Our Current Spiritual Landscape

Our spiritual landscape is changing.  You can feel it in the air, and see it in people’s faces.  Our hearts are being hardened.  What was once familiar and comfortable, is rapidly starting to change and transform into something different.  This new landscape isn’t all negative by the way, God is still showing up today.  People are experiencing an awakening in many respects, due to the fact that we are now being forced to examine what we really believe.  The stakes are high.  In fact, I’ve never been more certain that belief directly impacts behavior.  What we once laughed off ten years ago, we may now find deeply offensive, and often this is the result of someone acting out what they deeply believe (it just so happens to be different than what we believe).  There has never been more of a need to both stand up for what we believe as Biblical Christians, as well as to extend grace to those who don’t espouse the same ideas we do.  The next few years will solidify what role the church will play in our ever-changing political and social climate. 

I often find myself repeating the mantra: “Give God an audience first, before you make up your mind about something.”  Take the time to read what the Bible actually says, prior to forming strong beliefs on certain hot button cultural issues.  Are we taking time to listen to Scripture, or are we collecting our beliefs based mainly on slogans or emotions?  When most people witness change occurring around them at a faster rate than they are comfortable with, the knee-jerk reaction is to resist.  Sometimes this is good, in the sense that we must cling to Jesus and the Gospel message no matter what.  But sometimes resistance to change can also be detrimental, such as when we stop ourselves from keeping an open mind and listening to other people’s thoughts and concerns.   

Our words have deep meaning and consequences.  I hear a lot of a priori arguments being made lately.  This term simply means that people hold to a belief that they consider to be true from the beginning, without necessarily backing it up with empirical data or evidence.  For example, we might conclude that a certain person or group of people are automatically ‘Godless’ or foolish, because they don’t hold the same core belief that we do.  Without ever really finding out what they think or believe; we simply categorize them immediately. 

I think this often leads to comments or arguments that begin with the statement ‘Can you believe how ignorant so and so is?’  We may be postulating the a priori view that what we hold as true, must intrinsically be true for everyone else, and we don’t need to look any further for evidence which may contradict what we already think.  This is a safe place to be philosophically, because it allows us to think that we are always right.  It’s a dangerous place to spend too much time though, because it doesn’t allow for adaptation or growth.  If our spiritual landscape is indeed changing, then we can choose to look at it from the perspective of listening to these groups we don’t agree with first, and then waiting for ways to interject God’s truth into the conversation once an opportunity avails itself.  It is this patient approach that is needed today.  It’s hard to evangelize while we are being defensive. 

Christian author and philosopher Greg Koukl is fond of saying that most people aren’t used to having their foundational core beliefs challenged, so when that happens, they react with anger and vitriol.  The conversation typically stops there altogether, or simply turns into more of a debate.  Both of these scenarios do not lend themselves well to changing hearts for Jesus. 

We need not compromise our Christian morals or values, but the current landscape seems to demand a different strategy for evangelism: listen first, speak second, and love regardless.  James 1:19 says, “My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”  In this fashion, I believe we can win the person to Christ, even if we lose the argument.  We can plant the seed of Christian truth, and then step back and let God do the watering. 

 

 

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God's House of Grace

The longer I live, the more I see the necessity for grace.  Not just the need for us to show pardon to each other, but also the various ways in which God's grace works within our personal lives each day.  I see God's hand in the lakes and ponds around the county, in the sky on a placid summer day, in the woods, and most certainly in ourselves.  As author C.S. Lewis once said, "I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."  And God's grace must surely be among the things we see by the light of Christ.  

According to Wesleyan tradition, there are three kinds of grace.  The first of these is something known as Prevenient grace.  This is the type of God's presence that engulfs us from the very beginning, surrounding us even when we don't realize that we need Him.  It is something that is freely given from the Father, without an expectation that it will be reciprocated.  The way I tend to think of this concept is that it exemplifies a situation where we need help, and God provides.

The second type is called Justifying grace.  This is where we get help.  It is that action from God which allows for the pardon of sin.  It is at this point we are confronted with a choice I think - do we choose to follow God and accept Jesus, or not?  We have the ability to ignore or respond at this point.  If we are wise and accept the gift  Jesus is offering, our sins are nullified, and we have the assurance of salvation and life everlasting.  

The third type of grace is Sanctifying grace.  This is where we are able to give help.  I tend to think of sanctification as a process which extends over a lifetime.  It is that time frame where God works on us in little ways here and there in order to make us more holy, just like Christ.  It is sometimes a painful process (like when we must actively repent from the hold that sin has on our life).  But it is often a great joy also, as it allows for opportunities where we can use the things that God has done in our lives to help edify and build up other people.  God saved us, now we work to help move others toward an understanding of the Gospel message.  This is no small thing.

I have often heard where people have compared these three types of grace to a house.  The front porch of the house is where a person first arrives.  They may choose to stay on the porch, or to gather up the courage to actually knock on the front door.  You made it this far, right?  Might as well knock.  This is Prevenient grace in action.

The foyer of the house is analogous to a person coming inside to stay a while.  Salutations have been exchanged between the visitor and the homeowner at this point, and it is time to come inside and take your jacket off.  There may be a coat rack, or even a comfortable bench perhaps.  The point is that we made the choice to enter, and the owner has accepted us inside.  Now the real learning can begin.  This is justifying grace.

Finally, as we are given a tour of the house, the new arrival is subject to Sanctifying grace.  Full access has been granted, and we may roam freely.  In this manner we get to know the floor plan really well.  The furniture, the window treatments ... all become familiar territory.  And then the really good news strikes us: if we want, we may seek to invite other people into God’s house as well.  If we are courageous enough in fact, we will ask them to stay a while.  This is Sanctifying grace in action.

As you can imagine, God's spiritual house in this story is well built.  A large open front porch, a spacious entry way and foyer, followed by several master bedrooms and a large living area and kitchen.  It has central heating and cooling of course ... no window air conditioners or space heaters for God's dwelling place.  But if we decide not to enter, we may find ourselves back in a dilapidated one room studio apartment in no time.  Cold showers and backed up plumbing will be the order of the day.  Hopefully we are invited back to the large house again, and the sooner the better!

It seems then, that God is interested in us responding to His grace very much.  No one stays 'lost' unless they want to.  No one simply loiters on the front porch forever, or stays content shouting through a backyard window unless they choose to be there.  God invites us in, and we had better seriously consider obeying that request.

We have the freewill to choose otherwise, of that I'm sure.  We humans are often a bit silly, and full of pride.  We act in peculiar ways.  At times, if it were up to us, I think we would rather run things ourselves.  To stay outside on the front lawn instead of coming inside.  In fact, I think we tried that once; I remember an ancient story about a garden, a serpent, and two disobedient people deciding to do something similar.  Look how things turned out for them.  Better to go inside God’s house I think - don't you?

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Living with The Gospel Effect

 The Gospel message about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is just as important now as it was two-thousand years ago.  During this time of uncertainty in the world, I have learned a couple of things.  First, people need each other.  No matter how technologically advanced we get, we still have a deep desire to be in relationship  with others.  I have also noticed that trials and difficult times really do build character, and can also be redeemed by God for our spiritual growth.  Keeping both of these things in mind, the idea of the 'Gospel Effect' (the notion of the work that Jesus does in our hearts and minds) has become paramount.  

When I was younger, I worked countless part time jobs.  I started working in a grocery store when I was fourteen, and I've been working ever since.  As such, I've had the opportunity to work with a variety of people and personality types over the years.  I will never forget one young man in particular.  Bill and I worked together at a video store.  Week after week, we shared time in the trenches together, helping hundreds of people rent movies (you wouldn't believe how crowded those little stores would get on the weekends).  I remember him as being very secular-minded, and constantly on the go.  No time for church, but rather, it was on to this tournament or that event.  He was always busy; always moving.

I had lost track of Bill over the years, until one day I saw him at a local supermarket buying groceries.  We were both adults at this point.  We were a little older, and maybe a little wiser.  We talked for about half an hour.  He spoke about teaching an Alpha class, which is a series of Christian seminars typically hosted by churches.  Bill spoke also about the love of Jesus Christ, and the effect it had on him.  I could hardly believe my ears.  Not because he wasn't worthy of a Godly life, but because it was a night and day difference.  If you had placed the Bill of today in a room with the Bill of twenty years ago ... there would be two very different portraits.  The Gospel had changed him.  God had redeemed his soul and transformed his heart.

So, I want to talk about a particular story relating to transformed hearts.  It is often known as the Parable of the Leaven.  This teaching from Jesus occurs both in the book of Matthew and the book of Luke.  It is very short, but as you can probably guess, also very profound.  Matthew 13:33 says, "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."

From this concept, I believe we can take away two points in particular.  First, much like leaven (or yeast), the kingdom of heaven can take some time to develop and mature.  We ought not apply today's fast paced, technology driven lifestyle to the Gospel Effect.  Not always anyway.  When the Spirit of God begins a work in us, it often starts slowly and might be barely noticeable at first.  Maybe my friend Bill was aware of how God was changing his heart over time, but maybe not.  Most certainly his wife noticed, not to mention the change I saw in him that day at the store.  

Second, I believe we can take from this teaching that the kingdom of heaven starts from the inside and works its way outward.  Like leaven that permeates through an entire package of dough, Jesus begins working inside of a person's heart and mind.  The changes are often not obvious from other people's perspective, until the overflow of God's love begins to come out of that individual through the words they speak and the things they do.  At the end of that twenty-year time period, Bill's born again heart was very prevalent to me.  God had started a work in him years ago, and now he was teaching Christian classes himself!  Leaven may start small, but the end result is irrefutable.  

We are sometimes impatient with God, aren't we?  Instead of waiting for the dough to rise, we might decide that a trip to the fast-food restaurant is a better idea.  We drive up to the window, hand our money to the employee, and off we go with a bag full of junk food.  Quick, easy, and also not very good for us.  

By contrast, if we wait on God and allow the leaven time to work through the dough, the end result is impressive (and much better for us than spiritual junk food).  It goes without saying then, that God probably has to wait on us a good portion of the time also.  The Bible says He is infinitely patient with Israel, and with us as well.  And if we stop to think about things for just a moment, we can see how true this is.  How many times have you and I failed to meet God's holy law?  More than a few times I would suspect.  If you disagree, stop reading this immediately and turn to the ten commandments in the Old Testament.  Go down the list with each one, and apply it to your own life.  Humbling, isn't it?

Little doubt that God is the very embodiment of patience and love.  I often see this truth wherever I look.  My advice is this: allow God's Holy Spirit to make little in-roads into your life.  Give this Gospel Effect time to take hold, and work in you from the inside out.  Who cares if other people around you notice a change immediately or not.  Your sanctification walk is between you and the Creator.  Revel in that intimate time together with God; Jesus died on the cross so that you could have it.  So don't waste it.  

Sooner or later, those around you will notice the end result.  You will have your own supermarket meeting epiphany, just like Bill and I.  

 

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Jon Klaus Testimony

I was blessed to give my faith testimony last week on our church podcast.  Click the link below to listen:

 Jon Klaus Testimony

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Are Modern Day Prophets Real

Who are we listening to when it comes to ingesting spiritual truth?  It's an important question, and an issue that has a lot to do with discernment.  I want to begin by quoting Scripture from the book of Hebrews.  Chapter 1:1-2 says, "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe."   

We know from the books of the Old Testament that God did reveal Himself and His instructions to the minor and major prophets of the time.  Take for example the books of Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Jonah.  All of these historical accounts contain depictions of the Lord informing His followers what to do in order to stay connected to Himself.  Most of the time, the stories follow an arc that goes something like this: God warns Israel to repent or face judgement, Israel may or may not listen, and then God follows through.  It's a lot like how a loving parent disciplines their child.  Sometimes the kids listen, but often they don't.  When the Israelites did listen, God relented from the chastisement.  When they didn't ... punishment eventually followed.  

In the later days, Jesus became the vehicle for God's atonement and grace.  We know the story well.  Christ endured horrific punishment, died for our sins on the cross, and then rose again to bridge the gap between a sinful people and a Holy being.  This offer of love and forgiveness still stands today.  

Notice what Hebrews says in particular - Christ serves as God's mouthpiece for us today.  Where God spoke through prophets in the past, He later sent His son to grant us revelation through the recorded parables of the Bible.  This is what we read today, and what we discuss in churches two-thousand years later.  It's quite an amazing feat, I must confess my amazement every time I think about it.  A narrative written so seamlessly over the span of thousands of years; and it all flows together so well.  

Now please understand that I am not a cessationist.  In other words, I do not believe that all supernatural miracles and events ended with Jesus and the apostles, never to occur again.  I think that through prayer and fasting, God heals people and grants miracles even today.  Scripture says that believers will go on to do "even greater things" in the eras following the Resurrection.  

But I do want to offer a warning for Christians in the present time.  Our current technology has made it increasingly convenient to spread ideas and discuss important concepts.  Religious discussions are no different.  Most of the time, I'm fully on board with this reality.  The Internet is a great way to bridge the generational gap, as well as transcend the physical boundaries of geography.  But it also allows for a new fad that I refer to as the Modern Day Prophet.  Essentially, this is a group of people on YouTube or some other facet of the Internet, who set themselves up as God's mouthpieces.  They provide hours and hours of instruction and guidance to a multitude of vulnerable listeners.  But it remains to be seen whether or not it is good guidance.  Often it isn't.  

You will hear them say things like, "The Lord spoke to me in a dream last night, and this is what He wants us to do."  Or perhaps something such as, "God showed me what is going to happen next month."  The wording can differ, but you get the idea.  

The consequences are real for following false prophets and false teachers.  Many have lost their retirement savings as a result of listening to these people.  And some have even lost their lives.  

I believe that this is where we need to be really careful, and listen with ears to hear.  Jesus is God come in the flesh, for whom it has been appointed heir of all things (the Alpha and the Omega).  His red letter words in the Bible are the ones we need to be listening to on a regular basis.  This isn't to say that people today cannot be in spiritual communion with the Lord, or that they never have legitimate visions - but when they claim to be speaking on behalf of God, things can become problematic quickly.  

Remember also that Scripture says if a self-proclaimed prophet gets even one prediction incorrect, then they aren't a prophet of God.  This is common when it comes to the so-called modern prophets of our day.  They tend to excuse or explain away situations where whatever it is they predicted didn't come to pass.  It happens with such frequency that it is almost laughable.  This means that they are playing a different kind of game, one in which good people can be led astray.  Instead, turn your time and attention toward the Bible and Godly pastors who are willing to preach the truth.  This type of spiritual leader is becoming more and more rare, so if you find one, hang on to them for dear life.  Our salvation can depend on it.    

Elsewhere in Hebrews it says, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."  Many Bible scholars refer to this passage - and many like it - as a  foreshadowing of the Messiah.  In the same way that this specific order of priesthood was eternal, so Jesus is the eternal savior.  If he can save someone back then - he can save you and I today.  It's a promise that never expires.  

It is always better to seek counsel through Scripture than through one of the  talking heads on television or YouTube.  Things tend to go better that way for everyone involved.  

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"Hell is tolerant, they take everyone. Heaven isn't, you need Jesus to get in."

- Mark Driscoll

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God's Suffering Servant

We are no stranger to the notion of suffering.  As I write this, our generation has come out the other side of a worldwide pandemic, we are standing precariously close to the possibility of a third world war, and natural disasters continue to strike our country regularly.  I think it would be safe to say in general, that we are beginning to lose any false sense of security.  You know what I mean; that little voice in your head that says things like, "that stuff only happens to other people in other countries."  They do happen to us, and in our own country as well.  So the time has come to grapple with the reality of suffering, at least from a Biblical sense.  I say a Biblical sense, because this subject so often lends itself to asking the tough question, "why do bad things happen to good people?"  Let's tackle the issue right here and now.

I won't spend too much time on the nuts and bolts theological explanation of suffering.  I believe that the Bible has  clearly laid out the story of how sin entered into an otherwise perfect Garden of Eden.  Once man decided to disobey God all those thousands of years ago, subsequent populations have had to struggle with famines, illness, and death.  Life wasn't originally meant to be this way, but we sinned through Adam and Eve, and now we exist in the aftermath of that rift.  

In addition to this spiritual argument, we also have at our disposal the book of Job in the Bible.  I find this to be far more compelling in it's treatment of the human condition.  Namely, because God actually answers Job at the very end of the book.  What an incredible sneak peek we have from our Lord regarding how and why human beings go through trials and difficulty!  Not so much from an immediate gratification perspective, but more so from the standpoint that a good and holy God would even take the time to answer us at all.  

As some of you know, Job was stricken with all manner of calamity during his life.  Scripture says that he was covered with sores, and that he lost livestock and even his family.  At one point, Job's wife implores him to "just give up, curse God, and die" (Job 2:9).  I would imagine that was quite the dinner table conversation.  Throughout the book, Job pleads with God for answers.  He essentially makes the argument that since he is a righteous man, he therefore doesn't deserve to be punished or to suffer.  Job's friends give him some really rotten advice, except for Elihu, who actually seems to defend God rather than blame Job.  

Job makes a handful of proclamations regarding his terrible situation.  Often, he simply laments because he doesn't have anyone on his side.  There seems to be no one who can advise him clearly, or who can suffer with him.  And here lies the real thrust of my point.  Jesus is in fact our representative before God.  He was God's suffering servant, and the only person ever to have walked the Earth who was holy enough to offer himself as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).  This is exactly what Job was hoping for.  The future Messiah was exactly the type of consoling friend that Job had longed for from God.  He didn't know it at the time, but mankind's atonement for sin was slated to enter onto the global stage a couple thousand years later.  Who would have suspected that a carpenter from Nazareth could change the course of human history?  

As we read the different ways in which the book of Job foreshadowed the coming of Christ, keep in mind that this account was written two-thousand years before  Jesus was born.  In fact, some say it is the oldest book in the Bible.  

Job 9:32-34 says, "He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.  If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more."  Tell me this doesn't sound like a plea for the atonement and the covering of Jesus.  The perfect penitent, ready to sacrifice himself for our sins.  

Job 17:3 says further, "Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.  Who else will put up security for me?"  In the New Testament, we are in fact introduced to the idea that no one is holy or righteous enough to meet God's pledge head on.  We do in fact need an intermediary to fill in for us instead.  Christ alone puts up "security" for us in God's eyes.  This is the only reason that Christians today can approach the throne of God boldly in prayer and supplication.  

While this foreshadowing is fascinating in it's own rite, what I think is more applicable for us today is the fact that only through God's suffering servant, can we have any kind of peace.  God eventually answers Job and his friends at the end of the story, but what He says isn't necessarily comforting.  The Lord reminds them that they are not God, and only the real God is sovereign and righteous.  Essentially telling them, "Who are you to judge me and tell me that you shouldn't ever suffer?"  Point taken; we are not God.  

But we also need to remember that He knows our pain and our struggles on a personal level.  Jesus is one part of the Holy Trinity - he is God's son.  So in effect, we have a savior that knows what it's like to struggle, feel physical pain, and be humiliated.  Re-read the account of his crucifixion if you need to.  My point is simply that our God is no stranger to illness and death.  He is not aloof or uncaring, as some have described Him to be in the past.  When we cry, so does God. And when we feel joy, so does He.  

And some day, if we are saved and have taken Jesus up on his offer to accept the grace of salvation - we may finally get specific answers to our questions about suffering.  But at that point, I suspect it will no longer matter.  Because we will be in the presence of His true love and perfect grace.  As Scripture says, "No eye has seen what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor 2:9).  And He does love us.  

So be at peace, even if it's impossible to do so in the human sense.  We have a God that has suffered on our behalf, so that someday we won't have to.  Until that time, get on with living, so that you can help other people know and understand God's love.  Doing so may just help you heal as well.  Sacrificial love has a way of doing that.    

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Listening for God's Truth

It is so very, very easy to become distracted in our culture today.  We often spend much of our time going back and forth to activities for our children (or grandchildren).  We spend time trying to keep up with the Joneses, keeping our house clean, trying to be a good employee, etc.  It is no wonder that many of us don't have much time leftover to delve into spiritual things or Biblical truth.  In fact, I think it is much easier to come home after a long day and drop into bed exhausted, relieved just to be home.  We can wait until Sunday morning to hear about God; or so we think. 

I will always remember one evening in particular; a memory that sticks out in my mind so much that I enjoy recounting the story to this day.  I was at a function organized for some of the children in the community out at the local country club.  It was set up in order recognize achievement - and they always had a free meal.  Parents would bring with them loads of food and plenty of desserts.  This particular evening was no different, there were tables of treats as far as the eye could see.

It was also not uncommon at these events for the parents and caretakers of the children to be distracted for short periods of time, often helping with the food and the event itself.  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed one young child walking back to his assigned table with a full plate and a beverage.  This is normal at a banquet of course, but as I took a closer look, I noticed that his plate was stacked high with donuts, brownies, and cookies.  I had to sit down because I started laughing so hard.  It was evident that mom and dad were not paying close attention.  The young man saw his chance at culinary freedom, and loaded his plate accordingly with whatever he wanted.  I can't imagine the sugar rush that must have transpired shortly thereafter.

As we all know, donuts and brownies taste good, but they aren't good for us.  Quite the opposite in fact.  The trade-off for our momentary joy is usually a feeling of fatigue that soon kicks in, and another four-hundred or so calories that stick to our bodies.  The rush is short lived - not to mention the feeling of guilt that rears its ugly head later.

And I believe it can happen just the same way when we turn the discussion toward spiritual things.  When we are tired or distracted, it is easy for the bad things to sneak onto our plates.  It is easy to put God and the Bible fairly low in our daily hierarchy, isn't it?  After all, many of us are on the go from the moment we get out of bed to the time we cash it in for the night.  It is only natural that our plates are full of junk food.  We've no time for anything else.  But is this really true?

We load up with a quick bit of political correctness here, maybe a dab of lukewarm spirituality there.  But nothing that will give our souls the protein we need in order to stay healthy and fit.  Instead, we often ingest things that give us a quick rush of satisfaction, followed by fatigue and unnecessary calories.

I think it is important to ask the question, “Are we taking time to listen for God’s truth?”  And it is a good idea to ask it of ourselves at every step throughout our lives.  Are we really listening?  We have only a short time here on this planet.  Are we filling that time with spiritual truths from God, or with worldly wisdom that sounds good at the time, but doesn't really keep us full?

Author and philosopher C.S. Lewis once wrote that human beings are built to run only on God, and nothing else.  He goes on to say further, that all of human history is the long, terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.  There is a lot of truth to this statement, especially when we see so many people settling for pseudo-spirituality and half-truths.  Is a culture where we deny our own gender, redefine marriage, and put our freedoms ahead of unborn children really what God would endorse?  It’s something to think about. 

So what is the answer to this dilemma?  I believe the solution is literally at our fingertips - recorded in the actions and words of Jesus himself.  God has generously related them to us in the pages of the Bible.  We must keep digging into what Christ said and did.  We must bring our full intellect - with all of our doubt and certainty, joys and struggles - to an understanding of Scripture.  Watching the news media won't get us there.  Reading and studying only secular writing and philosophy isn't enough either.  We must begin to fill our “dinner plate” with the right food, and the sooner the better.  With the correct spiritual diet, I am betting the distractions will slow down.  Maybe they will even transition from a loud roar for our attention, to a small trickle as we begin to allow God into our busy lives.

I wonder about that little boy and his heaping plate of treats from time to time.  It brings a smile to my face whenever I think about it.  I am sure that at some point, mom and dad probably noticed what had happened.  They most likely took it upon themselves to admonish and correct the young man.  If we are lucky, God will do the same for us.  It is no good sitting down to a meal with the wrong type of food.  Fortunately for you and me however, there is usually a grocery store with a fresh produce section just around the corner.  If we listen to our bodies closely enough, we will know when it's time to change our diet.  That time is probably as soon as possible. 

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A Faithful Christian Remnant

The standard definition of the word remnant means a portion left over.  This begs the question of course, as to what composes this portion in the first place.  Another way to think of it is to ask what is the remnant being set aside from?  If we start with a Biblical perspective, I believe it becomes a lot easier to narrow down the topic at hand.  People who have devoted time to studying the Old Testament will tell you that it is an account of God attempting to set apart and preserve a remnant of His Holy people, in spite of all of the various trials and conflicts that have plagued the Israelites throughout history.  God edifies them no matter how many times they rebel or disappoint Him.  And believe me, there were plenty of times when they fell short.    

Let's begin with a nod toward Isaiah 10:21-21, which talks about how God helps Israel stand up to the Assyrian army.  It says, "In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.  A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God."

We see here that those who have been set aside from the rest of the pack, can now be free to rely on God's guidance.  The Assyrians were no better at avoiding idol worship than anyone else, indeed, Scripture says they were worse in many ways.  The remnant of God's chosen people are called to be different; they are set apart even today.

If we visit the disturbing story of Sodom and Gomorrah, we see how God also works to set aside a small portion of the population once sin begins to run rampant.  To be accurate, only three survived this historical and tragic event.  Genesis 19 mentions how Abraham bargains with God to spare any righteous people who may happen to live in these two cities, prior to their destruction.  God agreed to spare the town if He could find at least fifty people who weren't corrupted.  No such luck.  The number of righteous eventually tapered down to only Lot and his daughters.  Even Lot's wife ignored God at the very end, and becomes a pillar of salt for her disobedience.

I think we can see that the remnant in the Bible really equates to a group of true believers.  Untarnished and set aside, they are kept holy and separate from whatever sin or apostasy happens to take hold of a town or city at the time.  Believers of Christ are the remnant today as well.  We are small when compared to the entire world, but rest assured - no less important.

What are we being set apart from?  Take your pick.  Some have postulated that there is a recent falling away (or apostasy) in the modern church itself, which spans across all denominations and geographic locations in the West.  Churches willing to sacrifice the tenants of their faith in order to bow to current cultural values and norms.

There is sin prevalent in other areas as well.  Look at the greed on display in some of the banking practices here in the West.  Think about the sins against family and marriage also, such as pornography and sexual promiscuity outside of Biblical boundaries.  Or sins against children directly, such as abortion and human trafficking.  There is no shortage of things to which without God's direct intervention, there would be no remnant left to preserve.

But Jesus grants us hope, doesn't he?  Our Lord has promised to return one day, and until then, his Holy Spirit remains behind to help guide and convict people here on Earth.  We need this accountability, and we need His forgiveness also.

When Jesus does in fact return, what kind of remnant will he find?  We get this curious question from Jesus in Luke 18:8 which asks, "I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.  However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

This is a rhetorical question I think, but it does illustrate a certain concept when it comes to the remnant of Christ.  Namely, the idea of whether or not we (the believers) are ready.  Do we accept being set apart and made for something better?  Have we stayed faithful and true to God the Father until the return of the King?

Fortunately for you and I, we have help with this daunting task.  Dare I say that without God's help, it would be impossible to remain set apart nowadays.  Faith is a gift after all, and that not of our own doing.  It is a grace extended to us on the part of a Holy Savior to His struggling people.  Just like the Israelites in the desert, our world is lost right now.  Mired so often in sin, and unable to find the path which leads to the narrow gate and the offer of eternal salvation.

Rest assured, God is our teacher and comforter, able to guide us through.  Be bold and courageous with the knowledge that you have been bought at a ransom and set aside to do great things.  Lean into the legacy you have been given.  Be the Christian remnant, faithful and true.  

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Resurrection Sunday Still Matters

The literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the linchpin of the Christian faith.  It doesn't matter which denomination or slant you derive your Biblical understanding from, Easter Sunday is a big deal.  It is perhaps, the biggest deal.  In my humble opinion, it is even more important than Christmas and Good Friday.  It is the key to understanding how we fit in to God's overarching view of salvation, eschatology, and theology.  The resurrection of Christ is like God's approval stamp on the life and ministry of His son.  It's akin to the angels in Heaven announcing through a megaphone: "God has come into the world, and you need to listen to Him!"  

I won't spend much time debunking the liberal claim that Easter represents a "spiritual resurrection" only, since there is so much information and historical data out there which points to the fact that it actually (physically) happened two-thousand years ago.  If people adhere to the idea that Easter represents a spiritual awakening only, then they are missing the main thrust of God's plan.  Namely, that those who believe in Him will never parish, and will also have eternal life (John 3:16).  

If we think back and imagine other historical events that shaped history, it's easy to see how timelines can overlap and build upon each other.  Take for example, the invention of the printing press in the middle ages.  This incredible machine was responsible for reproducing the Bible for others to read and pass down through the generations.  Today, this amazing book has been translated into roughly 736 languages across the globe.  Imagine the impact this has had on faith conversions and evangelism.  Regular everyday people can now read the Bible for themselves, without depending on a bishop or cardinal to interpret the Scriptures for them.  It revolutionized our faith.

In the same way, Easter Sunday is our annual reminder that Jesus came to Earth, spread the Gospel message, and then died and was resurrected to save us from our sins.  There is much less fanfare in our country over Easter than for the Christmas shopping holiday, but the resurrection is no less important.  If it hadn't  happened, churches would have nothing to talk about.  They would be like social meetups or country clubs.  

1 Peter 1:3 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."  And dead in our sins we would be, if it wasn't for our Lord and Savior.  

John Wesley (founder of the Methodist faith) once said that he feared someday the church would end up mimicking the appearance of spiritual fortitude, but without any real power behind it.  Some have argued that this is where many lukewarm churches are today.  Great music, entertaining liturgy, but not much of a Gospel message.  Churches that don't preach Christ crucified are in this boat I think.  And it's a comfortable boat: a lot like a cruise ship - sailing through an  ocean of lukewarm water.  But it never actually reaches a spiritual destination.

The captain makes sure never to pilot the vessel into dangerous choppy water, so the passengers don't know what fighting for their faith looks like.  Just an endless voyage in a comfortable floating bubble, guided by human beings instead of the Holy Spirit.  For boats and ships like this, Easter Sunday means just dinner with the family and maybe watching some sports on television afterwards.  Maybe some good praise band music at church if they are lucky (if they attend service at all).  

But for Christ centered churches, the resurrection drives and motivates them.  It's like Superbowl Sunday for the faith.  The sermon is important, and the music exists to help drive home the Gospel message and assist us in worshipping the Creator.  These churches are repeating the megaphone message from the angels: "Wake up world, and acknowledge the King of Kings!"  

So if you attend church on Easter Sunday, remember the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf, so that we could have eternal life.  Ruminate on the notion that Christ removed the sin barrier stopping us from reconciling with a Holy and just Lord.  And then, by all means, go home and enjoy dinner with the family and some television afterwards.  There may even be an egg hunt; but not before you praised and worshipped God for the empty tomb.  

Then don't get back onto the lukewarm cruise ship.  Let it stay docked idle in the harbor.  Pray for those who are funneling back up the ramp and onto that ship though.  Ask God to show them a better, spirit-driven life based on the resurrection.  And remember that Christ's offer to you and I for salvation is always open.  We need only answer back, and allow Him into our boat.  God is a much better captain.  

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Pray for Trust, not Clarity

How many times have you worn out your knees praying to God for a concise piece of instruction or clear direction?  In our current immediate gratification culture, we are accustomed to receiving information quickly.  Trips to the library are often replaced by web searches, and Google has become our wise older grandparent who gives advice.  We have all heard the phrase "we are surrounded by information, but not wisdom."  And surely this has borne itself out as true over time.  

The truth is that most of our current human interactions have been documented in the Bible already, so often we can simply look back through those pages and figure out God's will for ourselves.  Think of Scripture in this way as a human how-to manual.  If you are being persecuted for example, then look to the Psalms of David.  If you are struggling with indecision, then look to Paul's letters and epistles.  You get the idea.  

But we all face certain trials occasionally, where it feels as though the Lord has permitted us to go through more than we can bear.  It then becomes normal to seek out advice from sources other than the written Word alone.  We need to talk it through; we need to pray for trust.

How exactly can we trust God?  Let's look at four ways that help us engage with His amazing and omnicient mind.  Each rung on this spiritual trust ladder builds upon the previous one.  And we begin with getting to know God as a sentient being.  Not just some disembodied, supernatural force "up there somewhere," but as an actual agent of change in our lives.  Really knowing Him means getting to know His heart, which in turn means spending time in Scripture.  It is impossible to know the God of the Old and New testaments from prayer and emotions alone.  We must understand what He said and when, so that we can gauge other people's advice against the Bible.

Second, in order to trust God, we need to know His intentions for us.  We need to understand that He loves us not only as the church, but as individuals.  He feels our pain when we suffer (remember that Jesus was both human and divine, subject to very real human suffering).  One of my favorite pieces of Scripture regarding this is Jeremiah 29:11.  It says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  He loves us, guides us, and endows us with a supernatural hope.

Third, we can build trust in the Lord by surrendering control of our lives over to Him.  Now for all those proud, strong-willed, independent people out there - I wish I had better news for you.  But the fact of the matter is, that His ways are well above our ways.  The only way this faith walk will work is to understand and admit that He knows what is best for us.  And that means letting Jesus come into our lives and clean house a bit.  To help us repent of sin, ask for forgiveness, and come into a saving relationship with Him.  We don't get there on our own steam.  Trust me, it just doesn't work.  Full scale surrender is what works.  

Finally, once these first three rungs are established, we must exercise patience while waiting on God.  Doesn't sound like much fun, does it?  It would be a lot easier if God were a giant ATM machine or a Google browser.  Type in what we want, and then He kicks out an answer in thirty seconds or less.  If only.  But the truth is that our character is built up and edified when we wait on Him.  

If the answer we are seeking is clear from Scripture, all the better.  This is similar to instant gratification.  But if not, then we get to work on building our four-rung ladder of trust.  We get to know Him, understand His intentions, surrender control, and then wait on Him.  

Years ago when I attended the University of Iowa as an undergrad, I found myself without enough money to pay for my semester's tuition.  As I began to apply to banks for small loans; panic started to set in.  I was financially short eight-hundred and ninety dollars, and the bill was coming due soon.  As a struggling college student, this amount might as well have been a million dollars.  

One day I received a mysterious check in the mail at the dormitory.  Upon opening the envelope, I noticed a check for nine-hundred dollars from my grandparents' estate.  It was an early payout from the will (my grandfather had passed away months earlier).  The timing was too much to ignore, and it was the exact amount I needed at the time, plus tip!

It then occurred to me immediately that I had neglected to trust that God had my best outcome at heart.  He still showed up at the right time, right place, and with the right portion.  I think back every once in a while and ruminate on that experience.  Did this kick off my faith journey thirty years ago?  It probably added some fuel to the spiritual fire.  But it wasn't until I was almost thirty-years-old that I began to actually trust God and seek Him.  I started building the ladder.  

He waited all those long years for me to thank Him for that check at college.  He waits for you also, but it won't last forever.  Someday we will take our last breath here on this planet.  So seek after God and get to know Him now, while we still have the grace to do so.  He is worth the journey, and fortunately He feels the same about you.  How strong is that ladder?

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