Light-work

Is it a good idea to be good for goodness sake?

Are you sick of all the positive thinking blather frothed up in motivational posters? If so, you might have the right stuff to do some Christmas shopping at Despair, Inc. The sample above captures their take on the whole inspirational poster scene:

AT DESPAIR, INC., we believe motivational products create unrealistic expectations, raising hopes only to dash them. That's why we created our soul-crushingly depressing Demotivators® designs, so you can skip the delusions that motivational products induce and head straight for the disappointments that follow!

There is optimism and then there is blind optimism - and I appreciate Despair's attempts to put the latter in it's place. It is comforting to know that at least someone can see through a positive outlook that lacks a foundation in fact.

Alas, the latest unChristmas campaign sponsored by the American Humanist Association doesn't seem to be headed in the same direction as Despair. This is the organization that is using a controversial campaign of bus signs to create some buzz and identify prospects. (See the sample at right - "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake.")

Who are these guys? Click this link to get it in context, but here's what they have to say about themselves: 

Many people imagine that the only way to be good in this world is through belief in a god. But is that really necessary? Must we be bound by moral dictates set down in “sacred” texts written hundreds, if not thousands of years ago? Must we accept the authority and judgments of “spiritual” leaders and religious hierarchy? Does religious faith offer the only lens through which to judge life’s events?

The answer to these questions is no! There is another way for us to approach life. We can have ethics and values that aren't set in stone. Our ideals and principles can evolve over time to reflect our ever-changing and increasingly complex world. Yet, we can be confident of the decisions that we make, not because someone told us what to do but because we relied on our own careful reasoning and emotional reflection. We can live a life that accepts and appreciates the world as it is, without needing to see supernatural explanations behind every event. This is a positive and uplifting way to live.

Okay, L-W crowd, what's your assessment? Is this an attempt to gin up a sunny outlook without the sun? Is this the kind of fluff that Despair, Inc., would lampoon? Are the above two paragraphs populated by straw men? Is this a viable candidate for a "positive and uplifting way to live?" Some of you have been reading Light-Work for too long without comment. It's time to weigh in and test your reflexes. How would you respond to someone who espouses this view? Just in case you're procrastinating with this project, here's another motivating poster from Despair, Inc.

Those Nicer Evangelicals

When we started Collierville Bible Church almost twenty years ago, one of our first challenges was finding an appropriate name for the new work. The church was sponsored by First Evangelical Church of Memphis and the assumption was that the new work would have the word "evangelical" in its name as a hallmark of this lineage. But we ran into a snag. We discovered that the meaning of the word "evangelical" was fuzzy. When we tested out "Collierville Evangelical Church," it left most people wondering, "So what are you?" They couldn't tell you what an "evangelical" is - but they did understand the word "Bible." We figured, "Honoring, learning, and applying the Bible is what we're about - why not make it our middle name?"

This name choice was not a departure from being evangelical, however. Here's an excerpt from the notes for the CBC New Members class:

Collierville Bible Church could be described as an evangelical, doctrinally conservative church.  CBC is an independent congregation – it is not part of a larger organization nor a representative of a particular denomination. When we say it’s “evangelical,” that word describes lots of different kinds of churches who share a common vision: They proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and believe it is essential to do so. To say that CBC is doctrinally conservative means that we’re not interested in innovation, novelty, or creativity when it comes to interpreting the Bible. We strive to be faithful to the timeless truths taught in God’s word.

The words in bold capture our basic summary of what it means to be evangelical. It seems fairly straight-forward. But cultural and political trends have messed with my tidy definition. The meaning of "Evangelical" has become even fuzzier than it was twenty years ago. The term has come to be bandied about, often as a slam against those who are attempting to rally Christians toward political conservatism. Evangelicals are depicted as those who coerce or impose their beliefs on others. Here's what happened at a church in Michigan last weekend - just to give you some appreciation for the problem.

In an attempt to deflect some of the criticism, a group of evangelical heavyweights has drafted An Evangelical Manifesto. Here is a very handy summary that is also available at their website. I can commend both documents but I am not sure if their strategy will prove effective. Here is the logic behind it - these are my words, not theirs:

People are mad at evangelicals. But they are mad for reasons that are unfounded. If they just understood what we believe, they would see that much of their criticism is based on misrepresentations. If they would just read our manifesto and get to know us, we could all be friends.

I am glad for their efforts to jettison some baggage and clarify what we believe. And I will be delighted with whatever benefits this effort imparts to the debate in the public square. But even if we were called "those nice evangelicals," the clash between world-views will remain both real and fierce.

Getting Mad at the Wrong Guy

Here's a handy prescription for those who want to conquer anger. When you find yourself getting steamed, ask yourself, "Is my anger directed at the wrong guy?" Proverbs 19:3 describes a condition that can lead to anger: The foolishness of man ruins his way, and his heart rages against the Lord (Prov. 19:3). This Proverb has two phrases, the first describes a situation, the second outlines what follows.

Here's the situation. A man has made a foolish choice with serious consequences. It could have been an unwise business decision, an inappropriate relationship, a knee-jerk response, or a course involving moral compromise. Whatever he did, it was fueled by foolishness and, not surprisingly, has turned out badly. The second phrase describes the result and it is ironic. Instead of admitting, "I did something foolish," he gets mad at God. What's God got to do with it? God doesn't resort to "bailouts" for foolishness. As a good parent, He allows us to experience the consequences of our poor choices. God is not responsible for the ruin a man reaps when he sows foolishness.

So when you feel yourself getting angry, do a quick diagnostic. Try to identify ways in which the outcome that is prompting you to anger is the result of your own actions. Make a list of ways you could have done things differently to reap a different outcome. If you come up with just one item on your list, then you're getting mad at the wrong person. Go look in a mirror and counsel the person you see to use all that energy to make some changes. Repeat as necessary.

Outrageous Parking Fees and Obama Nation Ambassadors

The abuse of "diplomatic immunity" by United Nations delegates on the streets of Manhattan was big news in the 90's. Things were really getting hot when Mr. Giuliani decided enough is enough, although something of a truce was eventually established. Things haven't changed much in ten years - deadbeat diplomats are still in the news.  I can understand their motivation. Why should they be subjected to the rules and regulations of a country of which they are not citizens?

This is a question not unlike one we face as followers of Jesus. Our ultimate citizenship is not of this earth! Here is the Apostle Paul's summary:

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself (Phil 3:20-21).

We don't belong here. Our home country is elsewhere and it makes our current living conditions seem so decidedly inferior. How I long for our homecoming! So we have to ask, "What are we doing on this God forsaking planet?"  Here's Paul's answer:

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20).

We have been given an assignment, to represent the Kingdom of Heaven on the rebellious planet. Those who break off their hostilities with God and embrace Jesus as their Savior have their citizenship immediately transferred. But, they remain, for a time, in their host countries as delegates. Here's where the issue of parking fines comes in. In a previous post, I made the case for respect for the office of the President, regardless of who occupies it. Now let me add a note about results.

One of the characteristics in our host countries is their highly developed capacity for judicial sentiment. They can accurately identify what is right and wrong when it is applied to someone else. There is abundant evidence of this characteristic in the current criticisms flying between Republicans and Democrats. When you find yourself thinking, "Isn't this a case of the pot calling the skillet black," you are watching judicial sentiment in action. Earthlings can accurately identify a mere speck in someone else's eye even while ignoring a 2 x 4 in their own.

Peter once wrote to citizens of heaven living in a hard place on earth. Here's what he reminded them:

Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men (1 Pet. 2:12-15).

To be sure, we submit to the laws and leaders of the land because it is God's will. But when we do, there are two additional outcomes: Ill-informed critics are demonstrated as fools for the fact that their criticisms don't stick. Second, lost people observe the kind of behavior which makes God look good and which gives them reason to praise Him when He shows up.

When we show disrespect for the laws and leaders of our host countries, we curtail our ability to represent well our King and His Kingdom. We do not have diplomatic immunity! Our King requires us to make Him look good by showing the citizens of our host country how a model citizen would behave. There's far more at stake here than our like (or dislike) for a President who will occupy an office for a few earthly years. Don't muddy the water with petty parking fine failures when it could hobble someone's ability to share eternity with our King.

Obama Nation Consternation

The pundits are telling us to get ready for the Obama Nation. They may well be right, although the media don't have a perfect track record on this sort of thing. But let's suppose they have this one right and everything falls Obama's way.

What if we elect this liberal President, a Democratic majority in the House and a filibuster proof Democratic majority in the Senate? His party will hold all the reins of power -- He won't need "bi-partisan support" to have his way. Vacancies on the Supreme Court bench can easily be filled with judges who protect the legalized murder we call abortion. There will be nothing to stop his economic policies of wealth redistribution. Some form of nationalized health care, a hasty retreat from Iraq, a pie-in-the-sky energy policy that only accepts solutions which meet his ideological test, and say-what-you-want soirees for the Kim Jong-ils and Ahmadinejads of the world - all this and more could be ours when the package of "change we can believe in" arrives at our doorstep

Most of the package contents make me fearful. I am not alone. I hear voices all around me expressing concern about what lies ahead in the Obama Nation. So let's put a little L-W perspective on the subject. A good place to start is in Romans 13:1-7. This is the most complete NT passage to deal with the Christian's relationship to the state. Verse one captures the heart of the matter:

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God (Rom. 13:1).

The "governing authorities" at the time Paul penned this passage includes an infamous fellow by the name of Nero, a Caesar not known for his favorable treatment of Christians. It would be hard to pick a governing authority more worthy of the animosity and resistance of Christ-followers. Yet, Paul enjoins his readers to be submissive to such a one. If submission is the right response to Rome, how much more is it appropriate in the Obama Nation? After George Bush was elected, I remember seeing a bumper sticker declaring, "He's not my President." If Obama is elected, he will be my President (and yours) and it is God's express will for me to make Rom. 13:1-7 live in my words and actions toward him.

This passage also offers me some incentive for submission. When Paul says "There is no authority except from God," he means that all governmental leaders exercise delegated authority. Jesus said something similar in his interchange with Pilate:

So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin” (John 19:10-11).

Judas' sin is "greater." Therefore, Pilate is sinning, too. By condemning Jesus to crucifixion, Pilate is doing what is wrong. His authority does not originate with himself, it was given him by God. And now he is abusing that authority by condemning to death the innocent Son of the One who gave him his office. Scary thought! No wonder the next verse (John 19:12) tells us Pilate got desperate for an escape route.

Should Obama become President, he becomes accountable to God for his actions as President. God can handle Obama! (God can handle John, too, if the pundits are wrong.) In either case, knowing that God will deal with the President makes it easier to keep my eye on the ball, to submit to the governing authorities.

Lest We Forget the Prodigal's Brother

The Prodigal Son is the celebrity sinner, the poster child for stories of failure and forgiveness. For parents of wayward teens, his tale gives them reason to hope. For those who have wandered far from God, the prodigal's return is a prototype for making a fresh start with God. I am not trying to take anything away from his "great comeback" story, but the prodigal is a secondary player in the parable that is named after him.

Parables are intended to make a point, and clues as to the nature of that point will often be found in context, in this case Luke 15. The entire chapter consists of three linked parables, "The Lost Sheep," "The Lost Coin" and "The Prodigal Son," that all answer to the need identified in verses 1-3:

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He told them this parable, saying . . . (Luke 15:1-3).

Jesus' three stories are intended to turn the tables on His critics. The religious big-wigs are grousing because Jesus is ministering to riffraff. Instead of celebrating that losers are flocking to the One person who can help them, they're grumbling that Jesus doesn't dust them away like so much shoulder lint.

So Jesus recounts a trio of parables that swell in a crescendo of celebration. First he talks about the recovery of a lost sheep. Yes, this sheep was only 1% of the flock, but surely it's recovery would be reason for joy. Then he talks about finding lost wealth. Even though it was only 10% of someone's life savings, who wouldn't host a party to celebrate its recovery? Finally he talks of a lost son. If you celebrate when one sheep (out of a hundred) is found, or one coin (out of ten) is found, then what kind of celebration would attend the return of a lost son?

Right as Jesus' audience is catching the party vibe, a new character shows up, the prodigal's whining brother. He is the one in the harsh spotlight crashing the party, the party-pooper with an attitude, and the embarrassing spokesman for Jesus' complaining critics. I draw your attention to the prodigal's brother because he is the punch line in Luke 15. THE PRODIGAL'S BROTHER is the one Jesus wants us to examine and understand.

I confess that I see in myself much that reminds me of the prodigal's brother. I have not lived a life of rebellion or moral abandon. I came to Jesus at an early age, began living for Him in earnest as a teen, and have sought to stay true to Him to this day. (Don't misunderstand me. I am just as much a sinner as the most profligate prodigal - no difference. And my steady pursuit of Christ has not kept me from presenting a pitiful picture of what it means to be His follower on occasions without number.) Despite my failures, flaws, and growing pains along the way, however, I am a fair example of the classic "good kid."

So when I observe the prodigal's descent into the depths of loose living, I can't identify. But when I hear his brother protesting, “Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours” (Luke 15:29), I hear in his words the voice of my own dissenting heart. I have expressed words like his, words of disappointment in God for His seeming lack of appreciation.

There are prodigals and there are prodigal's brothers. The prodigal's obstacle is his sense of unworthiness to lay claim to the heart of his father. The obstacle of the prodigal's brother is his sense of entitlement, an insistence upon God's approval for his faithfulness. In its advanced stages, "Prodigal's Brother Disease" (PBD) can rob a man of his joy. He can become a spiritual scrooge who mutters "Bah, humbug" on occasions when even angels are pulling out all the stops.

The religious leaders called out by Jesus have a pronounced case of PBD. It has achieved a level of spiritual toxicity that is acute, perhaps from which there is no recovery. But for anyone who seeks to be faithful (at risk) and who is willing to learn (teachable) from their sad story, there is hope in timely self-screening (self-examination) and treatment (repentance).

Are you a prodigal? Come home to a Father whose grace is greater than your sin. Are you a prodigal's brother? Then serve without strings before it robs you of joy. Stay faithful to God without getting sucked into thinking that God owes you recognition. Your faithfulness matters. Never forget what Jesus says to the prodigal's brother, “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours’” (Luke 15:31). Staying true to God WILL BE WORTH IT. That is no less true for the fact that we party strong when a prodigal comes home.

Purpose Driven Pricetag

I have been reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. "Living a purpose-driven life" is Warren short-hand for living your life for the glory of God. This is my third reading and I would still retain this on my short list of books everyone should read. Pastor Warren has a marvelous gift for capturing truth in simple, memorable language. Many sentences rise to the level of proverbs for their pithiness.

Although chock-full of terse wisdom, there are some pages missing. One of those places is in chapter three, particularly pages 30-35. This is the section where Rick explains the "five great benefits of living a purpose-driven life."

1. It gives meaning to your life.
2. It simplifies your life.
3. It focuses your life.
4. It motivates your life.
5. It prepares you for eternity.

Let's take a cue from Paul Harvey and hear "the rest of the story." I am not taking away from what Warren has said, simply highlighting what he hasn't said that I think you NEED TO KNOW. Warren's five are all positives. Where are the negatives? Living for God's glory can be costly. And I don't think we do anyone a service unless we compare the benefits with the costs.

Jesus plainly talked about the cost! He declared, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it” (Luke 14:27-28). Jesus did not just highlight the advantages of being His disciple and then hide the implications. He stated the matter plainly and asked men to make an honest assessment of their willingness to embrace those costs. He wants men to decide that it is "worth it" to live for Him. So let's add to Warren's list of benefits a companion list of the disadvantages of purpose-driven living.

Here's my list of three significant costs to purpose driven living. (There are probably some more, these are three that immediately came to mind.)

1. It increases your inner struggle.
2. It provokes opposition from others.
3. It leads to exhaustion.
   

First, "living your life for the glory of God" (or alternatively, living for Jesus) can increase personal stress. Living for yourself is not that complicated. When self desires - do what self wants - easy-peasy. But when you add "pleasing God" to the equation, you have complicated your life. Now you must figure out what someone else wants (God), discern where your personal desires are at odds with what God wants, and then do what is required. You can thus find yourself caught in some sort of schizophrenic tug-of-war, opposing the things your inner man desires.

No wonder Paul calls living for Jesus a "faith-fight" (1 Tim. 1:18; 6:12, 2 Tim. 4:7) and a struggle against dark forces (Eph. 6:12). His words drip with both agony and ardor in Romans 7:14-25 where his soul gasps for a reprieve from the spiritual warfare being waged within. Living a purpose-driven life introduces a whole new level of challenge to the inner man. Let's not kid anyone about the reality and intensity of this inner struggle.

Second, living for Jesus also makes some relationships pure misery. Jesus made this fact and the reason for it clear when He declared, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:19). To live for Jesus is to declare the bankruptcy of living on the world's terms. And that does not sit well with some. Know this - there will be recrimination and reprisals directed at those who live for Jesus. “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).

Third, purpose-driven living alters the experience of time's passage. This is, for me, one of the most profound costs. When we decide to live for Jesus, we enter into a race against time. We are instructed to make the most of opportunities (Col. 4:5); make the most of our time (Eph. 5:16); number our days (Ps. 90:12). The window of opportunity to win those do not know Jesus will close when we die, so our love for Jesus drives us in ministry to others. Ours is not a dilemma of choosing between something good and something bad. It is the exhaustion that attends choosing to do every possible good while there is still time. This is purpose driven exhaustion.

Don't hear me discouraging anyone from living for Jesus. Quite the contrary, I think that living for Jesus is the highest and best use of a man's life. I say this not because living for Him is all benefit and no cost. I say this because the costs, great as they are, are transcended by the value of knowing and serving Him. I am not alone in this opinion. The Apostle Paul was no stranger to the costs of living for Jesus. Even so he reckons this: 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 (Rom. 8:18). Do I hear an "Amen?"

Dangerous Christians

This picture (taken this morning) may look innocent enough - but don't be fooled. According to opinions expressed in the Memphis Commercial Appeal, this could be evidence of a hijacking in progress.

So what's the story behind the picture? About eight years ago, several churches in Collierville came up with the idea of participating in the National Day of Prayer by sponsoring a "Prayer Station" in the Walmart parking lot. It was enough of a success to warrant doing it again, and every year since. This year, the Hobby Lobby parking lot became the place (from 10 AM till 8 PM) where intercessors pray for an hour with members of other area churches.

So, where's the controversy? It seems to be a kerfuffle over the same old issues. Some don't like it that the National Day of Prayer Task Force led by Shirley Dobson has "hijacked" the event by promoting prayer events led by Christians. Others don't like it when government officials issue proclamations calling for prayer. Sheesh! To me, it all seems pretty reasonable. Government leaders, including the Mayor of Collierville, have announced, "We could really use some prayer."  And Christians have obliged, "We would be happy to pray."

Prayer doesn't just happen - It takes effort. You would think even curmudgeons would be grateful that somebody is willing to do some serious praying. Not so! If you dare to think that prayer makes a difference when it's directed to someone who can MAKE A DIFFERENCE, then your prayer is considered "explicit religious discrimination." Put whatever label on it you want, I still plan to keep praying "in Jesus name." It is good when those who share this allegiance assemble in a parking lot to ask for God's blessing. That they would do so is cause for celebration even when some think hand-wringing is in order.

Expelled & Exemplary

Yesterday, we hit the multiplex for the screening of Expelled, Ben Stein's expose of the bias against anyone daring to question the Darwinian explanation for the origins of life. Regardless of whether you are an unabashed evangelist or staunch critic of evolution, I recommend you give Expelled a fair hearing.

Let me be clear about what the movie is, and what it is not. This is not an evaluation of the scientific evidence that supports or questions the Darwinian thesis; Mr. Stein is not debating the relative merits of evolution or intelligent design. He is identifying a very clear and present danger to free speech - The climate in the halls of the scientific community is hostile, militantly so, to anyone who dares to question the prevailing consensus, ie, all life began from a single living cell which has produced the diversity of life we see today through the process of natural selection. Here is an extended trailer for the movie that gives a good overview of what to expect.

I find it fascinating to talk about the coming "great delusion" (see yesterday's post) and then see a clear, contemporary manifestation of the thing. The bias Ben Stein is exposing in one in which "the evidence which shall not be named" is refused a place at the table. A rigorous and robust examination of the data for and against competing theories of life's origins is disallowed. Unless you can salute the party line, you had best keep your mouth shut. Raise a question, lose your job! Does anyone, evolutionist or otherwise, think this is a good way to do science? Here's one more clip worth watching - it's an interview of Ben Stein by Glenn Beck from last year.

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 8

We hear a lot about bubbles in the US. The tech bubble burst about 10 years ago, the real estate bubble is popping before our eyes. One American bubble is still intact, the bubble of comfortable Christianity. Jesus taught his followers to expect something else: “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20).

The saints in Thessalonica were definitely NOT in the comfortable Christian bubble. Things seemed to start off well-enough: When the Apostle Paul came to this city in Macedonia, his first three weeks of ministry were remarkable for their impact. Paul began his ministry in the Jewish synagogue “explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.' And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women” (Acts 17:3-4).

Paul was making waves. The caretakers of the status quo were jealous and fired back. They formed mobs that seized some disciples, dragging them before the authorities on trumped up charges. They accused them of treason and got the populace and local authorities agitated enough to view the disciples as a threat to the public good. These events set the tone for life as a new believer in Thessalonica. To align yourself with Jesus was to find yourself viewed as an enemy of the state. The church had barely been birthed before persecution was in full swing.

Paul was forced by the spiritual climate in Thessalonica to leave, but these precious believers never left his thoughts. While ministering in Corinth months later, the reports of their progress prompted him to write an epistle of encouragement, 1st Thessalonians, to be followed not long after by 2nd Thessalonians. These letters were written to reinforce saints under fire. One of the key elements of this reinforcement is the concept of "the eschatological 180." This concept is well captured in 2 Thess. 1:6-8:

For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus (2 Thess. 1:6-8).

"The eschatological 180" gives hope to saints under fire. Because they have chosen to obey the Gospel, they find themselves on the receiving end of tribulation and affliction. But when Jesus is revealed, the tables will be turned. Everyone who has suffered for Jesus will be comforted. Now it will be the persecutor's turn on the receiving end. Jesus and His angels will be dealing out the hot retribution. All who do not know God, despite their claims to the contrary, as well as those who do not translate the Gospel into a new way of life will be the ones feeling the heat.

By the way, this is not the typical Sunday School image of gentle Jesus. But, it is an accurate and under-appreciated side of our Savior rarely considered in Christian bubble-land. Yes, Jesus is loving and patient, looking for our return with the eyes of the prodigal's father. But there will come a point when His countenance will change, when He declares "enough," when men will answer to a Fell Warrior for their hardened rebellion against Him. In that day, you do not want to be Jesus' enemy. It won't turn out well.

The focal point of the eschatological 180 is the ARRIVAL of "the Day of the Lord." This will mark the point where things get flipped around for both saints and persecutors. Recognizing this fact is key to unlocking the framework upon which the many eschatological terms in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians hang. Paul wants to encourage the saints by describing two different experiences of the Day of the Lord. The saints' experience of it will make living for Him worth it. The persecutors' experience of it will declare the saints' vindication.

So, let's assemble these terms into two different logical sequences, one is the version for saints, the other is the version for Jesus' detractors. But before we do, don't miss this key point for saints under fire. Right now, it may look like following Jesus isn't the safest thing to do. But there will come a day when the ONLY SAFE PLACE will be at Jesus' side. It will be worth it - stay committed; stay calm; stay with Him.

The First Angry Man

...For Cain and for his offering [God] had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Gen. 4:5-7).

These verses recount what happened BEFORE Cain killed his brother, Abel. Cain had prepared an offering for the Lord. The details are somewhat sketchy, but based upon God's response, we can be sure that Cain's offering deviated from what God desired. Perhaps, when God covered the nakedness of Adam and Eve using animal skins, He made it clear that innocent blood must figure into a man's offering. Perhaps, Cain's offering deviated by putting emphasis on himself and what he could produce. Regardless of the reasons that lay behind God's response, Abel's offering was accepted; Cain's was rejected. And this made Cain mad.

For anyone who wants to conquer anger, there are two key lessons in this passage. First, it tells us something about WHY men get mad. Cain is angry because God has not honored HIS plan. Cain had already worked out in his mind how things would go. He had prepared an awesome offering of fruits and vegetables; God was supposed to say, "Wow! Thanks, Cain. You're swell!" But God didn't come through with high fives - He showed complete disinterest.

Cain's face clouded with disappointment. God responded, "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?" God is intimating that Cain has not done what is right, and this is the source of his problem. Like Sinatra, Cain "did it my way" but wants God to respond as if he did it GOD'S way. Cain is angry for the same reason men get angry today: We want to do things our way AND want God to bless us for it.

When you get angry, ask yourself these two questions:  Have I done something wrong? Am I mad because I am reaping the consequences of my poor choices? If the answer to both questions is "yes," there is a simple solution. Change course and do what is right! Your anger will evaporate.

When God warned Cain, "sin is crouching at the door," He was alerting Cain to the fact that his rage had increased his vulnerability to sin. An angry man can do something he would never otherwise think of doing. Cain's anger made him an easier target for sin's impulses.

Knowing this ought to give us a healthy fear of becoming angry. Like drunkenness, so anger can distort our vision and weaken our resistance against sin. Look what happened to Cain! His brooding anger made him a sitting duck when the impulse to kill his brother asserted itself. When you are angry, sinful words and deeds which would otherwise make no sense at all will seem perfectly reasonable. Don't give sin such an advantage. Lay off the anger to get things into their proper perspective!

Internet Based Bai-Bai

For the last thirty years, we have supported R & S. R is a fellow Talbot Alum; he and his wife, S, live in Taiwan and minister in another big country. In their last prayer letter, R summarized a recent television commercial airing in “Central City.” To understand the “product,” he gave some background on the practice of bai-bai (pronounced “bye-bye”):

When people go to a brick and mortar temple in Taiwan, their prayer ritual goes through several steps:

• As they hold their incense sticks, [worshipers] pray to their favorite deity, sitting there carved and silent.
• Then, they can step closer to the altar and pick up several kidney-shaped blocks. These are thrown down on the ground and, depending upon the way they land, the answer is either yes or no.
• Lastly, there is a large cup with carved, long sticks in it. These are loosely held and shaken until one stick appears to stand out from the others.
• The stick is picked out and it has a number carved or printed on it which corresponds to fortunes that are available off to the side in a cupboard in dozens of numbered pigeonholes.
• Once the fortune is given and the desired answer is secured, the “worshiper” then goes home happy with the answer, satisfied their religious duty has been performed and life is going to work out after all.

Here is what R saw in the commercial. A mother and daughter are admiring the latest cell phone. Phones are not the featured product, but an internet service for your cell, a “virtual temple worship service for every occasion.” Here’s R’s summary of the benefits of using this internet based bai-bai .

• No need to hack your way through traffic! And why pay the fees to buy the incense and other paraphernalia at the temple to do your worship? You already have it right here at your fingertips.
• Just hit a couple of buttons on your phone and bingo - there’s the incense!
• Hit another, and boom! You’ve thrown the blocks. Yes or no? If you don’t like the answer, try again!
• Push another sequence of buttons, and behold! There’s your fortune for the week.

I couldn’t agree more with R’s summary: Hi-tech meets the world of smoke and shadows! Now people can be spiritually misled through the virtual world at their fingertips, too. Satan is a master of disguise and now he’s in the middle of our 21st century gadgetry, ready to snare whoever is looking for his form of “guidance,” whether in person or through the web. Not much different from some of our own websites, is it?

Thank God, He leads our feet on level ground and on paths of righteousness for His sake - no need for special software! Just plug into His Word on a daily basis, and we receive all the guidance we need.

Amen, Brother! Preach it!

Obnoxious Christians - Pt. 2 of 2

Some state, "There is only one way to be saved, through a personal relationship with Jesus as one's Savior and Lord." Others declare, "There are many ways to be saved." Who's right?

Remember the politician who beamed, "Some of my friends are for it, and some of my friends are against it - I'm for my friends." Is it possible to take a cue from him and embrace both statements? Yes, except for the stubborn phrase, "only one." If you exchange "only one" in the first statement with something less exclusive, then both statements can become friends. It would yield this composite: "There are many ways to be saved. One way is to be saved through a personal relationship with Jesus as one's Savior." Break out the candles and start singing Kumbaya! Stated this way, the Jesus people can do their thing while everyone else discovers what works for them.

Once we insert the phrase "only one," however, these two statements become hopelessly irreconcilable. Both of them claim to be the truth, but only one can have the title. If Jesus is the "only way," then there CANNOT be many ways. So, is insertion of the "only one" clause necessary? Jesus declares, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6). This passage seems to clearly demonstrate that the inclusion of the "only one" clause is Jesus' idea. There are some who say that this key passage is being misapplied. We have been around this block before, so let me just direct you to one of our exclusive "pretty good downloads," an analaysis of John 14:6. Sift through the evidence, and you can be sure of this: Christians believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation because Jesus taught it.

Remember the principle I asked you to tuck away last week? We have a moral obligation to communicate with others what we know about the good and the bad of choices that are theirs to make. If Jesus is the only way, then men who turn to any other way are in grave peril. And, the imperative to "love your neighbor as yourself" requires us to make their peril known. Why not take our approach to publishing truth about temporal issues and adapt it for use in matters of eternal importance. Remember the process we described last week? Here's an adaptation to the Gospel: A sense of moral obligation should drive us to share this information with a circle of friends, acquaintances, and contacts; anyone who could benefit from this knowledge. How could we face them in the future if we withheld what we know? We need not cajole or pressure anyone to respond; we should give them the information and sources to examine the issues for themselves; we ought to encourage them to take our appeal seriously; we must answer their questions with patience and grace.

There are two trends afoot that I think are at cross purposes to this approach. On the one hand, I will admit with shame and sadness that there are those who claim to be Christians but whose speech and behavior detracts rather than adds to our credibility among those who need to hear our message. We deserve some of the invective we are receiving from our culture. We do Jesus no service when we give people reasons to dismiss our message.

But we should not kid ourselves. People are going to find reasons to dismiss our message, simply because the "only one" clause puts us in a position where someone is right and someone else is wrong. So here is my second concern: Some believers are responding to the criticism by losing their voice. They are tempted to downplay the "only one" clause, or even concede this point to the culture of "many ways" in order to get off the hot seat. There is no way to reconcile our "only one" view with the modern mind of "many ways." We cannot pretend that there would be no conflict if we "just understood one another."

So, on the one hand, let's give our culture every reason to listen to our message. Our truth-claims exclude competing claims - Let's not use any confidence in our position as an excuse to be arrogant and dismissive. But, let's ALSO not fool ourselves into thinking it is possible to be popular with the "many ways" crowd without compromising our essential message. Stay the course between the twin perils of arrogance and silence: Don't be obnoxious, but speak up!

Obnoxious Christians, Pt. 1 of 2

There is plenty of disdain out there for the "bigoted Christian." TG at the Drudge Forum finds herself shocked that "Christian bigots, sometimes referred to as Christian Fundamentalists, will flat out tell you that if you do not believe as they do, that you are going to suffer damnation in an eternal and torturous hell." She sees a "thought template" here that is indistinguishable from that of "Muslim Radical Theology" that is "killing hundreds of thousands all over the world."

Her perspective deserves some analysis for the fact that she is not alone. A rising tide of invective threatens anyone who dares to believe that salvation is found in Jesus alone. I am confident that if you are sharing the Gospel with any frequency, you have reaped such a "how dare you" response. So let's use her comments as the basis for some analysis of the trend.

First, let's examine the definition of "bigotry" that TG us using. According to the Random House Webster's College Dictionary, "bigotry" is "extreme intolerance of a . . .  belief that differs from one's own." Note that there are two components to this definition. There is "extreme intolerance." And there is a "belief that differs from one's one." Based on this definition, there are two tests that must be passed before the term "bigot" is appropriately assigned. First, there is the belief test. Person A (the possible bigot) has beliefs that differ from those of Person B (the possible target of the bigotry). Second, Person A demonstrates intolerance that rises to the level of being "extreme" toward person B. Even though person A may have a fundamental disagreement with person B, by itself, this does not constitute bigotry in the absence of "extreme intolerance." Both components, different beliefs AND extreme intolerance, must be present before the term "bigot" is appropriate.

In TG's world, she defines bigotry using a modified definition; when Christians "flat out tell you" what they believe, they earn the label. Here is a mystery to solve - How have they met both conditions necessary to earn the label? Clearly, the Random House first condition for bigotry has been met. There is a difference of opinion between TG and the "Christian bigot." But where's the "extreme intolerance?" Here's my best shot at an answer. When the Christian bigot "flat out tells you" his view, he has, in TG's mind, gone to extremes and met condition #2. For person A to merely COMMUNICATE his view to person B is "extreme intolerance."

I wonder if this sword cuts both ways? Isn't TG, whose opinion differs from the alleged Christian bigot, "flat out" communicating her opinion, too? What makes the Christian's self-expression bigotry and not hers?

Secret Heresy - Pt. 1 of 2

GM gave me a copy of a DVD called The Secret. She asked if I had heard about it. Should I? Isn't it supposed to be a secret! (Ba-dum - shhh.) According to the official website for The Secret, the DVD is a companion to the book by the same name. The video has been "seen by millions" and there are over 6 million copies of the book in print. I am not being cynical about it; but if this is a secret, it is one of the worst kept.

Rhonda Byrne is the author of the book, the force behind the DVD, and the one attributed with "discovering" the secret. The website makes no modest claim about it: "The Secret reveals the most powerful law in the universe. The knowledge of this law has run like a golden thread through the lives and the teachings of all the prophets, seers, sages and saviors in the world's history, and through the lives of all truly great men and women. All that they have ever accomplished or attained has been done in full accordance with this most powerful law."

So what is it? Here's my executive summary: The secret is based on the law of attraction, the principle that our thoughts are like magnets attracting what we think about. Think bad and you will attract bad outcomes. Think good (like money, power, and success) and you will attract good outcomes. The universe is like a powerful genie (although not a person) that will bring into your life what you think about.

On the surface, this may seem like just another refrain of the song, "Don't worry, be happy!" But there is something deeper and deeply disturbing going on here. I have compiled a series of quotes from the DVD that you should find illuminating. One of those quotes well captures my concern: "You are eternal life; you're source energy; you are God manifested in human form, made to perfection." Where have I heard something like this before - oh yes, the Garden of Eden!

The serpent said to Eve, "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Gen. 3:5). Satan drank the Koolaid and believes he can be like God, and here we find him at the dawn of human history trying to sell Eve on the juice. At its heart, the Secret is anything but. It is a lie as old as time - We can be the controllers of our destiny; we can determine what life will give us.

I have more things to say, but I would like you to do a little homework first. Download the series of quotes from the DVD. Then fix Satan's mantra in your mind: "You will be like God." Now read the quotes and see if they don't sound alike. If they do, here's what ought to give you pause. When Satan first introduced his philosophy, he called it a secret. "God has been holding out on you, Eve. But, I am here to dispel his repression by telling you THE SECRET - YOU CAN BE LIKE GOD."

An Awesome Education

On Feb. 5, a series of devastating tornadoes swept through the mid-south. This amazing picture has been circulating on the internet (often being identified as the one that hit the Hickory Ridge Mall here in Memphis). This may be an older picture taken by Warren Faidley, the famous storm chaser consulted for the movie Twister.

Despite its origins, who can look at this photograph without awe and wonder? When you see the radio tower to the right and realize the size of the funnel, it is terrible in its majesty. No wonder the "whirlwind" is often cited in the Bible to bring a lesson home. Here's one such passage: When your dread comes like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you, then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord (Prov. 1:27-29). God wants men to look at this picture and imagine the frightful prospect of its arrival. He wants men to think of standing before it in the open, unsheltered and unprotected.

Once that terrifying picture is fixed in a man's mind, then God wants such a man to make this instructive connection: So is the man who doesn't want to listen to God. The man who rejects God's counsel, the man who has no desire to please God, the man who doesn't want to have anything to do with God's wisdom is standing in the path of terror. It will be too late when he reaps the whirlwind - God will not listen to His cries.

There are times when we think we have a better idea, times when we are tempted to "do things my way." Fix this picture in your mind and put yourself in the picture - it will help you see such notions in their proper light. Defying God's guidance is a terribly bad idea.

Despised for all the right reasons!

I am shocked! The world doesn't like me. Yes, results from a Barna poll tell us that "only 3% of 16 to 29 year-old non-Christians express favorable views of evangelicals." I am an evangelical, someone who proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ and believes it is essential to do so. So I guess 97% of non-Christian young people can't bring themselves to tell some poll-taker I'm OK.

I will be the first to admit we evangelicals have lots of room for improvement. David Kinneman has proposed in his new book, UnChristian, that we address failures like hypocrisy, treatment of outsiders as conversion targets, hatred of homosexuals, seclusion from the real world, over-politicization, and condemnation. Tony Woodlief, from World Magazine, wrote an editorial, Going Negative, that is favorable toward the book and that suggests we should be even tougher on ourselves than UnChristian recommends.

Let's put some Light-work balance into the equation. Jesus was VERY CLEAR when teaching His disciples that being hated goes with the package: “And you will be hated by all because of My name” (Luke 21:17). At the Last Supper, He explained the basis for this hatred:  “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:19). If we are living for high approval ratings from non-Christians, we might as well pack it up. Not gonna happen! Jesus says that the more clearly our allegiance to Him shows, the lower our approval ratings will sink.

However, this doesn't mean that we write off every critic.  Peter explains, For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong (1 Pet. 3:17). There are times when we are criticized and suffer recrimination for doing what is wrong. In those times, repent, confess it, and put things to rights. But there will be times when God allows us to receive criticism and reprisal for doing exactly what He desires. Those are the times when we are despised for all the right reasons. 

So when our approval ratings are low, some healthy self-examination is in order. If we can discern ways to "improve our serve," let's do it. But if that examination confirms we are doing exactly what Jesus wants, then it is time to reaffirm for whose pleasure we live. It's time to take a cue from the church in Acts and throw a party: So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41).

Are God and Satan Partners? Pt. 3 of 3

Imagine waging a war against someone whose IQ is off the charts, who has never been out-strategized, and who has enough fire-power to blow away ANY opposition.  Now, also imagine that before every attack, you must secure the  permission of the one whose defeat is sought. What EGOMANIAC would think fighting such a foe under such a restraint is a really good idea? Satan, "the adversary," is just such a one and he has enough chutzpa to abandon himself to this lost cause. How can he hope to defeat the perfect chess player, ESPECIALLY when he can only make moves that his opponent allows? 

The simple answer is that opposing God doesn't make sense. Never has. Never will. But for God's enemy, it is not about MAKING SENSE. It has everything to do with doing "WHAT I WANT." Precisely here is where the deeper magic of God's character outflanks the enemy's schemes. God gets it! And as long as Satan must get God's permission before he pulls his latest stunt, the God who loves us will see through every scheme. Perfectly!

Remember this passage from yesterday:  "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat" (Luke 22:31). Satan can throw a tantrum, stomp his feet, and insist on God's endorsement. But, Satan has to receive a nod from God or stay put. Perhaps he thinks himself brilliant enough to trick God into approving something that will backfire on God's good plans. Maybe, he is a tenacious gambler who thinks that sooner-or-later, he has to hit the jackpot. I cannot catalog all his delusions. I only need to know that they are just that, delusions.

We get a good "behind the scenes" look at the dynamic of this permitting process in chapters 1-2 of Job. Perhaps this passage makes us uncomfortable with its depiction of God "bragging on" Job to Satan and practically inviting him to "take your best shot." But God know his man (better than Satan does) and  God uses Satan to accomplish His purpose in Job's life. When Satan does what he wants to do, he only succeeds in getting what God wants done. Can you imagine Satan's frustration over the fact that every time he acts as God's enemy, he ends up as his "partner." Every dart Satan hurls hits God's bullseye!

Yes, we have an enemy. Yes, we ought to resist him with everything in us. Yes, he is capable of wreaking great havoc. But whatever He is up to, it has already been approved by a God whose plan is both good and better. Satan serves God and God's agenda - not because he wants to, but because God is smarter. So when you encounter a situation that looks like it has the adversary's fingerprints all over it, resist but don't despair. Resistance is NOT futile! Our resistance to Satan and responsiveness to God will turn his latest attack into one more stepping stone on the path to victory. 

Enough with the hand-wringing! Wherever you spy the enemy's handiwork, God is at work, too! Greater is He who is at work within us than he who is at work in the world. Satan is God's unwilling and unwitting "partner" and is only allowed to throw at us what God will use to fulfill His purpose for us. 

Are God and Satan Partners? Pt. 2 of 3

"This is just the work of the enemy!" So believers often say in adverse circumstances. Implied is the notion that a certain (generally undesirable) outcome represents the advance of Satan's plan and the thwarting of God's. When a marriage is in jeopardy, when a church is in crisis, or when a culture is crumbling, we greet fresh evidence with this phrase. It seems a fitting piece of punctuation for some spiritual hand-wringing!

There is no doubt that Satan is hell-bent (literally) on defying God. In the OT, the word commonly used for an adversary or opponent is adopted as a title for a supernatural being in three passages: Job 1-2; Zech. 3:1-2; and 1 Chron. 21:1. To call him "the satan" is to call him THE ADVERSARY. So I want to be plain and up-front about something (here in part two) before I say something shocking (in part three).  When you read part three, don't go all knee-jerk on me. Just remember that what you read below is an essential counterbalance to what is posted in part three. If you can hang on to both, your spiritual outlook WILL NOT BE THE SAME! 

Okay, let's get down to business. CS, here's some NT data for you. There are many verses, especially in the NT, that speak to your question. Here are a few selected passages that are quite pertinent.

1. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8). It doesn't get any more pointed than this. We are not just imagining there are monsters under the bed. There really is someone out to GET YOU! Notice that this warning is issued to believers and the intent of our adversary is to "devour" us. We are not talking about mere heckling or harassment. We face a foe who is intent on nothing less that our demise.
2. But whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes (2 Cor. 2:10-11). It is possible to yield the high ground to our enemy, to become his unwitting accomplice, by refusing to grant forgiveness to a repentant brother.
3. But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matt. 16:23). This verse is especially scary. If anyone was gung-ho for God, it would be Peter. And Peter had JUST SHOWN himself capable of gifted perception. But then we read this! Peter is acting (and being rebuffed by Jesus) as Satan's PR man! If a spiritual giant like Peter can become the enemy's mouthpiece, what hope is there for midgets like us? By the way, notice that Peter let the enemy in the door by having a man-centered agenda.
4. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat” (Luke 22:31). While we are on the subject of Peter, here's a depressing prospect! Satan's plan for Peter on Good Friday was nothing less than running him through the ringer, putting on the pressure to squeeze from his heart every last vestige of devotion to Jesus. Ouch!
5. But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ (2 Cor. 11:3). Paul is talking to believers. What I want you to see from this verse is that Satan can do an inside job. He is capable getting inside my head (and yours) and making devotion to Jesus something that is complicated and compromised. We will not be able to wrap our brains in tin-foil to defeat his alien mind-probe.
6. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Our adversary is sneaky, too. He goes to church, he hangs with the saints, and he sounds good. This guy is good! (You understand me, right? He is good at LOOKING good, even though he is BAD!)

There are plenty more verses, but these are enough. Anyone who takes walking with God seriously knows enough to take Satan seriously. At every turn, "the satan" is to be opposed, resisted, and denied even the least advantage. He is the sworn enemy of our souls. Don't forget this!

Are God and Satan Partners? Pt. 1 of 3

CS wants to know about our adversary! She has been reading through the Old Testament and has discovered "numerous places where 'an evil spirit from the Lord' was sent, ie: Judges 9:23; 1 Sam. 16:14-16 (and other references within Saul's story)." She also states, "I've also read about a 'deceiving spirit' sent by the Lord (1 Kings 22:19-22). I think I see that these are situations where these spirits are sent by God, or allowed by God, for justice purposes and with people who aren't following or obedient to the Lord." But she wonders how this relates to us. CS asks, "Does the sending of evil spirits, as in the OT histories, still take place?  If so, what does that look like and are there NT references?"

What a great question!  It's a good one because there are way too many pat answers out there.  There is also a MAJOR misunderstanding that I often hear from Christians. Answering CS's question will allow us to help her, plus blow away some of this doctrinal flotsam.

I am a member of the Evangelical Theological Society.  "ETS" publishes a journal with a very catchy and informative title, the "Journal of the Evangelical Theology Society," abbreviated JETS.  In the September, 2007, issue of JETS is an article entitled "Satan: God's Servant, written by Sydney Page.  I am still working on getting a PDF copy of the article that you can download, but I don't have anything for you yet. The article is worth reading for anyone who wants to go deeper with some of the things that we will say. If you have access to a Bible College or Seminary library, the article is found in JETS 50/3 (September, 2007) 449-65. Much of what I will say in the next two posts is drawn from this article.  More coming tomorrow...

Improving Your Prayer Response Rate

What if I told you there is a way to dramatically boost the "response rate" to your prayers.  Someone might protest that "all prayers are created equal."  But, the undeniable fact is they're not.

One of the reasons some prayers are of lower quality is our natural obtuseness - we don't know what to pray for (Rom. 8:26).  The Holy Spirit is kind enough to compensate for this limitation but there is something WE can do, too.  Jesus taught, "If you ask Me anything in my name, I will do it" (John 14:14).  Does this mean we just pipe up and say "in Jesus name, amen" at the end of a prayer?  NOT!  The phrase "in Jesus name" is about asking for the things that Jesus would ask for.  To pray in Jesus name means to give Jesus the pleasure of hearing us ask for the things that He most wants to give us.

Way too much prayer is like a visit with Santa Claus where we rattle off our wish list.  Jesus would reply, "I want to give you what would be way better than the stuff on your list."  One of the best ways to know what Jesus has in mind is to use Scripture as a window into His heart for us.

Here's an example of how this could work.  Ephesians 6 describes the saint's armor, a piece-by-piece description of what every armed and dangerous saint needs in enemy territory.  Take what the Bible teaches about each component, frame requests accordingly, and you can declare your desire for things that make Him say, "Finally, someone is asking for the things I know he needs."  Go ahead, check this out!  It is a  prayer informed by Scripture, a prayer that reflects Jesus' knowledge of what we should do and how He can help, and one that asks for the kind of help Jesus would be pleased to provide for saints on the front lines.

Praying for Egg (On My Face)

Okay, so in yesterday's post I told you about putting it on the altar.  I had given counsel that was a warning, counsel that was rejected.  The depth of my pain at having my words dismissed betrayed my need to give something to God.  So I declared to Him:  "I relinquish all claim upon the good opinion of men."  The result was great peace and encouragement.  But there's a rub.

I don't remember who first said it (my apologies), but "the beauty of being a pessimist is you can't lose.  You're either proven right or your expectations are exceeded."  Unfortunately, giving pessimistic counsel doesn't work that way when people's view of Jesus is on the line.  The counsel I gave was fueled by a desire for things to turn out in a way that makes Jesus look good.  That desire hasn't changed, even though the situation is now very different.  A path has been taken which I thought there were good reasons to avoid.  If things work out badly, I might be vindicated, but Jesus' cause would lose.  So, it is time to work in defiance of my prediction.  For Jesus' sake, I want my warning to seem unjustified.  That's what I am praying - I want Jesus to look good, even if I don't.

The Power of Being a Nobody!

I want to know that I matter.  It is painful to hear that I don't.  Here's the details.  A big decision was calling for action even though the way forward was not obvious.  My counsel had been requested by those in the center of the situation.  Then, kaboom!  Hardly had my words been offered before they were summarily dismissed.

The enemy can easily exploit moments when my ego has been bruised.  It had been and he was.  Here is some of what he was whispering.  "Don't they know you have been a Christian for over 50 years!  Don't they respect the fact that you have been a pastor for over 30 years?  Have you not been a steady source of good and biblical counsel?  Don't they respect you enough to even consider the possibility your words might promote their good?"

To cut through the enemy's chatter, I turned to a passage that has become my compass in such storms.  "But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.  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 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 Cor. 4:3-5).

Seen in its proper light, the acuteness of my pain was the measure of my desire to be respected, valued, and affirmed BY MEN.  I was hurting precisely because I had forgotten 1 Cor. 4:3.  I had forgotten that another's opinion of me doesn't matter.  MY opinion of me doesn't matter.  Others are not qualified.  I am not even qualified to make an accurate assessment of my worth.  But the Lord is more than qualified and He will make His assessment known at the proper time.

So, here's what I did.  I got on my knees and gave to God an offering.  I declared:  "I relinquish all claim upon the good opinion of others.  I give it up as an offering to You.  I am choosing to leave how I am regarded by others with You.  I will live for Your pleasure.  I will live for Your good opinion, alone!"  Upon praying that prayer, and continuing to walk in its light, something amazing has happened.  A great weight has fallen from my shoulders.  Boldness and joy have taken its place.  There is power, there is freedom, there is peace in living for Him, for Him alone!

Does Pain Produce X-Ray Vision?

Superman had it.  So do other super-heroes.  Some super weapons have it, too, like the "rail gun" in the Arnold classic, "Eraser."  It's X-ray vision and it seems very cool.  But isn't that just the stuff of comic books and movies?  Not!  X-ray vision is real!  I have actually experienced it, and it is way better than the comics.

Here's how it works.  I can read a passage from the Bible and not see anything special.  I am sure there is special stuff in there, I'm just not seeing it.  Then, I get immersed in pain.  Not the hit your thumb with a hammer stuff, but the emotional pain of rejection, unjust criticism, being misrepresented, and getting in way over my head.  When I am in anguish of heart, I can return to the same passage and verse after verse leaps off the page like it was blinking neon.  Where did this come from?  Why didn't I see it before?  Answer:  Pain produces X-ray vision!

Now don't get me wrong.  I am not going to tell you that I LIKE pain.  But I will tell you that I LOVE what it produces, the ability to look through the words on a page and see something God wants to show me.  I am not alone in this perspective.  Here's what the Psalmist says:  "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes" (Ps. 119:71).  The Bible comes alive when we are afflicted.  So whenever I am in pain - I grab my Bible and spy out what God is saying before my X-ray vision wears off!

Eat More Beef - Postscript

Wouldn't it be great if we could take a pill which provides an instant and lasting ability to distinguish between a "good fight" and a "bad fight?"  Alas, no such pill exists!  Fighting the good fight is not a singular event or even a "stage of life."  It is life.  And discerning the fights worth fighting is a day-to-day process.  I appreciate the great comments!  And I appreciate the fact that knowing which hills to die on is a daily and daunting challenge.  So, I've created a category titled, "The Good Fight."  Look for future posts under this category and treat them as a collection of "good fight" discernment pills.