A Recent Sermon
A Recent Sermon
Posted on April 26, 2021 in Church Leadership, Church Outside the Box, Church Trends, Current Affairs, Faith, God, Jesus, priorities, The Good Fight | Permalink | Comments (0)
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What a year 2020 was! Everyone seems ready to “get back to normal.” So I have to ask, “Is 'normal' a truly attractive prospect?” The term can refer to what is typical or to be expected. So what can we expect in 2021 and beyond? Is it reasonable to anticipate the coming new day as an improvement?
Jesus (and the other New Testament writers) have perfect insight into what we can expect in the days ahead. Their descriptions are a bit sobering. For example, on the night in which Jesus was betrayed, He prayed for His disciples, including us! Here is one of His prayer requests for you and me: “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14). The world views Jesus folk just as they view Jesus. We are aliens, as in off-world aliens. (Remember the movie Independence Day?) We are a threat, not an asset. We are a problem to be dealt with. The Apostle John got Jesus’ point and later cautioned us to do a reality check: Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you (1 John 3:13).
Jesus and John want us to understand what normal looks like for those who follow Jesus. We will be hated by the world. Do not look so shocked! As our world trends toward this normal, we who are devoted to Jesus will increasingly be considered a roadblock to “progress.”
Jesus provided an extended teaching session about what this approaching normal looks like. His description concerns the season before things ramp up at the end. In other words, Jesus is not describing the end. He is describing what we should expect life to be like before things ramp up. Jesus is describing the now.
And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Mark 13:5–13).
Wars and the threat of war, earthquakes, food shortages - these will be normal before we ever even come to the end. Daring to think or express what Jesus teaches will get you arrested, beaten, and condemned in court. You will not be safe at home, either. Fathers will turn in their children and children will turn in their parents and consign them to death. Doesn’t sound so good, does it? But this will be and even now is becoming the norm.
When Jesus talks about enduring to the end, He is not talking about physical survival. He is talking about staying true to Christ (enduring) right to the end of life. He is talking about losing your life in the name of staying true to Him.
I offer no comments on the recent election, economic developments, and the Covid crisis. These are but side-shows to a larger drama. Things are moving inexorably to “normal,” a normal in which naming the name of Jesus is costly. Persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ are already quite well acquainted with what we should expect. Get used to it - embrace it! We will be increasingly hated for our allegiance to Him.
You might object, "Yes, but I know a lot of folks who don't love Jesus but who don't hate me. Maybe Jesus and John are not talking about my normal?" Good question - stay tuned.
Posted on January 26, 2021 in Bible Answerman, Church Outside the Box, Church Trends, Disciples, Faith, Jesus, priorities, Religion, The Good Fight | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Posted on May 25, 2020 in Faith, God, Jesus | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Thirty days ago, it was all good. The Dow was flirting with breaking 30,000. Market sentiment was bullish to an extreme. The race for President was all the news. Sure, we were hearing rumors about something called the Corona virus. But that was a foreign thing. No worries!
Fast forward one month. As of this writing, 86 million Americans are on lock-down. We are bracing for the very real possibility that hundreds of thousands (millions?) will be diagnosed with Covid-19. The stock market has tanked, although we don’t know the right word to use: Recession? Depression? Melt-down? Unemployment is exploding, businesses are at risk, the economy is in deep trouble, and panic is knocking at the door.
I find the contrast between today and one month ago so stark. How quickly everything has changed!
What if we had known three months ago, or better yet, three years ago, what was coming? We would have been able to get ready. But, we still really don’t know what is ahead. So how would we have prepared three years ago when we are still, even now, unsure what we are preparing for?
In the Book of Revelation, Jesus says, “I am coming quickly” five times. The word translated “quickly” is the Greek word tachus (ταχύς). This word emphasizes rapidity. When Jesus says, “I am coming quickly,” He is saying that the specific events associated with His earthly return will occur at breath-taking speed. Once the reset sequence has started, there will be no time to get ready. You are either ready before His coming or you will not be ready.
So I have found current events singularly instructive in understanding what quickly means. What if someone told you about a coming crisis? What if this someone’s predictions were always right? What if this someone told you exactly how to prepare for the coming crisis? And what if this someone told you to prepare now!
There is such a someone – His name is Jesus. And He delivered the Book of Revelation to a fellow named John with clear and specific instructions to make it available to us. In this book, He explains exactly what is coming and how to be prepared. And then he says, “I am coming quickly.” Based on our experience with Covid-19, we know what that means. Get ready now!
How? Although there is much the Book of Revelation has to say on the matter, it all boils down to this: Have you grown the kind of faith in Jesus that would rather die than deny the Lord? Make up your mind now that following Jesus matters more than anything else. Pick up your cross and follow Him. Go all-in for Jesus. Be ready now! He is coming quickly!
Posted on March 23, 2020 | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Two weeks ago, if you had described for me what life would be like today, I wouldn’t have believed it. With covid-19 yipping at our heels, Costco is rationing toilet paper. Toilet paper! All across the land this weekend, churches reverberated as preachers “streamed” from an empty room. In two weeks, we have become fluent in the language of “social distance” that is closing stores, restaurants, and schools.
On top of all this, the pandemic has become the butterfly effect, exploding a fiction of stock values. As of this writing, the Dow has fallen from 29K to 20K in about 30 days. Just imagine (maybe you don’t have to imagine) that your portfolio has been reduced by a third while you blinked. Pain and fear are in the driver’s seat.
I can say with assurance that I have never experienced anything quite like this.
I do not know what will happen tomorrow. Which raises a great question! Before I ask it, let me affirm what I do know. I know who Father is! He is gracious, loving, and wise. I know I am His. I know that He is my safety. And I know that He is capable of using our current circumstances to work my good and that of all those who love Him – I may not know HOW He will do this, but I know that He will.
So here’s my question: What does God want to teach us during this singular season? I have come up with a couple of possibilities.
First, here is a grand opportunity for us to learn how to function as His church without churches. Let me explain: At the moment, our government leaders are directing us to meet in groups no larger than 10 people. So, God is not sitting in heaven flapping His arms in frustration and muttering, “How will my people worship under such conditions.” God is saying, “Okay, church, here’s your chance to be the church without all the frills. Break it down into what you and nine other individuals can do. Thrive as my people in groups of ten!”
Frankly, this is something we would do well to learn. In many parts of the world, the house-church is the norm. To the degree that our culture views us as a liability, we will have to learn what others know all too well. So here’s your chance! Figure out how to leverage all the wonderful resources available through your “big church” to raise up a ground-swell of churches of ten or less. As long as we are under a “social distance” mandate, seize it as the opportunity it is to flex your house-church muscles.
Second, this crisis is a window to Gospel opportunity. I am not making light of the rising tide of pain and fear that threatens to engulf us. I hurt for those who are hurting. But precisely here is our open door. All those who are in anguish around us are longing for something, someone, upon whom they can depend, someone who will promote their true good. They are tired of being misled, taken advantage of, and disappointed. There is One who does not disappoint, and we know Him! They are hurting and in pain longing to hear about One who heals. We know Him! They are in trouble and going under. There is One who rescues, and we know Him!
Seize the opportunity! Just because we are keeping our social distance, we don’t have to go dark. Use your phone, computer, and good old fashioned snail-mail to reach out to those in your circle who are hurting. Maybe you are part of a house-church of nine that has room for one more. Bring your friend!
The world may be concerned, and understandably so, about how to “get through” the current crisis. I say to my brothers and sisters in Christ, don’t just hunker in the bunker. Let’s not sigh and count the days till we can “get back to normal.” Let’s flourish as His church (in groups of ten) and as ambassadors of grace (among a people in pain).
Posted on March 16, 2020 in Church Leadership, Church Trends, Current Affairs, Disciple-Makers, Economics, Evangelism, priorities | Permalink | Comments (5)
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I have been watching a six-part video series on how to cherish one’s spouse. I am amazed how much the speaker / author has to say about the subject. It got me to thinking, does the Bible actually speak directly to this topic? Here’s what I found:
So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church (Ephesians 5:28–29).
In this passage, husbands are called to love (agapaō) their wives. This involves promoting the good of another as a matter of choice. The phrase “nourish and cherish” can be used to describe an aspect of this love. Nourish (ektrephō) is only used here and a few verses later: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up (ektrephō) in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). There is a strong element of “feeding” in this term. No one hates his body but supplies it with a steady diet of nourishment. Applied to a marriage, this suggests that a husband should nourish his wife, including nourishing her spirit, just as he nourishes his own body. He provides for her and feeds her soul.
The second term, translated “cherish,” is also used only twice in the NT. The other instance is here: But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares (thalpō) for her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7). There are four instances where thalpō is used in the LXX in contexts involving communicating care and warmth. The core idea would be “to care for tenderly” or to “keep warm.” For husbands, Paul’s use of the word suggests that as a husband keeps his body warm (a Minnesota necessity when it’s 30 below!), so he is to provide the same tender care and warming influence to his wife. Do what is needed for her to flourish, to be protected from the elements, including what would cause her walk with the Lord to cool.
This should be put in the broader context. To “cherish” one’s wife is but one specific element in a list (from Ephesians 5) that includes nine responsibilities for husbands and two for wives. For a husband: Love your wife, give up yourself for your wife, sanctify your wife, cleanse her, present her holy and without blemish, nourish her, cherish her, hold fast to her, and love her as yourself. For a wife: Submit to your husband (as to the Lord and in everything) and respect your husband. “Cherish” is but one element in a more comprehensive list.
This certainly suggests caution against isolating one responsibility to the exclusion of another. For example, to promote his wife’s holiness is to put limits on what one does to cherish her. Don’t, in the name of tender care, fail to address unholiness in your partner but rather, where necessary, do the hard thing to help her make spiritual progress.
Further, there is some gender specificity here. “Cherish” is in the man list. “Submit” and “respect” are in the woman list, but not cherish. Paul considers it necessary for men and women to embrace gender specific responsibilities that make a marriage truly God-honoring. Men need to work at “cherishing,” hence Paul’s instruction. Women have some other areas where they need to focus their energies. When both do their part, their marriage will flourish.
I would think the speaker in the video series would cherish the opportunity to open up Ephesians 5:28-29. We’ll see if he does!
Posted on February 04, 2019 in Books, Gender Roles, Marriage, Men's Role, Woman's Role | Permalink | Comments (0)
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God connected the dots when I met a man named Srinivas Naik around 2007. He eventually became a vital link between my former church in Tennessee and the Banjara people of India. I first traveled to India in 2009 where I met his wife, Sujatha, and their three children, Satwika Sharron, Aaron Suhas, and Joy Suchita. What a sweet family!
I saw Srinivas and Sujatha this last Christmas, but it was such a sad meeting. A year and a half ago, Satwika, Aaron, and Joy came to the US to attend a Christian boarding school in Mississippi. Over Christmas break, the Naik children were staying with a family from my former church. On December 23, the home of the host family caught on fire. These three sweet children went home to Jesus, as did the mom of the host family. So when Rochelle and I met with Srinivas and Sujatha who came to bring the bodies of their children back to India, all we could do was weep together.
I remember being at a conference in 2013 where Joy served as my impromptu translator. I wrote about it in a previous post at Light-work. Click here to read about “Praying with Joy.” When I read the last line of that post, it catches my breath! It reads,“It will be fun, in heaven, to learn how Father answered our requests when I prayed with Joy.” Who knew that Joy would be with Father before me. I am the one who must tarry here while she is even now unlocking some of God’s mysteries.
Certainly one of those mysteries concerns God’s plan and purpose behind what has happened. I do not understand. Perhaps I do not need to understand. But then how am I to respond to the painful truth that these three precious young people have been taken from us?
In an attempt to help my grieving friends, Srinivas and Sujatha, who have since returned from Memphis to India and buried the bodies of their children, I wrote a letter. Perhaps it will help.
January 18, 2019
Dear Brother Srinivas and Sister Sujatha,
I cannot help but think of you and your sweet children many times each day. My heart breaks and I am overcome with sadness as I stand beside you from a great distance.
My mind has tried to find an explanation for what has happened, to understand what God is doing. But I cannot any more than I can fathom the mind of God. I am grateful for several passages from God’s Word that have encouraged and challenged me. In them, God has revealed what it is enough for me to know. I share these with you in the hope they will provide a compass for you as you journey on the path God has laid before you.
Here is the first passage: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep (1 Thessalonians 4:13–15).
When the world grieves the death of a loved one, they do so without hope. For them, there is no prospect of a glorious heavenly reunion. There is but the stark reality that a loved one has been claimed by death never to be released. Death is the end.
For you, as for the Thessalonian believers to whom Paul wrote, your hearts are filled with grief, to be sure. But this dark grief is challenged by an even brighter hope. You know Jesus as Savior. Swatika Sharron, Aaron Suhas, and Joy Suchita know Jesus, too. And because of this sublime truth, death will not have the last word. Jesus is coming! Sharron, Aaron, and Joy will accompany Him. We who are alive in Christ when they return will meet them in the clouds. We will enjoy a glorious reunion and dwell in one another’s presence for all eternity. This is our surpassing hope!
So as I feel a wave of grief washing over me, I look into the future. My heart swells with joy in the knowledge that I will see your precious children, radiant and well, greeting me in the presence of our Savior. We grieve but for a season. Ours is a grief that gives way to hope.
Here is a second passage that has captured my heart as I have thought of you: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). Your hearts are in pain and that pain will never fully recede for all of your earthly days. I am sure there are moments when sorrow feels like a great wave that threatens to wash over your soul and overwhelm you. But according to this verse, the depth of your suffering, great though it be, cannot compare to the heights of glory that awaits us. Knowing the greatness of your suffering, and knowing that, despite its greatness, it is not worthy to be compared to the greatness of future glory, how great must this glory be? I cannot take its measure, but knowing this, I am encouraged.
There will come a day when all our suffering, including what you are experiencing now, will seem small and insignificant, by comparison. In that future, you will have surpassing joy that makes the sorrow you now feel fade into insignificance. We look toward that day!
The previous two passages talk about our future and give us hope. This third passage talks about the present: And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You (Psalm 9:10). David wrote this Psalm and tells us something about “those who know Your name.” To know someone’s name is a biblical expression for knowing someone’s character. To know God’s name is to know who He is, what He is like, and how He behaves.
So what do we know of God’s character? The most striking portrait is found at the cross of Calvary. On this hill, God sacrificed His own Son who died in our place. You, Srinivas and Sujatha, more than most of us, know what God’s heart experienced when His Son was sent to the grave.
Here is something our omnipotent God cannot do: He cannot love us more than He does! The death of His Son on the cross for our sins is the proof! He loves us, loves us enough to sacrifice His Son on our behalf. This is who He is: The God who could not love us more than He already does.
So when David says, those who know Your name will put their trust in You, he is explaining that our trust in God is strengthened when we remember the cross. There will be moments when it is hard to trust God because your heart aches. In those moments, look at the cross and remind yourself, “God loves me enough to sacrifice His own dear Son to pay for my sins. The God who would do anything to promote my good, this is Who He is. How can I not trust Him?” Do this, and your soul will be drawn to a place of peace that defies your sorrow.
Dear friends and fellow-servants of the Lord Jesus, may God replace your grief with hope and help you trust in His name. We are standing with you in prayer and looking eagerly for Jesus’ return with your precious children at His side.
Pastor Jim Fleming, “Jim-Uncle,” and Rochelle, “Mamma”
Posted on January 21, 2019 in Banjara Project | Permalink | Comments (1)
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I have been preaching through the book of Ephesians. After completing chapters 1-2, I wrote a first person content summary. Reading this in the morning could give you some great perspective for the rest of your day.
When Jesus instructed those who choose to come after Him to deny themselves, pick up their crosses, and follow Him, His counsel might have sounded like some sort of crazed death-wish spirituality. But, following Jesus while shouldering a cross is actually the most sensible thing a man or woman might do. They stand to realize something that exceeds in value the sum of everything on earth.
This summary of Ephesians 1-2 gives you a good look at the benefits those in Christ stand to gain. Our receipt of these gifts is assured by the good name of our Father. But for now, we have to exercise Faith that this future belongs to us. It will help if we remind ourselves of what we have to look forward to in Christ.
Read this summary in the morning. Let it remind you of how living for Jesus no matter the cost will be worth it.
Click here for a downloadable copy:
I Know Who I Am and What I Have Been Given in Christ!
Ephesians 1: I am looking forward!
In Christ, I have already been given every benefit heaven offers:
I have been chosen to stand in God’s presence holy and unashamed;
There, I will be declared as God’s own son;
All sin’s claims against me will be fully and finally cancelled;
I will comprehend what God has been doing in history and in my life;
I will receive an unbelievably rich inheritance in my true home.
Even now, I have been given God’s Spirit who guaranties my future receipt of these gifts.
With my eyes wide open to who God is, I am confident these blessings are mine.
I know that God has the absolute power and supreme authority to bring me home and lavish me with these grace-gifts.
Ephesians 2: I look back and remember!
I was dead, living for me, doing what Satan wants, bound for wrath.
But God, as an act of pure grace, rescued me from all that.
I am alive in Christ, bound for glory, soon to sit at His side;
I am living proof of the power of grace;
God has repaired me so that I can now live for His pleasure.
I was far away from God, called God’s reject, despairing of rescue, hopeless, and excluded from the people of God.
But God, in Christ Jesus, reached across this vast gulf to invite me into His presence.
Jesus became my peace broker who shattered the barrier that kept me on the outside and separated me from God;
He brought me into His inner circle, made me family;
His Spirit has even now begun working on me so that God can freely reside in me.
Posted on February 01, 2016 in Disciple-Makers, Disciples | Permalink | Comments (0)
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In our scenario, relationships at Grace Church are strained. There's a new church coming to town. Some from Grace are going, some are staying. (Click here to get the whole story.) How should these two groups relate to one another? Here is a principle, the second in our series, that will help.
Principle Two: Free to Follow God
One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind (Romans 14:5).
Moral decisions can be divided into three categories, obedience to God’s commands, upholding godly convictions, and following individual guidance. Where God has expressly and clearly told us what to do, there is no place for contrary personal “convictions.” But concerning matters which the Bible does not address directly, Paul commands us to allow each person to form his own convictions. We obey this command when we give every family permission to make their own decision about whether and when to go to another church or to stay.
There is a classic example of this principle in action in the life of Paul. It's recorded in Acts 21:7-14. Paul was en route to Jerusalem. After landing at Tyre, he made his way to the house of Philip the Evangelist. A prophet named Agabus issued a warning: He took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’ ” (Acts 21:11).
Naturally, everyone attempted to dissuade Paul from continuing on to Jerusalem. It seemed quite clear that God had provided a warning for exactly this purpose. Paul was in a minority of one who disagreed.
Here's how he replied: “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). Paul discerned that the prophet's vision was not about directing him to change course but to help him prepare for the worst. Despite the bad news, he was no less determined to run into the fire.
Here's is what happened next: And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!” (Acts 21:14). This was Paul's decision to make and he would not budge. The people accepted Paul's decision and released Paul to God's oversight.
The people of Grace Church will do well to emulate the Saints at Philip's house. Allow each person, whether he chooses to go or to stay, to make his own decision as unto the Lord.
Posted on April 21, 2015 in Church Leadership, Church Planting, Church Trends, God | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
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The next twelve posts are about how members of a church can best respond to each other when some from their membership are planning to leave to a new work. First let me outline a scenario, a realistic and relevant situation that cries out for some biblical guidance.
Scenario
Grace Church hired Lance as a Youth Pastor. Eventually, he was promoted to an Associate position, and Grace Church hired Dylan as the next Youth Pastor. While working together at Grace, Lance and Dylan enjoyed partnering in ministry. But Lance sensed God calling him in a new direction and left Grace to get training as a church planter. About a year later, Dylan also resigned and announced that he and Lance were planning to team up to start a new church in town.
In their time at Grace Church, Lance and Dylan developed friendships with a number of its members. Now it was easy for some of these friends to desire to join the new work. Lance and Dylan wanted to reach people who did not seem interested in Grace Church and planned accordingly. But it would take time, six months, before their first service. So their friends would have to wait.
Situation
So it was that Grace Church found itself occupying a somewhat awkward space. Some families from Grace were definitely planning to leave. Others were unsure about whether to stay or go. A third group was convinced God wanted them to remain at Grace. But for the next six months, all three groups would continue to worship together as one family.
Question
How should the people of Grace Church negotiate this transition period? How can this fellowship of believers demonstrate what it means to be the body of Christ when some are leaving, some are staying, and some are not sure?
Here is the first of twelve passages and principles that can help the people of Grace Church (and other churches in a similar situation) to negotiate precisely this kind of challenge. By using these principles, members who stay and members who go can stand in the place of God’s blessing.
Principle One - We Are Faith
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things (Romans 8:28–32)?
This is our constant, our true North: God will accomplish our good, the good of our fellowship, and the good of all who love Him regardless of future events and the actions of men. We can trust God, no matter what!
Even that of which God does not approve, He uses to work the good of His people. Here is an extreme example: Joseph’s brothers intended to work him harm, but Joseph was capable of looking past their evil deeds to see God at work. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them (Genesis 50:20–21).
If God could work through the ill-intentions of Joseph’s brothers to accomplish Joseph’s (and his extended family’s) good, then how much more can God work through others actions that are more nobly motivated to promote what is best for us. It doesn’t matter why someone leaves Grace Church, we know that God will make that person’s decision part of His plan to work our good, the good of our church, and the good of all who love God. We know that regardless of who stays and who goes, He will give us everything that matters.
Posted on April 20, 2015 in Church Leadership, Church Planting, Church Trends, Faith, God | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
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It's March 5 in Memphis and the snow has fallen here at Fleming Central. I love how it covers everything with a pristine white blanket. When the sun came out later today, the light reflected off the snow and bathed everything in glory.
God's grace is like snow! Consider the twin graces of confession and forgiveness. I call them graces because they are both gifts from God. God grants repentance when He opens our eyes to see our sin as He does. This gift, in turn, drives us to acknowledge our sin for what it is to Him and to others.
God's gift of forgiveness is an enabling grace. It equips us to impart to others the same gift we have received from Father. When the graces of confession and forgiveness work together, they can take something dark, cover it in a blanket of pristine white, and bath it in light.
This week, Byron Tyler aired a two-part program at WCRV that shows what happens when grace falls like snow on a marriage turned ugly. It was fulfilling for me to play a role to help Sean and Jenn put their marriage back together. But by the time I got involved, a glorious blanket of grace had already fallen. It was a sight to behold! Want to take a look?
Click here to listen to part I
Click here to listen to part II
Posted on March 05, 2015 in Marriage | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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I sometimes share the Gospel using what I call "The Darkened Circle" approach. You can download a PDF by clicking here. Learn this well enough and you will be surprised how often it comes in handy!
Survivor Strategy: Where are you safest?
What would you think if you invented something, made something brand new totally from scratch, only to discover it developed a mind of its own and defied you! That’s what happened at the dawn of time when God created mankind. You know the story: God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a garden where they enjoyed every good thing a man and woman could want. Sweet!
God is absolutely holy and nothing unholy can stand in His presence. So as long as Adam and Eve did not eat the forbidden fruit, enjoying God and His company was a natural delight. When they ate the forbidden fruit, everything changed: Something dark gained a foothold in their souls. Adam and Eve wanted to hide from God and instinctively knew that their unholiness separated them from God.
They were the first of our kind to experience this sickening sensation, but every son of Adam and daughter of Eve knows the feeling. We do something wrong and we experience guilt. We know we are doing what God despises. We KNOW that we deserve God’s judgment.
We are not mistaken! The Bible is clear that sin leads to judgment: Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry - On account of these the wrath of God is coming (Colossians 3:5-6). A day is coming. It hasn’t yet arrived, but it surely will! The wrath of God will fall like a consuming fire and every son of Adam and daughter of Eve stands in its path.
But this hasn’t happened yet. Why? The answer lies in something God reveals about Himself: Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “and not rather that he should turn from his way and live (Ezekiel 18:23-24)? Although we all deserve God’s wrath, God prefers something else for us.
“The Sin Problem” is not like going to the moon or smashing an atom. Meeting those challenges took tremendous amounts of time, money, and human effort, to be sure, but these problems were within man’s power to solve. The sin problem is something else. Even with all the time and money in the world, and all the human effort men might muster, the sin problem will still glare back at us, menacing and undiminished.
There is only one solution for this problem: If a sinless man volunteers to stand in the sinner’s place and receive the full brunt of God’s wrath as deserved by the sinner, then the sinner can be freed from God’s wrath! Did you notice the key characteristic of this volunteer? He must be sinless!
There is only one Son of Adam qualified to pull this off, Jesus. And the Bible tells us that the only one suited to fulfill the mission actually volunteered for it: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus died for sinners. Better yet, He succeeded! The fact that Jesus arose from the grave demonstrates that He successfully satisfied God’s wrath and defeated death.
It is hard to imagine what transpired on the cross when God’s wrath reserved for sinners fell on His own Son. Although Jesus was silent while being tortured and ridiculed on the way to the cross, He only cried out in anguish of soul when God’s wrath actually fell. As the cross was shrouded in darkness, He shouted, “My God, My God, Why have You forsaken me” (Mark 15:34)? The searing heat of God’s judgment of the sins of all men was concentrated and focused on God’s Son in a moment in time. Although the ground around the cross was stained red, we can also imagine a black circle of scorched earth where the wrath of God fell.
In a firestorm, everything in the path of the fire is consumed. There is only one safe place, the scorched earth where the flames have already passed. It is the same with God’s wrath. It will someday fall and consume sinners. But there is one safe place for sinners, the blackened circle where fire has already fallen.
Here is the most amazing truth! There is no admission price to step into the blackened circle!! God offers entrance to all who desire it. The only price of admission is an admission that you have nothing by which to purchase your access. Being able to stand in the blackened circle is a gift!
God says in the Bible, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). One man elects to receive what he deserves: He will reap death. Another man abandons the notion that he can earn God’s favor and instead chooses to receive salvation as a gift. This man receives all the benefit of what Jesus purchased on his behalf, eternal life in God’s presence.
So all men face a simple but profound choice: (1) Try to earn God’s favor or (2) despair of earning it and receive it as a free gift. If you want to do the latter, it is easy to do. God is here with you right now and you can talk to Him. He will hear you! And you can tell Him something like this:
“God, I know you created me and I am accountable to You. But I am a sinner who has defied You and disappointed You. I deserve your wrath, but I also believe that Jesus volunteered to die in my place. When He did so on the cross, He paid for all my sins and experienced the wrath that I deserve. I am choosing to stand right now at the foot of the cross where your wrath already fell and am receiving salvation in Jesus as your free gift to me. I am profoundly grateful for what you have done and am choosing to live, from this day forward, in a way that declares my unending gratitude. Thank you for your gift of salvation in Jesus – Amen!”
Posted on January 14, 2015 in Evangelism, Future Things, God, Jesus, L-W Resources | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Israel was complaining in the wilderness. Again! They accused God of bringing them to the desert to die. So God cued the snakes as if to say, “If that is what I intended, it would look like this.” The bite from these fiery serpents was fatal and Israelites were dying by the hundreds.
Thankfully, Israel repented of her sin of speaking against the Lord and pled with Moses to intercede. Here’s what happened next: Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived (Numbers 21:6–9). This was God’s way of making a profound point: Left to yourselves, you will die in the wilderness. But even when in immediate and supreme danger, if you look to me for help, you will live.
The bronze serpent was a portal through which men could look to the Lord for their deliverance. And as men did so, God came through. Can you imagine what this must have been like? As word spread through the camp, everyone would have made sure he was always in a place where he could look through the portal. No matter where Israel made camp in their decades-long, wilderness journey, you can be sure they kept the “bronze-serpent-on-a-pole” prominently displayed.
Now let’s fast forward more than 800 years to a curious statement about Hezekiah, a twenty-something king of Israel with a heart for God: He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan (2 Kings 18:4). Apparently, Israel had kept the bronze serpent for centuries! But it had now become a religious relic named “Nehushtan,” an object of devotion that rivaled worship of the one true God. It was no longer used as a portal through which men looked to God. What was once the means of God’s blessing had now become a spiritual liability. Hezekiah was right to smash the thing.
God had originally instructed Moses to make the bronze serpent. And God had worked through it in a powerful way. Of course, it was God who was doing the working, not some mere snake on a stick. But in the days of Hezekiah, people thought the pole itself was something special. And they venerated it and not God.
Today, heated conflicts have arisen over how we do church. I wonder if we are not dealing with modern Nehushtans. There are some in the church who fondly recall days of yore in which God moved in their midst. It may have been a time marked by pews and organs; crusades and tent-meetings; street evangelism and alter calls. Praise God for the ways he has worked in the past. Others decry these antiquated means and point to the success of their mega church as testament to the ways things should be done today. To them, it is clear where “God is doing great things.” Out with the organ and in with the praise band. Down with foyers, up with coffee bars. But as often as traditionalists and moderns are insisting that church be done their particular way, are they not both in danger of overlooking what really makes the difference.
Great things are accomplished because God chooses to work, regardless of the means through which He chooses to work. When a church venerates its particular brand of means and strategies, does that church not dishonor God? Has it not erected a Nahushtan in the church narthex or welcome-center or coffer bar?
I am not diminishing the value of thinking through how best to make disciples in any given context. But I am pleading for the church to anchor these concerns to dependence on the One who alone can make the difference. Where are God’s people who know how to look to the Lord, to plead with Him for His favor despite the inadequacy of their efforts? Where are those who know how to pray this kind of prayer?
The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You (Psalm 33:16–22).
Posted on December 17, 2014 in Church Leadership, Church Planting, Church Trends, God, Prayer, Waiting on God | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Boris and Natasha’s marriage has hit a rough patch. Their most recent fight was long and heated. Both sinned against the other and the fight ended in angry silence. Now several hours later, Natasha is broken and ready to acknowledge her sin. Not Boris!
So, does Natasha need to forgive Boris even though he refuses to admit he blew it? In a previous post, we noted three core principles. ➊ Natasha should use God’s forgiveness of her as the model and inspiration for how she forgives Boris. ➋ It is true that God doesn’t forgive everyone, but ➌ for all who are in Christ, His forgiveness is full and free.
These three principles are a helpful starting point. Now we’re ready to get to the practical question: “How is it possible for Natasha to forgive Boris for something that Boris doesn’t even admit exists?” The Bible does speak to this question in a number of places. These additional passages fall into two broad categories, those which limit the recipients of horizontal forgiveness and those which don’t. We will look at the former in this post and the latter in the next.
This post is a tad long, so here comes your executive summary. For you time-pressed Light-Workers, just read the next paragraph. Think of it as Lite-Work! But for those of you who want to understand the biblical basis behind this summary, just keep on reading.
Executive Summary: Natasha will not be able to give Boris her forgiveness for a sin he refuses to confess. But even if Boris has sinned in the most egregious way, Natasha does well to take her cue from Father, remain patient, and extend kindness toward her husband. She does so in order to give Boris maximum opportunity to repent of his sin and seek her (and God’s) forgiveness.
II. Limitation Verses – Some passages in the Bible support the idea of limits on or qualifications of horizontal forgiveness. These verses seem to support the idea that forgiveness should not be extended toward some sinners.
A. Specific actions trigger forgiveness.
Here are two passages which link one party’s forgiveness to another’s actions. ➊The story of the unforgiving servant illustrates how our heavenly Father forgives. The parable contains this statement: “Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me’” (Matthew 18:32). Because the indebted servant plead with the lord, he was forgiven. It is worth noting that the servant’s pleading (as captured in verse 26) doesn’t sound like a true confession. But his words, at the least, imply an admission of his failure, an admission which his lord cites as the reason for his forgiveness.
➋ Jesus taught His disciples: “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him” (Luke 17:3–4). Note the two conditional statements in verse 3: If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Both sentences join a conditional statement to an imperative. The disciples are commanded to rebuke a brother, but only when he has sinned. Similarly, the disciples are commanded to forgive a brother when he repents of his sin. It is implied that a rebuke is unwarranted when a brother has not sinned and that forgiveness is unwarranted when a brother has not repented.
These two passages suggest that forgiveness, if not certain aspects of forgiveness, should not be conveyed by Natasha to Boris since he has not repented of his failure.
B. Some sins are “retained” by believers.
According to Jesus, believers have a choice between “forgiving” and “retaining” another’s sins: “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained” (John 20:23). In this passage “retaining” a sin represents the opposite of forgiving a sin. “Forgive” is the word ἀφίημι (aphiemi) which has the basic idea of releasing a debt or letting something go. “Retaining,” from κρατέω (krateo), is about seizing or holding onto something. These antonyms are describing two antithetical responses to another’s sin, either releasing someone from his debt or holding him to it. Clearly, not all sin is forgiven.
So what does it mean to “retain” someone’s sin? No other NT uses of κρατέω (krateo) offer much practical help.
Matthew records a statement from Jesus that seems similar by its connection to forgiveness and by its contrast between “binding” and “loosing:” “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18). In context, Jesus gives instructions concerning church discipline wherein a brother is confronted about his trespass. There are two possible outcomes: Either this brother listens or he refuses to listen. Each outcome has a corresponding result. The brother who listens is “won.” The “brother” who refuses to listen is to be treated as “a Gentile and tax-gatherer.”
“Loosing” and “binding” can be connected to these two results. For the brother who is “won,” loosening cuts the tie connecting this brother to his sin. He is forgiven: Those whom he has sinned against have chosen to deny his trespass the power to adversely affect their relationship. On the other hand, the “brother” who has shown himself to be a Gentile and tax-gatherer has betrayed his confession of Christ and is to be treated accordingly. For such a one, “binding” retains his connection with his sin.
Both John 20:23 and Matthew 18:18 envision a situation in which someone has betrayed his confession of Christ by a persistent refusal to admit his sin. Although a measured response is prescribed (see Matthew 18:15-19 for a step-by-step description of the progression involved), one who defies every attempt to “show him his fault” thereby gives evidence he does not belong to Christ. He is still connected to His sin. It defines him.
For Natasha, this principle teaches that there are circumstances where forgiveness is withheld and where sin is “retained.” But such an end is only reached after every effort (as spelled out in Matthew 18) has been exhausted to “win” another, Boris included. If Natasha has come to such a place with Boris, she should “retain” his sin, not forgive it. She should see in him one who stands in an extremely dangerous place. He is asking God to relate to him as a man still connected to and defined by sin. Natasha should regard Boris as an unbeliever.
C. Some sin is unforgivable.
Jesus declared a certain type of sin as “unforgivable:” “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” – because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit” (Mark 3:28–30). A parallel passage in Matthew indicates that speaking against the Son of Man is forgivable; speaking against the Holy Spirit is not (Matthew 12:32, also see Luke 12:10). Note that the passage in Mark identifies the leaders’ lie that prompted Jesus’ response: They were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Jesus performed miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit. In order to discredit Jesus, the religious leaders resolutely defied the Spirit. They maintained that the Holy Spirit who worked through Jesus in His miracles is actually an evil spirit, the kind that should be steadfastly resisted.
In light of a passage like 1 Corinthians 12:3, this is a fatal hostility: Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). To resist the Spirit is to resist the One who makes it possible for a man to confess Jesus and to thereby be forgiven. The reason that sin against the Spirit cannot be forgiven is that it thwarts the only One who can introduce a man to the means of His forgiveness.
Think of it this way. Joe has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. There is a doctor in another state who has recently developed an amazing cure for Joe’s cancer. Joe’s next-door neighbor happens to read about this doctor and his ground-breaking discovery. He thinks, “Maybe this could help Joe.” But he also recalls an incident last summer when he sought to help Joe by trimming the hedge and some trees on their adjoining property line. For some reason, Joe was offended by what he had done and wasn’t talking to him. But Joe’s neighbor also reasons, “Surely Joe would want to know about this cure.” So he goes to Joe’s front porch and rings the doorbell.
Joe hears the doorbell, looks through his peephole, but decides to ignore his neighbor. He scoffs to himself, “It’s bad enough I have cancer. I definitely don’t want to talk to a neighbor who thinks my yard is too shabby for his uppity taste.”
So Joe refuses to listen to his neighbor and thereby forfeits the opportunity to learn about a cure for his cancer. So is it with blasphemy of the Spirit. There is no forgiveness available for the sin of rejecting the Spirit who stands at the door to our hearts to show us sin’s cure. This summary by R. A Cole gets it right: This is the sin of the wilfully blind, who persistently refuse the illumination of the Spirit, oppose the Spirit’s work, and justify themselves in doing so by deliberately misrepresenting him (Mark: An Introduction and Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 145).
Note that the “unforgivable sin” produces the same effect as sin that is “retained.” The “unforgivable sin” is a tacit rejection of Jesus precipitated by an overt rejection of the Holy Spirit. Sin that is “retained” comes from a more overt rejection of Jesus manifested by persistent resistance to correction. These two sins, which are really just two varieties of the same sin, are refusals to admit one’s need of forgiveness.
In all likelihood, the altercation between Boris and Natasha involved the commission of lessor sins, sins that can be forgiven. But let’s assume, for the moment, that Boris has committed the “unforgivable sin” or that he has unalterably resisted the steps outlined in Matthew 18:15-17. The former, by definition, is unforgivable. The latter, for as long as Boris refuses to listen to the church, is also unforgivable. The commission of such sin by Boris is most grave. The Lord does not forgive him. Neither should Natasha.
This, however, is not the whole story. If Natasha cannot impart forgiveness to Boris, is there something else which she can offer him? The next principle will help us understand how Natasha can relate to Boris in a constructive way even if he has committed the most serious of sins.
D. We dwell in the day of God’s patience.
Numerous OT passages recount the words of men who have a reputation for godliness and who desire God to curse sinners. Here is a representative passage from the prophet Jeremiah: “Yet, O Lord of hosts, You who test the righteous, Who see the mind and the heart; Let me see Your vengeance on them; For to You I have set forth my cause” (Jeremiah 20:12). In this instance, Jeremiah is the speaker and he is asking God, his “dread champion,” to overthrow his persecutors. His words do not sound at all like the language of forgiveness. Jeremiah yearns for these unrepentant sinners to get what’s coming to them.
This is not a uniquely Old Testament sentiment. Jesus once told a parable about a widow who pestered a judge for legal protection and, by her persistence, prevailed. Jesus then pivoted from recounting the judge’s conclusion to teaching about God. He said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth” (Luke 18:6–8)? The elect are described as crying out for justice day and night. Theirs is a proper request that will be answered swiftly at just the right time, “when the Son of Man comes!” In this passage, the elect have been persecuted, that is, they have been made the recipients of others’ opposition to the Lord. They cry out for justice and Jesus assures them that they will be heard!
Indeed, in another context, Jesus adds His voice to the chorus anticipating this day of judgment: “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished” (Luke 12:49–50)! Jesus yearned for justice to be served. But first He must be baptized, a reference to Calvary. The day of justice for which Jesus longed would come later.
Even now, the day of justice remains yet future but its soon coming is as sure as God’s Word: But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:7). On this future date, all who are unforgiven will be judged. Those whose sins have been “retained” and those who have despised the Spirit of grace will reap exactly what they have sown. Justice will be served and the voices of those who dishonor the Lord silenced.
But for now, we dwell in a different day: The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Today, the unforgiven are not judged. God delays judgment in order to give everyman sufficient opportunity to repent. Today is the day of God’s patience and men’s opportunity. Jesus’ first advent heralded this season: “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17).
To dwell in the present day of patience means to occupy a place where unforgiven men are not judged. It would be foolish to think this day will last forever. But as long as today is the day of God’s patience, there is hope. In Romans 2, Paul addresses those who are storing up wrath for themselves. In verse four, he raises a question that shows how God presently relates to the unforgiven: Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance (Romans 2:4)? God shows men kindness, tolerance, and patience precisely because His kindness assists men to come to a place of brokenness over their sin.
Even today, God expresses grace to unforgiven men in the form of patience and kindness. Regardless of Boris’s offense, Natasha should do no less. There are two categories of sins which constitute a de-facto repudiation of Christ, unforgivable sin and sins which have been “retained.” Even if these terms describe Boris’s sins, Natasha must take her cue from Father. She does well to recall the riches of God’s kindness and tolerance and patience when she herself was once unforgiven yet not judged. She does well to remember ways the kindness of God led her to repentance. She does well to extend the same, in a similar hope, to her husband even when he does not admit his sin.
Natasha cannot impart forgiveness to someone who has not asked for it. But she can impart other gifts to Boris. Stated in its broadest terms, she can relate to Boris in a way that gives him maximum opportunity to own up to his sin, a way that will be marked by kindness for which Boris is not worthy and patience that arises from grace.
Posted on December 10, 2014 in Anger, Disciple-Makers, Future Things, God, Marriage | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Boris and Natasha are at it again. We don’t know how it all started. But one thing led to another; voices were raised; things thrown; doors slammed! Now Natasha has gone silent by locking herself in the bathroom and Boris is doing a slow burn on the back porch. Boris said and did things he shouldn’t. Natasha, too. They have hurt one another and each done what is wrong.
They need to put things right. In any given marriage, one party is often slower to reconcile. Boris is that one. In the bathroom, Natasha has come to see the ways she blew it. She is broken over her sin and wants to confess her sin to Boris and ask for his forgiveness. Boris is not there! He cannot get past the harsh words from Natasha that are still ringing in his ears. He does not see his own sins, only hers.
In an ideal world, Boris and Natasha would each acknowledge what they did wrong and ask for and receive the other’s forgiveness. Alas, Boris and Natasha do not live in that world. Natasha is prepared to do her part, but is limited in what she can do by Boris’s pride. So, is she off the hook for forgiveness until Boris can confess what he has done? Great question!
In a recent training session for marriage mentors, someone proposed that the Bible teaches us to limit forgiveness of others to only those who confess their sins. The one advocating this view pointed out that God fully and freely forgives those who confess themselves as sinners and who ask to be forgiven in Christ; those who don’t acknowledge their sins and need for a Savior, reap wrath. So, he asked, why would our forgiveness of others be any different than Father’s? This viewpoint denies another our forgiveness until he confesses his sin to us. According to this view, forgiveness is only triggered by another’s actions.
I heartily agree the Bible teaches that God forgives sinners who acknowledge their sins and that we should do the same. But here’s the key question: Does the Bible teach that we should withhold forgiveness from those who don’t confess their sins? Do we forgive everyone or just some? The answer to this question has profound implications and the Bible doesn’t seem to clearly support just one possibility. So, it will take three posts to explain a nuanced answer that accounts for all the biblical data.
I. Guardrails - The Bible clearly teaches three key principles about forgiveness. Think of these as core principles that are not in doubt and which give us a secure starting point from which to launch our inquiry into the question of whom we forgive.
A. God doesn’t forgive everyone.
God does NOT forgive some individuals. In the parable of the unforgiving servant, Jesus explicitly connects the climax of the story to an observation about God: “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:34–35). The evocative image of a lord committing a steward to the torture chamber is held up by Jesus as an apt illustration of how the Father will respond to some. This sobering fact does not align with a politically correct view of God as a benign and tolerant deity. But it clearly affirms that enjoyment of God’s forgiveness is restricted to just some.
The writer of Hebrews describes the terrifying certainty of God’s judgment on those who persist in sin despite having heard the truth: “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. . . . For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:26–27, 30-31).
The writer of Hebrews is addressing those who have heard the truth, who have professed Christ, and who consider themselves a part of God’s people. But by their apostasy, they have blown their cover. For such ones, there is no hope of forgiveness since they have rejected the one true sacrifice which makes forgiveness possible.
B. Divine forgiveness is fundamental to salvation.
God’s “forgiveness” of our sins is synonymous with the provision of salvation. Here are two representative passages that make the point. ➊When Peter was led by God to share the gospel with the household of Cornelius, he explained that the receipt of forgiveness is the result of believing in Jesus: “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43). ➋When Paul recounted to King Agrippa what Jesus said to him on the Damascus Road, Paul explained the mission given him: “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18). Paul is quoting Jesus who declares that forgiveness of sin is received by those who repent.
C. God’s forgiveness of believers models how believers should forgive others.
The Father’s forgiveness of us is presented as the inspiration for and example of how we should forgive others: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). God imparts full and free forgiveness to those who are in Christ. Let’s call this vertical forgiveness. Believers should deal in the same toward others. Let’s call this horizontal forgiveness. Vertical forgiveness should inspire horizontal forgiveness. One should lead to the other in a right angle movement of grace that emulates Father.
We should forgive like our Father. And Father doesn’t forgive everyone. Those who neither “turn from darkness to light” nor “believe in Him” will not receive His forgiveness. So however we try to help Natasha, our answer must begin in an affirmation of these three principles: Yes, Natasha, forgive like Father. It is true that Father doesn’t forgive some, but those who believe in Jesus receive His forgiveness.
Okay, so now we have a proper platform from which to dive into two different sets of seemingly contradictory verses. Once set suggests that forgiveness is limited to just some - we’ll look at those verses in the next post. A second set teaches that forgiveness should be extended to all – we’ll look at those verses in the third post in this series. Does God expect me to forgive someone who hasn’t asked for forgiveness? As you will see, this is indeed the burning question!
Posted on December 03, 2014 in Anger, Disciple-Makers, God, Marriage | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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"Liena" and her family are Christians living in Syria. As Liena prayed and asked God what He wanted her to do as His witness, He answered three times in three days. What He asked of her on day three was hard but she obeyed. Along with her husband, she explained to her children that someday, men with swords might force their way into their home and demand that they convert to Islam. She told her children not to deny Christ. She told them that they might feel some pain and see some blood, but soon would be in the presence of Jesus.
I am grateful for Liena's example of a parent protecting her children from a threat greater than death.
“And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8–9).
This is not just what it means to be a Christian in Syria. This is what it means to be a Christian.
Click Here if you would like to hear Liena's story in her own words.
Posted on December 01, 2014 in Parenting, The Good Fight | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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What does a “church consultant” do? And, why do we need them? For me, these are not purely theoretical questions. I recently completed level four of training offered by the Society for Church Consulting and only have one more project to complete before pursuing certification. If I’m gonna be one, I had best know what one does and why!
I can attest to the ubiquity of critics in the church. Everyone seems to have an ample supply of “things I don’t like,” even though the particulars on any given list might be on someone else’s list in the column for “things I really like!” If all the critics weren’t bad enough, there’s the bears. Like their stock market counterparts, church bears are predicting a looming downturn. They wax eloquent, remembering former days of glory, while wringing their hands about how current trends are sure to end badly.
So the notion of adding a third party to the mix could easily make one sound like Dorothy – “Consultants, and Critics, and Bears! Oh, my!” Why, when we already have enough home-based critics and pessimists in our church, do we need to import more from outside? Isn’t using a consultant like adding another voice to what is already a roiling cacophony?
Maybe what we really need is some fresh air! I find it in 1 Corinthians 4:3-5: But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God (1 Corinthians 4:3–5). This passage attests to the active presence of critics as a constant of church life in Corinth two millennia ago. In Paul’s case, he processed the claims of his critics by affirming two fundamentals: We are only accountable to the Lord, and men’s perspectives are profoundly limited in value.
Hear, hear! Jesus is Lord of the church and the only one qualified to evaluate both individuals and churches. On some future date, Jesus will come for an on-site visit to file a full report. His evaluation will not simply focus on externals. He will put a spotlight on things hidden; He will bring to light men’s true motives; He will get to the bottom of it all. This will be the perfect value determination of what Paul and everyman have done. In this moment, the only opinion that will matter is the Lord’s.
Everyone else’s won’t! For Paul, the opinions of his Corinthian critics, or of any human court for that matter, are of minor importance. It stands to reason. The eyes of men do not see as the Lord sees, and the minds of men are as nothing before His infinite wisdom. Paul maintains that others are simply not qualified to render the final verdict on his ministry. Indeed, he himself is not adequate to do so. The Lord alone possesses the necessary skill-set to discern what truly warrants approval. He alone is qualified to critique His church and His servants!
In the course of 40 years in local church ministry, I increasingly relied on this passage as a steady compass to guide me. I identified in God’s Word His goals for my life and ministry and charted the means He commends for their attainment. This became my true north. As often as I would hear the siren voices of the critics or the murmurings of my own inner doubt, I would hold steady and remember this: In all things, I live for the good opinion of the only One whose opinion matters. When I battled discouragement, I would remember that I am not qualified to see the big picture. I would renew my efforts to live for His pleasure (my part) and respect His abilities to discern their true worth (His part). When my critics sought to convince me of my inadequacy, I strove to gain insight from their comments and learn how to better live for His pleasure (my part), while taking comfort in the knowledge that, in the final analysis, His would prove the only opinion that matters.
There are those, the serpent chief among them, who would like our minds to be led astray from the liberating simplicity of this pure devotion (2 Corinthians 11:3). His plans are thwarted when we live all-out for the Lord alone. But taken in isolation, this principle can become a pretext for a sort of mystic individualism that sniffs, “I am unassailably convinced of what God asks of me. Hold your tongue, step aside, and hallow my signal devotion to Him.” If everyone followed suit, we would achieve but a quick and easy return to the days of the judges: In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6; 21:25).
Going it alone will make the going harder. Yes, we do well to live with heart’s ablaze solely for His pleasure. But we do better when we also appreciate how others can fan our flames of passion in the right direction. The ability to accomplish what will endure is enhanced when we take advantage of the insight and perspective of others: Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed (Proverbs 15:22). Of course, not all counsel is created equal. When a man speaks words of wisdom well suited to a situation, that’s the good stuff: Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear (Proverbs 25:11–12). Sometimes another will even seek our good by telling us truth that hurts. This, too, is counsel you can take to the bank: Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy (Proverbs 27:6).
The Bible clearly teaches what we need to know about the things that matter. So understanding what the Bible says about an issue being faced by another is where all good counsel begins. Word based discernment of how the Lord would evaluate a local church is key to helping consultants, and critics, and bears offer apples of gold in settings of silver. Oh, my!
Jesus, the supreme church consultant, would advise a particular kind of church to buy from Him gold refined by fire (Rev. 3:18). When Jesus, the critic worth heeding, has items on His “things I don’t like” list (Rev. 2:4, 14, 20), they have got to go. When Jesus gets bearish over a church’s future and issues a warning (Rev. 2:5), any church with similar issues had better pay attention. When we, His servants, aptly discern from His Word what Jesus thinks of a local church, and report what we see with grace and wisdom, we therein serve the Lord by promoting the good of His church.
A consultant or interim pastor can render valuable service to a local church by bringing them back to the Word and by helping them understand what Jesus wants them to be and do. A consultant or interim pastor can then follow up by helping a church answer these two questions: (1) To what extent do we actually demonstrate the characteristics of Jesus’ people? (2) To what extent are we actually accomplishing the mission Jesus gave us? Once these questions can be answered in a way that is confirmed by a fair-minded assessment of the pertinent facts, a consultant or interim pastor is able to help a church determine and implement a sound strategy to do better.
A consultant does well in the role of a servant. He seeks to promote in others whatever is needed for them to hear “well done.” He is like a pairs figure-skating coach whose energies are directed at helping his team members win the approval of someone else. In the final analysis, the coach is not the judge of his team. He does not score their efforts. But the better he anticipates what the judges are looking for, and uses that information to bring out the best in his charges, the more effective he is as a coach. The same goes for church consultants and interim pastors!
Allow me to return to my initial two questions and make them personal: (1) What will I do as a church consultant or interim pastor and (2) why would a church need my help? Here are my answers: (1) As a church coach, I will help a congregation to better be and do what the Lord of the church expects of His people. Ultimately, their accountability is not to me but to Him.
(2) When something matters as much as hearing the Lord say “well done,” we should seize every advantage. Any congregation that genuinely wants to do better will seek out wise counsel from a circle bigger than themselves. As often as I am invited into this circle, I will offer up whatever wisdom God gives me in order to help a people live for His pleasure. When the Lord someday says to them, “well done,” I will rejoice for them and thank God for whatever He allowed me to contribute toward their success.
Posted on October 27, 2014 in Church Leadership, Church Planting, Church Trends, L-W Resources, priorities | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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In January of 2013, I had the unspeakable joy of celebrating God’s goodness with many Banjara people in central India. Hundreds of Banjara, first-fruits of God’s recent breakthrough to this tribal people group, were gathered together near Hyderabad to rejoice over what God had done among them. I was one of the speakers at this festival, and it was a thrill to minister truth (by translator) to such eager and earnest souls.
One of my most memorable experiences was something spontaneous and seemingly insignificant. In the picture above (from 2009) you can see my friend, Joy, who lives in Hyderabad. She calls me “Jim-Uncle” and is the younger daughter of my friend and translator, Srinivas.
Between meetings at the Banjara Celebration in 2013, I was deluged by people wanting to be anointed with oil and prayed for. Few spoke any English; I knew next to nothing of Banjari, or Telegu, or Hindi. So they made signs and I made guesses, and prayed in hope that the Spirit would bless despite my ignorance.
Then along came Joy. She joined the circle of people pressing all around me and became my ministry partner. Joy speaks English, as well as the languages of her people. As each one made their requests known, Joy translated for me. Then I prayed, and she translated my prayer for them.
For almost an hour, we ministered together non-stop. Through her help, I learned of a young boy whose father was sick and couldn’t work which meant his family didn’t have anything to eat. I was able to pray for him out of knowledge of his urgent need for grace and mercy. I prayed for dozens more with the help of Joy, now able to grasp how desperately these dear souls needed God to work on their behalf.
I chuckle when I recall this moment. Joy was “just” one young girl. But her willingness to serve supplied the missing link for a conversation with the Creator of the Universe. It will be fun, in heaven, to learn how Father answered our requests when I prayed with Joy.
Posted on October 15, 2014 in Banjara Project, Prayer | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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It was an honor and privilege to speak at Central Church last Sunday. This sermon was intended to minister encouragement to those who are facing difficulty and seemed to connnect for many. You can check it out by clicking here. Maybe you know someone who yearns to see dawn break as they walk in a dark place. This message explains how to (1) identify fear talking, (2) follow the twin tail lights, and (3) wait in trust for maximum effect.
Posted on October 14, 2014 in Disciples, Faith, Jesus, Waiting on God | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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In a small group, we were talking about Adam and Eve and God’s original commands to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. We wondered how close we are to fulfilling this mission? To be sure, the imprint of man’s presence seems to cover the globe. But here is a visual representation that boggles the mind.
The current population of the world is 7.263 billion people. Let’s say you wanted to put the entire population of the world in one concentrated area to see how much space would be required. Let’s give everyone a rectangle that is two feet by three feet. Just for reference, I checked seating guidelines for a comfortable movie theater – 22" between seats and 36" back to back. So think of our six square feet of area per person as the equivalent of theater seating with an extra two inches between seats.
Now let’s do the math. 7.264 billion people x 6 square feet per person yields 43.584 billion square feet. So where shall we put them? Delaware - the second smallest state in the union! The land area (no sitting in water, please) in the state of Delaware is 1,948.54 square miles. To convert this into square feet, I would multiply 1,948.54 by 5,280 squared (which is 27,868,400) to get a total land area for the State of Delaware of 56,481,638,400 square feet or 56.481 billion square feet.
So here’s the bottom line. If we seat the entire population of the world in theater seating, we would need almost 75% of the State of Delaware. 13 billion square feet of Delaware would remain unoccupied. This equals almost 463 square miles, which we could probably allocate for aisles between sections.
I am under no delusions that, in the real world, we could get everyone seated in my massive statewide theater. But the Delaware plan will make perfect sense to the good folks of Missouri who insist, “Show me!” It gives me some sort of concrete visual representation by which to get my mental arms around a population number of 7.264 billion people. Do you not find it amazing that we can put the population of the world in theater seating in Delaware with room to spare? Does it not shock you that, by doing so, there would not be one soul on the remainder of the planet? Anyone visiting earth who landed anywhere besides Delaware would assume no one is at home.
Posted on September 24, 2014 in Current Affairs, Science | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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