quoting Ephesians 2:8-9, and saying that you ought not preach works.
Works do not save, but saved people have works. It is a Biblical concept. You don't work to get saved, you work because you are saved. Jesus said you would know men, and specifically false prophets, by their fruits. Their fruits are their works. (Matthew 7:16)
Hebrews 11 is full of people who were saved by grace through faith, but their faith motivated them to action. The entire book of James was written to demonstrate that if you really have faith, your actions will show it.
Even our favorite verses in Ephesians 2:8-9 have a followup. We all know that Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For it is by grace through faith that ye are saved, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast." How many people know Ephesians 2:10, which says "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Your faith should be shown in your actions... but does that mean you have to work to show your faith? Not so much. If you have faith, you know Christ as your savior, and you live the spirit-led life, your works will be an expression of who you are... not efforts made to show how good you are.
Basically, what is in your heart will be shown in how you act. Trust the Lord, invite Him into your heart. Then let your life just be an expression of who you are. May God bless you.
James 2:18 says "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (Italics added for emphasis).
The Bible is very clear that salvation is by God's grace through our faith apart from any works. Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16, and Romans 3 all speak to this, as well as many other verses of scripture. You are saved by grace through faith, without works.
However, when it comes to works, many people get uneasy. If you preach that saved people ought to have works to show for their salvation, some will turn away, quoting Ephesians 2:8-9, and saying that you ought not preach works.
Works do not save, but saved people have works. It is a Biblical concept. You don't work to get saved, you work because you are saved. Jesus said you would know men, and specifically false prophets, by their fruits. Their fruits are their works. (Matthew 7:16)
Hebrews 11 is full of people who were saved by grace through faith, but their faith motivated them to action. The entire book of James was written to demonstrate that if you really have faith, your actions will show it.
Even our favorite verses in Ephesians 2:8-9 have a followup. We all know that Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For it is by grace through faith that ye are saved, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast." How many people know Ephesians 2:10, which says "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Your faith should be shown in your actions... but does that mean you have to work to show your faith? Not so much. If you have faith, you know Christ as your savior, and you live the spirit-led life, your works will be an expression of who you are... not efforts made to show how good you are.
Basically, what is in your heart will be shown in how you act. Trust the Lord, invite Him into your heart. Then let your life just be an expression of who you are. May God bless you.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Heart Like Mine - Secular Music Ponders Christ
Now I disagree with the premise that Jesus drank fermented wine, indulged in alcoholic beverages and engaged in behaviors that you would find in an East Texas pasture party. (They don't have pasture parties in West Texas, too big a fire hazard.) Still, this song touches the hearts of many people. Why?
Maybe it is because the song proclaims that Jesus loves sinners, and accepts sinners as they are. Maybe it touches that void that is left in a person when they don't know Christ. Maybe it gives the idea that a relationship with Christ can be a reality, despite a sinner's shortcomings. In that sense, I believe the song actually does a fairly decent job of explaining the personality of Jesus to lost people. Don't believe me? Let's look to the scriptures.
In Luke 15, Jesus has walked out of a Pharisee's meal, and sinners and publicans drew near to Him. The Pharisees criticized His association with sinners and publicans, but Jesus told them the parable of the lost sheep. Those lost sheep, the sinners and the publicans, were the ones he came to earth for.
1 Timothy 1:15 says "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." Jesus came to earth to save sinners. Why not? He loved sinners. Read the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Jesus was always with sinners and publicans. Why? Because He loved them.
Bro. Jim Slocumb told me during a recent missions conference that Jesus loved the sinners and the publicans, but He didn't partake of their sin. In reading the New Testament, any reasonable person would conclude the same.
I know in my presentation of the Gospel, and of the personality of Jesus Christ, I often omit this very principle, the love of Christ for sinners. Shame on me. All too often my focus is on how wretched we are because of our sin, and how we must repent and turn to Christ. All too often I tell that part without telling about the love Jesus has for sinners. Maybe this is why I fail to lead people to Christ, because I fail to introduce people to Christ. All I do is tell them about an experience I think they should have. Ironically, a secular country music song presents Jesus' personality (aside from the drinking of wine) better than I do.
It's important to remember the love Jesus has for sinners, because we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). Seriously, what makes any of us think we are pleasing to God? Why do you think you deserve to go to Heaven and inherit eternal rewards? Is it because you were faithful to your church, didn't listen to this sinful Country music like Bro. Leland, didn't smoke or drink, wore suits, lived a separated lifestyle from the world, and never watched TV? Hey, good for you! But remember on your best day, your actions still fall way short of God's glory. All our righteousness is as filthy rags before Him.
So, with that in mind, where do we find our blessed assurance? In the knowledge that Jesus loves us, and died for our sins on the cross so that we could have eternal life with Him in Heaven. How awesome is that!
Jesus loves you! If you have never turned from your sin and trusted Him as Savior, let today be your day of salvation. He doesn't want to bring you into some sort of restricted legalistic lifestyle. He wants a friendship with you that will last for all of eternity. All you have to do is accept that friendship.
Trust Christ to save you, not because of what you can do for Him, but because He took the punishment for your sin. If you trust in Him, you are saved.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Why You Should Pay Attention to the Middle East Protests and Uprisings
When protests gave way to an uprising in Egypt, the bigger picture of civil unrest in the Middle East became front page news. While the media tends to zoom in on one country at a time (right now, all eyes are on Libya), uprisings have taken place all across the Middle East and North Africa. From peaceful protests in Morocco, to the flight of the Tunisian president to Saudi Arabia, to protests against the King of Jordan, to uprisings in Bahrain and Yemen, uprisings are becoming so numerous it is difficult to keep track of them all.
When the departure of Hosni Mubarak became apparent in Egypt, talk in U.S. media centered around the Muslim Brotherhood, a political organization operating in many Middle Eastern countries. Conservative pundits like Sean Hannity began to compare the ouster of Mubarak to the Ayatollahs returning to Iran. Many feared that the Muslim Brotherhood would install an anti-American, pro-terror government in Egypt. The Israeli-Palestinian peace process is now in question and many fear war.
During times like these, it is important to avoid hysteria. Still, one needs to be informed about what is going on. Whether the Muslim Brotherhood will install an Anti-American, pro-terror regime in Egypt is still in question. (The Egyptian military is still in control of the country.) However, even if the Muslim Brotherhood installs a relatively peaceful government, there is still cause for concern.
The Muslim Brotherhood's Wikipedia page describes the group as non-violent, however the book Milestones, written by prominent brotherhood member Sayyid Qutb, is often cited by those who advocate for jihad.
The Muslim Brotherhood's goals include establishing the Qur'an as the sole reference point for ordering the life of the individual, family and state. One of the primary goals is the reinstatement of the caliphate.
Referencing the book, Milestones, the Muslim Brotherhood believes that Western civilization is in decline because of its moral decline, and the Brotherhood seeks to build Islam as the lead civilization in the world.
All of these factors should be an eye opener for the Christian who is well studied in end-times prophecy. Imagine, a religious movement that rides the back of, and helps prop up a world government. That religion would be the most powerful religion in the world. It would be able to persecute other religions with little or no consequence.
That scenario matches up with Revelation 17:3-6. That passage depicts a woman riding on the back of a beast. The beast is identified as the Antichrist and his one-world government, while the woman is identified in Revelation 17:8 as being the city of Babylon. However, it is also worthy to note that scripture uses women as symbols of religious movements in apocolyptic passages like Revelation 17. So the woman is not just representative of the city (as in buildings and streets) but also of the religious nature of the city. Babylon will be home to the one-world religion, which will not be any form of Christianity.
Over the years, end times scholars have tried to forecast which players on their respective world stages would eventually be players in the end times. More often than not, these forecasts are wrong. However, I believe that it is entirely possible the dominant world religion in the Tribulation period will be some form of Islam. If indeed the Muslim Brotherhood is successful in taking control of the governments of the Middle East, you could see the foundations being laid to shift the center of power from the Judeo-Christian West to the Islamic East.
We may still have decades before the Tribulation begins. Still, we need to be mindful of how the groundwork is being laid today to usher in that time period. We should be obedient to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who said, "Watch, and pray."
When the departure of Hosni Mubarak became apparent in Egypt, talk in U.S. media centered around the Muslim Brotherhood, a political organization operating in many Middle Eastern countries. Conservative pundits like Sean Hannity began to compare the ouster of Mubarak to the Ayatollahs returning to Iran. Many feared that the Muslim Brotherhood would install an anti-American, pro-terror government in Egypt. The Israeli-Palestinian peace process is now in question and many fear war.
During times like these, it is important to avoid hysteria. Still, one needs to be informed about what is going on. Whether the Muslim Brotherhood will install an Anti-American, pro-terror regime in Egypt is still in question. (The Egyptian military is still in control of the country.) However, even if the Muslim Brotherhood installs a relatively peaceful government, there is still cause for concern.
The Muslim Brotherhood's Wikipedia page describes the group as non-violent, however the book Milestones, written by prominent brotherhood member Sayyid Qutb, is often cited by those who advocate for jihad.
The Muslim Brotherhood's goals include establishing the Qur'an as the sole reference point for ordering the life of the individual, family and state. One of the primary goals is the reinstatement of the caliphate.
Referencing the book, Milestones, the Muslim Brotherhood believes that Western civilization is in decline because of its moral decline, and the Brotherhood seeks to build Islam as the lead civilization in the world.
All of these factors should be an eye opener for the Christian who is well studied in end-times prophecy. Imagine, a religious movement that rides the back of, and helps prop up a world government. That religion would be the most powerful religion in the world. It would be able to persecute other religions with little or no consequence.
That scenario matches up with Revelation 17:3-6. That passage depicts a woman riding on the back of a beast. The beast is identified as the Antichrist and his one-world government, while the woman is identified in Revelation 17:8 as being the city of Babylon. However, it is also worthy to note that scripture uses women as symbols of religious movements in apocolyptic passages like Revelation 17. So the woman is not just representative of the city (as in buildings and streets) but also of the religious nature of the city. Babylon will be home to the one-world religion, which will not be any form of Christianity.
Over the years, end times scholars have tried to forecast which players on their respective world stages would eventually be players in the end times. More often than not, these forecasts are wrong. However, I believe that it is entirely possible the dominant world religion in the Tribulation period will be some form of Islam. If indeed the Muslim Brotherhood is successful in taking control of the governments of the Middle East, you could see the foundations being laid to shift the center of power from the Judeo-Christian West to the Islamic East.
We may still have decades before the Tribulation begins. Still, we need to be mindful of how the groundwork is being laid today to usher in that time period. We should be obedient to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who said, "Watch, and pray."
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
If only God were more like Starbucks! (Have we lost our minds?)
For the past few years, church growth enthusiast have heralded Starbucks as a model to be followed in regard to church growth and multiplication (for those who haven't internalized the new vocabulary, multiplication is mission work). Starbucks has been heralded as an example for creating repeat customers (repeat visitors), opening new stores (starting new churches) and how to create "community." While I can appreciate a person admiring a company that makes a product they can enjoy, I can only hope that Starbucks closing 900 locations will abate the rise in "let's do it like Starbucks" churches.
My first and foremost problem with comparing church methods to Starbucks and modeling church growth strategies after the coffee giant is the fact that Starbucks is your quintessential liberal corporation. Based in Seattle, the chain has been widely criticized for promoting unGodly causes and lifestyles if by no other means than the "The Way I See It" cups.
The Bible says "I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? (1 Corinthians 6:5)" The context for this verse was the fact that church members were suing other church members in court. Paul was shaming the Corinthian church for seeking wisdom in heathen courts, when they possessed God's wisdom. Comparisons between the church and Starbucks, as far as I am concerned, amount to seeking worldly wisdom from worldly organizations and applying it to God's church. Did not God give us a formula for church growth? We have God's Word, we have His wisdom. Why on earth are we seeking wisdom from an organization like Starbucks?
My second problem with the often made parallel between Churches and Starbucks is the fact that they are not related. Sure, many churches have diminished valuable seating space in their sanctuaries by building coffee bars in the church buildings, but you can no compare true churches to Starbucks, neither will the marketing approach of Starbucks really benefit the churches.
First of all, Starbucks markets a product that, despite the downturn in business and the closing of 900 locations, people desire to purchase. People like Starbucks coffee, hence they are willing to pay $6 for 24 ounces of it. Contrast that with the churches. The churches, true churches, propagate the Gospel (the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins according to the scriptures.) People don't need Starbucks coffee, but they want it. People need the Gospel, but they don't want it. Disagree with me? First check Barna statistics, then check your Bible. John 3:19-21 clearly teaches that most people turn away from the Gospel because they don't want to have to own up to their sin.
You see, I could open up a coffee shop, spend $1,000 to advertise it, and be covered over in business. On the other hand, I can "start" a church, I can rent a building, put up a sign, spend $2,000 to advertise the new church, and not one soul will show up. Why? Because men liked darkness rather than light, because they didn't want their deeds to be reproved.
Seriously, I have personally designed effective marketing campaigns for clothing retailers, restaurants, cattle exchanges, horse sales, car dealerships, computer stores and repair shops, garage sales, boot repair shops, and pharmacies. These campaigns were very successful. To date, I have never designed and implemented an effective marketing campaign for a church. Why? Because people don't want the product.
So the idea that if we just adopted an image like Starbucks and marketed ourselves accordingly, we'd have first time and repeat visitors is flawed.
My third problem with the concept of modeling churches after Starbucks is closely related to the second. Starting a coffee shop is remarkably simpler than starting a church. To start a coffee shop, all you need is a name, equipment to make the coffee, knowledge of how to make the coffee, and a location. If you have the budget, you are in. Obtaining funding is the hardest part.
Starting a church is not so simple. First, just having knowledge, supplies and location is not enough. You must also have (1) the leadership of the Holy Spirit and (2) the desire, determination and perseverance to continue to share the Gospel one-to-one with lots of rejection. You see, unlike starting a coffee shop, starting a church requires you to convert people to an unpopular Gospel. Starting a coffee shop involves just letting people know you have a popular product. Many differences there.
My fourth problem is that I don't see what is so attractive about the Starbucks model of expansion. The Starbucks business model, at least up until 2009, included opening many locations in a small area, operate them at a loss to drive all competitors out of business, then jack up the prices. If a competitor opens up, buy out his lease!
What part of the model of "let's put other churches out of business" do we want to follow? (Sure, I am all for shutting down cults and false churches, but that's not what we are talking about.)
My fifth problem with the Starbucks model is that, like the video above, it is often used to criticize other churches. Notice in the video above, the producers took all that is stereotypically wrong with churches and applied them in a Starbucks setting. The video also poked fun at visitor cards, Christian bumper stickers, and outreach training methods. I saw no indication that the video's maker admitted that his church wasn't perfect. Nope. Just, "here's what's wrong with the way other churches do it. We're different. We're culturally relevant."
The Bible says "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. (Romans 14:4)" Who are you to go so far as to make a video to question methods other than yours?
My sixth problem with the Starbucks model is that it assumes that Starbucks has it all together in making new customers feel right at home. They don't. I've been there on more than a few occasions. I didn't know what to order, ordered a Mocha Latte (Thank you Kramer), drank my drink, and moved on. If I were to apply my experience to a church setting, it would be as if I were a first-time visitor who came in, sat on the back seat, sat for the duration of service, then left without any interaction with the church members. These scenarios happen in church. First time customers also get alienated at Starbucks. Quit idolizing them.
My last problem with Starbucks is that they are not nearly the jaggernaut that everyone believes them to be. At the outset of the recession in 2008-2009, they were one of the first companies to announce closings. More than 900 locations closed almost instantaneously. Can you imagine the panic if more than 900 Missionary Baptist Churches closed in 2009? Of course, the advantage the churches have in this regard is that they don't have to worry about their value on the stock exchange.
Of course, with the way things are going, it wouldn't shock me to hear someone laud Starbucks' closings as economic genius, and then promote the idea of closing all of our rural churches, selling the property, and using the money to open up new churches in metropolitan areas. Stranger things have happened.
God's churches were founded by God, are preserved and prospered by God, are led by God, and have been blessed and instructed by God. The church is an institution higher than any other on the face of this earth, and no organization is worthy to be compared to the church, nor is any organization worthy to become a model for the church. Get your wisdom from the Word, not Wall Street. Come on, people.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Just a reminder
We are representatives for our Heavenly Father while we are on this earth. Our actions and behaviors reflect on him and therefore, anytime we misrepresent God, it is akin to blasphemy.
I have once again come into contact with a group, who, flying under the banner of Christianity, behaved very snottily toward me. We need to make sure we keep our attitudes and behavior in check.
I feel a devotion coming on.
I have once again come into contact with a group, who, flying under the banner of Christianity, behaved very snottily toward me. We need to make sure we keep our attitudes and behavior in check.
I feel a devotion coming on.
Friday, October 17, 2008
As if life couldn't get any sillier
Country Music Star Reba McEntire believes she has been reincarnated... noting that in a previous life she believes she was a man. She reconciles her belief in reincarnation with her Christian faith by saying, "I'm sorry, but this is how I live my life, this is what I believe."
Now there's intelligence for you. To add to this sillyness, Reba says she fears criticism from Christian fans. You can read the article here.
I'm not going to be critical of Reba, but reincarnation is not compatible with the Christian faith, period. Why do intelligent people think they can have it both ways? It probably has something to do with the new self-actualization, self-seeking and diluted messages being preached in pulpits today. Such efforts are aimed at building mega-churches, nothing more.
All this being said, I still like listening to Reba's music on country radio.
Now there's intelligence for you. To add to this sillyness, Reba says she fears criticism from Christian fans. You can read the article here.
I'm not going to be critical of Reba, but reincarnation is not compatible with the Christian faith, period. Why do intelligent people think they can have it both ways? It probably has something to do with the new self-actualization, self-seeking and diluted messages being preached in pulpits today. Such efforts are aimed at building mega-churches, nothing more.
All this being said, I still like listening to Reba's music on country radio.
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