An Atheist on Evangelism

This man claims that he "knows" there is no God (not sure how that is possible), but he sure is right when it comes to sharing your faith. He says if you truly believe that people are going to hell, that eternal heaven is possible, and you don't tell them what you know, you must have some hatred for them. Doesn't he have a point? Isn't the best way we can love people to share the good news of forgiveness of sins with them.

The power of praise

Do you like to be noticed? Do you like to be appreciated? Do you like to be praised? Certainly all of us do not like to be ignored, taken for granted, or criticized. However, the way we respond to praise, according to Proverbs 27:21, says a lot about us. Solomon, a person who’s name is synonymous with wisdom, said, “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.” (NLT) The original Hebrew has a few less words, seven to be exact. The literal Hebrew rendering is, “Crucible to silver, furnace to gold, man to mouth of praise.”

In the original writing, the phrase "is tested" is not there, but it is implied. The analogy is simple. A crucible is a container in which metals are melted. When metal is melted under high temperatures, the pure metal separates from the other ingredients. As the unwanted junk separates from the pure metal and “floats” to the top of the crucible, the impurities are able to be removed. The metal then becomes more pure. Furnace is another way of saying the same thing. The furnace is the source of the heat, the crucible is the container placed in the heat. Both are critical to purifying metal, and to use either word is to say the same thing.

Proverbs 17:3 uses the same phrase, but with a different ending. Here the verse says, “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart. (NLT)” In this verse, the Lord is the fire or crucible and his action or testing reveals the true heart of man. In Proverbs 17 the Lord is the tester, in Proverbs 27 the praise is the tester.

So what is the connection to praise and men? How does the metaphor work? Something has to be the tester (the furnace or crucible) and something has to be what is tested and made more pure (the silver or gold). There are several options to consider.

First what is the tester and what is the tested. Is man tested by praise, or is praise tested by man? In the first case, if a man is tested by praise, then the man’s response to the praise he receives will say or reveal something about the man. When someone receives praise, the praise may serve to reveal impurities in the person praised. With the impurities revealed, they can be removed, and the person is made more pure.

In the second case, if praise is tested by man, then it would appear that a person is to test praise he or she receives to see if it is valid or not. This is certainly an important part of receiving praise. Is the praise valid? Or, am I merely being flattered? Another way of saying the same thing is to ask the question, “What do I do with the praise I receive? Do I accept the praise, reject the praise, or respond in thanks to the praise?” One could deny that an action was praise worthy. Or, one can become proud thinking that the praise was well deserved. In this way, a person tests the praise received.

The challenge in the interpretation in the second case is that the analogy of the furnace or crucible seems to disappear. While we would all be wise to consider the validity of praise, this consideration alone does not seem to meet the extreme requirements of placing impure objects in a heated environment to reveal impurities so that the impurities can be removed. Therefore, we seem almost forced to choose option number 1 and say that the praise tests the person, and not the other way around. A man is there fore tested by his response praise.

This interpretation allows two possibilities as well. One, if a man is tested by praise, then, is the praise given to a person used to determine what a person is really like? Or two, is it the man’s response to the praise he receives that reveals what the person is really like?

In the first case, a man could determine what he is really like by listening to the praise of others. The praise is the crucible or furnace that reveals truth to a person. This explanation is fraught with difficulty. It is true that sometimes the praise of man might be accurate and helpful. But, we know too well that often the praise of man is not accurate. Public opinion is very commonly false and is always a very unsafe criterion of moral excellence. Sometimes, the praise of man is manipulative, or flattery, or just simply false praise to garner the good favor of the one praised. Also, some of the most praised persons have turned out to be unworthy of praise. Everyone was praising Herod in Acts chapter 12 and God killed him. Here, the praise of the people was wrong. With regard to Jesus, the crowds were screaming “crucify him.” No praise for Jesus here, and once again, the crowds were wrong.

In the second case, we consider how it might be that a man’s response to the praise he receives reveals what the man is really like. This looks like the best interpretation of the analogy. So then, the praise is the furnace or crucible in the life of a person which reveals the impurities in the heart. The revelation of these impurities allows them to be removed. As the impurities are removed, a person then becomes increasing pure. This purity gained is certainly in heart and motive and attitude.

How does this work? If praise to a man is the fire that reveals impurities, what impurities can be revealed by praise? Among them are pride, compromise, and laziness.

The most obvious would be pride. It is so easy when praised to think praise is deserved. One may think that finally someone has noticed my exceptional traits or work. One might be prone to take the glory in an accomplishment that was meant to go to God. One might forget that we “.. do not have anything that we did not receive..” (1 Cor 4:17) One may forget that God is worthy of all praise and glory, and that we are right to deflect praise back to God and express thanks for his kindness, grace, and mercy to us.

Another impurity revealed by the crucible of praise is compromise. Most of us delight in being praised, or noticed, or recognized. We may find that we like praise enough to compromise our integrity to get more of it. Decisions that are not the best decisions might be made just to gain the praise of men. The apostle John accurately condemned the self righteous Pharisees in John 12 by saying they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. One might be tempted to compromise the truth in order to keep the praise of man coming. One is likely to be criticized for holding firm to the gospel and its truth. It seems like those who give up on clear gospel truth and allow others to believe whatever they choose are praised by men for their kind and loving tolerance of others. Craving the praise of men at the expense of the praise of God is an impurity revealed by the furnace of praise.

The last impurity revealed by praise is laziness. Praise for something could cause an individual to take a talent or gift for granted, and to neglect it. Confident swimmers drown because they become over confident. Confident people fail when they overestimate their abilities, and stop working to refine and improve their skills. Never use the praise for a job well done to assume you can relax your efforts.

Praise is the crucible that reveals the heart. If praise makes you proud, or compromise, or lazy, there was an issue before the praise came along. The praise reveals the preexisting issue. Matthew Henry said, “Silver and gold are tried by putting them into the furnace….so is man tried by praising him….. Let him be extolled and preferred, and then he will show himself what he is.”

One saint from the past said that praise tortures the just, but elates the wicked. But while it tortures, it purifies the just; and while it pleases the wicked, it proves them to be reprobate. Those who revel in their own praise are not seeking the glory of their Maker. But those who seek the glory of their Maker are tortured by praise, knowing that the praise of men might soften the firmness of their heart, and might cause the heart in self-satisfaction to relax in its praises of the glory of God. When praise is truly redirected to God, then men can even long for and welcome praise so that what is written may prove true. "That they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven"

So what do we do with praise? If praise reveals what is in the heart of a person, what do I want to be revealed when I am praised? Good question.

Most importantly, praise should reveal our deep thanks to God, and not our satisfaction in our selves. Any worthy performance, talent, skill or accomplishment is the result of the grace of God working in the lives of his creation. Praise should be the spark that lights a firestorm of thanks to God. Persons characterized by ungratefulness will never be thankful to God, and no amount of praise will ever please them. It is a deep sense of appreciation to God that helps the recipient of praise only be more thankful to God for his kindness.

Praise should cause us to be more respectful to our friends who are kind enough to point out our good traits or works. True friends, who really know us, know our failures and shortcomings often better than we do. Those who know us the best know our weaknesses and our strengths. Our respect for friends who tell us the truth should go so far as to expect that they have earned the right to tell us what is not praiseworthy in us as well. A true, respected friend will balance the legitimate praise with legitimate correction. Respect your friends for operating on both sides of praise.

Praise should also cause us to be more guarded. The skills or talents that we have gained through diligence may easily be lost through carelessness and neglect. 1 Timothy 4:14 tells us not to neglect the gift that is in us. The passage continues by admonishing us to throw ourselves in to our tasks. We should learn from praise that our gifts are the grace of God expressed in our lives, and we should never take our gifts for granted. Romans 12:6 says “…according to the grace given to us we have differing gifts..” and we are encouraged to use them. In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 the one who did not put his talent to work had it taken away.

So, what happens to your heart when you are praised? Does your heart overflow with thanks and praise to God? Or, are you happy that finally someone noticed something good that you have done. Remember, that the praise in your life is the fire that refines you.

What is the crucible of praise saying about your heart?

Peace on Earth

Last week, many of you, my wife included, braved the harrowing travail of shopping on Black Friday. Never having figured myself for an aggressive shopper, I contented myself with shopping online (and finished all my shopping, thankfully!). I simply don't have the patience, nor the fortitude, required for shopping at 4 am. It proved a wise move, it seems, since some folks even lost their lives in the quest for outrageous bargains.

We live in a chaotic and turbulent world. People are clamoring for all that can be had. Yet, in their heart of hearts, every person, every single person, desires peace. It is the universal longing among all humanity. For those who have not found it in Christ, the very Prince of Peace, they seek it in every other medium; entertainment, affluence, influence, relationships, etc.

Imagine, for a moment, a lifestyle free of stress, free of harangue. Isn't that what vacations are supposed to bring? Can't vegging in front of the TV even seem to offer peace, in part? It's no wonder that heaven is the consummate end for gaining true and lasting peace.

Hebrews 4, indeed, much of Hebrews entire, speaks of this rest that is yet to come. I love the language here; "Let us be diligent to enter that rest" (v. 11). We must strive to enter that rest; we must endure to the end. It's hard work to find refuge in the Savior sometimes, especially when culture and media scream, "Find peace in me!"

This season, take some time to seek after peace, and don't waste your time with cheap alternatives. Seek after the Savior in the refuge of His Word; carve out some time to simply rest at His feet. Let Him speak to you in prayer, not the other way around. If we've not yet found peace on earth, then, at least, let it reside in your heart and mind.

Drive Carefully!

Well, it's official. Winter has begun in lovely Rochester, MN. No, it's not because of the weekend-long snowfall we've recently enjoyed (it's still early enough in the season that I actually enjoy it!). And, it's not the fact that my wife has switched out her extensive summer wardrobe for her "Man, it's still cold" winter wardrobe. The telltale sign that winter has officially come are the number of cars I see that have skidded off the road, or into the highway barricade.

That's right; Minnesotans sure know winter, but it takes a yearly reminder, it seems, to say, "Hey, you can't drive like that anymore" (and not for another six months, typically). Thankfully, I'm still new enough in town that I don't trust my instinct. I putter along like a nervous teenager, or an aging senior. But, I'm sure, like many of my Northern brethren, I will grow overconfident with each passing winter, and end up in a ditch somewhere.

Isn't that the way God works in our lives? We get a little overzealous, start to think we've got this thing figured out, and He allows circumstances to remind us, "Hey, this is My show." And, I don't know about you, but I'd much rather He pilot my life than keep bouncing against the guardrail!

My prayer is that you and I will "trust in the Lord with all our hearts, not relying on our own understanding," but, rather "think about Him in all of our ways, that He may guide us on the right paths;" that we "not consider ourselves to be wise, but fear the Lord and shun evil" (Proverbs 3:5-7). My prayer is that you and I will be so grateful for His care and providence over our lives (1 Peter 5:7-8) that we would never turn to the right or to the left (Joshua 1:7), but would follow faithfully His Word. The true disciple is the one who follows His Lord, even when he can't see through the snow.

The storms will come, whether you're in wintry Minnesota, or tropical Florida. The question is, will we confront them "sober and alert," ever vigilant to keep the faith, or will we succumb to that danger ahead, and all around?

Wait, wait...

Previously, I wrote of Christian girls "settling" for unbelieving boyfriends/spouses (since one will beget the other). As I've further considered this phenomenon, I fear I may have neglected one particularly affective component: the role of the father.

As a father, I have been reminded, already, that if I neglect my daughter, she will seek out that affection from the first one to show it. As fathers, it behooves us to rescue our daughters from this dastardly trap, by placing our affections squarely where they should be; on our families and mission, not on our own selfish interests. That includes working hard at our work, even if it is a "ministry." Let us not forget; Christ Jesus called us to Himself before He ever led us to serve His church. We must be the church, first and foremost, and that begins in our homes.

Please understand; I'm not advocating that these young ladies, then, are somehow exempt from their poor choices. I'm certainly not a proponent of the current trend to blame anyone else, save for one's self and their own sin nature. What I do want to be careful to note, however, is how easily my sin can impinge upon those I love, or profess to love, since love is best evidenced in action, not in words alone. We're reminded in Mosaic literature that the curse will extend to even the third and fourth generations of our family. We should be careful, then, to honor the Lord God in rearing our families in love.

Just Be Patient!

I'm scared. I"m scared for the number of Christian girls I know, or have known, who are mixed up in relationships with unbelieving guys. What gives? Why does this seem so prevalent and reoccurring? I'm sure I'll come off as an old dote in this, and will probably garner more negative feedback than anything, but, some things beg to be said, in the hopes that my true concern shines through, and defenses aren't automatically put up.

And, I'm not preaching here, people; far from it. I've just seen too often, and too close to home, what such relationships can do for a great Christian girl. My heart breaks at the prospect of such long-term relationships getting started on such unequal footing. I suppose it's easily enough done; guy shows girl interest, girl enjoys said interest, girl gives guy a chance. Guy may even make assurances of a walk with Christ, but, if there's one thing I know about being a man, it's that we'll do anything to "get the girl." We'll say stupid things, do stupid things, make up things; whatever it takes.

I'll never forget what my father-in-law said to me when he officiated my wedding. He said, in so many words, that guys enjoy "the hunt." And, it's so true; we are validated when we win someone's heart. And, girls--I'm no expert here, but...--girls seem to find validation in being accepted. In a way, both guys and girls are seeking approval, and we'll jump at the first "nice" guy or girl who will give it.

All I'm saying is this: I'm tired of watching people I care about settle. I don't know if we grow impatient for affection, or that we want to believe someone knows the Lord so badly that we convince ourselves that they do; I don't know. What I do know is that it's a recipe for disaster, and the Lord truly does have our best intentions at heart when He says not to be "unequally yoked." Our faith is tested when we decide whether we'll "seek first His kingdom," and if we'll truly believe that "all of these (other) things (joy, happiness, companionship) will be added" to our lives. The truth is, "He will supply all of our needs," including relationships, "according to His riches in glory."

For anyone who's reading this, know that I write this with all love and affection. With a daughter now of my own, I can think of little else that is more heartbreaking than the prospect that, one, she wouldn't know the Lord, and, two, that she wouldn't trust Him for providing the perfect mate.

You're worth waiting for, and so is he (whoever he is).

Your Christian Vote - Part 2

It is election season (if you haven’t noticed) and we find often find ourselves struggling with voting for the right person. Very often we see ourselves presented with two candidates, neither of which represents our views. Both of the candidates have so many things you disagree with but one is in agreement in an area you feel is more important than the others. So, knowing that one of the two is likely to win we plug our nose, close our eyes, and vote for “the lesser of two evils.”

Is this necessary? Most people in our country aren’t aware that there are more than two choices for President this year (and most years). Wouldn’t it be a waste of a vote to pick someone who doesn’t show well in the polls and would be lucky to get 5% of the total votes? What is a faithful Christian to do?

It is our responsibility as citizens of this country to choose our leaders. If our government is bad we have the option to vote those people out of office at the end of their terms.

"Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature ... If the next centennial does not find us a great nation...it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces." -James Garfield, 1877, 20th President of the United States

To vote for the “lesser of two evils” is to tolerate poor decision making simply because one makes slightly better decisions than the other. To vote this way is to tolerate recklessness because one is slightly less reckless than the other. It is to tolerate corruption because one is a little less corrupt than the other. If we continue to vote for the lesser of two evils, we continue to vote for evil; even if our goal is to simply slow down the evil.

We continue to vote for the lesser evil candidate hoping for him to change this country. But when his path is down the wrong road to begin with, what hope do we have for change. Isn’t this a picture of that cliché definition of insanity, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.”

Christians often vote for the republican candidates who claim they are pro-life and promise to work toward the end of abortion. But republicans had been in control for six years and did nothing to overturn Roe v. Wade. The republican president did nothing to deny funding to abortion clinics. We blindly accept over and over their promises and when they do nothing we vote for them again because at election time they call themselves “pro-life.”

If you were given the choice to vote for Joseph Stalin or Adolf Hitler, or a Christian who promises to uphold the biblical values set up by the founding fathers but is unlikely to win, who would you vote for? Both of the major candidates do offer some good things, giving money to those with little, funding the education system, and a strong military, but we already know their pitfalls. In this extreme example, the lesser of two evils idea doesn’t work. Why is it different now when we are presented with two candidates who have shown that they will not uphold Christian principles or even the Constitution of the United States? Especially when we have other good candidates to choose from?

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." -- John Quincy Adams, 6th President of the United States

Christians believe (or should believe) that God is in control of this world. Nothing happens without God guiding or allowing it to happen. Barack Obama or John McCain will not sneak under God’s radar and change God’s plan. Everyone who comes to power comes because of the will of God (1 Samuel 2:6-8, Romans 9:17, Romans 13:1 1 Peter 2:13,14). As Christians, we aren’t supposed to try and manipulate the system with our vote for someone who will offer us a couple of snacks so he can get into office and then ignore the will of the people. We are to be faithful to God in all things, even against insurmountable odds. God is faithful to do His will; we are simply to be obedient.

Despite major public opposition, both major presidential candidates voted for the country to go several hundred billion dollars more into debt. They promise us one thing, but when it comes down to listening to their constituents, they don’t think we are smart enough to be listened to. If they hear us saying we want abortions to go away and promise to work toward that end, what makes us think they will actually do what we ask when the time comes? They haven’t listened to us in the past.

It is time for us to start voting for what is right, not simply to avoid the worst case. We should be obedient to God, and let Him handle the results. Vote for the person who best represents your beliefs. Don’t let fear guide your vote; if God desires to put an ungodly leader in control, He will still be with His people. Inform your conscience by investigating all of the candidates, give loyalty to God not to a political party, and vote for the person who you believe will lead this country with the fear of God, not the fear of men.

Gideon took on an army with just 300 men while God brought the victory.

A young shepherd boy named David trusted God to take care of an entire army as he stepped forward in faith with a sling and small stone.

The disciples were told to take the gospel to the ends of the earth; a few men to millions of people over millions of miles. They were simply obedient to an apparently impossible task and God brought about the results.

It is time American Christians stop playing on the defensive side of the ball and start voting for the right candidates. Many people would love to vote for the best candidate, but they are afraid they are throwing away their votes. Where are we putting our trust? In our single vote, or the God of the universe who rewards faithfulness? God changes nations through the faithful obedience of a few, not through the pragmatic scheming of the majority.

2 Americans 7:14 if my people who are called by my name, will get a majority together to vote pragmatically for a man who may pass good laws, then they will change the hearts of the people and heal the land.

OR

2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Let’s have faith in God to orchestrate the actions of men to bring about godly leaders as we humbly repent of our sins and act in faithful obedience in all areas of our lives to our biblically informed consciences.

Happy Reformation Day!

Happy Reformation Day everyone. I pray that your day is full of boldness for Christ as we proclaim to our neighbors the justification of sinners by faith in Christ. If you are wondering why I am not saying Happy Halloween instead of Reformation Day, take a few minutes to read this article for a reminder of what happened on this day 491 years ago.


And just to quickly remind you; what other day of the year do you have dozens of people come to your door asking for you to give them something? For the most timid of Christians, this day is perfect to be faithful in sharing the gospel. Get yourself a bunch of large candy bars and attach a good gospel tract; then pray like crazy that the little seed you planted will have an eternal impact in your neighbor's life. Evangelism has never been so easy!



UPDATE:
Congratulations to Brad and Stephanie for their new addition to the family this morning! Ben was born at 10:29 after they decided to head to the hospital at 10:15! He is a 7.5 pound, 20 inch Reformation baby. Thank God for such wonderful little miracles.

Your Christian Vote - Part 1

With election season upon us, many Christians are wondering who to vote for. Usually, one party tends to align with more conservative, Christian principles. This year that candidate appears to be far from the ideal candidate. There are other choices for president, but would voting for any of them make any impact in the election? Before you cast your vote, we should spend some time studying not only each candidate, but especially the Christian perspective on the role of the government. This first part will start there. Part two will discuss how a Christian should use his vote.

American Christians have a unique opportunity in the history of the world to have a major influence in choosing their government. Throughout history, Christians have found themselves under the rule of appointed kings and oppressive rulers. There has been nothing quite like the United States; where the people get to regularly choose their leaders and have a voice that can be used to make changes. If we don’t like how our country is run, we have the opportunity to vote for someone new; or even run for office ourselves. No Christian has ever had that freedom.

When deciding how to vote, we must first consider what we believe the role of government to be. We must also understand what our role as Christians in this country is to be. Nailing down these two points will help us understand how to use the unique opportunity of freedom we are presented with.

Not much is spoken of in the New Testament in regards to setting up a proper government. The Bible is not a political instruction manual. Most of the mentions of government address how Christians are to live under the authority structure they find themselves in. Romans 13, while addressing the importance of submission to the government, does provide us some insight into what the purpose of government.

Verse one states that all people in authority have been instituted by God. Every ruler, including the most wicked in history, was brought into power by the hand of God. Verse two continues to say, then, that if you rebel against the in place authorities, you rebel against what God has ordained. The following verses command us to pay the authorities monetarily and with respect and honor. Paul does not say how a proper government should handle taxes and revenue, just that these are appropriate and subjection to these provides for a peaceable, orderly society. In Luke 3:13, Jesus says that the tax collectors do have a right to collect revenue for the government, but they are not to cheat people out of more than what they owe.

What are some specific duties of the government that we should look to establish? Proverbs 8:15,16 suggest that God appoints rulers to exact justice. The word justice today has started to lose quite a bit of its original meaning. Today justice seems to mean that we feed hungry people, give money to poor people, and take care of the environment. The original meaning of the word (and the dictionary definition) is more akin to keeping order in society by holding people accountable for violating a law. Justice is not to favor one type of person over another. Special interest is to be given to those who are least able to protect themselves, however, sensitivity to the poor does not suggest the government is to show them favor either. “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly” (Lev. 19:15). At a basic level, the government is to provide order and safety to its citizens by curbing the immoral behavior of its citizens and those outside influences that infringe on the people’s natural, God-given rights. It is important then to determine what our rights are.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that our unalienable, God-given rights are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The founders of this country had a firm understanding of the biblical view of man and government. They knew that the role of the government isn’t to make everyone behave in a certain way or provide for the every need of the people. They felt that the government is to ensure that everyone has the right to live and to make their own choices on how to run their lives. The government is to simply provide safety and security in those freedoms. They knew that a group of sinful men would not be able to control every sinful decision of its people, so it was their responsibility to provide the freedoms and trust that the local governments and churches would work to provide order.

Especially important for us to consider is the amount of power the government has to provide direction for the country. Our founders understood that men were inherently sinful, and given too much power, they would exploit it for their own benefits. When the government was established, they balanced the powers between many different offices and provided checks on the power between the offices. It was set up so that one person would not be able to force his own will on the people contrary to the will of the majority. No matter who becomes president, he alone will not have the power to ruin this country.

Our country is not what is now popularly known as a democracy. A democracy is government directly by the majority. If the majority wanted sin, they could get it. Our country is a democratic republic. The majority choose representatives to lead them within the bounds of the constitution. The constitution even provides a check on the people’s representatives from legislating contrary to the basic rules laid out at the onset. If we want new laws we have to go through the constitutional means laid before us. Much of what our government does today and what we expect from our government is far beyond the bounds of the founders’ original intent for this nation.

What happens if the man that is elected is not the desired candidate? What are we to do as Christians? To keep us sane, we need to remember what our role as Christians is. We must remember that we are pilgrims (strangers, foreigners, aliens, sojourners) in this world. While we live in the United States, our citizenship is in heaven. No matter what happens in this country, prosperity or ruin, we have a placed reserved for us in heaven. While we work here for the benefit of others, our ultimate work is done for the kingdom of God with an eternal perspective. We are to live peaceably, in submission to the government where its commands do not oppose God’s law (Matthew 22:21, Romans 13, 1 Peter 2:17-25s), but focused on the mission to which all Christians have been called.

Currently, at our church, we have been encouraging everyone to memorize 2 Corinthians 5:20-21. These verses are a simple reminder of our primary mission in the world: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God.’ He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Our role as Christians is to proclaim the gospel to lost, blind people. We are ambassadors of the God of the universe given the task to take the message of His kingdom to this world. Our primary mission is to get the word of God into the culture so people may repent of their sins and turn to the Savior. It is vital to understand that making new laws will not change people’s hearts. A Christian’s view on politics must be grassroots. We proclaim the gospel to individuals which changes hearts which creates new people who will pass good laws. Too many Christians put their hope in the government to do the work given to the church. Making good laws will not make good people. It is our duty to proclaim the gospel whether the leader of our country is Nero, Hilter, Bush, Obama or McCain.

So how does this influence our vote? An amazing privilege has been given to us to actually have a voice in who leads this country. What first century Christian wouldn’t have loved to have been given the right to choose to get Nero out of Rome? We must vote for the best candidates available to us who will protect our biblical liberties according to the law; and no matter who wins, we will get back to the business of sharing the gospel with our neighbors. We do not vote with the hope that our candidate will change the country and feel defeated spiritually if he doesn’t win. It is not our government’s responsibility to change the hearts of the people in the nation; God will do that as we are obedient to spread the gospel. No matter who wins and what laws are passed, we will continue to be foreigners in this world, pleading with people to turn from their sin and trust in Christ. It is the gospel that will change this country and if the majority becomes Christian again, godly leaders will result in this country where the leadership is simply a reflection of the people.

An Inspiration

I want to tell you a brief tale of a dear friend of mine, who has wowed me with his lifestyle. What has impressed me most about this brother in Christ is his tremendous generosity. He is the first to gift another in need, and does so so very often without any attempt at honor, striving instead to remain anonymous as possible. This is all well and good, but when I consider this gentleman's own humble means, then, I am blown away.

Why is that? As meritorious as it is that he would share, not out of his abundance, but alongside his own need, shouldn't this be the norm for the average Christian? Why is it that this seems so incredible to me? Is it because generosity has gone the way of the New Testament (2 Corinthians 8)? Are we so indebted these days to our 3-year leases, and excessive credit card balances, that we're incapable, or unwilling, to share with a brother in need?

That brings up a whole 'nother issue, of course, on par with the admonition of Ezekiel 18:13, which equates usury and excessive interest with "detestable things." The point is this: generosity should characterize our lifestyles, even more so when we ourselves are of humble means. This, then, is the meaning of Acts 4:32. This, then, is the goal of the Christian church. This, then, is where we need to match up with God's will. Amen.

Revival Preparation

As I have been reading through the provided materials to prepare us for the upcoming renewal services, I have been increasingly convicted of my worldliness in many areas of my life. I have often gotten caught up in the American Dream of having a great wife, a couple kids, a steady job, a nice home with a beautiful yard, and a grill to sit on my deck to enjoy with the neighbors on a nice summer day. While there is nothing specifically wrong with these things, it is so easy to get caught up in this world, forgetting that this world is not my home; I am a citizen of another world.

In my search for guidance out of this worldly attitude, I was brought back to the famous Revival Hymn. It is a compilation of some older sermons set to powerful music. I have heard it many times before, but as I listened to it again, I really recognized the shallow Christianity that has taken over today's church. I cry about my sin and the sinfulness of this world when I listen to this compilation; yearning for the restoration of the world. As we prepare for the upcoming revival services, I pray that the following can help you in the preparation of your own heart.



An mp3 version can be downloaded here to listen to on your computer or iPod.

Hilary Watson

Hilary Watson, a 24-year old Californian, recently performed at our church, and, I must say, I was impressed. Coming to the Lord at age 11, and consequently committing to the daily reading of the Word, it was made evident in her concert. Each song was Biblically-based, and bathed in Scripture. Quoting verses at length, I realized this up-and-coming artist's truest pursuit was honoring her Lord.

Having performed in Germany, Africa, and the states, she is often found leading worship in various churches on any given Sunday. That being said, she made it clear that she is actively pursuing body life, as she is in a vibrant home bible study, which recently just finished a 5-week Mission Trip to Tanzania, all of their own making, by the way.

Having played guitar for as long as she's known the Lord, it is equally evident. Great picking style, with beautifully crisp and enjoyable chord progressions, she is a joy to hear play, on that merit alone. Interestingly, she shared that she hasn't always been gifted with the tremendous voice she evidences now. While I'm not sure I even believe that, she is certainly over it. Her soaring lyrics coincide well with her songwriting, which dispenses with trite lyrics, opting instead for refreshing word imagery that leaves no response but heartfelt worship towards our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

An all-around joy to hear, and meet, Hilary Watson is best enjoyed live, in my opinion, as her recorded work doesn't seem to do her justice. Nevertheless, I would encourage you to sample it, and then book her, ASAP. You'll be personally encouraged in your walk, and challenged in your faith.

Wise Investing?

Alright! That's it! I can't take it anymore! I've had my fill of the undercurrent of worldliness plaguing our American churches, and homes. Sadly, it seems we have grown anesthetized to it, enjoying it for so long, in so many various ways. Whether it's the 13 year old who's just gotta have a cell phone (yeah; 13 year's old!), or the 20-something who needs every trendy outfit their little shopaholic heart can hunt down; maybe it's the empty-nester, who finally has the collateral to build their dream home (so what if there's only two of us living here; opulence is king!); or--and this is my favorite--the retiree (if they even wait that long) who sees no way around having a second home. Ladies and gentlemen, need I remind you that this world is not our home; we certainly don't need to diversify our claims to it!

It saddens me to think that, even in my own life, the very next thought after paying that final bill is, "Alright, what to buy?" Have we forgotten the call to self-denial? Have we found our joy best satisfied in God's gifts, rather than the gift of God? We marvel at the shared community of Acts 4, and yet, is it really that unimaginable, or does it simply conflict with our ingrained consumerism?

We need not analyze our selfishness; we come by that honestly. I wonder, though, have we erred as evangelicals by railing against the "Social Gospel" to such an extent that we're no longer able to address the social needs of our age? Do we honestly think that our money is better spent on Steven Curtis Chapman's newest CD than the African AIDS crisis? Have we so deluded ourselves to believe that God is somehow honored by this?

God help us. Father, forgive us. Holy Spirit, change us.

The Assurance of 1 John

As I've read the book of 1 John each day for these past couple of weeks, I've been impressed with the forthrightness and confidence with which the Apostle John speaks. He uses declarative sentence after declarative sentence to state matter-of-factly the truths of God. His writing evidences forth much assurance and confidence, that God's promises are true, that He is who He has said that He is, and that we can know Him and His ways with great aplomb.

What a great message for a day such as ours, when every nuance exists in the gray nebulae between black and white; when postmodernity and relativism are confused at even defining themselves, and all the more wary of putting labels on anything of significance; when we are so politically correct that little is discussed that is of much worth. This is a message desperately needed in our homes, and in our churches.

May we be as assured in our faith as the writer John, and may our lives demonstrate the confidence we have in knowing our Savior, as we seek Him persistently in the reading of His Word.

We've Got It All

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)

Peter knew this firsthand by having been near Jesus. He walked on the water as he drew near to Christ; He said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" by divine revelation (Matt 16:13-17). When he was away from Jesus, he denied Him. However, when Christ left the earth in His ascension, Peter remained powerful, preaching the hard truths of the Gospel (Acts 2), healing the lame (Acts 3), and remaining strong under persecution (Acts 4). How, you might ask? "He was filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4).

In the same way, so we can be filled powerfully with the Holy Spirit, since He indwells us (1 Cor 6:19). Do you pray, "God, give me more love for so-and-so," when Romans 5:5 says "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts?" Do you ask, "God, I need more grace," when 2 Corinthians 12:9 promises this His grace is sufficient? Do we pray, "Lord, give me more strength," knowing that Philippians 4:13 says that we can do all things through Him, regardless of our circumstance?

As we seek an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, may we know indeed that we've been given everything we need for life and godliness. We need only tap the source of our strength, our knowledge of Him. I would encourage you, then, to get in the Word. We want to know Him, we want to see Him, we want to understand His will. What better way than to drink deeply of His Word?

One way to do that is to read over and over again portions of Scripture, until it saturates your mind, so that you do the will of God without much thought, as it is ingrained in you. John MacArthur, which much of this is excerpted from (in Found: God's Will) recommends reading 1 John every day for 30 days, and then a 1/3 of John's gospel for 30 days, and so on. Can you imagine how much of God's Word, and will, you would absorb with that kind of exposure? Be encouraged.

I have recently been impressed with the persistent call to holiness that has resonated in our church's laymen sermons. I must admit, it has led me to some deeper introspection than which I would typically subject myself. It has called into question, most especially, how I spend my time, my thoughts, and my energies. We all, I think, need constant reminder that we have but one life to live, and it is not our own. It’s with that thought in mind that I submit to you these gleanings from Jim Cymbala’s classic, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. It is my heart’s desire that as we look towards the calendar event of our upcoming Renewal Services, we will do the hard work now of preparing, prayerfully, for God to speak and move.

My Prayer Requests

1. That I not merely “mark time,” lest my life slip by without seeing God show Himself mightily on our behalf. (Chapter 1)

2. That we would sense our need to pray, and would want to pray, the more we do it. (Ch. 3)

3. That we as a people would never grow lax in our spirit of brokenness and the need for calling on God. (Ch. 3)

4. That I and my church would be marked by a spirit of prayerfulness, which is a defining mark of a Christian (Acts 2:42) and the people of God (Deut. 4:7). (Ch. 4)

5. That I would not succumb to the anti-authority spirit in America that says, “Nobody can tell me I need to change.” May I be humble and wide open to correction. (Ch. 8)

6. That in revival, our “congregation does the preaching,” so that there’s no need of preachers or musicians, simply “God’s dwelling in close communion with His people.” (Ch. 8)

7. That I remember that “the first step in any spiritual awakening is demolition. We cannot make headway in seeking God without first tearing down the accumulated junk in our souls. Rationalizing has to cease. We have to start seeing the sinful debris we hadn’t noticed before, which is what holds back the blessing of God.” (Ch. 10)

8. That I always seek to draw nearer to God, lest I fall away, since there is no holding pattern or middle ground. (Ch. 10)

9. That I never believe myself to have attained, but that I persistently press on toward the goal to which I have been called heavenward (Phil. 3:14). (Ch. 10)

10. That I will step out and take risks for the sake of His glory, not sheltering myself under “Bible discussions among ourselves, or complaining to others about the horrible state of today’s society.” (Ch. 11)

I pray this is helpful, brothers and sisters. Whatever your prayer, may it be persistent towards the end of seeing God’s visible glory in our lives. “As for me and my house,” we will “humble ourselves, prayerfully seeking His face, and (may it be so, Lord) turn from our wicked ways.”

This Body of Death

I find myself reading over and again the 7th and 8th chapters of Romans, and I am overcome, yet again, with the doxological response it requires. How can we read, as Christians, that nothing, in all of the created order, is “able to separate us from the love of God (8:38-39),” and not render praise to our God? Couple this with the fact that we are adopted as sons, being “children of God, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (8:15-17),” and we have no answer but to be blown away!
But note from where such blessings stem: suffering (8:18); groans and birth pangs (8:22-23); weakness (8:26). Even this should come as little surprise, as we hear time and again of the sufferings of Christ’s followers throughout the pages of Scripture. We know, for example, the writer of Romans found himself beaten, stoned near to death, imprisoned, shipwrecked, in hunger and thirst, cold and exposure, and in dangers galore from innumerable fronts (2 Cor. 11:25-27).
We so often read these accounts and wrestle with a guilt complex, of sorts, as American Christians, since we have, by and large, seen very little, if any, of this type of suffering. But, we must not overlook the context in which Paul writes Romans 7 and 8. We find especially in chapter 7 that Paul has written at length of his wrestle with sin, finding that “nothing good dwells in me,” so that while the “willing is present in me, the doing is not (7:18).” Again, “the body is dead,” not because of floggings or imprisonment, but “because of sin” (8:10). He counts himself a “wretched man (7:24),” not because of physical travail, or loss of friend and countrymen. No. He is bound to this “body of death” by the “evil that is present” in him (7:21).


So, what does this mean for us? It would seem that, like Paul, our greatest struggle is not with those around us, or our circumstances, but rather it is against “the enemy within.” We must war with the flesh, especially as believers, because now we have been shown, “through the Law,” sin for what it really is; being, in fact, “utterly sinful,” “proving to result in death for me” (7:7, 13, 10).
At this point, however, we must be careful not to err in the opposite extreme. While Paul despairs at the wretched man that he is, he almost simultaneously lifts his song to Christ, in whom there is “no condemnation” (8:1). We must never fall prey to the idea that we somehow, in our own strength, can do that which the Law requires, so as to merit God’s favor. It is only in our constant admission of weakness, our “groanings too deep for words,” that we find how to “pray as we should,” and allow the Spirit of God to make us “overwhelmingly conquer” in all of these things (8:26, 37). While we may wrestle with “flesh and blood,” it is our own, acted upon by our own sin nature, as it succumbs to the “wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:12, 11). And, “thanks be to God,” that through Jesus Christ our Lord, we have the victory (Rom. 7:25).
So, in your warring with sin, beloved, know that “He condemned sin in the flesh” already (8:3). He suffered, so that yours would not be in vain. In fact, His power and grace is perfected in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9), so that, when we are faced with temptation, we need simply give it to Him who has already conquered death and its condemnation, so as to experience true freedom in Christ, whatever our trial.

Slow Progress for this Pilgrim

As our Tuesday night Bible study finished up going through 1 Peter and I start preparing to study Philippians, I am really being convicted about my worldliness. In 1 Peter, he is writing to Christians in Rome who are being severely persecuted (read: burned, imprisoned, beaten) for their faith and Peter is writing to them to encourage them to stay faithful. Right in the beginning of the letter he encourages them by reminding them that they are strangers of the world (aliens, pilgrims, sojourners, exiles, foreigners), meaning that they may live under the authority of the Roman government, but they are merely strangers in the land; citizens of a different world.

Paul similarly displays this attitude in his letter to the Philippians; describing how he is willing to give up all that seems good in the world so that the gospel can be proclaimed. He takes Jesus call to deny himself very seriously and says he counts all the seemingly great things he has as "rubbish."

In my own life I have found myself too busy to really get serious about proclaiming the gospel to the world and personally investing more time in discipling those who are young in the faith. My personal prayer and study time has been diminishing as I find too many excuses to ignore such vital components of the Christian life. This summer, I thought, would be a season of great growth for me and the ministries I am involved in. But I have found myself along for the ride as every single weekend is planned out for me doing something different and I am sacrificing my prayer time, Bible study, personal reading, and ministry opportunities.

The difficult thing is that the things that are taking up my time aren’t necessarily sinful. Going to cousins weddings, visiting aunts and uncles, family reunions, playing baseball with unsaved neighbors and attending graduations aren’t bad things and are actually good things because I get opportunities to discuss the gospel with many different people. But it comes at a cost of my first ministries; my own sanctification, my wife (and soon my first child), and serving in my own church.

During the week it is so easy to go through the routine of life that I forget that I am a pilgrim simply passing through this world. I think that too often we justify our worldly behavior by pointing out that it isn’t specifically defined as a sin. However, anything that takes time away from what we have been called to do is also a sin and that is where I find myself battling right now. We are called to deny our personal desires and to gain holy desires to serve the King who is coming soon to take us home.

Imagine how much time we would have to read our Bibles if we got rid of our televisions. I know, I know. Watching TV isn’t in itself a sin. But it is so easy to be distracted by it. It consumes an hour of your life before you realize what happened. How much more time would we have to serve in a church ministry if we spent less time surfing the internet for no reason or being entertained by some game.

Often times in our efforts to be relevant to the world by “becoming all things to all men” we lose focus on the fact that we are not of this world. Even though we live in America, our citizenship is of another world. We work daily at our jobs and live in an entertainment culture and it is too easy to end up going through life like people who are of this world.

I pray that we can all be reminded more often that Christians are not of this world. We are called to deny ourselves and take up the cross daily. Being a Christian isn’t about doing the same things as everyone else while wearing a name tag that says “Christian.” It isn’t an easy life that involves being everyone’s friend so they might like Jesus too. It often involves losing friends, sacrificing some of our favorite things, and delaying gratification until Christ returns. We are foreigners to this land. People should recognize us as foreigners by how we talk, what we are entertained by, what consumes our free time. I pray that I can become a much better example of the pilgrim life.

"If it doesn't matter the day you die, it doesn't matter." -Mark Cahill

In My Right Mind

So, I have this theory, which is, of course, inherently flawed by its very nature. Nevertheless, I wonder that my prayers and my worries occur in the opposite parts of my brain. No, really! Often, when I find myself lying awake in bed, wondering at what I've forgotten to do, or anticipate doing, the only thing that seems to shut my brain off is to begin to pray.

Now, some of you may wonder, "Not much of a prayer life, if you're falling asleep." Perhaps, though I've heard it evidences a deep trust in Christ. Either way, it works. And, don't think me too pompous by that statement; you need only note the time of this posting. My point is this: prayer demonstrates, I think, the antidote to our worry, because, in its very act, it places faith and trust in God above that He will hear, and He will answer, and He cares. When worry crowds my mind, I need only "cast my cares upon Him," who is able to shoulder my deepest need (forgiveness) and my smallest want (sleep). Just a thought; now, excuse me, while I pray myself back to sleep.

Book Review: Do Hard Things

Alex and Brett Harris say there is nothing extraordinary about themselves. They don’t think that there exists such a thing as an “average teenager.” But, as the title of their book suggests, they want to challenge youth to Do Hard Things. “At age sixteen, we interned at the Alabama Supreme Court. At seventeen, we served as grass-roots directors for four statewide political campaigns. At eighteen we authored the most popular Christian teen blog on the web. We’ve been able to speak to thousands of teens and their parents at conferences in the United States and internationally and to reach millions online. But if our teen years have been different than most, it’s not because we’re somehow better than other teens, but because we’ve been motivated by a simple but very big idea.” (pg. 4,5)

Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations is written by teenagers primarily for teenagers, but everything said in it is applicable to adults as well. In a time and culture where youth are expected to ignore responsibility and simply have fun, this book is a challenge to use the teenage years to prepare for adulthood. “The teen years are not a vacation from responsibility,…they are the training ground of future leaders who dare to be responsible now.” (pg. 13)

The book is separated into three sections with the first considering the modern expectations of young people and what the Scriptures expect of young people. “People today view the teen years through the modern lens of adolescence – a social category of age and behavior that would have been completely foreign to men and women not too long ago…The term adolescence literally means ‘to grow up.’…The problem we have is with the modern understanding of adolescence that allows, encourages, and even trains young people to remain childish for much longer than necessary.” (pg. 33) “You won’t find the words teenager or adolescence anywhere in Scripture. And you won’t find any reference to a period of time between childhood and adulthood either. Instead you’ll find the apostle Paul writing in 1 Corinthians 13:11, ‘When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.’” (pg. 42) The Harris’ describe the “Myth of Adolescence” as being influenced by evolutionary thought and changing our mindset of youth being important producers in society to being largely only consumers who are expected to only have fun.

Transitioning from this challenge to the current thought of adolescence is the dare for Christian youth to be different from the world. Do Hard Things presents five challenges to youth to take on tasks that God is calling them to do and that nobody expects them to do. The “Five Kinds of Hard” that are explained in the second section of the book are:
1. Things that are outside your comfort zone.
2. Things that go beyond what is expected or required.
3. Things that are too big to accomplish alone.
4. Things that don’t earn an immediate payoff.
5. Things that challenge the cultural norm.
This is the meat of this book and a great message that not only should teens take to heart, but many Christian adults too.

The final section of Do Hard Things is basically a collection of inspiring stories of “ordinary teens” doing extraordinary things. It is hard not to be motivated by the stories of faithfulness of kids who desire to be obedient to Christ and not fall back on excuses that are supported by their humanistic culture. From kids who have raised thousands of dollars to feed starving children across the globe to other youth who decided to give up video games to be more committed to learning Scripture, these stories represent a future of Christianity that is ready to outshine the current generation of leaders in the church.

Do Hard Things contains a message that all teenagers and their parents need to understand. God gifted young people with much more ability to serve Him than we expect from them. Too often we don’t expect our children to be able to handle our adult ministry challenges, so we create separate youth ministries for them that are simpler. Instead of taking them along side us in big tasks, we send the youth to the mall or put a video game in front of them to keep them busy until they are old enough to step into adult ministries. This book dares youth to prove that God gave them potential to Do Hard Things and challenges adults not to expect anything less.

Book Review: The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World

Start a conversation today with a non-Christian and you may notice quite a bit of difficulty in maintaining a rational discussion. Today’s American culture is becoming much less familiar with the Christian story. Our country is becoming more biblically illiterate making evangelism a much longer more difficult endeavor. Many in our society don’t know who Jesus Christ is or what the cross represents. The number of people claiming to not believe in a God at all is on the rise. And increasingly, several dialogues may leave your head spinning or pounding as you try to understand the postmodern mindset that says you can’t know what is true or that all beliefs are true.

In The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World, seven essays are compiled by John Piper and Justin Taylor explaining how we must engage this postmodernism with the truth of Christ. The authors who contributed to the book include: David Wells, Voddie Baucham Jr., D.A. Carson, Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll, Justin Taylor, and John Piper. Each author biblically expounds on the importance of truth, joy, love, the gospel, and the church in relation to this increasingly postmodern world. Justin Taylor summarizes them all in the introduction; “The church should become that for which it was created, namely, the pillar and buttress of truth, joy, and love in order to display the glory of God and the supremacy of Christ in all things.” (pg. 14)

David Wells begins the book with a chapter calling for defending the truth of the Christian faith. Our culture is increasingly becoming pluralistic, seeing little difference in religions. The church has been unable to offer anything of deep meaning to the culture. It has tried to accommodate other religions to the point of offering simple life enhancement and appearing to be no different from the rest. We must strive to hold to truth, declaring the counter message that Christ is the only way. Instead of pandering to the culture’s ideas, we are to offer a message that contradicts the world’s ideas. “Is the evangelical church faithful enough to explode the worldview of this new spiritual search? Is it brave enough to contradict what has wide cultural approval? The final verdict may not be in, but it seems quite apparent that while the culture is burning, the evangelical church is fiddling precisely because it has decided it must be so like the culture to be successful.” (pg. 38)

In the chapter on Truth and The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World, Voddie Baucham Jr. dissects the truth of the Bible in answering four basic questions of life: who am I, why am I here, what is wrong with the world and how can what is wrong be made right? He answers these in full detail by explaining that we are the beautiful creation of God; that we were made to give glory to Him; the thing that is wrong with the world is you and me through sin; nothing we can do can make it right, but Christ made it right by taking the punishment on the cross for us. “[According to postmodern secular humanism] the solution to our woes is more education and more government. That’s the only answer our culture can propose: teach people more stuff and give them more information…If you take a sinful, murderous human being and educate that individual, here merely becomes more sophisticated in his ability to destroy.” (pg. 57) Our only hope in the world is to throw ourselves at the mercy of God and trust in Christ for righteousness.

John Piper continues the theme of his entire ministry writing about joy in The Supremacy of Christ. He gives the condensed version of the chapter by saying, “(1) Jesus’ greatest joy is in the glory of his Father, and (2) he shares this joy with us by means of understandable propositions (or Bible doctrine) about himself and his Father and his work, which the Holy Spirit illumines and ignites as the kindling of our passion for Christ.” (pg. 72) Piper explains it as we are being made to be more like Christ, our greatest joy also becomes that of Him; giving glory to the Father. By revealing Himself through the Bible, he gives us an opportunity to know Him more and through that knowledge we find more joy in His infinite glory. “If you say, ‘My joy is in the journey toward knowing, not the arrival,’ you make an idol out of the journey and you turn heaven into a disappointment…If you get most of your joy from what you don’t know about God, God is not glorified in your joy. His Son and his Book and his world are the revelation of his glory. He has made the knowledge of himself possible…Therefore, the joy you have in what you know of God is intensified by the expectation that there is so much more to see. The mystery of what you don’t know gets its God-glorifying power from what you do know. God is not glorified by strong feelings of wonder that flow from ignorance of what he is like.” (pgs. 80-81)

Especially in our culture the word “love” is very misunderstood. We say so often the promise of John 3:16 and because of the misuse of the word we often miss the depth of God’s love. D.A. Carson discusses God’s love for us (and how we are to relate it to the lost world) by first meditating on the love within the Trinity. “All of this manifestation of glory, of the goodness of God, is displayed because the Father loved Jesus before the creation of the world. The thought is stunning. All this display of the glory of God focuses finally on the goodness of God in the cross and vindication of the Son for the sake of poor sinners – and al of it is grounded in the sheer love of the Father for the Son – the same love, Jesus insists, that the Father has for us.” (pg. 94) What an amazing thought that the all-sufficient Creator of the universe who was supremely satisfied with the love He shared within the Trinity, decided to create us humans to pour out even more of His love!

Tim Keller, in the chapter focusing on the gospel itself and how we must share it with the world, stressed the importance of being very clear in our presentations. The old ways of programmed, scripted evangelism don’t work anymore because of the biblical illiteracy of our country. We were a country founded on Christian principles and shaped by biblical themes. However, many people today on the street have never heard the Christian story or are completely ignorant of any biblical references. Keller explains that we must start our evangelism farther back at the existence of God and the creation of the universe far before we can walk someone through the Romans Road. “The problem with virtually all modern evangelism programs is that they assume listeners come from a Christianized background, and so they very lightly summarize the gospel and go right to [personal commitment]. But this is no longer sufficient.” (pg. 115) We must be complete in our gospel proclamations; not just declaring salvation from sins, but also giving hope of the restoration of all things. People recognize that something is wrong with the world, and we can give them hope of a new creation.

The final chapter is written by Mark Driscoll who challenges the church to stand for truth and be an example of Christ in the world. “Jesus is as popular, controversial, and misunderstood as ever. Therefore, it is imperative that Christians contend for a faithful and biblical Christology and contextualize that Christology for a fruitful and cultural missiology.” (pg. 127) There are a lot of popular “Christs” in the world today, but it is important for us to be clear which is the true Jesus revealed to us in the Bible. Many today focus on the humble incarnation of Christ and forget that He is the reigning King of kings who will return in flaming glory to pour out His wrath on sinners. We are commissioned to tell the world of His patience and loving-kindness that is displayed until the time He returns. Driscoll, however, reminds us that while we have been given this authority to proclaim the gospel message to the world, it is Christ who is in charge and we are simply to be an example of the humble Jesus who proclaimed the good news and sacrificed his life for those He loved. Similar to Keller’s essay, Driscoll says, “Sadly, too often the church is filled with language, customs, and styles that are so altogether foreign to the average lost person that unless contextualization occurs and explanation is given, lost people will remain, in Paul’s words, ‘foreigners’ and not friends.” (pg. 144)

The entire book presents concepts that are important for every faithful Christian to understand. As missionaries in our own sub-cultures we cannot assume a changing culture will understand and embrace our unchanging message. But, we must stand for truth while we live humble lives expressing joy in God and love for others that gives us an opportunity to explain the complete gospel to a world that misunderstands the message of Christ.

Those Sanctifying 'Lil Whipper-Snappers

We are, by nature, very selfish creatures. Think about it. We cry for milk from day one, we argue for our toys not long after that, and on and on it goes. As teenagers (and adults), we guard our reputation very closely. Call it what you want--self-preservation, the Freudian "id," your sin nature--but know that, at its core, it is nothing but unabashed selfishness.

That is why, I believe, God has especially ordained the institution of the family as a sanctifying means of grace. Our instinctual need for camaraderie, fellowship, love, and companionship requires, when rightly done, a level of self-sacrifice. Consider, gentlemen, when you began dating; if you cared at all about your date, you would go see that movie, even if it was a "chick flick," or you would try that new restaurant, ladies, even if it wasn't quite your taste. I even remember at my wedding ceremony being reminded that my wife and I were now one, and I must consider her needs as highly as my own.

And, now...well, the Lord has gifted us with a precious (albeit, very selfish) little girl. Now, more than ever, I understand the implications of love, and family, as it requires of me a level of selflessness I have never yet experienced. I surely never would have, either, by my own devices. I'm far too selfish to go looking for self-abasement.

And, so, God, in His sovereign grace and wisdom, has crafted our love relationships in such a way as to engender selflessness. I remember the day I came to terms with the fact that my aversion to having a child was not rational and fiscally prudent, as I would have liked to have believed. Rather, it was from selfish motives that I came to this conclusion, because I realized that, if I were to wait until I had enough money, or enough time, or even enough desire, that time may never come, when God has given me all the resources, here and now, to have said baby (Kristine's her name).

I simply can't get past the fact that God has, by sheer biology, created husband and wife with the ability to procreate, and I see now, from this side of parenthood, that it was to refine me that he graced our home with a screaming, fussy, poopy (sorry), tireless little helpless creature that insists I (and her mother, of course, and, all the more so) see to her every need. And, in the transaction, I further see that my perceived needs I had prior seem largely inconsequential.

Now, I don't want to rub insensitive to those who find themselves single, or unable to have children. By and large, however, it is God's design that we marry, and we have children. I fear our world's mentality has creeped into our church far too well, to allow us to think that it's mydecision, my body, my timetable. As children are a natural consequence of a God-honoring marriage, it seems it is His intention that we have them, as it is our express purpose on this earth to grow in grace, and experience deep, and satisfying, sanctification. But, that's just my opinion.

The Reason for God

I've begun reading Timothy Keller's The Reason for God, and, thus far, I have been impressed. I'll not do a full book review here, but I was encouraged by a couple of excerpted quotes, which I submit here. One, in regards to the problem of evil, was from C. S. Lewis: "They say of some temporal suffering, 'No future bliss can make up for it,' not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory." I would certainly recommend this chapter (Chapter 2), as it treats the problem of evil in a different way than ever I've heard, and with an even more compelling argument, in my opinion.


More than an apologetic, however, this book serves as a testimony of a growing, vibrant, and (as best as I've been able to surmise) orthodox church in the heart of Manhattan. Redeemer Presbyterian Church represents a "third camp," in Keller's estimation, a group who had a "concern for justice in the world but who grounded it in the nature of God rather than in their own subjective feelings." They were "neither the Western Christendom of the past nor the secular, religionless society that was predicted for the future."

A few "downtown art-types" of his church testify to this end, stating that Redeemer "lacked the pompous and highly sentimental language they found emotionally manipulative in other churches." Also, the people of this church spoke to each other with "gentle, self-deprecating irony." Reinhold Niebuhr said that this [amusement at seeing human beings try but fail to be Godlike] is a very Christian way of looking at things. People were real, and "did not think more highly of themselves than they ought" (Romans 12:3).




Furthermore, Redeemer people held beliefs with charity and humility, making Manhattanites feel included and welcomed, even if they disagreed with some of Redeemer's beliefs. And, most of all, an intelligent and nuanced mode of teaching and communication attracts these city dwellers (and any self-respecting person, I might add).

We need not couch the Gospel in fuzzy language or less-offensive packaging. We need not look like the world to attract the world. No amount of pyrotechnics or gyrating worship is necessary to appeal to the unbeliever. We need only to be honest with them and ourselves, appeal with integrity and intelligence to the Gospel, and intersect with social needs because Christ did so. People are hungry; may we feed them.

Leaving a Legacy

I’ve just finished reading C. J. Mahaney’s book, Humility: True Greatness, which I would heartily recommend to anyone. I was especially smitten with the final chapter, which pertains to leaving A Legacy of Greatness. As I don’t have children yet (but will very soon, Lord willing), I pray this is of even more benefit to you.

He begins by making this statement: “As I understand it, parenting is about preparation. Preparation for our children’s future and preparation for the fast-approaching final day of judgment.” Wow! Never have I envisioned parenting in such grand and cosmic terms! But, it’s true, isn’t it?! He goes on: “Do your ambitions for your son or daughter include a certain vocation or a certain level of education? Graduation from a certain college? Professional or athletic or artistic recognition? If so, let me ask this: Are any of these ambitions in line with true greatness as defined in Scripture?”

He cites Mark 9:35 as the definition of true greatness, which says “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all,” (emphasis mine) and Mark 10:43 (“whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant”). This, of course, was the example Jesus set, as we’ve just been reminded by this past Sunday’s sermon (John 13:1-20). Will this, then, be the bar by which we judge our children’s greatness? Mahaney puts it this way: “Are you more interested in temporal recognition for your child than you are in his eternal reward?”

As he does with other chapters, Mahaney then outlines some practical ways of implementing these truths. “First and foremost, parents are to be an example of greatness for their children,” modeling humble servanthood. Second, we must define true greatness for our children, in light of Christ’s example. We must also learn to teach our children to discern and admire true greatness. A great way to do this is to “not celebrate anything more than you celebrate godly character in your children.” He says that he commends his son for academic achievement or an athletic award, but they break out into real celebration when there’s a demonstration of humility, servanthood, or godly character.”

Instead of admiring sports figures or celebrities, Mahaney suggests (and I agree) that “the local church is filled with truly great people.” Every week, there are those who are “faithfully serving others for God’s glory.” He cites you, as parents, as well, as you all have served “unselfishly and continuously.” His final suggestion is this: teach your children to serve. “Your family’s higher purpose, even ultimate purpose, is to serve the local church.”