Christian Joe

God really challenged me regarding the basics of Christian growth in my recent study of Romans 12. I have been preaching through Romans for some time now at our church, but I took some time to pause last year before jumping into Romans 12. As I have been contemplating and meditating on God’s Word. I was struck with how basic and simple growth in holiness is. We often yearn for supernatural and fantastic measures of grace to be dispensed to us in order to grow. We are often not satisfied with the ordinary dispensing of God’s grace through the simple means he has chosen in our walk of sanctification, but desire extraordinary demonstrations of God’s grace. Another way to think about it, we often live for emotionally and/or spiritually charging experiences hoping that the next big work of growth in our lives just might propel us into the outer stratospheres of Christ-likeness. But the profundity and beauty of God’s Word teaches us that He has ordained very ordinary means of goodness and grace to grow us as his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works. This past Sunday, I shared this with God’s people by way of introduction before launching into Romans 12:3 which shows us the greatest detriment to growth unto holiness and godliness that Christ desires of his church. In the next few posts, I hope to expand on these four means that God has ordained for true saints to grow in grace and genuine holiness. As I read the Scripture I am challenged with these four “ordinary” means God has chosen to dispense sanctifying grace to his people. God has ordained the preaching of the Word, the observance of his ordinances, the grace of prayer, and the fellowship of assembled worship as the vessels to dispense grace to his people. All four of these are what the indwelling Spirit of God uses to grow us in grace and holiness through faith. May we walk in them.

By no means should we think that mere obedience to these duties is sufficient or even helpful in Christian growth. We must embrace a walk of faith in light of the Gospel as we grow, but these are the means God has used to build our faith so that might be sanctified by his great grace.

If you would like to listen to the full text of this Sunday’s sermon, I will post it shortly in mp3 format. But you can watch it now on youtube.

Of all the “respectable sins” (a term coined by the author Jerry Bridges) pride has to be one of the most pernicious and pervasive. There is  not a human soul in existence today who is not troubled by this destructive attitude of heart. Arrogance, egotism, self-pity, self-aggrandizement, morbid introspection, public self-exaltation, and many more descriptions of pride characterize our daily lives. The sneaky thing about pride in all its forms is that it fools us into thinking it is not-existent. It is a deadly spiritual parasite who pretends to be a fabric of our sanctified DNA convincing us that we are humble and gracious with little or no pride. Ironically, the arrogant man takes pride in his abject humility. This has caused a new word to be formed in our culture today, humblebrag–A statement where one is able to exalt himself through self-deprecation. There can be little argument that all people, even Christians are proud people.

Technically, the opposite of pride is humility, but I believe that we should dig deeper. Maybe it would be better to say that the opposite of pride is Divine Wisdom. What I mean by this is that the cure for pride is not failure or falling. We often think that if a proud person is humiliated or is a failure, then they will obviously be cured of their pride. But that doesn’t usually happen. Instead, proud people who fail miserably usually play the victim and blame others around them for their failure. On the other side, they may retreat into morose self-deprecation and self-pity which is still pride because it is centered upon “self.” Mere external circumstances which could humble a man rarely destroy the wickedness of pride. Just as a child who gets caught in their sin and punished will rarely be changed from that experience. No, they will just learn how to avoid getting caught next time. So it is not external humiliation that will dissolve pride, even in a Christian’s heart.

That which is fundamentally opposed to the pride recessed in our hearts and minds is a true Wisdom of who we really are and who God magnificently is. Behavior modification seeks to change pride by showing the person how bad pride is or how negative arrogance can be or how hurtful pride is to others; but lasting change comes when our minds are turned to see how good God really is and to view ourselves in light of his revealed person, Jesus Christ. The opposite of pride or better, the cure for pride is the knowledge of God and the Wisdom only he provides. Our minds and hearts can only contain so much information and devotion. If we are devoted to feeling better, knowing more of ourselves, being comfortable and satisfied in this life, then there is little space left for Divine thoughts and lofty notions of God. But if we are filling our minds, hearts, and longings up with the Wisdom of God, there is little room left for lofty thoughts of ourselves. The battle against pride and arrogance begin with the mind being renewed in the knowledge of the person and work of God. In this manner, Theology is the most practical thing a Christian can study for life and godliness. To know God in a relational and comprehensible sense through the Word of God is the only thing that can destroy pride and selfishness from our lives.

The title of this article is about pride’s most deadly feature, so what am I getting at. Here it is…The most deadly feature of pride is that it convinces us that we don’t have a problem. Pride convinces us that our thought processes are Divine. Pride convinces us that we are not being squeezed by the world’s pattern of thinking. Pride convinces us that others have much to learn, but we thank God we are not like the Pharisee that stands in the public square thanking God he is not like the publican (kind of ironic, huh). Pride convinces us that we don’t need to say “I am wrong;” we can simply and quietly just move on. Pride fools us into thinking that we are theologically and doctrinally minded and that we need less devoted time in the Scripture and in prayer than others. “Those Bible study classes at church are for new Christians. I need something deeper in my walk.” Pride causes us to get offended when we are rebuked or admonished. Pride is involved with self-justifying. Pride says, “But the woman, whom you gave me!” just like Adam. Pride causes us to think of everyone else who needs to hear God’s admonition…but me. In essence, the most dangerous feature of pride is that it can camouflage itself as humility and spirituality.

Remember Peter at the end of Christ’s ministry? Jesus approaches Peter and asks him three times if he loved Jesus. Peter’s appropriate and honest response is recorded, and Jesus commands Peter to feed his sheep. Then at the end of it all, Jesus tells Peter to strengthen his brothers when he is converted. Jesus knew Peter and he knew that there was a major change that still needed to take place in Peter. That change is obvious when we see Peter’s immediate words. He looks at John and says, “What about this man, what will he do?” Jesus’ response is classic. “That is none of your business, follow me!” (That is a loose paraphrase I know). What needed to change in Peter? Pride, it had hid itself so well from Peter that he couldn’t even see it even after the passion events. It took a while for Peter to finally see that he was wrong.

Beloved, we must ask God to humble us through a growing and sincere knowledge of His person and work. Pride will keep you and me from examining our heart. That parasite does not want to be found. And when he is found, he will dig his teeth in and it may cause more pain removing it than letting it continue. But for the sake of Jesus name and the judgment seat of Christ, we must renew our minds in the person and work of Jesus Christ, humbling ourselves before the mighty Surgeon’s hand so that he can remove the pride that constantly grows within us.

In my life, I have noticed two ways that pride reveals itself. These may not be the same for you, but maybe my experience is instructive to some who read this. Pride usually exhibits itself when I take personal offense at others’ actions and reactions against me. If I am secure in Christ, I should take no offense from others even if they are royal jerks. What right have I to be offended by other people’s actions? I should rather have love and pity for others-rather than be personally offended with a huff and a puff. When I feel I have been wronged, pride usually raises its ugly head and bites down hard. I foolishly utter in my head, “What is wrong with people?” but what I should be asking is, “What is right with me?” My only rightness is the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to me. Here is the trap of Job. He sinned not at first, but then he got pretty good at justifying himself rather than God, I am pretty good at that too. Allowing bitterness over past failures of myself or others to rule me is also an expression of pride. I really need to think, “What right have I to be bitter against anyone?” Bitterness was poured out on Jesus Christ in my stead.

May God give us, Beloved, a heart that is humbly seeking to know God. “For they that do know their God shall do exploits” (Dan. 11:32). Only through an increased Theological awareness and the grace of God in submission to the Holy Spirit’s use of the Word of God in our lives can we see pride’s defeat.

Have you ever noticed that every generation speaks fondly of their youth and the culture of that youth and somehow finds a way to work into the conversation, ‘Those were the good ole’ days”? Christians are no different, we often reminisce about the church of yesteryear, romanticizing how it was so much better than it is today. Christians tend to make a utopia of the church of the past and long for the utopian church of the future, but rarely are content with the church today. Whether it is the church of 40 years ago, 400 years ago or 2000 years ago, we sigh with deep longing wishing that church could be like it was when it was “pure.” You know, before all this world, culture and generation messed everything up with their baggy pants and baseball caps turned backwards. I often chuckle at the individuals who long for the church of the 50s and 60s when the women wore dresses, the men wore suits and long-haired hippies just stayed out of the church. I chuckle because I think that they have forgotten that the church was still full of sinners in the 1960s regardless of the length of their hair.  But then I wonder, do I or my young generation do the same thing with the church of 2000 years ago? Do we not look at the early church, the apostolic church, the church of the first century and long for the days when we can get back to the purity and perfection of that first assembly? Are we not projecting a utopian ideal upon the early church? And if we are, is this any different than the discontentment of those who long for the church of the 1950′s. Oh, but my longing is much more Biblical, more pure, is it? Am I not idolizing a culture or historical time and by default suggesting that God has not been strengthening or building his church with success for the last 2000 years. Constant looking back and longing for the good ole’ days is idolatrous and foolish. We are made to serve God today in the church today, with all her failures and successes today.

Was the early church so pure and perfect anyways? Let’s think for a moment. Was it not the apostolic church that within years (maybe months) of their miraculous and fantastic establishment and growth led by those gifted as no others (apostles) evidence signs of deep prejudice? And not just any prejudice, but that prejudice characterized by neglecting to love and care for old widows who only were guilty of being of a different ethnic background. Was not this early church the scene of a fight between leadership because one of the most influential gifted leaders, and experienced churchman was hypocritically refusing to eat with some people in the church because of perceived prejudice and cowardice? Did not this early “pure” church have saints lying to one another, to the Holy Spirit and to the leadership in order to appear to be godly, hospitable, and generous? What about the local assembly at Corinth, we don’t even need to speak further on that one. A congregation, called saints and truly God’s church in the first few verses who complemented themselves on their acceptance of those with deviant sexual lifestyles, proud, worldly, doctrinally messed up, and refusing to listen to the leaders appointed by God. How about the church at Ephesus that Timothy was sent to? This young man who only wanted to serve the God, who loved him, is sent to a church where he must rebuke the elders publicly living in sin, set in order all the things gone wrong, correct the worship failings, and in the process need to drink wine for his sickness that is associated with this task. Here is a young pastor who is physically and noticeably ill because of what he must do in this “early church.” But their fellowship was so sweet, they had all things common and took care of one another beautifully? Did they, what about the church at Philippi? Eudious and Synteche, who are at each other’s throats. What about the continual rebukes and commands to love one another. Why do you think that there is so much said about loving one another, caring for one another, and encouraging one another? It is probably not because they were doing it, but because they were failing. There is so much more that we could examine, the doctrinal errors so radical that today, we would probably label those churches as un-salvageable; the fighting, the failures, and so much more. But then we come to the end of the first century, the last book of the Bible written and we have seven churches in Asia, the earliest churches in the spread of Christianity, just read the first few chapters of Revelation. We don’t get a utopian picture of the early church.

What is my point, am I just crankily taking digs at the church? I hope that no one would misunderstand what I am writing. I love the church, It is the most beautiful expression of God’s work on this earth. But we must be careful that we don’t project our idolatrous utopian ideals back on the early church and long for the days when everything was right in the church. The reason that there were problems in the early church and problems today in the church is because both were made up of people, and people have problems and are problems. A former professor of mine once said, “The best church is a large one with no people in it.” The church is the place where God takes justified sinners and orchestrates a life-long process of sanctifying them so that he might present his church as a pure bride before the Father. That presentation before the Father does not take place in this world, but in the world to come. People are the same 2000 years ago as they are today. The styles change, languages change, cultures change, but people who have a sinful flesh and earthly minds are still around and will be until Christ returns.

I am not suggesting that we excuse sin and problems within the church, nor am I suggesting that it is not helpful to look back at the structure and pattern of the church in the New Testament and pattern our churches after that. But if you, dear Christian are supposing that there exists somewhere either on this planet or in history, a church that will have achieved this goal of sanctification and fulfill all your dreams of what a utopian church is, then you will be wandering the earth for a long time. Often those dissatisfied with the church have expectations that can only be met with glorified people and since they are not yet glorified, then their presence ruins the whole thing. Does this mean that it doesn’t matter what a church does or doesn’t do, what the people are like, what the leadership does? Absolutely not! The Scripture does outline what the church ought to do and look like. But the best way to help a church accomplish this is not to criticize or hop from assembly to assembly looking for that utopian church, but rather to serve with your gifts and abilities, pray for the church, and submit yourself to the authorities God has ordained for that church.

In searching for a good church, I highly suggest that everyone reads Mark Dever’s book The Nine Marks of A Healthy Church; It is richly Biblical. And even after reading that book, don’t just wander looking for a church that meets those criteria. No church will perfectly do all things right. But get involved and serve God with contentment knowing that telling the Lord that you just couldn’t find a good church will not avail much at the judgment seat of Christ. When our mind is on earthly, temporal goodness; when we look for all our wants, needs, and longings to be satisfied in earthly relationships and organizations; then we are evidencing a mind not set on the eternal heavenlies.  We must long for Christ, for only in Him can we have peace, satisfaction, and contentment.

There seems to be a lot said in the media today about bullies and bullying. Bullying is not a new issue, but social media websites and instant communication through technology has brought the issue to the forefront of people’s thoughts. Bullying is a sinful practice and one that ought to be taught against and abhorred by Christians. One thing to remember about bullying that is often forgot, is that bullying is not an adolescent or even pre-adolescent problem only. Children bully because of a sin nature that plagues every human, but they are taught to perfect their bullying through the adults that surround them. In the church as well as in the world, bullying takes many forms, but one aspect of adult bullying in the church that has often been ignored is spiritual bullying. Spiritual bullying can be perpetrated by those in leadership and it often is, but it is also a problem among those within a congregation.

Bullies are often not confronted and when they are, it is usually not done well. They are often confronted through violent means (if not physical then verbal) which may cause the bully to leave the victim alone but really does not change the heart or long-term behavior of the bully. This leads many to say “Once a bully, always a bully.” And no doubt, this appears to be the truth. Spiritual bullies in the church are not much different. Sadly, they are not confronted well by God’s people either. Like bullies on the playground, this is usually because they aggravate other Christians to the point of frustration and then the victim’s response is to punch them in the nose (this is metaphor…but sometimes literal even in the church) or teach them a lesson they will never forget. This too will not change the heart of the spiritual bully, but will lead them to retreat into self-justification and feelings of vindication.

There are a few weapons of spiritual bullies, but the most effective by far is fear. Spiritual bullies want people to be afraid. They want people to be afraid of crossing them, be afraid of making a wrong choice, or be afraid of facing some kind of punitive judgment. And so spiritual bullies will (while taking the high ground of superior “spirituality”) use ultimatums, manipulate others to agree with them… or else, conflate minor or secondary matters to first priority (the minor matter is obviously something that the bully wants) or threaten with exposing the victims faults. All this is for the purpose of causing those around them to feel fear. It is not that they are necessarily wanting them to feel threat of physical or emotional attack but to cause those around them to “see their point of view.” To “agree with me for your own good.” If they can cause those around them to be afraid of not doing what the bully wants or at least making the victim walk on egg shells around them, in the long run, they feel they win. They will do this enough to cause others to give up and just give them what they want. And so fear wins the day, instead of faith.

But what do bullies want. At the heart of bullies, both spiritually and culturally, is a selfishness intent on personal comfort or validation. It might seem unusual, but it becomes obvious to many that bullies are more insecure than those whom they bully. Of course, no self-respecting spiritual bully would ever admit that he is insecure and seeking his comfort because he is uncomfortable with his God relationship and others relationships with him. But whether he admits it or not, insecurity is his chief problem; and insecurity is a nicer way of saying faithless.

The Bible does address bullies. First, we must realize that bullies need the Gospel. Only the true Gospel of Divine grace and mercy will deliver them. The testimony of the Apostle Paul comes to mind. He was a bully of bullies, a spiritual bully bar none. It took the intervention of a sovereign God with his grace to rescue Paul from his spiritual bullying and make him to be the greatest edifier of the church in all of history. How do we deal with bullies? We minister God’s grace and pray for God to do to them what he did with Paul.

But often the spiritual bully in the church is a professing Christian, and it is possible that he is a true believer who is living a life of disobedience walking in his former lifestyle. Either way, he needs grace and so we must minister grace. “When he (Jesus) was reviled, he reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not but committed himself to him who judges righteously” (I Peter 2:23).” If your enemy is hungry give him bread to eat, if he is thirsty give him water to drink, for in so doing you will heap coals of fire upon his head and Jehovah shall reward you” (Proverbs 25:21). Ministering grace to spiritual bullies does not mean that there is no confrontation concerning their sinful behaviors; there must be appropriate confrontation (“If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God”) but that confrontation must be with the purpose and in the manner of ministering grace to the individual.

If we as Christians who were the enemies of God but are now made saints by the justification of Christ’s sacrifice cannot minister grace to those who are our enemies, what are we then saying about the power of the Grace of God. Dealing with spiritual bullies is no easy matter, but God has given us grace so that we might minister grace to all men.

As professing born-again Christians, we claim to cling to the cross of Jesus, or the gospel, as our source of deliverance from sin. But we often compartmentalize God’s deliverance/salvation thinking that the gospel saves me from the penalty of sin (eternal judgment in hell) providing me a secured future in heaven (often thought of as some kind of Christian nirvana), but in order to be truly delivered from the power of sin in this life I need another source. Most professing Christians would not suggest that the Gospel or cross is powerless. However, when a person clings to anything other than the cross of Jesus Christ and redemption through God’s grace alone not only for their eternal salvation, but also for their temporal deliverance (salvation) from temptation, habits, thoughts, and behaviors, he is stripping the gospel of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice of the cross of any real or lasting power. That may seem strong and so maybe that last statement should be qualified. I am suggesting that the professing Christian is intentionally attacking the gospel, but any pattern of thinking that diminishes any aspect of the power of the cross is indeed defying the work of Christ in full redemption.

This way of thinking is conformed to this age, this way of thinking says, “I need the gospel for eternity, but I also need my therapist, my counselor, my pastor, my breathing techniques, etc…” you get the idea. In essence this pattern of thinking is void of true rest in the cross as my sole means of deliverance from all of my sin–the penalty, power, and eventual presence of sin. Romans 12:2 shows us how we deal with the habits, temptations and struggles of this life in a cross-centered way. “I urge you brothers, be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you might prove the good, well-pleasing, and complete will of God.” When we were regenerated by God’s grace, our souls, minds, and hearts were bathed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We looked to the cross for our deliverance. We rested in Christ, our Sabbath, as our only means for deliverance, salvation, from our sin. But as this world seeks to squeeze us into our former way of thinking (that thinking that believes that we need God plus something to be delivered), we will only grow in grace, being continually transformed in our minds and subsequently increasingly conformed to the likeness of the character of Jesus Christ, which is making us fit for heaven as our minds are being continually renewed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Or to put it a little less verbose. When we continually meditate day and night on the cross of Christ, the theology of the Gospel, the mysteries of redemption, ever increasing our delight in God by training our minds to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly being filled with the Spirit of Truth we are being refreshed in the cross that delivers us from sin and we will be gaining personal victory with the thoughts and habits that are godless. There is a means of sanctifying grace in the earnest pursuit of God through the Word of God, especially the New Covenant truths of the Gospel.

We cannot be saved from the eternal penalty of sin through earthly means, strong willed commitment and moral fortitude. But neither can we be saved from our temporal habits, addictions, temptations, and sinful behaviors through the tools of this age and the pattern of thinking of this world. Our justification, our sanctification, and the certainty of our glorification is found in renewing our minds, conforming our pattern of thinking to the gospel. This is cross-centered deliverance. So consider this, Christian, what we put into our minds, what we think upon, and how we align our thinking has a profound effect in living a life of victory in a God-hostile world. One reason we don’t orient our thinking in this way, is that we want immediate deliverance from the struggles of the flesh. But if we will genuinely meditate and immerse ourselves in the realities of the Gospel, think Divine thoughts concerning redemption, sin, salvation. If we meditate upon the atonement of Christ, the promise, and the covenants, we will find ourselves delighting in the greatness and absolute perfect deliverance of our sovereign God, and this will gradually transform our minds to God’s way of thinking.

Below is an “open-letter” describing my heart in the preaching ministry God has given me through Grace Baptist Church. I am greatly privileged to serve a sovereign God as a bond-slave; and I am truly blessed to be able to minister to gracious, loving and receptive people of God in this local assembly as a servant of the Word. Thank you, GBC family for being a delight to serve with.

My purpose in the preaching of the Word of God is not to persuade people to change. It is not to inspire people to faith or obedience. It is not to coerce people to a religion or faith system, nor is it to build some earthly or human fiefdom. It is not to make people Christians, Baptists, evangelicals, or fundamentalists. It is not to meet the perceived needs of “seekers” nor is it primarily to meet the immediate spiritual or emotional needs of our church (although I do believe God meets our needs through the preaching of the Word. It is a by-product, not the purpose). My purpose in preaching the Word of God has two parts (I am committed to this two part mission in every preaching ministry or opportunity God grants to me, and it is best if you know up front what I will do as long as God has me as lead pastor of Grace Baptist Church).

It is my earnest desire and life-long endeavor  to mutually draw our normally vapid attention to the risen glorified Christ and the Triune God, maker of heaven and earth and the one worthy of all worship, adoration, and exaltation. My first intention (and this will be accomplished only by God’s grace. . .  for this I need much prayer) every time I set foot in a pulpit, a classroom, a Bible study, or counseling situation is to first engage the Scripture to draw my spiritual eyes heavenward and then to assist those who are hearing in drawing their spiritual eyes to the glory of God, especially Jesus Christ. I pray by God’s grace, that my intent in preaching will never be to exalt a man-especially myself, a system of thought (no matter how accurate it is), a story (no matter how compelling it is), a historical personage  (whether they are Bible characters or not) or a denomination (even though I am distinctly Baptist) to compete on any level with the glory reserved for God alone. In other words, my intention in preaching is that everyone who might hear the Word of God preached from my tongue, especially I, would bow and trembles with joyful anticipation and reverent awe at El-Elyon, Most High God, the King of glory. I want to be a facilitator and assistant in your life as well helping you exult in the Glory of God as he is revealed in the Scripture.

It is also with God’s help, my desired intent each time I preach or teach from God’s Word to clearly and effectively communicate God’s Word in such a way that each person, young or old, male or female, new Christian or old Christian, saint or sinner would understand God’s Will and Word as it is revealed contextually in the Bible alone. A great many men and women of the faith have articulated doctrine and practice for the past 2000 years and so it is foolish to not reference them and study how they understood and taught the Word of God. There are as well, many gifted, intelligent, and Spirit led Bible teachers and preachers today who can help us understand what God has spoken. But my intent is not to coerce people into other men’s opinions or my opinions (although I have them and am not ashamed to share them), to convince people of my standards, to cause conformity to traditions not clearly revealed in the Scripture. But I desire this single-minded purpose: with all the energy, intelligence, hard labor, earnest prayer and Spiritual enablement and gifting to preach the whole counsel of God in a systematic understandable way. I then will trust that the Holy Spirit will plant the truth of God’s Word proclaimed so deeply into the soul’s heart and mind that He will persuade you and me to know, love and obey the God of the Word, the Revelation of Jesus Christ.  I believe a part of this is providing application or implication the best I can, but also not stretching or spiritualizing a text to evoke some kind of change or loyalty to me or to my “positions.”

I believe the best way to do this is to systematically preach through books of the Bible (recognizing that  at times it is necessary to cover a topic or a doctrine), explaining the text and providing implications/applications of the text. I believe it best to spend the majority of our preaching time in the doctrinal portions of the NT before examining the application portions (as is the pattern of the epistles). It is important for me to be submitted to the Holy Spirit as communicator and for you to be filled by the Spirit as receivers. It is important that we come to texts of the Scripture with a burning desire to know, “What does God say?” Not with “How can I use the Bible to convince someone of my position or belief?”  In all this, I know that I am weak, but He is strong. God did not call me to this task because of any natural gifting or abilities within me, but in my weakness, He desires this to be accomplished for His glory and so I must pray, and you must pray…We must pray that God will accomplish all his will in preaching ministry here at Grace Baptist Church for the exaltation and honor of God alone—the great three in one and for the advance of His church for whom he died and now is Lord and God over her.

I couldn’t resist putting this picture up from the sacred sandwich since I was referencing Pelagius this Sunday. If you listen to this weeks sermon in Romans 11 you will understand what I am talking about. It was a good thing I saw this while I was alone in my office or everyone would have seen the coke come out my nose.

I had thought of writing an article regarding church planting in the U.S. but then I came across Dave Doran’s blog article and realized there was nothing I could say that he didn’t say better so I encourage you to read this article in its entirety and contemplate deeply the contents.

Church Planting in the U.S. -Dave Doran

Here is an excerpt:

How does this apply to church planting in the United States? It reminds us that having a foundation laid does not mean the job is done. It is certainly true that the foundation has been laid in the U.S. God has blessed us richly with solid, Bible-believing local churches. But in every region of our country there are still communities (and their size and number are growing) that do not have a church like that. It is the responsibility of the existing churches to establish churches that can expand the work of the Great Commission into those communities.

People sometimes ask me how I view the celebration of Halloween. About a year ago, I wrote a three part series on my personal (hopefully Biblically informed) opinions regarding this somewhat touchy subject. If you have the desire, I have linked the three articles here.

Halloween and the Christian Part 1

Halloween and the Christian Part 2

Halloween and the Christian Part 3

July 21, 2001, I married the love of my life and my best friend. Speaking earthly, it was the most enjoyable day of my life. Simply put, we had so much fun! I remember clearly standing at the front of that large church building waiting with sweat on my neck for the service to begin. I also remember just moments before I heard the wedding march a strange sensation in my stomach. I suddenly thought, “What if she doesn’t want to marry me? What if she has changed her mind? What if I have changed my mind? A lifetime is a long time.” (I know, sounds real romantic, huh?) But as soon as I saw my soon to be wife start walking down the aisle of that church on that Saturday afternoon, my heart slowed down, all fears vanished and a massive smile swept across my face. She was beautiful! Being the sort who is contrary to tradition, we had already taken pictures and so I had seen her in her lovely gown. I had admired her styled hair, and I had smelled her intoxicating scent. It seemed, however, that now, at that moment, I was seeing her again for the first time. Everything was different that moment. What gripped me the most about my beloved that day was her smile. Our eyes locked from across the building and she smiled! Oh that smile still appears to me in my dreams. Whereas before I had a momentary lapse into fear of the unknown, now I was delighted, comfortable, joyful, and at peace because my beloved accepted me.

Of course you know that I intend to apply this spiritually. Please do not become distracted with the inability of my wedding day experience to perfectly mirror the spiritual. I know all illustrations fail at some point. While recognizing this, I also cannot help but remember that at times, my heart is gripped with doubts. Yes, I am being painfully honest. I have been driving down the road minding my own business, when suddenly out of nowhere, a thought comes to me, “What if all that I believe about God and salvation is not real?” Panic might set in, and if I listen to my weak fleshly thoughts, there is no peace and comfort. I believe it is normal for Christians to experience this. We live in a world where the entire culture and environment is under the dominion of sin and fear. I believe God gives us grace to rise above those fears and doubts while we are connected to Christ, but the flesh and fear do exercise their wicked muscles at times. We struggle with doubts, fears, panics not because we are not good enough, but because we are saints living in a hostile world. We struggle with screams of fear because although we are in Christ, related to God, and forgiven; we are walking by faith, yet without sight. But one day, dear beleaguered Christian, one day-our faith will be sight. We can see the smile of God, his acceptance of us because of Christ’s propitious sacrifice through the lens of faith, but I am so thankful that one day, I will see the smile of God with these eyes. Yes I will endure pains and death will bring this to pass, but I know I shall live again and my Creator and Redeemer will smile and I will finally know what it means in actual realized fulfillment–”Accepted in the Beloved.”

I thank God for my earthly love and companion, my wife. And I thank God for my eternal advocate and friend, Jesus Christ-far surpassing grace than any earthly companion.