I don't know exactly how long this blog will be as I start to write, but I can only guess it may take minute. Those of you who follow me on a regular basis will have noticed that I haven't posted a blog since September 5, two months ago to the day. It's not because I had nothing to write about, but I'm a processor when it comes to lessons that I'm learning in life. Ask me for advice? I'll normally give it to you at the drop of a hat. Need help with leadership, music, or photography questions? I'm ready on a dime and I'll pay it. But I've learned in my 43 years that when God starts to teach you something, listen carefully and don't rush it. What follows is such a lesson.
My blogs are me living my life out loud in writing. I don't want to tell you that this is the way that you should believe if God is teaching you or leading you in other directions. This is the result of my time with God about me and what I have read and interpreted scripture to mean and say. If you disagree with me, that's ok. You won't hurt my feelings.
In 2006, I was in the process of interviewing at several different churches. I ended up accepting a position at the First Christian Church in Decatur, IL. There had been some very blatant sin in my life and at the time, I felt the need to be open and honest with the pastor and associate pastor about those issues. I remember telling my accountability partner at the time about my honesty with the staff. His response was, "Kevin, I hope that works out for you. I don't know that I would've been so forthright and magnanimous about it, but I hope that works out for you."
At the time, I didn't know why I'd been so up front either. There was no Biblical reason that I could place my finger on, it just seemed the right thing to do. I followed suit when I moved to Newnan, GA in 2009. I wish I could say that being open about my past kept me from repeating it, but it didn't. But this blog isn't an expose about my life. i recently wrote a book that I'm now editing where I once again state in the intro a very brief list of my failures. Though the book isn't about my failures, rather what God has taught me as a result of them carrying a message of hope to the world, I felt it necessary to briefly state the wrong choices I've made without detail. And I'll be the FIRST to admit that seeing my sin in writing, knowing that the world would too some day soon, was a very jolting experience.
So in light of all of this, the question I'm asked most by others and the question I've even asked myself in times past is, "Why tell it?" I was told not long ago by someone I highly respect and admire that his view was that telling what I'd done gives power to the sin rather than to the blood of Jesus that covers it. That statement to me jolted me almost as much as seeing my sin in black and white letters on a page. I was told that back in September of this year. I needed to ponder that a while. Giving power to sin is not a business in which I want to find myself. I've done that too much through poor choices to start doing that again through good intentions in a blog of all things.
This brought about some "sit back and listen" time between me and God. I desperately wanted to know how I needed to respond, and especially act, in light of this wise counsel. I've also learned that sometimes God gives us convictions that are different based on our relationship with Him and our life experiences. Mind you, these would not be things that are black and white in scripture! He would never tell you that there's more than one way to heaven or that Jesus may have just been a prophet. But for instance, my personal conviction is the Bible does not teach total abstinence from alcohol. I know there are some of you that strongly disagree with that. That's ok. But for those who have had addiction problems with alcohol in the past, no matter what I would believe scripture doesn't condemn, it would not be ok for former addicts to have a drink under any circumstance! That action may send them right back to a former bondage they don't want to revisit. It's tempting the devil. So this transparency issue may be a similar one.
Let's first tackle transparency with God. Can we all agree that we can hide nothing from God? If you didn't know that, well...you can't. He sees all, knows all, hears all, and is over all. There's no way to get around our Heavenly Father. When we confess our sins to Him, we are simply agreeing with Him that we have done what He already knows we've done. So why is it necessary if He already knows? It's not necessary for Him. It's necessary for US. It's opening up ourselves to His love, holiness, forgiveness, and mercy. Scripture equates sin to darkness many times throughout. In contrast, it equates God, holiness, and righteousness to light. When light, even a small flicker, is introduced into darkness, darkness cannot hide from light. Darkness is forced to reveal its secrets.
But the revelation of secrets can be a scary thing, can't it? We don't like other people, especially someone in authority, like GOD, knowing all our junk. After all, we're programmed from the time we are kids that "good" is rewarded and "bad" is punished. We're told that Santa Claus only come to "good" boys and girls. So we'd better watch out and not cry or pout. The first thing that's asked of a baby sitter or someone watching kids for a time by parents on their return is, "Were they good?" When kids ask for candy, ice cream, toys, etc. when parents are running errands or our shopping, the general answer is something like, "If you're good while we're out, I'll get you ______." And all of that is programmed into our minds during the most formative years.
So no wonder as adults, even though we may never be under authority where someone would use those phrases to describe us, the devil has a field day with well intended lessons we learned as children. He continues and feeds the idea that we will be rewarded if we're good and punished if we're bad. So more than anything, we want to be "good" people! We don't want others to know how bad we are behind closed doors. We don't want them to find out what we watched on our computers, or the few deposits we left off our taxes, or the true intent of our hearts when we gossip in the name of a prayer request. We magnify the bad deeds of others, why? Because it makes us look "good." So why upset that apple cart?
Besides that, it's only between you and God, right? And God is the only one who can forgive sin anyway. Verses like 1 John 1:9 that says, "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (NLT) That is indeed 100% correct. Only God can forgive the eternal consequence of sin through the work of Jesus on the cross. And He is faithful to do so. But what about the next time you're faced with that choice? See, sin normally isn't done in light where everybody else can see what we're doing. Those things from your computer, the taxes. the heart's intent, those things are all hidden from prying eyes. And the fact that they are hidden creates an environment rich in temptation.
Luke 4:19, Jesus says, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." But let's be honest. freed prisoners sometimes find their way back to captivity. Before we know it, we can find ourselves back under the weight of oppression. Sin that we thought was in our past comes to surface again. There is indeed freedom to be had, otherwise Jesus would be a liar. So if there indeed is freedom, how do we experience it? Here is where God has started teaching me new things. Bear with me and let's chat a minute, because you might not understand or comprehend unless we wrap it all together and you finish with me. There are certain parts of our salvation that are "one time only" and others that are a process.
1 Peter 3:18, Romans 6:10, Hebrews 9:27-28, Hebrews 10:12, and Hebrews 7:27, we are told Jesus died "once" for all (click on the verses to read them). His death was good enough to cover the sin of the world past, present, and future. Romans 8:35-39 reminds us that nothing in the natural or supernatural can separate us from the love of God. Our salvation is secure. But in Philippians 2:12, it tells us to "work out our salvation." Is that contradictory? Not at all.
Everything about scripture is uniquely linked as only God could orchestrate it. Sometimes in our reading of scripture, we can tend to jump from "linked" to "equated," however. When we think about love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness, because it took all of them for our salvation, we tend to treat them as all pretty much the same thing. They indeed are linked, but are not equal in definition nor should we treat them as such. Love is the foundation. It started the whole relationship process. God first loved us and therefore we can love Him. And as we read earlier, nothing can separate us from His love. But love wasn't enough without the cross. Love required action for sin to be defeated. An action that Jesus even prayed could be bypassed. But it couldn't. Mercy won out. Jesus paid our debt. And Lamentations 3:22-23 say that His mercies are new every morning. Why do they even need to be? Because we have a sin nature and we will continue to sin post-salvation. But then there's grace. Grace is the key to salvation in Jesus. It's what His blood paid for. (Ephesians 2:8) Our faith in who Jesus is and what He did leads us to His grace which is the miraculous result of the cross. It is the conduit through which flows forgiveness from the Father.
I've said it this way:
Love holds on to us.
We hold on to grace.
Mercy holds grace within reach.
Stay with me for just a little longer because I'm about to put it all together for you into this wonderful lesson that I've learned over the last two months or so.
I think that most of us can hang with these general truths. Confession is required for salvation. God's love for us is foundational to every aspect of our relationship with Him. Forgiveness comes through grace which is recognized through our faith because of our belief in the work that Jesus did for us on the cross.
And then I read 2 Peter 3:18 where it says, "...you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ..." Grow in grace? What does that mean? It was here that the lights started popping as God revealed things to me. The youth pastor at my church did a devotion with us as a worship team a week and a half ago and this verse was his text. In that devotion time I learned that there are two Greek words that translate to the English word knowledge that is used in the New Testament. One is "gnosis." Gnosis is gaining knowledge through the study of a subject. Gnosis is what we get from school. It is what produces degrees and diplomas. The second word is "epignosis." Epignosis is what is used in 2 Peter. And epignosis is knowledge that is gains through having an intimate relationship with someone. Peter is telling us that the growth of grace comes through getting to know Jesus more as a person through an intimate relationship with Him.
Remember us talking about light and dark? Holiness and sin? The desire to be good from childhood? We want to be good so badly that we view our own sin as "not being that bad." We tell "little white lies" and are quick to "just follow our hearts" even though scripture warns that the heart is "deceitfully wicked." (Jeremiah 17:9) We have gotten so busy in the pursuit of being good that we have neglected the pursuit to be holy. Holiness is what we're called to, not goodness. And they are two very different things.
Through time the devil has made us fearful of holiness because it is light, and light will illumine what we try so desperately to hide and will reveal to the world that we are not near as "good" as we say we are. But God says that's a GOOD thing! Here's why. When we draw close to God, His holiness shines its light into our lives and, yes, illumines the hidden places. But light kills the POWER of the hidden sin! Growing in grace ONLY happens when we realize the true wretchedness of our own sin. That happens when we draw close to Christ. Our "little white lies" take on a much different and horrifying look in the pure light of holiness. Holiness from Jesus removes the veil and allows us to surround ourselves with others who care and can help us "work out our salvation." Huh? Others? YES!
Now PLEASE click on this link from James that is coming! I don't want you to miss this. It is central to what I have learned and want to share with you. Click here: James 5:13-16. Did you see that? When we ask forgiveness of God for sin, even when others pray over us and we agree, we receive forgiveness from God. But HEALING (which I believe to be primarily spiritual, but also can be the physical) come from CONFESSING TO EACH OTHER!!! There is power in Jesus, to forgive, yes, but HE set up the Church and we are His bride. Because He instituted us and we are soon to be joined with Him, He has empowered us through His Holy Spirit. The freedom from oppression that He spoke about in Luke, freedom from sin that has seemed so elusive to the Church for so long, is found when we confess sins one to another!
Now does this mean we need to broadcast it and be reckless with how we tell it and to whom? NO! But our small group is the Church. Our Christian friends are the Church. Our prayer groups, worship teams, volunteer groups, Sunday School classes, Christian golfing buddies, they're ALL the Church. The intent was to not tackle sin ALONE because we can't. Our fellowship with Christ brings forgiveness, but our fellowship with each other brings healing because that's what Jesus has empowered us to bring to each other! I'm about to shout people!!!
The Church has been trying to help God along thinking that His plan wasn't complete enough or maybe even to harsh. We've wanted to protect the innocent and even protect ourselves from people who would gossip about us if they knew our hidden secrets. But when we bring the hidden to light, we negate the power that what was hidden had over us! Sin becomes POWERLESS in confession just as darkness is powerless in light.
So WHO and WHAT do we tell? Glad you asked. WHAT would you be worried that others would find out? That's what you tell. WHO would you be most worried about telling? That's WHO you tell. Am I crazy? Nope. But worry is a tool of the enemy, is it not? It wears on our mental state, our physical health, and can extend to our families as well. If we get the darkness into the light, we remove the cloud of worry that would otherwise hang over our heads. We invite accountability into ur lives to assist in bringing freedom from the chains that held us. Our stories of hope through sin and failure become faith building tools to the Church at large.
People sit in church pews EVERY WEEK and are in bondage to some kind of secret sin because they think they are alone and that their sin is worse than what others go through because everybody else is "good." Oh, they've heard the testimonies from others who have been in "sin," but they didn't ever name it. They think to themselves, "So surely it MUST'VE been just something like lying or running a stop sign. After all, they would never be guilty of something as bad as _________ like me." And they play along all the while living in deceit that they are the only ones. That is a tool of the enemy, my friends! We are to worship "in spirit and in truth!" Hiding our sin or making appear to be better than what it was is not truth and it does not glorify the hope we have in Jesus through His mercy, grace and forgiveness.
I know this is different from the way most Church is done today. But think about if this were the norm in your church ethos. Gossip would all but disappear because it would be powerless. Compassion would increase as those who had walked a mile would put the arms of others around their necks who are going through something similar. True forgiveness would be easier because we would realize we have no reason to hold a grudge. Stress would decrease due to reduced worry. Needs would be met because people could talk about their financial problems. Health would increase because sin, stress, and worry wouldn't weigh on the heart and mind. Seriously, do you see a down side? Of course not. Because I believe with all my heart that this is what Jesus had in mind when He instituted and empowered the Church.
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THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Friday, September 5, 2014
My Answer: How involved/uninvolved should grassroots Christians and Christian leaders be in politics?
Opening paragraph is at the beginning of every "My Answer" blog:
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
For me, when I posted this question on Facebook, I honestly did not have a WHY for me on any "side" of this question. As an American, I believe in the rights granted to us by the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other governing documents. I am of the opinion that we have gotten some things terribly wrong in our interpretation of those documents.
An example of bed interpretation would be the "Separation of Church and State." Most Americans do not know or realize that this "right" is NEVER MENTIONED in ANY governing document! Here is what the First Amendment actually says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
The phrase "Separation of Church and State" comes from a letter by a man named Jefferson that was cited by the Supreme Court and was originally used and intended to keep Christian principles a part of American government. For more information about this letter and the origin of the phrase, I would strongly encourage you to take a moment and read the article found by clicking here.
One must also remember their history lessons from school. One of the things England did that drove our founding fathers crazy was the imposition of the Church of England! There was only one denomination that was allowed and it was controlled by the English government. So the free exercise of religion was taken away. The founding fathers left and came here to escape this among many other things. So when they sat down to write our first documents, these things were still fresh in the minds of the authors, thus included in the documents. Given this information, I HAVE to come to the conclusion that the original intent of the founding fathers was to keep the government out of the church, not the church out of the government!
I've found, however, that any organization's greatest strength is also it's greatest weakness. Our strength is our freedom. We fight and die for it, and live it out with every passing day. But we see that enemies, including our main adversary the devil, conjures ways to expose and pervert that strength away from its original intent. It's a "what's good for the goose is good for the gander" problem. If Christians have those freedoms, then by using the governing documents alone to define our freedoms, so does every other religion. That can be a problem when it comes to such "religions" as ISIS.
My personal weakness in recent election seasons has been magnified on social media. And I've noticed that I'm not the only one. There is a need in us as Christians to jump on the defensive when we feel that Christ is being threatened. It's natural. The disciple, Peter, felt the same urge when he drew his sword and cut off the ear of the Roman soldier as he was about to arrest Jesus. But just as Peter was admonished for his actions by Jesus, so I think I would be...and you would too if you've spoken out as I have in the past.
In order to arrive at where I believe the truth lies to this question, let's first start with what scripture says in a couple of places regarding our reaction to and role in our government as believers:
"1Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 6Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority." Romans 13:1-7 NLT
"1I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity." I Timothy 2:1-2 NLT
"Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king." 1 Peter 2:17 NLT
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
For me, when I posted this question on Facebook, I honestly did not have a WHY for me on any "side" of this question. As an American, I believe in the rights granted to us by the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other governing documents. I am of the opinion that we have gotten some things terribly wrong in our interpretation of those documents.
An example of bed interpretation would be the "Separation of Church and State." Most Americans do not know or realize that this "right" is NEVER MENTIONED in ANY governing document! Here is what the First Amendment actually says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
The phrase "Separation of Church and State" comes from a letter by a man named Jefferson that was cited by the Supreme Court and was originally used and intended to keep Christian principles a part of American government. For more information about this letter and the origin of the phrase, I would strongly encourage you to take a moment and read the article found by clicking here.
One must also remember their history lessons from school. One of the things England did that drove our founding fathers crazy was the imposition of the Church of England! There was only one denomination that was allowed and it was controlled by the English government. So the free exercise of religion was taken away. The founding fathers left and came here to escape this among many other things. So when they sat down to write our first documents, these things were still fresh in the minds of the authors, thus included in the documents. Given this information, I HAVE to come to the conclusion that the original intent of the founding fathers was to keep the government out of the church, not the church out of the government!
I've found, however, that any organization's greatest strength is also it's greatest weakness. Our strength is our freedom. We fight and die for it, and live it out with every passing day. But we see that enemies, including our main adversary the devil, conjures ways to expose and pervert that strength away from its original intent. It's a "what's good for the goose is good for the gander" problem. If Christians have those freedoms, then by using the governing documents alone to define our freedoms, so does every other religion. That can be a problem when it comes to such "religions" as ISIS.
My personal weakness in recent election seasons has been magnified on social media. And I've noticed that I'm not the only one. There is a need in us as Christians to jump on the defensive when we feel that Christ is being threatened. It's natural. The disciple, Peter, felt the same urge when he drew his sword and cut off the ear of the Roman soldier as he was about to arrest Jesus. But just as Peter was admonished for his actions by Jesus, so I think I would be...and you would too if you've spoken out as I have in the past.
In order to arrive at where I believe the truth lies to this question, let's first start with what scripture says in a couple of places regarding our reaction to and role in our government as believers:
"1Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 6Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority." Romans 13:1-7 NLT
The way that I read this passage tells me that whoever is in authority, whoever is President, is instituted by God. Even those who are "men of God?" Yup. Remember Saul? He was Israel's first king. Rebellious to the core, lazy, insecure, attempted to murder David out of jealous anger more times than I can count, was basically not someone would not want to be your mentor in the area of Godliness. Yet he was ordained of God. Even David, the man who was the target of Saul's jealous anger, admonished his men when David returned with a piece of Saul's garment in a very crappy cave. :-)
Our submission to authority does not lie on the person, but in the office. Don't get mad at me! I didn't say it, God did. Let's look further.
God tells us here to pray for those who are in authority. And God threw in that pesky little word, "all." That means that our prayers are not to be slanted one way toward some, and another way toward others, but that we should pray the same for all. He even says to "give thanks." Oh no. Really? That's a hard one, especially in today's economy and leadership. (Just keeping it real here, people.)
And finally...
Notice that Paul did not get instruction from God to add the words "as long as he's a godly king or a Republican. Though someone from the Tea Party might could squeeze by too. Just leave those Democrats alone!" God didn't tell Paul to add that. He just said, "respect the king." You may not agree with what I'm saying to you, I'm just telling you what the Bible says. You can do with that what you will. Just know that what you post on Facebook and other social media is a reflection of what's in your heart. So when I and others read it, we see where your heart is in regard to following the guidelines laid out in scripture. NOT ONE TIME does scripture say we have to AGREE with our king! But it DOES say we have to respect him and pray for him. Why? Look again at 1 Timothy 2, "...so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity."
I've not found one place in scripture where it says anything against Christians taking an active role in political matters. But if we do, the roles should be taken with the guidelines expressed here and not vindictiveness, anger, vengeful hearts, fear, or malice toward anyone. Notice I included "fear." If God is in control, who have we to fear? No one. Not Al Qaeda, ISIS, or anyone else. Government is a God-instituted entity. It is ordained by Him. And we must honor God by respecting that entity and its authority over us.
My opinion is that our country has indeed gone away from God. Do I like it? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! But our role as Christians is ill focused. We rant and we rave about the President and how Godliness is gone from America and its government. We do this blindly thinking that a Godly person in the White House will get us back on the right track. Yet everywhere in scripture, I see God telling us to honor those in authority over us. He knew there would be those in authority over us who would not honor Him. Again, remember Saul? But with all my heart I believe that God Almighty is MUCH more interested with who is God in OUR HOUSE than who is God in the WHITE HOUSE!
If we get OUR HOUSE right, the WHITE HOUSE takes care of itself. That's the way God taught us to handle things in scripture. Get YOUR heart right, YOUR house in order, YOUR priorities straight, and He will take care of the rest. We have a history of thinking we have a better plan than God. But He laid out the plan long ago: "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT. So why do we keep aiming at the government when the fault is our own? We didn't do what God asked to have the result we say we want. It's an obedience issue. A heart issue. Not a President issue.
If we get OUR HOUSE right, the WHITE HOUSE takes care of itself. That's the way God taught us to handle things in scripture. Get YOUR heart right, YOUR house in order, YOUR priorities straight, and He will take care of the rest. We have a history of thinking we have a better plan than God. But He laid out the plan long ago: "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT. So why do we keep aiming at the government when the fault is our own? We didn't do what God asked to have the result we say we want. It's an obedience issue. A heart issue. Not a President issue.
In my book that will be released before too long (hopefully), I talk about the fact that Christians have begun using the Bible as a window more than a mirror. Sure, we are to be fruit inspectors of others, but when we focus on the fruit more than the reflection, we have become judges rather than inspectors. And at that point, we are way out of line!
Friday, August 29, 2014
My Answer: If someone commits suicide, are they automatically condemned to hell?
Opening paragraph is at the beginning of every "My Answer" blog:
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
There is no gray area to me in determining suicide is sin. It is self murder. The Bible is very clear on murder even to the point that it is one of the Ten Commandments listed in Exodus 20:13. To always start from a point of truth is the best way to arrive at a conclusion. So suicide is a sin.
There are seven known suicides in the Bible: Abimilech (Judges 9:54), Samson (Judges 16:29-31), Saul and his armor bearer (1 Samuel 31:3-6), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), and Judas (Matthew 27:5). While most of these characters were in situations of disobedience at the time of their suicides, Samson was not. Some view him as a martyr even. There's no way you could use his life as a model for righteous living, but what he did was quite remarkable! He is even listed in the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11.
To look at this properly, we must first look at what "saves" a person. Jesus set Himself apart from the pack in John 14:6. He is the only way to heaven and our salvation comes solely from His death and resurrection - His redeeming (buying us back) work on the cross where He paid our sin debt. And scripture teaches, I believe, that nothing can take away what He has given. Look at Romans 8:35-39. God didn't put the word "except" after the words "nothing can separate." In the original Greek the word "nothing" means NOTHING! To me, that includes suicide. To say that having sin that has not been confessed sends someone to hell, though a person has confessed belief in Christ as their Savior, says to me that sin trumps the blood of Christ. No sir! The blood trumps it ALL!
There are also those who have said that suicide must be the unpardonable sin, or unforgivable sin, spoken about in Matthew 12:31-32. Actually, if you read all of Matthew 12, you'll see that Jesus was directing His speech at the Pharisees. This was not a simple teaching moment where he was teaching the disciples or other followers! Jesus had been doing miracles in front of the Pharisees. But instead of seeing the truth, they said that Jesus was possessed by Beelzebub, a demon. They had spoken directly against Jesus, His Spirit, and the work He had just done before them. The unpardonable sin has nothing to do with suicide.
So no, though suicide is a sin, I don't believe it automatically condemns someone to hell. But read on. There's more to this answer than where we've arrived so far.
I must also say here that the saying "Go won't give you more than you can handle" is a LIE!!! The Bible NEVER says that! While that may be a comforting thought, it has no Biblical merit. The closest thing that scripture says to this comes from 1 Corinthians 10:13. In this passage, the Bible is addressing temptation to sin and saying that God will not allow us to be tempted in ways that He will not provide a way out. But this verse, nor any other verse, says anything about mental stress, depression, or anxiety. Actually, scripture is very clear that there WILL be trouble and trials in life! But it also says, to not fear because Jesus has overcome the world and in Him, we too are overcomers!
Suicide is indeed a sin. Depression, stress, and anxiety are also indeed real. People get to the point where they feel they can't take any more. I'm one of them. In November of 2011, I had a loaded gun to my head and was locked in our master bedroom with my wife praying for me on the other side of the door. I know what that's like. But I will tell you that, no matter who you are, you are here for a God-given purpose that is designed specifically for you by God. YOU MATTER! Your life is extremely important to God's plan. But to fulfill that plan, you need to be alive. Scripture says that it is appointed for man to die. But that appointment is not our to set for ourselves. It is God's and God's alone. If things get tough, talk to someone. There IS hope!
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
There is no gray area to me in determining suicide is sin. It is self murder. The Bible is very clear on murder even to the point that it is one of the Ten Commandments listed in Exodus 20:13. To always start from a point of truth is the best way to arrive at a conclusion. So suicide is a sin.
There are seven known suicides in the Bible: Abimilech (Judges 9:54), Samson (Judges 16:29-31), Saul and his armor bearer (1 Samuel 31:3-6), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), and Judas (Matthew 27:5). While most of these characters were in situations of disobedience at the time of their suicides, Samson was not. Some view him as a martyr even. There's no way you could use his life as a model for righteous living, but what he did was quite remarkable! He is even listed in the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11.
To look at this properly, we must first look at what "saves" a person. Jesus set Himself apart from the pack in John 14:6. He is the only way to heaven and our salvation comes solely from His death and resurrection - His redeeming (buying us back) work on the cross where He paid our sin debt. And scripture teaches, I believe, that nothing can take away what He has given. Look at Romans 8:35-39. God didn't put the word "except" after the words "nothing can separate." In the original Greek the word "nothing" means NOTHING! To me, that includes suicide. To say that having sin that has not been confessed sends someone to hell, though a person has confessed belief in Christ as their Savior, says to me that sin trumps the blood of Christ. No sir! The blood trumps it ALL!
There are also those who have said that suicide must be the unpardonable sin, or unforgivable sin, spoken about in Matthew 12:31-32. Actually, if you read all of Matthew 12, you'll see that Jesus was directing His speech at the Pharisees. This was not a simple teaching moment where he was teaching the disciples or other followers! Jesus had been doing miracles in front of the Pharisees. But instead of seeing the truth, they said that Jesus was possessed by Beelzebub, a demon. They had spoken directly against Jesus, His Spirit, and the work He had just done before them. The unpardonable sin has nothing to do with suicide.
So no, though suicide is a sin, I don't believe it automatically condemns someone to hell. But read on. There's more to this answer than where we've arrived so far.
I must also say here that the saying "Go won't give you more than you can handle" is a LIE!!! The Bible NEVER says that! While that may be a comforting thought, it has no Biblical merit. The closest thing that scripture says to this comes from 1 Corinthians 10:13. In this passage, the Bible is addressing temptation to sin and saying that God will not allow us to be tempted in ways that He will not provide a way out. But this verse, nor any other verse, says anything about mental stress, depression, or anxiety. Actually, scripture is very clear that there WILL be trouble and trials in life! But it also says, to not fear because Jesus has overcome the world and in Him, we too are overcomers!
Suicide is indeed a sin. Depression, stress, and anxiety are also indeed real. People get to the point where they feel they can't take any more. I'm one of them. In November of 2011, I had a loaded gun to my head and was locked in our master bedroom with my wife praying for me on the other side of the door. I know what that's like. But I will tell you that, no matter who you are, you are here for a God-given purpose that is designed specifically for you by God. YOU MATTER! Your life is extremely important to God's plan. But to fulfill that plan, you need to be alive. Scripture says that it is appointed for man to die. But that appointment is not our to set for ourselves. It is God's and God's alone. If things get tough, talk to someone. There IS hope!
Sunday, August 24, 2014
My Answer: What's the big deal about women in ministry?
Opening paragraph is at the beginning of every "My Answer" blog:
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I was raised in a very conservative Southern Baptist background. Most of my 24 years as a worship leader on staff at local churches were while serving in very conservative Southern Baptist congregations. One of the basic theological beliefs that is held within that arena is that women should not have a pastoral position of any kind. It is extremely rare that you will ever see a woman with the title of "Pastor" in a Southern Baptist church. And if there is one, that church is normally labeled as being "liberal and may not even believe in the virgin birth either." They (we - when I was an active part of the denomination) believe that scripture teaches this about women and is clear cut in doing so.
This interpretation of scripture has also carried over to women serving as deacons (or deaconess) within the church. Both for staff and deacons, the common reference is to 1 Timothy 3, where scripture says that one of the qualifications of an elder is that they be "the husband of one wife." So the question is raised, how can a woman be a husband? So that means that a woman cannot be a deacon since scripture says that a deacon is a "husband" and only a man can be a "husband."
HOWEVER, there is one major flaw in this view of theology that has changed my viewpoint on this issue. Enter Phoebe. Depending on the translation you choose, Romans 16:1 describes Phoebe as either "servant" or "deacon." Going back to the original Greek, the Greek word used here is not diakonos, the Greek word used for "deacon" later in scripture. However the office of deacon had not yet been created in the church when Phoebe was mentioned. Yet her responsibilities appear to be the same as that filled by deacons later. Plus the word used here is not gender specific (even used to describe Christ at one point). So when combining the whole counsel of God's word, I can't land on the point that a woman cannot be a deacon. Since the exact same scripture is used to argue that a woman cannot be a pastor, if it isn't going to hold water with me for deacon, then it cannot hold water for me in the role of pastor either.
Add to that the changes in lives that have come from Pastors like Joyce Meyer, Bianca Stingl (from the Church at Chapel Hill in Douglasville, GA, where I attended for almost a year), and I just can't say that their callings aren't genuine or scriptural. When we as Christians start throwing our weight around and say that a person's ministry isn't valid because of an interpretation of scripture (nothing really in clear cut black and white), especially when they are doing more for the Kingdom of God than we are, then we are getting ourselves in deep weeds with our Heavenly Father!
Then I've heard those who have said, "Yeah, but scripture says 'husband' and that means that Phoebe had to be something else." Really? These same people that I have heard make such claims will be on people like white on rice if scripture is taken out of context. We need to leave scripture in context as a whole, not think that it contradicts itself, right? That's what I believe. If it doesn't contradict, then this is the only conclusion I can reach and still sleep at night.
There is one more point that needs to be made here. The same churches that say that women can't be elders, deacons, or pastors, are also very quick to put women over children or youth (students) in what any other church would call a "Children's Pastor" or "Student Pastor." The only difference is that the church won't put the word "pastor" in the title. They will call them Children's or Student "Directors." Like changing the word in the title makes them completely compliant with what they say they believe about scripture! I don't think it does! But this question of compliance is never discussed. It's like gluttony. Church people are so quick to point out the sin du jour, but let it be something like gluttony, when the majority of the church is obese, and things like that are never discussed even though "self control" is one of the fruit of the Spirit. Yeah. I've got a problem with all of that.
I'm not saying that at some point somebody may come along and prove me wrong. If they do, I'll change. Until then, this is my conviction based on my understanding and interpretation of scripture.
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I was raised in a very conservative Southern Baptist background. Most of my 24 years as a worship leader on staff at local churches were while serving in very conservative Southern Baptist congregations. One of the basic theological beliefs that is held within that arena is that women should not have a pastoral position of any kind. It is extremely rare that you will ever see a woman with the title of "Pastor" in a Southern Baptist church. And if there is one, that church is normally labeled as being "liberal and may not even believe in the virgin birth either." They (we - when I was an active part of the denomination) believe that scripture teaches this about women and is clear cut in doing so.
This interpretation of scripture has also carried over to women serving as deacons (or deaconess) within the church. Both for staff and deacons, the common reference is to 1 Timothy 3, where scripture says that one of the qualifications of an elder is that they be "the husband of one wife." So the question is raised, how can a woman be a husband? So that means that a woman cannot be a deacon since scripture says that a deacon is a "husband" and only a man can be a "husband."
HOWEVER, there is one major flaw in this view of theology that has changed my viewpoint on this issue. Enter Phoebe. Depending on the translation you choose, Romans 16:1 describes Phoebe as either "servant" or "deacon." Going back to the original Greek, the Greek word used here is not diakonos, the Greek word used for "deacon" later in scripture. However the office of deacon had not yet been created in the church when Phoebe was mentioned. Yet her responsibilities appear to be the same as that filled by deacons later. Plus the word used here is not gender specific (even used to describe Christ at one point). So when combining the whole counsel of God's word, I can't land on the point that a woman cannot be a deacon. Since the exact same scripture is used to argue that a woman cannot be a pastor, if it isn't going to hold water with me for deacon, then it cannot hold water for me in the role of pastor either.
Add to that the changes in lives that have come from Pastors like Joyce Meyer, Bianca Stingl (from the Church at Chapel Hill in Douglasville, GA, where I attended for almost a year), and I just can't say that their callings aren't genuine or scriptural. When we as Christians start throwing our weight around and say that a person's ministry isn't valid because of an interpretation of scripture (nothing really in clear cut black and white), especially when they are doing more for the Kingdom of God than we are, then we are getting ourselves in deep weeds with our Heavenly Father!
Then I've heard those who have said, "Yeah, but scripture says 'husband' and that means that Phoebe had to be something else." Really? These same people that I have heard make such claims will be on people like white on rice if scripture is taken out of context. We need to leave scripture in context as a whole, not think that it contradicts itself, right? That's what I believe. If it doesn't contradict, then this is the only conclusion I can reach and still sleep at night.
There is one more point that needs to be made here. The same churches that say that women can't be elders, deacons, or pastors, are also very quick to put women over children or youth (students) in what any other church would call a "Children's Pastor" or "Student Pastor." The only difference is that the church won't put the word "pastor" in the title. They will call them Children's or Student "Directors." Like changing the word in the title makes them completely compliant with what they say they believe about scripture! I don't think it does! But this question of compliance is never discussed. It's like gluttony. Church people are so quick to point out the sin du jour, but let it be something like gluttony, when the majority of the church is obese, and things like that are never discussed even though "self control" is one of the fruit of the Spirit. Yeah. I've got a problem with all of that.
I'm not saying that at some point somebody may come along and prove me wrong. If they do, I'll change. Until then, this is my conviction based on my understanding and interpretation of scripture.
Monday, August 18, 2014
My Answer: Is it ok for a Christian to be cremated?
Opening paragraph is at the beginning of every "My Answer" blog:
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
Again, as in before questions, does this act go against what is taught in scripture? As I look through scripture, I can find no mention of cremation. But neither can I find any mention of instruction on "acceptable burial practices" of any kind where Christians are concerned! There is no mention whatsoever about curses or punishment of any kind in regard to burial practices. There are people in scripture who were burned to death as a punishment for some act while living. But the act of burning carried no distinction in and of itself as to any eternal meaning at all.
Scripture tells us that one day the graves will burst open and give up their dead and that those of us who are Christians will have a new "resurrected body" that will be glorified in nature. Granted, in our minds, putting a body back together again seems much easier when there are identifiable pieces - much like putting a puzzle together. In our minds it may be impossible for a body to come back together and come out of a grave when it is only dust, especially if it was scattered from a mountain top or poured into a river. But do we really think that gathering every single minute particle of dust is too difficult for the God who spoke the world into existence? I can't put the God I serve in that small of a box.
People have lost their lives to fire down through the ages. Just this week, here in Nashville, a poor tanker driver, for reasons unknown, swerved in the middle of the night and hit a bridge with a tanker full of unleaded gasoline. The tanker exploded and the driver was killed. The fire burned so hot that it melted some of the steel in the bridge that passed overhead. Think back to 9/11. The plane that went down in Pennsylvania was practically pulverized with the lives of innocent people - heroes - on board. When events like this happen, are these people, if they are Christians, simply out of luck because their bodies were burned into ash at death? I can't make sense out of a theology that would say that when scripture says clearly that "nothing can separate us" from the love of Jesus. So as to the first analysis question, I would have to arrive at the answer being: No. There is no evidence that cremation goes against anything in scripture.
So what about it being the wise thing to do? Though sentimental reasons do exist and people want their ashes spread over certain areas or kept in an urn in a home or special place, the most frequent answer given when asked why someone would choose cremation is the fact that being cremated is much cheaper than a full burial. So if a family isn't prepared with resources to pay for a full burial, then cremation for them would indeed be the wiser choice, in my opinion. If resources are available for both, then it comes down to just personal preference.
Based on my own conviction for the reasons listed above, I see nothing wrong with a Christian choosing to be cremated after death, or for that decision to be made by authoritative legal parties for the deceased.
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
Again, as in before questions, does this act go against what is taught in scripture? As I look through scripture, I can find no mention of cremation. But neither can I find any mention of instruction on "acceptable burial practices" of any kind where Christians are concerned! There is no mention whatsoever about curses or punishment of any kind in regard to burial practices. There are people in scripture who were burned to death as a punishment for some act while living. But the act of burning carried no distinction in and of itself as to any eternal meaning at all.
Scripture tells us that one day the graves will burst open and give up their dead and that those of us who are Christians will have a new "resurrected body" that will be glorified in nature. Granted, in our minds, putting a body back together again seems much easier when there are identifiable pieces - much like putting a puzzle together. In our minds it may be impossible for a body to come back together and come out of a grave when it is only dust, especially if it was scattered from a mountain top or poured into a river. But do we really think that gathering every single minute particle of dust is too difficult for the God who spoke the world into existence? I can't put the God I serve in that small of a box.
People have lost their lives to fire down through the ages. Just this week, here in Nashville, a poor tanker driver, for reasons unknown, swerved in the middle of the night and hit a bridge with a tanker full of unleaded gasoline. The tanker exploded and the driver was killed. The fire burned so hot that it melted some of the steel in the bridge that passed overhead. Think back to 9/11. The plane that went down in Pennsylvania was practically pulverized with the lives of innocent people - heroes - on board. When events like this happen, are these people, if they are Christians, simply out of luck because their bodies were burned into ash at death? I can't make sense out of a theology that would say that when scripture says clearly that "nothing can separate us" from the love of Jesus. So as to the first analysis question, I would have to arrive at the answer being: No. There is no evidence that cremation goes against anything in scripture.
So what about it being the wise thing to do? Though sentimental reasons do exist and people want their ashes spread over certain areas or kept in an urn in a home or special place, the most frequent answer given when asked why someone would choose cremation is the fact that being cremated is much cheaper than a full burial. So if a family isn't prepared with resources to pay for a full burial, then cremation for them would indeed be the wiser choice, in my opinion. If resources are available for both, then it comes down to just personal preference.
Based on my own conviction for the reasons listed above, I see nothing wrong with a Christian choosing to be cremated after death, or for that decision to be made by authoritative legal parties for the deceased.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
My Answer: Is it ok for a Christian to get a tattoo?
Opening paragraph is at the beginning of every "My Answer" blog:
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
I must say that I was VERY surprised when I posted this question! There were some very hard feelings on both sides of this issue! After the subject of a Christian drinking alcohol, I thought I would ask a relatively light question in theme. But there was nothing "light" about the responses that I read from those who answered. As a matter of fact, it was BY FAR the most debated topic of any question asked. Following this posted question, I actually had to list "NO DEBATING" as a "rule" for responding to the posts. Some didn't like that. That's fine with me. You have your own Facebook page and you can post anything you want. :-)
This also became the one exception when I actually posted an answer to my own question on my Facebook page. That was never my intention to do. However, given the heated discussion that had occurred, I felt that I needed to weigh in. I'm still not sure if that was the best thing to do, but it's what I did. What follows is the skeleton of the way I responded with a few added thoughts.
So here's my take on the whole tattoo thing. The only time I can find in scripture where tattoos are actually mentioned is here: Leviticus 19:28. Please understand that I am NOT one of those guys who claim that the Old Testament of the Bible is no longer valid because we are under grace now and not the old law. While there are parts of the old law that have gone the way of the Dodo Bird, there are still parts that are valid today. Let me explain briefly.
There are three different types of law in our Old Testament canon that we use today. They are Cultural Law, Ceremonial Law, and Moral Law. Cultural and Ceremonial Laws are indeed no longer valid. Moral Law is still very much valid and is alive and well today. It transcends the Old and New Testaments. The Moral Law states that death is the only payment for sin. When Jesus died on the cross, He became that death payment for our sin: past, present, and future. By fulfilling the debt requirement for our sin, Jesus said, "I haven't come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it." Moral Law still stands! It is the standard by which our actions are measured. It, along with the conviction of the Holy Spirit, is the main way that we know when we are in dangerous proximity to, or have committed a sin. And there was no angry God in the OT and a loving God in the NT. He says in Malachi 3, "I am the Lord, I do not change."
This passage in Leviticus is a part of Ceremonial or Cultural Law, not Moral. If you read the verses surrounding 28, you will see that in those days, tattoos were given to worshipers of pagan gods. Back then, they marked to which god they were loyal and gave them a form of identity in that regard. Today, that's not always the case. And besides, if we are going to use this verse, then that makes the verse about men shaving just as valid an issue with God! If you shaved today, guys, you're in trouble! Or look a few verses down where it talks about lying in reference to weight and measures. Some of us would be in BIG TIME trouble on Facebook lying about weight! No, this is not a valid argument, in my opinion, for not having a tattoo. It's fine to not like them! But don't start throwing God into the mix by making Him say something He didn't say by using verses out of context.
Next question deals with cremation. Later, guys.
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
I must say that I was VERY surprised when I posted this question! There were some very hard feelings on both sides of this issue! After the subject of a Christian drinking alcohol, I thought I would ask a relatively light question in theme. But there was nothing "light" about the responses that I read from those who answered. As a matter of fact, it was BY FAR the most debated topic of any question asked. Following this posted question, I actually had to list "NO DEBATING" as a "rule" for responding to the posts. Some didn't like that. That's fine with me. You have your own Facebook page and you can post anything you want. :-)
This also became the one exception when I actually posted an answer to my own question on my Facebook page. That was never my intention to do. However, given the heated discussion that had occurred, I felt that I needed to weigh in. I'm still not sure if that was the best thing to do, but it's what I did. What follows is the skeleton of the way I responded with a few added thoughts.
So here's my take on the whole tattoo thing. The only time I can find in scripture where tattoos are actually mentioned is here: Leviticus 19:28. Please understand that I am NOT one of those guys who claim that the Old Testament of the Bible is no longer valid because we are under grace now and not the old law. While there are parts of the old law that have gone the way of the Dodo Bird, there are still parts that are valid today. Let me explain briefly.
There are three different types of law in our Old Testament canon that we use today. They are Cultural Law, Ceremonial Law, and Moral Law. Cultural and Ceremonial Laws are indeed no longer valid. Moral Law is still very much valid and is alive and well today. It transcends the Old and New Testaments. The Moral Law states that death is the only payment for sin. When Jesus died on the cross, He became that death payment for our sin: past, present, and future. By fulfilling the debt requirement for our sin, Jesus said, "I haven't come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it." Moral Law still stands! It is the standard by which our actions are measured. It, along with the conviction of the Holy Spirit, is the main way that we know when we are in dangerous proximity to, or have committed a sin. And there was no angry God in the OT and a loving God in the NT. He says in Malachi 3, "I am the Lord, I do not change."
This passage in Leviticus is a part of Ceremonial or Cultural Law, not Moral. If you read the verses surrounding 28, you will see that in those days, tattoos were given to worshipers of pagan gods. Back then, they marked to which god they were loyal and gave them a form of identity in that regard. Today, that's not always the case. And besides, if we are going to use this verse, then that makes the verse about men shaving just as valid an issue with God! If you shaved today, guys, you're in trouble! Or look a few verses down where it talks about lying in reference to weight and measures. Some of us would be in BIG TIME trouble on Facebook lying about weight! No, this is not a valid argument, in my opinion, for not having a tattoo. It's fine to not like them! But don't start throwing God into the mix by making Him say something He didn't say by using verses out of context.
Next question deals with cremation. Later, guys.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
My Answer: Is it ok for a Christian to drink alcohol?
Opening paragraph is at the beginning of every "My Answer" blog:
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
The first question you need to ask yourself really isn't the one posted in the title. The first question you need to ask is, "WHY am I asking this question?" When my parents told me not to go touch or do something, there'd be times I would get as close as I could to doing it, but not! Now my parents didn't let me get away with that kind of thing hardly ever, but many of you reading this, if you were told not to touch something, you'd put your finger so close to it that you couldn't wedge a frog's hair between your finger and the object, BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE TOUCHING IT! Right?
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
The first question you need to ask yourself really isn't the one posted in the title. The first question you need to ask is, "WHY am I asking this question?" When my parents told me not to go touch or do something, there'd be times I would get as close as I could to doing it, but not! Now my parents didn't let me get away with that kind of thing hardly ever, but many of you reading this, if you were told not to touch something, you'd put your finger so close to it that you couldn't wedge a frog's hair between your finger and the object, BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE TOUCHING IT! Right?
We Christians are the same way. We know we're not supposed to sin, but we want to know just how close we can get to sin and not cross that line in the sand. We think we can sneak up on sin and get our thrill fix before we call it a day. I've been there. I feel ya! But then asking the question from the title COULD (not does) show a heart issue where you want to tap into your inner "bad boy" and get it out. That issue needs to be resolved prior to this one. That's an integrity/character issue that you need to be honest with God about and move past before ever dealing with this question.
I stated yesterday that I run everything through two filters: scripture & wisdom. We'll get to the scripture part in a moment. But as for wisdom, let me say that if there has ever been a time in your life when you have abused alcohol, then this answer is a DEFINITIVE NO! There is no circumstance where you should put your health, testimony, your life on the line for a sip of an alcoholic beverage. Remember the question: "In light of my past failures, my present circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams, is this the wise thing to do?" For you sir/ma'am, the answer is no.
Godly Christians are on both sides of this issue. I must say that I even disagree with my father, whom I love and respect dearly, on this issue. The important thing to remember is that on whichever side you choose to come down, there are those who are to be just as respected and and acknowledged that their relationship with Jesus is just as valid as yours.
I stated yesterday that I run everything through two filters: scripture & wisdom. We'll get to the scripture part in a moment. But as for wisdom, let me say that if there has ever been a time in your life when you have abused alcohol, then this answer is a DEFINITIVE NO! There is no circumstance where you should put your health, testimony, your life on the line for a sip of an alcoholic beverage. Remember the question: "In light of my past failures, my present circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams, is this the wise thing to do?" For you sir/ma'am, the answer is no.
Godly Christians are on both sides of this issue. I must say that I even disagree with my father, whom I love and respect dearly, on this issue. The important thing to remember is that on whichever side you choose to come down, there are those who are to be just as respected and and acknowledged that their relationship with Jesus is just as valid as yours.
Now to the question at hand. Wine is mentioned throughout the Bible. I'm not going to list all the verses for you. That would be something that, at some point, you need to do for yourself. That was the whole purpose behind the Facebook exercise to begin with. From Noah getting drunk in Genesis 9, all the way throughout scripture, wine makes occasional appearances. The first recorded miracle of Jesus, Himself, was when He turned the water into wine at the wedding.
I've heard people say that they've researched the original Greek and Hebrew words and that wine, as it is referenced many times in scripture including the wedding miracle, was not wine as we know it today. That according to the original languages, it was three parts water and one part grape juice. Ok. Continuing, those on that side of the argument will say that different Greek or Hebrew words are used when referencing wine at other parts of the Bible when it admonishes us about getting drunk with wine. Again, ok. I can see how you've arrived at your conclusion.
My only issue is that no matter if it was three parts water or just one whole part wine, the Bible says we can get drunk off of it. There is no getting drunk without alcohol in the mix. There's getting FAT from too much grape juice! There's getting a bad case of the runs (diarrhea for you northern folk), but there's no getting drunk without alcohol.
And what about the wine at the wedding? Again, I have to reference scripture for this one. Those in attendance claimed that the wine, that up until seconds ago had been water, was the best wine. See, normally hosts would serve the best wine up front. Why? Because once people get alcohol moving through their system, not only does the band sound better, but the wine tastes better too! That's why I believe, and my conviction remains, that the wine that resulted from Jesus' wedding miracle was fermented. People who were drunk and shouldn't know any better said that it was the best. At that point, grape Kool-Aid would have tasted fermented to them. But they could distinguish this as the best.
What about the stumbling bock verse? Again, if we're going to cite that verse as the foundation for our convictions, in my opinion, we need to push away the Carnegie Deli Cheesecake, my dad's banana pudding, or the peach cobbler. Not that these things within themselves are bad, but sometimes the waistline gives evidence of possible gluttony in one's life. One is just as serious as the other. You can run the gamut with things that could be equally a stumbling block: speeding, movies, tv (soap operas?), gambling, you name it.
And know this. I've had an uncle that was a severe alcoholic. He chased my grandmother through her home with a baseball bat one time. He was beaten close to death and left naked in the snow. I've heard the stories and know well the potential. Yes, alcoholism can be dangerous! That is why I said above that if you've shown any form of addictive tendencies toward alcohol, your answer is always NO!
But for the rest of us, if we're going to look at it for its possible troubles it could cause, does that mean we need to cut out sex too? Over 50% of marriages end in divorce with many of them due to infidelity. We have teenage pregnancies, abortions, STD's, pornography, human sex trafficking. So do we say that we can't have sex due to the damage it can cause? Of course not! The issue is what our enemy has done in perverting a God-given gift into something twisted and sick.
My interpretation of scripture and my conviction tells me that scripture (except in cases of addiction stated above) does not speak against the consumption of alcohol, but rather the abuse of it and getting drunk from it. Drunkenness is against scripture. But I cannot arrive at total abstinence.
I've heard people say that they've researched the original Greek and Hebrew words and that wine, as it is referenced many times in scripture including the wedding miracle, was not wine as we know it today. That according to the original languages, it was three parts water and one part grape juice. Ok. Continuing, those on that side of the argument will say that different Greek or Hebrew words are used when referencing wine at other parts of the Bible when it admonishes us about getting drunk with wine. Again, ok. I can see how you've arrived at your conclusion.
My only issue is that no matter if it was three parts water or just one whole part wine, the Bible says we can get drunk off of it. There is no getting drunk without alcohol in the mix. There's getting FAT from too much grape juice! There's getting a bad case of the runs (diarrhea for you northern folk), but there's no getting drunk without alcohol.
And what about the wine at the wedding? Again, I have to reference scripture for this one. Those in attendance claimed that the wine, that up until seconds ago had been water, was the best wine. See, normally hosts would serve the best wine up front. Why? Because once people get alcohol moving through their system, not only does the band sound better, but the wine tastes better too! That's why I believe, and my conviction remains, that the wine that resulted from Jesus' wedding miracle was fermented. People who were drunk and shouldn't know any better said that it was the best. At that point, grape Kool-Aid would have tasted fermented to them. But they could distinguish this as the best.
What about the stumbling bock verse? Again, if we're going to cite that verse as the foundation for our convictions, in my opinion, we need to push away the Carnegie Deli Cheesecake, my dad's banana pudding, or the peach cobbler. Not that these things within themselves are bad, but sometimes the waistline gives evidence of possible gluttony in one's life. One is just as serious as the other. You can run the gamut with things that could be equally a stumbling block: speeding, movies, tv (soap operas?), gambling, you name it.
And know this. I've had an uncle that was a severe alcoholic. He chased my grandmother through her home with a baseball bat one time. He was beaten close to death and left naked in the snow. I've heard the stories and know well the potential. Yes, alcoholism can be dangerous! That is why I said above that if you've shown any form of addictive tendencies toward alcohol, your answer is always NO!
But for the rest of us, if we're going to look at it for its possible troubles it could cause, does that mean we need to cut out sex too? Over 50% of marriages end in divorce with many of them due to infidelity. We have teenage pregnancies, abortions, STD's, pornography, human sex trafficking. So do we say that we can't have sex due to the damage it can cause? Of course not! The issue is what our enemy has done in perverting a God-given gift into something twisted and sick.
My interpretation of scripture and my conviction tells me that scripture (except in cases of addiction stated above) does not speak against the consumption of alcohol, but rather the abuse of it and getting drunk from it. Drunkenness is against scripture. But I cannot arrive at total abstinence.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
My Answer: Is it acceptable for a Christian to smoke?
I purposefully didn't answer. When I posted the following question on Facebook last week, I wanted those answering to search their own hearts, Bibles, convictions and know their own answer if ever asked why they believe the way they do. In my own past, when questions have been asked about why I believe certain things, I've been guilty of being silent until the pastor or teacher proclaimed his/her belief and gave us what must have been the "right answer." For years I formed my beliefs this way. I'm not proud of that.
Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.
With that in mind, last week I began posting one question per day that, as of the writing of this blog, many Christians are asking. There are some things that make eternal differences (i.e. Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus died on a cross and was raised to life three days later, etc.). These questions fall of lesser weight, but are debated as not being very clear cut in scripture. By far, the majority of Christians have stances on these things, however. And there are wonderful God-fearing people of God on both sides of every question. So I wanted to know if they got their stance from their pastors and teachers, or if they'd actually studied on their own and developed their own conclusions. I saved my answers for here.
My plan is to answer one question per day until all seven are complete. If I listed all seven answers in blog, it would be really LOOONG! We may differ in our opinions or convictions. That's ok with me as long as it is you. I won't be debating with you. You can share with me below if you want to say that you disagree with me...as long as you also put the WHY! :-)
1. Is it acceptable for a Christian to smoke?
There are basically two questions I ask myself first when approaching any question like this. The same process will be followed in developing my answers to the following questions.
- Is the action against what is taught in scripture?
- Is the action wise for me to do?
The first question speaks for itself. The second comes from a book by Pastor Andy Stanley, The Best Question Ever. He bases the book off of Ephesians 5:15 and gives three "filters." The resulting question is: "In light of my past failures, my present circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do?"
Is smoking against what is taught in scripture? There are no references to smoking in scripture. Now many have used the argument of the fact that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). I get that! I do! But the exact same argument could be made about eating Twinkies. As a matter of fact, every scriptural argument I've ever heard on this subject could just as easily be used for gluttony! Choose any verse you want. This is not the only one I've heard used on this issue. But Christians don't talk about gluttony, do we? "Food doesn't smell as bad as cigarettes and besides, we use food for fellowship. We don't use them cigarettes for fellowship Bro. Kevin." And what about the cancer the cigarettes cause? Valid point. But if you do the math, you'll find that exponentially more people die every year from issues related to overeating than ever do from lung cancer. If you're going to use the "temple" verses, that's fine with me. An argument can be made. But don't try to make the argument if you don't have a problem eating the extra cookie before bed.
Is it wise? The same answer would be given to this as to the previous question. Is it wise to have half the pan of brownies your wife cooked just so you can eat them while they're hot? Probably not. But in this case, over indulgence becomes the key factor. What if all you do is have a cigar with the guys only once in a while? I don't see the problem here. If it becomes an issue where it is becoming addictive, then there's a problem. But if not, I wouldn't tell you not to eat just because you might one day eat too much. That's just my opinion.
But if you overindulge in anything that brings damage to your body (smoking, gluttony, drug use, etc.), in my opinion, according to scripture, you (we) are in a sinful act. My point here is not so much to say that smoking isn't a sin as much as to say that we shouldn't point the finger at someone else just because their sin is different from ours.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Healing Is A Process
It's been one month today since I posted my last blog. I hope you'll forgive me for taking so long. As you know, I've tried to post about every two weeks or so. But on June 5, I had reconstructive surgery on my left foot. Also, one of the two perineal tendons in the same leg had ruptured. They repaired it at the same time.
Going into the surgery, I knew that I would be down for about two months (or even a little longer) without being able to put weight on my foot, thus being out of work. So I determined within myself that I would not waste that time, but would do a couple of things that I've dreamed of doing.
First, I've wanted to write a book for a long time. Years ago, I thought that my first book would be a devotional book. I even started writing it. But about a week into a four week series of devotions, other things seemed to capture my attention more than writing. So I laid the computer down and never finished the book. However, this time, I have completed my very first book! The initial first draft is under review as I write this and I will follow up with some editing, I'm sure, before shopping it to publishers. To top that off, I actually started my second book just yesterday!
Second, I had determined that I would start learning to play guitar. I had started beck in 2008 when in IL serving a church there, but had walked away from it almost entirely since then. There were very few times when I had even picked it up to see if I remembered the two or three chords I'd learned. I'm now a week into practicing again and am taking lessons on my computer, which is VERY COOL!!!
What I have learned, or maybe learned again, is the importance of process. In reality, process isn't bound to just physical healing, there is process in every single facet of life! But the importance of the process is what has really been driven home. It is the process that will prepare and prosper us and make us ready for our promise.
I love sports! Football and baseball are my favorite two to watch, but I also love tennis, volleyball, and ping pong (or table tennis). I wonder what would happen if, in football, a team could just skip the season and go straight to the Super Bowl? I've not done a poll of NFL players to see, but it would be my guess that there probably wouldn't be a single team that would take that opportunity. Why? They wouldn't have had the chance to prove themselves worthy of the Lombardi Trophy!
There is a testing of wills that happens on the playing field, especially between two equally matched teams, that determines who wants the championship more. When an athlete stands having won, or helped the team win, the championship, he or she stands with flashbacks of every hard knock, every victory that it took, every extra hour of practice put in to taste the taste of victory in this moment! Being the champion is the reward for the faithfulness and determination of the athlete. It's commonly referred to as "playing with heart."
For months prior to my surgery, I had been praying for healing so that I wouldn't have to go through the surgery at all. Healing never came. Even though God has come through for Michelle and I in so many ways, I still wondered why not healing too. Why was God withholding something for which I prayed so diligently? But my actions didn't back up my prayers. I asked for healing, but as a diabetic, I never checked my sugar levels as a diabetic should. Going back through the years, I'd never exercised correctly, eaten anything I wanted, and expected God to just leave me alive and ticking in a healthy state.
But we, especially my generation and younger (I'm 43), have grown up in an extremely "entitled" attitude toward life. Technology has fueled this feeling of entitlement delivering what we want when we want it. But technology's blame would need to be lumped in with so many other conditions that have shaped us and molded our minds into thinking we "deserve" the American Dream to which we hear so many references. Yet that would be like never playing the season and going straight to the Super Bowl. There would be no process involved.
I prayed for healing and even told God that I "wanted" it. But did I really? I wasn't taking care of my body. So what if God had provided healing? Chances are that I would have ended up right back in the same boat from which I'd come. No time would have passed until yet more problems would have surfaced due to the fact I'd never "played the season." My only claim would have been the trophy with no faithfulness or determination exhibited. No process.
As it is, I've checked my sugar levels an average of six times daily and have maintained a 137 average, which is extremely good for a diabetic! My levels prior to surgery were averaging over 250. I'm able to keep them better under control just because I have developed a discipline of checking. I also have a plan of exercise that will start as soon as I'm able. I've been introduced to the Beachbody Company and have been on their Shakeology product daily since my surgery. This has fed my body every vitamin and nutrient I need for a single day. My healing has gone much faster than was originally anticipated all because I'm "playing the season." I'm remaining diligent. I'm embracing the process.
Think back to scripture as people were healed. Some were healed on the spot before Jesus was well known in the region. But as His fame grew, people would "play the season" and determine to get to Jesus for healing. The woman with the issue of blood fought distance and a crowd to get to Jesus and just stretch out to touch his garment. The young paralytic man was carried by his friends and let down through a hole in the roof that they had torn away just to be laid at the Savior's feet. Even going back to the Old Testament in accounts like that of Naaman, the leper, who was told to go wash in the dirty Jordan River seven times to receive his healing.
There is a common thread here. The healing was a gift. But there was an action asked of each, that was perfectly doable by each one - nothing even remotely physically impossible, before the gift would be handed over. God wanted to see if there was indeed desire behind the request for healing, or if healing would turn out to be a momentary convenience.
What have you asked from God? If you're like me, when you've asked, He's shown you what it is you are to do in order to receive that which you ask. It's never much. He just wants you to show faithfulness and determination - to play the season, embrace the process - before he hands you the trophy you desire. Teams never have to buy the trophy of the rings. They are given. Your healing, or other blessing for which you've asked, can't be bought from God. It is a gift. It is our reward.
God created you in such a way as sickness was never intended! Scripture even says that the stripes Jesus took leading up to His crucifixion were for our healing ("by His stripes we are healed" - Isaiah 53). God does not desire to have anything withheld from you at all. You're His child! Jesus said, "Whatever you ask in My name will be given to you." God's not dangling something in front of you that He never intended for you to have. He's just waiting on you - on us - to embrace the process. He's waiting on us to understand that there is a season that must be played before the trophy is given.
What can you do before your healing that would ensure sustainable health after your healing? Exercise more, or even start exercising? Eat healthier? Check your sugar levels? :-) What is your Jordan River? What is your house with a roof that must be torn away? Your healing - your blessing - waits just on the other side. Don't miss out on it because the water looks dirty or the way in seems blocked. There's healing in the muddy water. There's a way to make a hole. Embrace the process. Start now!
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THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
Going into the surgery, I knew that I would be down for about two months (or even a little longer) without being able to put weight on my foot, thus being out of work. So I determined within myself that I would not waste that time, but would do a couple of things that I've dreamed of doing.
First, I've wanted to write a book for a long time. Years ago, I thought that my first book would be a devotional book. I even started writing it. But about a week into a four week series of devotions, other things seemed to capture my attention more than writing. So I laid the computer down and never finished the book. However, this time, I have completed my very first book! The initial first draft is under review as I write this and I will follow up with some editing, I'm sure, before shopping it to publishers. To top that off, I actually started my second book just yesterday!
Second, I had determined that I would start learning to play guitar. I had started beck in 2008 when in IL serving a church there, but had walked away from it almost entirely since then. There were very few times when I had even picked it up to see if I remembered the two or three chords I'd learned. I'm now a week into practicing again and am taking lessons on my computer, which is VERY COOL!!!
What I have learned, or maybe learned again, is the importance of process. In reality, process isn't bound to just physical healing, there is process in every single facet of life! But the importance of the process is what has really been driven home. It is the process that will prepare and prosper us and make us ready for our promise.
I love sports! Football and baseball are my favorite two to watch, but I also love tennis, volleyball, and ping pong (or table tennis). I wonder what would happen if, in football, a team could just skip the season and go straight to the Super Bowl? I've not done a poll of NFL players to see, but it would be my guess that there probably wouldn't be a single team that would take that opportunity. Why? They wouldn't have had the chance to prove themselves worthy of the Lombardi Trophy!
There is a testing of wills that happens on the playing field, especially between two equally matched teams, that determines who wants the championship more. When an athlete stands having won, or helped the team win, the championship, he or she stands with flashbacks of every hard knock, every victory that it took, every extra hour of practice put in to taste the taste of victory in this moment! Being the champion is the reward for the faithfulness and determination of the athlete. It's commonly referred to as "playing with heart."
For months prior to my surgery, I had been praying for healing so that I wouldn't have to go through the surgery at all. Healing never came. Even though God has come through for Michelle and I in so many ways, I still wondered why not healing too. Why was God withholding something for which I prayed so diligently? But my actions didn't back up my prayers. I asked for healing, but as a diabetic, I never checked my sugar levels as a diabetic should. Going back through the years, I'd never exercised correctly, eaten anything I wanted, and expected God to just leave me alive and ticking in a healthy state.
But we, especially my generation and younger (I'm 43), have grown up in an extremely "entitled" attitude toward life. Technology has fueled this feeling of entitlement delivering what we want when we want it. But technology's blame would need to be lumped in with so many other conditions that have shaped us and molded our minds into thinking we "deserve" the American Dream to which we hear so many references. Yet that would be like never playing the season and going straight to the Super Bowl. There would be no process involved.
I prayed for healing and even told God that I "wanted" it. But did I really? I wasn't taking care of my body. So what if God had provided healing? Chances are that I would have ended up right back in the same boat from which I'd come. No time would have passed until yet more problems would have surfaced due to the fact I'd never "played the season." My only claim would have been the trophy with no faithfulness or determination exhibited. No process.
As it is, I've checked my sugar levels an average of six times daily and have maintained a 137 average, which is extremely good for a diabetic! My levels prior to surgery were averaging over 250. I'm able to keep them better under control just because I have developed a discipline of checking. I also have a plan of exercise that will start as soon as I'm able. I've been introduced to the Beachbody Company and have been on their Shakeology product daily since my surgery. This has fed my body every vitamin and nutrient I need for a single day. My healing has gone much faster than was originally anticipated all because I'm "playing the season." I'm remaining diligent. I'm embracing the process.
Think back to scripture as people were healed. Some were healed on the spot before Jesus was well known in the region. But as His fame grew, people would "play the season" and determine to get to Jesus for healing. The woman with the issue of blood fought distance and a crowd to get to Jesus and just stretch out to touch his garment. The young paralytic man was carried by his friends and let down through a hole in the roof that they had torn away just to be laid at the Savior's feet. Even going back to the Old Testament in accounts like that of Naaman, the leper, who was told to go wash in the dirty Jordan River seven times to receive his healing.
There is a common thread here. The healing was a gift. But there was an action asked of each, that was perfectly doable by each one - nothing even remotely physically impossible, before the gift would be handed over. God wanted to see if there was indeed desire behind the request for healing, or if healing would turn out to be a momentary convenience.
What have you asked from God? If you're like me, when you've asked, He's shown you what it is you are to do in order to receive that which you ask. It's never much. He just wants you to show faithfulness and determination - to play the season, embrace the process - before he hands you the trophy you desire. Teams never have to buy the trophy of the rings. They are given. Your healing, or other blessing for which you've asked, can't be bought from God. It is a gift. It is our reward.
God created you in such a way as sickness was never intended! Scripture even says that the stripes Jesus took leading up to His crucifixion were for our healing ("by His stripes we are healed" - Isaiah 53). God does not desire to have anything withheld from you at all. You're His child! Jesus said, "Whatever you ask in My name will be given to you." God's not dangling something in front of you that He never intended for you to have. He's just waiting on you - on us - to embrace the process. He's waiting on us to understand that there is a season that must be played before the trophy is given.
What can you do before your healing that would ensure sustainable health after your healing? Exercise more, or even start exercising? Eat healthier? Check your sugar levels? :-) What is your Jordan River? What is your house with a roof that must be torn away? Your healing - your blessing - waits just on the other side. Don't miss out on it because the water looks dirty or the way in seems blocked. There's healing in the muddy water. There's a way to make a hole. Embrace the process. Start now!
Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. I welcome your comments! PLEASE leave one!!! Here's how:
1. Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2. Write your comment in the box provided.
3. You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list. If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that. Most of you should choose the NAME/URL option and leave your name in the space provided. You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
4. Click the PUBLISH button. THAT'S IT!!!
THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
Thursday, June 12, 2014
A Passed Past: Grace
It's been a little over a month since my last blog. For my regular readers, I'm sorry for the delay (I normally try to write one about every two weeks or so), but to say life has been interesting in this past month would be an understatement!
Some of you know that as I type this, I'm home recovering from foot reconstructive surgery on my left foot. Surgery was on June 5. I made the decision to go ahead and have the surgery about the time of my last blog near the end of April. Stress and worry have plagued me as the enemy has tried to attack both Michelle and I with not only our emotions, but our pursuits of our personal business successes as well.
Add to that the fact that a pastor that I served under in the recent past lost his job because of moral reasons. Now understand, this was a man that had abused me and every other member of his staff, had abused church members seeking to only have relationships with "friends" if he gained something from it, and had left hundreds of people in his wake! It was two years and two months of hell on earth and the worst season of 24 years of worship ministry! I had been praying ever since I left that God would intervene there, and He did.
For years I had carried anger and maybe even some forms of hatred toward this man. The very sight of anything that reminded me of him would stir those emotions deep within me! But then, I get this news. And after jumping up and down in my living room for about 20 minutes, which I had to repent of immediately after, God gave me a very sobering thought. See, I've been where he is now. I know the sting of coming face to face with my sin and the hurt that it caused to loved ones and the body of Christ. At that moment, a page turned and I was able to not only forgive him, but almost become a crusader for his restoration. His sin (as far as I know and based on my experience) was now in the past where my Father is concerned, thus it should be with me. Repentance sought. Forgiveness given. Grace in motion.
We all have a past. Technically speaking, you started reading this blog in the past. Every split second takes us further into the future and leaves a string of moments in its wake. For many of us, we have a past we're not proud of. The past consists of scenes that flash through our minds on a daily basis playing a film in high definition reminding us of our weakest moments, our times of which we are most ashamed, or seasons of searing hurt. For some of us, years separate the present from those moments. For others, only minutes. Some of you may find yourselves reading this in a desperate cry for hope because you're in one of those times right now!
Pasts are like fires. You can run or try to pull away from the sting when you feel it, but it's already on you, burning you. By the time you recognize the pain, the mistake is made. You can't take it back. You're on fire now. And the fire uses your mind and body for fuel. As long as there's a part of you left, it seems it will never stop. And if you do get the flames put out, you stand back up only to realize you don't look like you did "before." Your past has marked you. Grossly.
I remember looking in the mirror and not liking what I'd become. I remember the days begging God to take me out; to just kill me! I didn't want the suffering and pain and worst of all, I didn't want to see it in the faces of those for which I cared. And these things brought me face to face with that emotion that you always hear said, but until you've experienced it for yourself, you may think it to be hogwash: The hardest person to forgive is yourself. You think of yourself as a monster! Hope has faded as a single drop of water into a raging inferno.
But in that season of tremendous loss, God reminded me of something in His word about which I had written a song years earlier. Click on the following reference link to read Isaiah 43:1-3. It's not an "if," but "when" we walk through fire and deep water. And the deformity that we saw when we looked in the mirror is nothing more than seeing our sin in the light. However, we ARE NOT defined by our sin! Let me say that again, we ARE NOT defined by our sin! Make it personal and read this out loud: I AM NOT defined by my sin! If you are in Christ, a child of God is who you are. Again from Isaiah, "I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine."
Click here and read the story of the Prodigal Son. Jesus uses this illustration to give us a glimpse of the Father's heart. When the lost son was out doing his own thing, did the father get angry? Did he cut him out of the will? Did he renounce him from the family? No. He sat. Waiting. Knowing. One day, his son would be coming down the road back home. And the father wanted to be there to see him coming when the event came into play. Not to say, "I told you so," but to run and wrap his lost son in his arms and welcome him home! That's grace. That's what happened to me. The son's past was IMMEDIATELY just...passed. It was no longer relevant to the father.
Scripture says that upon repentance, God separates our sin as far away from Him as the east from the west. It says that our sin becomes white as snow when washed under the blood of Christ. That means that there is HOPE for us all! Thanks be to God, there's HOPE!!! There may be darkness for a time. But it doesn't last! Read here what the Bible says: 1 Peter 5:10.
Now let me take a moment to talk to the "saints" reading this. You may know someone who has fallen. Their sin may scare you. Really, it may damage your good standing in the community if you are seen associating with the likes of such sinners. They have damaged the name of Christ and the work of the church. The need to see if they are truly repentant wells up inside you because of those verses you've read about "wolves in sheep's clothing!" There's danger in the camp and you need to be the one to rid those you care about of that danger! Read this passage: Galatians 6:1-3.
Still think that way? Remember the pastor I mentioned earlier in this blog? I remember sitting in church and listening to one of his messages when he said, "Show me a man who's always talking about grace, and I'll show you a man who's looking to minimize or seek an excuse for his sin." I wonder if that's what he still believes? He now has a "past." One of those that have burned him like fire.
And remember how I said that I have almost become a crusader for his restoration? I haven't done that to earn a merit badge from Jesus! As a matter of fact, that could only happen because I had been - have been - the recipient of grace. It is impossible to give what you have never received. If you've never come to fact with the weight of your own sin and the fact that just yours would have still cost Jesus His life, then how can you expect to give it to anyone else? You can't. Impossible.
My pastor's poor statement was made with the thought that grace is an excuse to sin. That grace follows repentance. That grace is earned based on some sort of demonstration by the sinner. Maybe they haven't cried enough to suit you. Maybe you haven't seen them in the altar. So what?!? Did scripture say to make sure and look for those things, it just said to do it! The heart condition is up to God, not you! The repentance is because of Him, not you. But we are to have His heart. We are to act like the person we are - a child of God.
Grace comes before repentance! Grace begs repentance! It is not an excuse to sin, but the very reason to never sin again! When we become givers of grace because we have first been recipients; when we see others not as a danger to the cause of Christ, but as the HEART of the cause of Christ; when we stop looking for the faults of others because we can't face our own faults and make a bigger deal out of their sin in order to better hide our own, then we become bearers of HOPE!!! And hope is the one thing that every person on this planet needs every single day. Without Jesus, there is none. With Him, there's nothing else.
God told me something in a prayer time when I was being attacked by those who knew details about my past. He said to me, "Son, first know that I love you and am proud of you. Second, know that any time you are reminded of your past, it is never from my voice. It is always the voice of the enemy! How can I remind you of something that has been washed from your record by the blood of my Son and that I have since forgotten?" Grace is here. Your past is passed. Live in freedom of your future.
Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. I welcome your comments! PLEASE leave one!!! Here's how:
1. Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2. Write your comment in the box provided.
3. You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list. If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that. Most of you should choose the NAME/URL option and leave your name in the space provided. You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
4. Click the PUBLISH button. THAT'S IT!!!
THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
Some of you know that as I type this, I'm home recovering from foot reconstructive surgery on my left foot. Surgery was on June 5. I made the decision to go ahead and have the surgery about the time of my last blog near the end of April. Stress and worry have plagued me as the enemy has tried to attack both Michelle and I with not only our emotions, but our pursuits of our personal business successes as well.
Add to that the fact that a pastor that I served under in the recent past lost his job because of moral reasons. Now understand, this was a man that had abused me and every other member of his staff, had abused church members seeking to only have relationships with "friends" if he gained something from it, and had left hundreds of people in his wake! It was two years and two months of hell on earth and the worst season of 24 years of worship ministry! I had been praying ever since I left that God would intervene there, and He did.
For years I had carried anger and maybe even some forms of hatred toward this man. The very sight of anything that reminded me of him would stir those emotions deep within me! But then, I get this news. And after jumping up and down in my living room for about 20 minutes, which I had to repent of immediately after, God gave me a very sobering thought. See, I've been where he is now. I know the sting of coming face to face with my sin and the hurt that it caused to loved ones and the body of Christ. At that moment, a page turned and I was able to not only forgive him, but almost become a crusader for his restoration. His sin (as far as I know and based on my experience) was now in the past where my Father is concerned, thus it should be with me. Repentance sought. Forgiveness given. Grace in motion.
We all have a past. Technically speaking, you started reading this blog in the past. Every split second takes us further into the future and leaves a string of moments in its wake. For many of us, we have a past we're not proud of. The past consists of scenes that flash through our minds on a daily basis playing a film in high definition reminding us of our weakest moments, our times of which we are most ashamed, or seasons of searing hurt. For some of us, years separate the present from those moments. For others, only minutes. Some of you may find yourselves reading this in a desperate cry for hope because you're in one of those times right now!
Pasts are like fires. You can run or try to pull away from the sting when you feel it, but it's already on you, burning you. By the time you recognize the pain, the mistake is made. You can't take it back. You're on fire now. And the fire uses your mind and body for fuel. As long as there's a part of you left, it seems it will never stop. And if you do get the flames put out, you stand back up only to realize you don't look like you did "before." Your past has marked you. Grossly.
I remember looking in the mirror and not liking what I'd become. I remember the days begging God to take me out; to just kill me! I didn't want the suffering and pain and worst of all, I didn't want to see it in the faces of those for which I cared. And these things brought me face to face with that emotion that you always hear said, but until you've experienced it for yourself, you may think it to be hogwash: The hardest person to forgive is yourself. You think of yourself as a monster! Hope has faded as a single drop of water into a raging inferno.
But in that season of tremendous loss, God reminded me of something in His word about which I had written a song years earlier. Click on the following reference link to read Isaiah 43:1-3. It's not an "if," but "when" we walk through fire and deep water. And the deformity that we saw when we looked in the mirror is nothing more than seeing our sin in the light. However, we ARE NOT defined by our sin! Let me say that again, we ARE NOT defined by our sin! Make it personal and read this out loud: I AM NOT defined by my sin! If you are in Christ, a child of God is who you are. Again from Isaiah, "I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine."
Click here and read the story of the Prodigal Son. Jesus uses this illustration to give us a glimpse of the Father's heart. When the lost son was out doing his own thing, did the father get angry? Did he cut him out of the will? Did he renounce him from the family? No. He sat. Waiting. Knowing. One day, his son would be coming down the road back home. And the father wanted to be there to see him coming when the event came into play. Not to say, "I told you so," but to run and wrap his lost son in his arms and welcome him home! That's grace. That's what happened to me. The son's past was IMMEDIATELY just...passed. It was no longer relevant to the father.
Scripture says that upon repentance, God separates our sin as far away from Him as the east from the west. It says that our sin becomes white as snow when washed under the blood of Christ. That means that there is HOPE for us all! Thanks be to God, there's HOPE!!! There may be darkness for a time. But it doesn't last! Read here what the Bible says: 1 Peter 5:10.
Now let me take a moment to talk to the "saints" reading this. You may know someone who has fallen. Their sin may scare you. Really, it may damage your good standing in the community if you are seen associating with the likes of such sinners. They have damaged the name of Christ and the work of the church. The need to see if they are truly repentant wells up inside you because of those verses you've read about "wolves in sheep's clothing!" There's danger in the camp and you need to be the one to rid those you care about of that danger! Read this passage: Galatians 6:1-3.
Still think that way? Remember the pastor I mentioned earlier in this blog? I remember sitting in church and listening to one of his messages when he said, "Show me a man who's always talking about grace, and I'll show you a man who's looking to minimize or seek an excuse for his sin." I wonder if that's what he still believes? He now has a "past." One of those that have burned him like fire.
And remember how I said that I have almost become a crusader for his restoration? I haven't done that to earn a merit badge from Jesus! As a matter of fact, that could only happen because I had been - have been - the recipient of grace. It is impossible to give what you have never received. If you've never come to fact with the weight of your own sin and the fact that just yours would have still cost Jesus His life, then how can you expect to give it to anyone else? You can't. Impossible.
My pastor's poor statement was made with the thought that grace is an excuse to sin. That grace follows repentance. That grace is earned based on some sort of demonstration by the sinner. Maybe they haven't cried enough to suit you. Maybe you haven't seen them in the altar. So what?!? Did scripture say to make sure and look for those things, it just said to do it! The heart condition is up to God, not you! The repentance is because of Him, not you. But we are to have His heart. We are to act like the person we are - a child of God.
Grace comes before repentance! Grace begs repentance! It is not an excuse to sin, but the very reason to never sin again! When we become givers of grace because we have first been recipients; when we see others not as a danger to the cause of Christ, but as the HEART of the cause of Christ; when we stop looking for the faults of others because we can't face our own faults and make a bigger deal out of their sin in order to better hide our own, then we become bearers of HOPE!!! And hope is the one thing that every person on this planet needs every single day. Without Jesus, there is none. With Him, there's nothing else.
God told me something in a prayer time when I was being attacked by those who knew details about my past. He said to me, "Son, first know that I love you and am proud of you. Second, know that any time you are reminded of your past, it is never from my voice. It is always the voice of the enemy! How can I remind you of something that has been washed from your record by the blood of my Son and that I have since forgotten?" Grace is here. Your past is passed. Live in freedom of your future.
Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. I welcome your comments! PLEASE leave one!!! Here's how:
1. Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2. Write your comment in the box provided.
3. You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list. If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that. Most of you should choose the NAME/URL option and leave your name in the space provided. You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
4. Click the PUBLISH button. THAT'S IT!!!
THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
What's My Name?
I am a student of leadership. The study of leadership and bettering myself so that I can in turn better others around me is a passion of mine. One thing that is HAMMERED into your head in almost any basic leadership class is to use a person's name as much as possible. Why? Because people feel special when their name is used. They recognize that to the one calling them by name, they are more than a number, a demographic, or an employee. Names matter.
Any company that has survived years of building a brand around a name will tell you, names matter. There is a lot riding on a name. Reputations, lawsuits, promotions, guilt, and innocence can ride on a name. One of the first responsibilities ever given to man by God after creation was naming the animals. God gave Adam and Eve their names. Your parents probably named most of you! Names count. They matter. People, organizations, countries all respond to a name.
As I look through and read scripture, I see this fact drilled home as I see those whose names were changed after significant events in their lives. Here's a short non-exhaustive list:
Jacob - Genesis 32:27-28
Paul - Acts 13:9
Abraham - Genesis 17:1-5
Gideon - Judges 6:31-32
Each of these men had something significant happen in their lives and their names were changed as a result. And their new names reflected the events for which they would be known.
As a leader, when I'm coaching someone else, I've started doing something that I've seen a mentor of mine do with those whom he is helping to develop a God-centered vision for their lives. I now have people write out their own obituary and their own epitaph. Macabre? Maybe a little. But see, these two things are how those who come behind you who may not have known you or anything about your life will remember you. They will look you up on the Internet, or they'll pass by your headstone in a graveyard somewhere, and there engraved in marble will be the one phrase summation of what you meant to the world while you were here.
Take a moment. Try it. Your obituary can be a little longer - a paragraph maybe. Your epitaph, what will be written on your headstone, must be much shorter. How do you want those who follow you to remember you? What do you want said about your life in one simple phrase? What difference do you want to have made when you breathe your last?
Gideon was the last name I listed above. I recently did a study on the few chapters in Judges that record for us the life of Gideon. There's not much there. But what is, is powerful! He was raised in a society that worshipped an idol named Baal. There was an altar to Baal in Gideon's parents' home where he had grown up. As a matter of fact, Gideon's first act of obedience to Jehovah God was to go to the home of his father and tear down the altar of Baal! The verses above pick up right after this event. We see the people calling for Gideon's life! Yet the name that he ended up getting was one that meant "let Baal contend for himself." Basically, "Baal Fighter."
In Revelation 2, we see the letter to the Church in Pergamum. At the end of this brief letter, click on the reference link that follows and read what is written. Revelation 2:17
Does this mean that all of us who claim the name of Christ, who have placed our faith and trust in Him as Savior, who devote our lives in the pursuit of holiness have received a "new name" that only we will understand? I think it just might.
Those of you who know me personally call me, Kevin. It is how I am known and the name to which I respond. But I believe with all my heart that there is another name. I believe it may even be the name referenced in Isaiah 43 (and surrounding chapters) when the scriptures continually remind us that God has "called you by name." (Isaiah 43:1) "I have called you by name and you are mine." It tells of how when we are overcome by waters, we won't drown. Or when we find ourselves in the fire, we won't be burned up. We are HIS and He has a name for every one of us!
So if our names represent who we were while here on this earth, what great things we did for the cause of Christ, what do you want your name to be? When you walk through the gates of heaven and you look your Savior in the face for the very first time, and He says, "Welcome home, _________." FILL IN THE BLANK! I'm afraid for so many of us, we may be trying to leave Jesus at a loss for words because we're not doing anything to earn a name greater than "Warmer of Many Seats!" As a matter of fact, when I'm coaching people in the future, I may add this to the list of assignments. Write out the name for which you want to be known by your Heavenly Father.
For me? Messenger of Hope, or Hope Bringer. That's not a very pretty name in English, but it really is how I want to be remembered! Whatever my name is that is waiting for me, aside from seeing Jesus, it'll be the best moment of the beginning of my eternity... when I get to hear my name for the first time. What's your name?
Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. I welcome your comments! PLEASE leave one!!! Here's how:
1. Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2. Write your comment in the box provided.
3. You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list. If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that. Most of you should choose the NAME/URL option and leave your name in the space provided. You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
4. Click the PUBLISH button. THAT'S IT!!!
THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
Any company that has survived years of building a brand around a name will tell you, names matter. There is a lot riding on a name. Reputations, lawsuits, promotions, guilt, and innocence can ride on a name. One of the first responsibilities ever given to man by God after creation was naming the animals. God gave Adam and Eve their names. Your parents probably named most of you! Names count. They matter. People, organizations, countries all respond to a name.
As I look through and read scripture, I see this fact drilled home as I see those whose names were changed after significant events in their lives. Here's a short non-exhaustive list:
Jacob - Genesis 32:27-28
Paul - Acts 13:9
Abraham - Genesis 17:1-5
Gideon - Judges 6:31-32
Each of these men had something significant happen in their lives and their names were changed as a result. And their new names reflected the events for which they would be known.
As a leader, when I'm coaching someone else, I've started doing something that I've seen a mentor of mine do with those whom he is helping to develop a God-centered vision for their lives. I now have people write out their own obituary and their own epitaph. Macabre? Maybe a little. But see, these two things are how those who come behind you who may not have known you or anything about your life will remember you. They will look you up on the Internet, or they'll pass by your headstone in a graveyard somewhere, and there engraved in marble will be the one phrase summation of what you meant to the world while you were here.
Take a moment. Try it. Your obituary can be a little longer - a paragraph maybe. Your epitaph, what will be written on your headstone, must be much shorter. How do you want those who follow you to remember you? What do you want said about your life in one simple phrase? What difference do you want to have made when you breathe your last?
Gideon was the last name I listed above. I recently did a study on the few chapters in Judges that record for us the life of Gideon. There's not much there. But what is, is powerful! He was raised in a society that worshipped an idol named Baal. There was an altar to Baal in Gideon's parents' home where he had grown up. As a matter of fact, Gideon's first act of obedience to Jehovah God was to go to the home of his father and tear down the altar of Baal! The verses above pick up right after this event. We see the people calling for Gideon's life! Yet the name that he ended up getting was one that meant "let Baal contend for himself." Basically, "Baal Fighter."
In Revelation 2, we see the letter to the Church in Pergamum. At the end of this brief letter, click on the reference link that follows and read what is written. Revelation 2:17
Does this mean that all of us who claim the name of Christ, who have placed our faith and trust in Him as Savior, who devote our lives in the pursuit of holiness have received a "new name" that only we will understand? I think it just might.
Those of you who know me personally call me, Kevin. It is how I am known and the name to which I respond. But I believe with all my heart that there is another name. I believe it may even be the name referenced in Isaiah 43 (and surrounding chapters) when the scriptures continually remind us that God has "called you by name." (Isaiah 43:1) "I have called you by name and you are mine." It tells of how when we are overcome by waters, we won't drown. Or when we find ourselves in the fire, we won't be burned up. We are HIS and He has a name for every one of us!
So if our names represent who we were while here on this earth, what great things we did for the cause of Christ, what do you want your name to be? When you walk through the gates of heaven and you look your Savior in the face for the very first time, and He says, "Welcome home, _________." FILL IN THE BLANK! I'm afraid for so many of us, we may be trying to leave Jesus at a loss for words because we're not doing anything to earn a name greater than "Warmer of Many Seats!" As a matter of fact, when I'm coaching people in the future, I may add this to the list of assignments. Write out the name for which you want to be known by your Heavenly Father.
For me? Messenger of Hope, or Hope Bringer. That's not a very pretty name in English, but it really is how I want to be remembered! Whatever my name is that is waiting for me, aside from seeing Jesus, it'll be the best moment of the beginning of my eternity... when I get to hear my name for the first time. What's your name?
Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. I welcome your comments! PLEASE leave one!!! Here's how:
1. Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2. Write your comment in the box provided.
3. You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list. If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that. Most of you should choose the NAME/URL option and leave your name in the space provided. You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
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THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
Monday, March 31, 2014
King Me
In the game of Checkers, one of the goals is to get your game piece safely across to the opponent's side of the board. When one does, an additional game piece is stacked on top and the game piece is "kinged." At that point, that piece can move forward and backward having much more control over the board and is much more dangerous. A general rule of thumb is that the more kings you have, the greater your chance of winning! We'll come back to this in a moment.
As I was at the time of my last blog, I'm still studying the Biblical account of Gideon in the book of Judges in the Old Testament. Gideon was used by God to fight a battle against the Midianites in which Israel was the victor. God delivered the army of Midian into the hands of His people and the Israelites never fired an arrow nor drew a sword. Click on the scripture reference that follows and read this brief account: Judges 7:15-22.
Each armed with only a torch, a water pitcher, and a ram's horn trumpet, the 300 men stood against over 120,000!!! Yes, you heard right! They were outnumbered over 400:1!!! And none of them had swords or arrows. They did just as God had instructed them, and the battle was won because God had gone before them. Students of scripture see the delivering hand of God all throughout the Bible. This is but just one account!
Afterward, however, the people of Israel gave Gideon too much credit. They wanted him to be their king! See, Israel, at this point in history, had not ever had a human king. God was their King! And God wished to remain their King! But Israel looked at all the other nations. They had kings. And Israel also thought that having a human royal on the throne would increase their respect among other nations who might look at them as having no ruler, thus being a weaker nation. So, in their minds, why shouldn't Israel have a king too? And their acknowledgement of God as their King, at best, seemed to be in a bit of a revolving door depending on what day it was and the circumstances in which they found themselves.
Prior to Gideon, Israel had been worshipping an idol, Baal. Gideon's own father had an altar to Baal at the family home and Gideon, himself, had grown up in a family that acknowledged Baal as god in their worship. But God sought out Gideon and appeared to him personally. This encounter would spur the events that would lead to the victory described above where God handed Israel the Midianites.
Now understand, this wasn't the first time God had come to the rescue! Remember the whole giving Moses the ten commandments thing? Or the parting of the Red Sea? Or manna being given from heaven? Or water from a rock? The list could go on, but those are a few highlights. Still, Israel never seemed to learn their lesson! They always wanted the tangible. They sought multiple gods in some cases craving the tangible that they could ascribe glory rather than Jehovah God.
Every time I've studied scripture in my life, I've always found myself trying to identify with one character. The one I've always felt most like is David, for many reasons. Moses may be next. But for the first time that I can remember, I found myself identifying with an entire people group: Israel. When I look at my life, it is marked with moments of being "on fire for God" followed by a total shunning of Him by my actions. Peter's denial of knowing Jesus right before the crucifixion has nothing on me. My actions have denied Jesus so many times. I took my eyes off the Faithful for the tangible.
Now back to my opening thought. I've played Checkers with my worship. Instead of it being more like Chess, where there is one king and every piece acts to defend the king, I've sought out as many kings as I could get! We seek out kings in our jobs, our finances, possessions, houses, even in our churches! We want the best, the brightest, the one that's going to get us noticed, the status symbol. We're no better that the people of Israel melting down earrings to form golden idols of false gods on whom to ascribe their worship. Ours just take on different shapes than theirs.
Sometimes our kings become things that even should be important! Our children, our marriages, our friends, our ministries - but when we fail to have God in the sole authority slot of our lives as the King, the rest of the stuff that should be important and that should matter, suddenly no longer matters at all.
Ask yourself some questions:
1. What is my first filter that I run most of my life decisions through?
2. Is there anything I'm not sure I could do without even if God asked me to?
3. What am I most proud of in my life?
4. What is the drive behind my life's ambition and vision?
5. With what area of my life would my family and friends most readily define me?
Whatever the answer to the questions, especially if the answer is the same to more than one of them, could be an idol in your life and has take God's place as king (or kings) on the throne of your heart. It's a hard thing to see, isn't it? It was for me. I never wanted to be "that guy." But Israel was a nation FULL of "those guys!"
The good news is that yesterday is gone. It no longer matters. Forgiveness is here, right now, in the person of Jesus. And tomorrow isn't yet written. It's not the king stacks on your life's board that matter! It's the King. It's Chess, not Checkers.
Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. I welcome your comments! PLEASE leave one!!! Here's how:
1. Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2. Write your comment in the box provided.
3. You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list. If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that. Most of you should choose the NAME/URL option and leave your name in the space provided. You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
4. Click the PUBLISH button. THAT'S IT!!!
THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
Now understand, this wasn't the first time God had come to the rescue! Remember the whole giving Moses the ten commandments thing? Or the parting of the Red Sea? Or manna being given from heaven? Or water from a rock? The list could go on, but those are a few highlights. Still, Israel never seemed to learn their lesson! They always wanted the tangible. They sought multiple gods in some cases craving the tangible that they could ascribe glory rather than Jehovah God.
Every time I've studied scripture in my life, I've always found myself trying to identify with one character. The one I've always felt most like is David, for many reasons. Moses may be next. But for the first time that I can remember, I found myself identifying with an entire people group: Israel. When I look at my life, it is marked with moments of being "on fire for God" followed by a total shunning of Him by my actions. Peter's denial of knowing Jesus right before the crucifixion has nothing on me. My actions have denied Jesus so many times. I took my eyes off the Faithful for the tangible.
Now back to my opening thought. I've played Checkers with my worship. Instead of it being more like Chess, where there is one king and every piece acts to defend the king, I've sought out as many kings as I could get! We seek out kings in our jobs, our finances, possessions, houses, even in our churches! We want the best, the brightest, the one that's going to get us noticed, the status symbol. We're no better that the people of Israel melting down earrings to form golden idols of false gods on whom to ascribe their worship. Ours just take on different shapes than theirs.
Sometimes our kings become things that even should be important! Our children, our marriages, our friends, our ministries - but when we fail to have God in the sole authority slot of our lives as the King, the rest of the stuff that should be important and that should matter, suddenly no longer matters at all.
Ask yourself some questions:
1. What is my first filter that I run most of my life decisions through?
2. Is there anything I'm not sure I could do without even if God asked me to?
3. What am I most proud of in my life?
4. What is the drive behind my life's ambition and vision?
5. With what area of my life would my family and friends most readily define me?
Whatever the answer to the questions, especially if the answer is the same to more than one of them, could be an idol in your life and has take God's place as king (or kings) on the throne of your heart. It's a hard thing to see, isn't it? It was for me. I never wanted to be "that guy." But Israel was a nation FULL of "those guys!"
The good news is that yesterday is gone. It no longer matters. Forgiveness is here, right now, in the person of Jesus. And tomorrow isn't yet written. It's not the king stacks on your life's board that matter! It's the King. It's Chess, not Checkers.
Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. I welcome your comments! PLEASE leave one!!! Here's how:
1. Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2. Write your comment in the box provided.
3. You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list. If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that. Most of you should choose the NAME/URL option and leave your name in the space provided. You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
4. Click the PUBLISH button. THAT'S IT!!!
THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
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