Jesus' Most Difficult Prayer

You struggle with difficult prayers at times. So did Jesus. 

He was fully God and fully man, so how can this be?
Jesus was and is God (John 10:30), but He chose to limit His divine "omnis" during His time on earth (omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence...Philippians 2:5-8).

He took on human flesh to be our sacrifice for sin and our example for life.

One of those great moments of example is found as Jesus prays in the Garden prior to the cross. In His prayer, I find 3 reminders that carried Jesus through His most difficult prayer and can do the same for us. 

And Jesus said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."  Mark 14:36

Did you notice the three reminders for our prayers struggles?

1) "God can do anything."
Jesus recognizes the current difficulty doesn't diminish God's ability. God could do absolutely anything and Jesus prefaces His upcoming request with this recognition.

2) "God do this."
Jesus specifically prays for any other options. Could He have been thinking of Abraham once on the very edge of sacrificing his own son, Isaac, before God stopped him at the last moment? Jesus was not afraid to pray specifically. We are not called to hide our true feelings from God in prayer. He invites us to be honest with our fears and hopes.

3) "God do what's best."
I can't help but think of Ephesians 3:20 here: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think."

Jesus knows what God can do.
Jesus knows what He'd like God to do.
Jesus knows that God will do what's best.

Don't be afraid to pray specifically, but also be ok for God to change the specifics. Some of our prayer struggles come from praying so specifically for our will without any room in our heart and mind for God to do something better! He's infinite, eternal, and plans things so much better than you or I.

Finally, don't miss the most comforting part of all this. Jesus prays by calling God, "Abba." This intimate term was not a title, but a statement of affection like calling out "Hey Dad! Hey Pop!" As a child of God, we have the freedom to talk to God at all times as we...
Remember He can do everything. 
Tell Him what you'd like to see done. 
And be ready for Him to do even better than you could ever ask or think. 

If I Believe It, Why Don't I Teach It?

Pastor is one of the most dangerous titles a person can hold. 

Pastors can be tempted to misuse their position, granting themselves authority over people's lives that is non-existent. For me, 1 Peter 5:2-3 is the ultimate pastor job description:

"Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing...not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."

My role as a pastor is to lead by example. 

My role as pastor is not to lord over others. 

As a believer, I hold personal convictions. 

As a pastor, I cannot teach them as commands. 

Let me give you the two examples I am challenged on the most. 

Thou Shalt Not Drink

Baptist church constitutions have for years adopted a covenant including this line: "Members will abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage." While I appreciate the intent behind the statement, there is a huge problem...the Bible doesn't prohibit drinking alcohol. 

The Bible warns against the dangers of alcohol consumption, of which there are many (Prov 23:29-35, Isaiah 5:11). What the Bible does not do is expressly prohibit the drinking of alcohol. I personally do not drink. I've seen too many lives damaged, and I hold to the words of Dr. James Merritt, "You'll never be bitten by a snake you don't play with." 

Should I teach my church that drinking alcohol is a sin? No, because scripture does not teach it. Do I share my personal conviction on the subject with my church? Absolutely, but I ensure they know it's the words of man and not of God. 

Thou Shalt Tithe

I know several people in my church disagree with me on this point, but the cool thing is that we have no trouble continuing our potlucks together! However, the assertion that I do not believe in tithing is only half true. 

I recently taught a series on generosity in which I shared a pattern of generosity for every Christian I learned from a former pastor with Generis:

1. Potential: We all have the potential to give
2. Priority: We all must make giving a priority
3. Proportional: We should set an intentional proportion in our giving
4. Partner: We should be ready for additional opportunities for generosity

#3 on Proportional giving is where I think the tithe (giving 10% of your income) would fall. Personally, I have always held the tithe is an important place where our giving really grows our faith. However, if people give 10% because they were told they must, there's little opportunity for faith. The church hasn't allowed many believers to first understand their potential and the need to set giving as a priority before becoming a proportional giver. 

The New Testament gives numerous statements on our generosity. We don't determine our giving with a calculator, but with our heart (1 Cor 16:2, 2 Cor 9:7). 

Should I teach my church that failing to tithe is a sin? No, because scripture does not teach it. Have I seen the blessings of proportional giving in my own life? Absolutely, and those blessings have moved our family to be a partnering giver in other areas as we are able. Christians don't have freedom from giving, but they have freedom in giving. 

My Wish Is Not Your Command

Paul writes in 1 Cor 7 of how singleness has freed him from the pressures of married life to more fully serve Christ. While he sees the value of such a life, he writes in 1 Cor 7:6-7:

"This is not a command. I wish that all of you were as I am." 

Paul shared his personal conviction on singleness, but he never pushed his conviction as a commandment.

It would be easier for me to simply teach my personal convictions as biblical commands. 

It would also be dishonest, no matter how well-intentioned I may be. And if my congregation can't trust me on one doctrine, how can they trust me on anything ever again? Allow scripture to shape your convictions, but don't allow the line between personal conviction and biblical command to become blurred. 

The Church Isn't Supposed to Be Inspirational

America's Got Talent should be renamed to "America's Got Inspirational Stories."

Our family watches every summer, living and dying with the performances of our favorites. As the show progresses, the talent takes a backseat to the stories:

• The deaf woman who sings. 
• The violinist who's losing feeling in his fingers. 
• The comic who's stuttering issues make a 90-second set a challenge. 

As this year's show was just starting, auditions were already being pushed for next year.
Because theses inspiring stories will fade.
Many Twitter and Instagram followers will eventually "unfollow."

Inspiration is really just a feeling, and feelings are fleeting.

(OK...this one is pretty good)

Pre-marital counseling with a starry-eyed couple starts as I ask them to define the word love. After allowing them to ramble a while, I finally help them out: "Love is not a feeling. It's a commitment."

Inspiration isn't a commitment. It's a feeling.
Churches and pastors cannot be ok with simply making worshippers feel something.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness 2 Timothy 3:16

Notice scripture is not meant to inspire, but to convict.
Inspiration is fleeting.
Conviction is forceful.

A memorable turn of phrase or inspirational quote can support a lesson, but the church cannot allow those to be the lesson. To do so elevates human wisdom and turns the Bible into nothing more than proof texts to be cherry picked in support of whatever we want to say. 

God did not leave the church behind to inspire. He left it behind to make disciples. That's a hard work and undoubtably it is also an emotional work. But we cannot allow ourselves to be driven by the mental sugar rush of emotions or we will find that when the real trials come, we have no solid truth to stand on.

The church must declare the truth of Scripture. 
The truth of Scripture is what changes our thoughts, words, and actions. 
As a Bible teacher, allow the scripture to speak louder than your own notions. 
As a Christian, don't merely look for inspiration. Accept the conviction of scripture knowing it is the very Word of God that prepares and upholds you for every situation life can throw at us. 

Fight the Idea, Not the Individual

"Old buddy, that's politics-after 6 o'clock we can be friends; but before 6 it's politics." 
-House Speaker Tip O'Neill (D) to President Ronald Reagan (R)

John McCain's passing this week reminds us once again that political rivalries are less serious in Washington than between two random, politically-opposed people on Facebook.

Hours after McCain's passing, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer proposed renaming the Senate Office Building in McCain's honor, a Republican. In our politically charged environment it seems impossible that political opponents could also be friends. 

Clearly not every person across the aisle has a bestie, but there are more than you might realize. We've been reminded of numerous odd political friendships during the memorial this week:

• George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton
• John Boehner and Barack Obama
• Michelle Obama and George W. Bush

While they disagree on fundamental issues, it doesn't prevent their ability to be civil and even friendly! As Christians, we must be models of both standards and civility.  

"Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable..." 1 Peter 2:12

We must learn how to disagree without disregarding someone. Clearly I want to see politicians who will stand up for their principles, but the mission is to fight conflicting ideas, not individuals. 

Let's speak our mind. 
Let's disagree respectfully.
Let's represent Jesus and truth well as we seek to love those we disagree with the most. 

If God Knows the Number of My Days, Why Run?

Does God know when you will die? 

The simple answer is yes. Psalm 139:16 says,
"Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

So if God could literally display a calendar for all the days of my life, then why should I take the time to run for my health?

This question is one of perspective. 

God KNOWS when I'm going to die.

I have NO IDEA when I'm going to die. 

Yet I know certain choices can accelerate the process: 

-Drug or alcohol abuse

-Overeating

-Lying in the middle of I-90 in downtown Chicago around 5pm.

God's omniscience means He knows all the choices I'm going to make, including the choice to take better care of myself. I have good reasons to run. 

I run to honor God with my body. (1 Cor 6:19-20)

I run to stay ready to serve God and others (1 Tim 4:8)

I run to encourage others (Hebrews 10:24)

God once told King Hezekiah he would die soon and to set his household in order. But Hezekiah refused to merely accept this fate. He cried out in tearful prayer for God to grant him more days. God responds in 2 Kings 20:5-6, "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you...and add 15 years to your life." God then revealed a treatment through the prophet Isaiah that healed Hezekiah's sickness and displayed that God is not anti-medicine. 

Did God know Hezekiah would pray? Yes

Did God know Hezekiah's prayer would grant him 15 more years. Yes

Did Hezekiah know any of this? Nope

Therein lies the point. Just because God knows the number of my days, doesn't mean I fail to take responsibility for my life. Certainly, not every runner is granted a long life. But if living healthy could potentially extend my time with my family, make me more useful to serve God, and prove 13.1 miles isn't an impossible goal, why not give it a shot? 

Head back over next week as the late Senator John McCain teaches us how not to be a jerk...

Lessons From the Race

Saturday was pretty awesome. 

After the disappointment of knee surgery a few years ago, and a lot of hard work, I finally crossed the finish line of my first half-marathon.

Running has taught me a lot.
Running in a pack of 2500 people at the Madison Mini added a few more lessons.

1) Run YOUR race

"let US run with endurance the race that is set before US." Hebrews 12:1

The first three miles were pretty bunched up, but our personal paces began to spread the field. A few times I would try to pace with a faster runner, but I gave up that strategy pretty quickly. 

The only person I was competing against was myself. 

Hebrews reminds US to run our race. That means both the general race for all Christians as well as the race of God's specific will for each of us. Faster runners and more faithful believers can be an inspiration, but forgetting to run your race in the meantime will likely lead only to defeat. 

2) Be an encourager

"encourage one another and build one another up" 1 Thess. 5:11

10 cheer stations along the course provided us with hydration and adrenaline! My tired body perked up around the 9 and 11 mile marks with shouts of encouragement and cups of gatorade. The Madison Memorial Girls CC team above got my vote as the best cheer station. The Super Mario power-up mushroom sign was epic!

Encouragement is powerful. 

It doesn't take a lot of encouragement to keep us going, whether it's a challenging run or life situation. When we feel broken down, encouragement can build us back up! So don't wonder if that person could use a little encouragement...just treat them like you wish they'd treat you!

3) Celebrate your wins

"at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem [the people came] to celebrate joyfully." Nehemiah 12:27

This is my favorite picture from race day. When I told my wife I wanted to run the Madison Mini, she jumped in for the 5K race. Numerous times she's downplayed finishing the 5K in comparison to my race, but I wouldn't hear of it. She doesn't love running, yet did the work all by herself to have her best pace of the summer!!!

It's not a sin to celebrate.

The work of Nehemiah and his people in restoring the broken down walls of Jerusalem had been hard work, and what's the point of working hard if you're not going to celebrate the accomplishment? It's not prideful to celebrate a milestone and we would do well to celebrate more!

Whether you're running the race of the track or of life, I hope these lessons are as meaningful to you as they were to me. Check in next week as I share a bit on the subject of "If God knows the number of my days, then why run?" 

Sometimes You Gotta Dig

What did Indiana Jones teach me as a child? 

1. Fear of snakes is completely healthy. 
2. Nazi's were a real superstitious bunch. 
3. Always stop after the third movie. (Still can't believe I paid real money to see Crystal Skull)

The draw of Indiana Jones was the idea of uncovering something that had been buried far too long and was simply waiting for discovery. Christians must also be willing to take on the same work. 

God called the prophet Ezekiel to a dig of discovery, but it wasn't an exciting find. God reveals a small hole in the temple wall and commands the prophet to dig it open and climb through. He enters to find the elders of Israel worshipping idols and false gods within the walls of God's house. 

Then God said to Ezekiel, "You have seen what the (70) elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, 'The Lord does not see us.'" Ezekiel 8:12

Here are some quick takeaways:

We need to dig. When we see a hole in our spiritual house, we need to be willing to admit the damage and work with God on the restoration. 

We need to be honest. God sees everything. When we find the damage, we must admit to God both the sin and the cause. 

We need to be swift! Israel had failed to respond to God and their idolatry grew out of secret places into the open where many were deceived. Failing to repent immediately can only lead to further sin. 

Dig in prayer. Be honest about what you find. Respond swiftly to God's conviction. He doesn't expose our sin to destroy us, but to redirect us! 

No Girls Allowed?

Southern Baptists are considering questions about women's roles for ministry in fresh ways. I was asked to share my own journey on this subject in the Illinois Baptist recently. Here is that article:

https://ib2news.org/2018/07/26/no-girls-allowed/

The Difference Between God's Plans and God's Purpose

"What if my dreams do not happen? Will I just change what I told my friends?"
-Twenty One Pilots from "We Don't Believe What's On TV"

We spend too much time looking for God's plans.

It feels like I've spent years looking for God's plans, merely moving from point to point while failing to discover a bigger picture. My wife and I constantly quoted Proverbs 3:5-6 through times of uncertainty, and we have discovered God consistently has plans for our lives even in the most difficult circumstances.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him
and he will make your paths straight.

So I was content to move along the path, believing God for each step.
But in the journey, I forgot about reaching a destination.

I realize my primary goal is not to find God's plans. My primary goal is to live out my purpose.

Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

This is not a promise of God to grant every sin or every whim of every heart.
Taking delight in the Lord comes as we make ourselves more pliable in His hands. We grow in our relationship with Him and we discover our purpose. The desires of our heart mirror His desires for us.

God has made me a teacher. That's His purpose.
Right now, God has made me a pastor. That's His plan.
God's plans are always to shape and mold us as we learn to delight in Him and embrace the desires He has placed within us. Understanding this purpose fuels our dreams for what can be...if we don't fall to fear.

One day, I'd like to be a college professor, teaching students to love and apply the Bible. In the meantime, I see how His current plans are growing and stretching me into my purpose.

• Joseph was an Administrator...yet he spent time as a prisoner.
• David's was a King....yet he spent time as a shepherd.
• Peter was an Evangelist...yet he spent time as a fisherman.

Don't be afraid of your dreams. God has made you and knows what gets you motivated and where you are most useful. Keep seeking the plans of God. Put your trust in God. Take your delight in Him, and watch his plans help you to find the purpose your heart has been longing for. 

#MeToo Hits the SBC

To our First Family:

We are Southern Baptist. I recognize that for many of you, that doesn't really register. You love our church, agree with our statements of faith, and have probably even given to the Christmas and Easter mission offerings. Beyond that, the Southern Baptist Convention doesn't mean much to you.

I'll be heading next week to our annual convention in Dallas, June 12-13. As the largest non-Catholic denomination in the country, our meetings tend to make the news. Usually that news is for our stand on biblical truth, but unfortunately there is a bigger story I'd like to make you aware of.

Our #MeToo Moment
Dr. Paige Patterson has been a hero of our denomination as part of a movement in the 70's to steer the SBC to a place of firm commitment to the authority of scripture. However, it has been revealed that while President of two of our seminaries, Dr. Patterson used his authority to silence women who had been raped on those campuses. In addition, indefensible statements during sermons from Dr. Patterson have come to light regarding domestic violence and describing a teenage girl's appearance.

Dr. Patterson has been removed as President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, but is still in line to preach the sermon at the end of this year's annual meeting. Being voted into that position last year, before any of these details were known, he can only be removed if he resigns (unlikely at this point) or if messengers like myself vote to have him removed. I anticipate the later solution to be the first motion from the floor and to pass overwhelmingly.

You may still hear scattered voices in support of Dr Patterson because of his past service, but no level of service can discount the abuses of authority Dr. Patterson is guilty of. Please know the overwhelming voices in our denominational leadership and mainstream have firmly denounced Dr. Patterson in the strongest of terms. As a husband, father, brother, and son to some incredible women in my own life, I am heartbroken for this situation in our denomination. Men must NEVER be permitted to use spiritual authority for spiritually bullying.

The Good News

I've been part of Southern Baptist Churches for over 20 years. I don't believe we're infallible as a denomination, but in regards to mission and message, I believe the SBC is a great place of partnership for our church. 

The positive impact of the SBC is on the rise! In a time where denominations are dying, we gained 272 churches last year and saw worship attendance grow by an extra 100,000 each Sunday! 

Our own church has seen growth through a second worship service and leadership transitions to build upon and strengthen our worship and discipleship ministries. People are responding to our efforts of biblical worship and discipleship.

As a member of FBC you are a Southern Baptist. That doesn't make you responsible for every difficult moment we experience as a denomination. But as a part of this faith family, let us pray together and use these moments to own our imperfections for the declaration of the Gospel. Let's tell them about our Jesus!

Condemning Comfort

How do I comfort someone whose deceased loved one was an unbeliever? 

Recently the Pope was faced with a heart-wrenching question from a young boy. The child's repeated attempts to voice his question were quickly overcome by tears. Finally, Pope Francis called the child forward and encouraged him to whisper the question in his ear as the boy hugged him tight. After a few private moments Pope Francis shared the question:

"My dad was an atheist. Is He in Heaven?" (Here is the video link: https://usat.ly/2r209qa)

The boy shared that his dad was a good man and even had all four of his children baptized. Pope Francis agreed the boy's father had been a good man and then answered his question:

"God, faced with a dad who was an unbeliever but had his four children baptized, do you think that God would be capable of leaving that man far from Him? No."

A large crowd was present and was encouraged by Pope Francis to also shout, "NO!" The video has gone viral, allowing every viewer to be condemned by an act of comfort. Thousands have heard of salvation not through Jesus, but through personal goodness. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17

John 3:17 is my favorite verse because people usually respond, "Don't you mean John 3:16?" I appreciate that it pushes back against those who say salvation only through Jesus excludes people. Listen:
Without Jesus there was NO WAY to Heaven. 
With Jesus there is ONE WAY to Heaven. 
I prefer the second option. Telling people that Jesus is the only way IS a loving act.

I empathize with this difficult question Pope Francis faced. I've performed many funerals for people who had no testimony of Christ, and yet their families spoke of them as if they were clearly in Heaven. How does a Christian approach this?

1) Don't presume.
Max Lucado encourages us to remember that in the same way the thief on the cross accepted at the very end of his life, so may have this seemingly lost family member. Perhaps they cried out to Jesus in their final moments. We don't treat all people as saved, but we don't presume to absolutely know.

2) Display the love of God. 
Jesus wept with people who were hurting. Regardless of their beliefs, we can still encourage people to hold to those good memories and even be ready to share those stories with family they never had the chance to meet.

3) Point the person to Jesus. 
I know one thing is true of every person who dies: If they were standing before their loved ones they would say, "Eternity is real." We can't do anything for the soul that is gone, but we still have a chance with the soul that stands before us. So share the love of Jesus and salvation of Jesus that is available to every person.

When people are hurting, be a comfort. But don't condemn someone by false comfort that fails to share the truth. Be a person who expresses truth and love side-by-side. 

How Fast or How Well?

Seth: "I'm the new manager."
Jerry: "But you were a bank executive. This is fast food!"
Seth: "Not fast food, good food quickly."

The American experience is a constant trade-in of quality for speed. This issue was recently driven home during my morning workout. The Nike Training App has been my go-to for a while, and I appreciate each exercise is accompanied by video and audio reminders as you progress.

Today's routine included 30-second increments of the "Crab Reach", a move I've done umpteen times. However, a line in the audio immediately changed my approach to this move as well to the remaining sets in my workout:

"Focus on good form over speed"

In my desire to do something good (exercising my body), I'd been emphasizing speed over quality. I emphasized how fast I could perform the move instead of how well I could perform it. 

I think you may see where I'm going with this.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17 (NIV)

Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses, the man working to establish an unstable people. Israel was coming out of Egypt and anxious to settle into their permanent homeland, but Moses fought that mindset. Moses prayer wasn't for a quick build, but a quality build. Throughout the Psalm he uses words like everlasting and steadfast. These are words that are willing to take time with the Lord to do things well.

Are you?  

Whether in our devotional time, family time, or work efforts, we must have a desire for God to establish our work as works of quality. Reading the Bible in a year isn't more valuable than studying the Bible for a year. One advances your reading plan, while the other advances your sanctification (becoming more like Jesus).

There's a lot to do everyday: For God, for others, for yourself. Don't focus on how fast you can accomplish these tasks, but on how well you can do them. You just may find the end of each day is more satisfying than it's ever been. 

OMG...Pardon Me?

I think we're doing that 3rd commandment wrong. 

Like me, you may have grown up in a household that didn't allow for phrases like...

OMG

Jeez

Gosh Darn

For those of you who just survived the PG-13 part of this blog, let's continue. If I may be so bold, I believe the commandment our parents tried to keep us in line with goes much deeper than a word spoken in anger or frustration. 

My seminary president once had the honor of teaching an Old Testament study to a group of rabbis. Afterwards, they repeatedly thanked him for not using the proper name of God, Yahweh, during his teaching. Many Christians who'd been invited to teach had used the name, causing extreme offense to their audience. 

If you've ever noticed in your Bible, the word LORD is often capitalized throughout the Old Testament portions. This is actually a substitution by the Hebrew scribes for the name Yahweh that for them was too holy and special to even be written down. The Jews have always treated God's name with a deep reverence, but it goes far beyond the understanding you may have grown up with. 

How do we use God's name in vain.

1) Profanity. Ok, so let's get this out of the way. If you're using the English expression for God as a curse word, then you clearly are speaking it vainly. However, for those with no relationship with Him, "God" is simply a word. We need to be careful about demanding lost people use the name of God properly. Lost people gonna lost. 

2) Prayers of Unbelief. James 1:5-7 says that when we pray we should do so, "...in faith with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord" What is the issue with this prayer? It called upon God in vain, doubting His ability. We recognize God may answer differently from our preference, but in faith we pray trusting He will answer. 

3) False Oaths. Some people "swear to God" in proving their sincerity, mainly because they've been found insincere in the past. Numerous people swear before God to love "until death do us part", but step away long before. James 5:12 challenges us, "Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple "Yes" or "No."

So now what?

Obviously, we just say OMG all we want....NOT! My purpose isn't to be flippant about our attempts at honoring God, but to simply think a bit deeper on how we go about it. Idol worship in America looks differently than it did in biblical times, but we have recognized how to think deeper on the temptation to idolize fame, fortune, etc. 

In the same way, let's approach the name of God our Father and Friend with the complete reverence He deserves. Using the name of God with purpose in front of our kids or co-workers will speak louder than simply avoiding random utterances of His name at all. 

Presently Absent

"I take shame to myself for my unprofitable attendance"
-Valley of Vision

Teacher: Susan?
Susan: Here.
Teacher: Billy?
Billy: PRESENT!!!!

Everyone had a Billy in their class...physically present, but mentally absent. Many of us nabbed a perfect attendance award sometime during our school years, but those awards said nothing of our effort. When you're six, Mom's gonna put you on the bus every chance she gets!

Whether kids or adults, we have all been presently absent at some point. We might get credit from others for being in class, at work, or even in church. But are we getting any credit in Heaven?

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Col 3:23 (NLT)

God doesn't tell us to work. He tells us to work well! Christians are placed as ambassadors to a watching world. Sometimes those watchers are less evident than at other times, which is why we must always work as though we're doing it for God rather than people.

Where are you present physically yet mentally absent?

• Your job is paying you, but your extended breaks and slack hands rob your employer.
• Your teacher invests their expertise in you, but you ignore their wisdom and preparation.
• Your church prepares a worship environment for you, but you fail to prepare spiritually

God's not handing out attendance awards. God rewards diligent hearts that fully invest themselves in whatever they're doing. If you have to be there, why not put in your best effort to glorify your Father in Heaven?

The Responsibility of Readiness

Our community has endured an incredibly tough run the last few weeks. Two of our local schools had students who made threats against the safety of their fellow students. Then we were further shaken by the horrific loss of two teenage brothers at the hands of their own father.

I’ve spent a lot of time around one of those schools in support, and noticed various encouraging messages like this one all over the building.

Other local schools followed suit, encouraging students to look for opportunities to stand ready for moments of support to outcast and downcast classmates. I’m inspired to see these administrators, teachers, and students respond positively to such tragedy.

I'm hopeful that this response to tragedy will remain in the future.
I'm hopeful also that Christians will assume greater responsibility to be pre-tragedy. 

We don’t need more nice people at school. We need more ambassadors for Christ at school.

We don’t need school-sanctioned prayer, but student-sparked prayer by students for students.

The world will remain sick with sin until the eternal reign of Jesus, so Christians have a responsibility of readiness. When faith in Christ is displayed prominently, our focus moves from arguing issues to sharing Jesus. As my evangelism professor said in seminary, "You'll never argue anyone into the kingdom of Heaven."

Are you available to the lonely person at school, work, or even church? It's more comfortable to stick with your clique, but our responsibility as Christians calls us to a higher standard.

So don't cast anyone away! When we see the outcast and downcast, let our hearts and minds be prepared to gather in and lift up! Not everyone will come to a full or immediate acceptance of Jesus, but when Christians live kindness, we reveal the hope of Jesus to people who have bought Satan's hopeless lies.

Biblical Racism

I wonder if I would have owned slaves?

American Christianity today cries loudly against slavery, but the voices were muted in the earlier days of our nation. Many pastors, like Richard Fuller, used the Bible to justify the enslavement of blacks by white Christians, who themselves had been freed from the chains of sin by Jesus.

Of course I find black slavery and Jim Crow laws reprehensible today...but what if I had lived back then?

Recently I watched the Jackie Robinson biopic "42". Film critic Richard Roeper's called it an "unexceptional film about a most extraordinary man." Having read many firsthand accounts of Robinson's life, I would agree. However, one scene left me very unsettled. A young white boy sits next to his father who, upon seeing Robinson take the field, begins using that most infamous of black insults. The boy is initially rattled by his father's behavior, but soon emulates it and I wondered, "Would I have been that boy?"

This settles me on a hypothesis for Christians: When we fail to base our personal convictions on the basis of scripture, we form them on the basis of man. Today, we read scripture in light of our society where slavery isn't the norm. 18th century Christians read scripture in a different society and allowed what was normal to overwhelm what was true. 

I suppose it's possible I could have found myself justifying slavery and oppression of black men, women, and children while quoting scriptures. But perhaps I would have read scripture for myself and come to a different conclusion.

Like Wilberforce, whose conversion to Christianity led him to fight diligently for abolition.
Like the Quakers whose movement made slavery a central topic of discussion in Christianity.
Like Francis Wayland, the Brown University president who directly opposed the claims of Pastor Fuller.

Why did I write this? Mainly because I don't want us to take our beliefs for granted. Are your beliefs about the sanctity and value of human life based on biblical convictions or human teachings? Even if the teachings are true, responsible Christians must take the time to understand these truths themselves. Do not merely adopt the beliefs of those who seem trustworthy, but dig and discover the truth of God from the Word of God.

Christians are confronted with an ever-changing society, and it's critical that we be diligent disciples of God's never-changing Word. Finally, Here is an excellent article that more clearly details how Fuller and Wayland, each using scripture, reached their positions.  I highly recommend you take a few minutes to read it. 

I Should Probably Come Up With a Title

I hate titling sermons. Some churches have creative teams that assist the pastor in creating a sermon title or series that will attract hearers...

Comeback!
Overcoming the Storms of Life!
Seven Secrets to Sabotage Selfishness!

I think creating themes like this is smart and fits the old adage,
"If you can't describe your sermon/speech/essay in one sentence, you did it wrong."

So why do I struggle with sermon titles? I can generally summarize each of them with a sentence, so it seems like the title would come pretty easily. However, truth is a deep well. People can drink of it, and be impacted in different ways. I can preach a message on financial stewardship and instead see someone walk past their past in an unrelated area of sin, pleading for Jesus to save them (true story).

Peter, Paul, and even Jesus didn't title their sermons. We did it for them, trying to provide a summary of each section of each chapter of the Bible. Have you ever read one of those subheadings like "Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand" and realized His feeding of the multitude wasn't the point?
SPOILER ALERT: The point was 12 weak-faithed disciples had to pick up, hold, and stare into 12 baskets of leftovers. The miracle wasn't to feed hungry people, but to feed the faith of these future missionaries/pastors/church planters.

Preacher: Next time you write a sermon, don't become so focused on a theme or title that you dry up the various truths that tend to leak out around the edges and speak to people in profound ways! Don't focus on how another pastor does it. Focus on how God has called YOU to do it.

Hearer: Next time you sit to listen to a message, don't presume the sermon title is all God may potentially want to talk with you about.