Category: evangelism

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Purity? Righteousness? Where does the Church stand?

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1Cor 5-6 Today’s society is attempting to teach us that there is no right or wrong but what feels good.  As a result we are seeing the decline of the church in the areas of purity and holiness. Like today, the Corinthian church had a serious problem. As a church they had failed to discipline the sin in their midst and in fact were accepting it and were proud. Why were they not sorrowing over this serious sin? Why had they not administered discipline?  The world would tell us that we must love all men and that biblical standards are outdated, antiquated and must be changed. But, God’s word does not reveal that thinking. What it does reveal is this: Sin will infect the entire church just as yeast infects the dough. It affects the whole body and the lines of purity and righteousness become blurred.

Begin with evaluating your church’s acceptance of sinful lifestyles. Follow the steps of 2Tim: Teach, rebuke, correct, train both in the home and in the church. The reason? Consider that Jesus may return at any moment. Is there any sin within you or the church that needs attention?  Remember these words: Be ye holy as I am holy saith the Lord. If need be, follow the discipline principles of Matt 18 (one on one, two on one, bring to church).

We are to love all but we must also be wise and discerning, know truth from error and keep the church unspotted from the world.

 

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October 31st. Pumpkins, Halloween, ghosts, goblins or???

Reformation, Luther Our world is head over heels in love with Halloween to the point of whole big box stores with all kinds of paraphernalia to be purchased for all ages. I can remember dressing up as a painter’s man using some of my dad’s painter’s garb. Carrying paint pails and paintbrushes, my sister and I won first place and the prize was a silver dollar. What has happened to creativity? Halloween has become big business and the merchants are using their “trick or treat” to drain our pocketbooks and fill theirs. But, what is noticed more than that is the death culture it is promoting with the ghouls and goblins dripping with blood. Today public schools spend the month of October in preparation for the party centered around Halloween, costumes, candy and spooky music! The next day at school the children arrive on sugar load and teaching children is as if they were hanging from the chandeliers! I garner that trick or treating is fun and I must admit I love doling out the candy to the little ones as they come knocking. But, I also have to ask is there a  spiritual significance to this day? Have we become so enamored with Halloween that we have forgotten about what really happened in 1517 on this date?

Here’s my dilemma. I will bet you 9 out of ten do not know that Oct 31st is not only Halloween but there is a significant historical event that we as Christians should know about and even celebrate. Yet sadly many, and that was me as well, have no idea about the significance of what else Oct 31st represents. For as many years as I had been a believing Christian, the church I attended never once mentioned this date and its spiritual significance. In fact like many churches today it was all about Harvest Parties, all about “fun.” We never even mentioned that something so significant happened that we should stop and take note. It was not until I was privileged to teach in a Reformed Christian Day School that I was awakened to what this day symbolized for me as a Protestant. What an awakening I was about to experience which would forever alter my view of this day!

Are you familiar with All Saints Day? I never heard of it but in passing and never knew the significance of that date. Did you know that it was the date on which the Reformation began? Let me give you a mini-history lesson.  It all began on Oct 31, 1517, when one young German monk named Martin Luther in great boldness and courage nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg Castle door. After years as a monk searching for his peace and digesting the book of Romans, he had come to the conclusion that only through faith is one justified. He could not be quiet when the Holy Spirit had so altered his thinking and his heart. Why did I not know about this?  

I began to question my own church hierarchy but came up against a blank slate. Why was this a new idea for me? Why didn’t my church celebrate this day? When I began to question I was politely told that we did not discuss this, but why? Once again it seemed that denominations were the leading divisive tool that the enemy had used to keep us in the dark. I was not satisfied and so went searching on my own. What I found was not only revealing but life-altering.

I found that this young German Monk chose All Saints Day, Oct 31, 1517, to step out from his clerical collar and with great courage challenge the sale of indulgences to earn salvation. What Martin had learned in his quest for truth was this: salvation is a gift not to be purchased or sold. Not only did he learn that but he also learned that his church, his very denomination, was selling indulgences to gain this coveted salvation. Yet in the first chapter of Romans, he also learned this: 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes,” Martin could not be silent. He gathered his courage and wrote about this transformation that had changed his life forever! So emboldened he stepped up and told the world this marvelous news: the just shall live by faith not by works!

The question then before me is this: why am I not as bold as Martin Luther? Why am I not using this opportunity to tell the world of this marvelous news that I too have found?  Is that not a significant opportunity to share the gospel with those who do not know? So although Halloween trick or treat is a fun activity there is something far more significant that we should be talking and sharing about. Are we telling the world?

 

 

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Broken & Flawed No More

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Zechariah 11 In Chapter 11, we find the true character of the shepherds. They did not pity the people and took them for granted. As a shepherd, Zechariah asked them how much he was worth to them. They mockingly said 30 pieces of silver. According to Ex 21:32, thirty pieces of silver was the amount paid for a slave gored by an ox. Fast forward to the NT and we see that Judas asked the Pharisees, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him up to you?” The thirty pieces of silver picture the price of rejection.

As broken and rejected in the potter’s field, we lay there until the Good Shepherd reached down and took us and repaired our brokenness. In Japan, Kintsukuroi is the art of Japanese mending broken pottery. They cover each flaw in lacquer resin laced with gold or silver; each golden seam becoming part of the new design. Our flaws become symbols of events in our life that He has broken and repaired.

The world only sees our flaws, but the Shepherd sees each as part of His beautiful craftsmanship. He may have been only worth thirty pieces of silver to the religious leaders but to us, He is worth more than all the silver or gold this world has to offer. He purchased us, mended our flaws and gave us an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading and reserved it in heaven for you.

Where are your golden seams that Christ has mended? Use them to tell your story of redemption from the pottery field. 

Photo: ©tsugui.de

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What Do People Say About Us?

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Zechariah 8 The leaders from Bethel had come to inquire regarding the fasts they had been keeping. Should we continue as we have these last 68 yrs.? God did not directly answer that question of them but He did tell them what He required. It is the same answer He gave to Micah and later to James which is “do good, love mercy and faithfulness and obey God.” James added to those words by saying care for the orphans and widows in their adversity.

Instead of directly answering their question, he probed their hearts and saw their hypocrisy. He asked them “did you truly fast for me…and now are you not doing it for yourselves?” An outward ritual of fasting and keeping the traditions is not what God is looking for. Isaiah had prophesied correctly about their hypocrisy. “You honor God with your lips, [and their fasting,] but your heart is far from Him.”

But when our heart is pure and righteous and we do that which God loves, others take note! They want to know why God is blessing us. They want to know the secret of our peace. They will say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. ”

Are others asking those questions of you? Are you ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess?

 

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Are You Ready?

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Nahum 1-3  In 1845, an archaeologist stumbled upon the site of Nineveh and found an extensive library that is now housed in the British Museum in London. These artifacts prove Nahum’s words are true and accurate.

Nahum the Elkoshite knew God and understood God’s ways. He knew that Assyria was brutal in its conquering of other nations and in particular Judah. In fact, they were so brutal that God sent Jonah there 100 yrs. before this book was written. As the Ninevites heard Jonah’s message the king and the entire city put on sackcloth and ashes in repentance. But, like many that go forward in a tent meeting, repentance is often short-lived. Fast forward to Nahum’s time and the Assyrians were again belligerent and cruel. Although Jeremiah had written that God’s mercies are new every morning, Assyria turned a deaf ear and so He inspired Nahum to reveal God’s character to them.

‘Listen Assyria, God is slow to anger not willing any should perish but all come to repentance yet He is also zealous and will avenge His people.  Whereas your king of old repented and you were spared, your new king is indolent and degenerate. You are ripe for enemy nations.’

Just because you think it won’t happen doesn’t mean it won’t. Assyria was destroyed and their idols burned. Like then, scoffers said: “where is the promise of his coming? It is as it always has been.” God is merciful but He will be patient just so long. If Jesus were to return today, would you be ready?

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God and You

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Amos 7 to 9  In chapter 3 God asks Amos a question: Can two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? In reading scripture we find some personalities who walked with God such as Enoch, Moses and others. All had one thing in common: they understood God’s ways. Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him. Moses walked with God as friend to friend. Then there was Abraham. God asked to himself: should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Amos “saw” or beheld God making locusts to devour the crops and then a fire to consume the fields in the northern kingdom of Israel. As Amos watched, he pleaded with God: Sovereign Lord, forgive Israel! How can Jacob survive? And so as the conversation continued, the Sovereign Lord said: It will not happen.

What does this mean to us today? Just as these spoke to God on personal terms so can we. Jesus said: I no longer call you servants, instead I call you friends. A servant is told what to do and how but has no understanding of the why and does not question. In contrast, a friend converses and seeks to understand the motives and actions. Also, like the others who walked with God, Amos appealed to God for His mercy. God heard and relented of His decision.

Do you have that personal relationship with Him? Does he walk and talk with you? Are you His friend?

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Don’t Shoot the Messenger!

 

Amos 1 to 3 messenger2aAmos 1-3 I True story: I encountered a pastor after a morning service and wanted to speak to him about his sermon. I began, “Pastor..” but was rudely interrupted by this: I am Dr. Jones.” I left and never returned and perhaps you may feel that way too. You relate more to Amos the Sheepherder from Tekoa than someone who wears their Ph.D. on their sleeve. But, Amos is just a sheepherder, right? Why would should we pay attention to him? Don’t shoot the messenger that God has chosen!

God had a message for Israel and He has a message for us because He reveals the profound and hidden things whether we are a sheepherder or not. God used Amos to reveal a simple message of warning: For three things…no make that four is his repeated refrain.

So what are we to glean from Amos? It is this: Certainly, the Sovereign Lord does nothing without first revealing his plan which is: God is not willing that any should perish but all come to repentance. Perhaps you feel like Jeremiah when that happens and you say to yourself that someone else will tell them. But, God has chosen what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.

Jesus said: go and tell.

 

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