Biblical Faith vs. Culture

Evangelist and author Dr. Erwin Lutzer tells a fascinating story when asked about the difference between current cultural norms and Scriptural values.  He begins describing a time when he went to a country club to play golf with a friend.  They were standing next to a pond, and Lutzer noticed a mother duck's nest, partially hidden behind some brush.  When he walked over and took a closer look, he noticed that the nest contained a single golf ball!  The poor mother duck had mistaken it for an egg, and would soon be in for a disappointment after months go by, and no baby duckling emerges.  

Although humorous, Dr. Lutzer's point was that the mother duck had been deceived early on, and adopted what she considered to be the genuine article.  It equates to people thinking that they are worshipping the real God in Heaven, but finding out later that a false, culture-produced version of the Lord isn't going to save them.  In the same way that this poor duck was convinced she was going to be a mother someday - people all around us are guarding and nurturing a faith that may not be Scriptural or true.  

There is very real pressure for churches in the West today to begin making allowances and accommodations in order to let in fashionable beliefs.  For example, some pastors may think that if their church doesn't bend to current cultural norms, they may lose parishioners.  Or take for example the extremely popular liberal ideology which says that we shouldn't ever judge sin, so people can do whatever they want as long as it doesn't hurt someone else.  In this version of theology, God is more like a fun uncle than a loving parent.   

2 Thessalonians 2:15 says, "So then brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter."  Here the apostle Paul is exhorting his readers to remain faithful, and not to let any false doctrine or tradition supersede what Jesus actually said and did.  Apparently, this type of thing happened two-thousand years ago also, and required several letters from Paul to help keep believers on track.

And I think this is where the modern church finds itself today.  Many have gone apostate and shifted from Christ's commandments altogether, in order to begin reflecting the passions of our current time (pro-choice abortion ethics, religious universalism, veneration of sexual sin, etc.).  

A good many other churches have begun the slow but steady process of leaving the faith one small step at a time, through a series of little concessions.  "It's okay to compromise on this or that, as long as we don't go too far" you might hear them say.  But one step in the wrong direction often invites other steps to follow, and before long, the entire congregation may become spiritually lost.  Such is the power that pastors and church leaders possess.  

If you are in a Biblical church that follows a Scriptural pastor, then take a moment now to give thanks and praise to God above.  If you aren't sure, then test what is taught in your church against the Bible itself.  Never take a leader's opinion as the ultimate truth, unless it lines up with what the Word says in print.  Faithful Christians will need to stay strong and stick together during these coming times of lukewarm religion and false teaching.  Remember always: the pulpit is designed to preach Scripture - not politics, opinion, or cultural trends.  

Not long ago, my own church engaged in an old tradition known as an alter call.  The pastor asked anyone in the congregation who wanted to accept Christ to come forward and kneel.  It was an awesome thing to behold.  In my heart I felt joy.  Not just for those who came forward that morning, but because I was confident about the type of faith they were accepting.  It was the Scriptural Jesus, and the Christian God.  I hope and pray the same for all of you who are reading this today.  May the true God of the Bible bless you and cover you.  Jesus didn't die on the cross for a "golf ball religion."  He died for you and I, so that we wouldn't be abandoned to sin.  

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Walk Boldly in the Faith

Our source Scripture for today is from Acts 21:12-14.  It says this, ^“When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.  Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’  When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’”  

This Scripture describes a discussion between a local prophet and the apostle Paul.  You will notice here, that Paul rebukes the warning of this person coming to steer him away from Jerusalem.  Would you and I do the same in the face of certain persecution?  It’s difficult to say.  Typically with modern Christianity, it seems to me, that we can often find ourselves going through trials or persecution without a choice.  We are the innocent victims of bad things happening to good people. 

But this situation is different.  This is an instance where Paul knew that all he had to do was avoid going into town, and he would be safe.  But he chose to go anyway.  And that difference is what I want to begin unpacking with you now.  How do we walk the walk when it comes to following Jesus and obeying God, in an intentional way.

Scripture also tells us that the Father seeks a certain type of worshipper; the type who gives back to God in both spirit and truth.  But what does worshipping in spirit and truth really mean?  Ideally, when someone praises and worships God there is a combination of passion (spirit) along with an accurate view of who the Lord really is (truth).  If both of these stipulations don't exist at the same time, then we are falling short when it comes to returning praise to the Father.  We may walk boldly through life, but we won’t be doing it according to the Word. 

In order to understand our right relation to God and the Holy Trinity, we must first understand how the Bible depicts this concept of boldness through Spirit and Truth.

If we don’t, then we are in a similar position to the local prophet who warned Paul not to go into town.  We don’t have all the facts about who God is, so we underestimate Him.  Let’s now take a moment to discuss what this kind of lukewarm, misdirected worship might look like when people don’t really know the God of the Bible.  When they walk according to their own wisdom (and not God’s wisdom). 

I once heard a story about a large congregation.  On any given Sunday they would pack in a few thousand worshippers.  It was a huge building, complete with a small restaurant and coffee bar just outside the sanctuary.  A bookstore on the upper deck as well.  They would pray from time to time, and then the preacher would deliver a sermon.  But when it came time for the singing, God couldn't hear them. 

Peoples' mouths were moving, but it was as if nothing was coming out.  Something was missing at these church services.  There was no connection to the real, living God.  

Although this scenario is a metaphor, it’s not the experience that God desires for you and I.  God wants us to actually connect with Him.  To be bold in the faith, and in the confidence that we carry His message.  And the best way to do that, is to both study His Word so we can understand who He is … and also to bring our whole being and emotion to the forefront when we praise Him.  We must give glory to God in both spirit and truth. 

The Gospel often calls us to walk boldly in the faith.  Not to give in to a spirit of fear, but rather, to courageously reach out to God in times of trial and trouble.  And sometimes, to go into that place that we are afraid to go.  

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Am I Going to Heaven?

I think many people today wonder if they are good enough to get into Heaven.  It's an honest question for a thoughtful person, and it deserves some attention.  Many groups throughout history have pondered it.  Many have tried to live by what I call the 'Graceless Gospel' for example.  The idea that you must earn your way to heaven based on good works and proper moral living all on your own.  That we have to be continually obedient to God and live good lives, and only then will God stamp us Approved.  

Or how about using grace as fire insurance for salvation?  In other words: I will live however I want to, and then claim the blood of Jesus on my deathbed.  Based on this philosophy, any liar, cheat, or sociopath can be perfectly confident of their salvation - as long as they say the “sinner's prayer” at the very end, right?  Here there is an overabundance of assurance based on a misunderstanding of how both faith and good works go together.

Some have also claimed holiness by association.  In other words, because they have an uncle, parent, or friend who is a pastor or deacon for example ... God's gift of atonement will somehow rub off on them as well.  They believe that they don't need to go to church or accept Jesus personally, but rely solely on the relationship with that other person in order to get the spiritual job done.

And finally there exists a fallacy that we will have plenty of time to decide what to do about Jesus.  The idea that I will live out my twenties or thirties happily doing and living however I want to at the time, and then when I am eighty-five years old and in poor health, then I will come to God.  If only we were all lucky enough to live eighty-five years on this planet, that method might work.  But of course, no one knows how much time they really have.

All of these strategies have one thing in common.  They still allow the seed of doubt to sneak in.  "Am I really good enough?"  "Will God really accept me when it's my time?"  They all neglect the personal component of a relationship with Jesus.

Take for example something often known as the Roman Road to Heaven.  It is a simple guide - constructed of short Scripture passages from the book of Romans - that outlines how you and I might become born again.  It goes something like the following: all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).  But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).  The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23).  Therefore, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Rom 10:9).  So then, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom 10:13).

Thanks to the apostle Paul, servant of God, for laying this out so succinctly for us.  It applied to people two-thousand years ago, and it applies to us today.  And it leads us inexorably to this fantastic truth from Romans 8:1-2, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

It appears (gratefully), that God no longer holds our sins against us if we trust Jesus with our salvation.  In fact, if we have traveled the Roman Road to Heaven, we actually can have assurance.  We need not wonder all the time if we are good enough. 

I would much rather have my Roman Road reservation intact, with an assurance that in Christ Jesus, there is no longer any condemnation.  To be certain that God is there for me, in ways that I cannot understand or quite yet fathom this side of heaven.  In ways that lead me successfully through the confusion of this world, and into His waiting arms on my last day.  Doesn't this sound like a better way to navigate life? 

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Therefore, Go and Make Disciples

What a different and strange religion Christianity would be, if Jesus had directed us to build stronghold churches and then just wait for people to show up.  Yet in many ways, I believe this is what a lot of churches in the West are doing much of the time.  The old adage from a famous baseball movie rings in my head: "If you build it, they will come."  But are parishioners actually coming? 

It's fascinating when we look back at the life and times of our Lord and Savior.  For much of his life, God's son had a mobile ministry.  We recall that before Jesus was even born, his parents were called back to Bethlehem to the place of Joseph's ancestry in order to fulfill an order for the Roman census.  Each family had to return to their place of origin to be counted.  Although the Biblical text glosses over how difficult this must have been, some manuscript scholars have theorized it was close to a ninety-mile trip.  Mary was very pregnant, and this was before trains and automobiles.  The trip was difficult I'm sure, and the landscape was often dangerous.  

After Jesus got older and formally began his ministry, Biblical texts give an account of him traveling all over Galilee and going to churches and homes to preach.  Matthew 4:23 says, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people."  

Once again, we have this notion that in order to get the word out ... Jesus had to move around and take the initiative.  He didn't wait for the people already in the synagogue or out on the streets to come to him; instead he went on a kind of sanctified tour.  It is also worth mentioning that he preached with such authority that it completely baffled the Jewish ruling party.  The Pharisees couldn't wrap their heads around how someone who hadn't studied with them could end up knowing so much about God.  Almost as if he had an inside scoop (which of course he did)!

Finally, you will notice also that Jesus' disciples and followers had the same challenge.  The book of Acts records the followers of Christ moving from place to place.  The Gospel accounts record that occasionally Jesus and his followers would become so overwhelmed from the work of ministry that they had to escape and get away to a 'quiet place' where the Lord could pray and meditate.  

The apostle Paul famously traveled around and began defending Christianity as well.  He stood before kings and procurators, always willing to testify and lend credence to God's incarnate son.  Sometimes this would even land him in prison, and once in a shipwreck!

We are accustomed to hearing about the Great Commission.  Indeed, it is more or less the mission of the modern church.  Matthew 28:19-20 recounts this narrative quite well.  It says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

We would have an entirely different religion if the Great Commission commanded us to "build it, and then just wait for them to come."  This would be a faith of waiting and watching.  Instead, what we are called to do is be proactive in our approach.  Yes it is wonderful when people come to us, but think back to your own life for a moment. More often than not, didn't someone have to come after you first?  Be that person who invites others to Sunday morning service. 

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Our Violent America

Since the days of Cain and Abel, mankind has been engaging in ways to harm one another.   The weapons change and become more advanced, but the intent of a murderous human heart remains the same.  Whether the motive is jealousy, envy, or hatred - one thing is clear; there will always be some who choose to become instruments of evil.  

Spiritually, the question often becomes one of causation I think.  In other words, we want to know what initiates or drives this evil and causes it to lash out?  And that is what I want to discuss today.  America has lost its way.  According to K-12 data in the United States, there have been about 1,400 school shootings from 2016 to 2025.  Keep in mind that this doesn't even include mass shootings at public events.  What happened to Charlie Kirk recently is a symptom of a spiritual war that has been getting worse over the last twenty years.  My heart goes out to his wife and young children.  

I am old enough to remember when the Columbine shooting was considered to be out of the norm.  On April 20th, 1999 Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked into their own high school wearing trench coats hiding automatic weapons.  We know what happened next, as they began murdering students and teachers.  The general public was both appalled and horrified.  But we thought that surely this was an isolated incident.  Flash forward to almost thirty years later, and people barely blink an eye when another such incident shows up on the nightly news.

And let's be honest, our national morality has changed in many ways.  Emotions are now given free reign in the public marketplace of ideas, without much concern given to facts or history.  Personal opinion is now king.  We can virtue signal on social media without much consequence of getting in trouble, and our hearts appear to be pre-programmed to adopt an attitude of self-righteousness regarding ideas we don't agree with.  The phrase "I don't agree" has been replaced with the mantra "how dare you?"

In many respects, we have stopped listening to each other altogether.  But what possesses someone to go that next step and perpetrate such horrific actions on another human being?  I have a feeling that the answer is much more complex than just labeling them as "crazy."

I recently watched a series on Netflix entitled 'The Iceman Chronicles.'  This documentary delved into the mind of famous serial killer Richard Kuklinski.  He was regularly employed by the mafia in the 1980's as a hitman, sent out to assassinate people.  In these interviews from prison, the psychiatrist referred to him as an anti-social personality type, with sociopathic tendencies.  He said that this stemmed from not only Kuklinski's lack of empathy for others, but also a brutally abusive father while he was growing up.  He regularly witnessed acts of violence as a child, and absorbed that into his world view as an adult.  

Kuklinski said that once someone offended him by questioning his authority in any way, he would make it a point to exact revenge.  The horrifying thing about this was that the soon-to-be victim would often have no idea that his demise was forthcoming.  All it took was one careless comment or offense, and the Iceman would earn his name one more time.  

I think this isn't far from where we stand today as a nation.  Since we no longer always allow ourselves to disagree in a civilized way, things can quickly escalate  to revenge or retaliation (at least symbolically).  No doubt that Charlie Kirk's assassin thought that he was doing what needed to be done - no matter how misguided that notion is to most rational people.  And it was misguided, in a way that defies explanation.

I promised to offer a spiritual answer to the problem of violence.  I think it has a lot to do with isolation and a narrow-minded set of divisive morals.  People today can often find themselves isolated from others.  The fellowship and regular meeting together with others in a church setting has fallen by the wayside for many.  People are more apt to dive down the rabbit hole of dark Internet websites, which help to indoctrinate sketchy values and unhealthy habits.  

The second step toward violence might happen when someone doesn't know God, or more to the point - doesn't know who God originally made them to be.  In essence, they don't have an identity in Christ - so they assume the identity of the false teaching they are engaging with.  If we don't know that we are made in the image of a Holy God, then it isn't long until the Devil slips in and begins whispering to us the wrong kind of truth.  

Couple these things together with the uptick in mental health issues and untreated depression/anxiety in our culture today, and it's easy to see how people turn to  hatred as a vehicle for self expression.  They have no other coping skills, no one else to offer them a different path.  No understanding of Scripture to help edify them in times of darkness.  The tools of destruction are easy enough to come by; anyone can get a gun if they really want one.  There are entire subcultures in America that hinge on modifying weapons and preparing for some theoretical civil war that may or may not happen.  The us against them mindset is alive and well.  

We are in a type of war though.  And it is the difference between good and evil, healthy discourse or indoctrination.  Matthew 24:12 issues a warning to believers about the end times.  It says, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold."   This statement could not be more true with every passing year.  

So what is to be done?  One speaker put it very eloquently at a seminar on gun violence that I attended last year at a local college.  He said, "Hope is not a strategy.  We must actually do something."  What this 'something' becomes is up to us as a society I think.  Do we continue to mock each other online, argue about politics, or even worse - stop discussing ideas completely?  Or do we show the love of Christ, even when we disagree with each other vehemently?  But our capacity for grace seems to be diminishing rapidly.  We are running out of time to steer the ship in a better direction.  

Since the truth is that we are made in the image of God, personally I will try to continue to love others with the courageous, sacrificial love of Jesus.  As certain as Cain murdered Abel in the book of Genesis, we will have suffering in this world.  At least until Jesus returns for the Second Advent.  But we can choose to offer each other the olive branch of grace and mercy in the meantime (even when people don't deserve it).  Honestly, do we always deserve it ourselves?  How you do this in your own life is up to you.  I would suggest less of an 'eye for an eye' approach, and more of a grace perspective.  

Protect your schools and your families, tell the authorities if you overhear someone making threats, and don't give up on the faith.  Continue to love with courage and fortitude, because you never know who may be watching from afar.  Do you argue with people and engage in hate speech?  Or do you encourage people authentically, and with a radical Christian love?  What kind of model are you putting on display for young minds to absorb?  A community is only as strong as the people who participate in it, and how we participate will shape it's ultimate outcome.  In the meantime, don't let evil win the day.  

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Marked by God

Last weekend I was blessed to attend a church baptism event.  A group of forty people went out to a nearby lake, and seven of them were baptized.  What makes this kind of event so powerful, is that these people made their own decision about Christ and His call to salvation.  When we are baptized as infants, we cannot make that decision for ourselves.  It's more of a ceremonial dedication which falls on the congregation as a whole, to help raise the child in the ways of God.  But when you are older, you can make the decision for yourself.  That is why I have always been in favor of a 'second baptism,' where a person can choose for themselves.  

As I helped lower people backwards into the water that day, I thought a lot about the significance of the ceremony itself.  We know that the simple act of getting wet doesn't save us; only Jesus can  redeem and forgive.  But our Lord did command believers to get baptized also, once they make a commitment to God.  The understanding is that we go down into the water in the same way our old, sinful bodies go down into the grave.  We are in effect, dying to self.  Once risen up out of the water,  it then symbolizes redemption and Christ's renewal.  We are  reflecting the truth that Jesus makes all things new.  That is why we refer to it as the believer's baptism.  They believe in Jesus, and then demonstrate this belief in a public way in front of friends and family.

One of the church elders present that day reminded me of something a local pastor once said.  While other clubs and organizations typically mark their members physically (with tattoos or some other type of indicator), God uses water.  Now this is curious, because water dries out and leaves us without a permanent mark.  Nothing other than our belief to identify the Christian from the non-believer.  And I think that was the pastor's point.  God doesn't let us off the hook with a physical marker; that would be too easy.  Instead, we are required to show our allegiance to Jesus by our behavior and actions.  Our faith must be transparent and obvious to all.  This is our branding.  

Now this is no small task.  I think it would be easier to simply wear the right kind of clothes or obtain some type of tattoo, in order to show our allegiance to Christ.  Maybe a well placed fish bumper-sticker might suffice.  But no such luck for the devoted Christian.  Our water baptism may symbolically wash away our sins, but it is also up to us to stay in alignment with Jesus, in terms of how we speak and what we do the rest of our lives.

Romans 10:9 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible.  It's very simple, yet also profound.  The Apostle Paul says, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."  This Scripture reminds us that we cannot save ourselves, but that we must also take action.  It is on us to believe, repent, and accept God's free gift of grace and salvation.  He offers it, and we should take it.  

After being baptized, our hair and clothing will eventually become dry again - but our hearts better not fade back to old habits.  We must be the lamp on a lampstand that Jesus talks about in his parable from Luke 11.  We dare not hide our faith or store it away somewhere out of sight.  People should know that you are saved, and that you belong to God.  And in this way, others will find their own way to the baptismal fount someday.  Christians set forth the example of Christ; we are to reflect His light and grace in a way that honors and glorifies the Lord.  This is the light from the lamp that Jesus talked about.   

After the baptism event was finished and everyone went home, I turned on the television.  Our town has a channel that shows a live camera feed of the lake and  beach area.  The water looked serene and calm again - no one out frolicking or making noise anymore.  Everything went back to normal.  The water may hold it's secrets, but we should not.  Tell other people that you know God, and that He made a difference in your life.  Show them the way home to their heavenly kingdom.  One day, you may just find yourself at a lake somewhere, but this time watching someone else get immersed.  What a joy that will be for everyone involved, and what a joy it will be for God as well!

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God is Patient, not Passive

I heard the following piece of advice while watching one of my daughter's tennis lessons years ago.  The coach told her that being patient on the court is not the same thing as being passive about her gameplay.  In other words, trying to "kill" the ball when returning a hit so that you can grab a point as quickly as possible, isn't always the best strategy.  There are other ways to go about winning the match.  He recommended that she continue to employ patience, and wait for the right shot at the right time.  This will win the day in the long run. 

This isn't always the easy thing to do mind you.  A player can feel any number of emotions once the match or tournament begins.  In fact, this piece of advice works for just about any sport I can think of.  In baseball for example, we wait for the perfect pitch to cross the plate in the strike zone.  In football, the quarterback waits for an open receiver.  You get the idea.  We take a moment to focus our mind and body, wait for the right opportunity, and only then do we make a move.

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 says, "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.  Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools."   

We see the opposite strategy being employed all around us - there are many who end up in the lap of fools.  The squeaky wheel gets a cleaning, right?  The idea here is that you must speak up and complain in order to be heard.  Talk loud, move fast, and then get what you want.  But what if we actually stepped back long enough to apply some oil and fix the squeak itself?  

I will never forget a particular transition of power that took place years ago at one of my churches in a different city.  We had a brand new pastor, and the entire congregation was excited.  It isn't difficult to embrace something new and interesting generally speaking, and the same thing happens in churches.  New management always carries with it the potential for hope.  

As luck would have it though, this particular person began making sweeping changes almost immediately.  He was trying to swing away with the proverbial tennis racket and kill the ball the moment the match began.  He advocated switching meeting venues, cancelling certain ministries, and even changing the church name.  Decisive change isn't always a bad thing, but there was one particular ministry he shut down that will always haunt me.  It was a healing ministry designed for women, and it had been running for almost ten years.  In addition, the person leading the ministry was just recently widowed.  That ministry had become a way for her to cling to something familiar in a time of great struggle.  It allowed her to connect with the familiar. 

How different that would have gone I think, had the new pastor stepped back a bit and surveyed the entire playing field before making a move.  How different things would have been had he waited for the right time, and the right shot.  Easy for me to judge in hindsight I know – pastoral ministry is a hard job.  But I will forever hold this event as an example of zeal not according to wisdom.  If I remember correctly, the leader and everyone else in that group left the church shortly thereafter.  

I think that the lesson we can take from Ecclesiastes 7 is that we can wait on God’s timing.  Wait for what He might be trying to tell or teach us, both through the Scriptures and in the Spirit.  It isn't passivity to step back a bit, and prayerfully wait.  

1 Chronicles 16:11 further says, "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."  When we are looking for God's hand, it means we want something specifically from Him.  We are asking Him to do something for us.  But when we seek His face, it is a completely different experience.  This means we just want to be known by Him, and for Him to know us.  To have a connection such that we might understand what He wants from us.  It is this second meaning that applies here I think.  1 Chronicles 16 in this regard, is talking about giving God an audience first - before we seek counsel from other people.  This isn't being passive either; it is simply being wise.  

I think that we can end up with the following process: listen for God first, discern what He is telling you by reading Scripture and seeking Godly counsel, then finally to  obey His commands.  Rushing in full of pride or anger rarely succeeds in the long run.  This behavior does make an impact on those around you, but usually not a good one.  Instead be patient with God, and He will do the same with you.  Prudence is not the same thing as indecision. 

 

 

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Can we Buy God's Grace?

A great many of us begin the right thing for the wrong reason.  We may join a health club for the sole purpose of becoming more attractive, when a better reason would be to get healthy.  We may decide that we want a promotion at our job, but instead of working hard and climbing the ladder through dedication and work ethic, we ego stroke the boss or try to win recognition through less mainstream channels.  The point is, sometimes people think the ends justify the means.  

There is often a sort of 'economic transaction' mode of understanding the world that we bring with us to spiritual matters.  It is an easy mistake to make, but when it happens, it sticks out like a sore thumb.  Imagine for a moment an individual who may donate large sums of money so that the church can build something new, but then wants their name to be proudly displayed next to it.  Or maybe they are doing it so that their good works show up in the media or is visible in front of others.  Even if we aren't talking about money, some can still have the notion that if I do this, then the church should give me that.  

Enter in the curious story of Simon the Sorcerer from the book of Acts.  We remember that Acts outlines the events of the early church, starting immediately after Jesus ascends to Heaven.  Simon was well known during this time for being able to produce strange and miraculous things, and he also boasted and bragged about it.  This happens a lot today, by the way.  Psychics and diviners who claim to talk to the dead, for example, are all over our television screens and Internet.  For a certain amount of money, psychic so-and-so might claim that they can put you right through to your deceased uncle.  What makes matters worse, is that these folks often do their research on their victims prior to "reading their fortune," and they grab enough of the vital information ahead of time so that it sounds legitimate.  

Acts 8:18-19 describes Simon like this: "When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, 'Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'"

Simon really missed the point on this one.  He brought that idea of an economic transaction into the kingdom of heaven.  He thought that the ends justified the means, and that money was a good enough bartering tool to procure what the apostles were calling forth from God. 

We cannot buy the spirit of God of course.  In fact, the Bible says that we simply receive God's grace, we receive His spirit, and we accept the gift of salvation.  You can see here, that God is holding all the cards.  It is up to us to simply accept and welcome what He is offering ... don't bother trying to buy it like some common financial transaction.  Now this is a difficult concept because the rest of the world operates differently.  Indeed, if we look back throughout history, we may find situations where the church accepted large sums of money or political clout, in exchange for increased blessing.  If it feels like the handiwork of man (and not God), then it probably is.  Most economic transactions operate that way - they have the same slant to them.  

Acts 4:12 tells us clearly regarding Jesus that, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."  Jesus saves us, not money or status.  

We don't know if Simon went on to actually repent and be saved, the account in Acts doesn't tell us that.  Did he repent of his sins?  Maybe so.  Have you and I repented of our own sin?  Only God the Father knows for certain.  Playing dress-up when it comes to religion is a dangerous thing.  We can pass ourselves off as moral, upstanding people for a while in front of others.  But at the end of the day, we either know Jesus personally, or we don't.  We view the things of God as business transactions, or something more special and unique.  

Give your tithes and money to the church, give your heart to God, and accept salvation from Jesus.  But don't confuse material wealth for spiritual riches - they aren't the same thing. 

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God's Use of Power

The concept of the elite and powerful has always fascinated me.  Just the idea that there is a sub-section of the population in almost every country that can literally buy their way out of trouble, or use their status to sway any group of people to side with them is remarkable.  We saw this depicted clearly in a recent streamed television series called "Dopesick," which documented some real-life accounts of a large pharmaceutical company manipulating their way out of legal trouble again and again.  The Opioid crisis spawned several lawsuits from people addicted to painkiller medication, and this docudrama showed how the head family of the company was able to successfully avoid accountability by paying off certain people. 

Not all people in power are corrupt of course.  In the Bible we have the account of King David, for example.  In several areas the Bible refers to him as God's anointed leader, and a man after God's own heart.  But by and large, I believe it is safe to say, we ought to have a healthy skepticism regarding the super elite.

Enter in the case of the Herod family during the time of Jesus.  Many in this family line were put into positions of power, and wielded that power with force and murderous intent.  They also struggled to keep power, as the Roman government was the true authority in most first century middle eastern provinces.  

We remember the story about Herod seeking to kill the infant Jesus shortly after learning that a prophet had been born.  Matthew 2:16 says, "When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi."  

As evidenced from this Scripture (and others like it), Herod wasn't a good guy.  He was willing to use his power and office to murder children and try to kill God's son - all in an attempt to stay in power.  I wish I could say this doesn't go on today, but I believe it still does.  Take a quick look back at recent historical events like the holocaust and the civil war in Rwanda.  

The repeating trope is evident: those in power often engage in both manipulation and wickedness to stay in charge.  This unfortunate fact permeates the twentieth century as well.  The record of events from World War I all the way through recent events in Afghanistan, often depict leaders engaging in national conflict over a power grab.  This is just the way things are.

Psalm 94:20-21 says: "Can a corrupt throne be allied with you -- a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?  The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death."  This held true for Jesus as well.  He was tortured and crucified; perhaps the most innocent martyr of all time.

It is important to keep something in mind here.  The wicked will kill and destroy in order to preserve their way of life, but the righteous will fight to edify and protect.  It is two different ways of living out leadership.  The first seeks to punish and remove, the second way desires to build up and redeem.

The power of Jesus Christ is incorruptible and redemptive.  There is no need to manipulate or coerce people into trusting Him.  We are free to accept or reject His gift of salvation and grace.  This is the exact opposite of how Herod and his family used to operate.  They moved in the realm of fear and violence – and many still do today.  God, however, acts with kindness and compassion.

But make no mistake - the Lord is not weak either.  Just because He left this Earth as a silent victim doesn't mean He will return that way.  The Bible says that during the second advent, the world will see His coming in the sky from the East to the West.  There will be no way to misinterpret who is in charge.  During this one moment in history, the right person will be in charge once and for all.  Sounds good to me.

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Getting to Know God

The book of Job is nothing less than a tale of someone who survives a series of trials and pitfalls, but still remains faithful to God.  Job was blessed by God during the first part of his life; Scripture says he was considered righteous and blameless.  But as the story goes, one day the devil came to test him.  In order to do so, Satan had to ask permission from the Lord to be able to strike Job with various kinds of plagues and illnesses.  Everything from bad luck, to boils on his skin! 

People often look to this book of the Bible to help explain tragedy and suffering, and it is a good place to start.  You see, Job did not deserve any of the things that happened to him - at least not from a behavioral perspective.  Scripture says that he did what was right in the eyes of God.  So as such, this account can also help address the issue of when bad things happen to good people.  Job was a "good person" by every human account.  

What has always fascinated me about this story however, is the fact that God actually takes the time to speak with Job in a one-on-one way.  He doesn't use signs or wonders this time; He simply has a conversation.  And Job makes the mistake early on, of calling God out for all of the struggles that he is going through.  This is understandable - wouldn't you and I do the same?

Once God answers back however, Job changes his tune rather quickly.  It's not every day that the Father of Lights responds to a frail and imperfect human being.  After listening to God remind him who is actually in charge, Job says something interesting.  Job 42:5 states: "My ears had heard of you [God] but now my eyes have seen you."  

It's a short verse, but also a powerful one.  Once Job became acquainted with the real God, his perspective changed.  And I think that is a problem that many people struggle with today.  We may know about God through other peoples' stories and testimony ... but we haven't met the real Lord for ourselves.  Therefore, God can remain an academic creation or a concept, rather than a real being.  When this happens, it opens up a host of problems as it relates to our understanding of what His reality means for our lives.  After all, why be obedient if God is just a theory?

I believe this is why some people become atheists or agnostics.  They have heard about God, but never met Him for themselves (and on His terms).  They have never fallen at the foot of the cross and asked for forgiveness.  Never accepted Christ into their hearts and ached for that connection.  In short, they don't have a full understanding of who the God of the Bible really is.  

To combat this phenomenon, we must be vigilant in our study when it comes to spiritual matters.  We need to keep Scripture in front of us, so that it can edge out the distractions of this world.  For example, if we don't know that the Bible says  not to love money, it would be easy to become obsessed with wealth.  And in fact, that is what we find when we look around at many countries today.  Peoples'  comfort is a retirement account, and their god is a nice house and ornate furniture.  Creature comforts and felt needs have replaced the real God.

This is the veil that covers the face of those who do not yet know Jesus.  They are guided by status, ego, and power; truly lost spiritually.  I know this language sounds harsh, but think for a moment how far God has brought you in your own life.  If you are a believer, then you understand that the "old you" is different than the new you in many different ways.  Christ gives us a new heart and a new mission in life.  We can now glorify, evangelize, and live for Him.  My ears had heard of you Lord, but now I actually know you.  

Once Job makes this connection between the textbook version of God and the real one, he apologizes for his arrogance.  In fact, he goes so far as to say, "Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:6).  This is quite a change from the way Job was talking down to God only moments earlier.  

I think we need to strive to stay in right relationship with the real God; the God of Abraham and Jacob.  The Scriptural God of the Bible.  And the only way to do this successfully is to continue studying His Word, and to attend a faithful Bible believing church.  Otherwise, the temptation will always be to substitute something else for the real thing.  Some type of make-shift, fictional god who meets our needs but never requires us to do anything.  

The good news is that He is always there, waiting for a connection with us.  He may not need us in the same way that we need Him, but He wants us.  It is always better to be wanted than needed anyway.  We don't deserve this great mercy, but I think we should accept it as a gift.  The sooner we strike up an authentic relationship with the Lord, the faster we can begin living a life of abundance and joy.  This is what He has always wanted for us anyway.  

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God Has a Plan

In May of this year, my wife and I drove our middle child to the military processing center in Des Moines.  He signed on for six years of active duty in the United States AirForce.  We could not be more proud of him and what he has decided to do for his country (at only eighteen years old no less).  

The act of moving him from the processing center to the airport was stressful.  There were so many new recruits that the computer system stalled out at the center, and they ended up getting my son to his shuttle about an hour late.  At that point, his plane had already begun taxying down the runway and lifting off.  This kicked off a string of events that involved confusion, placing frantic phone calls, and re-booking hotel stays for that night because he and his fellow recruits couldn't get another flight.

Rest assured, he finally made it to his destination.  As of this moment, he has completed his eight weeks of basic training, and is two weeks into tech school.  It turns out that he will study aircraft maintenance while he stays in Texas at the base.  

Needless to say, my wife and I have been a bit emotional about the whole thing.  He went directly from walking across the high school graduation stage, to doing push ups and sit ups for the military.  I suspect it must have felt like culture shock for the poor kid.  He did really well however, and his drill instructor actually promoted him to element leader of his squadron!

During times like this, I often find myself thinking about a rather famous Scripture from Jeremiah.  It's one of those pieces of wisdom that reminds me that God really does care for us like a wise and loving Father.  It says, "For I know the plans I have for you, 'declares the Lord,' plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jer 29:11).  

I suspect this applies to a great many young people today.  Because a future is what many people cannot seem to relate to anymore.  So much chaos going on lately.  A teenager or young adult can often feel like there are limited options, not enough money, or that things are just too overwhelming.  Not many have the fortitude to voluntarily sign up for the structure that the military can provide - less than 1% of the population by current estimates.  

For those who do demonstrate this level of courage, I think it is more of a calling than a job choice.  God bless our veterans and our service men and women.  They have chosen a career of noble sacrifice and difficult work.  The life of the average enlisted person often consists of moving from place to place, being re-assigned on short notice, or even going into dangerous areas of the world.  

It comforts me to know that God has a plan in place for each of us.  Especially when I think that this plan includes a prosperous future, fully vetted and thought through by Christ himself.  Can we decide to stray from His path and invite trouble into our lives?  That is always a possibility.  And if we are being honest, sometimes bad things do happen to good people; that is just how life in a sinful world works.  

But think about what a relief it is, to understand that God sees us in a way that venerates and encourages us.  Rather than focusing on fear or all of the things that might go wrong - we can choose to rest in His Word and live out Jeremiah 29:11.  If God has given you a call to serve in the military, then go and investigate that calling.  If He has placed inside of you a deep desire to evangelize and lead people to Christ, then honor that as well.  

To know God and love him is what separates us from those who wander through life in a daze, often resigned to frustration and a feeling of spiritual emptiness.  The Lord has a future for you, and it is full of hope.  Have you directed your steps toward that future?  Did you even know it was available?  Unfortunately, many people do not.  

As I write this, my son is set to ship out and be stationed somewhere after tech school.  I don't know if this will be Japan or Joplin.  But one thing I do know, is that he understands he is loved and supported.  We call him almost every day, and I'm sure it's probably a little annoying.  But when you are trying to guide one of your children through life, it can help to be a little stubborn.  

If God were not persistent with you and I - would we have ended up as Christians?  Or would we still be wondering through life with that nagging empty feeling in our hearts?  I think we both know the answer to that.  I am happy to view my future through His lens.  

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