The recent Pew study on faith indicated that 20%, that is 1 in 5 people surveyed, indicated no affiliation with an organized religion. Twelve years ago that figure was at 8%. If that kind of trajectory continues, we will look like Europe from a faith perspective in our next generation.
So what is the deepest prayer on my heart and mind right now? What is it that I desire most to see in every person within my sphere of influence or area of accountability? Long ago, I did an extensive study of the book of Ephesians and it continues to be a well of hope and guidance for me. There are three key focuses of prayer I have for every person I know, including myself.
First, that we may know Him better.
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Not just know about Him but know HIM. Do I care to know Him better? Do I make any effort to know Him better? There were some guys I had met before but really did not know them. I was able to spend some time with them this week. I now feel I know them better. How? We sat and talked, I heard their story, asked them questions and prayed with them. I don't know them fully but I know them better because I took the time to be with them and listen to them. Same with God.
Second, that we may know the hope to which He called us.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you
We have hope in Jesus. I grew up in a home with an insecure mother who found fault with most everything I did. She was acting out of hurts she suffered long ago. I was constantly looking for ways to have people accept me because I felt unacceptable. And then I found the truth of this hope. I found in Ephesians 1:5-6 that God, who knew and knows everything about me, chose to adopt me according to His pleasure and will, through the grace He poured out through the One He loved, Jesus Christ. In other words, I am fully accepted through the One He loves. No striving. No questions. Fully accepted. That is the hope He called us to. And it is available to everyone like me who felt hopeless.
Third, that we experience power in the church.
the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Our inheritance in the church is the same power God poured out when He raised Jesus from the dead. He did it all for the church. And now He does the same today by taking dead people and making them alive. That is us. That power is what makes us holy and blameless in His sight. (v. 4) And it is that kind of holy living that demonstrates the power of God in our midst today.
We can't change the whole world, but we can seek to bring change in our world. Think about this. If we each experienced the three things above, how would our lives change? How would our homes change if everyone in them experienced knowing God better, having hope and being touched with the power of God? How would your work or school environment change if you carried "Christ in you, the hope of glory" with you wherever you went?
Would you join me in prayer today for this to take place?
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Do We Have This Straight?
It is the only place Paul said it this way. In a world of achievement, where we feel compelled to do something to earn things, a proper theological perspective is the only way to fully appreciate it.
We all have lived at some point gratifying the cravings of our sinful natures, the desires and thoughts within. We were dead in our sin, and as such, objects of the wrath of God. And then God. . . .
Here is the clear truth: We didn't do anything. We couldn't. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which he loved us, made us alive in Christ. How great a love is that? Why do we think in any way He isn't willing to show His love to us? He already did. And He did it while we were in the most unlovable condition. There is nothing worse we could do. Compared to who He is, we are nothing. Deserving of nothing. Yet because of His great love, He gave us life.
Just spend some time dwelling on this. Do we really have this straight or are we thinking we had something to do with it all? If so, we really don't understand either the depth of God's mercy and love nor the depth of our own sin. Yeah God!!!!
We all have lived at some point gratifying the cravings of our sinful natures, the desires and thoughts within. We were dead in our sin, and as such, objects of the wrath of God. And then God. . . .
Here is the clear truth: We didn't do anything. We couldn't. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which he loved us, made us alive in Christ. How great a love is that? Why do we think in any way He isn't willing to show His love to us? He already did. And He did it while we were in the most unlovable condition. There is nothing worse we could do. Compared to who He is, we are nothing. Deserving of nothing. Yet because of His great love, He gave us life.
Just spend some time dwelling on this. Do we really have this straight or are we thinking we had something to do with it all? If so, we really don't understand either the depth of God's mercy and love nor the depth of our own sin. Yeah God!!!!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
From Now To Election Day and Beyond
1 Timothy 2: I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
Much has been blogged and spoken in recent days about what we should do as believers in regards to our upcoming presidential election. The above scripture passage summarizes the key element: PRAY. Petitions are pleas for something. Intercessions are standing in the gap for something or someone. Thanksgiving is the characteristic that should govern all our prayers. Believing as I do that this election is historic (as each of them is, but with the condition we are in, this one feels especially so), we should be on our face before our Sovereign and intercede for those in authority and for our nation as a whole.
As you pray, and as you vote, I do want to say one thing that is not a political statement but a holiness statement. Biblical truth must apply to every action we take in life. While in a pluralistic society we can't force unbelievers to live by biblical standards, we as believers should take our personal stand for biblical values. The sanctity of life, all life, as seen in Psalm 139 and other places is a biblical issue that has been politicized. The sanctity of marriage, being between a man and a woman for life, is a biblical issue that has been politicized. Standing with Israel is not a political issue. Romans 9-11 shows that as we are grafted into the foundation of faith through Abraham, so we are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and see that God has plans for His people, the Jews. So this is a faith issue and not a political one. Caring for the poor is a biblical value. Working and carrying our own load while assisting those who can't is a biblical issue. We could go on and on. It is also biblically true we are never to fear, never to be anxious, but let our requests to be made before God and His peace will guard our hearts and minds through Christ. (Phil. 4:6-7) So we don't have to fear the outcomes of the future. At the same time that does not mean that we sit idle and not stand for Christ in our culture.
Let me be clear: POLITICS AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS WILL NOT BRING ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUS LIFE THAT GOD DESIRES. That can only come through doing our work as a church and people change. But the Scriptures are clear that when a nation, any nation, humbles itself before the Lord it will be blessed.
So be informed. Know what you believe from Scripture. Humbly pray, even for those with whom you disagree or even see as evil. Pray for God's will to be done. And then participate by going to vote and let your voice be heard.
As believers who are to shed light in our culture, how we interact with and speak about those with whom we disagree or even those who are our enemies and are mistreating us, reflect the reality of our faith in Christ. So be careful about your speech; fervent in your praying; holy in your living; and faithful in your participation. And God will use you to make a difference.
8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
Much has been blogged and spoken in recent days about what we should do as believers in regards to our upcoming presidential election. The above scripture passage summarizes the key element: PRAY. Petitions are pleas for something. Intercessions are standing in the gap for something or someone. Thanksgiving is the characteristic that should govern all our prayers. Believing as I do that this election is historic (as each of them is, but with the condition we are in, this one feels especially so), we should be on our face before our Sovereign and intercede for those in authority and for our nation as a whole.
As you pray, and as you vote, I do want to say one thing that is not a political statement but a holiness statement. Biblical truth must apply to every action we take in life. While in a pluralistic society we can't force unbelievers to live by biblical standards, we as believers should take our personal stand for biblical values. The sanctity of life, all life, as seen in Psalm 139 and other places is a biblical issue that has been politicized. The sanctity of marriage, being between a man and a woman for life, is a biblical issue that has been politicized. Standing with Israel is not a political issue. Romans 9-11 shows that as we are grafted into the foundation of faith through Abraham, so we are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and see that God has plans for His people, the Jews. So this is a faith issue and not a political one. Caring for the poor is a biblical value. Working and carrying our own load while assisting those who can't is a biblical issue. We could go on and on. It is also biblically true we are never to fear, never to be anxious, but let our requests to be made before God and His peace will guard our hearts and minds through Christ. (Phil. 4:6-7) So we don't have to fear the outcomes of the future. At the same time that does not mean that we sit idle and not stand for Christ in our culture.
Let me be clear: POLITICS AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS WILL NOT BRING ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUS LIFE THAT GOD DESIRES. That can only come through doing our work as a church and people change. But the Scriptures are clear that when a nation, any nation, humbles itself before the Lord it will be blessed.
So be informed. Know what you believe from Scripture. Humbly pray, even for those with whom you disagree or even see as evil. Pray for God's will to be done. And then participate by going to vote and let your voice be heard.
As believers who are to shed light in our culture, how we interact with and speak about those with whom we disagree or even those who are our enemies and are mistreating us, reflect the reality of our faith in Christ. So be careful about your speech; fervent in your praying; holy in your living; and faithful in your participation. And God will use you to make a difference.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Terror, Trust and Temptation
Today is 9/11. Twelve years ago there was nothing special or memorable about today except for those whose birthdays and anniversaries are on this day (Happy birthday and anniversary). But eleven years ago that changed. Over 3000 people lost their lives and America was shaken to the core and terror became real. I remember where we were on that day well. So do you. I also remember how people responded. Church services were swelled over the following weeks as people sought understanding, meaning and hope in the midst of everything. The seeking lasted a month for most.
Now we face potentially one of the most devastating economic and social crises ever. And it is not just here at home. This is a global issue. And fear enters the picture once again. When unemployment runs high and people become desperate, we see the effects in various parts of Europe. Riots, destruction, acts of violence. There is blame and anger a plenty. And people again wonder where they can turn. Who can save us out of this mess? Who can we trust?
Therein lies the temptation. Many react to the mess but few ask how we ultimately got here. In America, we have long served at the altar of rights rather than the altar of freedom. The founding of our nation was based on the fact that rights, freedom and opportunity come from God. We were and are not a theocracy like Israel, and we never were. But we were a people in the beginning who understood the truth that blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. And in the framework of our culture, including our government at the time, God was recognized and honored. Over the past two hundred and thirty plus years, that has changed. Our trust and hope have shifted to men, to ourselves, to our political leaders. Yet the psalmist warned,
Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. Psalm 146:3-5
Since moving away from our trust in Him as our foundation, millions of unborn babies have been killed; jails have become overpopulated, all sorts of excesses have become "normal," the foundations of the family have been eroded, and right has become wrong and wrong has become right.
So what do we do? God speaks from His word in Isaiah 57:
10 You wearied yourself by such going about,
but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’
You found renewal of your strength,
and so you did not faint. 11 “Whom have you so dreaded and feared
that you have not been true to me,
and have neither remembered me
nor taken this to heart?
Is it not because I have long been silent
that you do not fear me?
12 I will expose your righteousness and your works,
and they will not benefit you.
13 When you cry out for help,
let your collection of idols save you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
a mere breath will blow them away.
But whoever takes refuge in me
will inherit the land
and possess my holy mountain.”
I have been asked if I am going to address our political situation from the pulpit. I want to move to the fundamental core of why we have the chaos we do. In the name of rights and freedom even many organized churches in America have moved away from honoring the Lord and are preaching a Gospel that is no Gospel at all. There is no light in the darkness and no salt in the culture. If we were as passionate about standing up as believers in our culture, caring for the oppressed, speaking up for the rights of the helpless, visiting those in prison, teaching our children about the Lord, and putting our trust in Him, our land would be reclaimed and we would possess it.
I strongly encourage every person to seek the Lord and exercise your right to vote. But I plead with every person to put all your heart into seeking the Lord personally, and trusting not in political systems to change our world, but in the Maker of Heaven and Earth. I'll leave you with the words of the psalmist again from Psalm 146:
Now we face potentially one of the most devastating economic and social crises ever. And it is not just here at home. This is a global issue. And fear enters the picture once again. When unemployment runs high and people become desperate, we see the effects in various parts of Europe. Riots, destruction, acts of violence. There is blame and anger a plenty. And people again wonder where they can turn. Who can save us out of this mess? Who can we trust?
Therein lies the temptation. Many react to the mess but few ask how we ultimately got here. In America, we have long served at the altar of rights rather than the altar of freedom. The founding of our nation was based on the fact that rights, freedom and opportunity come from God. We were and are not a theocracy like Israel, and we never were. But we were a people in the beginning who understood the truth that blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. And in the framework of our culture, including our government at the time, God was recognized and honored. Over the past two hundred and thirty plus years, that has changed. Our trust and hope have shifted to men, to ourselves, to our political leaders. Yet the psalmist warned,
Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. Psalm 146:3-5
Since moving away from our trust in Him as our foundation, millions of unborn babies have been killed; jails have become overpopulated, all sorts of excesses have become "normal," the foundations of the family have been eroded, and right has become wrong and wrong has become right.
So what do we do? God speaks from His word in Isaiah 57:
10 You wearied yourself by such going about,
but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’
You found renewal of your strength,
and so you did not faint. 11 “Whom have you so dreaded and feared
that you have not been true to me,
and have neither remembered me
nor taken this to heart?
Is it not because I have long been silent
that you do not fear me?
12 I will expose your righteousness and your works,
and they will not benefit you.
13 When you cry out for help,
let your collection of idols save you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
a mere breath will blow them away.
But whoever takes refuge in me
will inherit the land
and possess my holy mountain.”
I have been asked if I am going to address our political situation from the pulpit. I want to move to the fundamental core of why we have the chaos we do. In the name of rights and freedom even many organized churches in America have moved away from honoring the Lord and are preaching a Gospel that is no Gospel at all. There is no light in the darkness and no salt in the culture. If we were as passionate about standing up as believers in our culture, caring for the oppressed, speaking up for the rights of the helpless, visiting those in prison, teaching our children about the Lord, and putting our trust in Him, our land would be reclaimed and we would possess it.
I strongly encourage every person to seek the Lord and exercise your right to vote. But I plead with every person to put all your heart into seeking the Lord personally, and trusting not in political systems to change our world, but in the Maker of Heaven and Earth. I'll leave you with the words of the psalmist again from Psalm 146:
6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
Even so, come and accomplish this through your church in our day, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Loving Atmosphere of Discomfort
We spoke this past weekend about the law of contradiction. Two concepts which are presented as absolutes yet they exclude the other cannot both be true. The sovereignty of God is an absolute and our free will is true but only within the boundaries set by God. We do not have the ability to change reality.
Yet we also spoke of the law of contrariety. This law states that seemingly opposite things can have great elements of truth to them that blends them together in reality. That is how law and grace exist side by side. Mercy and justice are compatible parts of God's economy as well. They feel like they can't both be true but they make perfect sense together.
Now let's look at this in the life of Jesus. People who were living sinful lives but looking for hope felt comfortable with Jesus. He talked straight to them, acknowledging the effects of the decisions they had made but let them know there was a way to a new life. He had not come to condemn but to save. But salvation meant that people needed to face up to the decisions they had made, repent, and turn to Him. His offer to everyone is to deny yourself, take up your cross (make tough decisions to say "no" to ungodly things and "yes" to God's way) and follow Him. That is the core of the Gospel.
Our church is a place of loving welcome to all who are seeking and struggling. But we will always speak the truth in love in pointing people to Christ. When challenged to change, and turn to Christ, some will say we are legalistic or judgmental. Not so. We love and spur each other on to Christ, helping each other along on the journey. We all will be uncomfortable at times. That is what truth does when we have to face ourselves. But the love of Christ will always be the dominating atmosphere in which we live.
Truth and love, mercy and justice, are powerful components of the character of Christ as expressed in and through His people. A healthy family holds all these traits in consistent tension. That is the life of a healthy church as well. And this pursuit is one we will never give up on.
Yet we also spoke of the law of contrariety. This law states that seemingly opposite things can have great elements of truth to them that blends them together in reality. That is how law and grace exist side by side. Mercy and justice are compatible parts of God's economy as well. They feel like they can't both be true but they make perfect sense together.
Now let's look at this in the life of Jesus. People who were living sinful lives but looking for hope felt comfortable with Jesus. He talked straight to them, acknowledging the effects of the decisions they had made but let them know there was a way to a new life. He had not come to condemn but to save. But salvation meant that people needed to face up to the decisions they had made, repent, and turn to Him. His offer to everyone is to deny yourself, take up your cross (make tough decisions to say "no" to ungodly things and "yes" to God's way) and follow Him. That is the core of the Gospel.
Our church is a place of loving welcome to all who are seeking and struggling. But we will always speak the truth in love in pointing people to Christ. When challenged to change, and turn to Christ, some will say we are legalistic or judgmental. Not so. We love and spur each other on to Christ, helping each other along on the journey. We all will be uncomfortable at times. That is what truth does when we have to face ourselves. But the love of Christ will always be the dominating atmosphere in which we live.
Truth and love, mercy and justice, are powerful components of the character of Christ as expressed in and through His people. A healthy family holds all these traits in consistent tension. That is the life of a healthy church as well. And this pursuit is one we will never give up on.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Glory
Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens.
in the heavens.
We saw this glory expressed as we were out on the boat one evening. The picture of it is here on the left. The cloud formations, the fire-like glow of the sun, the reflections on the water, all point to the glory of the Lord. It was awe-inspiring to us all. Like other things last week, it got me to thinking.
Glory is something that belongs to God alone. He is worthy of it. He chooses to share it with us through His creation. He allows it to be reflected in us, similar to how the moon reflects the light of the sun. But the source and object of all glory is God alone.
Many people spend life seeking glory for themselves. Accomplishments, career goals, financial achievements, social standing, or as we watched the past two weeks, earning gold in sports. As I read Ecclesiastes this past week, all these things are a "chasing after the wind." They do not satisfy for long. While working so hard at seeking our own glory we can miss out in enjoying His glory.
Last week invigorated me to bring Him even more glory. He is deserving of it. I am not.
As Ephesians 5:20-21 states:
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
We traveled for vacation yesterday. I have a new app for my iPhone and thought I would give it a try. Along the way we wanted to stop to see our daughter. I turned the app on and was ready to head directly south. It told me to head west. It took us a way that no other map program suggested but indicated that if we went this way we would get to our destination in amazing time. So with that anticipation, I followed its directions.
As we traveled, and time passed slowly, I began to doubt this app. This doesn't seem to make sense. It felt as if we weren't getting there as quickly as it said. If we took our "normal" route it would have brought us to the same point we just passed. We were getting a little stir crazy and ready for the trip to be over. And to our great joy we finally arrived.
This morning I have been using other programs to evaluate what happened yesterday. To be fair, the program indicated that the time was the "travel time." It did not include our stops to eat, get gas, and stretch. If I took those times off, it was right. I used map quest to check mileage. My new program was right. The fastest and shortest route to our destination was the way it led us. And as we traveled my new program warned me about upcoming traffic slow downs and problems. So despite my feelings, the program was right all along.
I see people take their first journeys of faith the same way. They have a new "app" to use called the Bible. They have been used to traveling a particular path to try to reach a destination and suddenly this new app says to go a different direction. It feels weird. And it seems that it is taking longer to get there but they forget that along the way there are needs to address. And when they reach their destination they find the Bible was right all along.
Next time I take a trip, I will have a little more confidence in my new program. It didn't fail me. My initial perceptions of what it was telling me were wrong. What it was saying was right, I just didn't understand it well because I was hearing it based on my former frame of reference and personal experience.
I pray that if you are on your initial journey of faith that you can also learn to trust the Bible and what the Holy Spirit is directing you to do, even if your experience and former frame of reference tell you that this can't be right. You will find it is and it will give you confidence as you take the next leg of your trip.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
As we traveled, and time passed slowly, I began to doubt this app. This doesn't seem to make sense. It felt as if we weren't getting there as quickly as it said. If we took our "normal" route it would have brought us to the same point we just passed. We were getting a little stir crazy and ready for the trip to be over. And to our great joy we finally arrived.
This morning I have been using other programs to evaluate what happened yesterday. To be fair, the program indicated that the time was the "travel time." It did not include our stops to eat, get gas, and stretch. If I took those times off, it was right. I used map quest to check mileage. My new program was right. The fastest and shortest route to our destination was the way it led us. And as we traveled my new program warned me about upcoming traffic slow downs and problems. So despite my feelings, the program was right all along.
I see people take their first journeys of faith the same way. They have a new "app" to use called the Bible. They have been used to traveling a particular path to try to reach a destination and suddenly this new app says to go a different direction. It feels weird. And it seems that it is taking longer to get there but they forget that along the way there are needs to address. And when they reach their destination they find the Bible was right all along.
Next time I take a trip, I will have a little more confidence in my new program. It didn't fail me. My initial perceptions of what it was telling me were wrong. What it was saying was right, I just didn't understand it well because I was hearing it based on my former frame of reference and personal experience.
I pray that if you are on your initial journey of faith that you can also learn to trust the Bible and what the Holy Spirit is directing you to do, even if your experience and former frame of reference tell you that this can't be right. You will find it is and it will give you confidence as you take the next leg of your trip.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
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