On the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, I say...

“God is not trying to drive us to despair by his demands, in order to take us from the 'Law' to the 'Gospel,' as if they were two different messages.” The God of Promise and the Life of Faith: Understanding the Heart of the Gospel, Scott Hafemann, p.216

 

What Is Success In Evangelism?

In an age when true evangelism is considered passe or unsophisticated by its cultured despisers, may we believers never adopt such corrupt thinking.  In a retrograde culture where right is considered wrong, and God is said to be irrelevant, may we believers shine as lights in this present darkness.

     "What is success in evangelism?  Is it when the person you witness to comes to Christ?  Certainly that's what we want to happen.  But if this is success, are we failures whenever we share the gospel and people refuse to believe?  Was Jesus an "evangelistic failure" when people like the rich young ruler turned away from Him and His message?  Obviously not.  Then neither are we when we present Christ and His message and they turn away in unbelief.  We need to learn that sharing the gospel is successful evangelism.  We ought to have an obsession for souls, and tearfully plead with God to see more people converted, but conversions are the fruit that God alone can give. 
     In this regard we are like the postal service.  Success is measured by the careful an accurate delivery of the message, not by the response of the recipient.  Whenever we share the gospel (which includes the summons to repent and believe), we have succeeded.  In the truest sense, all biblical evangelism is successful evangelism, regardless of the results."

-from "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald S. Whitney, p.103.

Samson's Challenge

In Judges 15:12 we witness one of the most disgusting circumstances in scripture.  Here the 3000 men of Judah render a predetermined verdict which they had no right to make.  It was a verdict that was a direct frontal assault on the glory of God.

They assumed that at this point in their struggle against God's enemies, the Philistine barbarians, that the issues of peace, safety, and security had centered on one person, Samson.  If Samson can finally be dealt with, then peace can be restored, the status quo can live on.

But no where in the equation is God's will considered.  When we think of the unconditional acts of provision that God has made on behalf of these 3000 men of Judah and all the children of Israel, we wonder why they wouldn't be on God's side.  After all, Samson is on God's side.  (Apparently many modern commentators/pastors don't agree, but assume Samson had "emotional problems." What do you think?)

Indeed, God was placing Samson as a judge over the people of Israel, and yet they believe they are the judges of Samson.  They evaluate his behavior, not the other way around.  They judge Samson's behavior as wrong, when in fact (even a casual reader should observe) the Philistines are wrong.  In dramatic fashion, the 3000 men of Judah bind their hero Samson and hand him over to their enemies and God's enemies, even to the point of doing the Philistine barbarian's dirty work for them.  This is disgusting by any measure.

Which side would you choose if you were there?  Again we ask, why in the world aren't these men on Samson's side?  Because they are directly disobedient to God.  They have the appearance of religion but deny it's power.  In spite of being the children of Israel, they are terrified of God's power, but they are willing to bow under the power of God's enemies.  Which would you choose?

When people want what they think is a nice enough life, and are afraid of stirring anything up, yet they believe that God's will would stir things up, which course of action do you think people will choose?

In my observation, this is why people very, very often equate their own lifestyle with the will of God.  They imagine that their particular lifestyle is the life of Christ.

Then, Christianity becomes the same as their own theological presuppositions and lifestyle. When the Bible calls their self-sufficiency into question they reject the message and kill the messenger.

See that Samson's sacrifice prefigures the sacrifice of Christ in some small way, where sinners handed over the Lamb of God so that even their sins could be taken away.  Status quo self-sufficiency that discounts the promises of God is nothing short of disobedience.  Unbelief is sin-  so don't be like the 3000 men of Judah.  Avoid Israel's mistakes.
 

Just Another Dirty Forehead

 Drive By Ash Wednesday Blessing

Be sure not to value symbolism over substance.  Ashes on the forehead without repentance in the heart is just a dirty forehead.  "I gave up chocolate for Lent." What, exactly, does that get you?  I see much popular sentiment as an extension of New Year's Resolutions: often a nice idea, with somewhat less nice follow up or commitment. 

Repentance is a turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning back to God.  It is an act of turning around and going in the opposite direction.  In Luke 5:32 Jesus says, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."  What does He mean here?  Who are the righteous?  Why can't they repent?

The righteous in this context are those who choose symbolism over substance.  They prefer to look righteous on the outside.  They have the Law without the Spirit.

The basic fact about people is that we are sinners! 

Repentance is a "godly sorrow" for sin, specifically and generally, and personally.  This leads to a profound "substantive" reality.  This leads to a fundamental change in a person's relationship to God. 

In the preaching of the New Testament Gospel, we hear John the Baptist say in Matthew 3:2, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  But in v.8 he also says, "Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance." Don't imagine that there is some other way to become righteous in God's sight, John says, by ethnicity or by culture.  Rather, one has to repent and then prove it. 

You see, the good news of salvation and repentance are inextricably linked.  Jesus preached the same way as John, as in Matthew 4:17 he says, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."  In Jesus' message we realize that repentance and faith are "two sides of the same coin."  Repentance is turning away from sin, faith is turning towards God. 

So this is it: repentance + faith = conversion = salvation. 

If you go to receive the ashes tomorrow (drive-by or otherwise!), be sure to carry the desire for true repentance with you.  That way you can have both the substance and the symbolism, and you'll end up with more than just a dirty forehead!

Only Sinners have Faith and Understanding

     "Faith in the New Testament sense is the way by which the past phase of redemptive history becomes effectual for me.  In this connection it is, to be sure, necessary for me to believe that this entire process concerns me personally, me as the individual, as sinner and as redeemed in Christ.  This presupposes that the consciousness of sin and guilt is not only a 'general' thing which applies to 'mankind,' but that it is real, and it is real only when I am conscious of my own sin and my own guilt.
      The faith of Primitive Christianity in the redemptive process presupposes such a consciousness of sin and guilt.  Only on this basis can the redemptive history be related to the individual.  The entire redemptive history, indeed, is intelligible only on the basis of this consciousness of sin; for it is on account of the sin of man that this entire process is necessary.  Here is the reason why redemptive history not only can be related to the individual but must be so related.  Without this relation it cannot be understood at all."

-Oscar Cullmann, Christ and Time (London: SCM Press, 1946) p. 219 

 

Jesus is the Best Wine

It is no secret, and certainly no scandal, that North Carolina is swimming in craft beer, regional wines, and now even Mayberry Moonshine !  What would Otis think?  These wonders go along with our ever increasing desire for recreation and escape from today's troubles.
The most famous regional wine came from Cana, and was made by Jesus from bathwater.  It was so good that the headwaiter at a potentially disastrous wedding thought it was the best (the best he'd ever tasted?)  This headwaiter fortunately didn't know that it was made from bathwater and served out of one of the nasty stone pots.  He complimented the host for "keeping the best wine until now" when most people with common sense serve the best wine first, so people who are inebriated won't notice the quality of the wine dropping as the feast progresses.
This first sign of Jesus is filled with intent and symbolism, and still speaks to us today if we have ears to hear.
The sign shows us that Jesus' ministry was intentional, not haphazard or some "plan B" situation.  Jesus is giving a semi-private sign that is designed to build faith in the disciples prior to beginning his public ministry.  Jesus' divinity, confirmed by the miraculous wine-making, is the fact that created faith among the disciples, enabling them to later be called Apostles.
The miracle at Cana shows us that Jesus' ministry had a point besides the miracles and miraculous, which was the climactic crucifixion in Jerusalem (the ultimate eschatological event).
Jesus is teaching everyone that He has the power to take their lack, their nothing, their bathwater, and turn it into the greatest things, the most needed things, those things which bring glory to God.  Jesus redeems even impossible situations.  Where something looks hopeless, through our prayers (like the Mother of Jesus asking for his help) He will give us hope and provision.
So how is your bathwater?  Are you drinking the "lesser wines" of this life?  Do you fall for the trendy promotions of merchants offering distraction from the real issue (that the wine has literally run out)?
In the words of Dr. Herman Ridderbos, "Jesus is the good wine, reserved until now."  Drink freely.

"Finding Jesus" on CNN... whatever.

CNN Finding Jesus

You won't want to miss the latest "Jesus" documentary, promising to reveal the truth about Jesus.  Each year we are subjected to these sure bet programs, usually during Lent.  There is no use in complaining, after all "all truth is God's truth" as long as you have the right set of facts, right?  I would recommend that if people really want to discover the truth about Jesus, they may want to pick up a Bible and learn to read it carefully for themselves, and then consider attending a Christian worship service where Jesus is worshiped, experienced, and followed in person.  (This to me would sure beat a TV program designed to sell advertising.) Join with me in praying that all who view the program will "repent and believe the Gospel" in obedience to Jesus' command in Mark 1:15. That would be "finding Jesus" for real!

All Religions are Not the Same

All Religions are Not the Same  A great short talk for the end of the semester.

Is the Bible Too Complicated for You?

I had a friend one time say, "Why can't I just believe it?"  Perhaps they were saying they wanted to have faith in God through the Bible.  I wish.  What they were most likely saying was "Why do I have to understand what is in a particular passage and struggle to apply it in a valid way?" 

We want to wear armbands and wave flags.  The Bible is one of them.  "I believe the Bible" has been a cover that enables unscrupulous people to shut down further inquiry from those who would make them accountable.

Christians have to be more responsible, more enlightened, and yes, less simplistic.  Many a Pastor has been matched with an unsuitable church by smiling real big and saying, "I have Jesus in my heart."  No further inquiry necessary.

I challenge people to remember that they aren't the first ones to read the Bible.  They aren't the first human in history to ask any particular question of the Bible.  And, they aren't the first one to answer the question arising from the reading.  Humility is in order, and lots of it. 

Below is a link to an article that may challenge your preconceived notions about interpreting Scripture. 

3 Wrong Ways to Read the Bible

Read for inspiration and embrace Truth!