Month: September 2013

Categories
Jesus

What’s All The Fuss About Jesus?

Why do we Christians keep talking about “getting people saved”? What’s all the fuss about? Why can’t we leave well enough alone? People who don’t have a “relationship with Jesus” may be happy enough and don’t appreciate us telling them they need a savior.

So why do we keep on? Why do we insist that salvation is needed? Why won’t we stop?
Here’s why:

“Man needs salvation not because he is imprisoned in a body but because he willfully chooses his own way rather than God’s way. Man’s evil is not in his body; it is in his affections. He loves the wrong things. This affliction is so deep, so basic to man’s life on earth, that only a special Savior can free him from himself. That is why Christianity insists that Ghandhi and all who agree with him are wrong. Man does not need a teacher. He needs a Savior” (Bruce Shelley).

“The danger for Christianity at present is that it could become secularized, worldly, reduced to a kind of socialist humanism. This is not what the world needs; and, if Christians were reduced to offering the world only this humanism, they would soon be set aside and rightly so, since there have always been socialists, teachers of morality, and organizers of society: they have rendered service, but they have never saved anyone.

“The world today does not need greater social organization but a Savior: man today needs someone who will answer the fundamental problems of his existence, which no social structure has ever been able to answer” (Jean Danielou).

I need a Savior. You need a Savior.

That Savior is Jesus!

“Our problem is not an inadequate education. It is a rebellious heart.” – Ravi Z.

Categories
Church

Too Many Denominations

There just seems to be too many different Christian denominations. All these different expressions of one belief in Jesus Christ – Protestant or Catholic; Evangelical or Orthodox; Baptist or Methodist; Snake Handling or Non-Snake Handling!

Why do we need so many? Why can’t we all just get along? Can’t we agree to disagree on these minor matters that divide us and find a sense of unity?

Sometimes I hear questions or statements along these lines. I have even heard people imply that so many different denominations with different expressions of belief have confused them about who God really is. Why hasn’t God unified His church? Maybe you have wondered something like this before too. There was time I struggled with the idea. But the truth is that denominations celebrate our inner unity while allowing distinctive outward expressions of our faith.

Bruce Shelley does an excellent job of explaining how “denominationalism” actually promotes unity, not division:

“The word denomination…was an inclusive term. It implied that the Christian group called or ‘denominated’ by a particular name was but one member of a larger group —the church— to which all denominations belong.
The denominational theory of the church, then, insists that the true church cannot be identified with any single [church] structure. No denomination claims to represent the Whole church of Christ. Each simply constitutes a different form —in worship and organization— of the larger life of the church.

The denominational theory of the church [has] several fundamental truths:
First, considering man’s inability to always see the truth clearly, differences of opinion about the outward form of the church are inevitable.

Second, even though these differences do not involve fundamentals of the faith, they are not matters of indifference. Every Christian is obligated to practice what he believes the Bible teaches.

Third, since, no church has a final and full grasp of divine truth, the true Church of Christ can never be fully represented by any single ecclesiastical structure.

Finally, the mere fact of separation does not of itself constitute schism. It is possible to be divided at many points and still be united in Christ.

Thus, the denominational theory of the church looked for Christian unity in some inward religious experience and allowed diversity in the outward expressions of that personal faith. …In the end, then, the denominational form of the church has marked the recent centuries of Christian history, not because it is ideal, but because it is better than any alternative the years have offered.”

Thank you Dr. Shelley for helping me to better understand denominations as a way for us to celebrate the diversity that God has created within us. Having different denominations allows us to provide different expressions that meet the diverse needs of diverse people! Let’s celebrate the fact that God has created us to enjoy different things and that we can all agree to the fundamentals of loving Christ and His Word even if we have slightly different ways of church governance, methods, and outward practices.

What additional thoughts would you share on the issue of denominations?

Categories
Christian Living

Astonished

What astonishes you?

For example –
Paige is astonished by how quickly I can fall asleep (and begin snoring)!
My dogs seem to be astonished that they are going to be fed again today, even though we feed them every day.
My church is astonished at how quickly I can put my foot in my mouth from the pulpit.

And me – One of the things that astonishes me is that Jesus could be astonished.

The idea that the Creator has made us in such a way that He can still be astonished by us is a remarkable thing.

In two instances Jesus is said to be astonished about faith (or the lack thereof).

When Jesus encounters a man who easily believes that Jesus can heal by just the power of His spoken word, Jesus is astonished at the faith of the man. I don’t know that I have that type of faith. I want to! But if my child were sick, I would want to make sure that Jesus came to the house. In fact, I would be dragging Him by the hand, and then bring Him to my child’s bed and have Him heal my child by laying His hands on Him. That way, if it didn’t work (see, I’m already doubting), Jesus could do it again. This guy was willing to tell Jesus – “You don’t need to bother with coming all the way to my house. Just say the word and I know that my child will be healed because of Your great power.” Wow.

But when Jesus went to His own hometown, even though they had certainly heard the reports of Him healing people in other areas, they just couldn’t believe in Him or His abilities. And it says that Jesus was astonished by their lack of faith & their unbelief.

That’s more like me. Maybe you too? We find it so easy to slip into worry and doubt. When life throws us a curveball, when difficult circumstances appear on the horizon, we lack the faith to trust God during the storm.

What would Jesus say about my faith? Or about yours?

Is your trust in Him so complete that you never worry nor are anxious due to your complete surrender to His authority & plan for your life? When we make it to that place of faith, then even when the security & peace we desire are shattered, we are OK and keep trusting without worry, because we know that God will walk with us through whatever we are facing.

Do you cause Him to marvel because you trust Him completely?
Or instead, does He marvel at your lack of faith in His plans and ability?

We need to be like the child on the edge of the swimming pool that fully believes Dad when he says “Jump to me! I’ll catch you!”

How do you keep a childlike faith and trust in God?

Categories
Christian Living

Choosing To Stand With God Will Separate You From Others

“The man who really loves God can do as he chooses, for if he really loves God he will choose to do the will of God.”

The problem is that if you choose the will of God, if you stand with God, you can quickly find yourself put outside some of the circles of people in which you were previously included. The issue is that your new ethic of living morally condemns others without you saying a word. Even though you don’t look down on others, even though you don’t condemn them with your words, nor attempt to persuade them to follow your choices, just by simply living for God many people will feel uncomfortable being around you. It is because they are already convicted, but they have been able to silence that still small voice. But now they find that when they are around you who no longer engage in the same behaviors, it makes it clear to them again that they are not living properly. So they pull away and no longer include you. It has been that way from the beginning.

“Men always view with suspicion people who are different. Conformity, not distinctiveness, is the way to a trouble-free life. So the more early Christians took their faith seriously the more they were in danger of crowd reaction. Thus, simply by living according to the teachings of Jesus, the Christian was a constant unspoken condemnation of the pagan way of life. It was not that the Christian went about criticizing and condemning and disapproving, nor was he consciously self-righteous and superior. It was simply that the Christian ethic in itself was a criticism of pagan life.”

It is still this way today. As you set yourself apart in holiness and your light shines more and more brightly, those who have actions that are “dark” will shrink away from you. You find that you are no longer included in some of the water cooler talk, because they know that you won’t laugh at some of the off-color statements. You no longer get invited to certain events after work, because they know that you won’t join in with some of the activities. But remember that as you stand strong in your faithfulness to Christ, when someone encounters a crisis of belief and look for an escape from ungodly living, they will know who to come to – You!

You can help turn the world upside down, just as the early disciples did. “In Rome, Caesar worship was made universal and compulsory for every person within the empire…. On a certain day in the year every Roman citizen had to come to the Temple of Caesar and had to burn a pinch of incense there, and say: “Caesar is Lord.” When he had done that, he was given a certificate to guarantee that he had done so….

“Caesar worship was primarily a test of political loyalty; it was a test of whether or not a man was a good citizen. If a man refused…he was automatically branded as a traitor and a revolutionary. Exaltation of the emperor, then, created a problem for the Christians. They had not failed to pray for the emperor, but they would not pray to him in private or in public. How could a Christian compromise with this?

“Who was worthy to ascend the throne of the universe and direct the course of history? Caesar, or Christ?
Thus, Christian worship and Caesar worship met head-on. The one thing that no Christian would ever say was: “Caesar is Lord.” For the Christian, Jesus Christ and he alone was Lord. To the Roman the Christian seemed utterly intolerant and insanely stubborn; worse, he was a self-confessed disloyal citizen. Had the Christians been willing to burn that pinch of incense and to say formally, “Caesar is Lord,” they could have gone on worshiping Christ to their heart’s content; but the Christians would not compromise. That is why Rome regarded them as a band of potential revolutionaries threatening the very existence of the empire.”

We still seem that way to those whose lifestyles do not honor God – utterly intolerant and insanely stubborn. But we need to stand strong and not compromise. Christian worship and Caesar worship met head-on… and we know who won! As we stand strong in the morality of God, we can also cause a revolution that turns the world upside-down for Christ!

(quotes taken from Bruce Shelley, Church History In Plain Language)

Categories
Christian Living

Defining The Word “Good”

All of us want to define the word “good” such that we get our way. But what happens when something that pleases me dictates that something unpleasant happens to you? Can we still call something good if it is not good for us both?

And how does that work with God? God says He is always working for the good of those who love Him. But we want comfort and peace and security and happiness – no pain, no struggle. God wants the advancement of His Kingdom. He wants His Name to be glorified.

“Men always view with suspicion people who are different. Conformity, not distinctiveness, is the way to a trouble-free life. So…simply by living according to the teachings of Jesus, the Christian is a constant unspoken condemnation of the secular lifestyle.” (Bruce Shelley, Church History In Plain Language)

If living to exalt Him might cause me to be condemned or criticized, then at times, my desire for comfort will be at odds with His desire for being exalted. So who gets to define the word “good”?

We find that exalting God can often cause difficulty in life – which is the opposite of my comfort and security. So how can these two goals that are at odds with each other – my comfort, security, and happiness vs. God’s glory – be determined that God is always working for my good?

Remember that God is not going to give us every one of our heart’s desires until every one of our hearts desires are exactly in line with His will.

If we truly can be like Paul and see that “to live is Christ and to die is gain” and “that God’s strength is perfected in our weakness,” then whatever God sends us we can say – God use this to advance Your goals and Your kingdom because I want the things that You want and I know that whatever You send me can be used to bring you more praise. Even physical illness or a handicap or a loss of material possessions or even loss of life – all of these can be used for the advancement of God’s kingdom and for bringing glory to Him. But will we trust Him that His plans are always the best plans? When His kingdom plans conflict with our plans for security and peace and happiness, will we continue to have faith in Him and be able to see that the increase of His kingdom, even if it causes suffering in us, is best for everyone and is therefore for our good as well?

“The man who really loves God can do as he chooses, for if he really loves God he will choose to do the will of God.” (Bruce Shelley, Church History In Plain Language)