The Joy of Christmas

It's been said so many times before: joy comes from the Lord; we shouldn't see it as being circumstantial. But you know what? I still fall into that trap a lot. Or I fall into a similar one ruled by cognitive dissonance. I have joy. And I can be happy. But I have a melancholy personality. When I feel crappy, I know I have joy in my Savior. But I don't really get excited about Christmas. Sometimes I question if something is wrong with me. I love my Lord. I want to share Him with others. He has given me the gift of generosity. When I get to serve others, that brings me joy.

There's less than 2 weeks until Christmas. Am I looking forward to it? Not particularly. I don't have gifts for any of my family members. And I can't really afford to get them anything. From past experience, they don't seem to really appreciate the effort I put into making things for them. So gift giving is nearly a lost cause for me. Based on the less-than-pleasant experience of visiting them over Thanksgiving, I'm not really looking forward to that aspect much, either. Or having strange conversations with my family about faith - my father would stop going to church rather than give up the Masonic lodge if he were forced to choose, because he doesn't want the church to stifle his freedom; my sister stopped going to church services and goes to a book study currently on The Shack; she may or may not believe in mediums or reincarnation. And they don't really understand why I'm in seminary. I feel like I don't get support for what I do or what I want to do from them. They are unsatisfied with the church they are members of, but they refuse to try to make a difference or to look for another church because they're all the same.

So what of this joy that I am supposed to experience this time of year? I have hope in my Savior. I have joy in Him and in ministering in His name, for His glory. Christmastime doesn't make me giddy or excited. I cherish the hymns that remind us of how amazing God's plan is for our salvation through Jesus Christ. I appreciate greens and poinsettias. But it seems like I'm missing something crucial. Instead of anxiously awaiting the celebration of the birth of the Savior, it seems like a cultural thing that I'd like to pass. I'd love to truly celebrate it. I'd love to celebrate it with my family. I'd love to spend an hour with them in prayer. I'd love to open up to them about life and spiritual matters. I'd love to share with them my faith. I'd love to share the importance of the Scriptures pointing to Christ, God's Son and humanity's Redeemer. I'd love for them to become a people of prayer. I'd love to see their lives truly changed by the Lord. I'd love for my father to be joyful, not cynical. I'd love for him to have godly friends and to spend time with them. I'd love for him to be a true spiritual leader in the family, not just a spiritual decision-maker, whether for good or bad. I'd love for my mother to study the Bible, to understand it deeper, to be able to defend her faith. I'd love for my sister to date a man of God, not a decent person who's an unbeliever. I'd love for her to see why and how there's a difference. I'd love to see her give up watching the trashy tv shows and music. I'd love her to be strengthened and encouraged and challenged in her faith. And I'd love to tell more people about the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, wholly man and wholly God, who experienced what it is to be human, who gave his life as a ransom for sin, that all who believe and call on Him would be saved. And I'd love a godly woman to share my life and faith with me. I'd love to empower others to study God's Word and to live by it. I'd love to call believers to live in holiness. I'd love to call believers to go out and stand with God in His mission to bring His message of forgiveness by faith through Jesus Christ to all the peoples of the earth, whether that means in Appalachia, the Pyrenees, the Andes, the Urals or anywhere else. I'd love to call cultural Christians to make a choice about Jesus and to lay down their lives to Him in obedience. I'd love to teach those people who call themselves Christians and yet don't know what it means to be one. I'd love to explain the Scriptures to them, to tell them about God's mission to reach ALL peoples. I'd love to worship and rejoice with my brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world, to share with them the cup, to teach them and learn from them. Is the joy of Christmas in knowing that God is in control? Is it that Christ has already won the victory for us? Is it to know the future is certain and that God is sovereign over it, as the prophets often understood and anticipated? Is it to have faith in the Lord regardless of our circumstances?

I'd love for you to join with me in praying for these things, that the Lord would be glorified in us and in all that He does. May the joy of Christmas, the hope in the Lord and Savior who came to save us and to call us to Himself, be spread to all the peoples of the earth.

Forgiveness

At what cost are we forgiven? It's a question that comes to mind once in a while for me. I cringe at the simplistic answer "Jesus" because forgiveness is a deeper issue than that. Forgiveness of sins can be granted by God alone. Jesus emphasized this point when he claimed the ability to forgive sins (and thus claimed equality with God). But when I studied that statement in my class on the Gospels, the claim of forgiveness itself was not the issue. As my professor argued, it was easy to say that someone was forgiven, as that was a spiritual claim which could not be proven either way until that person reaches the final judgment (Matt. 9:2-8). But the healing, that was a problem because of the claim that Jesus made in doing it. Jesus made forgiveness sound simple here (Matt. 9:2, 5, 6). Jesus also warned at various times that people must forgive or face judgment for their likewise unforgiven sins (Matt. 6:12; Luke 6:37; John 20:23) So at what cost are we forgiven?

I say I'm sorry for stupid things. Unfortunately it happens frequently enough that I can remember times off the top of my head. But if I hurt somebody, or if I grieve God, what is the real cost of forgiveness? For the little things we often just brush them off; of course I forgive you for doing the little stuff that somehow hurt me. Maybe you were impolite to me. I'm over it. You are forgiven. But that's not the kind of forgiveness that I mean. And I think the reaction of not being mad or hurt by your (in)action begs the question of whether it's even actually forgiveness.

So what is forgiveness? It's ridding a debt between two parties. If I gossip about you, I have caused a problem for which I need to be forgiven. I have made myself the debtor in our relationship. No longer are we equals in this sense. My action has brought me into your debt. If I submit to it, you have control over me. Some people use this situation as a means for blackmail. You can lord the debt over me, though the degree of its effectiveness over my future actions depends on how I feel about it as well as other factors. There's a debt between two parties when forgiveness is necessary.

What is the cost of this forgiveness? I don't think about what it costs a person to forgive me. I don't think about the hours or days or longer that it takes for a person to forgive me. I don't think about Jesus' life when I ask for forgiveness of my sins. Occasionally I think about his death and resurrection. Sacrifices could not have imperfections. Jesus led a sinless life despite the temptations. Sins demand death. I am ransomed from death by the blood of the Lamb of God, who was slain for the forgiveness of sins of the world. Is forgiveness easy? Is it difficult? Was it difficult for Jesus? When he told people their sins were forgiven, did he think about his impending death on the cross? His resurrection? His ascension? Or did he just think of the authority granted him by the Father?

I don't fully understand the mystery of forgiveness. I know what it is. I know that I need it. I know that it is vital. It's costly. An innocent man gave his life for it. And I can - I must - forgive others as I have been forgiven. I must not let my pride keep me from forgiveness. It's challenging and freeing. But I feel unready and unworthy. And then I see grace in forgiveness.

some thoughts and a prayer

I am becoming convinced that sarcasm/cynicism breeds contempt.

Pretty much every day there are things that I should have handled differently. I'm getting tired of the taste of my feet. Somehow there's solace in Matthew 18:21-22, but I still find myself questioning it so often. I don't just want to think about and hear about grace. I think that can be the easy way out instead of really delving into the issues. If effectively unlimited forgiveness is the case, why does my church family kick me and tell me to get up (or to stay out of their way) when I know I've fallen? Yes, they're sinners also saved by the grace of the same God. How can we love our neighbors when we get frustrated and sick of our own family?

How can I truly share the fullness of joy and love in Christ Jesus my Savior when I feel, and have felt for some time now, the vast distance between myself and Him? I feel so distant from Him. And I'm trying to get back, I'm making time, I'm praying, but God still just feels distant. Maybe someone will remind me that even my feelings can be wrong, that God still loves me, just as much as always, that He has plans for me, that He is sovereign, that I need to rejoice in good days and bad. I'm exhausted in pretty much every sense. The only thing really left to do is to go cry before my Father somewhere in private. Maybe He's just let me become this exhausted so that I will cry, so that I can come before Him fully broken, not just cracked and hoping to get refurbished. I don't know.

How far can I fall but Your grace will still catch me? I cannot fathom the answer. You who knew me before I was born, You who called me from long ago. You alone are my Help, Redeemer. What I deserve, I hope never to see even in my dreams. I cannot stand before Your Holiness as a sinner. What mortal can look upon Your glory? To live for You would be a gift to small for the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, of life. Jesus Christ suffered and died in my place. That is something I lose sight of far too often. Oh Lord, please heal my vision that I would see You clearly, that You would be the center of my focus. May not I but You be in control of my life. May what You desire be what I desire.

Obedience

I wish that I could say honestly that I am fully obedient to my Lord, at all times in all ways. But the more I know my Lord, the more I see how far away my shortcomings take me - and thus I see ever more the need for what He has done by His suffering, death and resurrection in order to forgive my multitude of sins and to bring me back into a right relationship with Him. And so the more I know Him and understand what He has done for me and for all mankind, the more I love and admire Him and the more I desire to serve Him.

To what extent should we be obedient to Him? We who believe and thus are saved are to become increasingly like Jesus Christ. Since He is God, disobedience to any of what He has commanded is sin. Therefore we ought to be striving to be fully obedient to His words, easy or difficult, for better or for worse.

Obedience should be of utmost importance to us. Jesus Christ died for our sins. Because of His obedience to the Father, we can rejoice in the fact that we have new life in Him. We ought to willingly submit our entire lives to Him. What should happen when obedience to God becomes detrimental to our earthly lives? We must seek to be obedient all the more. There are times when this is a tremendous challenge. But if Jesus Christ commands it, that should be sufficient for us to obey.

What if we are obedient but our ministries are unfruitful? We get frustrated. Without quantitative progress, perhaps resources we need will be diverted to faster growing areas, leaving us in need. Certain fields are considered ministerial "dead zones." But even there -- especially there -- our witness to the saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ must remain. As Hesselgrave wrote, "Years of patient preevangelistic endeavor may be the price of responsiveness" to the Gospel. We cannot give up. Even if there were no other reason to continue, Christ commands us to be witnesses. That alone would be enough. It doesn't make obedience easier, but regardless, we still must be obedient. Until His triumphant return, we are to be His witnesses. The sower must plant seeds in drought and in fair weather, for he never knows when the rains will come and when they will be withheld. The sower does not stop planting because the harvest is forecast to be small. Therefore let us have hope and be strengthened, obedient to our Lord and Savior. It may not be easy, but it is a worthy endeavor.

Beautiful Words

Lamentations 3:21-33

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth, to sit alone in silence when the Lord has imposed it, to put one's mouth to the dust (there may yet be hope), to give one's cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults.

For the Lord will not reject forever. Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.


There is such beauty and pathos in Lamentations. These verses have been special to me lately as I recognize the certainty and assurance of God's love and His plans, the yearning for what has been promised, the perseverance and looking to God through trials, and the hope that is found in Him. Through big, life-changing events and the day to day insecurities, God is faithful and unchanging. In Him is my hope and my future.

On Maturing

Calling me a mature believer would be a vast overstatement. And I say that being aware that I'm not entirely aware of my faults and shortcomings and struggles. And yet my faith is so much more mature, strong and vibrant than many in the Church. Teaching all that Christ has commanded falls flat in many churches unfortunately. Can the "average Christian" in this age even explain his/her beliefs? Does s/he even know what s/he claims to believe? I'm not arguing that I am any better than others. Instead I see and point out the great chasm that separates the "average Christian", at least in this age and culture, from those who would contend for the faith and teach others and who seek to know and to follow all of Christ's commands. We need to be doing a lot more. Creating multitudes of "infantile" believers is hurting the Church in many ways. False teachers and false prophets draw away people who know no better, and somehow it becomes acceptable doctrine. Do you want a church that is able to be self-sustaining, prepared for growth, teaching truth, evangelizing, baptizing? Equip the members of the body of Christ for the work to which He calls us by the Holy Spirit. What can we do to strengthen and encourage and teach?

Another issue regarding maturity is checking our motivations. Why do you come to church, if you do? Why do you go to a particular church? Is it about Christ? Is it about worship? Is it about a feeling? Is it about the teaching?

Lord, may You build up Your Church and prepare her for Your glorious, triumphant return. May You lead us and teach us; help us to be effective followers and witnesses of Your work. May we be lights in the darkness.

Short But Profound

The pastor said something in his sermon a week or two ago that struck me. Although I already believed in the concept of "once saved, always saved", his logic on the topic was very simple and made great sense to me. Salvation is only gained by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. If there is nothing that we can do to earn salvation (and there isn't; we're all sinners, and the wage of sin is death), why then would there be any way to lose salvation? We are called as believers to be Christ's witness in this world, and that includes doing good works. But that's something we should be doing, and the Holy Spirit should be working in the lives of believers in this and many other ways. We still sin even though we believe, although we are being sanctified (actively, I would posit, as opposed to passively) by the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of us believers. We still live by grace and thus are able to confidently believe that the work of Jesus Christ by his death and resurrection cannot be lost - otherwise it would be scarcely better than living under the Law alone.

Of course, I do have a question about OSAS. What about apostates? How can we clearly define apostasy? Is the heart of apostasy essentially a renunciation of one's faith (saying to God, "I reject what Christ allegedly has done for me and what He allegedly calls me to do")? If so, it would make sense that apostasy would not fit under the once saved, always saved category because it would be the only real way to undo what you once claimed. Are prodigals once and always saved? The simple answer is that only God truly knows their hearts, if they are questioning or rejecting or if perhaps they never truly believed.

Some might argue that any who commits sin is rebelling against God. By so doing they would claim that the sinner willfully rejects God by rejecting His will. Thus sin (notice how I'm avoiding defining it?) would be sufficient grounds for loss of salvation. That's why it's so important to work at it after we have it. But if sin causes us to fall from a right relationship with God, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ brings atonement of our sins and brings us back into a right relationship. Would we lose and gain our salvation so easily as to sin, repent and believe time and time again? I guess that's how the living by grace comes into play. Nonetheless, I'll stick to the belief that there's only one Way to be saved. If we can't earn it, why would we possibly to able to un-earn it?

Epic Fail

The last two days I spent traveling to Michigan to visit a seminary and meet friends at SEND on the way home. The trip was great, learning about the school, finding that there are some ties to this new place for me, getting to know people much better, and safe travels. The rain storm I met on my way into Michigan on Thursday was also my travel buddy back through Ohio on Friday night. The roads got nasty; water laying on the road + trucks kicking up lots of thick mist + night + my car (for which people had been praying that it would get me to Michigan and back safely) = tough driving. I called a friend and asked for prayer for safe driving. An hour later, the fun began.

I was driving on I-80 near Youngstown, Ohio. For whatever reason, I hadn't remembered to get directions back to Indiana. When I saw a road sign for PA 422, I took it without thinking that I should wait to get on it a little later in my trip. It's around 11pm. As I'm following 422 through some towns, my car dies. Thankfully it drifts to a safe spot on the side of the road. The rain is coming down really hard at this point. I call my family and ask their advice. They look up a phone number for a towing company that should be nearby. The tow truck is on its way but can't seem to find me. As I wait near an intersection, a man comes down from the bar a half block up the street. He asks what the problem is and says he'll fix it for twenty bucks - cheaper than a tow truck would be. I'm stuck, I'm waiting for the tow truck, and now there's a guy hounding me for money. I was hoping for a good Samaritan to give it a jump start.

After a while the tow truck driver calls and says he can't find it and he's been up and down the street I said. The guy from the bar gets my car to start. I give him a few bucks (all that's in my wallet) for helping me. But it's not the twenty he wanted, so he stays in my car and says lets go to an ATM. Feeling like I don't have much choice, we go up the road to a gas station. I have to let the car idle while I go in, afraid that it might not start again. As I'm about to go into the gas station grudgingly, the car dies again. I really don't want to pay this guy any more, but I don't think I can get rid of him any other way. The tow truck driver calls back and says that the place I named where it broke down was way out of his area. Apparently I'm not in the town I thought. The guy gets someone to come over and give the car a jump. Thankfully I had jumper cables. After a few minutes it starts. So I get him the twenty dollars he's been after. I hope that he doesn't drive off before I return. I give him the money and we part ways. Somehow my car makes it the rest of the way back home.

About a minute down the road I realize what just happened. Why did I take that detour? Why did my car die? Why did he come down? I read less than a day earlier about the paralytic in Acts. The apostles didn't have money to offer but they shared the gospel - the greatest gift of all time. I met that man to share Jesus Christ with him, but I didn't do it. In my time of stress and trial, it crossed my mind once, briefly, and I didn't act on it. I confess, I repent, but what if that man never again has a chance to hear the Gospel?

Lord, merciful and gracious beyond our understanding, help us to be Your lights in this world. May You find a way to reach every man, woman and child with Your message, that none who would turn to You for salvation remain without a witness.

A View of the Puzzle

I think I understand how parts of my calling might fit together. It's sketchy at best, but I'd like to at least write it down somewhere. In no particular order, here are some topics about which I'm passionate with regards to the church: evangelism, holiness, discipleship, contending for the faith, meaningful outreach (as opposed to social justice as an end in itself), missions in various forms, and cultural Christianity. What might I do with any or all of it? A whole lot of things, to be overly general. I've considered working in foreign missions, young adult ministries, pastoral ministries (though not any time soon from what I can tell), camping/outdoor ministries and various evangelical Christian organizations.

I think my field might be working with cultural Christians. Some people would argue that there are more urgent mission fields to tackle - those with little or no Christian witness whatsoever. Who should bother preaching to the burnt-over areas when so many have never heard the Gospel for the first time? There is a problem in that assumption, though. Many people claim to be Christians because it is the culture in which they live. Saying you're a Christian doesn't mean that you've ever experienced the risen Christ in your life. Christ explains in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" Calling yourself a Christian isn't sufficient. There are so many people who call themselves Christians but do not know Christ. Going to church isn't going to save you. Doing good works isn't going to save you. Believing in Jesus Christ, in what He's done, placing your faith in Him for salvation and professing Him as Lord and Savior - in Christ alone is salvation. Sadly, even going to church for years does not necessarily mean that you will hear the gospel message or know how to respond if it is presented. The Lord desires our hearts and our lives as a living sacrifice, not ritual or religiosity or legalism. How many cultural Christians have never heard of a difference between religiosity and a personal relationship with our Creator and Redeemer? Certainly there are effective, thriving churches regardless of their denomination. Orthodox, liturgical, charismatic and emergent churches all have hidden unbelievers. Are you just a Sunday morning Christian, then your duty for the week is done? There is so much more than that, if you are willing to take a step of faith and seek the Lord with all your heart, mind and strength. Maybe I'll get to be a revival preacher; maybe I'll get to be a light where the light has all but gone out. I don't know how it will work out, but it seems like I have a little more direction for now. I trust in the Lord my God, and it's sure to be an adventure. If you have never put your faith in Christ, I pray that you take that step and find some solid believers to help you learn and grow. To Him be the glory forever!

Missional

There's something about the term "missional" that seems to make me shudder each time I hear it. Ideologically, a missional lifestyle sounds great to me. I believe that the Great Commission is a call that applies to all believers regardless of class, vocation, gender, age or position. The pastor, the teacher, the missionary, the lawyer, the mechanic, the student, the waitress - whoever you are, whatever you are doing, wherever you are - as a member of the body of Christ, you are called to help fulfill the Great Commission. Step out in faith and make connections with others. If someone hadn't said and done things in your life, how would you have heard? You can go and do likewise. Share Christ's love with others. Live in light of the truth of the Gospel - you were bought for a price and are no longer your own; Christ died and rose again for you and for all humanity. Make the most of every opportunity that you are given to glorify the Lord. Every part of your life has the potential to be God-honoring.

Faith cannot and should not be your own and nothing more. What does the life of a "Sunday morning Christian" show to the world? It shows that the believer, if indeed the person has truly been saved, is a lazy and greedy servant. He or she refuses to give to the Lord what Christ already bought with His blood. It is by living out our entire lives as a testimony to our Lord and Redeemer that He is glorified. Yes, sin will be apparent at points in our lives, but Christ is the focus. Sin can even be a powerful part of our testimonies because of how Christ takes our brokenness, our ugly "real person" traits, and changes us. It's not about integrating the lingo into your vernacular - everyone and everything is so "blessed" or needs or involves "mercies" or "grace." Just live for your Lord with every part of your being, every moment. If that sounds unpleasant to you, it's time to evaluate who you are and what you claim to believe. If work time is being compartmentalized and separated from your identity in Christ, it's time to make a decision about who you are in light of Christ. There are no time-outs for sin sprees. He calls us to be willing to give up all that we have to be with Him - are we up for the challenge?

An interesting website that provides an overview of missional churches and missional living is Friend of Missional. As I understand it, missional ideology has a lot to do with non-institutionalized Christian living with a focus on reaching out to everyone everywhere and fulfilling the missio dei. Splendid. But be sure to keep it Christian. There is so much "borrowed" from other religions that should have no part in the Christian life or practice. For example, why would Christians practice yoga? We must not draw people in with pseudo-Christianity. Living missionally can be done and can be effective. As believers, wherever you are and whatever you do - be salt and light in this lost and dying world.

Miraculous

Let me start by saying that I usually weigh my words carefully, at least when given the opportunity (maybe you should just read that as follows: I take a long time to think and write things). So when it comes to the M word - miracle, that is - I question whether it's an appropriate use of the word. I have a sort of dichotomy in my mind for miracles. First, there are biblical-type miracles that God uses for the affirmation of His messengers and His message. I also believe that the term can be legitimately used in regard to matters where God's intervention to achieve a particular outcome is highly evident. An example of this latter use of the word miracle would be the salvation of a person. The event would not have occurred without Divine intervention. In this sense it is possible to experience miraculous events in our own lives.

For several years I have struggled with varying degrees of depression. About a year ago I reached a low point when I could barely make a decision regarding anything. I even agonized over choosing between two similar products while shopping. It was bad. This past fall I confided in someone about it, saying that I was ready to deal with it. Well, it turns out that I wasn't as ready as I thought. And I put it off. When I applied for a 1 year missionary position, I mentioned the depression and not having done anything to treat it. The mission organization decided wisely that it was in my interest to have it worked on before agreeing to send me overseas. It was a disappointment in the form of a "not yet" answer combined with a swift kick in the pants to get me to do something instead of just being stuck at this point in life indefinitely. I've started seeing a psychologist. And talking to people more. And trying to have a social life after it crumbling to unrecognizable pieces last year. And running. And I'm on day two of being a new creation. I'm not saying that it's any one of those factors or even the combination but rather the result of God acting in His mercy and timing.

A close friend told me that I needed to look to God and stop staring at my circumstances. My response was that I was trying but was unable, and I was so weary of what I'd been doing. I praise my Creator and Redeemer, for He alone has the power to save me - not only from literal Hell but from my figurative hell also. Why have I been at this job for so long with no sight of moving on? Perhaps it is that I have not been the kind of witness that my coworkers need. And this change may be something noticeable to them, a new part to my testimony. I have true joy now and I can show it. My burden has been removed! Even if this were to be temporary, it is a greater joy than I have known in quite some time. This change in my life is something that I could not accomplish, but through God it is possible. To me, this is something miraculous. To Jesus Christ be the glory forever and ever!

No, Really ... part 2

What are we doing with the spirit of the message? Are we proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ for all the world to hear or are we proclaiming a different gospel? What are we doing with our witness to the world? A friend pointed out the posters in the church basement that explained where offerings were going to "missions" outside the local church. Probably half of the groups that were given funds were not even Christian groups. The picture is a bulletin board showing what PW is doing. While service has its place in the church and in the life of the believer (James 2:14-26), we should make the most of every opportunity to share the Gospel. Also, the works most often talked about in Scripture refer to helping brothers - fellow believers in Christ. Why should we squander our resources for social justice or service or anti-poverty by choosing to withhold the most precious gift of all - salvation in Christ Jesus? We are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others. What are we telling people if we preach the gospel of social justice or of prosperity rather than preach the good news of Christ's life, death and resurrection for all humanity? My qualm isn't with social justice or social services or doing good works. The problem is when we seek justice or service above our call to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them all that the Lord commands. Are we providing service without speaking the Gospel? If so, we may be making their time here less miserable, but their souls remain condemned to Hell.

By supporting service groups that are not Christian-based, especially as a church, we are saying that meeting physical/mental/emotional needs is more important than Christ meeting spiritual needs. If we are not proclaiming the truth and salvation that are found in Christ alone, we are like salt that has lost its saltiness (Matt. 5:13). Look again to the Great Commission; if the Church is using its resources to do something apart from making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them, why? We must proclaim Christ's gospel, not our own. It seems that the purpose of mission committees should be to support the work of advancing the Gospel. Why then are they supporting completely secular humanitarian programs? Why do they support social concerns more than they support evangelistic efforts?

It's our fault that the world doesn't know the truth and can't hear it. By our actions we're saying that however you choose to live your life is fine by us. We're happy with what we have, and we want you to be happy with what you have. Let's try not to offend anyone by proselytizing. We just need peace and understanding. Poverty is a terrible injustice from which we must save our fellow human. That is not the truth for which God incarnate suffered, died and rose again! Sin separates us from God, and salvation from the eternal consequence of that sin is found in Christ Jesus alone. It's time to stop promoting our own agendas. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!

Really, What Are We Preaching?

Do you ever have those days when you're trying to listen to what is being preached, but it seems like you must not be hearing it? The Scripture doesn't seem to have anything to do with what the person is saying and the story they're telling to illustrate a point seems completely irrelevant. Sometimes after the service, someone will ask you what the sermon was about and you can barely even remember the topic. There are times I experience this and then shamefully realize that I really wasn't listening at all. But what about the other times? Is there always substance to the sermon?

Coming up with effective messages to speak or write isn't always easy. Ideas can be difficult to bring to fruition (especially if we're not seeking God with a pure heart). We can pray that our words align with the Truth, that the Lord would use what we write and say and do. But ideas often aren't expressed exactly as we envision them. I've written things (blog entries, for instance) and prepared devotions that, looking back, appear to have missed the point that was intended. It gets messy when we try to see how God uses us, even when it looks like we fail. God can and does use what we do for His glory. I have had instances when I tried to speak the Gospel and immediately afterward felt like a failure; and more than once God reassured me that He used it to touch someone's heart. It's not about how hard we try. It's about obedience to the Lord. Back to the topic of substance - what's being preached?

The message conveyed by preaching can be two-fold: what is literally being preached and everything else, which I'll collectively call the spirit of the message. The spirit of the message is much broader not only for what affects it but also for whom it reaches. The former message largely affects the church while the latter message has a greater effect on non-believers. Let's look at the problem that I discussed in the first paragraph, the literal message.

Some weeks it seems like the pastor is preaching from his own strength and own knowledge rather than relying on God. Since the pastor is a sinful person like the rest of us (though hopefully also being actively sanctified), this shouldn't surprise us from time to time. Hopefully the preacher is made aware of this sin and repents so that the body would be edified and led by God through His chosen leaders.

The Great Commission as recorded in Matthew 28 has three parts to the command: i) Go and make disciples of all nations, ii) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, iii) and teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded. As the Church, are we accomplishing these things? To generalize these commands, we are to care for every part of a person's life - unbelief (evangelism), salvation experience (signified by baptism), and belief (sanctification).

How then do we care for those who believe? The ongoing focus of the local church for maturing believers should be teaching them to obey Christ's commands. We must not focus solely on ourselves, lest we forget the first two parts of Christ's command in the Great Commission. It is also vital to our own growth that we are instructed in the ways of our Lord in order to become mature in faith. Care must be taken for the body of believers to grow and mature in Christ (1 Cor. 3:1-3, Heb. 5:11-14, 1 Pet. 2:1-3).

When I was visiting my family on Christmas, I noticed a sheet of paper to follow along with the sermon from a recent service. The paper was fill-in-the-blank, and the answer to the first blank was "the Bible." No, this wasn't a preschool lesson; this was the head pastor's sermon outline. No wonder such people don't know what they claim to believe! No wonder that they are so easily led astray by false teachings and false doctrines. Nobody's ever really taught them the commands of Christ.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, "I have come not to overthrow the Law but to fulfill it." On this claim alone we should ask why there is not more teaching of (and adherence to) the Law in our churches. Matthew 22:37-40 states, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." We need to ask ourselves if we understand these commands and if we are following them. We need to be teaching and preaching as the Lord commands both within the church and outside it. We need to look honestly at what we're saying and doing; perhaps it is time to repent and truly edify the church body and be lights in this dark world.

Up next: Taking on the spirit of the message

Failure

When I think of failure, it's usually as a result of not working or trying hard enough. If I say that I failed, it's probably because I didn't do something right. Somehow it all comes back to being my responsibility. Lately I've been hearing a different message. I've failed time and again, yes, but it's not from lack of trying.

I'm results-driven and detail-oriented. At work I make sure that everything is getting done that needs to be done. I keep busy. In a way, I'm a workaholic. I have difficulty surrendering control (ever notice how protective I get if I'm training someone?). In a work environment perhaps this sounds good, but when refocused with the perspective of God is always supremely in control, it doesn't make sense. It looks like I'm trying too hard. I'm refusing to give God control of every aspect of my life. I'm busy trying to do while God is patiently waiting for me to acknowledge Him and just be.

I wrote a letter to a friend a couple weeks ago and in it expressed my frustration in life and how I'm looking into several choices with my future. Here are some of the poignant parts of his response. "You don't have to be concerned with your future. God has everything in control! Dan, God wants to use you in ministry if you are willing to be obedient to Him." Speaking of his own struggle with how God might use him, he wrote, "You know, Dan, the only problem with that was I was doing instead of being. God can work through His children only if we are obedient to Him. The moment I surrendered to Him my all is when God showed me His plan for me to go to college to be a minister." And in case I still haven't heard God speaking to me through this, "We can spend our whole life in doing when all along God wants us in being with Him. . . . Are you ready right now to answer His call?"

Wasn't that one of the fundamental problems that Israel faced? God wanted a pure relationship with His chosen people. Even when they seemed to be getting it right, however, there was still the matter of the heart. Were they living based on the Law for the sake of the Law or because of their relationship with God and love for Him? At times God noted that "their heart is far from Me" (Is. 29:13). What reasons do we have for what we do? Is it truly for Christ? Often it is to do what is expected of me or in hopes of gaining what I desire or to keep from getting the consequences that I deserve. Even in the alleged "service of God" we can be doing things for the wrong reasons. Making food for the Friday night ministry became an unpleasant burden that was expected of me rather than a joy and an act of service. Going to the prayer meeting became a drudgery, a time of doing something that was expected rather than a true and open outpouring and conversation with my Lord. I felt stifled, unable even to pray what truly was on my heart. And for a while I tried to keep them up. Eventually I couldn't keep up the facade any longer; it wasn't productive or healthy or uplifting for myself or others. It has to be for the right reason or it will be offensive to God.

Hearing God's call is a fascinating topic to me. Maybe it's because I've wrestled with it pretty much since I was saved. Maybe it's because so often I feel like I still don't get it. Maybe it's because I think that slowly, by His grace, I'm starting to see it. We don't get the whole picture at once; instead God gives us a glimpse, a word, a desire and tells us to begin in faith. Did Joshua know what was ahead when God made him the leader of Israel during the conquest? Could Peter have imagined what would happen with him when he met Jesus of Nazareth? I want to know more of the picture while God is telling me to start and He'll reveal it in His timing.

This week I received a very encouraging letter from someone else as well. He wrote, "You need a faithful prayer-group. They will support you but you must be willing to go out without any support." Am I that dedicated to the call of Christ? Am I that sure of the call? And if I were to do that, would it be following God's call or doing it of my own accord, trying to push my way through? Would I be trying to make my will the same thing as God's will rather than submitting directly to His perfect will?

Even when it comes to working for God, we can do it for the wrong reasons. Am I doing it or is God doing it through me (or however else He sees fit, for the matter)? Am I building God's kingdom or my own? Who is it really about - God or myself? I confess that I fail a lot. I say that I'm letting go and giving God control, but then I reach for that last grasp of control and hold onto it for dear life. It's not about me or what I do. It's all about the Lord. I have relied on my own strength, on human means to accomplish things, but that isn't His desire. Lord, I repent and seek Your forgiveness. Father, please forgive me for these acts of selfish pride. Oh Lord, show me a better way. Show us a better way!

something fun

89%

Visit Going to Seminary for seminary tips and advice.

a prayer (ii)

Lord, I'm broken and confused. This past year has been beyond words in so many ways. Here I am, Lord. Whatever your will, send me.

a prayer

Lord, You are in power, enthroned on high for all eternity. Lord, I want things to be made right. I confess that they haven't been for so long. It's beyond my control, but for You all things are possible. Please, Lord, make things right. May we be Your vessels of love and forgiveness and change.

I've been numb for so long that I barely remember what it feels like to feel things correctly. The last time I remember crying and praying like this was when Your Spirit allowed me to realize my role as a leader after the summer camp was over. I ached and cried on my drive back to Indiana, for the youth who were there, for how much they need the love of Christ continually, for how much they need to be lights in the darkness of the situations that only they will know, for the role that I had, for the many ways that I failed.

You gave me a heart of flesh. But gracious God, I gave it up in time, allowing pain and loneliness and disappointment to harden it again. Lord, I ask Your forgiveness, not on the basis of who I am or what I do or could do. I ask Your forgiveness fully knowing that I am a sinner who has chosen to sin, to separate myself from rightness with You, that I deserve nothing from You. But You had compassion on me before I even had life in my mother's womb, for You knew what would occur. Jesus Christ humbled himself by public humiliation, beatings, and death on a cross for my sake. Because of Your infinite love for mankind and the atonement of Jesus Christ who suffered death and was resurrected on the third day, I ask forgiveness. Make me a new creation as I seek You more dearly each day.

I need You, Lord. I gave up what I struggled to keep for so long. And the challenges have come so much since that time. I seek rest but find none. I fall, I fail. I stumbled and feel as though I will never be able to walk the straight and narrow path effectively. I long for a helper but find none. The struggles continually invade my life, my mind and my heart. In my weakness, old habits take over. Your power is made perfect in weakness, while my life falls apart. I become self-centered and judgmental, angry at my pain. Lord, please come and lift me up again. Show me a better way. Teach me to stand and to walk. Guide me all of my days. Be my God, my rescue, my rock, my confidant, my shield and my horn of strength. Lord, help me to come back into a right relationship with You and with others. And if it be Your will, Lord, may I be given the chance to make things right once more. Otherwise, oh Lord, please take this desire from me, for it is too much to bear. May my hope be placed in Your holy things above all else. Lord, show me a better way. Show us a better way. You alone are sovereign, alleluia.

Myopic Followers

What is the message of the Great Commission? So many believers and churches use it as a symbolic standard, a rallying cry for foreign missions. It commands and offers such a fuller view of the tasks of the Church than just foreign missions though.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Christ said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Let us compare that passage with the account recorded in the Gospel of Mark. "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

There is still discussion as to whether some powers endowed by the Holy Spirit were given only to the Apostles during that era (perhaps citing Matthew 10:8). Even if we were to accept that belief and assume that the signs accompanying those who have believed apply only to those of the Apostolic era, we still have two distinct instances in Scripture where the resurrected Christ commands His followers to go and preach the gospel throughout the world and baptize those who believe. In both cases, preaching, believing and baptism are just the beginning. There is life after salvation, and Christ explained what should happen through the Church. Teach the believers to observe all that Christ commanded. When was the last time your church, or even just your pastor, took a stand to teach what Christ commanded, in total obedience? That is a difficult task, especially one to be done in love; but we cannot possibly give up on His commands or simplify them until they are no longer the challenging, radical words of the Word of God. We must stand for the faith, even if it means standing for Christ in a dangerous place.

We seldom see the discipling, the teaching when we look at these passages. We see a command to go to all nations. We see the Great Commission as the Great Go. We romanticize what it might be like as a missionary in some foreign land. We take "mission trips" to other countries, often to help construct a church building or a similar project. It's about going somewhere else to us. I am guilty of this attitude myself. Instead of seeing the broken, needy world immediately around me, I look at other parts of the world and long to work there. I long for the different customs, the different culture, the different opportunities.

And I continue to neglect the gift that is in me for these people with whom I interact every day. How is it that I feel trapped in my normal way of life, unable to extend my heart to them? How can I write so openly here and clam up at work every single day? We are nearsighted in our approach to the Great Commission. We get to the phrase "go and make disciples of all nations," and we're heading somewhere exotic. There are people who need Christ all around us, wherever we are. And if they do not have faith in Christ when they die, they will stand before God condemned of their sin and headed to hell for all eternity.

Lord, give us a renewed heart for the lost. May we see them all around us. And may Your love and mercy overflow in us to them, that they would come to faith in Jesus for their salvation. Prepare their hearts and prepare our own, oh Lord. And may Your Spirit always be our guide.

Following the Lies

I started this a while ago and have been wrestling with it since then. As always, welcome to a work in progress.

I don't know who we're deceiving - certainly not God and at times not even ourselves. We continue to act as though we are in control of everything in our lives as it suits us. Sure, we experience things that are out of our control, the effects of which we want to blame on someone else, but control is what drives us. Whether we believe that we are in control of our lives shapes who we are.

In a study done a few years ago, nursing home patients were studied for how perceived control affected their lives. Those who believed they had more control (like choosing something rather than being given it) were typically happier and even had a lower mortality rate during the study. The extent to which we believe that we can control our lives is far-reaching. Happiness, longevity, hope, satisfaction and stress are just a few aspects of our lives that rely at least in part to perceived control. This perception of control also affects how we respond to stimuli, depending on the degree to which we believe that our responses will affect the outcome.

An episode of Joel Osteen's preaching was on recently. Strangely it seemed like the same one that I noticed a week or so prior when I was flipping through the stations. Maybe the message doesn't really change. But I've digressed. Joel was speaking about how he realized one day that worrying wasn't going to help him in any way. Just like that he decided never to worry again; supposedly he hasn't looked back either. To Joel, his response to stimuli has immense consequences because he believes that what he says or thinks or does is powerful; he believes that he is ultimately in control of his circumstances.

He also went on to say that we must not speak negativity into the future. Do you really have that kind of control over your circumstances to just decide one day to completely alter your thought process and never go back to the old way? If it's just a matter that not all of us have the faith for that kind of change, in whom have we placed our faith - in the risen Christ or in ourselves? It's an area that we all need to address earnestly because rationalizing or otherwise lying to ourselves harms our relationship with God, the body of Christ, and with everyone else. Pride can often be a sin in our lives, but we seldom see the pride, only its effects. Seek out the sin in your own life and repent. Christ grants forgiveness through His death and resurrection to those who confess Him as Lord and Savior and belief in Him. But you must confess your sin and repent of it. Turn from it, and leave it.

Since the first temptation in the Garden of Eden, humans have bought into the lies of autonomy and self-sufficiency. Being like God and knowing good and evil sounds like a good start to being how God intended us to be anyhow, right? We are told that knowledge is power. But there's still the matter of volition. I can choose how I act, what I say and what I think (at least to some extent). I should be able to control whether I go to heaven or hell (if I choose to believe in their existence). Would a loving, merciful god actually send someone to hell? That argument sounds reasonable enough, and from it we might assume that control over our destiny is our own. If I want to go to heaven when I die, being "good" should be sufficient to get in because once again it all comes back to me. Therefore even if going to heaven is based on my works, I have control only to the extent that I choose how to act. Again, it's all about me, and if this god knows me, presumably he'll know when it was me consciously acting and when something controlled me - subconscious or genetics or whatever. But I'm sure there's room to slide, because it's about me and my sense of control.

We begin to slide further down this slope when we start making claims about what counts and what parts of our lives are somehow exempt. If I claim that I am not responsible for my feelings because somehow they are beyond my conscious self, though my thoughts are my own, then my feelings cannot be considered wrong. But then what is the difference between how I feel and my reaction to something if it is not premeditated? That would make it seem that I cannot sin in those areas since they are outside my conscious control. Can we feel the earth sliding out from under us yet?

Total depravity is a concept that so few of us are willing to accept, and to me that seems to be an ever-stronger argument in its favor, at least lately. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, how can anyone even see their need for salvation? What urges us to examine the gospels and to take them seriously? What makes someone's testimony poignant to us? I was so blind to my sin that I could not perceive my own wretchedness in light of a holy God. I am grateful that He considered me worthy of receiving such a gift as salvation at such a high cost to Him. But there is a way out from all of that sin - found in the work of Christ. It's not about you or me. It's about God - the Father, whose decision set in motion everything in order to free us; the Son, whose sinless life and physical death and resurrection provided a means for our salvation; and the Spirit, whose work in our lives and in the world provides for our acceptance of the free gift of salvation and the ongoing process of sanctification. Glory to God, for He is in control. Glory to God forever.

What Does It Mean to Preach the Gospel?

The Great Commission is straightforward, isn't it? The resurrected Christ, appearing to His eleven remaining disciples, rebukes them in their unbelief and hardness of heart (Mark 16:14) and then tells them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:15-18). The command is to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. In Matthew 28:18-20 the risen Christ also is quoted, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Once again, the command is clear to go throughout the entire world and to teach and preach and baptize in accordance with Christ's word.

This morning at church we finished the sermon series on the "I am" statements that Jesus Christ made as recorded in the gospel of John. The pastor was bringing his sermon to a close on the subject of Christ's claim "I am the resurrection and the life," and leading into the time of communion. The pastor ended by saying, "He is the one who says He is. . .(insert each the "I am" claims of Christ)." Yes, that is Christ. But it's not just that Jesus made those claims and performed the miracles.

The gospels record some very distinct conversations concerning Christ's identity and the importance of how we individually perceive Him. In Matthew 16 Jesus asks His disciples about who people say He is: "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But what about you?' He asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' Then He warned his disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ."

From this passage we learn that Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of Man, the Son of God and the Messiah, one who has authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus clearly separates what others believe about Him from what the disciples believe about Him. Therefore we must remember that each of us is ultimately held accountable for what we believe and that there will be a day of judgment. We are told in Romans 10:9-10, "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." It's not what your friends or your priest says or does or believes but what you believe and say and do. Simon Peter believed and confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Let's juxtapose Peter's confession of Christ with the mocking words of Christ's accusers. The chief priests, the scribes and the elders derided Him, saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God rescue now, if He delights in Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God''' (Matthew 27:42-43). They contrasted Christ's claim with their own unbelief by mocking Him with His own words.

By not forthrightly claiming the tenets that Christ confessed, we distance ourselves from Him. By saying, "He is the one who says He is," rather than just saying, "He is," what are we really doing? Sure, we are relying on the authority of Christ to make the point for us. But we are robbing ourselves of the opportunity to make the great confession of our faith. What has Christ been doing in your life? Do you really believe that the Lord has given you this testimony for your own edification, or have you been entrusted with it to share with the world what Jesus Christ has done for you? Can the true gospel of Christ be preached without delving into His ongoing work? How can we separate ourselves from the gospel, from the Christ who has the power to change lives, if we seek to proclaim that same gospel? For we are each ongoing works in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom we continue the process of sanctification.

Look at the example of the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19. They heard of the power of the name of Jesus Christ, about whom Paul had been preaching, and they attempted to use the power. They, however, did not know Christ. Are we really preaching the gospel if we preach only what we have heard from other sources? We must know and experience the life changing power of the risen Christ if we are to proclaim it and not appear as liars and hypocrites. We are to set an example in word and deed as believers, that not only our words but also our lives would be seen as evidence of the work of our Lord. The world does not need more storytellers who know nothing of the experiences that they tell, but more people who share the knowledge of the love and grace and mercy of Christ with the world around them.