Have you ever heard of the "butterfly effect"? Imagine that you could drop a single marble into a lake and then follow the path of a single ripple. What do you think that you would find? That single ripple would travel across the lake and bounce off of any object that it encountered. It would then continue on and bounce from surface to surface until the energy of the ripple is disipated. If you were to chart the interaction of that single ripple, you might be surprised at all the things that it contacted. What list of things felt its impact?
How much more does our life impact the lives and circumstances of those around us, and, post-impact, the lives that those lives impact?
Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and 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 to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
So...if I make a single disciple (let's name him Joe) and Joebecomes a missionary to a group of people in a foriegn land and they become Christ-followers, then I have helped many people find eternal life. Adversly, if I passed up the opportunity to share my faith with Joe, then how do those people hear the Good news of Jesus Christ? I know that God can choose to send someone else, but what about the effect my choices make in the lives of others?
Each of us makes choices. Right? Do we realize the impact that our choices have on and in the lives of others. "No man is an Island." -John Donne
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Plummet, Splat, Heaven
So…I had what many people might think is a really weird thought. If you were standing on top of a really high building, bridge or mountain cliff and you slipped and fell over the edge and didn’t hit anything on the way down (of course you are going to hit the bottom, but you haven’t gotten there yet) what would you think on the way down? If you are more attached to the world and your life than you are to heaven and your eternity, then I think you would think “Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggg!!!!!!!!” and……………………..No, that’s about it.
So, the weird thinking continued and I wondered, “If we, Christians, are really looking forward to heaven, as we say, shouldn’t we say, on the way down, ‘I didn’t mean for this to happen, but now that it has, I am glad.’” We teach and preach that to “be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” so wouldn’t we hit the ground and pop into heaven?
Check this out...I posted this thought on Facebook. Very few people seemed to get it. They did not see my real point. I got some interesting comments, including a claim that my brain was frozen. Why are we afraid to die if we know that we go to heaven? If I were on a train trip and knew that the destination was going to be awesome, I would be excited with anticipation. I would be looking forward to getting there instead of only satisfied with the journey. I want to enjoy the journey, but I am starting to wonder when this ride will be over and God will say that it is time to go home.
Being from Georgia, I loved to go to Six Flags, when I was young. However, there would always come a time when I had been there too long and was exausted and ready to go home. I would drag myself to the parking lot and long for a bath and my bed. I wanted to get home.
Are you enjoying the amusment park of life so much that you have no thought of going home?
So, the weird thinking continued and I wondered, “If we, Christians, are really looking forward to heaven, as we say, shouldn’t we say, on the way down, ‘I didn’t mean for this to happen, but now that it has, I am glad.’” We teach and preach that to “be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” so wouldn’t we hit the ground and pop into heaven?
Check this out...I posted this thought on Facebook. Very few people seemed to get it. They did not see my real point. I got some interesting comments, including a claim that my brain was frozen. Why are we afraid to die if we know that we go to heaven? If I were on a train trip and knew that the destination was going to be awesome, I would be excited with anticipation. I would be looking forward to getting there instead of only satisfied with the journey. I want to enjoy the journey, but I am starting to wonder when this ride will be over and God will say that it is time to go home.
Being from Georgia, I loved to go to Six Flags, when I was young. However, there would always come a time when I had been there too long and was exausted and ready to go home. I would drag myself to the parking lot and long for a bath and my bed. I wanted to get home.
Are you enjoying the amusment park of life so much that you have no thought of going home?
Friday, April 19, 2013
May 19th, Pentecost, 180 Student Ministries
So I got to thinking, the other day. Quite an experience, really. I seem to never be satisfied with where I am spiritually. I can compare it to physical hunger: I tend to get hungry several times daily, regardless of the fact that I eat routinely. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. I believe that no true Christ-follower should find themselves in a place of contentment. We should find that we are ever-longing for a deaper, more powerful relationship with our heavenly father. That said...I spoke to my students (youth group) this past wednesday night and shared with them my heart. "I want you guys to experience God like you never have. I want to see a fire within each of you like you have never before known." I taught them what Pentecost really means: that when Moses and the Israelite were led, by God, out of Egypt, he led them to Mt. Sinai and there he gave them the law. This was 50 days into their journey. The Jews still celebrate the "Feast of Weeks" or Pentecost. It takes place 50 days after Passover. Jesus was crucified at Passover and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2) came to the deciples on the day of Pentecost.
Do I believe that what the deciples experienced in Acts is available to us today? Yes I do. Too often I hear people say that those things we read about happening in the early days of the church were for those times only. Hogwash! Your lack of experience with something does not constitute evidence against its existance. (Read the book of Malachi and see that God tells Israel that they don't experience him because of their weak excuse for worship.)
So, to continue, I said to my students, "I am going to start fasting and praying for each one of you, by name, that God would use Pentecost Sunday to do something miraculous in your lives. I want any of you, who will, to partner with me in prayer, fasting and Bible reading, in anticipation of what God is about to do." Our church will begin revial services, with a missionary/evangelist, May 19th. Wouldn't it be wonderful if God moved in such a way that my students were ignited with motivation and desire that would, in turn, ignite our churchs, families, schools, etc?
Our Pastor, Kevin Jones, preached last Sunday about when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. He emphasized Jesus command to "Loose him and let him go" but I was even more moved by the fact that Lazarus experienced true revival. It wasn't the words that people heard or the gathering as a congregation. It was the fact that a man was dead, and had been for many days, and through Jesus, new life came into his body and he was revived and restored. People mis-speak when they say "We are going to have a revival." A more honest statement might be, "We are going to have an evangelist come to our church and preach in hopes that some of our people might experience revival."
Sadly, this rarely occurs. Sure, people get pumped up, emotional, excited, and motivated. Rarely do they get new life in their old existance. I mean, a new life that keeps them from remaining dead. Church camp is merely a week-long children's revival service with games and a sleep-over. A month after camp finds most young people falling back into old routines and habits. Where is the change? I am sure that, for Lazarus and his family, "post-tomb" life differed greatly form "pre-tomb" life. How could it not?
I need new life. I am a Christ-follower, but I need more. I need the Holy Spirit working in my life more and more. I desire a closer, more intimate relationship with the father.
Do I believe that what the deciples experienced in Acts is available to us today? Yes I do. Too often I hear people say that those things we read about happening in the early days of the church were for those times only. Hogwash! Your lack of experience with something does not constitute evidence against its existance. (Read the book of Malachi and see that God tells Israel that they don't experience him because of their weak excuse for worship.)
So, to continue, I said to my students, "I am going to start fasting and praying for each one of you, by name, that God would use Pentecost Sunday to do something miraculous in your lives. I want any of you, who will, to partner with me in prayer, fasting and Bible reading, in anticipation of what God is about to do." Our church will begin revial services, with a missionary/evangelist, May 19th. Wouldn't it be wonderful if God moved in such a way that my students were ignited with motivation and desire that would, in turn, ignite our churchs, families, schools, etc?
Our Pastor, Kevin Jones, preached last Sunday about when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. He emphasized Jesus command to "Loose him and let him go" but I was even more moved by the fact that Lazarus experienced true revival. It wasn't the words that people heard or the gathering as a congregation. It was the fact that a man was dead, and had been for many days, and through Jesus, new life came into his body and he was revived and restored. People mis-speak when they say "We are going to have a revival." A more honest statement might be, "We are going to have an evangelist come to our church and preach in hopes that some of our people might experience revival."
Sadly, this rarely occurs. Sure, people get pumped up, emotional, excited, and motivated. Rarely do they get new life in their old existance. I mean, a new life that keeps them from remaining dead. Church camp is merely a week-long children's revival service with games and a sleep-over. A month after camp finds most young people falling back into old routines and habits. Where is the change? I am sure that, for Lazarus and his family, "post-tomb" life differed greatly form "pre-tomb" life. How could it not?
I need new life. I am a Christ-follower, but I need more. I need the Holy Spirit working in my life more and more. I desire a closer, more intimate relationship with the father.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Standards for Christian Education - part 1
Where did we take a wrong turn? When did the church set its standard of Christian education as “We want to teach our people about Jesus”? I know there are those who automatically say “What’s wrong with that?” What’s wrong is the vagueness of that statement. What exactly does that mean? How do you know when you’ve accomplished the goal? How do you measure success? Even in public/government-run schools there are standards of education for each grade level. These standards dictate what a student should master for each grade level. Although there are many loop holes that allow students to bypass the standard requirements and progress through the system without mastering the required standards, they are there, none the less, with the goal of guiding students through a systematic regimen of instruction that should lead to mastery of subject matter with ever-increasing depth of knowledge and understanding.
Why don’t we now look at where we desire for our people to go, where they are, and what it would take to make the two merge? Why can we not design a system of standards for age level instruction that would take children from point A to point B, in such a way that is measurable and goal oriented? Then design a system of instruction that takes adults through Biblical studies that are goal-oriented and systematic, while remaining enjoyable.
As I see the dilemma that faces us now, the majority of Christians have little real knowledge of what’s in the Bible. Many, but not all, know most of the popular Bible stories, but their knowledge usually ends there. We then take these “Biblically-illiterate” people and ask them to teach a Sunday school class and expect that they can lead their students to a greater and deeper knowledge of all things Biblical. This is not to say that all teachers are unknowledgeable but, historically, we beg for teachers and grab any warm body that volunteers and seldom take the time to provide them with the tools to succeed. The first tool that they need is subject knowledge. We expect school teachers to complete 4 years of college with a specific program in education before we allow them to teach our children subjects that should lead to success in life, so why do we require less of teachers who have been entrusted with building a foundation of learning that will help lead them to success beyond life.
Can we stop everything in order to revamp the entire system? Probably would not be a good idea. That would be tantamount to emptying out all the cupboards in order to buy groceries. I would suggest continuing to use what’s in the cabinets until the new groceries are purchased and then use both until the overall quality improves.
Why does it seem that we expect that when kids grow too old for the youth group and enter the adult population, they will suddenly receive enlightenment and know how to lead in the church? We have no organized children’s music program and no teen instruction in choir, but expect that when they reach the age of 18 they will join the choir and know what they are doing. Is this one of the reasons why we lose so many at that age?
Maybe I should have started with the question “How is the way that we’ve been doing things working for us? Not too good, huh?” It seems as if people may be of the mindset that says “God will bring people into the church. We don’t have to try to be so business-like. We just need anointing.” There is usually a bit of truth in any misdirection. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit will draw people to God. The Holy Spirit anoints those who submit themselves to be used as God’s voice, hands, and feet. It also sets an example by allowing us to see that the disciples of the Christ followed Jesus, earning their 3-year ministerial degree. Does this mean that everyone who works in Christian education need have a college degree? No, that isn’t necessary, but they do need enough training to ensure they are able to fulfill their calling. What precedence can we find for not preparing someone for the job we have asked them to excel in?
Why don’t we now look at where we desire for our people to go, where they are, and what it would take to make the two merge? Why can we not design a system of standards for age level instruction that would take children from point A to point B, in such a way that is measurable and goal oriented? Then design a system of instruction that takes adults through Biblical studies that are goal-oriented and systematic, while remaining enjoyable.
As I see the dilemma that faces us now, the majority of Christians have little real knowledge of what’s in the Bible. Many, but not all, know most of the popular Bible stories, but their knowledge usually ends there. We then take these “Biblically-illiterate” people and ask them to teach a Sunday school class and expect that they can lead their students to a greater and deeper knowledge of all things Biblical. This is not to say that all teachers are unknowledgeable but, historically, we beg for teachers and grab any warm body that volunteers and seldom take the time to provide them with the tools to succeed. The first tool that they need is subject knowledge. We expect school teachers to complete 4 years of college with a specific program in education before we allow them to teach our children subjects that should lead to success in life, so why do we require less of teachers who have been entrusted with building a foundation of learning that will help lead them to success beyond life.
Can we stop everything in order to revamp the entire system? Probably would not be a good idea. That would be tantamount to emptying out all the cupboards in order to buy groceries. I would suggest continuing to use what’s in the cabinets until the new groceries are purchased and then use both until the overall quality improves.
Why does it seem that we expect that when kids grow too old for the youth group and enter the adult population, they will suddenly receive enlightenment and know how to lead in the church? We have no organized children’s music program and no teen instruction in choir, but expect that when they reach the age of 18 they will join the choir and know what they are doing. Is this one of the reasons why we lose so many at that age?
Maybe I should have started with the question “How is the way that we’ve been doing things working for us? Not too good, huh?” It seems as if people may be of the mindset that says “God will bring people into the church. We don’t have to try to be so business-like. We just need anointing.” There is usually a bit of truth in any misdirection. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit will draw people to God. The Holy Spirit anoints those who submit themselves to be used as God’s voice, hands, and feet. It also sets an example by allowing us to see that the disciples of the Christ followed Jesus, earning their 3-year ministerial degree. Does this mean that everyone who works in Christian education need have a college degree? No, that isn’t necessary, but they do need enough training to ensure they are able to fulfill their calling. What precedence can we find for not preparing someone for the job we have asked them to excel in?
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The Forgiveness Mandate
So, it dawned on me, right in the middle of a phone conversation with my older son, forgiveness is not a choice. People make statements like "If he comes to me and apologizes, then I am willing to forgive him" and then follow that with "I can forgive him but I can't forget what he did to me" when the Bible tells us that this is not the right attitude to have. I would submit that if you can't forget, then you can't forgive. And, by forget I mean not to bring it up or hold it against the person.
1 Corinthians 13:1 "If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Love forgives and keeps no tally of wrongs, therefore if I forgive someone and they wrong me again, then I cannot say to them "this is the same thing you did last time", because there is no record of last time.
David Platt, in his sermon "God hates and loves sinners", tells a story about a man who purchased a Rolls Royce automobile. The car was billed as "The car that never breaks down", but while driving in France, the cars broke down. The man called Rolls Royce and told them that the car broke down. They flew a mechanic to France, he fixed the car and flew back, the man went on his way. The man waited for the repair bill that never arrived. Being a welthy man and wishing to settle account, he called Rolls Royce and requested that they send him his bill in order that he might put it behind him. They informed the man that they had no record of any repair to his car.
Let's look at some facts. The Bible states in 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This shows that God's forgiveness is conditional. He tells us that if we do certain things, then he will do certain things. Too many preachers are standing in pulpits claiming that god has already forgiven the sins you have not commited yet. Therefore, there is no need to worry about it. You are forgiven before you are guilty. Not according to John. You may want to check out 2 Chronicles 6:24 while you are at it. You will find another "IF/THEN" statement.
So, what obligation do I have to forgive someone who has done me wrong? Many people will tell you that forgiving people makes us feel better. I have not found that to be completely true. While holding on to a past hurt certainly causes us to retain the hurt, forgiving does not always reduce the pain. So, what heals the pain associated with the hurt that comes from the actions of others? I am learning the power of healing through the power of praying for that person. I am finding that if I begin to pray for the person who wronged me, and I don't mean praying that God would drop kick them, but if I begin to pray for God to use them in a mighty way, and pray that God would bless them, and pray that God would teach them , and guide them, and annoint them...in short, if I pray for them as though they were precious to me, then I begin to heal a little bit at a time.
You have to understand, I don't have to forgive them so that I can live without hating them, I have to forgive them in order to release God's forgiveness towards me. I can not afford to withhold forgiveness for fear that God might do the same with me.
1 Corinthians 13:1 "If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Love forgives and keeps no tally of wrongs, therefore if I forgive someone and they wrong me again, then I cannot say to them "this is the same thing you did last time", because there is no record of last time.
David Platt, in his sermon "God hates and loves sinners", tells a story about a man who purchased a Rolls Royce automobile. The car was billed as "The car that never breaks down", but while driving in France, the cars broke down. The man called Rolls Royce and told them that the car broke down. They flew a mechanic to France, he fixed the car and flew back, the man went on his way. The man waited for the repair bill that never arrived. Being a welthy man and wishing to settle account, he called Rolls Royce and requested that they send him his bill in order that he might put it behind him. They informed the man that they had no record of any repair to his car.
Let's look at some facts. The Bible states in 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This shows that God's forgiveness is conditional. He tells us that if we do certain things, then he will do certain things. Too many preachers are standing in pulpits claiming that god has already forgiven the sins you have not commited yet. Therefore, there is no need to worry about it. You are forgiven before you are guilty. Not according to John. You may want to check out 2 Chronicles 6:24 while you are at it. You will find another "IF/THEN" statement.
So, what obligation do I have to forgive someone who has done me wrong? Many people will tell you that forgiving people makes us feel better. I have not found that to be completely true. While holding on to a past hurt certainly causes us to retain the hurt, forgiving does not always reduce the pain. So, what heals the pain associated with the hurt that comes from the actions of others? I am learning the power of healing through the power of praying for that person. I am finding that if I begin to pray for the person who wronged me, and I don't mean praying that God would drop kick them, but if I begin to pray for God to use them in a mighty way, and pray that God would bless them, and pray that God would teach them , and guide them, and annoint them...in short, if I pray for them as though they were precious to me, then I begin to heal a little bit at a time.
You have to understand, I don't have to forgive them so that I can live without hating them, I have to forgive them in order to release God's forgiveness towards me. I can not afford to withhold forgiveness for fear that God might do the same with me.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
My Latest Epiphany
Aug 13...I have heard people talk about longing for heaven. OK, it was always old people. I have even heard and sung the songs that speak of that longing. As a Christian, I have always viewed that longing as a distant longing. As I pray last night, I had the same emotions that I felt when I left home for basic military training. There was a time, during those days, that I ached for home. I was so homesick that I even cried with the despair of knowing that I was in a place far removed from home. Everything within me cried out to go home. Last night, for the first time in over 27 years, I felt the same feelings; the same emotions. They were so strong that, as I stood in my kitchen, I cried to God, "I want to come home!" It surprised me, somewhat to even feel this way, much less voice it. The thought of seeing my family drift further and further from God is heart-breaking. To know that out of all of the family that I grew up with I am the only one that even attends church, is difficult to accept (to those that would hear this with the wrong voice, I am not saying that I am better than them, just that they have left the path that they once traveled, for alternate paths). To know that my own sons may have less of a relationship with Christ than their parents and that statistically their children will have less and theirs even less is hard to watch. Now, I guess I should say, at this point that this doesn't mean that I would ever take my own life. Never! I still maintain that suicide is self-murder and sends us to Hell. What I think that I am saying is this: I am not afraid to die. I can enjoy life without fear. With anticipation and hope, even. Looking forward to the day that I am called home. I don't have to say "I can't do that because it's too dangerous." or "I can't get a motorcycle because I might get killed." When God calls me home, I am ready. Whether I want to go or not is irrelevant. Nothing I could do can change a thing, when he says that it is my time to board that train to glory. So why fear? If I find out that I have cancer, I will ask to be prayed for by the prayer warriors of my church, but I will request that they not pray for healing. Instead, I will ask that they pray for God's will in my life. Think about it...if that is my ticket home, then why pray to miss that chance? If God wants me to live on and work for him some more, then he will heal me in order for that to happen. I have relinquished my rights to him when I "gave my life to him." (wow! That cliche makes sense now). I am actually looking forward to him saying "Alright Michael, time's up. Let's go." I just remembered a scripture near the end of the book of Revelation. John says that Jesus states that he will return quickly and John responds with an invitation, "Come, Lord, quickly." I finally get it!
I will live my life in an attempt to please God, my father, more and more. I will serve him while I am waiting. I will not be slack concerning the mission he has given me. But all the while, I will be longing for my home-going. I will not be completely satisfied with where I am until I am home. As a servant (slave), I cannot decide the date or the time. I have to be faithful with the job the master has given me until he returns and rewards is servants, whom he loves.
Sept 13 update
My teaching has changed. I see a bigger picture. I am uninhibited by fear of offending and I have found a more fervant passion. It is not enough to be a follower of Christ, and to ensure my path is right, I must include others.
I have stated this before, but it bears repeating...I am convienced that many "christians" either don't believe that hell is a real possibility or they simply don't care. How many of us fail to rescue the perishing? How many are reactive christians instead of proactive followers of Christ? How many follow the creed of "easybelievism" that says that grace covers all our unrepented sins and we don't have to change? Oh how Satan must get a good ol' belly laugh when he sees his plans working. When people repeat, even from the pulpit, the heretical teaching that says we need not repent (turn from our sins) as long as we are sorry for our sins, we set up a system that has failed us even before we get started.
I will live my life in an attempt to please God, my father, more and more. I will serve him while I am waiting. I will not be slack concerning the mission he has given me. But all the while, I will be longing for my home-going. I will not be completely satisfied with where I am until I am home. As a servant (slave), I cannot decide the date or the time. I have to be faithful with the job the master has given me until he returns and rewards is servants, whom he loves.
Sept 13 update
My teaching has changed. I see a bigger picture. I am uninhibited by fear of offending and I have found a more fervant passion. It is not enough to be a follower of Christ, and to ensure my path is right, I must include others.
I have stated this before, but it bears repeating...I am convienced that many "christians" either don't believe that hell is a real possibility or they simply don't care. How many of us fail to rescue the perishing? How many are reactive christians instead of proactive followers of Christ? How many follow the creed of "easybelievism" that says that grace covers all our unrepented sins and we don't have to change? Oh how Satan must get a good ol' belly laugh when he sees his plans working. When people repeat, even from the pulpit, the heretical teaching that says we need not repent (turn from our sins) as long as we are sorry for our sins, we set up a system that has failed us even before we get started.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
A Study in Forgiveness: 1 of ?
You may want to read this entry first (http://whatsupwithchristianity.blogspot.com/2011/01/understanding-nature-prelude-to-study.html)
I want to understand the concept of forgiveness. I see many ideas that are passed off as forgiveness, but I think that many people are not fully aware of what forgiveness really means or what it costs us. If I believe that God has a plan for my future and that the plan which he has is contingent on the choices I make, can I forego forgiving someone when I perceive that they have wronged me? Do I expect that non-believers will act contrary to their nature? Do I expect believers to be more spiritually mature than I myself am?
So I opened my Bible and flipped to the dictionary/concordance and looked up forgive(n)(ness)(s). It defined it thusly: "to pardon or aquit of sins; acquittal;new lease on life". That was followed by about 24 references to the word 'forgive', in scripture.
What follows are those references and short synopsis of each:
So...questions arise about forgiving others and Christ's forgiveness of us. Do we recieve forgiveness if we don't ask for it? Do we recieve forgiveness if we don't repent? According to the scripture references that we read earlier in this post I would have to answer NO! & NO! Do you read it differently. Now, notice that I did not ask if you feel that it should be otherwise, or if you wish it was otherwise, or even if you believe it is otherwise. I asked if you read that it was otherwise. I believe in faith, but I also believe in evidence. Zechariah 3 shows Satan as an accuser before the throne of God. He presents evidence against mankind and God sits in judgement. Christ stands as our "defense attorney". Many things become more clear when we look at the evidence for or against a given argument. The scriptures we read are each pieces of evidence. People often state "...But, I believe blah, blah, blah". Who cares? (shame on me. That wasn't nice). But really...who cares what I believe if it is obviously contrary to what the word of God states. For instance, scripture says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. I can believe all day that Jesus was from Egypt, and thus African (as one coworker once told me) but my strong belief does not change the facts.
So, you may ask, "what if a Christian were to rob a bank and get shot in the process and dies before they are able to make things right? Are you telling me that this person will not go to heaven?" Quit laughing, for just a moment and realize this was asked of me. Take any scenario where a supposed Christ-follower turns to a lifestyle of sin and goes to meet his maker in a state of unconfessed non-repentance. What does the evidence of scripture say? Does it provide "loopholes"?
Please leave your arguments, suggestions, and other comments. I relish your input.
This post will be continued...
I want to understand the concept of forgiveness. I see many ideas that are passed off as forgiveness, but I think that many people are not fully aware of what forgiveness really means or what it costs us. If I believe that God has a plan for my future and that the plan which he has is contingent on the choices I make, can I forego forgiving someone when I perceive that they have wronged me? Do I expect that non-believers will act contrary to their nature? Do I expect believers to be more spiritually mature than I myself am?
So I opened my Bible and flipped to the dictionary/concordance and looked up forgive(n)(ness)(s). It defined it thusly: "to pardon or aquit of sins; acquittal;new lease on life". That was followed by about 24 references to the word 'forgive', in scripture.
What follows are those references and short synopsis of each:
- Numbers 5, 8, & 12....if a woman makes a vow and her husband or father don't allow it, then God will not hold her to it.
- 2 Chronicles 6:25, 27...if there is repentance, there is forgiveness
- Job 10:14...................Job laments
- Psalm 25:7.................a plea for forgiveness
- Psalm 32:1-5..............confessed sin and repentance brings forgiveness
- Psalm 86:5 ................forgiveness for those who ask
- Matthew 6:12 ............the "Lord's Prayer" teaches that we are to ask for forgiveness
- Matthew 18:21...........never withhold forgivess
- Matthew 26:28...........the blood of Christ is poured out for forgiveness
- Mark 2:7...................Jesus accused of blasphamy
- Mark 11:25................in prayer, forgive others before asking for forgiveness
- John 20:23................."If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
- Acts 10:49................."through his name"
- Acts 26:18.................repentance before forgiveness
- Romans 5:15..............gift of forgiveness
- 2 Corinthians 2:10.......Paul's forgiveness of a wrongdoer
- Hebrews 9:22............."...without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness."
- 1 John 1:9..................confession before forgiveness
So...questions arise about forgiving others and Christ's forgiveness of us. Do we recieve forgiveness if we don't ask for it? Do we recieve forgiveness if we don't repent? According to the scripture references that we read earlier in this post I would have to answer NO! & NO! Do you read it differently. Now, notice that I did not ask if you feel that it should be otherwise, or if you wish it was otherwise, or even if you believe it is otherwise. I asked if you read that it was otherwise. I believe in faith, but I also believe in evidence. Zechariah 3 shows Satan as an accuser before the throne of God. He presents evidence against mankind and God sits in judgement. Christ stands as our "defense attorney". Many things become more clear when we look at the evidence for or against a given argument. The scriptures we read are each pieces of evidence. People often state "...But, I believe blah, blah, blah". Who cares? (shame on me. That wasn't nice). But really...who cares what I believe if it is obviously contrary to what the word of God states. For instance, scripture says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. I can believe all day that Jesus was from Egypt, and thus African (as one coworker once told me) but my strong belief does not change the facts.
So, you may ask, "what if a Christian were to rob a bank and get shot in the process and dies before they are able to make things right? Are you telling me that this person will not go to heaven?" Quit laughing, for just a moment and realize this was asked of me. Take any scenario where a supposed Christ-follower turns to a lifestyle of sin and goes to meet his maker in a state of unconfessed non-repentance. What does the evidence of scripture say? Does it provide "loopholes"?
Please leave your arguments, suggestions, and other comments. I relish your input.
This post will be continued...
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Wow! How things have changed!
Last year, I was blogging about our inability to tie into a church family. My! How things have changed! We visited a church that we had driven by on several occasions and really liked it. The Pastor was not scared to preach the truth. He was adament about avoiding a watered-down version of the truth. We have joined the church and after 6 months I find myself as the volunteer Youth Pastor. So much has happened...
We wanted to find a church that would love us and allow us to serve. We have found that church. When my father-in-law passed away, they loved on us. We have become part of a church that needs people who want to serve God and God's people.
Check out our youth website @ 180 Student Ministries website or, for you mobile surfers, mobile site
We wanted to find a church that would love us and allow us to serve. We have found that church. When my father-in-law passed away, they loved on us. We have become part of a church that needs people who want to serve God and God's people.
Check out our youth website @ 180 Student Ministries website or, for you mobile surfers, mobile site
Monday, August 8, 2011
Revival? Really?
I searched google.com and it lead to a dictionary that defined Revival as "a reawakening of religious fervor, esp. by means of a series of evangelistic meetings." Evangelistic is basically translated from words that mean "to proclaim the good news."
How could anyone think that an evangelist can "preach a revival?" Shouldn't we say that "the Evangelist preach a series of evangelistic services?" I know that it is merely a matter of semantics, but as a teacher, I try to cut through all the clutter and teach truth at the heart of the matter. Less confusion equals greater understanding. For decades, preachers have been brought into churches for days, weeks, and even months to hold revival services. When did we, as the body of believers, start to believe that having "a revival" would bring actual revival. After all, if I am sick and dying and you bring in a great doctor, can he help me if I haven't become proactive towards my own personal healing first? In other words, how can I be part of revival unless I seek revival for myself first. Sure, an evangelist can visit and preach great, fiery sermons, that stir the soul and stoke the fires of my emotions, but does he have the strength to carry revival into the church?
Check out 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) ...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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Our pastor has been preaching, for the past few weeks, about what revival is and isn't. He has hit the nail on the head. Does this mean that evangelism should be abolished? No way, Jose! Does this mean that evangelists should stop trying? Perish the thought! Does this mean that Christians should get up of their collective backsides and stop treat the church as a religious welfare system? You betcha! Our revival as a church will stem from our revival as an individual. Remember Deuteronomy 6: it basically says that we should read, write it, put it where we can see it, learn it, remember it, do it.
What are we waiting for?
How could anyone think that an evangelist can "preach a revival?" Shouldn't we say that "the Evangelist preach a series of evangelistic services?" I know that it is merely a matter of semantics, but as a teacher, I try to cut through all the clutter and teach truth at the heart of the matter. Less confusion equals greater understanding. For decades, preachers have been brought into churches for days, weeks, and even months to hold revival services. When did we, as the body of believers, start to believe that having "a revival" would bring actual revival. After all, if I am sick and dying and you bring in a great doctor, can he help me if I haven't become proactive towards my own personal healing first? In other words, how can I be part of revival unless I seek revival for myself first. Sure, an evangelist can visit and preach great, fiery sermons, that stir the soul and stoke the fires of my emotions, but does he have the strength to carry revival into the church?
Check out 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) ...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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
- If Christians
- pray
- know him so well that you know his will without words, instead of seeking his hands and his handouts
- turn from sin, instead of trying to find loopholes and justifications for them. "Being a Christan is less about cautiously avoiding sin but much more about courageously & actively doing God's will."
- He will listen
- Our lives are transformed
Our pastor has been preaching, for the past few weeks, about what revival is and isn't. He has hit the nail on the head. Does this mean that evangelism should be abolished? No way, Jose! Does this mean that evangelists should stop trying? Perish the thought! Does this mean that Christians should get up of their collective backsides and stop treat the church as a religious welfare system? You betcha! Our revival as a church will stem from our revival as an individual. Remember Deuteronomy 6: it basically says that we should read, write it, put it where we can see it, learn it, remember it, do it.
What are we waiting for?
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