Author: Chris Hohnholz

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A Call to Greater Maturity: Study for Your Open-Airs (from onthebox.us)

The following blog article was originally published by Tony Miano of Living Waters. I found it to be a very edifying, and highly convicting, article. I pray that those of you engaged in evangelism will take this matter to heart:

“For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

One of the greatest joys and privileges in my life is to fellowship and serve with, disciple, encourage, and learn from other biblical open-air preachers. I care a great deal for this relatively small subculture within the Body of Christ. They are my spiritual fathers, brothers, and sons. They are my comrades in arms. They are my patrol car partners. I know that many in this family would do anything for me; and I would do anything for them. I love these folks.

I want to do something for them, now. I want to call them to a greater level of maturity.”

Read the the remainder of the article here.

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Christians Are We Ready?

Maybe I am overstating the obvious here, but the Christian church has lost a lot of ground with regards to homosexuality. I’m not talking about on the legislative or protest front, I’m talking about in our preaching and teaching of the gospel. We are losing and the culture is looking at us as old, fuddy-duddies who simply haven’t got a clue.

In truth, I have to admit, when it came to discussing homosexuality, this was an area I just stayed out of. I simply believed I was going to get steam rolled if I ever tried to talk about it, so it just didn’t seem worth it. And it’s not like there isn’t evidence to support this. How many videos have we seen of Christians being escorted by police away from homosexual events or neighborhoods. The animosity from the homosexual community toward Christians is pretty well documented. So honestly, I felt justified in staying away from the matter.

But I realize now that I have done a disservice to the gospel. In fact, I would wager that I have sinned by unilaterally deciding to never deal with the issue. I say this because I never bothered to dig into scripture and learn how to defend what God teaches on this matter. I never learned how to explain how homosexuality was still wrong while eating shrimp was fine. I never learned how to preach the gospel compassionately and lovingly to a person who was struggling to understand how their attractions could be an affront to the God who created him. I simply just didn’t want to do it.

Now, all one has to do is peruse social media and blogging sites to see the prevailing attitude among our culture. Young people have no clue what the Bible says about homosexuality. And what little they think they know is grossly wrenched out of context. But the sad truth is that many Christians know less about this issue, biblically speaking, than those whose voices are being the agent of change in our culture. We simply don’t know how to defend the faith, and we look like fools when we try. So the culture throws the out of context verses at us, along with emotionally charged rhetoric, and we either respond with half thought answers, or we fold under the pressure. The result is that immorality grows unabated and the church loses more influence everyday.

So how do we address this? Well, it certainly isn’t going to be through protests, legislation and lawsuits. Just watch the evening news to see how well that battle is going. What’s worse, because there is no gospel centeredness in such efforts, all we appear to be are hate mongering jerks who want everyone to do things our way.

I believe that we as a church must first start by educating ourselves in the scriptures. And this means doing a lot of hermeneutical homework. We have to understand the passages of scripture, and their contexts, with regard to homosexuality. We also have to understand the passages the world loves to use to point out the so called hypocrisy in what we obey (such as the prohibitions to the Jews to wearing blended fabrics or eating shellfish). We have to understand for ourselves the differences between moral and civil laws and know what it is Christ really said about marriage. If we don’t take the time to do this individually, we will be ill prepared for any conversation that comes up. Incidentally, a good resource on this, which has prompted me to reconsider my involvement, is Dr. James White’s response to Matthew Vines (a young homosexual who spoke at a church regarding homosexuality not being sinful). Dr. White spent five hours on his webcast dissecting Mr. Vines’ speech and addressing the very issues we see being brought up today. He has made this response available as a download. You can find it on the main page at www.aomin.org. Please consider downloading and listening to this resource.

Once we have spent the time learning what the Bible really says, we need to start taking this out into the world to share. And I don’t mean go on some holy crusade to lash out at people on websites or get into arguments with people at protest rallies. I simply mean that as we talk with people, as we share the gospel, be prepared to answer this matter biblically. When the subject comes up with friends, relatives and co-workers (trust me, it will), give loving and compassionate answers straight from God’s word. Also, let us discuss this matter within our own homes. Face it, our husbands, wives and children are being exposed to this everyday. All you have to do is turn on the evening news and it’s right there. We have to raise them up in the scriptures so that they too will have a firm foundation to stand on.

Finally, let us be about our Father’s business of preaching the gospel at every single opportunity we have. Let us do so with great love and compassion, knowing that we too are sinners, but have been saved by the grace of Christ alone. While it is very easy to look at the agenda of the homosexual lobby and become angry, let us never forget that those lobbies contain hundreds and thousands of lost souls desperately in need of the gospel.

We have lost so much ground because, as a church, we have not invested the time to learn the right answers. We have lashed out angrily, we have given weak answers that toppled with a mere shove, or we have cowered into our philosophical corners and let the issue march right by. Yet, we serve a great and powerful God! His gospel is the power of salvation to all mankind! Let us not retreat in fear, let us not strike out in anger, but let us proclaim the truth to all mankind in love so that sinners might be saved. In doing, we might just change the attitude of our culture because people will be getting saved and led by the Spirit. Let us engage the culture and let us stand on God’s word alone.

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Would You Please Watch This and Consider Sharing It?

In recent weeks, I have been making efforts to effectively use social media to share the gospel with people online. While my efforts are meager, I pray that God would bless them and perhaps lead even one person to salvation through them. To that end, would you please take the time to watch the video below and share it with someone you know? I pray that this simple message would cause people to stop and think about where they stand with God. Thank you.

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What Are We Known For?

Some time ago, I wrote about Christians’ involvement in politics. My conclusion was that Christians can and should be involved in politics, but we should be far more involved in the proclamation of the gospel. Yet, as I continue to watch our culture unfold, I see a trend that just won’t stop. Christians continually involve themselves in politics, culture wars, boycott efforts, just about anything that is not true gospel proclamation.

Turn on the evening news and whenever there is a cultural battle being fought, you will find a news commentator talking to a Christian pastor, or protestor with a sign, and they are talking about rescuing or reclaiming America. As if the mandate from our Savior was about returning constitutional authority to the nation rather than the saving of souls. And if it isn’t the conservative pundits calling on our evangelical leaders, then it is the liberal media that has found preachers in the pulpits condemning homosexuals to fenced off areas to eventually die off. Everywhere we go, evangelicalism has wound its way into every facet of the political wars, but nary a sign of the gospel is seen. Conservative Christians are seen only as an extension of right-wing extremism and, honestly, we only have ourselves to blame.

When the early church was formed, it was said of the believers that they had “turned the world upside down,” by the preaching of the gospel (Acts 17:6). Jews, Romans, and virtually every nation persecuted and chased Christians everywhere. And in each place they settled, the church spread and grew. Was it because they infiltrated government or had laws passed that were favorable to them? Absolutely not. It was because they were proclaiming the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! Hearts were changed and churches grew because Christians obeyed the command of our Lord to preach the gospel, and only the gospel. As Paul said, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” (1 Cor. 2:2). It wasn’t politics that they spread, is was Jesus Christ. Christians were not known for their political affiliations, they were known for the love for Jesus!

Today, modern American Christianity is not known for its gospel proclamations, so much as its political affiliations. Yet, there are many groups whose efforts at evangelism are widely known. There are the cults of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons who are almost exclusively known for their door knocking ministries. Most churches today might mail out a flier letting the “unchurched seekers” know a new country club….I mean “church” has opened in their neighborhood, but it is the cults who are out making personal evangelism efforts and sharing their doctrines door to door.

Out on the streets, there are the legalistic, sign waving, hate mongering, turn or burn “christians” making their efforts at evangelism. They scream into the megaphones and tell people how wicked they are. They perceive themselves as the arm of God’s wrath and yet act as though they are innocent of any rebellion against the Lord. Truth be known, many of us have likely cringed when we see a team of Christians preaching in the open air, worrying at the thought of what they might be saying. This is such a prevalent view that, even though there are many folks out there preaching the true gospel (see the spotlight video on Tony Miano as an example), most people associate open air preaching and sign wavers with folks like the Westboro Baptists, James Lyman and others.

So as I said before, the American church is known far more for our political affiliations instead of our gospel proclamations. And where we should be known for our evangelism, cults and hate mongers have asserted themselves far more than we ever do. So what we shouldn’t be known for, we are. And what we should be known for, others have stolen away.

What a sad and pathetic blight on the modern American church. It should not be, and it needs to change, now! I am blessed to be affiliated with solid gospel ministries like Living Waters. Thanks to the efforts of many such ministries, a small, but vocal army of evangelists are spreading all around the country and the gospel is being proclaimed. Everyday, they commit themselves to the preaching of the precious elixir of the gospel to heal the lost and condemned souls surrounding them. So what I am asking is this: are you content to only be known for who you vote for? Are you content to sit back and watch false preachers pound out a false gospel? Are you content in rejecting the command of your Savior to preach the gospel unto every nation? Are you willing to let the country be won only to see souls be lost?

If not, then let us change the direction of the American church now! If we are to reclaim something, let us reclaim the preaching of the gospel! Let it be us, under the guidance and authority of our local churches, knocking on doors and preaching on the streets! Let it be us who biblically and compassionately proclaim what is sin and that a judgment that is coming. Let it be us who acknowledge that we too were once under the same condemnation, yet Christ saved us, not under any merit of our own, but because He was gracious to show us mercy. Let it be us who preach that Christ alone is the only way of salvation and there is no other!

Christians, if we are to be known for something, let it be for the love we have for our fellow neighbors who are en route to Hell. A love that drives us to share the truth of the gospel with them, even if they hate us for it. A love that drives us to care far less about the political landscape, but to care about the souls of those who are making our country into a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah. Let that love cause us not to be angry with, or even hate those who are promoting the sins that are causing the moral decay we see, but let it cause us to desperately preach the gospel to them, making every effort to save them from the judgment that is coming upon them.

Brethren, let us not be known by who we vote for. Let us be known as those who desperately love the lost souls of our nation and who would risk all so that they might be saved. Let us be the ones known for the loudest and most compassionate gospel pleas and let the cults and false teachers be driven from the public place they once occupied. And may this all be done for the glory of God alone.

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Sermon of the Week: “The Lordship of Christ” by Dr. Adrian Rogers.

This last week I was blessed to hear a sermon once preached by the late Pastor Adrian Rogers on the lordship of Jesus Christ. I found this sermon to be a very powerful reminder that every aspect of my life must be surrendered to Christ, that He is to be Lord over it all. So often I can get prideful because of what I think I am capable of. Yet, God must constantly remind me there is not one thing in my life that is my own. He consistently humbles me and brings me back to the place where I remember I am merely the clay pot He has created and used for his glory. It is my sincere hope that this sermon serves to remind you of that as well.

Please follow the link provided and click on the “play” button to hear this sermon:

The Lordship of Christ

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I Wish I Was As Biblical As I Sound

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I don’t know about anyone else, so I am speaking entirely about myself. So I want to be as candid as I can possibly be. I am not nearly as biblically grounded as I sound. Those that have read this blog get a snapshot of my thoughts, when they are coherent enough to be strung into an article on the Christian faith. My friends get a little bit more of me, especially when I do little more than repost quotes of great preachers, or link to articles and books, or even scripture, that I have read about the Christian faith on Twitter and Facebook. Those that get to see me in the flesh get to hear me talking about various theological issues and how we need to keep everything focused on Christ. In the end, I can often appear as a very spiritual man. In fact, some have actually come to respect my opinion on matters. But the truth is, I am not nearly as spiritual as I sound. Permit me to give you a view into my heart and soul, and perhaps we can learn why it is we need the grace of Jesus Christ in our lives.

Everyday I tell myself I need to read scripture. I get up rather early, so most of the time it is a mad rush for me to get to work on time because I hit the snooze button too many times again. The 30 minute drive usually gives me time to listen to a portion of a Christian radio podcast or sermon. I get to work before most of my co-workers, so I always tell myself to start my day with a prayer and reading at least some scripture. Of course, by the time I start up my computer, check my messages, plug in my iPod to finish listening to my podcast, check Facebook and Twitter on my my phone and get going on work, I can completely neglect my scripture reading. Thus my day starts regularly. Many times I do actually accomplish what I set out too, but more often than not, this is how it starts.

Often I look at my wonderful family and see the blessing God has given me. I promise God to nurture them and bring them up according to His word. But when I get home, I find the kids have fought my wife all day doing their homeschool assignments. Their room is a disaster and the cat has thrown up on the couch. My poor wife is stressed to the max and needs a relief. This should be such a great time to teach the gospel right? Instead, I admonish my kids for not doing what they were told. I threaten to get the garbage bag and throw out the toys they won’t pick up. I holler at the cat and chase her out of the room and I set forth to clean up everything so my wife will not be stressed. Of course in accomplishing what she has fought all day to do, I simply make things harder for her by making her feel inadequate. Rather than bring the peace of Christ into my home, I bring the iron rod of the dictator. Now, believe it or not, not every day is this way. Many times I have come home and we have a wonderful meal and fellowship. But on the other days, no gospel was shared, not even a Bible verse. A rank heathen could have done it the same way.

In my ministerial life I have been a street preacher, Sunday school teacher, and a Christian blogger. I share with people how desperately they need Jesus Christ, that their sin has caused irreparable damage to their relationship with God which will end in judgment for them. Yet Christ took the punishment they deserve upon Himself and that, through repentance and faith, they can receive salvation. I have shared online the desperate need the church has for preaching an undiluted gospel message. I have tried to call Christians to a deeper walk with Christ. Yet all the while, my own studies have gone neglected. Sometimes, I have not even reviewed my Sunday School lessons until the night before church. In the last year, my evangelism efforts have trickled down as I try to be a good minister in my home (the above paragraph outlined how well that goes). So while I want to see the lost saved and the saved grow, I do little to improve my walk with the Lord.

This is a snapshot of my life. The life of a wretched sinner who should, after 11 1/2 years of his Christian walk, have a much greater appreciation for the mercy I was shown. One whose walk so be so much further down the road. One who should speak with kindness and mercy, rather than the biting sarcasm and snarkiness that have come from my lips so many times. One who should value eternal things than the things of this world (such as the iPad that I write this on, or my Kindle I just had to have, or my phone that gives me access to Facebook, Twitter, etc, or…you get the idea). One who should get up everyday weeping with joy that I did not wake up in the bowels of Hell as I deserve.

The reason I write this is that, while I do not know if or even how you might struggle, this is my daily walk. This is the person I am, the one who desperately needed saving because, of my own accord, I am not even close to being a good person. This is the person who many have, for some strange reason, come to respect and believe I have something valuable to offer. A person who often thinks he does have something valuable to offer. I have nothing to offer the world, saved or unsaved. I am a wretched, stinking sinner who is good for nothing save the fires of Hell. But my Savior, now that is something different.

My Savior took a stinking sinner and died for his sins. He cleaned him up and made him into a new creation. My Savior gave him a desire to read the Word of God. My Savior gave him a heart to worship. My Savior gave him the desire to share the word with anyone who would listen, including his own family. My Savior did all this, I did none of it. My Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ, the maker of Heaven and Earth, the eternal God who became Man to take the sins of the world upon Himself. He did this all, and does it every single day of my life, and of the lives for those who repent and believe.

All those wretched things I described of myself have been paid for at the foot of the cross. Now I am no longer held in account for my sins, for they have been put upon my Savior’s account. Now I am free to worship and serve my Lord, even when I blow it every single day. Now I can see my sins for what they are, know that I am no longer judged by them, and repent so that I may serve God freely. If ever you look at me and think you appreciate something I have said or done, if ever you, perish the thought, think I am somehow holy or more spiritual than anyone else, please ditch those thoughts right into the garbage. Know that anything good that I have accomplished comes directly from my Savior. Know that I still struggle in my flesh and desperately need prayer. Know that I desire to see my self changed daily so that I am more like my Savior. And know that it is the Savior to whom I desire you to look to most of all.

I wish I was as spiritual and biblical as I sound, I really do. But I have come to see myself more and more in the light of the gospel. I realize I never can be. But I realize that is why I need Christ, and why you do too. Our righteousness is nothing but filthy rags to our Lord. But the righteousness of Christ, that is what we need to rely on most of all. So trust not in your own abilities. Don’t think your daily reading, prayers, worship, etc. make you a better Christian. They will help you grow immeasurably and cause you to appreciate the Savior more, but they will not add one iota to the righteousness you receive in Jesus Christ. Nor does someone’s lack in these areas tarnish the righteousness of Christ. Seek not to be a “better Christian” but seek more to love the Savior who made you righteous to begin with.

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But What About…?

“Jesus didn’t really exist.” “The Bible was written by a bunch of illiterate goat herders.” “Christianity just borrowed from other religions.” Have you ever heard any of these objections from people when you are attempting to explain the gospel to them? I have. These and several others tend to be the standard roadblocks that people will use to shield themselves from the truth of God’s word. In most cases, the person who is asking these questions really is not all that concerned with the actual answer. If you establish that Jesus really did exist, or that the Bible has the single greatest number of manuscript copies in antiquity, or that 80% of people, locations and events described in the Bible have been archaeologically proven, then they will move to “Well, what about slavery?” Or, “you’re supposed to stone your disobedient child, why aren’t you doing that??” Quite simply, these questions are not to elicit an actual response, they are actually roadblocks to get you off course and so tied up, the asker can then feel he has taken the intellectual high ground by asking you questions you did not have an answer for.

So what is the Christian supposed to do with these questions? Well, first off, attempt to recognize whether they are asking genuine questions or not. Believe it or not, there are some folks who are genuinely trying to understand how we Christians can believe such stuff. They are being raised up in a culture that has told them religion is nothing but a personal experience, so truth really is not a consideration. When they hear the name Jesus, they think along the lines of “Zeus” or “Thor”. It’s just mythology. So when they are presented with the belief that Jesus existed and the Bible records what He said, they can’t believe we believe this. So allow them the opportunity to ask questions. In time, either by the rapid fire nature of the questions, or by the fact they simply ignore the answer, the sincerity of the questions can be determined.

But I would encourage my fellow Christians to start learning some basic apologetics knowledge. While proving Jesus really walked the earth, or knowing the number of manuscripts in existence cannot convert the wicked rebellious heart, it can demonstrate that our faith is not blind or unreasonable. It can demonstrate to the unbeliever we take what we believe seriously. We aren’t just “ignorant goat herders” following a myth like blind lemmings. Such evidence can provide structural support to the overall understanding of the gospel message.

Now, as I mentioned before, most questions and objections brought up really will have little to do with gaining actual understanding of the Christian faith. Rather, they are like the infamous smoke screen released by James Bond’s Aston Martin to blind his pursuers as he made his getaway. Just like the smokescreen would cause the pursuers to lose sight of the road and likely drive off of it, these questions are designed to side track you into secondary issues. Discussions regarding who actually approved of what books in the Bible, evolution vs. creation, and that somehow today we are far smarter than those poor souls 2000 years ago, really aren’t about raising genuine concerns they have so much as they do not want to discuss the core issue of Christianity, that they are sinners in the hands of a righteous, holy God.
The heart of the unregenerate is bound up in sin. It’s daily appetite is for the things of this world. It can be a full dive into hedonistic pleasures or it can be the simple life where white lies and coveting are a daily occurrence. Yet, the heart of a lost person cannot see these actions and thoughts as the sins that they are. Just as we once did, they will compare themselves to each other and think, “I’m not so bad.” Or they might feel the sting of regret when the consequences of such actions bear fruit. But in the end, there is no real sense of conviction for sin being sin. Yet, when the law of God, His righteous standard, is brought upon them, they cannot but feel the weight of His judgment upon themselves. The unregenerate man must find a way out from under this or be crushed by it. Thus, the peppering of questions is but one method a person may employ to achieve this.

So how does one handle this situation. I suggest that there are a few ways that you can address it. First off, you can politely suggest that those questions be tabled for a short time. This is not a means of avoiding the questions mind you. We should be willing to go back to them if needed. However, in doing this, we can continue in the addressing their core problem, which is their sin against God. Once they understand the nature of sin and the need for grace, if they truly wish to discuss those matters, we can return to them.

Another way was once demonstrated to me by Tony Miano, a member of the Living Waters evangelism ministry and an open air preacher. He asked the person he was talking to a simple question. “If I answer every one of your questions, will you then be willing to bend the knee and worship Jesus as your Lord?” That person indicated they would not. Most likely, the questioner you are talking to will likewise confess that the questions were not really all that important, allowing us to once again address where they stand before the Lord.

A final means is, if a person is simply unwilling to engage in a intelligent discussion without lobbing loaded accusations and questions, is to break off the witnessing encounter. The simple fact is that there are some hearts so hardened that they simply will not listen. You could have all the answers, you could take them to every single scripture and prove it to be true, you could overcome every obstacle, but this person may have only one goal in mind. To tie you up and keep you from doing your God given duty to share the gospel. While I cannot tell you at what time you have to make this decision, because each one is different, there has to come a point when you determine that there are a lot of lost souls out there that need to hear the gospel as much as this person. If they are not willing to hear, then graciously move on. Remember, we are but the messengers, it is God who does the converting.

So as Christians who are commanded to evangelize the lost, remember this: there are questions out there that you have to deal with. Some are genuine, others are smoke screens. Develop a basic knowledge of apologetics, not so we can win people through them, but to strengthen our witness encounters. Be prepared for those who are attempting to obfuscate the issue and stay central to the matter at hand. Also, and I cannot stress this enough, learn to to witness biblically. The Bible makes it clear, the law of God brings conviction to the heart of the sinner, the grace of Christ is what converts him. Show the person the nature of their sin, that it is an offense to God that must be judged. When he feels the heat of judgment upon him, bring him to the foot of the blood stained cross, showing him this is where his sin was paid for. Lead him to the empty tomb, to show him his Savior’s power of death. And show him the gates of heaven that are open if he would but repent and place his faith in Jesus Christ alone.

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Here I Stand…

I want to make something clear. I am a born again follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. This means I believe I was born a sinner and that my actions put me at war with God. Because of that, God will judge me for my sins and condemn me to Hell. Yet, in His mercy, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live the perfect life I could not live and to die the death I deserve. Jesus rose from the grave three days later, giving me a promise of eternal life. By turning from my sin and trusting in Jesus, He takes on my sins and I receive His perfect righteousness. I have been granted eternal life and will one day be with Him forever in Heaven.

As a Christian, I believe that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant word of God. That means it is the direct revelation of God to man. This means I believe everything it says. Everything. When it says something is a sin, it’s a sin. What culture says about it today is irrelevant. No matter how we try re-work or re-word what God has already said, His truth remains. I will not bend, I will not yield, I will stand. I will proclaim God’s word, all of it. I may be called arrogant. I may be called ignorant. I may even be called a hateful bigot. But no matter what the world thinks of me, I care more of how I am viewed by my Savior than by anyone else. Jesus paid my fine with His life’s blood. I owe Him nothing less than my total love and obedience.

Because I trust in Christ for my salvation, and because I believe God’s word is true, I will proclaim to the world that it is in sin against God. I will proclaim that through Christ and Christ alone is their salvation. I will do this because I love people far too much to leave them in the delusion that they are “OK” with God. I love them enough to warn them of the judgment that is coming. I love them enough to risk being hated by them, and even have them turn against me. If I am willing to risk my life to save a drowning man, or a child trapped in a fire, how much more must I be willing to risk my standing in people’s minds to try and rescue them from the fires of Hell. It matters not if a blind man does not believe in the cliff he is walking toward. Thus, I cannot and will not stop my warnings because people do not believe as I do. I love them too much to stop.

I make this declaration today because I believe the world is beginning to openly war against Jesus Christ and those who follow Him. I make this stand today to make it known I will stand for Him no matter how tough the opposition may be, and no matter what it may cost me personally. I declare this to let you all know that I believe the greatest love I can possibly show is to point to the way of salvation, not to allow people to remain comfortable in their sins.

In the words of the Reformation preacher Martin Luther, “Here I stand. I can do no more.”

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The Patriarchs Were People Like Us

How often have we looked at the patriarchs of the Old Testament with great reverence and maybe even wished we had just a modicum of the faith that they had? The Bible describes the great faith these men and women had and the great accomplishments they achieved because of it. The “Hall of Faith” passage of Hebrews points us to these men and women as examples of what true faith in God looks looks like. If you are anything like me, it is not uncommon to wish we were more like them when we see the struggles we deal with in our own walks. But, are the patriarchs really that special? Were they so much holier than you or I? Or do they have more in common with ourselves than we think? I’d like for us to look at a few of those patriarchs to answer this question. In fact, one family in particular, the one through which the Messiah would one day come. I believe we will learn a lot from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the God whom the served.

Abraham is considered the father of the Jews. He was so esteemed by the Jews in Jesus’ day that they often cited their lineage from him in their debates with Jesus. But what was it about him they were so proud of? True, he had great faith when he believed the promise of God that he and Sarah would one day have a child through which the nations would be blessed. But as time went by, Abraham and Sarah apparently figured God had forgotten his promise, because Sarah offers her handmaiden to her husband through which to conceive the child. Abraham doesn’t even feign an objection, he just does it. This is also the same Abraham that, not once, but twice, failed to believe God’s promise to keep him around long enough to produce this nation that he convinces his wife to say “I’m his sister” to keep from getting killed. Is he really so faithful and holy after all?

Continue reading →

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“This Could Be Cancer”

While I have never really been one for making New Year’s Resolutions, God revealed some issues to me over the course of last year that I wanted to address in 2012.  I wanted to make this the year we made better use of our finances, getting rid of debt that kept us from using God’s money right.  I wanted to be a better spiritual leader in our home, getting back to nightly devotions and modeling Christ-likeness to my family.  I wanted to grow more in my walk, not just doing work for work’s sake, but to concentrate my efforts and be more effective in my worship of my Lord and Savior.  So when January 1, 2012 rolled around, that was how I wanted to start the year off.  That lasted about a week, when a curve ball I never saw coming hit me square between the eyes.

On January 4, 2012, I had to do my annual physical for work.  Blood tests, x-rays, hearing exam, the works.  Now for the previous twelve years, all I ever heard bad was, “lower your cholesterol.”  Hey, I like food, this is annual argument we have.  But on January 6, 2012, I got news I had never heard before.  Hilar andenopathy.  That’s what my x-ray showed.  In plain speak, what that meant that lymph nodes (you know those things that swell up when you get sick) in my lungs were enlarged.  What followed were two CT scans, an HIV test, a pulmonary functions test, and PET scan (they shoot radioactive sugar in and make you lie real still while they CT scan you for 30 minutes) and, ultimately, a surgical biopsy.  For two months of my life, this was a nerve wracking series of events.

Continue reading →

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Film Recommendation: “Courageous”

A few months ago I had the opportunity to be part of an effort to extend invitations of a free viewing of the movie “Courageous” to local law enforcement agencies in my area. As a result, over a hundred individuals were able to watch the gospel centered film by Sherwood Pictures and Tristar. Once again, on New Years Eve, my church opened its doors to the public to show this film for free. I must say that these efforts were well worth it and I highly recommend this film to everyone.

“Courageous” is a film which centers primarily around four law enforcement officers who must deal with a tragedy in their lives. The synopsis provided by the Sherwood Pictures website states:

Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.

While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they’re quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.

When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God … and to their children?

Filled with action-packed police drama, COURAGEOUS is the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures, the moviemaking ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Viewers will once again find themselves laughing, crying, and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children.

Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That’s courageous.”

As a law enforcement officer of thirteen years, I can attest to the strain and stress the job brings into our lives, and the effect it has on our families. “Courageous” addresses how fathers in this field can be in the home, yet fail to in our children’s lives. Additionally, it brings a Christ centered answer to what it means to be a father, not just spending time with our children, but raising them to be then men and women God has called them to be.

While this film addresses the issue of biblical fatherhood from a law enforcement perspective, it’s message transcends that arena and addresses fathers in all walks of life. I recommend that Christians watch this film for the very fact that it addresses something our modern day cultures loathes to admit, that fathers are needed in the home, that children need to learn under their tutelage and that God has called men everywhere to raise up the next generation to love and honor the Lord.

This film releases to DVD and Blu-ray on January 17, 2012. Please take the time to purchase, rent or borrow this film and watch it. It is most definitely worth it.

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The Death of Christopher Hitchens

Renown speaker, author and self avowed atheist Christopher Hitchens died at age 62 yesterday. Mr. Hitchens was perhaps most well-known for his atheism and consistent attacks against religion, primarily Christianity. He was previously diagnosed with esophageal cancer and underwent medical treatment, including chemotherapy, to treat the disease. Ultimately he succumbed to pneumonia as a complication of the cancer and died. Prior to his death, many Christians prayed for Mr. Hitchens, for his healing and for God to save his soul. Mr. Hitchens found this to be interesting, but assured the public that any stories of his deathbed conversion would be fabricated.

The question that stands before us today of course, is where is Christopher Hitchens today. According to Mr. Hitchens, he simply ceased to exist, nothing more. But for the Christian, we know that we exist for eternity once this mortal body ceases functioning. There are only two possibilities as to where, Heaven or Hell. As Mr. Hitchens was created by God, and was bound to God’s laws, as we all are, he can only be in one of those two places. At first, it may seem quite easy to figure it out. He denied God, spoke vehemently against the Christian faith, and was often hateful and vitriolic in his speech regarding it. Considering that he made the statement there would be no deathbed conversion, it would be a simple thing to declare God sent him to hell. However, the truth is, we simply do not, and cannot know.

It is clear that Mr. Hitchens made a career of hating the very idea of God. But it is also clear that he was a common sinner just like the rest of us. He had a conscience, he was aware of right and wrong. He, like the rest of us, committed acts that were in violation of that conscience. We know that our consciences are God’s laws written upon our hearts. When we violate our conscience, we are violating God’s laws. Additionally, Mr. Hitchens debated with many Christians, he had heard the gospel presentation many times. There is little question that by the time of his death, Mr. Hitchens knew what God required of him. It is that time just prior to his death that we cannot know about. Is it at least possible, that as he faced those last moments, knowing death was coming that he considered those sins he committed, that he contemplated the gospel he had denied so many times, that he just might have repented and trusted Christ. If we are intellectually honest, we must say that it is possible. And since we cannot know, we hope that is what happened. We hope that we will find Mr. Hitchens in Heaven one day, for we do not wish the wrath of God on any man.

But we must also be honest say that he may not have repented. It is entirely possible that Mr. Hitchens held on to his rejection of God all the way into death. If so, Mr. Hitchens now stands before God in judgment for his sins. And not just for his atheism. As said before, our consciences are merely God’s law written on our hearts. When any man or woman breaks those laws, through lying, stealing, coveting, lusting, or blaspheming, they have sinned against a holy and righteous God. It is not just because he was an atheist that Mr. Hitchens may have stood condemned, it is because, as we all are, he was a sinner against the God who created him. And if that indeed is what occurred, even we Christians must mourn his death, for we do not wish Hell on any man. But we also rejoice that God is glorified, because His justice is perfect.

So what does that mean for the Christian? First, let us not run around proclaiming we know where Christopher Hitchens is, only God knows that. Let us share with people the truth, that if he repented and trusted Christ (which is our hope), he is in Heaven. But if he remained in his sins, he was condemned (as we all deserve). Let us not rejoice that another atheist voice is silent, that presents us as unkind and unloving. But let us not ignore that what he taught was blasphemous. As we engage in coversation with others on this, let us remember that, whatever Mr. Hitchens fate was, all of us face the same date with death. All of us will one day die and stand before the Lord. Let that motivate us to share the gospel with everyone we meet. Let his death stand as a reminder that our lives are but a vapor, our next breath is not guaranteed. Thus, it is imperative that we share the gospel, the good news that Jesus Christ died for sinners, and that salvation is available through Him alone. Christians, let us be about our Father’s business of proclaiming this good news.

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“Daddy, I Don’t Think God is Real!”

I had what was perhaps the most interesting theological conversation I’ve ever had last night, and it was with my seven year old son. It started with overhearing him tell his younger brother that they had to be “normal” by obeying us parents and to quit “acting up.” When I asked what he meant by “normal” my son explained that being obedient was normal, disobedience was not. I told him that, while we were teaching he and his brother to be obedient, to do so all day every day was not possible. In fact, what is normal is to be disobedient. That was why we spend time teaching them about Jesus Christ. That only by submitting to Him, in repentance and faith, would God make us a new creation that desires to obey Him. That was when the conversation got interesting. My seven year old son looked at me and said, “I don’t know if I believe in God, I think He’s made up.”

Like many parents would understandably feel at that point, there was a moment of panic that set in. “I have a seven year old atheist!!” ran through my mind. But what followed was a series of questions from my wife and I that patiently and lovingly asked why he felt that way and trying to explain, biblically why we could believe God was real and why we could trust his promises. In the end, this conversation only lasted about fifteen minutes and, while we could see his young mind was still trying to process what we said, we could tell he was really considering it. It was perhaps my proudest moment as a father. Not because I skillfully answered his questions, trust me, I’m not that smart. But because my son, at seven years old was wrestling with the hard questions of faith and was seeking genuine answers. He wasn’t just blindly accepting what mom and dad said, he wanted real life explanations that made sense. And it was the blessing of God to allow my wife and I to be the ones to explain it to him.

Now there is a very real reason why I have relayed this touching family moment. It was only a few months ago that I had picked my kids up in Sunday School one day. As I entered the class, I overheard the teachers leading the children through a “sinner’s prayer” and welcoming them to the Christian family. While this post is not intended to decry Sunday Schools in general, I remember the sense of genuine concern I had over this. Christians are not made because someone lead another in a prayer or had them sign a card. People become Christians because they have been humbled by the understanding of their wretched sinfulness and, in repentance and faith, turn to the only possible means of salvation, Jesus Christ. While a later conversation with the Sunday School teacher addressed this issue, I could not help but think of it again last night.

In our current evangelical culture, my kids would have been declared saved and no one would have ever been allowed to question that. Never mind we are repeatedly called in Scripture to examine ourselves and see if we are in the faith. Never mind the parable of the sowers which describes what false converts look like. None of those things are considered, only that they said the sinners prayer. Yet, last night in my son, I saw the doubts and questions often used by many to deny the existence of God. While this is not proof of a definitive lack of salvation, neither should it ignored as a possible indication he has not yet been made new. In most churches and Sunday Schools today, these serious and reasonable questions go unanswered. Many times, churches erroneously assume young kids simply can’t understand these big concepts. They teach them Bible stories and figure that is enough. But even well meaning churches, who teach solid biblical truths, only have a couple hours per week to teach the answers these kids desperately need. A couple hours against a full week of secular humanist onslaught is often simply not enough.

So what is the answer? In a word, us. We parents are the ones God has assigned over our children. He has given the responsibility and the authority to raise them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. It our duty, not our option, to be the primary source of biblical instruction in their lives. It is we, not school, not friends, and certainly not television, that should be forming the worldview that they will one day live by. And that worldview should be grounded solely in the good news of the gospel. That means we, as parents, must be prepared to answer some of the hardest questions we will ever encounter. That means we need to know our Bibles. That means we need to understand at least a basic level of apologetics. It means we have to understand the difference between the unbiblical concepts of evolution and the Bible’s teaching on Creation. It means we cannot be lazy. It means we have to work hard. It means giving up our time and our pursuits so that we can train up our children to love the Lord and commit their lives to Him.

Some may see this as an overwhelming task. They may think, “I’m just not smart enough,” or “I’m not equipped to teach like that.” If you have children, God has equipped you to teach. The Bible never attempts to persuade us that teaching our kids might be a good idea. It commands us to. And if you have commanded, you have been equipped. If you don’t feel intellectually capable, change it. The resources out there to provide Christians with this ability are numerous. Ministries such as Answers in Genesis and CARM exist for the express purpose of providing apologetics training. Numerous sound biblical preachers such as John MacArthur, R. C. Sproul, and Voddie Baucham have websites and audio messages that can assist you as you study the bible. But the single most important things you can do are pray, read your bible and spend time with your kids talking about the things of God.

Truly we parents have no greater ministry than the training up of our children to fear and love the Lord. This is not anyone else’s responsibility, it is ours. Let us not abdicate it to anyone or anything else. Oh, and the second proudest moment of being a parent happened to me this morning. My son came up to me and said, “Now I know God exists, because if he didn’t I wouldn’t be here.” Excuse me, I think I have some grit in my eyes I need to wipe away, because I can’t explain these tears any other way.

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Should Christians Try to Win Morality Through Legislation?

In our current culture, especially as we are heading into the next election cycle, moral questions are being hotly debated and people are looking to to political leaders to solve these problems. For example, perhaps the two mostly controversial subjects are the definition of marriage and the issue of abortion. Everyday, we hear news reports of organizations petitioning political leaders for changes to these laws. Everyday, state governments pass, or attempt to pass, a law that will define marriage as either traditional, being between one man and one woman, or redefining it to include same sex couples. Abortion laws continued to be hotly contested as states pass laws that require women be informed of a baby’s development or the use of ultrasound to show them the child. Yet, efforts to extend personhood rights are being denied due to political machinations.

As we see cultural diversity, political correctness, pluralism, post-modern and secular humanism spread throughout, and erode, the culture, Christians rightly see the damage this does to the understanding of the word of God. Additionally, because these concepts demand that Christians capitulate their exclusivist position, which we are often unwilling to do, Christians are often seen as obstacles to unity within the culture. We recognize that the culture is moving to a point where Christianity could conceivably be seen as a threat. The further the culture takes this perception, the greater the possibility that one day Christianity could be outlawed. Therefore, Christians are rightly seeing a growing threat to the practice of our faith and, ultimately, the moral degradation of a country in rebellion to God.

So the question becomes, how does the Christian contend with this? Do we fight fire with fire, establishing political action committees, petitioning political leaders, fighting for more moral laws, putting Christians in political offices, and so forth? Or do we view the onslaught of the culture against Christianity as insurmountable and retreat into secluded enclaves where we can practice our faith in peace? Is there a balance between the two extremes? Is there a biblical answer to this? I believe there is and it may be what the vast majority of the church has ignored for some time.

In the 1960’s we saw one of the most public attacks on the Christian faith when a Supreme Court case determined that a wall existed between the Church and the State. From that day forward, political representations of anything remotely Christian were prohibited. In response to this governmental decree, Christians began fighting through politics and legislation, attempting to reclaim that lost ground. Since that time, we have seen the establishment of the “Moral Majority” and Christian lobbyist committees. Religious groups have examined candidates with fine tooth combs, ensuring they would support biblically based laws. Additionally, legal groups have formed, fighting for Christian values in Courtrooms around the country. And, at first, it seemed we had the right idea. Good, moral laws got passed. Conservative politicians sought the support of the evangelical right. But, it did not last long.

By the 1990’s we began to see political correctness and post-modernism redefining how the culture thought and acted. Slowly, incrementally, how we understood morality, the definitions of right and wrong had been changing in the culture. Now, the greatest moral taboo wasn’t doing what the Bible called sin, it was to tell anyone that what they believed was wrong. Truth was now relative, everyone’s perceptions were equally valued, whether they had a basis in fact or not. To tell someone that their sincerely held beliefs were wrong was tantamount to treason. And by the time we had reached the turn of the century, this system had permeated our entire culture. Now, laws that Christians had fought long and hard for were seen as unfair, immoral, and unconstitutional. After all, if someone’s beliefs on sexual lifestyles, their desire to have abortion on demand or their definition of marriage was as equally valid as anyone else’s, then these laws were depriving them of the freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution. The very fabric of the “Moral Majority” had begun to unravel.

Because of the almost viral like effect of political correctness and post-modernism, Christians have even found fighting within our own ranks. How many churches have we heard of today that actually support abortion or homosexual marriage? This is the key to understanding why Christianity is finding itself bullied into a corner today. See, while the church was busy fighting the political battles, secular humanism was establishing its very foundations. Those that sought to change the culture weren’t busying themselves with politics, yet. They were fighting for the hearts and minds of the culture. While we were protesting, they were proselytizing. In time, those whose hearts had been won to this way of thinking were growing up and taking their ideas into everything they do.

Christians, this is were we have failed. Our primary task, the one given to us by Christ Himself is to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15 NKJV), and to “…make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19 NKJV). In other words, we are to be proselytizing to everyone we meet. See, somewhere along the way, maybe because we had become an affluent and prosperous nation, we forgot that we aren’t blessed by God because we are Americans. We are blessed because we have humbled ourselves before God, broken by our sins, repentant and trusting in the Savior, Jesus Christ. But we began to see our wealth, prosperity and power as evidence that God loved us. That somehow, we were deserving of it. Yet, when adversity began to rear its head, we did not look to ourselves, to see if we had lost our way. We just assumed we were on the right path and no one was going to take away God’s blessings without a fight! So we fought it on the world’s terms, trying to get OUR rights and OUR blessings back. Along the way, we forgot about those unregenerate and lost souls on their way to hell.

Like we were once, our country is populated with literally millions of sin bound souls, hearing only the call of their flesh. Post-modern humanist driven leaders exploited that. They preached a false gospel of unity, peace and self-gratification. Those souls that we were not evangelizing to greedily ate it up. In time, our children, fed well on a steady diet of tolerant pluralism looked at us and saw hypocrisy. Sure, we fought for conservatism and “morality,” but not everyone believed in what we did. In fact, we really didn’t believe in it ourselves. We worshipped our wealth and prosperity. We made out lives comfortable and pleasant. Yet, we ignored those around us that desperately need to hear the healing gospel. We left the work of preaching and teaching to the already over-worked preachers on Sunday morning. The hearts of the next generations belonged firmly to the world. For all our moral battle cries and politicizing, we had lost. Our culture is on a downhill slope and is picking up steam fast.

So what are we to do? Exactly what Christ called us to do, preach the gospel! This is the beauty of our faith! God’s word does not return void. Christians, brothers and sisters, hear this. If today, we will go forth and preach the word of God – that glorious gospel that teaches that we are wretched sinners deserving of damnation, yet, in His mercy Christ died for us, and that through repentance and faith we can receive forgiveness of sins – if we go out into our country and preach this word, souls will be saved. If we repent of our sin of trying to win this battle on our own, if we humble ourselves and pray over the lost and dying sinners walking the streets, if we raise our families to love and praise our Savior, souls will be saved! And as those souls are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, they will be led to preach the same gospel! And, maybe, just maybe, we might actually see a real revival, not one of those charades that get scheduled on TBN every night.

Now, here is the interesting part. If a nation were to break out in genuine revival, if hearts were convicted of the sins our nation currently exalts, and if they were truly led of the Spirit, what happens? It begins to love the law of God and practice it without having to be forced through legislation!! See, all those laws and political machinations we are trying to win won’t need to have so much effort, because people will desire to obey God out of their sincere love and gratitude toward Him. I’m not advocating preaching the gospel just to get a better society, not one bit. I’m saying that if we actually love the Lord as we ought to and preach His gospel, because it is truly the best thing we have to offer (honestly, we are talking about the forgiveness of sins and eternal life here), then all the other things we keep fighting for will get won because God Himself will be fighting the battle.

Does this mean we surrender the political fight and never get involved? No. But this is where the balance must come into play. We are blessed to live in this country, so we must thank God by honoring our duties to care for and protect it. We must stand up against evil when it arises and vote in a manner that is consistent with biblical principles. But, at the forefront must always be the gospel! When we defend morality, it is not because “it is better for society,” it is because to allow the immoral to stand is to allow untold numbers of souls to believe sin is not sin and God will not judge it. We must proclaim sin to be sin and compassionately lead those who will hear us to the cross at Calvary to be forgiven. Always must this be the reason why we vote the way we do, and for no other reason.

Brothers and sisters, I have heard so many Christians speak vehemently over which candidates to vote for, which parties to back, and which laws to support. Yet, I hear so very little of that passion when it comes to speaking forth the truth of the gospel to the lost. Please, let us change that. Let’s end the notion we can win this world by worldly means. Let us, with one accord, proclaim the glorious gospel of our risen Savior for the salvation of souls and let us see what the Lord might do with our nation then.

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Should Christians Boycott?

Every year, especially around this time, a huge outcry comes from the American Christian church. It basically amounts to, “If you don’t call it Christmas, we will boycott you”! On the surface, this seems like a pretty straightforward issue. December 25 has been the long celebrated, if not very accurate, date of the birth of Jesus Christ in this world. Now there are many debates about whether Christians should even celebrate this particular holiday, but I am setting aside that issue for now and am asking my readers to do the same. The issue I want to address is the issue of boycotting those companies that choose not to recognize this specific holiday as they cater to the consumer market. The question that needs to be asked is, should Christians participate in this?

In addressing this matter, let us first consider what Christmas is. For the Christian, it is a celebration of the time when God entered into humanity through the Incarnation. When the promise of Isaiah 9:6-7 came to fulfillment, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” When the Holy Spirit overshadowed a young virgin and Jesus became fully God and fully Man. When the Creator of all the universe took on humanity and became as one of us.

Unquestionably, the single most important aspect in history occurred on the hill of Calvary. Without the death, and subsequent resurrection, of Jesus Christ, there is no Christianity, as there is no forgiveness for sin. Yet, Calvary happened because a Child was born in Bethlehem, born in a filthy stable to a poor couple who were outcasts because there were questions about the how Mary really got pregnant. A Child that the local thieves…um, make that local shepherds ran through the streets announcing. A Child that, it seemed, very few people really cared about came into this world, but upon whom all of history would be affected. The very point of the celebration of Christmas centers then around the birth of the single most important figure in all of history, and the the ultimate fulfillment of why He came.

Fast forward to the year 2011 and the celebration of Christmas in America. Thanks to many traditions added over the years, trees and lights adorn our homes. Presents are exchanged in celebration of the season. Families gather together to sing carols and a traditional reading of the birth of Christ. Well, in some homes anyway. The growth of pluralism, post-modernism and political correctness have taught us that not everyone cares to celebrate this time of year because of Jesus’ birth. We are told that alternative beliefs, or even lack of beliefs, are just as important as the birth of Christ. In fact, since the Christian faith is so “intolerant” of other beliefs, it is actually important to denounce the central tenet of this celebration, or at least seriously downplay it, so that others can feel less disenfranchised and enjoy themselves more. After all, the purpose of the season is about love and joy to all mankind.

It did not take long for retailers to recognize that if they wanted to continue to make money from consumers, they had to buy into this system. Since not every person buying gifts was a Christian, they had better go to great lengths to make them feel included. Refusing to transition into this new age of pluralistic celebrations could mean that customers would feel offended and take their business to a more “inclusive” store. “Merry Christmas” became “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings”. Christmas decorations became Holiday decorations. Stores sanitized themselves of anything remotely “Christian” in order to attract potential customers, thus increasing their bottom line.

It did not take long for Christians to recognize they were being pushed aside in this wave of commercial political correctness. Bumper stickers and signs began popping up which stated “Keep Christ in CHRISTmas” or “Remember the Reason for the Season”. Rather innocuous and harmless efforts to return people’s minds back to the central figure of Christmas (yet rather ineffective given the lack of a true gospel presentation, but I digress). Along the way, someone struck upon an idea. If a store doesn’t want to acknowledge Christ and Christmas, then why spend their money there? After all, if Christians aren’t worth catering to, why bother shopping at that store. In true Christian fashion, the worldly concept of boycotting caught on like wildfire. Before long, Christian organizations began to keep track of who did or did not say “Merry Christmas”. Christians were encouraged to avoid shopping at stores that were not “Christian friendly”. Terse letters were forwarded to companies with dire warnings that unless they changed their ways, Christians would withhold the money expected that year. It is now an annual event for Christians to celebrate the birth of our Savior by threatening companies with boycott unless they play ball our way.

Now, readers are probably catching on at this point where am I going with this, but I would like you to hear me out. How often have you read an article or seen a news report where a small business, run by a Christian, made a business decision that was informed by their beliefs that conflicted with a “protected class” and a boycott/lawsuit ensued. Have you not, rightly, declared, “How dare they? They’re just bullying them into doing what they want”! We have all seen it happen, perhaps you have even heard of a business or organization being shut down because they could not handle the legal costs involved. When we see it being doled out against other Christians, we realize just how cruel the concept is. If someone doesn’t do it their way, you either tow the line or you’re outta here!

So the question for the Christian is, what are we thinking?? At what point did Christ call upon us to use the cruel and mean ways of the world to promote His Name? At one point did we forget that our celebration of Christ was not which stores we would shop at, but to celebrate that promised Messiah, born of a virgin, in a poor household, with parents who were gossiped about, but would turn history on its head because of His death and resurrection for the sins of mankind? When did we forget that His story would not be told on store banners and catalogs, but when we would boldly proclaim the gospel to all those we meet? Did Christ command us to tersely warn people to make sure they celebrate Christmas, or did He call us to lovingly proclaim His gospel so that people would repent and trust in Him for salvation?

It is my suggestion that rather than partake in worldly methods, so we can feel comfortable shopping at stores where we can get the best deal, we take this time to go out into the world and share the glorious gospel of salvation through grace. See, this time of year is important to remember, but not so we can get good deals on presents. It is important for the reason I stated before, without Bethlehem, there is no Calvary. Without Calvary, there is no salvation. Without salvation, there is no hope. Please Christians, stop worrying if the stores are promoting Christmas, it’s not their job. It is ours. Let us spend our energies proclaiming Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection. That is the one gift you can give to every single person you meet that really matters anyway.

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The Balance of Marriage and Ministry

Below is a link to an article I read that, along with the counsel of godly brethren, I have found very helpful at this stage in my Christian walk. For weeks, I have struggled with how to balance the various ministries I am part of with my duties as a husband and father. The author of this article really strikes to the heart of the matter. I pray that you find this as helpful as I have.

The Balance of Marriage and Ministry

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What Can Make People Do a Complete 180 on Abortion?

The ministry of Living Waters has just released the following video that has the potential to drastically change the culture’s view on abortion and to save souls. Please take the time view this important video:

As you share this video with people, please suggest they go to www.180movie.com for additional information.

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What is the Church?

Recently, I entered into an internet conversation on the purpose of the church.  Dangerous territory, I know, but fools run in where angels fear to tread. The conversation started by the posting of an article about a “church”  known as “The Crossing” that some people were beginning to fear was taking on a cult-like appearance.  This church is known for its seeker-sensitive methodology, seeking to draw in the unconverted to, allegedly, preach the gospel to them.  Of the comments that followed, inevitably, one was from a participant of said church, defending its actions.

Initially, I refrained from comment and observed the conversation unfold.  The defender of The Crossing repeatedly defended her church’s effort to reach the lost by offering a non-judgmental environment to those who would not enter a traditional church.  She also repeatedly demanded people show her where in the Bible is was prohibited to invite people to church.  Ultimately, her challenge was that if her church was doing the work of God, no one had the right to say anything negative.  In fact to do so was to speak against God (interesting that she couldn’t see why anyone was making a connection with the cults).

What ultimately got me into this conversation was that she was making the same fatal mistake that many so called churches are making today.  That is, she wrongly answered the question, “What exactly is the church?”  According to seeker sensitive theology, the church is a building where you make the unregenerate person as comfortable as possible while you slide snippets of the Bible in between moralistic teachings on how to improve your life.  The justification for this is that the hard doctrines of the Bible would push away the nonbeliever, thus preventing him or her from being willing to “accept” Jesus.  The church therefore, is the recruitment center where hopeful Christians are wooed into “believing”.

However, what is the biblical definition of the church?  The Bible refers to church as the “bride of Christ.”  It is the universal body of believers who have been converted by the power of the Holy Spirit by leading them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  It is universal because it is not confined to the four walls of the local church building.  It includes men, women and children of various nationalities, locations and even eras of time.  It is confined only to those who have been born again by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  The local gathering, the church we attend down the street, is where believers in the same geographic location meet to pray, worship and study God’s word.  It is where believers grow in faith and learn about the spiritual gifts given to them for use in God’s service.  In essence, it is a boot camp, not a recruitment center.  Believers meet to be trained up in the word of God and then go out into the world to wage spiritual warfare.  The believers are equipped for the work of ministry and go out and proclaim the gospel.  Then God does the work of conversion in the heart of the unbelievers.  Then those who become born again join the universal church and become plugged into a local congregation.

When the local church is treated as a recruitment center rather than a boot camp, spiritual soldiers are deprived of vital training and are rendered incapable of fighting in the war.  Hopeful recruits are plugged into ministries despite their lack of conversion, thus rendering the work done ineffective because it is not led by the Holy Spirit.

My response to the “church” defender came down to this.  Is it acceptable to invite a neighbor or friend to church where they hear the gospel proclaimed, and in turn, become born again?  Absolutely!  But should a church be modeled in such a way that the local congregation is where we try to woo unbelievers into “accepting” Jesus?  Absolutely not!  To do so is unbiblical and a direct contradiction of scripture.  Any church that adopts such a practice is not a church. Let us not fear exposing such false practices because we will called unloving or intolerant.  Let us stand for the biblical calling of the church and never waver in our dedication to the body of Christ

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“I Hope You Rot in Hell!”

Yesterday, a terrible tragedy struck Northern Nevada.  Many of you have probably seen the news about a man who fired on several people, ultimately killing four of them, before taking his own life.  Five of the people who were shot were Nevada Army National Guardsman, three of which died.  Many find themselves utterly dumbfounded by this evil act.  Of course, compounding the issue is that, with the death of the shooter, we may never know why he did it.  There is a tremendous sadness, and even anger over this tragedy.  In fact, one commenter on a news website summed his anger toward the shooter by stating, “I hope God doesn’t show you mercy.  I hope you rot in Hell.”

I have found myself thinking about that phrase over the last twenty-four hours.  What should we think of someone who has committed such an atrociously evil act?  Should we truly desire for someone to “rot in hell?”  Should we really desire that God never show that person mercy?  Ultimately, I believe the answer is no.

Why should I make such a statement?  Isn’t God just?  Doesn’t He say that He will punish evil?  Yes, God is just, and yes, He does punish evil.  In fact, I think we should be grateful that God will punish the great evils committed in this world, that no deed done in darkness will escape His sight.  But I also believe that very same justice should make us fear and tremble.

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Men, Do You Worship Your Ministry?

Kind of an odd question, right? If you are a Christian, you worship God. Ministry is what you do in service to God. So how can you worship it? Let me explain by giving you a picture of my life, and how God has shown me where my worship lies.

I am a full time father and husband, as well as a full time employee. I am a part time evangelist, part time Sunday School teacher, and a part time Christian blogger. Now, if someone were to ask my friends and family what my full time work was, most would likely point to my “part time” work. That is because, were you to look at my life and what I am doing, that is what you would see. It is also constantly what I talk about and what is often posted by me in my social networking. In fact, while considering how to write this blog, I’ve been witnessing to a sixteen year old atheist on YouTube. It is a major part of my life. However, God began to show me something in the last year about how I view my part time ministries, as compared to my full time position as a husband and father.

If you are a Christian husband and father, your first and foremost ministry is your family. This is not even debatable. In fact, the standard for an elder in 1 Timothy 3: 2-5 tells us, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)”. In other words, a man should have his own house in order before even being considered to become an elder. Does this mean that every single person in every single ministry has to meet the standard of an elder? No. But as it is a good thing to desire the office of an elder, I believe this sets a reasonable measure that we should look at when we are involved in ministry. But, when I began to look at my home, I realized this was an area I was lacking in.

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