What will you do with your 52 Sundays?

There are exactly 52 Sundays coming in 2015. How many of those Sundays will find you and your family investing in the local church? Hebrews 10:25 says, "Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near." This is the classic Scripture that encourages belonging to a local expression of the Body of Christ. It is very easy in our busy culture to neglect assembling together.

Notice that the writer of Hebrews points out that this is the "habit of some", typically we don't think of not doing something as a habit. But not doing something can be as much of a habit as doing something. As you start to think about positive changes that you will make for a New Year, I want to encourage making church a priority. There are many reasons why this is important, but here are three big ones to think about. 

Three Big Reasons New Life Church and Rick Bezet are good for Arkansas

Leading a church is both a challenging and rewarding proposition on any level and in any community. The Church is the only institution that Jesus left us, and the early Church impacted their world with a life changing message. It was known as the good news, and indeed it was, to the first century audiences who heard the message of the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Much has changed in the two thousand years since the Church was empowered and launched at Pentecost. The message has not changed, but the method with which the message is delivered has changed and continues to change. As a Pastor I continue to be challenged by the demands of our culture, which seeks to marginalize the message and the institution of the Church of Jesus Christ.

The greatest gift of Christmas

"God the Father gave up His own Son for us. For you and me! The true cause for wonder this Christmas is the mystery of God's love for us."

During the holiday season, we often focus on the main characters of the Christmas story – Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the shepherds, the wise men – but we forget the role of God the Father in this epic gospel drama. It's easy to be excited over the narrative facts of Jesus being born in a barn, of angels chorusing the lowliest of men, and of kings traveling miles to worship a child. Yet we should celebrate the story in light of what the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:32: "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" Did you catch that? God the Father gave up His own Son for us. For you and me! The true cause for wonder this Christmas is the mystery of God's love for us.

Forgiven? Past, Present and Future?

One of the powerful aspects of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which truly makes it “good news”, is its depth and reach. Unlike other self-improvement techniques masquerading as good news, the gospel has life long and eternal implications.

We have not yet arrived

One of the often-repeated criticisms of Christianity is that its adherents do not abide by the tenets of Christ. In fact, from those outside the faith, many use the word “hypocrite” as a synonym for Christ-followers. This is not entirely without merit and due largely to a misrepresentation of primal Christianity by Christians. The portrait painted by modern manifestations of Christianity is one of moral perfection and holiness that communicates a superior and arrogant standing in society. Many who come into contact with Christians walk away with a sense that we think ourselves better than most other people.

Suffering without explanation? Lessons of 9/11

The Old Testament patriarch Job is a reminder that good people often suffer without explanation. As Americans we would do well to remember this lesson, as we remember 9/11. Senseless acts of violence, such as the terrorist attacks perpetrated on September 11, 2001, do much to challenge our thinking about God and His goodness and ability. The questions go something like this, “If God is good, why would He allow such evil to take place?” or “If God is all powerful, why did He not stop these events from taking place?” The story of Job provides some insight to understanding such questions.

Why people should (not) leave the church

The church as an institution is taking a hit these days. It seems that in the hearts and minds of many the only institution that Christ ever established is no longer worth belonging to or even attending. I've written extensively about why many people are exiting the church, you can read about it here and here. You may also want to check out John Pavlovitz's thoughts on the subject.

I understand the hurts and concerns associated with the church. I have been both a parishioner and pastor in my lifetime and have been on both sides of many of the difficulties people describe with this beloved and frustrating institution. I believe that many people no longer have a love for the church because the church in many ways has abandoned the purpose for which it was originally intended.

Jesus and Ferguson

The old sins of racism and hatred continue to raise their heads in America. With many of the details still unknown in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, dividing lines have been drawn with protests and riots in full throttle. As Christians it is important for us not to deny the fact that these sins do exist and that we are called to be peace makers in the midst of all of this division and strife.

"In America, it is impossible to separate the conflicts concerning race and ethnicity from our national identity."

Finding meaning in the Bible

I'm reading Leonard Sweet's book "Giving Blood, a fresh paradigm for preaching". This particular passage stood out to me;

"Jewish traditions had a way of finding meaning on four levels. The first was the peshat, the literal and simple understanding of Scripture as found in the Mishnah (the oral interpretations of the Torah and Writings). The second was the remez, the more complex typological meaning, represented by the studies of well known rabbis in the Talmud or gemara. The third was the derash, the metaphoric or parabolic meaning and in-dephth exegesis associated with the studies of the midrash. The sod was the fourth and the deepest level of meaning. The most spiritual in nature, it contained the very secrets of Truth itself, requiring intuitive and creative interpretation"

Three ways to respond when God is silent

I am meditating this morning on the writings of the minor prophet Habakkuk. The theme of this small Old Testament book is one that occupies the thoughts of many opponents of Christianity in the world today. It is a problem for those who especially value justice in the world. The problem is expressed by Habakkuk in chapter 1:2 "O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you 'Violence!' and you will not save?"

Why I no longer preach truth (It's not what you think)

I have decided that I will no longer preach truth. But it isn’t what you think. Our society no longer willingly embraces a universal, objective truth, with perhaps the exception that there is no universal truth. The guiding principle – or, dare I say, truth – of this generation is perhaps best described in the words of Charles A. Dana: “Fight for your opinions, but do not believe they contain the whole truth, or the only truth.”

“Fight for your opinions, but do not believe they contain the whole truth, or the only truth.”

What is the 4th of July to a slave?

"What is the Fourth of July to a slave?"

The Fourth of July holiday is a day set aside to celebrate the independence we enjoy as Americans, but that Independence was not always enjoyed by every American. In fact on July 5th, 1852, Frederick Douglass made a powerful speech exposing the hypocrisy of asking a slave to celebrate the Fourth of July.

What remains is greater than what is destroyed

When I was a kid my family would often indulge my desire to one day preach the Bible by sitting through my sermons. Sometimes I would even put in the effort to "build" a make shift church and invite everyone who lived on our rural gravel road to attend. Yes I was a strange kid.

On one particular occasion I gathered up every lawn chair and tree log I could find and put them in nice neat little rows on my grandmother's front porch. My grandmother was especially supportive of my efforts, and welded a special kind of influence upon the rest of the family when it came to matters of religion. A psychologist might call it guilt. So she would see to it that the inhabitants of our community we affectionately referenced as "Loydville" would be there for my church service. Like any good pastor I enlisted some of my friends to help with the construction of this neighborhood church. We worked all afternoon in the heat of the Mississippi Delta to insure that those attending the service that evening would be as comfortable and receptive as possible. Finally everything was in place, and I returned home to change into my "church clothes", excited that everyone was coming to hear the Word proclaimed.

Has the church lost influence?

There was a time in American history when the Christian church was a respected institution of influence. Those days have passed. The United States has fundamentally changed in the past several decades, and is now defined in many regions by its plurality of worldviews that does not include the Christian faith at its center. As people of faith in Christ this fact is troubling. But in the midst of changing and challenging times is also a time of great opportunity for the church. It was the Apostle Paul who declared in Romans 5:20 “…where sin increased, grace increased all the more” When the culture darkens it presents the light of the gospel an opportunity to shine brightly.

Can you love those different than you?

Relationships are complicated. Deep, meaningful relationships are very complicated. We live in a world that isn’t conducive to meaningful relationships. Our world is fast paced, superficial, and often hostile to the work that is required to develop substantial authentic relationships with others. But the gospel serves to transform every aspect of our lives, even the way that we relate to one another.

"When the gospel truly impacts our lives, it will move us from the place of simply loving those who love us, to the place where we are capable of feeling genuine compassion even for those who hate us." 

What do you expect from God?

Expectations are at the center of relationships. And often it is unmet expectations that lead to the frustrations and complications of relationships. Regardless of your relationship status, married, single, or divorced, all of us deal with the management of expectations. What do you expect from your spouse? What should you expect from a potential spouse? We all enter into relationships expecting something from the other person, when that person lets us down we get offended, and if the let down is great enough, we often choose to end the relationship, rather than working through the issues in order to repair the problem. 

Does God still speak?

My nephew recently encouraged me to write "whatever God was speaking to me about" unless he added "that ceased with the book of Revelation." I certainly understand his question and concerns, and I think it is one that many people share today. There are many charlatans who claim "Thus saith the Lord" when in fact the Lord has not said. So this is an honest attempt to answer the question "does God still speak?"

As a Christian pastor, my inclination is to start with Scripture. Critics would rightly point out the circular fallacy to claim that "I know God speaks, because the Bible says so." So I won't start with Scripture, but I will end up there. The difficulty with determining if God still speaks, is that we live in such a loud culture. We are constantly screamed at by this world. Media demands our attention. Our lives are so busy and loud that we miss God. Because God whispers...

Opposition to Revival

The revival led by the Apostle Paul in the city of Ephesus as recorded in The Acts of the Apostles chapter 19, serves as a great example of the opposition we should expect when God begins to do His work of revival and blessing. The city of Ephesus was a great metropolitan city in the first century with a population, by some accounts of 250, 000, and was home to one of the wonders of the ancient world, the temple of the goddess Artemis, the roman goddess of fertility.

Is there a fog in the American Pulpit?

At Easter and Christmas, many Americans make their obligatory pilgrimage back to the Church. For many, this is the two times every year, where their thoughts turn toward the subject of Christ and His church. At least, we can take comfort in the fact that a significant number in our culture still recognize the spiritual foundations of these holidays.

"Of greater concern, I think, should be the number of Christians who populate the pews of churches in America every week with no real sense of why they are there."

Of greater concern, I think, should be the number of Christians who populate the pews of churches in America every week with no real sense of why they are there. We should expect that the grace of God would have some influence on the greater society, giving them a sense of compulsion to attend a worship service during significant celebrations of the Christian faith. But what are we to make of professing Christians who attend a worship service with no worship in their heart toward the God they confess to serve?

Words Matter

"What is said in a momentary rush of emotion can have lasting consequences."

The Apostle Paul gives this warning in Galatians 5:15: “But if you bite and devour one another; take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” (KJV) I recently heard a minister at a national pastors’ conference call another minister an “idiot” for subscribing to a different philosophy of practical pastoral ministry. Thankfully, I later learned that the two men exchanged apologies and the hosting church also issued an apology. Perhaps those involved learned a lesson that won’t be repeated. But if there is a larger lesson to be gleaned from this incident, it is this: our words matter. And the words of pastors and preachers really matter. It has been observed that in the Internet age our words are “instant, global, and eternal.” What is said in a momentary rush of emotion can have lasting consequences.

Keep this in mind when you watch "The Oscars"

Movies are by far the most popular form of entertainment today, and next month The Academy of Motion Picture Arts will hand out their highest awards for movie excellence.   As Christians, however, we must remember that what is popular should not be our standard for entertainment. In fact the first standard for entertainment as a Christian should always be to think about what we are engaging with our thoughts and emotions. Webster’s dictionary defines two postures toward entertainment: one is “diversion” and the other is “engagement.” As one Pastor has said, “Arguing that ‘It’s just entertaining’ is not an acceptable answer to ‘Why do you like this?’ ‘It’s just entertaining’ is a euphemism for ‘me not think’.” What should entertainment be to a Christian, Diversion or Engagement?

"The first standard for entertainment as a Christian should always be to think about what we are engaging with our thoughts and emotions"

How should we interpret the book of Acts?

Hermeneutics is the art and science of biblical interpretation. Many times in conversations with people concerning the Bible you may hear the phrase thrown around “Well that is just your interpretation”. But when we use that phrase we are doing a disservice to the Bible, because by doing so we are implying that everyone is going to read the Bible differently and therefore the truth of the message of Scripture is unknowable. As Christians we understand that the Bible does communicate truth that can be known and is consistent with a God who seeks to reveal Himself to humanity.

"it is true that the Bible can be made to say anything we would like if we do not apply the rules of interpretation."

The glorious irreducible complexity of the gospel

"The gospel is not everything, yet in the final analysis it cannot be tamed into a single simple formula with a number of points that must be recited to everyone, in every time and place. There is an irreducible complexity to the gospel...The gospel is clear and present word, but it is not a simplistic word." -Tim Keller in Center Church: Doing balanced, gospel-centered ministry. 

"...the gospel is often assumed, meaning that people often think that they have heard the message before and as a result they quickly tune out."

What the Chicago Cubs teach us about the gospel

The curse of the Billy Goat is often cited as the reason the Chicago Cubs have not returned to the World Series since 1945. As the story goes, tavern owner Billy Sianis was asked to leave a game of the World Series where the Cubs were playing, because others had complained about the smell of Sianis’ pet goat. Once outside Wrigley Field, Sianis declared “Them Cubs, they aren’t gonna win no more!” After many attempts to lift the curse by the Cubs organization by allowing Billy’s nephew, Sam Sianis to bring a goat to the stadium, it seems that many are still convinced the Cubs woeful ineptitude on the baseball diamond is due to a smelly goat and his disgruntled owner.

Don't shoot wounded soldiers

What "Lone Survivor" can teach us about caring for one another. 

The movie “Lone Survivor” is the film adaptation of the book by the same name that tells the story of Marcus Luttrell, a navy SEAL who is the only survivor of doomed four-man operation to capture a Taliban leader. After seeing the film this weekend it is obvious that many liberties were taken with Luttrell’s story, but one scene stood out. As Luttrell was being rescued at the end the movie, his rescuers were concerned only with his well-being and encouragement. There was no condemnation of failing, or coming up short, only encouragement that he was “going home” and everything was going to be all right. It struck me often in Christ’s army we behave in the exact opposite way when one of our “brothers” is wounded in battle.

Restoring the Sacred Place

The Bible opens with the story of God intentionally planting humanity in a garden, Genesis 2:8 declares, “And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the many whom he had formed.” The man formed by God wasn’t left to wander about aimlessly but was given a place and a responsibility, verse 15 reports, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” This passage in Scripture introduces the idea of a “Sacred Place” a place that was set aside by God as a meeting place, where the creature and the creator could interact.

Creation/evolution and use of Biblical language

I tend to lean toward a literal six day creation interpretation of Genesis one, but there are many who are challenging that view with different perspectives in an attempt to reconcile diverse viewpoints when it comes to the origins of humanity. I recently interviewed theistic evolutionist Rose Huxley about the use of language in the Genesis narrative. This is a portion of our conversation. 

You can read further at http://believingscience.blogspot.com 

You can listen to the conversation here: Creation/evolution and use of Biblical language

What can sports teach us about being a Christian?

Biblical writers often used sports metaphors to help us better understand the Christian’s walk with God. For example, in 1 Corinthians 9:24, the Apostle Paul writes: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” Paul explains that the point of running is to obtain the prize. So is the Christian life.

"The Christian’s prize is imperishable."

The prize for the Christian is not a “perishable wreath” like the athletes received who participated in an early form of the Olympics known as the Isthmian games played on the Isthmus of Corinth. There, the athletes competed for a pine wreath that represented fame and immortality that would be placed on their heads. But what the wreath represented didn’t last much longer than the wreath itself.

The Christian’s prize, though, is imperishable. Knowing this, Paul points out that, like the athlete, we should “exercise self-control in all things” through disciple and refusing to “run aimlessly.” Paul goes on to cite another athletic event at the Isthmian Games in verse 26: “…I do not box as one beating the air.” The Christian does not shadow box; the Christian isn’t engaged in activity just to work up a sweat, but rather to engage real enemies in a real fight. Paul points out that the enemy here is his own body. In verse 27, he writes, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

When Paul speaks of disciplining his body, he is referring to the fact that at the Isthmian games, a contestant could be disqualified for failing to meet the training requirements. The athlete couldn’t even run, much less win. Paul did not want to spend his life preaching requirements to others and be disqualified by his own passions by not meeting the requirements himself.

"Paul is not employing these metaphors to somehow teach that like an athlete competes for a prize we compete for salvation, as if salvation is dependent on our ability."

To be clear, Paul is not employing these metaphors to somehow teach that like an athlete competes for a prize we compete for salvation, as if salvation is dependent on our ability. Rather, he is saying that once the Christian has been entered into the race by the work of the Holy Spirit, it is then that we allow Christ to work in our lives to bring about the necessary discipline to separate ourselves from the depraved ways of our own sinful desires and the deceptive influences of this world.

For instance, in Galatians 5:7 Paul writes, “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” False teachers who claimed that it was necessary to keep works of the Law of Moses in order to qualify for salvation were influencing the churches established by Paul. The word “hindered” could be translated “who cut in on you.” In the context it suggests tripping or otherwise running into another competitor.

"We run into trouble when this world, our own selfish desires, and good works done in a misdirected effort to improve our standing before a righteous God, trip us up." 

In his book Paul’s Metaphors: Their Context and Character, David J. Williams explains, “The Greek stadium was a rectangle about 220 yards long by 8 to 13 yards wide.  A line at each end marked the start and the finish, and there was a turning post in the middle of each line.  In races longer than a single lap, the runners had to circle the post…When the runners were of comparable ability, bunching at the post was inevitable and interference was likely to occur…In terms of Paul’s metaphor, it was at this point that the Galatians had run into trouble.” Like the Galatians, we run into trouble when this world, our own selfish desires, and good works done in a misdirected effort to improve our standing before a righteous God, trip us up.

In 1 Peter 4:7 we read these words, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers.” The challenge for the athlete nearing the end of a contest is to make every shot count. The challenge for the Christian is to make every prayer intentional, that we might finish in an excellent way for the glory of God. Let us find the strength to compete to the end as the Holy Spirit propels us across the finish line.

Five Indications of a gospel centered life

It is reported that the ancient church father Tertullian observed, “Just as Jesus was crucified between two thieves, so the gospel is ever crucified between these two errors.”

The two errors that the gospel is forever challenged to avoid is the fallacy of legalism on one side and license on the other. The Apostle Paul declares, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) This proclamation from Paul is the center of the gospel.

"The two errors that the gospel is forever challenged to avoid is the fallacy of legalism on one side and license on the other."

The One Big Essential To Salvation

The word essential means absolutely necessary, indispensable. 

I grew up hearing the phrase “Essential to Salvation” in the church that I attended. When people spoke of this they were referencing “The plan of salvation” as it was presented from their perspective based upon a particular passage in the Acts of the Apostles. The passage is found in Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” While I am grateful for the heritage that ‘turned me on’ to the profundity and truth of Holy Scripture, I am even more grateful for the truth Scripture continues to reveal. A truth that is counterintuitive to our notions of reward and punishment, merit and demerit.

"It is clear that the gospel of Christ presents only one essential element of salvation and that is the finished work of Jesus on the cross."

What is missing in "The Plan of Salvation"?

In Galatians 5:1 the Apostle Paul writes, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” As Americans, liberty is something that is very important to us.  It is a privilege for which many have sacrificed their lives. But as important as our physical liberty is to all of us, this is not the kind of liberty Paul was writing about. He was writing of a much greater liberty - the liberty that comes from Jesus Christ.