Not all Christians feel the same way about Halloween. To be fair, Christians feel differently about all kinds of things from playing music to consuming alcohol. The answer to any question very much depends on who you ask. But Halloween is next week and Christian responses really run the gamut on this one, from full participation to turning the lights off and going to bed early.
Jesus Ween seeks to make October 31st all about Jesus. Continue reading
He came to Jesus professing he had kept all the commandments from his youth. After Jesus told him to sell all he had and give to the poor, the man left very sad for he had great possessions. We all know this story, there’s nothing else to learn from it right? (It’s a trick question, don’t answer.)
The story of the Rich Young Man (or Ruler, historically) is accounted in Mark 10:17-22. He asks Jesus what he must do in order to have eternal life. Perhaps you’ve heard religion is what we do, the gospel is what Jesus does for us. But Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. The man replies he has kept all of the from his youth. Now we know that he is either lying or more likely has deceived himself. He thinks he is good, bound by the notion that what he does will earn him salvation. For those of us that know this story, the way I thought I knew this story, look again at verse 21:
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Jesus looked at him, loved him, and then responded. Jesus was actually listening to him, not just waiting for his turn to speak. This man left sorrowful because he had many possession. The scriptures do not say that Jesus was sorrowful, but we know that it is God’s will that no one should perish. Jesus wept over Jerusalem and prayed for the ones that hung him on the cross. Jesus loved the rich young man. This was a good person that was tragically attached to his worldly possessions. Jesus loved him. But this person, like so many others, found something else that he loved more than Jesus. He went away sad that day.
Every single person you met today: Jesus loves them. There is a lesson to be learned about how to receive eternal life, but look at the lessons here for Christians. Look at people. Listen to them. Love the way that Jesus loves. And remember that there are no Super Christians. Every person that Jesus witnessed to did not get saved either.
Halloween is coming up. You can read my obigatory Halloween rant here; I want this post to be something else. Let’s examine the reality of witches, demons, evil spirts and ghosts. Let’s separate literal truth from literary fiction, because in this life “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorites, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Eph 6: 12
In Matthew 14, Jesus comes to the disciples walking on water. Continue reading
There is old saying about quality over quantity. The old testament book of Jonah is only 4 chapters long, but it has much to teach us.
Lesson #1: Listen to God
Many people spend a lifetime “searching” for God. Even those who know God still spend much time seeking his will. God plainly speaks to Jonah, telling him exactly what he wants done. God has ordained the events of history. Paul says we see through a glass darkly, so it makes sense to listen to the one who sees all things clearly. Consider Genesis 50 and Acts 2 when pondering free will. Man does what he wants, God always gets what he wants. God had plans for Nineveh, and Jonah was to be the instrument God used. We could save ourselves a lot of pain (and wasted time, energy and effort) if we would just listen to God in the first place, especially when he makes it that clear. Continue reading
Can a person be a Christian and _________? We’ve all heard that or wrestled with it at one time or another. We may be tempted at times to wish for a simple list of 80 gazillion rules that spell out every possible situation, leaving no grey areas to deal with. That’s basically what they had in the Old Testament and that didn’t work out either. There are so many issues the Bible either doesn’t speak to or doesn’t address as clearly as we would like. Can a Christian drink? What about smoking? Can I be a Christian and still get a tattoo/play cards/dance/listen to pop, rap and/or country music?
The Bible may seem at times to give conflicting instruction. We are to walk circumspectly of the world, and to not love the world or the things the world loves. Paul makes cryptic statements like “all things are lawful for me but not all things are profitable.” That’s the law of grace, but… what? Can I play Texas Hold’em or not?
Dave Miller at SBC Voices does an awesome job with this. He divides most issues up into four categories, and rather than attempt to answer each question he guides the individual to set up a rubric of sorts to work them out. I found this post in particular very well written and extremely helpful. He links to many other posts in the series. Highly recommended.
The Truth Matters Bible Conference was held earlier this month at John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church. The focus of the conference was the Gospel According to Paul. Grace to You has all 11 sermons available as free downloads! Includes John MacArthur, Phil Johnson, Don Green and Col. Jeffrey N. Williams. I feel very Michael Spencer linking these resources.
These are perhaps the most blogged stories over the past few days in the Christian blogosphere. Each is somewhat divisive, and everyone has their own opinion. In no particular order:
Palestine is petitioning the U.N. to create a Palestinian state. President Obama and former president Clinton agree that doing so at this time is a bad idea. Clinton however railed on the Obama White House last week that all the current problems with Israeli relations are the fault of Obama policies. Benjamin Netanyahu describes the U.S. is a friend of Israel, but Obama is in a delicate political position right now. Palestine would need the support of the U.N. Security Council to move forward, and the U.S. has said it will veto the measure if it comes to that. Obama’s political career needs for it to not come to that.
Southern Baptist Convention might seek a new name. Back in the late 80’s an SBC name change was handily defeated. “North American Baptist” was the proposal back in the day, implying a broader base than the South. I once heard an IMB missionary to Canada comment on the irony of planting Southern Baptist churches there. Since slavery is no longer the dividing issue (SBC denounced all historic ties to racism back in 1991) it begs the question of why all American Baptists could not re-unite. The answer is that SBC would never give up their organization, but we MUST beg the question.
Rob Bell is leaving Mars Hill Church. Bell went to the unlikeliest of places and practically did the impossible with Mars Hill. His recent book Love Wins seems to imply universal salvation, and has not been received well (to say the least) by some Christians. He said something about broadening his horizons by leaving, whatever that means. Rick Warren suggests the danger here is that leaders no longer have a community to keep them accountable. Bell could easily support himself without Mars Hill; selling books and DVD’s might be far more profitable than pastoring.
As a matter of fact, I’ll give you three topics. I’m going to toss these out in no particular order and sort out the results later.
1. Palestine asked the UN to be recognized as a state. President Obama advised against it. The U.S. does not want to veto it in the Security Council, but says it will if necessary.
2. The Southern Baptist Convention is considering a name change. None of us had blogs back in the 80’s, so maybe this is entirely for our benefit.
3. Rob Bell has resigned from Mars Hill. Rick Warren had comments, what are yours?
…
12 hours later and no takers. Comments to this post are closed.
Read Blog Fodder: Palestine, SBC and Rob Bell at The Master’s Table.
not really our gardener
There are certain things you get used to. When you grow up with electricity in every room, and with hot and cold running water, its easy to forget that most of the world’s population does not have those things. The same is true in ministry. On any given day, I will have students in my class from Ethiopia, Nigeria, Thailand and South Korea. I have had students from Japan, China and Russia, but none right this minute. Most days I don’t even think about it as this is “normal” where I live and work.
One of the blessings of the ministry I work in is the unique blend of individuals God has brought together to do the work. My wife and I came from Georgia, but we have friends from Colorado, New Jersey and Alaska. One couple came to serve with us after spending 16 years on the mission field in Nigeria. Every person that’s here left behind a church that misses them; all of our fellow missionaries were church deacons, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders and such like back home. I listened to a good sermon tonight about the three parables in Luke 15 delivered by our gardener. Yeah I know, right?
If one of my students had a question from scripture, he or she could easily ask our campus minister or Bible teacher. But would you take the same question to a bus driver? I happen to be an ordained minister and a school bus driver. Our gardener plants flowers and designs landscapes 6 days a week, and pastors a small Presbyterian church on the weekend. He is just as qualified to answer Bible questions as our basketball coach – who has also traveled to Rwanda to teach English and to other countries doing medical missions.
Stephen Tracksel said “I am not a great man of God, I am a man of great God.” The next time you turn on the tap or flip a light switch, try to remember where all blessings come from. And the next time I wave at the gardener, I will try and do the same. May we all be instruments of His will.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the Gospels in that they tell the story of the life of Jesus. Jesus preaches in Mark 1 “repent and believe in the gospel.” More than those four books, gospel means good news. Jesus died for our sins; he is the way, the truth and the life; he brings the New Covenant, and we are no longer under the Law; all things things are part of the gospel message. Paul says the Law is bad news; it cannot make us righteous, only more guilty. But there is more to the Old Testament than the Law, and it’s not all bad news.
The Bible has many stories and characters, but only one message. (Have you read this?) The Old Covenant was about keeping the Law and bearing the mark of circumcision. Paul has many analogies about the difference between the Law and the Gospel; the Gospel brings life, the Law only brings death. But my point is that there is plenty of good news in the Old Testament as well. It is part of God’s message. Continue reading
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