Dying for Christ—the Blessing of Persecution

The level of persecution against Christians in North Korea is on the rise. Fearful of any opposition, the government has labeled Christian activities as criminal. Of the estimated 400,000 Christians in North Korea, about a quarter are being held in political prison camps. Open Doors Ministry estimates that over 1,000 were killed last year; numerous others tortured and used for testing biological and chemical weapons.

It is so easy for us to take our religious freedom for granted. Most, if not all of us, have never known anything else. Earlier this week I spoke of the persecution of Godly men, not afraid to speak their faith, e.g., Brit Hume and Tim Tebo. After reading about the persecuted Christians in North Korea, I must recant—I misspoke. There is no persecution in America—no torture, no beheadings; the worst thing any Christian must bear is hurt feelings!

We American Christians think our freedom from persecution means we are blessed by God. But Jesus said “blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great. In the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:11-12). Since almost all of the prophets Jesus refers to were killed, it seems quite apparent that the blood of martyrs is precious to Jesus and those who have died for His sake are indeed blessed; in fact, they will receive a special reward for their actions (Rev 14:13, 16:6).

By saying they are blessed, I don't mean for a second to diminish their pain and suffering. Let's not forget to pray that God will comfort the persecuted Christians in North Korea. But let's also pray, should the time come, that we will be willing to die for Christ and receive the blessing of persecution.

My Response to Joel Osteen’s Latest Book: “It’s Your Time”

There’s nothing of eternity in Joel Osteen’s latest book: “It’s Your Time.” In his most recent work, Joel promises that when you are going through difficulties, it is only a matter of waiting until “it’s your time” for your dreams to come true. The assumption is that your dreams are what God wants for you: the possibility of self-interest is not addressed.

Almost five centuries ago, the teaching of self-fulfillment caused Martin Luther to coin the phrase "theology of glory”—referring to teaching that says we can receive God’s blessing without regard to Scriptures that enjoin us to a life of suffering—this, of course, contrasted with what Luther called the "theology of the cross,” acknowledging our need to forsake all worldly things to follow Christ.

But in Joel Osteen’s most recent work, not unlike his earlier best sellers, there is no talk of the “cross” and barely any of “Jesus.” The only references to Jesus are historical—always and only presented as an example of what we can achieve if we only believe. The inherent danger is this. People will think following their dreams is the same as following Christ, when in fact, Jesus calls His disciples to give up their dreams to follow Him (the Rich Young Ruler comes to mind).

Totally missing in Joel’s latest release is the call to build treasures in Heaven and the greater blessing if we are like those who died without ever receiving the promise, men and women of whom the world was not worthy (Heb 11:38-39). They had a higher calling than fulfilling earthly dreams; they lived only to fulfill God’s purposes. In a society of consumers and self-actualizers, “It’s Your Time” will be another best seller. After all, Joel's Jesus demands nothing while promising to make your dreams come true.

What do Brit Hume, Pat Robertson, and Tim Tebow have in Common?

Last week, Pat Robertson’s remark that Haiti was cursed by a pact with the devil is one that you know you’ll be defending at the water cooler tomorrow. Immediately condemned by the Media as one more example of Christian hate-mongering, his comment was distorted as saying that God was punishing Haiti. In truth, he was answering a question about why Haiti is the poorest and least developed country in the Western Hemisphere, while its neighbor the Dominican Republic has a healthy economy.

Last week Fox News analyst Brit Hume delivered commentary proposing that Tiger Woods consider exchanging his Buddhist faith for Christianity where he was more likely to find forgiveness. The Media was all over Brit’s comment as hateful and intolerant of other religions. Not surprised, Brit said: “If you’re trying to find the two most explosive words in the English language, those two words are ‘Jesus Christ.’”

And now Tim Tebow, University of Florida quarterback and 2007 Heisman trophy winner is the focus of controversy for doing an anti-abortion ad (paid by Focus on The Family) that will air during the Super Bowl. Pro-choice groups have already begun protesting CBS.

Let this be a reminder for us to pray for those in the public spotlight who are who are not afraid to speak the truth, no matter what the cost to their reputation. Whenever a man of God speaks, he is sure to be misunderstood and persecuted since people who aren't Christians can't understand these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them...(1 Corinthians 2:14).

No Deposit; No Return

When I grew up in the 50’s, soft drinks came in glass bottles. You may be surprised to hear this, but even back then, environmentalism was an issue: a national “bottle bill” law required a minimum refundable deposit on beverage containers in order to insure a high rate of recycling and reuse. The deposit-refund system was created to guarantee the return of glass bottles to be washed, refilled, and resold.

As the post-World War II society became more convenience-oriented, there was a shift from refillable “deposit” bottles to “throw-away” bottles and cans. Without making a deposit, you could not expect a return. When this concept was first introduced, the bottles were marked “No Deposit; No Return.”

As a writer, I love to find relevant, contemporary language to illustrate spiritual principles. “No Deposit; No Return” is a great way to express the spiritual law of reciprocity. David said “Your word have I hid [deposited] in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119:11). Depositing God’s truth in your mind is imperative if you are to recognize a lie when you hear one. How else will you discern the “false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies” (2 Peter 2:1)? Or how will you be able to "resist [the devil] in the evil day" (Eph. 6:13) as Jesus did when He said: it is written? (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10)

Paul exhorts: “be diligent to study the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15); thus building a large depository in your mind and spirit. If you don’t make the deposits, you won’t have anything there when you need it! No Deposit; No Return.

What are Satan's Opportune Times?

Jesus was tempted in every way that we are (Heb. 4:15), so His wilderness temptation was not His only or final encounter with Satan. Luke writes that after this incident, Satan "departed from Him until an opportune time" (Luke 4:13). Satan looks for opportunities to tempt us when we are vulnerable, which is why we are admonished in the New Testament to "be on the alert," knowing that our "adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8).

What are these opportune times? The word “opportune” means fitting, timely, appropriate—in a word, opportune time means the “right” time. So what is the right time Satan is looking for? I’ve always thought the acronym used by Alcoholics Anonymous, HALT, is an excellent mnemonic for remembering the times when we are most vulnerable to temptation. The letters HALT stand for hungry/angry/lonely/tired. When you are any one of these, Satan will try to take advantage of you.

There are two things to remember during these times. First, we must be vigilant to "resist him, firm in our faith" (1 Pet. 5:9). God promises if you “resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Second, we must stand on God's Word. Since Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), truth is our primary defense. His lies tell you that if you do the thing you are tempted to do, you will feel better. That was his strategy against Jesus, but Jesus resisted Satan by quoting scriptures that contradicted Satan's lies. We should follow Jesus’ example. But you cannot resist the devil using the Word unless you know it. What better reason is there to study and memorize the Word?

Why is the World Embracing Islam?

Nearly 30 years ago, I heard a prophetic word that the greatest danger to Christianity would not be Communism, but Islam. Though not apparent at the time, it has proven true. As many of you know, I lived in Muslim countries for 3 years. I loved the Muslim friends I made during those years—especially in East Africa and Afghanistan. So, please know that I am not hate mongering when I say this: Islam is the enemy of Christ and Christians should be concerned about the Western world’s growing acceptance of it.

As increasing numbers of Muslims migrate to this country, we should be alert to Islamic cultural influences on America’s not-quite-forgotten Judeo/Christian values. Have any of you seen the Islamic “evangelistic” billboards on the freeways providing a toll free number for seekers? If this sounds innocent to you, think about this: last month three Nigerian Christian pastors were beheaded (not by terrorists, but so-called moderate Muslims) when they refused to renounce Christ and convert to Islam. Make no mistake about it, Islam is evil—and it just may be the devil’s final attempt to destroy the Church of Christ. How else can you explain the Western world’s growing rejection of Christianity, while insisting on acceptance of Islam?

How should we respond? First, don’t be deceived by our culture’s tolerance-pedaling. Second, don’t fear. The devil would love for us to become so focused on what he is doing or so afraid that we fail to see what God is doing and lose our peace. And remember this: the devil’s plans are turned into God’s opportunities—so let us “make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days” (Eph. 5:16 NLT).

Walk, Don't Drive!

I gave the eulogy at my father’s memorial service yesterday. The Lord led me to emphasize my father’s life of enduring faith. As much light and truth as my father had, he endeavored to walk in it. The Bible describes the Christian life in terms of walking. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he describes the Christian life as a walk in love, in unity, in humility, in light, and in wisdom. He admonishes them to walk worthy of their calling. The Old Testament tells us the patriarchs “walked” with God—Enoch, Noah and Abraham, David…

Walking implies movement and progress and destination—a step-by-step, day-by-day process. From the time we are born again, we are called to no longer walk by sight, but to walk by faith. And it takes a lifetime to get it right! We do not develop intimacy with anyone quickly—even so, our relationship with God must be time-tested. In our fast-paced culture, the concept of “walking” is almost foreign to us—we would prefer to ‘drive’ with God, so we can get to our destination quickly—we do not have the patience to walk anywhere. But God uses time to train us by leading us only a step at a time. And as we take each step in faith, He reveals the next.

My father walked with God for 70 years. In the last year of his life, he was unable to drive. And then in the last months of his life, he had to use a walker. To the natural eyes, this seems like a decline. But on spiritual plane, this is a good thing: as our walk with God matures, He desires us to become increasingly dependent on Him. First He takes away the car keys. Then he takes away all the strength of our legs, until we are completely dependent on Him. Are you too proud to use a walker!

Do you remember the day you died?

Today my family will be commemorating and celebrating my father’s life. The day he passed away will be forever etched in my mind. I was with him when he passed. This last week I was reading an article by Arthur Pink, in which he made this statement: “I remember the day Arthur Pink died,” referring of course to the day he comprehended and then fully embraced, his co-death with Jesus—the day he really came to the end of his self.

What about you? Do you remember the day you died? Died to your own desires, opinions, rights—in short, the day you died to your own will? Or, are you still waiting for that day?

Just as important, do you remember the day you became alive to Christ’s resurrection life: the “life of Christ” resident within you, empowering you and filling you? I mean do you remember the day you actually began living as though you were ‘dead to sin,’ ‘crucified to this world,’ and ‘alive to God?’ Or are you still waiting for it?

Today we will celebrate my earthly father’s life in Christ. But what prevents us from celebrating our life ‘in Christ’—every day. With great joy we should be mindful that our daily union with Christ in his death (pick up your cross and follow Me) means His resurrection life can be released in us. Can you say: “I myself no longer live, but Christ is living in [and through] me?” (Gal. 2:20a, NLT) If not, what are you waiting for?

Just Live One Day at a Time!

When I retired from my job with the federal government, I was excited that my time would now be my own—free to do my Biblical counseling, teaching, mentoring, whatever I wanted. Liberated from the bonds of forced labor—I was my own man! Oh Boy, was I wrong!

If there is anything I have learned over the last year-and-a-half, it is that my TIME is not my own any more than my life is my own (1 Cor. 6:19). And I am learning to live one day at a time.

One day at a time doesn’t mean we shouldn't plan. Solomon says “the mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9). James says "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that [our plans]" (4:15). We need to prayerfully set goals, thoughtfully make plans, take specific actions and make appointments. But we must watch our expectations. It is one thing to plan and quite another to demand that the plan work out the way we want it too. That is preempting God’s sovereign right to direct (or redirect) our steps to accomplish HIS purposes.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not! So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. (Mat 6:27, 31-34 NLT). In other words, Live one day at a time.

You Are Never Too Young To Die

I read an article some time ago which holds a peculiar relevance to me on the occurrence of my father’s passing. It was entitled: “Few see themselves as ‘old,’ no matter what their age.” In a survey of 3,000 adults, those under 30 said that 60 is old. Those over 60 said 75 is old. At our wedding (25 years ago), my father was not quite 60. I thought he was old. Now that I am 61, I no longer think so!

However, I do find myself checking the obituaries more than I used to, to see if any of my high school classmates have died! But personally, the more I attempt to live the truth that I am dead to this world and alive to God, the less I care about my age, or concern myself with how many days are left to me.

In 1994, it seemed that my younger brother died much too young at age 38 from cardiac arrest. But if you and I are truly not ‘of this world,’ can there really be any such thing as an ‘untimely’ death. As a “son of God,” neither your life nor your time is your own (1 Cor. 6:19). And if you are truly experiencing your death to (separation from) this world, it seems to me that it almost makes physical death irrelevant. Over this last year, I reminded my father many times that he was never going to “die”—because he had already died in Christ. That’s why we use the word “pass”—we simply pass out of time into eternity.

Paradoxically, as a ‘spirit’ being, you are ageless but always getting ‘younger.’ Paul says If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature…all things have become new…our inner man is being renewed day by day… [Therefore, you should] walk in the newness of life (2 Cor. 5:17; 4:16; Ro. 6:4). And don’t forget: “all things new” may begin on this side, but it continues on the other—with new heaven and earth, a new Jerusalem, a new name, a new song. Jesus said Look, I am making all things new! (Rev. 5:9; 14:3; 21:1,2,5).

Heaven Opened Up Today

My father passed into eternity today. Heaven opened up and received one its own.

Born again in his teens, my father walked with God for 70 years. Along with many blessings, there were also trials and afflictions. Though these might have been opportunities for a man of lesser faith to doubt and even turn aside from God, he never did—remaining faithful, even when God’s reasons were not clear. But through these, his understanding of “Christ in us, the hope of glory” became more real to him; and the reality of heaven more real to him as well. As we all know, comprehension of the heavenly realm—where heaven is more real to us than the things of earth— is always elusive.

Jesus said to Nathaniel “If you believe, you will see the heavens opened” (John 1:51). In saying this, Jesus foretold the time when He would open fellowship (the Holy of Holies) to believers—heaven and earth would be united. Accordingly, the first martyr Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of the Lord; saying “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). From the moment of our new birth, the heavens are open to us, where Jesus—accessible, available, approachable— bids us come to Him boldly (Heb 4:16; 10:19).

By faith we press on to attain to this higher truth. And some day the veil over our eyes will be removed, and we shall “see.” Today, the “hope” became “real” for my dad—no more straining to see beyond the veil of his flesh. Today the heavens opened; he has been received; and now, like Stephen and the many who are there now, he is unhindered in seeing the glory of God.

The heavens opened up for my father today—the invisible becoming visible, the perishable exchanged for the imperishable (1 Cor. 15:52). And someday soon, heaven will open up for us “who are still alive and remain on the earth [and we] will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever” (1 Cor. 4:17 NLT). Until then let’s keep our focus on the “things above” [so that heaven becomes more real to us than] “the things on earth” (Col. 3:1).

Which “Tent” Do You Live In?

A survey out last week says 60% of Americans are discontent with their jobs. And since another 20% of Americans are un- or under-employed, would you agree that our nation is having a “winter of discontent” (from Shakespeare's Richard III).

God hates discontent in His children. In the Wilderness, the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron—and God effected a plague that caused the death of 14,000 (Nu. 16). Later in the journey, God asked them to go into Canaan, but they were afraid and “complained in their tents” (Deut. 1:27). Consequently, God kept them in the desert for 40 more years until every man from the old generation had died. No complainers got to the Promised Land.

Discontent is really much worse than most of us think! When you complain, you are telling the world your God has not provided what you need, implying that He is not good. What's more, you are in agreement with the devil whose strategy from the very beginning was to question God’s provision and goodness—discontent is born of the devil (Genesis 3). When you complain, your mind becomes a house of negative thoughts, but let me put it another way:

Everyone lives in one of two tents—content or discontent. Which tent do you live in? If you have you been complaining a lot lately, today might be a good day to some “tent-cleaning.” Take a broom (the Word) and sweep away every thought that is trying to captivate you (2 Cor. 10:5). And determine not to live in discontent any longer.

God is Not Finished Yet, but Final Preparations are Underway!

Yesterday I was unable to do a blog post. My father had a medical emergency, and I needed to spend the night and next day at his house in Scott's Valley (with no Internet access). It was NOT just one of those ‘lane changes’ (“Changing Lanes” blog post, Dec. 8, 2009) but more of a u-turn.

My dear 85-year old father has cancer—he is approaching the end of his life. As of yesterday, he is no longer able to walk or stand—in his remaining days, he will be confined to bed. This incapacity is not only the last, but doubtless the hardest trial of his faith. It is frightening to lose control of one’s life. But, in the end, isn’t that what “dying to live” is all about—giving up control of all things to God?!

But my father’s end-of-life trial feels to me like a microcosm of something greater—something that is affecting all of us. We are living in a time of chaos the world has never seen. It is a fearful time for many people—yes, even believers. But in the midst of it, God is saying to you: “How will you deal with your fears? Are you going to trust Me in spite of everything that is happening around you?”

Not unlike the days of Noah, it seems the world is on a path of destruction. But now as then, God is preparing a place for those who trust in Him. Jesus said: “There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). But as I said to my dad, not only is God preparing a place FOR US, God is PREPARING US for that place. And since we are still here, apparently all things are not ready for our departure and arrival. Our Father God is not finished yet, but I can assure you (as I have assured my dad) that final preparations are underway.

Don’t Put Your Hope in Susan Boyle

Altha and I went to see the movie “Blind Side” this weekend. As I reflected on its box office success ($150 million in the U.S. so far), I recognized this "Cinderella" story is just what hope-deprived people are needing right now. We want something/someone to believe in. Perhaps one of the warmest “feel-good” stories of this last year was that of Susan Boyle, a matronly middle-aged Scottish woman who rose to international stardom from her audacious performance on “Britain’s Got Talent.”

This last decade was full of the moral failures of those we looked up to—a decade of disappointment in our heroes and celebrities, of cover-up and deceit. From politicians to pastors, pop celebrities to sports champions, the media reveled in scandal and sensation, leaving many disillusioned.

People invested in this world can easily fall into despair. And so will we unless we keep a right perspective. Despair results whenever we replace God with someone else. Of course we don’t do it intentionally, but our disappointment reveals the truth about whom and what we are invested in.

Hope is one of the godly virtues (1 Cor. 13:13): it is a looking forward to eternity. It is not wishful thinking, but finds its substance in the reality of unseen things (Heb. 11:1). The Bible is replete with stories of men and women who left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. And because they put their hope in God they were not disappointed (Psalm 43:5; Romans 5:5). If you were disappointed to the point of despair this last year, maybe your ‘hope’ was in the wrong place.

Is Your Life Profitable?

Some are calling it the “Lost Decade”— net loss in job growth; a decline of middle-class incomes (adjusted for inflation); and a lower Dow Jones average in 2009 than ten years earlier. The only gain was an increase in household debt—117%. After the robust 90’s who could have imagined a decade without profit! You can be sure for the next ten years, our fiscal leaders will be working to make our nation profitable again.

Through the prophet Isaiah, the LORD says “I am the Lord Your God who teaches you to PROFIT and will lead you by the way you should go.” (Is. 48:17). Throughout the centuries men have prayed to their gods to make them profitable! But the profit Isaiah speaks of is not that which the world seeks. The word ‘profit’ comes from the word ‘ascend,’ i.e., to ‘go higher.’ God is saying ‘I will teach you a higher way.’

As aliens on this planet, our home is in a higher place—and we are more concerned about building treasure in heaven than earning profits on earth. Just imagine God as a prudent financial planner who teaches you how to invest your assets to get the best profit. As a wise planner He discerns the path to success—and “the way you should go” is heavenward. Jesus teaches us that denying your own interests and following Him is very profitable. But as any investor will tell you, when considering long-term investing, you’ll need to be patient; and especially Christ’s disciples: their investments won’t fully mature until they reach heaven.

…for what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Mark 8:36)

Fear Not! And Keep Your Pants On!

Since the 2002 shoe bombing, we have to remove our shoes to go through airport security. Now with the “underwear bomber”… well, I’m just relieved to know someone has invented “Body Scanners!” Indeed, some rather unusual precautions have been (and will be) taken as a result of the fear of terrorism. It has added a new dimension to the term: “fear of flying,” (or is it fear of dying?).

After Adam sinned, his first words were ‘I was afraid’, a precursor of mankind’s future fear driven choices and behaviors. Not surprisingly, the admonition to “fear not” is used over 150 times in the Bible. When the angel approached Mary announcing the birth of Jesus, he said “fear not” (Luke 1:30) Then the same words were spoken to the shepherds in the field (Luke 2:10). It’s as though God was saying ‘now that My son is here, you need no longer fear.’ And of course, there were many times in the course of His earthly ministry when Jesus said “fear not.” It seems pretty clear that Jesus came to put an end to fear.

The writer of Hebrews explains that “…by dying, Jesus broke the power of the Devil, who had the power of death, to deliver those who lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying” (Heb. 2:14-15 paraphrased). Think about it. When you are no longer afraid to die, there is nothing left to fear.

As I reflected on this, I thought of the Muslim extremists. One of the reasons the Al Qaeda will be difficult to defeat is that they are not afraid to die. What if we Christians were like that? The devil can only defeat us to the degree that we are afraid to die. But the death we fear most is not physical death (end of life) as much as we are afraid to die to the things we love (end of self). If every Christian was not afraid of the latter, how different would the world be today?

What Are You Resolving to Do This Year?

While most of us wouldn’t admit we might be making New Year’s resolutions, I doubt there are many of us who are not thinking today of some things in our life we want to change this next year. Given that, I want to share three resolutions from Scripture.

1) Paul’s resolution: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (2 Cor. 2:2).
2) David’s resolution: “Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.” (Psalm 17:3)
3) Daniel’s resolution: “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.” (Daniel 1:8)

The resolve to change is within the heart of each of us. But the capacity to change resides souly within the heart of those who become Christians [because they] become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! (2 Cor. 5:17, NLT). Ray Stedman says: We think that we have to change the way we act in order to be different; God says, No, I have made you different, and when you believe it you will automatically change the way you act.” (from his book Guilt to Glory)