Christian Joe

Archive for the ‘Life’ Category

I was reading the introduction to a book written recently concerning marriage and the family.  The author began with something that you will find in most Christian literature written today.  He began with the premise that we are living in a post-modern era and therefore living in a culture that believes truth is relative.  I used to believe this, but as we look at the spiritual, social, and political landscape around us, I have begun to wonder, “Is our society really post-modern?”  Another way to put it, “Does our culture believe that truth is relative?”  I am not so sure that is the case anymore; and yes, I do believe there is something worse than believing truth is relative.  What is worse than relative truth?  How about a reversal of truth whereby the culture proclaims that there is morality, there is truth, it is just that the truth they are talking about is the polar opposite of what God says is truth. One of the principles of a society where truth is relative is to suggest, “You have your truth, I have my truth-let’s just live and let be.”  But our society no longer thinks that way. As evidenced by the post yesterday, the society is not content to live and let be, but is determined to conform everyone to their standard of morality and truth.  Or the way the Word of God puts it, “Woe to them that call evil good and good evil.” (Is. 5:20).  In the “modern” era, men rejected absolute truth, in the “post-modern” era men ignored absolute truth, but now in the era we are living, men have redefined truth.  Now, it is not just that everyone can do his own thing, but if you insist upon Biblical truth, dogma, or Biblical literalism, you are not just considered wacky (post-modern)-you are considered evil.  If you desire to share the Gospel truth with an unbeliever, you are not just considered rude and intolerant, (post-modern) you are considered the enemy of “truth.”  Christians should do well to heed the reminder of Jesus, “Marvel not if the world hate you.”  I am still trying to think about what we should call this era if it is not post-modern, post-post-modern is just not creative enough, but whatever era we are living in now, we need to be on guard and arm ourselves with the mind of Christ.  Persecution is coming to those who hold to the God’s inspired Word (the Bible) as dogmatic truth.  The world has a gospel, it is just not the gospel of Jesus Christ found in the Bible.  In future posts, I would like to examine what the world’s gospel truly is.  Stay strong Christian.

I recently saw this commercial Audi Green Police (okay so it has been out for a while, but I guess I don’t watch enough TV and when I do, I am notorious for channel surfing during the commercials); and I get that it is just a commercial and supposed to be funny, but since when did totalitarianism become a hip way to communicate your message?  And then I saw this commercial Glee Recycling and was bothered by the subtle message being sent.  I am a supporter of recycling.  I am for energy conservation.  I get irritated and will cranky about morons who litter water bottles and granola bar wrappers along the trails I like to hike, but there is a trend within the world to adjust morality.  For years, the world has protested against standards of morality.  The world is amoral and toleration is supreme.  But I noticed an important message being sent in these commercials.  It is that there is a morality, but it is not a Bible-based one.  In the first commercial, it is a crime worthy of serious arrest to be found using plastic instead of paper for your groceries.  You are evil scum if you use an incandescent “normal” light bulb.  And the second video is less subliminal.  If you recycle you are good (note the ad. says nothing about doing good, but being good).  And if you do not, you are bad (not just doing bad, but your nature is bad (or evil). This adjusting of morals becoming so publicly blatant is evidence, that the cries of amoral tolerance and pluralism have been and are smoke-screens to hide the truth that the world is the enemy of true morality.  This is not about being responsible with our environment and created world, but is about what is right and what is wrong.  What really is morality?  Evidently society makes that determination, not an outside source of righteousness (God).  Some thoughts to consider.

If, as a Christian, I believe that God is supreme over nations and governments. . .

and if, as a Christian, I live in a nation that allows me freedom to express my belief in God. . .

Then I have a duty to be a patriot by proclaiming the sovereignty of God in America.

If I am to be a patriot for the glory of God . . .

And I believe that God is glorified through the gospel of Jesus Christ . . .

Then I have a duty to declare that gospel and live out its implications boldly and passionately.

I am pondering that the most patriotic thing that a Christian can do is not protest injustice, not run for political office, not campaign against evil-doers, not engage in political rhetoric (although these all might be good and wholesome, but I am speaking of the most patriotic duty), but rather the most patriotic duty is to speak the evangel to my neighbor, my post-man, my barista (I don’t have one but some of you do-I get my coffee from the gas station), my co-workers, etc.

The gospel of grace which promises to redeem sinners, justify the guilty, forgive the fallen, and make new the destitute will be the only thing that can stem the decline of the United States of America.  God make us good citizens by being passionately evangelistic Christians.

Happy Belated Birthday, USA.  And may God truly bless America only through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

I have been studying the use of the words “anger, wrath, hatred, fury, indignation” in the New Testament of the Holy Bible.  Although, there are several words used in the original languages (Greek) that correspond to these translations, there are three common Greek words and their derivatives. Orge-noun and orgidzo-verb which are translated wrath, anger, indignation, fury-but most commonly “wrath”; miseo/misos which is translated as hate, hatred, etc.; and thumos  which is translated passion, wrath, or anger (I only referenced the passages referring to “passion that stirs up anger”, not sensual passion).

Although these words are used at times interchangeably, they are not completely synonymous.  I won’t go into the details of the comprehensive word searching and studying of each passage, but I did want to draw a few applications  from my study.

Thirty one of the ninety-three instances (or thereabouts) refer specifically and uniquely to God’s wrath and anger in judgment.  Most if not all of those references refer to ultimate or final judgment upon unbelief. Fifty-one instances reference mankind and anger, wrath, or hatred.  I broke down these instances categorizing them as Command/Principle and Example/Illustration. Read the rest of this entry »

“But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus.”–Matthew 27:20

As I was reading the account of Christ’s passion this morning, I was burdened by this phrase.  What a contrast in persons! Barabbas had stolen from their tables, he was a thief.  Jesus had fed them with bread and fish, he was a giver.  Barabbas had mutilated.  Jesus had healed.  Barabbas had murdered.  Jesus had raised the dead.  Barabbas loved his own flesh and hated others.  Jesus had hated his own flesh and loved others.  Yet they spared Barabbas and destroyed Jesus.  We cannot miss the importance of this verse in all of the passion account.  This is the crux of the Gospel.  To doom oneself to hell, we must reject Jesus and embrace sin (Barabbas), but to have eternal life, we must reject sin and embrace Jesus.

What would drive the people to such a ridiculous choice?  Two verses prior gives the answer clearly.  “For envy they had delivered him.”   Jesus was a lot of things, but he was not what the people wanted him to be.  They wanted a political savior, a social hero.  They wanted a miraculous king.  They wanted a submissive puppet.  They did not want a bleeding sacrifice.

Fellow-Christians, Paul says that we can be partaker of his sufferings.  A part of those sufferings are rejection because of envy.  Some will reject you simply because you are not what they think you should be.  Some will reject you because they seek Barabbas but destroy Jesus.  Notice also, that it is the multitudes persuaded by the elders.  People are fickle. They will follow that which is most popular.  The elders knew that and knew that if the multitude was not behind them, they would get no where with their diabolical scheme.  So they bent the will of the multitude to destroy Jesus.

Burdened saint, don’t be discouraged if the “multitudes” are against you.  They were against Jesus Christ.  In a few short days, multitudes in Jerusalem would realize what had been done and 8000+ would repent and believe on the Lord Jesus.  The rejection of Christ by the multitude takes place only weeks before the greatest advance of the church in all of New Testament history.

Forward, Saints! press on!  In due season you will reap if you faint not!

I had the great opportunity to be in Ely, NV, last Saturday, Monday and Tuesday to be some assistance in our beloved Wally Higgins’ efforts to hold evangelistic meetings in that small town.  The current population of Ely is about 4000 people.  The demographic of Ely is mostly Caucasian (about 89%) with some Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Hispanics rounding out the figures.  Ely is a Nevada boom town with Kennecott copper mine first having success there.  When the copper market crashed in the1970’s, Ely suffered like most boom towns.  In 2005 there was a resurgence of copper and mining boomed again.  Gold mining also plays an important part of Ely’s economy.  Like most Nevada towns, religion is not the “main thing.” The Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, and even a small group of Baptists have a presence in Ely.

My observation of this small Nevada town is not that much different than most “boom” towns.  There is a wide divergence between the classes of people in the town.  As we were walking the neighborhoods passing out fliers to the meetings, I noticed that the “run-down” areas of town were very dilapidated, while just down the street you had very well-manicured and wealthy homes.  But the most striking feature of any Nevada boom town is the overwhelming presence of “night life.”  Coming out from our gospel meetings Tuesday night, I looked down the street and the casinos, clubs, and bars were lit up and packed with patrons.  This is what people do, this is their life.  We had a few people in the meetings hearing the preaching of the gospel, while Satan has lured many souls bedazzled with the pleasures of sin for a season.  While in Utah, we realize the bondage of religion, but we cannot ignore the bondage of the entertainment/casino industry of our neighbor state to the West.  A comment my father made as we drove out of town resonated with me.  He said, “I wish there was some way to preach Acts 16 (the content of his message) to all those people in the casinos.”

Pray that God would deliver souls from the bondage of alcohol, drugs, gambling, and immorality in these little boom towns in the West.

I think G. K. Chesterton is one of the most quotable authors of the 19-20th century.  I wish that I knew the spiritual state of Chesterton, for his writing is much like his life, full of paradox.  Chesterton was formally accepted by the Catholic religion toward the end of his life, but much of what he writes is of general “Christian” substance.  I would not trust Chesterton for theology or doctrine as he was no doubt highly Romish, but how he writes with wit and perception undoubtedly has influenced Christian as well as secular thought.  I thought I would print a few GKc quotes to ponder today.

“Religious liberty might be supposed to mean that everybody is free to discuss religion. In practice it means that hardly anybody is allowed to mention it.” Autobiography 1937

“Brave men are all vertebrates; they have their softness on the surface and their toughness in the middle.”

“Diplomacy is the art of saying “Nice doggie” until you can find a rock.”

“The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.” ILN,7/16/1910

“Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.” What’s Wrong with the World, chapter 5, 1910

“I regard golf as an expensive way of playing marbles.”

There are many more quotes and whether he was a true follower of Christ or not, there is depth and truth in a lot of what he says.  I encourage you to read a little bit of Chesterton.

Ever felt like this?  The Psalmist says it best.

Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing:
I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head:
they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty:
then I restored that which I took not away.

O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake:
let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.
For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up;
and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time:
O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink:
let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep water;
Let not the waterflood overflow me,
neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good:
turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. . . .

But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah:
that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
The seed also of his servants shall inherit it:
and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

Psalm 69 (selected verses)

None comfort better than a good dose of Psalms.

As the pastor of a wonderful church family, I consider it the highest honor to shepherd God’s flock.  2010 will be a great year regardless of the circumstances because I know that “No good thing will he withhold from them who walk uprightly.”  There are many trials, struggles and sorrows that will accompany 2010, but our God changes not and so we can and will have deep joy and delight in God through those trials, struggles and sorrows.  I am also excited about the growth that God will do in His church this year. I am excited about the mini-series on the church being preached in March.  I am excited about the missionaries who will be ministering to us in the winter and spring.  I am excited about the classes on Sunday nights, I am excited about the series on Romans we will be starting this spring in the morning worship.  I am excited to have the goal of 150 people in attendance to hear God’s Word and that many will be introduced to God’s glory and delight.  I am jubilant about the marriage seminar and “date night” planned for this fall as well as the VBS planned for this summer.  I am overwhelmed with joy that I have the opportunity to serve God in His church in so many ways.

At the same time, I am hoping and praying for two specific things this year regarding our relationships as a church family.

1. I pray that we will truly learn and practice what it means to love one another as Christ loves us.  This means that we must be resolved this year to overlook each other’s faults and failures when possible, and strive for reconciliation and peace when we must confront.  This means we must be resolved not to speak about people, but speak to them with love and compassion.  Nothing will destroy the excitement and growth in a church faster than gossip and wagging tongues.  This also means we will not correct and criticize people when we should allow the Holy Spirit to correct them, while at the same time being God’s instruments of loving correction (this is the most difficult balance in relationships.  It takes mature discernment and absolute trust in the Lord-to know when to shut up and to know when to speak up).

2. I also pray that we will truly learn and practice what it means to forgive one another as Christ forgives us.  This means that we must be resolved to harbor no bitterness or angst toward our brothers and sisters, even if they “deserve it.”  This means that must be resolved to let our minor disagreements go and to not insist upon our tightly held rights.  This means we must be resolved to completely forgive even the most grievous sins committed against us, even if they never ask for forgiveness or make it right.  This means we will be resolved to always respond with grace, seasoned with salt.  We must be resolved to be people of action, not people of reaction.  And when it comes down to a conflict, we will vow never to hold their sin against them, but to allow it to be under the blood as Christ has already done so.

If we will truly learn these two grace-enabled disciplines, the year will be a total success even if we never get past Romans chapter 1 or all of the activities get canceled.  How about it Grace Family, can we be resolved in these two areas?

Over 27,000 Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Mormons, JWs, and a whole host of  other religious people have recently affixed their names to a document called the Manhattan Declaration.  This document is championed by Chuck Colson who was the originator of the Evangelicals and Catholics together in the early nineties.  It is an attempt to foster unity between different groups who call themselves “Christians” to preserve and defend conservative values.  While I am in full support of conservative values, I cannot support this declaration by any means.  Some leading evangelicals have affixed their name to the document, which greatly disappointments me.  I was also delighted to see some names notably absent from the document.   Here is a list of the leading religious leaders who affixed their names.

Manhattan Declaration

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

What is most troubling to me is the continual referring to the signers as Christians, and in essence, describing the signers as Christian.  All of those who sign might call themselves Christians, but being a Christian is more than “following” a historic person named Jesus the Christ.  It is absolute surrender to what Christ came to proclaim-the Gospel, and it is not just some fuzzy idea of what the Gospel might “mean to me.”  The Gospel is the historic account of Jesus being fully God and fully man dieing on behalf of depraved sinners who when they come to him by faith alone because of grace alone, they are completely justified, forgiven, and being sanctified.  Catholics have a different gospel.   Mormons have a different gospel, liberal protestants have a different gospel.  Therefore there is more confusion generated when Evangelicals unite with unbelievers under the banner of the Gospel.  This does not mean that no Catholic or Mormon or Protestant is possibly saved, but rather that the belief systems are in fundamental opposition.  How can those who believe the Gospel is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone think it is okay to blur lines like this.  I know that my position does not make me popular as well as more notable Christian leaders who did not sign the declaration (after all, I really am not an “influential” Christian leader), but I will not contribute to the confusion created by reducing the word “Christian” to a political moniker, or “tradition” marker.

Note, my main problem is not what the declaration is trying to do.  My concern is that we soften Christianity and the demands of the true Gospel when we fudge on what the Gospel means.  Did not Paul tell the Galatians that there would be some who bring another gospel which is not another, but a twisted Gospel?  And did he not tell us that, that person who preaches that perverted Gospel should be accursed?  We have come a long way from Galatians in justifying participation with unbelievers “for the sake of conservative values.”  Let us have a clear voice that resonates with the true Gospel as defined in the pages of Scripture alone.