I am a fool. A weak fool. I am not of noble birth nor influential. I have not much about which to boast – save Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians reminds me that at have no cause for pride. I have done nothing to earn the assurance I own. It is easy to forget that outside of Jesus we are worthless, that we deserve death and hell.
Paul tells us “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.” This is irony in its highest form. The “world” is perishing. It is lost and traveling easily the “wide road” that leads to destruction, and the very cure seems foolish to those who do not know of or deny the destruction that waits to seize them.
It is because of God that I am in Christ Jesus, who has become for me the wisdom of God. Being reminded of what I was when I was called, I was no one and nothing. The only thing I had produced for myself was a debt of sin I could not pay. But through Christ whom I have accepted as Lord and Saviour, I am called to share his “foolishness” with the world, that foolishness that is wiser than man’s wisdom and his weakness, stronger than man’s strength.
January 27, 2013 | Categories: life, ministry | Tags: Bible, christian living, christianity, church, faith, foolishness, gospel, Jesus, ministry, prayer, religion, salvation, strength, student ministry, theology, wisdom, youth, youth ministry | Leave a comment
A response to someone’s question: “Is it necessary for the Christian to believe Jesus was actually raised form the dead?
Paul reminds his readers in no uncertain terms that the actual, physical, historically accurate resurrection of Jesus from the grave following his crucifixion is of first importance. The resurrection is Christianity, and without it there is none. Paul removes any doubt of his opinion in 1 Corinthians 15:14 when he writes, “And if Christ has not been raised from the dead, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” Without a resurrected Christ all of Christendom is moot.
Jesus’ resurrection proves prophesy concerning the Christ, that spoken by himself and that written centuries before his birth. The empty tomb sets Jesus apart from all the other zealots before and since who have claimed for themselves Jesus’ standing as Messiah. There had been many such movements before Jesus began his ministry, and recent history reminds us of the great many since. There is an undeniable, unavoidable common denominator shared by the David Koreshes and Jim Joneses of the world: they are still dead.
If Jesus has not been raised, he has no power over death and sin, and we have nothing to hope for except hell. In verse 17 and following Paul writes, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.”
January 20, 2013 | Categories: ministry | Tags: Bible, christian living, christianity, church, faith, gospel, Jesus, ministry, prayer, religion, resurrection, salvation, theology | Leave a comment
Reading the Book of Acts a clear contrast surfaces between the early church and the American church of today. There is an exception that proves every rule, they say, so this opinion of mine is not meant to include every single church in the land, but I do believe it true of the lion’s share. The early church, as it existed before committees and business meetings, cantatas and 5th Sundays, steeples and Robert’s Rules of Order was motivated by two things: the discipleship of current believers and the evangelism of those who were not. The same holds true of today’s church (universal), on paper at least.
What is the standard-issue church of 2013 passionate about? Ok, let’s be honest, most of 2013 churches are actually 1879 churches. Where else but the church would you find an organization more reluctant to change a single detail? Not theological details mind you, I’m referring to the refusal of First Baptist Church of Everytown, U.S.A. to so much as update a floor tile. The church today looks remarkably different that the masses it desires to reach, but no so in the early days. Perhaps that is why thousands came to salvation following Peter’s sermons (do you think he had his three points and a poem?)
We see the sort of personal sacrifice in the early church that is quite rare today. Perhaps less common is the motive. Those of the early church sacrificed so that many would know not only the name of Jesus but know him as Saviour. The early church gave their very lives to this end. What am I giving today?
January 13, 2013 | Categories: ministry | Tags: Bible, christian living, christianity, church, faith, gospel, Jesus, ministry, outreach, prayer, religion, salvation, theology | Leave a comment
Reading the Gospel According to Luke, my attention was captured by Jesus’ words in chapter 6. I will focus on those verses 27-36 and 37-42 here.
Love your enemies? This is counter-intuative to say the very least. Enemies are for defeating! Right? I mean, if not what’s the point of them being enemies? “Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you” just doesn’t seem sensible. What could you possibly gain with this behavior (lure them into an ambush…?)? That’s just it. You cannot really gain anything by behaving this way. You. Or, if I am being honest, me. That is what is at the heart of the matter. Me. Loving my enemies is not about me. It does not serve me at all, it serves them. It serves them a peek at the reality I discovered eleven years ago, by none of my own efforts mind you, that Jesus loved me enough to die in my stead while I was his enemy. Loving enemies does not serve me, it serves Jesus by communicating that undeserved love shown me in a small, tangible way because Jesus loves them just as much as he loves me. Not more, not less. They do not deserve it! Neither do I.
After that gut check, Jesus quickly follows with a conversation about judging others. For most of us, judging others is hobby to which we devote significant attention. Some of us are probably ready to turn pro. We are not just good at sizing up the shortcomings of anyone and everyone, we love it! Knowing all this, Jesus uses one of the best examples of hyperbole ever recorded. Just in case we (ok, me) didn’t grasp his meaning when he said we are “blind leading the blind” he says “Why are you so concerned about a speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye? You have a plank in your own!” Hypocrisy. Jesus used that word a lot, and he was always right. What was it he said about casting the first stone? Oh yeah. Maybe I should go look in the mirror for a bit instead.
This is not about condoning sin, it’s about realizing our (my) own. Remember: not more, not less. They don’t deserve it. Neither do I.
January 11, 2013 | Categories: life, ministry | Tags: Bible, christian living, christianity, faith, gospel, Jesus, ministry, outreach, prayer, religion, salvation, theology | Leave a comment
It is critical to understand that Jesus’ death on the cross was a voluntary surrender to redeem you and I. The willful self-sacrifice of Jesus is representative of how we must come to accept that salvation. That does not make it easy, mind you. Jesus knew why he had come, to do the will of his Father who sent him. Jesus alluded to his death, burial, and resurrection repeatedly during his ministry, but as the hour drew close he prayed that God would, if it were His will, take that cup from him. We do the same, you know. Only we are not facing our own execution for crimes of which we are innocent. We say, “God, please this.” and “God, I can’t do that. Something else, please!” Or worse, “God, I refuse.” I do not believe it wrong to ask God for another way, place, or time. Jesus did. We cannot ignore the remaining fact, however. Jesus asked if there might be another way, and then displayed plainly his motive when he prayed, “Not my will but yours be done.” Jesus told his Father that if there was another way he would be glad to hear it, but also stood resolute that whatever God’s will was, that is what he would do. When God again affirmed that the sacrifice of the cross was the only means to save mankind, Jesus willingly accepted. To understand that is to understand the salvation available to you and I. We must WILLINGLY accept what Jesus offers through his WILLING sacrifice. Jesus knew God’s will, but could have chosen to ignore it. (Aren’t I glad he did not…) We can know the facts of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, but if we chose to ignore it we have not salvation. We must willingly respond by, in light of his choice to redeem us with his own life accepting Jesus’ gift of salvation by making him Lord of our lives.
January 10, 2013 | Categories: life, ministry | Tags: Bible, christian living, christianity, church, Cross, faith, gospel, Jesus, ministry, outreach, prayer, religion, salvation, theology | 3 Comments
The Gospel According to Mark, finding itself among the Synoptic Gospels is predictably similar to the Gospel of Matthew. Reading the Gospel of Mark this week I found my attention captured by chapter 5. Here Jesus and his lot have landed a boat only to find a demon-possessed man. This man had been tormented for a long time. The townspeople knew him well, and if verse 4 is any indication they were troubled by this individual. He was someone who frightened them, someone they shielded their children from. The people had tried chains and irons to control the man to no avail.
Enter Jesus. As Jesus approaches, the demon recognizes him as God’s Son and cries out in protest. An exchange occurs between Jesus and the demon (who proves to be many demons) and Jesus restores the man by driving them out. A herd of pigs sadly becomes a casualty of this spiritual battle, but the citizens rush over to find the man lucid, fully clothed (it seems that had previously been an issue) and sitting calmly.
Were we not familiar with the story we might quickly assume that the people of the community praised Jesus, thanking him for this miracle. This man had been a problem for some time and now he was made well. The people can see that Jesus must be from God to accomplish such a thing as this!
We know this was not their response. The people were afraid and begged, pleaded with Jesus to leave. I wonder how many miracles of God I have overlooked or opportunities for revival I have avoided because of fear – fear of change, fear of uncertainty or even fear of the cost. I can honestly say no work of God has ever cost me a herd of pigs, but what are my figurative swine? What am I not willing to give up so that God can work?
December 9, 2012 | Categories: ministry | Tags: Bible, christian living, christianity, faith, gospel, Gospel of Mark, Jesus, ministry, religion, salvation, student ministry, theology, youth ministry | 1 Comment
Thought I would share a brief response I wrote to the question, “Why is it important that Jesus was actually fully God and fully man?”
It is critical to understand that Jesus is fully God and fully man. Does 100% + 100% add up? No, with the exception of Jesus. Jesus came to earth as a man. He hungered and thirsted. He was certainly tempted, in fact far greater was his temptation than yours or mine. I don’t know about you, but I have yet to be led into the wilderness by Satan for forty days…
If Jesus were not fully man he could not have died at human hands. He knew physical pain. When he knew the hour was near Jesus prayed that God might find another way. Yet only his sacrifice was worthy to redeem mankind, because he was also fully God. Jesus did not inherit the sinful nature that plagues each of us as he was born in a unique way, a miraculous way, of a virgin. If Jesus was not also fully God his sacrifice was meaningless, and we have no hope. Christ proved his humanity in death, and his divinity by raising again from the dead. Were this not true, our faith would be futile. Paul speaks to this in 1 Corinthians 15:19 when he says “If for only this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people to be most pitied.”
December 8, 2012 | Categories: ministry | Tags: Bible, christian living, christianity, church, faith, gospel, Jesus, ministry, religion, salvation, theology | Leave a comment
This was not my first time to read the Gospel of Matthew. Nor my second. It was not my third or fourth. It was not even my first time to read it this year, but as I read it this time I was struck by a message I had not previously focused my attention upon. I have long been aware that Jesus combatted the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of the day, but this time it became most conspicuous, and perhaps for a different reason.
Are we as the “New Testament” church a bit more pharisaical than we realize, or even care to admit? It struck me as I read chapter 15. Verse 3 quotes Jesus, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” Wow. Jesus was in conversation with leaders who were very concerned that Jesus’ disciples were not doing what had always been done. Why had it always been done that way? Why not?! It is staggering to consider that they are talking to JESUS. Are they at his feet to listen to his teaching so that they can not only walk away forever changed but be equipped to share that life-altering Word with others? No. They want to know why he is doing something differently, and just where he found the nerve to do so.
Reconcile that with Jesus’ words in chapter 28. Verses 16-20 are very familiar to the church. I think too familiar. Not “too familiar” because we should not know well the Word of God but instead that familiarity does, as they say, breed contempt. We as the church give this passage a quaint sub-title and claim it as our modus operandi. Are we examining everything we do as the church through the lens of making disciples or are we too concerned with our own comfort and traditions? I am understanding more and more that we the church cannot see the forest because there are so many trees in the way, and some churches (and some Christians) are fruitless because we too often “break the command of God for the sake of our tradition.”
November 26, 2012 | Categories: life, ministry | Tags: Bible, church, faith, gospel, Jesus, Matthew, Matthew 15:3, Matthew 28:19, outreach, salvation, tradition | 1 Comment
OUT OF A FAR COUNTRY
Political correctness is rarely biblical correctness. Perhaps this is most evident in the debate over homosexuality, which to be honest is less and less a debate as the media and left-leaning political causes indicate that anyone who would dare challenge the concept that homosexuality is a natural biological occurrence is a bigot. Given this climate in which we find ourselves, I was excited at the opportunity to review OUT OF A FAR COUNTRY by Christopher Yuan and Angela Yuan.
I was drawn in by the subtitle, A GAY SON’S JOURNEY TO GOD, A BROKEN MOTHER’S SEARCH FOR HOPE. This book is the true saga of Christopher Yuan, an American born son of Chinese immigrants who grew up in the Chicago area. Yuan was studying to be a dentist when he “came out” to his ultra conservative albeit atheist parents. A gay son was more than Angela Yuan, Christopher’s mother could bear, having suffered a lifetime in an emotionless marriage. Angela resolves to commit suicide, and on the way to do so remarkably chooses to give her life to Christ rather than end it.
Meanwhile, Christopher slides deeper and deeper into the gay party scene, a counter-culture that is “life in the fast lane” in every sense. In a surprisingly short amount of time, Yuan transitions from doctoral student to dropout, and grows from recreational drug user to traveling the nation as a major drug supplier to the gay party circuit.
This dual perspective auto-biography follows a family who is broken and hopeless as each member encounters the redeeming love of the God of creation. Christopher’s own testimony is powerful, and demonstrates that regardless of how deep into a godless lifestyle one may be, God is mighty to save even those who have no interest in that salvation. Yuan finds himself in a place he never wanted to be, making a decision that would change his eternity.
Christopher will likely suffer strong criticism from the gay community for this book, but hopefully it will speak to some, and Christopher’s story will help lead many out of their own far country.
This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for this review.
May 27, 2011 | Categories: book reviews, ministry | Tags: AIDS, Angela Yuan, Christopher Yuan, gay christians, HIV, homosexuality, Out of a Far Country, salvation | 1 Comment
HOW GOOD IS GOOD ENOUGH?
Just finished SINCE NOBODY’S PERFECT… HOW GOOD IS GOOD ENOUGH? by Andy Stanley. This is a pretty short book, easily read in one sitting, and well worth the time invested. This book is a gospel presentation designed to address the common misconception that “good” people go to heaven and “bad” people do not.
This book is fantastic. It is a brilliant delivery of the gospel truth. In addition to adding to my frequent re-read list, I plan on giving this great resource to anyone needing help sharing their faith or to anyone with questions themselves about salvation.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.
March 6, 2011 | Categories: book reviews | Tags: andy stanley, faith, gospel, heaven, hell, how good is good enough, salvation, witnessing | Leave a comment
GRAY MATTER
Finished GRAY MATTER by David Levy, MD a few days ago. This is my first book to review for TYNDALE, and was selected because I had exactly two titles to choose from (Tyndale requires it’s blogger/reviewers to work their way up in the program). I do not recall the other book I might have chosen, but since this one appeared to orbit around prayer, I gave it the nod. Or click, I should say.
The sub-title is “A NEUROSURGEON DISCOVERS THE POWER OF PRAYER…ONE PATIENT AT A TIME.” The author, Dr. David Levy is a Jewish-born neurosurgeon who is also a Christian. Given the gravity of his work and the situations he and his patients face daily, Dr. Levy finds himself convicted to pray with his patients before his surgeries. This book is the first-person account of his experiences introducing prayer to his practice, and sharing it’s results for himself and his patients.
This is a fantastic book. Very readable, I found it difficult to put down. Levy shares incredible stories which give us some insight as to what it’s like to be a neurosurgeon, and tells stories we can both relate to and be encouraged by as believers who sometimes struggle to elevate prayer to the level in our lives in deserves. It is truly incredible the effect prayer has had on his life and career, and the lives of his patients. He shares how he has seen a brief prayer before a procedure literally changes lives. Read this book, you’ll not regret it.
Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this review.
February 27, 2011 | Categories: book reviews | Tags: brain surgery, christian living, david levy, doctor, neurosurgery, prayer, salvation, surgeon, tyndale | 3 Comments
Reading the Book of Acts a clear contrast surfaces between the early church and the American church of today. There is an exception that proves every rule, they say, so this opinion of mine is not meant to include every single church in the land, but I do believe it true of the lion’s share. The early church, as it existed before committees and business meetings, cantatas and 5th Sundays, steeples and Robert’s Rules of Order was motivated by two things: the discipleship of current believers and the evangelism of those who were not. The same holds true of today’s church (universal), on paper at least.
Reading the Gospel According to Luke, my attention was captured by Jesus’ words in chapter 6. I will focus on those verses 27-36 and 37-42 here.
It is critical to understand that Jesus’ death on the cross was a voluntary surrender to redeem you and I. The willful self-sacrifice of Jesus is representative of how we must come to accept that salvation. That does not make it easy, mind you. Jesus knew why he had come, to do the will of his Father who sent him. Jesus alluded to his death, burial, and resurrection repeatedly during his ministry, but as the hour drew close he prayed that God would, if it were His will, take that cup from him. We do the same, you know. Only we are not facing our own execution for crimes of which we are innocent. We say, “God, please this.” and “God, I can’t do that. Something else, please!” Or worse, “God, I refuse.” I do not believe it wrong to ask God for another way, place, or time. Jesus did. We cannot ignore the remaining fact, however. Jesus asked if there might be another way, and then displayed plainly his motive when he prayed, “Not my will but yours be done.” Jesus told his Father that if there was another way he would be glad to hear it, but also stood resolute that whatever God’s will was, that is what he would do. When God again affirmed that the sacrifice of the cross was the only means to save mankind, Jesus willingly accepted. To understand that is to understand the salvation available to you and I. We must WILLINGLY accept what Jesus offers through his WILLING sacrifice. Jesus knew God’s will, but could have chosen to ignore it. (Aren’t I glad he did not…) We can know the facts of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, but if we chose to ignore it we have not salvation. We must willingly respond by, in light of his choice to redeem us with his own life accepting Jesus’ gift of salvation by making him Lord of our lives.
delighted to share. 