And this...is American Christian Idol.

I've prayed for Tim Tebow on many occasions.

My prayers were not for Tim to find success in the NFL. Instead, my attention was turned towards his personal life. Tim has never hesitated to be vocal about his Christian faith, and to make clear the choices that faith has led him to. The most notable has been his commitment to reserve sex for marriage.

And so I prayed. I prayed for Tim to continue in humility and to keep his commitment, for both himself and his testimony. One mistake could quickly bring both the scorn of disappointed Christians and the calls of hypocrisy from unbelievers.

I prayed because Tim had become an idol.
Not to himself, but to Christians.

He was a regular sermon illustration, speaker, author, and overall ambassador for all Christians. That's a lot to ask of a young man in his 20's, who by all accounts, has maintained his testimony.

Christians are much too quick to make idols out of those who live out their faith in the public eye. While the "celebrity" testimony can be very impactful, we must pray for those believers to stand against temptation and to be people of integrity.

And this bring us to the story of Naghmeh and Saeed Abedini.

Today's Washington Post story on the subject begins:
"Naghmeh Abedini rapidly rose to religious freedom superstardom in Christian circles in recent years."

The post is right, and the fault doesn't lie with Naghmeh or Saeed. It lies with American Christianity. We allowed ourselves, me included, to elevate this couple while knowing almost nothing about them. Now after years of awards and speaking engagements, what should have been a happy ending has become a PR nightmare for those who fought the hardest for Saeed.

We should now be as diligent to pray for the Abedinis as we ever were during Saeed's imprisonment. We should pray that they will both seek to grow closer to the Lord and to one another, without using the court of public opinion to sway people to one side or the other.

Saeed and Naghmeh don't owe us a thing. We took flawed, sinful people and turned them into idols. That's our sin, not theirs.

Your Dad Went to Hell

This is a true story. 

The pastor had been witnessing to John for years. John's wife and young son were faithful church attenders, but this husband and father had never joined them. The pastor pleaded with John to repent of his sins and come to Christ, but he refused to believe that he needed God to save him.

Finally John died, and his wife asked the pastor to preach the funeral. This pastor was genuinely upset to know John had died in his sins, and he wanted to be sure that no one left the church without understanding their soul might be on the line.

So during the funeral message, the pastor looked at John's young boy and said, "Son, your daddy went to Hell. Be sure to choose Jesus so you don't go there too."

The next day, the pastor saw this at the parsonage

So how should we respond at the funeral of a lost person? Let me share 3 brief thoughts from a pastor's perspective. 

1. Provide comfort. 
After the death of His friend Lazarus, Jesus shared the truth of the resurrection, but he also just cried with the family (John 11:35-36). Those who saw it were touched by the depth of Jesus' love for them.

2. Share the truth. 
I have seen people saved, or at least spiritually engaged, at funerals. But how do we talk about the gospel at the funeral of someone who's life didn't display it? An older pastor once told me when he's in that situation he says, "If John could come back and say one thing to you right now, he would tell you that death is not the end." And certainly no matter where John is, that's likely what he'd say. In Luke 16:27-28, a lost man pleaded that someone go back to his brothers who were still living. Not to say their deceased brother loved them, but to say that Heaven and Hell are real.

3. Never presume. 
I have no problem speaking of someone who had a strong testimony and faith in Christ as residing in Heaven. But, I have had my thinking changed about presuming upon the destination of a "lost" person. I recall a Max Lucado devotional from long ago where he stated, "How do we know the lost person was eternally lost? Perhaps in their final moments, they did call out to the Lord in repentance and faith." Lucado is right. Perhaps that person's faith wouldn't be as well-known or obvious as the thief on the cross who accepted on his "deathbed", but faith is faith.

So whether you're officiating or simply attending, remember that funerals aren't for the dead. Look for your opportunity to be an example of the gospel among the living.

God Doesn't Need Instant Replay

Nobody knows what a catch is anymore. 

When I played football with my friends in the backyard, a catch was rarely debated. We knew what it looked like. But then, adults got involved. And as an adult myself now, I can tell you we ruin everything. 

The NFL has instant replay, tons of rules, and unending debate about what qualifies as a catch.

Is this  catch?

(Dude on the left, and the refs, both agreed it was!)

In spite of several rule clarifications and even HD instant replay, there are still many instances where the catch is debatable.

And in an a world of ambiguity, I'm thankful God is very clear when it comes to sin. 

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

God makes it clear that everyone is a sinner. And then He leaves no confusion as to what sin is.

The greek word for sin, hamartia, literally means "to miss the mark." Sin is every time we miss the mark of God's holiness. 

Are you falling short of God's holiness in some area of your life? You can argue that the rules are unclear or unfair, but the reality is you want to live your life your own way. That's something we all struggle with! 

So don't pretend God isn't fair or doesn't care. He has set a standard of holiness to bless our lives! And if you're missing the mark in any area, simply repent and plan with God in prayer for how you will work to avoid those shortcomings when temptation comes around again. 

Emotional Adultery

I love Kindle. 

It seemed nothing could beat that old book smell, but the ability to pull out my phone anywhere and start reading made me a believer. And as I began buying more Kindle books, I started browsing the top 25.

It was shocking. 

Cover after cover was of bare-chested men, standing like a statue or embracing some beautiful woman.

Two thoughts came to mind:
1. I need to work out more.
2. There's a lot of emotional adultery going on.

Now I hesitate to give it a different title from adultery, because Jesus didn't...

"everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:28

This counts for men and women; dreaming or contemplating a relationship with someone who is not your spouse is adultery. You may never touch them with your hands, but if you touch them with your heart, you have crossed the line. It's emotional adultery.

Humans are so good at making distinctions when it comes to our sin. But Jesus died for all our sins, both those that are seen publicly and those seen only by God. So it's ludicrous to believe that as long as you avoid a physical relationship that the long conversations, sideways glances, and daydreams aren't actual unfaithfulness.

When you are investing in a person more than your spouse, you are wrong. 

Are you being faithful in your emotions and your thoughts? Keeping it clean on the surface, while stained by sin on the inside, is not an accomplishment to be proud of.

Players Gonna Play, Haters Gonna Hate, Lost People Gonna Act Lost

I've stopped for directions one time. 

My dad finally trusted me in college to deliver a load of hogs from our company to Detroit...Illinois.

Not a huge metropolis, and I couldn't find the proper turn to save my life. If you're wondering why I didn't use the GPS, it's because the year was 1997 and my line of communication was a bag phone. So after directions from a gas station attendant, I was finally on my way.

Asking directions isn't fun, because it acknowledges that you have no idea where you're going. 

It works that way in regards to spiritual things as well. 


"if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come."
2 Corinthians 5:17

So if someone is not in Christ, they are the old creation. Completely owned by their sin, and living life the best they know how. They are completely lost and without direction.

We need to stop blaming lost people for acting lost. It's time for Christians to take the blame for not being diligent witnesses of the life-changing, soul-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So pray for opportunities today to share the gospel with someone. And then be ready to tell someone else what God has done for you!

The Results!

I hung with American Idol for 8 years. 

The first few years, I just enjoyed watching the trainwreck auditions, but eventually Nikki and I began cheering on Carrie Underwood, and finally Kris Allen in season 8. Each week we watched the performances and then...the results!









The results are set at the beginning of these talent shows, but a good host knows how to really drag it out. Or in a live voting event, you can always just make up some results and have a lot more fun! (see: Harvey, Steve)

I'm thankful that heavenly results are never in doubt:
"And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."Revelation 20:15

When we arrive in Heaven, it's time for the results. For the believer in Jesus Christ, this is not a moment of fear or worry. Our names have been written into the book of life from the time we gave ourselves to Jesus Christ.

Why does God write our names in a book? Does God need a reminder of who has chosen salvation? Not at all, but God has put down a physical proof of our salvation. It's inarguable. Either we repented of sin and trusted in Jesus or we didn't. And we can see it right there in black and white. 

Do you fear eternity? If you belong to Jesus, there is nothing to fear. He said, "Peace I leave with you...do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." If you're in Jesus, you win! If you're not, give yourself to Him today! Click here to learn more about how to have a secure eternity through Jesus Christ. 

The Exercise of Blogging

Thanks for sticking with me. I always swore that if I started blogging again, I wouldn't be "that guy" who blogs hard for three weeks and then takes off for three.

I've become that guy. My bad. 

American's waste BILLIONS in unused gym memberships. I understand the value of exercise and do my best to maintain good physical health. But blogging is my chance at better mental exercise. It's a challenge, but if it's important, I'll make the time. 

Pastoring is a busier occupation than people might imagine. There is a to-do list that guides my week, but rarely does that list remain unchanged. Blogging keeps getting knocked down the list. 

I have a subject that's on my mind for next week, and I could have pounded it out, but it's not just about writing. It's about writing something valuable if you're going to take the time to read it. 

Have an idea or question you'd like me to write about? Leave a comment. And you can follow me on Periscope (@HeathTibbetts) where I answer questions and try to take on a different question from day to day. 

Maranatha,

Heath