To greet you today with a “happy” Memorial Day seems a bit contradictory, don’t you think?
When I was a child my family attended a church called “Memorial Baptist.” Although I didn’t question it at the time, as I reflect on it now, I realize what an odd name it was for the church of the Living God. On Memorial Day we remember men and women who have died in the service of our country. In a way, they died for us! Maybe that’s what the founders of the Memorial Baptist Church were thinking.
A memorial is also an object which serves as a focus for memory of a person who has died—a gravestone or plaque or a cross. But a church as a memorial doesn't set right with me, as though it were a big tomb! I do realize, however, the Lord’s Supper is a memorial ("this do in remembrance of me”). Jesus wanted us to remember He died for us.
Well, I’m not going to be able to resolve this paradox today. But this one thing I know. Unlike the fallen heroes and man-made gods of this world, of whom there is nothing left but a memory, “our hope [on this day of memories] is in the Living God” (1 Tim. 4:10).
Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Nowhere to Run To
“The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations… God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it” (2 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13).
When Peter and Paul wrote these words, they weren’t only talking about personal temptations, but the tribulations that had already started coming up against the Church. (In fact, shortly thereafter, both Peter and Paul were violently martyred.) In writing these words, it was their intent for these ‘new’ believers to know they could trust God in their crises—He would provide a way of escape.
Last week in Joplin, Missouri, when the terrible tornado came, people were unprepared—they had nowhere to run to for safety. It reminds me of Daniel’s words about how people will react in the end times: “many shall run to and fro…"(12:2-4). What does ‘to and fro” mean? Could it mean people who run around in a frenzied manner, “like a chicken with its head cut off?” Could it describe fearful persons who don’t know that God is the only way of escape? “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10).
When Peter and Paul wrote these words, they weren’t only talking about personal temptations, but the tribulations that had already started coming up against the Church. (In fact, shortly thereafter, both Peter and Paul were violently martyred.) In writing these words, it was their intent for these ‘new’ believers to know they could trust God in their crises—He would provide a way of escape.
Last week in Joplin, Missouri, when the terrible tornado came, people were unprepared—they had nowhere to run to for safety. It reminds me of Daniel’s words about how people will react in the end times: “many shall run to and fro…"(12:2-4). What does ‘to and fro” mean? Could it mean people who run around in a frenzied manner, “like a chicken with its head cut off?” Could it describe fearful persons who don’t know that God is the only way of escape? “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10).
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Lord May ReturnTomorrow
By now everyone knows Mr. Camping was mistaken. The Rapture did not occur on May21st. What has occurred, however, is a lot of mockery—about Harold Camping, but also about the whole notion of the Rapture. And not only on the View or Late Night shows, as we might expect, but from mainline media.
You and I knew that the rapture could have happened on the 21st, but not because of Mr. Camping’s calculations, but because we know the rapture can happen any day. May 21st was just one possibility. Personally, I am a little disappointed it didn’t happen when he said it would. Weren't you? Hasn’t He planted a desire for eternity in our hearts? (Ecc. 3:11)
While the Lord said that no one would know the day or hour, He also said we should be able to recognize the signs of the times. (Matt. 16:2-3) Likewise, Paul said that the coming of the Lord should not take us by surprise (1 Thess. 5:4). So don’t let one man’s misguided interpretation of the “day” and “hour” numb you into ambivalence. We are to be watching and waiting, not ignoring the signs of His coming. Read the following words of Jesus, in light of recent catastrophic events.
“Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don't really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, "Everything is peaceful and secure," then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman's labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes… be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded" (1 Thess. 5:2-6NLT).
You and I knew that the rapture could have happened on the 21st, but not because of Mr. Camping’s calculations, but because we know the rapture can happen any day. May 21st was just one possibility. Personally, I am a little disappointed it didn’t happen when he said it would. Weren't you? Hasn’t He planted a desire for eternity in our hearts? (Ecc. 3:11)
While the Lord said that no one would know the day or hour, He also said we should be able to recognize the signs of the times. (Matt. 16:2-3) Likewise, Paul said that the coming of the Lord should not take us by surprise (1 Thess. 5:4). So don’t let one man’s misguided interpretation of the “day” and “hour” numb you into ambivalence. We are to be watching and waiting, not ignoring the signs of His coming. Read the following words of Jesus, in light of recent catastrophic events.
“Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don't really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, "Everything is peaceful and secure," then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman's labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes… be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded" (1 Thess. 5:2-6NLT).
Monday, May 23, 2011
Loosey-Goosey Christianity
Last Friday, I mentioned I had read an editorial in USA Today about the future of faith in America. The author, Oliver Thomas, said the new generation’s faith is becoming less creedal, in favor of experience and relevance. According to Thomas, “the days of orthodoxy [a prescribed set of beliefs] are numbered.”
These are the same people who say they are “spiritual but not religious” (see my blog post “Burger King Spirituality,” June 11, 2010). They say they want a faith that is unbound by doctrinal restraints—and a God who is not so uptight, one they can relate to. While on the surface it might look like a good thing that the new generation wants to experience God, the fact is, what they are really doing is replacing faith with feeling—relation over reason. Even the author, whose sympathies for the new generation were quite apparent, referred to this new style of Christianity as “loosey-goosey.”
As I read the article, two things struck me. First, an article ostensibly written about Christian faith had no mention of Jesus. And second, it seems to me it is yet another proof that Christianity is under attack by “deceitful spirits” and “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). To the Thessalonian Christians Paul wrote there would be a time of “falling away” [apostasy] before Jesus' return. Jesus had previously warned this deception would be so severe that even the 'elect' would be mislead (2 Thess. 2:3; Matt. 24:24). Watch and pray. With the recent publication of Rob Bell’s book “Love Wins,” suggesting that a loving God would never send anyone to hell, it appears the apostasy is rapidly approaching.
These are the same people who say they are “spiritual but not religious” (see my blog post “Burger King Spirituality,” June 11, 2010). They say they want a faith that is unbound by doctrinal restraints—and a God who is not so uptight, one they can relate to. While on the surface it might look like a good thing that the new generation wants to experience God, the fact is, what they are really doing is replacing faith with feeling—relation over reason. Even the author, whose sympathies for the new generation were quite apparent, referred to this new style of Christianity as “loosey-goosey.”
As I read the article, two things struck me. First, an article ostensibly written about Christian faith had no mention of Jesus. And second, it seems to me it is yet another proof that Christianity is under attack by “deceitful spirits” and “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). To the Thessalonian Christians Paul wrote there would be a time of “falling away” [apostasy] before Jesus' return. Jesus had previously warned this deception would be so severe that even the 'elect' would be mislead (2 Thess. 2:3; Matt. 24:24). Watch and pray. With the recent publication of Rob Bell’s book “Love Wins,” suggesting that a loving God would never send anyone to hell, it appears the apostasy is rapidly approaching.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Will Tomorrow be the Judgment Day!?
Harold Camping is claiming tomorrow we will be raptured and the 'day' of God's judgment will begin, ending six months from now on October 20th, when the world will end. But that’s not all. Did you know that Harold Camping, who formerly predicted judgment day on September 6, 1994, also teaches that the church age is over, that the Holy Spirit has left the church.
You may be wondering how Camping came to this conclusion. He focuses on the "hidden" meanings of texts and numbers—for example, the number of servants in Abraham's house or the number of swine drowned in the Sea of Galilee. But this is no laughing matter. The whole world is watching this embarrassing debacle—Camping has paid millions to mount a billboard campaign all over America’s freeways, proclaiming the imminent disaster. Pundits and cartoonists are having a heyday!
Last week I read an editorial in USA Today about the future of faith in America. The author Oliver Thomas says the religious landscape is changing: today’s new generation of Christians no longer want to adhere to doctrines and beliefs but want a new brand of Christianity with a “big God who is unbound by Scripture of learned scholarly limitations.” After this, can you blame them?
Paul’s words ought to be shouting at us today: a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching but will follow their own desires and look for teachers to tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear, rejecting truth and chasing after myths. (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Oh, and by the way, I’ll see you Monday!
You may be wondering how Camping came to this conclusion. He focuses on the "hidden" meanings of texts and numbers—for example, the number of servants in Abraham's house or the number of swine drowned in the Sea of Galilee. But this is no laughing matter. The whole world is watching this embarrassing debacle—Camping has paid millions to mount a billboard campaign all over America’s freeways, proclaiming the imminent disaster. Pundits and cartoonists are having a heyday!
Last week I read an editorial in USA Today about the future of faith in America. The author Oliver Thomas says the religious landscape is changing: today’s new generation of Christians no longer want to adhere to doctrines and beliefs but want a new brand of Christianity with a “big God who is unbound by Scripture of learned scholarly limitations.” After this, can you blame them?
Paul’s words ought to be shouting at us today: a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching but will follow their own desires and look for teachers to tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear, rejecting truth and chasing after myths. (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Oh, and by the way, I’ll see you Monday!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Take it Easy?
I just returned from a trip to Arizona. Having been on many out-of-state (and out-of-country) adventures in the last year, I recognize how every time I make plans that take me out of my routine, my patience is put to the test! With planes to catch, security checkpoints, waiting for this and that, trying to navigate unfamiliar roads and freeways—not to mention how much more intolerant I am of others when I’m stressed. At such times, while I’m hard on others, I make excuses for myself.
Regarding our own shortcomings, we say "I didn't mean to do it;" or "I couldn’t help it; I was under a lot of stress.” But when it comes to other people, we say: “He/she should have known better.” It’s easy to be hard on others. But A. W. Tozer said: “A spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself.” Yikes! (Or, in more Biblical parlance, “Woe is me; I am undone!”—Is. 6:5)
Jesus addressed this issue. “How can you think of saying, 'Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye” (Luke 6:42). But we tend to get this “log/speck” thing in reverse! Today the Lord convicts me with these words: “Therefore you have no excuse everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things” (Romans 2:1) Take it easy? I don’t think so.
Regarding our own shortcomings, we say "I didn't mean to do it;" or "I couldn’t help it; I was under a lot of stress.” But when it comes to other people, we say: “He/she should have known better.” It’s easy to be hard on others. But A. W. Tozer said: “A spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself.” Yikes! (Or, in more Biblical parlance, “Woe is me; I am undone!”—Is. 6:5)
Jesus addressed this issue. “How can you think of saying, 'Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye” (Luke 6:42). But we tend to get this “log/speck” thing in reverse! Today the Lord convicts me with these words: “Therefore you have no excuse everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things” (Romans 2:1) Take it easy? I don’t think so.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
“You Complete Me!”
I’ve been working on a term paper for my “Systematic Theology” class this week, and have not been able to pull my head out of academia long enough to produce a cogent devotional thought. But a statement in an article about Arnold Schwarzenegger and Marie Shriver’s separation caught my attention.
A divorce lawyer who was interviewed for the article speculated: “People have little tolerance nowadays for relationships that don’t fulfill them in all aspects.” That statement pretty much sums up the ethic of the day—I need someone to complete me. Everyone is searching for that “one” person.
If our lives were like a cup, we would certainly want to fill it with positive emotions and genuine fulfillment in life. And at a very early age, we begin to look for what we think can fill up our cups with positive things. We look to one of three sources, or all three, for the fullness we want—acceptance, worth, or performance. When Martha tried to be fulfilled by her performance, Jesus told her she had missed the “one” thing that Mary had chosen. When the rich young man tried to prove his worth by his good deeds, Jesus told him he had missed the “one” thing. When the woman at the well was trying to fulfill herself through acceptance, Jesus told her about the “one” that could satisfy her.
What is the ONE thing they missed? That Jesus was the only “One” who could fulfill them. And He is the only “One” to whom it is quite appropriate to say “You complete me!”
A divorce lawyer who was interviewed for the article speculated: “People have little tolerance nowadays for relationships that don’t fulfill them in all aspects.” That statement pretty much sums up the ethic of the day—I need someone to complete me. Everyone is searching for that “one” person.
If our lives were like a cup, we would certainly want to fill it with positive emotions and genuine fulfillment in life. And at a very early age, we begin to look for what we think can fill up our cups with positive things. We look to one of three sources, or all three, for the fullness we want—acceptance, worth, or performance. When Martha tried to be fulfilled by her performance, Jesus told her she had missed the “one” thing that Mary had chosen. When the rich young man tried to prove his worth by his good deeds, Jesus told him he had missed the “one” thing. When the woman at the well was trying to fulfill herself through acceptance, Jesus told her about the “one” that could satisfy her.
What is the ONE thing they missed? That Jesus was the only “One” who could fulfill them. And He is the only “One” to whom it is quite appropriate to say “You complete me!”
Friday, May 6, 2011
The Power of Two
As I read a book on prayer last week, I was struck by the phrase “the power of two-pray.” The idea of "two-pray" comes from Jesus words: Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst, [and] this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him (Mat 18:20; 1 John 5:14-15).
After God created Adam, He said “It is not good for man to be alone.” When Jesus sent out his disciples he sent them two by two. It was not merely a matter of being lonely if they had gone out singly, "Lone Ranger" ministry was not God’s design. He intends that one partner complement (complete) the other. The principle: two together do more than two apart.
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor, for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion, but woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Ecclesiastes 4:10-12).
After God created Adam, He said “It is not good for man to be alone.” When Jesus sent out his disciples he sent them two by two. It was not merely a matter of being lonely if they had gone out singly, "Lone Ranger" ministry was not God’s design. He intends that one partner complement (complete) the other. The principle: two together do more than two apart.
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor, for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion, but woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Ecclesiastes 4:10-12).
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Should We Celebrate the Death of Osama bin Laden?
People everywhere are celebrating upon hearing the news of the death of Osama bin Laden. But many born-again Christians are confused about celebrating a person’s death. God says: “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die?” says the Sovereign Lord; “of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live” (Ezekiel 18:23).
No one will ever forget “911” when Osama bin Laden’s band of radical Muslim terrorists—al Qaeda—flew into the World Towers and the Pentagon. President Bush called them “evildoers.” Did that create an impression that they were less than human? Since then the evildoers have become more ‘real’ to us—more human, as their pictures have been displayed in the papers—they do not look evil. They look like your next door neighbor, or the person standing in line at Walgreen’s.
What was Jesus’ attitude toward evil doers? “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). Forgiveness is the hardest of all Christian acts. It has no limit. No boundaries. The question is whether the Christian can forgive a murderer, a mass murderer, even — as in the case of Osama bin Laden. Although his death was seen as a victory in the war against terrorism, Christians should remember that Osama was a sinner, being held captive by Satan to do his will. And the loss of even one life to Satan is nothing to rejoice about. These are just my thoughts on the matter. I welcome your response.
No one will ever forget “911” when Osama bin Laden’s band of radical Muslim terrorists—al Qaeda—flew into the World Towers and the Pentagon. President Bush called them “evildoers.” Did that create an impression that they were less than human? Since then the evildoers have become more ‘real’ to us—more human, as their pictures have been displayed in the papers—they do not look evil. They look like your next door neighbor, or the person standing in line at Walgreen’s.
What was Jesus’ attitude toward evil doers? “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). Forgiveness is the hardest of all Christian acts. It has no limit. No boundaries. The question is whether the Christian can forgive a murderer, a mass murderer, even — as in the case of Osama bin Laden. Although his death was seen as a victory in the war against terrorism, Christians should remember that Osama was a sinner, being held captive by Satan to do his will. And the loss of even one life to Satan is nothing to rejoice about. These are just my thoughts on the matter. I welcome your response.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Discombobulated Again?
I’m a planner by nature. I keep a tight calendar, a to-do list, and usually have a pretty good idea of what I want to accomplish each day. But when God’s plans take me in a different direction, I get disoriented and, well,discombobulated! “Discombobulated!” I'll bet that's a word you haven't heard for a while! Appropriately, it means “having self-possession upset.” There you have it: one is discombobulated when he cannot “possess” his own plans—his plans are upset!
But it’s not just my plans that are upset. I get upset with myself: “Will I ever get to the point where I can respond contentedly when He redirects me?” I know that God’s plans are my only hope for joy and fulfillment. And God knows that when my own plans are thwarted, He gets my attention; and I turn to Him. You see, He loves me too much to allow me to continue on a wrong path.
I think this idea is well-captured by Watchman Nee. “After you give yourself to the Lord, He begins to break [upset] your plans. Everything seems to go wrong, and you protest and find fault with the ways of God. This is the tragedy of many Christians. My giving of myself to the Lord must be an initial fundamental act. Then, day by day, I must go on giving to him, not finding fault with his use of me, but accepting with praise even what the flesh finds hard.”
But it’s not just my plans that are upset. I get upset with myself: “Will I ever get to the point where I can respond contentedly when He redirects me?” I know that God’s plans are my only hope for joy and fulfillment. And God knows that when my own plans are thwarted, He gets my attention; and I turn to Him. You see, He loves me too much to allow me to continue on a wrong path.
I think this idea is well-captured by Watchman Nee. “After you give yourself to the Lord, He begins to break [upset] your plans. Everything seems to go wrong, and you protest and find fault with the ways of God. This is the tragedy of many Christians. My giving of myself to the Lord must be an initial fundamental act. Then, day by day, I must go on giving to him, not finding fault with his use of me, but accepting with praise even what the flesh finds hard.”
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
ON DAVID WILKERSON'S SUDDEN HOME-CALL, by Zac Poonen
Many believers have a question (sometimes unasked) as to how God could allow a faithful servant of His, like David Wilkerson, to leave this world through a car crash.
My answer is: We do NOT know all the facts concerning the accident and so we must not judge by what our ears have heard or by what our eyes have read. Jesus Himself never did that (Isaiah 11:3). We DO know however that David Wilkerson was a genuine man of God. He was certainly the one I respected the most in the USA. We also know that "the death of godly men is precious in the sight of the Lord" (Psa.116:15).
In David Wilkerson's last blog (on the very day of the accident) he had written: "In that darkness you will hear the Father whisper, 'I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.'" Those words seem to be prophetic. I believe God embraced David Wilkerson in his hour of pain - and that (as he wrote there) this was "no accident" in God's eyes.
Godly people will always seek to put the best construction on events that they do not have full details about. And even when we think we have all the details about an event, we still may not know ALL the facts. We must all be humble enough to acknowledge that. So it is best to leave such matters with God. "The secret things belong to the LORD our God. Only the things that are revealed belong to us" (Deut.29:29). We should all kill our curiosity about matters that are hidden and unknown.
David Wilkerson was a great evangelist and a prophet - a unique combination of gifts that is almost never seen in the church. He was a new-covenant prophet and not an old-covenant prophet. Many believers do not understand the difference between old covenant prophets and new covenant prophets. Old-covenant prophets were tested by whether EVERY ONE of their prophecies were fulfilled EXACTLY AS SPOKEN (Deut.18:22). New-covenant prophets however are given by the Lord to the church to equip the saints to build the Body of Christ. This is stated very clearly in Ephesians 4:11,12. So new-covenant prophets prophesy primarily to challenge people to repentance - exposing un-Christlike attitudes in their hearts (1 Cor.14:24,25). If however such new-covenant prophets speak occasionally about future events, according to their understanding and discernment of certain situations, they may be mistaken, since we all "see through a glass darkly" (1 Cor.13:12). But that does not take away from the fact that they are still new-covenant prophets.
We should all thank God for the example of such a man as David Wilkerson - who lived a godly life until the very end, had such a uniquely anointed ministry, and who stood for the truth uncompromisingly until the very end of his life. Let us consider his example and follow him as he followed Christ (1 Cor. 11:1) "Remember your former leaders, who spoke God's message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7 - Today's English Version)
My answer is: We do NOT know all the facts concerning the accident and so we must not judge by what our ears have heard or by what our eyes have read. Jesus Himself never did that (Isaiah 11:3). We DO know however that David Wilkerson was a genuine man of God. He was certainly the one I respected the most in the USA. We also know that "the death of godly men is precious in the sight of the Lord" (Psa.116:15).
In David Wilkerson's last blog (on the very day of the accident) he had written: "In that darkness you will hear the Father whisper, 'I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.'" Those words seem to be prophetic. I believe God embraced David Wilkerson in his hour of pain - and that (as he wrote there) this was "no accident" in God's eyes.
Godly people will always seek to put the best construction on events that they do not have full details about. And even when we think we have all the details about an event, we still may not know ALL the facts. We must all be humble enough to acknowledge that. So it is best to leave such matters with God. "The secret things belong to the LORD our God. Only the things that are revealed belong to us" (Deut.29:29). We should all kill our curiosity about matters that are hidden and unknown.
David Wilkerson was a great evangelist and a prophet - a unique combination of gifts that is almost never seen in the church. He was a new-covenant prophet and not an old-covenant prophet. Many believers do not understand the difference between old covenant prophets and new covenant prophets. Old-covenant prophets were tested by whether EVERY ONE of their prophecies were fulfilled EXACTLY AS SPOKEN (Deut.18:22). New-covenant prophets however are given by the Lord to the church to equip the saints to build the Body of Christ. This is stated very clearly in Ephesians 4:11,12. So new-covenant prophets prophesy primarily to challenge people to repentance - exposing un-Christlike attitudes in their hearts (1 Cor.14:24,25). If however such new-covenant prophets speak occasionally about future events, according to their understanding and discernment of certain situations, they may be mistaken, since we all "see through a glass darkly" (1 Cor.13:12). But that does not take away from the fact that they are still new-covenant prophets.
We should all thank God for the example of such a man as David Wilkerson - who lived a godly life until the very end, had such a uniquely anointed ministry, and who stood for the truth uncompromisingly until the very end of his life. Let us consider his example and follow him as he followed Christ (1 Cor. 11:1) "Remember your former leaders, who spoke God's message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7 - Today's English Version)
Monday, May 2, 2011
A Violent Death
Last week, one of the Church’s giants in faith, David Wilkerson, was killed in a head-on collision. I wondered about the violence of David’s death. It’s one of those things that David would have told us not to fret about—just trust in God’s sovereign goodness, and don’t try to make sense of it.
As I reflected on the violence of his death, however, I thought to myself ‘David died much the way he lived.’ His was a ‘violent’ Christianity, living every day with passion and power, as though it were his last. He lived with self-abandonment. David Wilkerson was one of the Church's “violent men” who take the kingdom of God “by force” (Mat. 11:12). The “gates of hell could not prevail” (Mat. 16:18) against David Wilkerson and the mighty army of men and women he raised up.
But the words “violent” and “force” do not tell the whole story. He was a very humble man, a servant leader—even as Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death (Philippians 2:8). David did violence to his own flesh long before an auto accident took his life so violently. Likewise, Peter, Paul, James, and most of the Apostles and early followers of Jesus died violent deaths. But they were all long dead to this world before that happened—men who “did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die” (Rev. 12:11), even a violent death!
As I reflected on the violence of his death, however, I thought to myself ‘David died much the way he lived.’ His was a ‘violent’ Christianity, living every day with passion and power, as though it were his last. He lived with self-abandonment. David Wilkerson was one of the Church's “violent men” who take the kingdom of God “by force” (Mat. 11:12). The “gates of hell could not prevail” (Mat. 16:18) against David Wilkerson and the mighty army of men and women he raised up.
But the words “violent” and “force” do not tell the whole story. He was a very humble man, a servant leader—even as Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death (Philippians 2:8). David did violence to his own flesh long before an auto accident took his life so violently. Likewise, Peter, Paul, James, and most of the Apostles and early followers of Jesus died violent deaths. But they were all long dead to this world before that happened—men who “did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die” (Rev. 12:11), even a violent death!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)