"The church is full of hypocrites!" OK - tell me something new! The media in America love to pick up on responses such as the opening line to attack American Christianity. And even the following statement is used by many today: "Christians get on my nerves." Lifeway Research has conducted several studies in regards to the issue of church relevance and perception among the people of America. The numbers are not good regardless of your perspective.
Ideas as to what Christians should be doing now are everywhere. An honest look at American Christianity finds little passion and motive. It is as if we are coasting unaware of how we are to finish the game of life. Do we know the rules? Are we done? Is it over for us on earth? So what do we do?
I think the game of baseball has a few answers for us as Christians living in this time.
Get Back to 1ST Base
Beyond anything else we are to bring glory to God! Yet few churches focus on this. The seeker movement of the 90's turned our attention to many other issues. We saw our outreach struggling. People were not coming to Christ! We knew we needed a fix. The fix we applied has not worked as a whole. No church can accomplish pleasing people. It is more than difficult for someone to surrender to Jesus while the attention is on their own "wants" being met. That is why we are to bring glory to God and seek to please Him alone! Evangelism flows from glorifying God. We see first hand His provision in sending Jesus to mankind. We begin to grasp the heartbeat of God in drawing people to Himself. We realize our role in sharing the Gospel. We see the fruit of lives changed once they surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Don't Get Picked off 1ST
Moving from 1ST base to 2ND is a must. But before we get to 2ND we must avoid getting picked off at 1ST. Distractions are everywhere. People, good and bad, bring multiple distractions into our lives. A simple thought expressed of something negative can start the ball rolling. A thought unchecked can do it as well. As eager as we are to move on, distractions will try to force our eyes off the goal. And don't think that this doesn't happen daily. And please understand, distractions come from those we would not think would want to distract us.
Touch the Bases as we Move Forward
Once we have the green light to move from 1ST Base we must not forget a simple rule - be sure to touch all the bases as you progress. What does this mean. In baseball, a base runner must actually touch each base or they are called out. As Christians, we love the idea of making it home and scoring runs. But we must touch each base. We must realize the importance found at each base. Getting ahead in our thoughts can cause us to miss important things. The distractions that come into our lives are actually designed to get us off track - miss each base. It is important to know our goal. It is important to reach our goal. But the rules say there is a specific way to do this. Be sure to touch each base. Stay with the progression instead of trying to take short cuts. Stay with with the Word of God, our rule book, and know that straying will bring consequences. As we bring Glory to God, lives will be added to the Kingdom at each base.
Tune Out the Fans
Everybody has an opinion. Opinions are dangerous. Lives are so influenced by those who are cheering for us and yet their advice is often misleading. Once you know your goals and the rules, block out the many opinions that are thrown your way from fans. They can create havoc in your life. They want you to score. They want you to win. But they may not understand completely what that means. Seek advice from grounded people - coaches. But know that too many coaches never works. Not many of our fans are really invested in us as individuals. They want a win more than anything. But they are in the stands and NOT on the field. Stick with the coaches on the field. And don't forget there are fans who do not want you to win! Ignore them! They are not cheering for your victory! Can you tell the difference?
Leave it All on the Field
In my office is a framed rendition of Vince Lombardi's "What it Takes to be #1". I also have a copy of a plaque that President Ronald Reagan kept on his desk that says "It Can Be Done". These two things remind me daily of the above. They remind me that I must commit to finishing strong. Only commitment will keep you focused. They also remind me that giving my all is required to actually score and reach home plate. Christians cannot hold back in this life on earth. We are to give our all to the One who paid for us and gives us life. We are to finish our course wiped out ready for our reward. Too many of us our coasting. We trot around the base path as if we are good to go. Jesus ran to the finish line for us with all He had. Will we run the bases of life to reach home with every ounce of strength we have? Will Jesus say of us "well done, good and faithful servant!"?
The true test for American Christianity is now upon us. Our days of easy believe-ism are long gone. The game of life on earth has reached the bottom of the ninth. We are up to bat. What will we do? It is now our time to bring this game to a successful victory. A victory that is assured. Only problem though is that there are lives in the balance as we complete the game. Our victory is other peoples salvation. We are to reach home with others with us.
And this we cannot afford to lose!
Play ball!
It's rally time!
Blogging for the purpose of Spiritual Growth and Edification
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
But I want more...!
Growing up I shared a room with my two brothers. In our closet was a built in box that stored our toys. It was always full. In fact, it was so full that I cannot remember one toy from that box that I played with. I do remember the toys that I played with daily (tonka trucks, fire engines, baseball glove, balls, and bats) for they were kept in close proximity under my bed. I needed them handy and thus avoided them ever getting into THE BOX! So what was in the box?
Toys!
But why were they kept in the box? They were played with a few times upon receiving them but that was about it. Most of you can recall similar items from your childhood and maybe even items today. We want and want some more. We seldom ever interact with the wants that we get. But the wants continue. At some point, the madness has to end. Common sense has to enter the scene and discipline must be exercised. Without such, our wants stack up and eventually cover us up.
The America of today is in this "want" approach to life. Not only do we see this in our Federal Government but we also see it in just about every aspect of society - church included. Some call it the Nanny State. Others think it is only a Government problem. I see it as more!
It is hard pressed to find anyone these days who understands that "wanting" and "getting" can be dangerous. Go beyond this to the understanding that nothing is free! What? Nothing is free? True indeed. Somebody somewhere has to pay for our wants and what we get. But we do not like this at all. We would rather take an approach that just thinks its free or that those with money are obligated to give some of that money to us. It's not fair that they have money and we don't. It's not fair that I cannot get what I want and others can. Surely we all agree that if everyone pitched in, all will get their wants? Right?
Wrong!
History cannot reveal a single society, church, or social setting where this mentality actually works. Not even in the Bible do you find this type of teaching. It does not exist. So we are left wondering where did this thought originate? Are we really so ignorant of basic economics that we think we can change what history and common sense clearly teach?
Ask anyone in ministry today and they will tell you that even Christians "want" while wanting NOT to "give". It is becoming more difficult to find people willing to serve. Yet their wants are expected to be met. No accountability rules the day in many churches. A simple "don't ask me to do" and "I am not going to give" are producing the same climate in churches that exists in most of society.
What will it take to reverse the course?
Some think that tragedy or hardship will awaken Americans and American Christians. I have my doubts. This one thing I do know - with everyone taking and few giving and willing to work, the current national scenario will implode quickly. We cannot sustain an economy, life, or culture built on everyone getting what they want and no one working. We can take all we want from those who have worked hard for their money, but it will not meet 1% of the wants that we demand.
My oldest son posted a picture to his Facebook page today that said the following:
"You will always only be a spectator until you are willing to risk blood, sweat, and dirt!"
Maybe I will re-write it this way: "If everyone only wants and takes, where will we take it from?"
The Bible says it this way: II Th 3:10 "...If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (NKJ)
What is sad to me is that we Christians should be leading the way in living out the example and yet, as I mentioned above, we are living the problem instead. Churches that are to be setting the standard are actually magnifying the problem. How? We are raising a new generation of children who approach church with the "nanny state" mentality.
But I want more... :)
Toys!
But why were they kept in the box? They were played with a few times upon receiving them but that was about it. Most of you can recall similar items from your childhood and maybe even items today. We want and want some more. We seldom ever interact with the wants that we get. But the wants continue. At some point, the madness has to end. Common sense has to enter the scene and discipline must be exercised. Without such, our wants stack up and eventually cover us up.
The America of today is in this "want" approach to life. Not only do we see this in our Federal Government but we also see it in just about every aspect of society - church included. Some call it the Nanny State. Others think it is only a Government problem. I see it as more!
It is hard pressed to find anyone these days who understands that "wanting" and "getting" can be dangerous. Go beyond this to the understanding that nothing is free! What? Nothing is free? True indeed. Somebody somewhere has to pay for our wants and what we get. But we do not like this at all. We would rather take an approach that just thinks its free or that those with money are obligated to give some of that money to us. It's not fair that they have money and we don't. It's not fair that I cannot get what I want and others can. Surely we all agree that if everyone pitched in, all will get their wants? Right?
Wrong!
History cannot reveal a single society, church, or social setting where this mentality actually works. Not even in the Bible do you find this type of teaching. It does not exist. So we are left wondering where did this thought originate? Are we really so ignorant of basic economics that we think we can change what history and common sense clearly teach?
Ask anyone in ministry today and they will tell you that even Christians "want" while wanting NOT to "give". It is becoming more difficult to find people willing to serve. Yet their wants are expected to be met. No accountability rules the day in many churches. A simple "don't ask me to do" and "I am not going to give" are producing the same climate in churches that exists in most of society.
What will it take to reverse the course?
Some think that tragedy or hardship will awaken Americans and American Christians. I have my doubts. This one thing I do know - with everyone taking and few giving and willing to work, the current national scenario will implode quickly. We cannot sustain an economy, life, or culture built on everyone getting what they want and no one working. We can take all we want from those who have worked hard for their money, but it will not meet 1% of the wants that we demand.
My oldest son posted a picture to his Facebook page today that said the following:
"You will always only be a spectator until you are willing to risk blood, sweat, and dirt!"
Maybe I will re-write it this way: "If everyone only wants and takes, where will we take it from?"
The Bible says it this way: II Th 3:10 "...If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (NKJ)
What is sad to me is that we Christians should be leading the way in living out the example and yet, as I mentioned above, we are living the problem instead. Churches that are to be setting the standard are actually magnifying the problem. How? We are raising a new generation of children who approach church with the "nanny state" mentality.
But I want more... :)
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
When you are demonized....
Perception is everything these days. Facts seem to be meaningless. Perception has become the new fact. How do you handle a situation when someone controls the perception of your ideas and beliefs? How can you live in a manner that will overcome the specific action by others to demonize you because of your beliefs?
One of the best places to find such an example for us is in the Biblical book of Daniel. We all know about Daniel and the lions den. We know about the fiery furnace. But what in Daniel have we missed? He is a guy who lived as a difference maker in ungodly Governments. He lived and he rose to high levels of influence in these Government systems without compromising his faith in God and the practice thereof. Daniel had rulers call upon him to solve major issues. And this was done knowing who Daniel was and where Daniel stood. There are some timely lessons for us from the life of this man.
Purpose to be a Difference Maker
Daniel was not out to make points and show his righteousness off for all to see. He determined at a young age to impact people regardless. We love scoring points. We love to put something out to the masses that "hits the mark"! But do we realize that our points make little impact? And if no impact is made - why are we making the point. Andy Stanley in an interview recently about his invite to preach the pre inaugural message in DC, made the following statement:
Col 4:6
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
(NKJ)
One of the best places to find such an example for us is in the Biblical book of Daniel. We all know about Daniel and the lions den. We know about the fiery furnace. But what in Daniel have we missed? He is a guy who lived as a difference maker in ungodly Governments. He lived and he rose to high levels of influence in these Government systems without compromising his faith in God and the practice thereof. Daniel had rulers call upon him to solve major issues. And this was done knowing who Daniel was and where Daniel stood. There are some timely lessons for us from the life of this man.
Purpose to be a Difference Maker
Daniel was not out to make points and show his righteousness off for all to see. He determined at a young age to impact people regardless. We love scoring points. We love to put something out to the masses that "hits the mark"! But do we realize that our points make little impact? And if no impact is made - why are we making the point. Andy Stanley in an interview recently about his invite to preach the pre inaugural message in DC, made the following statement:
"Make a difference. Don't be satisfied with
making a point." It's easy to make a point. If you have a computer, a
blog, a Twitter account, you can make a point. But you're not going to
make a difference with your points. We have been called to be difference makers."
This statement highlights exactly what I am speaking about in Daniels life. It would have been easy for Daniel to make points about all of the evil doings in the ungodly Governments he lived under. Equally, Daniel could have decided that he would go public and bash all leaders who did not agree with him and his beliefs. Daniel had truth on his side. But Daniel took a different path. He determined to be a difference maker.
Purpose to Edify even in Confrontation
To easy for many of us is the trap to forget that our words matter. The Bible says that we are to be slow to wrath and always edifying. We know this is not an easy thing to do. Yet when we edify and speak with with words of respect and value, we gain favor. We tear down walls and open doors for greater influence. All because of how we speak. To encourage is to to earn the opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with those we may disagree with. A harsh point made loses the opportunity for further discussion and speaks to a desire for no influence at all. The apostle Paul said:
Col 4:6
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
(NKJ)
This type of speech is not easy when we are under attack. Our emotions rise quickly. Our warrior instinct swells to a point of battle readiness. And yet it is at this moment, we risk the most. When we are demonized we stand at a major crossroads. We must remember this:
It means nothing for me to win a debate. It means everything to earn the right to develop a relationship and become a difference maker in someones life.
For we are called to be Difference Makers!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The tough road of a conservative is...
If you are a person who believes in conservative values; financial, moral, Biblical, etc., then you probably know how difficult it is to voice the beliefs you cherish without a push back these days. The road for a conservative today is looked upon like a dirt road surrounded by interstates - out of date and only used by those out of date themselves. This road is tough and it is not going to get smooth quickly.
The liberal bias in all branches of the media around the globe aid in the conservative struggle. Love, compassion, intellect, and practicality seem to be captured only by liberals in our daily lives. A simple mention of cutting spending, lowering taxes, abortion being murder, marriage between a man and women, no living together etc., will probably result in strange stares from people you work and attend school with. The conservative values are easy to live out in this environment but are becoming increasingly difficult to share. And we have only just begun!
How do you share the values you hold dear? How do you promote these values to people who's lives are wreaking the consequences of their absence? How do you share the values of your life with people intolerant of those very values?
It is no secret that our national media has long supported values and principles that are defined as liberal. Yet today, our media is now joined by a growing young adult population, rapidly growing ethnic population, and locked in under 60 age population that share in their disdain for conservative values. America has changed much! We conservatives know we have poorly reached out to these other groups. And when a reach did occur, we simply told history and our views. We missed the opportunity to tell the conservative narrative with ties into peoples lives. A truth and consequence if you will without the judgement present. And this is the trap!
For conservative values to spread our approach of sharing must change. Our current population is obtaining information quickly these days and from sources not norm to many aging conservatives. When we jump into conversations with our values we must be sure of the illustrations being used and the statistics being quoted. We must also understand the limits of usefulness to our stories and statistics. People are not impressed. There is a need for connection. People long for a connection to be made before they will embrace or give thought to anything we share. And connecting we have not done. Conservative values are polar opposite what the vast number of people today have grown up with. And as is so often the case, our methods of sharing are outdated and filled with little to draw people to contemplate and study.
Here are some simple things that will assist in sharing these values:
1. Do not judge or be judgmental.
2. Listen much before speaking - you may learn more than you thought possible.
3. Don't tell your story, connect with other peoples stories.
4. Live what you share - people will see the difference and want to know more.
5. Admit failures in the conservative journey. Not all has worked perfectly.
6. Know that many view you and your beliefs as hostile to their freedom of beliefs.
7. Kindness will get you further than preaching and arguing any day of the week.
These are just a few things that will help as you seek to share your values with others.
In our next post we will discuss how to overcome being demonized.
The liberal bias in all branches of the media around the globe aid in the conservative struggle. Love, compassion, intellect, and practicality seem to be captured only by liberals in our daily lives. A simple mention of cutting spending, lowering taxes, abortion being murder, marriage between a man and women, no living together etc., will probably result in strange stares from people you work and attend school with. The conservative values are easy to live out in this environment but are becoming increasingly difficult to share. And we have only just begun!
How do you share the values you hold dear? How do you promote these values to people who's lives are wreaking the consequences of their absence? How do you share the values of your life with people intolerant of those very values?
It is no secret that our national media has long supported values and principles that are defined as liberal. Yet today, our media is now joined by a growing young adult population, rapidly growing ethnic population, and locked in under 60 age population that share in their disdain for conservative values. America has changed much! We conservatives know we have poorly reached out to these other groups. And when a reach did occur, we simply told history and our views. We missed the opportunity to tell the conservative narrative with ties into peoples lives. A truth and consequence if you will without the judgement present. And this is the trap!
For conservative values to spread our approach of sharing must change. Our current population is obtaining information quickly these days and from sources not norm to many aging conservatives. When we jump into conversations with our values we must be sure of the illustrations being used and the statistics being quoted. We must also understand the limits of usefulness to our stories and statistics. People are not impressed. There is a need for connection. People long for a connection to be made before they will embrace or give thought to anything we share. And connecting we have not done. Conservative values are polar opposite what the vast number of people today have grown up with. And as is so often the case, our methods of sharing are outdated and filled with little to draw people to contemplate and study.
Here are some simple things that will assist in sharing these values:
1. Do not judge or be judgmental.
2. Listen much before speaking - you may learn more than you thought possible.
3. Don't tell your story, connect with other peoples stories.
4. Live what you share - people will see the difference and want to know more.
5. Admit failures in the conservative journey. Not all has worked perfectly.
6. Know that many view you and your beliefs as hostile to their freedom of beliefs.
7. Kindness will get you further than preaching and arguing any day of the week.
These are just a few things that will help as you seek to share your values with others.
In our next post we will discuss how to overcome being demonized.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
The Root of the Obvious American Problem
It is not wise for one to offer something as a sure fire answer to everything. A know it all type person has little influence in the lives of others. Much of the discussion these days relating to the vast changes occurring before our eyes in America fits this know it all baseline. If not that, it most assuredly comes across as holier than thou to those listening and reading. Yet ignored due to the preceding is the answer to the problem that we see and know is growing. What is at the root of it?
I will offer two areas that I think will assist us in seeing the roots that are allowing all of this change to occur.
First, we lost the battle on the homosexual issues by not understanding the homosexual agenda. The agenda put forth was one of being recognized as a minority. Since the late 1970's this idea has been allowed to fully develop without any challenge from those who differ. More so, the silence from true minorities has been a booster shot to the homosexual movement. By embracing the minorities, and the minorities embracing the homosexual agenda, the agenda has actually captured an apparent victory.
To qualify as a minority, one must reproduce the same. Homosexuals do not reproduce. Homosexuals are NOT a minority. They never have been and never will be, unless we change the definition of "minority"! Had we simply begun the discussion, and continued it with this principle of fact, the influence of the agenda would have been severely held back. We chose to argue and condemn and were thus easy targets to be labeled as hateful. The influence of a behavior group would have been easily slowed had we kept the discussion here. We should have been assisting the minority groups in their struggle while protecting them from this usurping. We failed.
And yes, minority groups allowed this behavior agenda to steal the day and they have lost much as a result.
But something occurred inside many churches that equally allowed for the changing thoughts on sin and other things in America. American churches became soapbox churches. We have those who rally around the Bible and shout about people NOT living moral lives while we ignore the sin within. We loved the shouting and failed to reach people with Jesus Christ. We also have those that were/are determined to reach people and began to offer a more pragmatic form of teaching that led to little discipleship and an embracing of little moral truth. These soapbox type churches are now a majority in America. One may find it difficult to hear any clear teaching on the simple things of life, including human life, for fear of offending. And when one finds truth, often it is wrapped in self righteous indignation and not in the power and love of the Holy Spirit.
The soapbox approach has developed due to one simple practice among us preachers.
Most American Pastors have abandoned Expository Preaching and most Bible Study groups are more focused on felt needs! We we fail to teach the Bible from cover to cover, verse by verse, and so we produce little in discipleship. And what little is done, is extremely weak. I have found it amazing to teach through Genesis and discover the depth of truth about understanding creation and life that is so easy to see and equally applicable today. I don't have to go off on a soapbox. The Bible speaks for itself with grace and in love to all who will receive. And Genesis actually covers homosexuality!
And don't forget, the Bible even tells us the itching ears and the leaving behind of sound doctrine will occur as we approach the return of Jesus Christ. We should not be so surprised that we are seeing it.
We should also be quick to repent of the fact that we actually aided in the progression of such.
I will offer two areas that I think will assist us in seeing the roots that are allowing all of this change to occur.
First, we lost the battle on the homosexual issues by not understanding the homosexual agenda. The agenda put forth was one of being recognized as a minority. Since the late 1970's this idea has been allowed to fully develop without any challenge from those who differ. More so, the silence from true minorities has been a booster shot to the homosexual movement. By embracing the minorities, and the minorities embracing the homosexual agenda, the agenda has actually captured an apparent victory.
To qualify as a minority, one must reproduce the same. Homosexuals do not reproduce. Homosexuals are NOT a minority. They never have been and never will be, unless we change the definition of "minority"! Had we simply begun the discussion, and continued it with this principle of fact, the influence of the agenda would have been severely held back. We chose to argue and condemn and were thus easy targets to be labeled as hateful. The influence of a behavior group would have been easily slowed had we kept the discussion here. We should have been assisting the minority groups in their struggle while protecting them from this usurping. We failed.
And yes, minority groups allowed this behavior agenda to steal the day and they have lost much as a result.
But something occurred inside many churches that equally allowed for the changing thoughts on sin and other things in America. American churches became soapbox churches. We have those who rally around the Bible and shout about people NOT living moral lives while we ignore the sin within. We loved the shouting and failed to reach people with Jesus Christ. We also have those that were/are determined to reach people and began to offer a more pragmatic form of teaching that led to little discipleship and an embracing of little moral truth. These soapbox type churches are now a majority in America. One may find it difficult to hear any clear teaching on the simple things of life, including human life, for fear of offending. And when one finds truth, often it is wrapped in self righteous indignation and not in the power and love of the Holy Spirit.
The soapbox approach has developed due to one simple practice among us preachers.
Most American Pastors have abandoned Expository Preaching and most Bible Study groups are more focused on felt needs! We we fail to teach the Bible from cover to cover, verse by verse, and so we produce little in discipleship. And what little is done, is extremely weak. I have found it amazing to teach through Genesis and discover the depth of truth about understanding creation and life that is so easy to see and equally applicable today. I don't have to go off on a soapbox. The Bible speaks for itself with grace and in love to all who will receive. And Genesis actually covers homosexuality!
And don't forget, the Bible even tells us the itching ears and the leaving behind of sound doctrine will occur as we approach the return of Jesus Christ. We should not be so surprised that we are seeing it.
We should also be quick to repent of the fact that we actually aided in the progression of such.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The Great American Christian Question
The history of America is without honest question. This nation was founded on Biblical principles. From those principles God blessed and America grew beyond anyone's dreams. The power of such growth resulted in an incredible world protector for liberty and religious freedom. That was then!
What about now!
Christians in America need to answer this question quickly. We must also pray and be determined to get the right answer. For the right answer is our path from now forward. We will find the right answer by looking at our past failures. Yes, our past failures highlight the answer needed today.
We begin by admitting that we as American Christians have failed to understand that our primary purpose was and is to lead people to Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, people are simply sinful people with NO hope for changing. We have fought hard the culture war. We have lost. We lost because we were not focused on leading people to the one true God who could and will save them through Jesus Christ. Our biggest failure as American Christians is found in that we did not reach the multitudes of people that God allowed to come to America. We had it all set up to reach world! We failed. Without a changed heart, people will not adopt an ideology that is Christian based. Our worldview will not make sense to them at all! We tried via many methods while avoiding the one and only method that works - leading people to Jesus! We begin to find our answer when we admit to this failure!
The absence of the power of the Holy Spirit evidenced in our lives is also a big failure! American Christians learned to play at church. We learned that real well. We developed many of our systems and programs in our churches by copying the world. The greatest one being Sunday School. We copied the American education system. We set up directors, had roll books, and some churches even use to ring the bell! We established programs, and I do mean many programs. We built our church schedules around the work culture of the 50's and 60's and we grew children's ministries/missions ministries for children right out of boy/girl scouts. The club mentality anchored our approach. For adults the same was true. In all of this, the programs became the focus in place of the power of the Holy Spirit living in and working through our lives. We taught for education sake. We learned many facts but we failed to experience the power God via the Holy Spirit in our lives. We were so focused on knowing about that we never realized we were not living in. Again, we failed.
This led to neglect of some key Biblical disciplines. In particular, fasting! There are those few types of churches that practice this and have for years. But many American Christians in our older age groups never were taught or led to develop fasting in their lives. Without fasting there can be no power of the Holy Spirit. Our lives were simply being lived through a mental ideology. An ideology that requires the power of the Holy Spirit.
So caught up in our programs and structure we embraced a salesman approach to sharing the gospel. We tweaked our services in some cases and in others demanded that we NOT change a thing. Time was always our focus and comfort and familiarity followed in our priorities. We began trying to attract people instead of sharing Jesus by living in Him. It worked for a while - maybe, maybe not. But soon we could not do enough to up what had already been done. People caught on to our sales pitch and began tuning us out. Again we failed.
People without Jesus began to see that those who professed to have him were not that much different. In fact, often times Christians were worse. We were mean, lacked compassion, ugly, holier than thou, and were more focused on we wanted and bragging about what we claimed to have, that people failed to see in us a compassion for them. We were anything but passionate for people. Love was not found for anyone, just for those we liked. And the slide continued. Only now, other religions and ideologies were being embraced. And we could go on and on...!
So what is the answer?
1. Know our purpose is to live obedient to the command of our Lord to lead people to Jesus!
2. Know that we must fucus on living in the power of the Holy Spirit daily! Without this power lives will not be changed.
3. Know that following Biblical disciplines must become a priority. Seek to learn these and apply them daily. The power of the Holy Spirit depends upon it.
4. Know that we love and thus show this love of people daily! People come in all shapes and backgrounds. We are to love them! Period!
We begin with these four! Until these four are evident, nothing else will matter! It is only through these four that Revival will come! And our greatest need right now is not political nor ideological.
What about now!
Christians in America need to answer this question quickly. We must also pray and be determined to get the right answer. For the right answer is our path from now forward. We will find the right answer by looking at our past failures. Yes, our past failures highlight the answer needed today.
We begin by admitting that we as American Christians have failed to understand that our primary purpose was and is to lead people to Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, people are simply sinful people with NO hope for changing. We have fought hard the culture war. We have lost. We lost because we were not focused on leading people to the one true God who could and will save them through Jesus Christ. Our biggest failure as American Christians is found in that we did not reach the multitudes of people that God allowed to come to America. We had it all set up to reach world! We failed. Without a changed heart, people will not adopt an ideology that is Christian based. Our worldview will not make sense to them at all! We tried via many methods while avoiding the one and only method that works - leading people to Jesus! We begin to find our answer when we admit to this failure!
The absence of the power of the Holy Spirit evidenced in our lives is also a big failure! American Christians learned to play at church. We learned that real well. We developed many of our systems and programs in our churches by copying the world. The greatest one being Sunday School. We copied the American education system. We set up directors, had roll books, and some churches even use to ring the bell! We established programs, and I do mean many programs. We built our church schedules around the work culture of the 50's and 60's and we grew children's ministries/missions ministries for children right out of boy/girl scouts. The club mentality anchored our approach. For adults the same was true. In all of this, the programs became the focus in place of the power of the Holy Spirit living in and working through our lives. We taught for education sake. We learned many facts but we failed to experience the power God via the Holy Spirit in our lives. We were so focused on knowing about that we never realized we were not living in. Again, we failed.
This led to neglect of some key Biblical disciplines. In particular, fasting! There are those few types of churches that practice this and have for years. But many American Christians in our older age groups never were taught or led to develop fasting in their lives. Without fasting there can be no power of the Holy Spirit. Our lives were simply being lived through a mental ideology. An ideology that requires the power of the Holy Spirit.
So caught up in our programs and structure we embraced a salesman approach to sharing the gospel. We tweaked our services in some cases and in others demanded that we NOT change a thing. Time was always our focus and comfort and familiarity followed in our priorities. We began trying to attract people instead of sharing Jesus by living in Him. It worked for a while - maybe, maybe not. But soon we could not do enough to up what had already been done. People caught on to our sales pitch and began tuning us out. Again we failed.
People without Jesus began to see that those who professed to have him were not that much different. In fact, often times Christians were worse. We were mean, lacked compassion, ugly, holier than thou, and were more focused on we wanted and bragging about what we claimed to have, that people failed to see in us a compassion for them. We were anything but passionate for people. Love was not found for anyone, just for those we liked. And the slide continued. Only now, other religions and ideologies were being embraced. And we could go on and on...!
So what is the answer?
1. Know our purpose is to live obedient to the command of our Lord to lead people to Jesus!
2. Know that we must fucus on living in the power of the Holy Spirit daily! Without this power lives will not be changed.
3. Know that following Biblical disciplines must become a priority. Seek to learn these and apply them daily. The power of the Holy Spirit depends upon it.
4. Know that we love and thus show this love of people daily! People come in all shapes and backgrounds. We are to love them! Period!
We begin with these four! Until these four are evident, nothing else will matter! It is only through these four that Revival will come! And our greatest need right now is not political nor ideological.
Our greatest need is REVIVAL!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
The Importance of Hobby Lobby vs Obama Care
On Friday, Hobby Lobby decided to ignore the US Governments threat of fines for not following the mandate in Obama Care to provide free birth control in their medical insurance for employees:
“They’re not going to comply with the mandate,” said Kyle Duncan, general counsel of The Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing the company. “They’re not going to offer coverage for abortion-inducing drugs in the insurance plan.”
Opinions on both sides are all over the internet and in the news shows. There are even some Christians decrying the decision.
Is this stand important? If so, why?
Yes this decision is important!
1. Free birth control is NOT a medical insurance necessity. It is a choice made by a person. Lumping this mandate into the Obama Care package is an attempt to make something necessary that any normal thinking person knows is not.
2. Hobby Lobby is defending the rights of the unborn! While everyone else is so concerned about their own rights and choices, Hobby Lobby has drawn a line in the sand and decided to stand with the unborn when few else are doing so.
3. Hobby Lobby is NOT denying medical insurance to anyone. They are simply saying that if you desire to use birth control and chose to do so, then you pay for it. Why should any person or company be required to fund a choice made by another individual that DOES NOT fit under "medical" necessity. I understand if it is prescribed for health reasons unrelated to pregnancy and this could be and is covered now. But to fund birth control because people chose to participate in sex and do not want the consequences is absurd.
4. Hobby Lobby has a right as a company to chose the medical plan they desire to offer employees. Period! The Government does not have the right to tell us what we have to provide.
5. Hobby Lobby and any other corporation have the right to NOT fund murder! The US Government is doing all it can to ignore this and forcing it's beliefs of abortion NOT being murder on those of us who do believe it is! I understand that we are "funding" abortions with tax money. It sickens me. But that funding DOES NOT open the door for nor justify increase funding by individuals when their beliefs/conscious says NO! If people do not like the coverage Hobby Lobby offers, they can chose to work somewhere else.
6. The mandate forces corporations, free corporations, to act as religious neutral. The US Government has NO right to do so. Free corporations are in fact free. Free corporations have a right to decide how they will fund and what they will fund. When the government is allowed to remove this freedom, it has thus opened the door to tell people, businesses, non profits, schools, churches, etc. what they can and cannot do. This is NOT an American idea and clearly violates the US Constitution First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Every American today needs to read the above carefully. The Obama Care mandate clearly violates the First Amendment. Clearly. No law can be made that prohibits the free exercise thereof...!
7. Thank God for David Green and family! I pray their tribe increase. I pray that more Christians will awaken to the travesty that is upon us. We have been lulled to sleep for years hearing preachers telling us this day is coming. Well, this day has already come. We are now in over our heads into the attacks on Christianity by the US Government while the same Government guarantees religious liberty to thugs who have sought to kill Americans. Terrorists have more religious liberty today in America than American Christians have.
8. Republicans and Democrats are equally at fault! This is NOT a slam at just one party. This is the progressive movement that has entered into the thought lines of both parties. Politics will not produce a solution. Politics is the chosen method for implementing the problem!
Even one Hollywood Liberal Film Director acknowledges this fact. I do not agree with Oliver Stone on much, but the following comment highlights where we are, even to a liberal. I disagree with his blanket assessment of the Bush years! But for a known and proud liberal to accurately nail the events of the current administration and decry them is fact alone that points to the depth that we as a nation have fallen.
The US is codifying thousands and thousands of new, political laws that compel citizens to live according to the State's desires. America was established as a Republic by the people and for the people! We are NOT a state led nation.
Read the following statement from Oliver Stone:
I think under the disguise of sheep’s clothing President Obama has been a wolf. Because of the nightmare of the Bush presidency that preceded him, people forgave him a lot. He was a great hope for change. The color of his skin, the upbringing, the internationalism, the globalism, seemed all evident. And he is an intelligent man. He has taken all the Bush changes and basically put them into the establishment, he has codified them. That is what is sad. So we are going into the second administration that is living outside the law and does not respect the law and foundations of our system and he is a constitutional lawyer, you know. Without the law, it is the law of the jungle. Nuremburg (sic) existed for a reason and there was a reason to have trials, there is a reason for due process – ‘habeas corpus’ as they call it in the United States.
Yes, this issue is more than important!
What will we do about it?
What will you do?
“They’re not going to comply with the mandate,” said Kyle Duncan, general counsel of The Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing the company. “They’re not going to offer coverage for abortion-inducing drugs in the insurance plan.”
Opinions on both sides are all over the internet and in the news shows. There are even some Christians decrying the decision.
Is this stand important? If so, why?
Yes this decision is important!
1. Free birth control is NOT a medical insurance necessity. It is a choice made by a person. Lumping this mandate into the Obama Care package is an attempt to make something necessary that any normal thinking person knows is not.
2. Hobby Lobby is defending the rights of the unborn! While everyone else is so concerned about their own rights and choices, Hobby Lobby has drawn a line in the sand and decided to stand with the unborn when few else are doing so.
3. Hobby Lobby is NOT denying medical insurance to anyone. They are simply saying that if you desire to use birth control and chose to do so, then you pay for it. Why should any person or company be required to fund a choice made by another individual that DOES NOT fit under "medical" necessity. I understand if it is prescribed for health reasons unrelated to pregnancy and this could be and is covered now. But to fund birth control because people chose to participate in sex and do not want the consequences is absurd.
4. Hobby Lobby has a right as a company to chose the medical plan they desire to offer employees. Period! The Government does not have the right to tell us what we have to provide.
5. Hobby Lobby and any other corporation have the right to NOT fund murder! The US Government is doing all it can to ignore this and forcing it's beliefs of abortion NOT being murder on those of us who do believe it is! I understand that we are "funding" abortions with tax money. It sickens me. But that funding DOES NOT open the door for nor justify increase funding by individuals when their beliefs/conscious says NO! If people do not like the coverage Hobby Lobby offers, they can chose to work somewhere else.
6. The mandate forces corporations, free corporations, to act as religious neutral. The US Government has NO right to do so. Free corporations are in fact free. Free corporations have a right to decide how they will fund and what they will fund. When the government is allowed to remove this freedom, it has thus opened the door to tell people, businesses, non profits, schools, churches, etc. what they can and cannot do. This is NOT an American idea and clearly violates the US Constitution First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Every American today needs to read the above carefully. The Obama Care mandate clearly violates the First Amendment. Clearly. No law can be made that prohibits the free exercise thereof...!
7. Thank God for David Green and family! I pray their tribe increase. I pray that more Christians will awaken to the travesty that is upon us. We have been lulled to sleep for years hearing preachers telling us this day is coming. Well, this day has already come. We are now in over our heads into the attacks on Christianity by the US Government while the same Government guarantees religious liberty to thugs who have sought to kill Americans. Terrorists have more religious liberty today in America than American Christians have.
8. Republicans and Democrats are equally at fault! This is NOT a slam at just one party. This is the progressive movement that has entered into the thought lines of both parties. Politics will not produce a solution. Politics is the chosen method for implementing the problem!
Even one Hollywood Liberal Film Director acknowledges this fact. I do not agree with Oliver Stone on much, but the following comment highlights where we are, even to a liberal. I disagree with his blanket assessment of the Bush years! But for a known and proud liberal to accurately nail the events of the current administration and decry them is fact alone that points to the depth that we as a nation have fallen.
The US is codifying thousands and thousands of new, political laws that compel citizens to live according to the State's desires. America was established as a Republic by the people and for the people! We are NOT a state led nation.
Read the following statement from Oliver Stone:
I think under the disguise of sheep’s clothing President Obama has been a wolf. Because of the nightmare of the Bush presidency that preceded him, people forgave him a lot. He was a great hope for change. The color of his skin, the upbringing, the internationalism, the globalism, seemed all evident. And he is an intelligent man. He has taken all the Bush changes and basically put them into the establishment, he has codified them. That is what is sad. So we are going into the second administration that is living outside the law and does not respect the law and foundations of our system and he is a constitutional lawyer, you know. Without the law, it is the law of the jungle. Nuremburg (sic) existed for a reason and there was a reason to have trials, there is a reason for due process – ‘habeas corpus’ as they call it in the United States.
Yes, this issue is more than important!
What will we do about it?
What will you do?
Remember this: Every nation that has ever fallen, has fallen from within!
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