You live in a ‘what?’

Two days ago, I wrote that Paul was a tent maker. Afterward, it occurred to me that his spiritual calling was not so dissimilar. In writing to the Corinthians, Paul said we are living in a tent (this body) that will be replaced by a permanent spiritual house. Paul may have been a tent maker by day, but he taught house building by night.

Coincidentally, Jesus is called the architect of our faith (Heb. 12:2). And our inner man is called God’s temple (1 Cor. 6:19). But more to the point of this post, Paul says we are God's ‘building,’ which is a verb (not a noun), meaning and emphasizing the “process of building.”

The basic idea in 2 Cor. 5:1 is that God is building a completely new house for the believer’s spirit, “a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” What a difference it would make in our daily choices if we had a revelation of this truth: In cooperation with God, we are now building the house we will live in forever. 

Are we Loving Gays as Jesus would?

Arizona's Legislature passed a bill that would allow business owners to assert their religious beliefs in denying service to gay and lesbian customers. The Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative Christian group supported the law. Just last night, AZ Governor Jan Brewer vetoed the bill. Meanwhile, in Uganda, President Museveni signed an anti-homosexuality bill that will demand life sentences for certain homosexual acts. Behind Uganda's anti-gay movement is an implied influence of Christian missionaries.

Whether or not Christians influenced these laws is almost irrelevant since the idea is already firmly planted in the minds of non-believers. Where did the church go wrong that we, purveyors of God's love to the world, are characterized as vendors of hate? Let's face it. Gay rights are here to stay. Gay marriage will be the law of the land in short time. Thus, the church's challenge is to acknowledge the cultural change without endorsing it. And to love gays without surrendering moral values.

Living on the Cutting Edge

Paul's trade was tent making. So, who lived in tents in the Apostle Paul's day? Most likely, Roman soldiers lived in tent camps. And 1st century travelers might have needed a tent to use where inns were few and far between.

 Paul's trade gives special meaning to the word, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who is … accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15), because the phrase “accurately handling” literally means  “cutting straight.” Paul knew the importance of cutting straight pieces of fabric to avoid making windy tents!
 
Paul’s meaning, then, is that we should study the Bible in its entirety, so we can rightly connect all the parts. Otherwise, our doctrine will be full of holes—like people living in windy tents, “tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching” (Eph. 4:14). Knowing the Word of God, and having sound doctrine, will become increasingly more important “in later times [when] some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1).  I think we are living on the cutting edge.

Weighing in on Obesity

Thirty-five percent of Americans are overweight enough to be labeled obese. Was the author of Hebrews writing to obese people when he told them they should put off the weight that was hindering their progress (12:1)? Hardly.

The rich young man who came to Jesus weighed in on his own progress, telling Jesus, “I have kept the law; is there anything I lack in order to have eternal life?” (Mark 10:20-21). Weighing his success by his religious (and material) gains, Jesus said those things were weighing him down.

Even as the Surgeon General is warning of an alarming level of obesity in America, more of our pastors ought to be weighing in on spiritual obesity. Many seemingly good activities, “things on earth,” may be weighing too heavily on our minds, hindering us from “setting our minds on things above” and “doing weightier things” (Col. 3:2; John 14:12).

Self-Examination v. Self-Centeredness

There is great merit to reflective, candid self-examination. In the Old Testament, Haggai told the Jews to “consider your ways” (1:5, 7). Paul admonished the believers to “examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith” (2 Cor. 13:5). But then almost in contradiction, he said, “I do not examine myself... It is the Lord himself who will examine me” (1 Cor. 4:3-4 edited), which sounds like David's “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me” (Ps. 139:24-25).

Question: Is the examiner me or God? Answer: Yes!

The danger of too much self-examination is self-obsession. That is why, after we examine ourselves, we need to confess our sins, receive forgiveness, and move on. As self-examining believers, we run the risk of being so focused on who “we should be” that we fail to see who “we are,” in Christ, and who “HE is” in us.  Even worldlings know too much internalizing is unhealthy. They say, “keep your eyes on the prize.” Likewise, we can avoid the same by “keeping our eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:2).

Snake-handling: Crazy Faith?

Last week in Kentucky, Jamie Coots, a snake-handling pastor, died after being bitten in a Sunday service. His son said his father had been bitten before, but this time it was “just crazy.” What does the Bible say about “snake handling?” Only in an isolated, disputed passage in Mark 16:18, “And these signs will accompany those who believe… they will pick up snakes with their hands… who will not hurt them.”

What is the basis for our faith? Is faith blind? Is it ever crazy? Must it be intellectually void? Consider Jesus; He engaged the cerebral giants of his age in discussion, asking hard questions to make them “consider” and “think” about things. Can we conclude that Jesus wanted His disciples to have thoughtful, intelligent faith? Likewise, the highly intellectual Paul, emphasized the importance of a renewed mind and renewed thinking—spiritual intelligence.

The basis for spiritual intelligence is Biblical knowledge: knowledge of the character of God and His will depends on our knowledge of the Bible, accurately handling the Word (2 Tim 2:15)—not handling snakes, “text proofing.” Pastor Coots’ son was right. The snake-handling service was crazy. But, faith is not crazy. It is spiritually discerned by those with spiritual wisdom and spiritual intelligence (1 Cor. 2:9-16).

Stubborn Camels and Sewing Needles

After telling a rich young man  he would have to give up all his possessions to inherit eternal life, Jesus told his disciples, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Camels are so stubborn even if you could manage to fit one through the eye of a needle, he wouldn't go!) Astonished at his statement, they asked, “Who then can be saved?” And Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Mat 19:23-27).

Jesus deliberately exaggerated to make the point that no one can save themselves. The rich young man thought he could, but departed in disappointment, unwilling to do what Jesus asked. I wonder how many people in our churches today think they can be true believers without giving up their treasures, “gaining the whole world, but losing their souls” (Mat 16:26). But the good news is that He's able to change the heart of a rich man even if he's as stubborn as a camel! The next time you face something impossible, think of stubborn camels sand sewing needles; and remember: nothing is impossible for God.

Ignoring all the Warnings

Is it just part of human nature to ignore warnings? Like traffic lights, speed limits, and laws against texting while driving! Or, is it a sign of the times?

This month in Atlanta, traffic was completely stopped, and travelers were trapped in their cars overnight when a snow storm caught them off guard, even though forecasters warned state and city officials of the storm's severity. Also this month, Congress approved a debit limit extension, ignoring economists' warnings of the long-term effects of living beyond our means.

The Jewish people, from Jeremiah to John the Baptist, had a history of ignoring the prophets who warned them of imminent danger if they didn’t turn around. “They refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing” (Zech. 7:11).  Given mankind's penchant for ignoring warnings, I cannot deduce if it is a sign of increased lawlessness, or just a recurring pattern of sinful nature. Either way, it doesn’t bode well for our future. And that is a sign of the times.

The Middle East Mess

These days, all eyes are glued to the volatility in the Middle East. The Arab Spring destabilized regimes in Tunisia, Algeria, Libya and Egypt. Syria and Iraq have become awash with competing insurgencies. In Turkey, the Muslim Brotherhood is gaining popular support. Saudi Arabia and Iran are saber-rattling for regional dominance. And throughout the region, irreconcilable differences between Sunnis and Shiites cloud every issue. (Not to mention the futility of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.)

 

As Iran moves relentlessly toward production of its first atomic bomb, it is anyone's guess how close the Middle East is to nuclear battle.  Many think it is only a matter of time before Israel strikes Iran preemptively. And as the clock runs out, the world fearfully awaits the fireworks!  But we, who know that the Middle East is center stage for prophetic fulfillment, are not afraid. These volatile regional events are precursors to the return of Christ when this knotty “Middle East Mess” will be unraveled—forever!

How’s Your Appetite?

After several months of hunger-suppressing chemo-therapy, I am getting my appetite back. As I was reading an article about how to increase your appetite, it occurred to me that a lot of believers struggle with a low appetite for God’s word. The reason: a steady diet of the world’s empty-but-filling foodstuffs can suppress one's craving for spiritual fare.

Here are a few suggestions on how to increase your hunger for God's food, remembering that man does not live by bread alone (Matt. 4:4).

First, eat small amounts more frequently. If you feel full after eating only a small amount, try eating small amounts throughout the day. Second, maintain regular mealtimes. (By the way, many people have their best appetite in the morning, when they're rested.) Third, eat more when you are hungry—those times when you feel that craving. And finally, create a pleasant mealtime atmosphere. For example, use soft music, candles or nice place settings. In other words, make your meals a special time and place.

What makes a Church Great?

As I was reading the book of Acts, I was struck by the word “great,” in describing the early church—‘great’ power, ‘great’ grace, ‘great’ fear, and ‘great’ joy (Acts 4:33; 5:11: 8:8).  The Greek word is “mega,” a prefix used in English: megahertz, megabucks, megacorporation, and, significantly, megachurch. The words describing the early church all denote quality. Power, grace, fear, or joy are not quantifiable, very unlike the ‘great’  or mega churches of our day, quantified by their superior numbers.

Is the megachurch a sign of the times? Are they not in danger of becoming like ‘big box stores’ that attract a consumer-driven, bargain-hunting crowd, while driving small churches out of business? More importantly, are they making disciples? After all, how many sheep can a shepherd shepherd? The opportunity for making disciples has to be ‘greater’ in churches with less than 100 (60% of U.S. churches) than 10,000. And wouldn’t that make small churches “great?” To you who are pastors of small churches today, be encouraged by God's words to Zerubbabel, “Do not despise the day of small things” (Zech. 4:10). Small things can be great!

Where are the Tears?

“While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death” (Heb. 5:7). 

Of Andrew Bonar, a Scottish minister used mightily of God during the great Revival of 1839-1840, it is said, he cared, wept and prayed like Jesus.

In the 17th century, Samuel Rutherford, said, “A bed watered with tears, a throat dry with praying, eyes a fountain of tears for the sins of the land are rarely to be found among us.”
 
Recently, David Smithers of the “Awake and Go Prayer Global Network,” wrote, “Far too often our own eyes are dry because we are blind to the needs around us... blinded by the temporal, we can no longer see the holiness of heaven and horrors of hell.” (edited)

Is Technology Spinning Us Out of Control?

With technology advancing so rapidly, is anyone concerned how it is changing us? It was only a century ago we began to drive and fly; and since then, we've gone from “Nuclear Age” to “Space Age” to “Information Age.” In the last 30 years, new inventions are arriving at the fastest rate in history. Can anyone contend that they are not radically, and irreversibly, changing our lives? Are we better off?  And if so, at what cost to the human psyche?

Can we look to social scientists for the answer? Unlikely. Cultural changes resulting from new technologies are coming too fast to be observed for long-term effects. By the time a longitudinal study begins, users have already moved on to the next latest thing.

How our civilization will cope with this amazing speed of change is yet to be seen. Is it a sign of the end time, “when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase” (Dan. 12:4)? Maybe. But one thing is certain. As Spirit-led believers, we must beware of changes in our culture, and how they are changing us, and more importantly, how they may be hurting us and our faith (Ps. 139:24; 2 Cor. 13:5).

2014 Grammys Reflect a Not-So-Subtle Cultural Shift

Beyoncé's Erotic
Performance

Only if you never watch TV or read newspapers would you not know that the cultural highlight of the Grammys two weeks ago was a mass marriage ceremony (conducted by Queen Latifah) that included 33 straight and gay and transgendered couples. During the ceremony, the song “Same Love,” aka, the gay marriage anthem, was sung by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. This Grammy moment was a not-so-subtle reminder of the cultural shift that has taken place in the last decade. 

Most Americans opposed gay marriage just ten years ago (both Presidents Clinton and Obama did), but now it is not only acceptable; it is celebratable. And, anyone who espouses, pun intended, a conservative biblical standard of marriage is said to be (phrases from the song “Same Love”) “playing God,” and “paraphrasing a book written thirty-five hundred years ago.”
                               
Yet, the Grammys didn’t just reflect a shift in views about marriage. The level of sensuality throughout the evening seemed to reach a new high—or should I say ‘low.’ Do the Grammys reflect the values of mainstream America? Probably not. But they do impact them. One wonders what cultural shifts lie ahead in 2014.

Starting Over

Since I began blogging over 5 years ago, I have learned a lot about how to write succinctly. Consequently, I have gone back and re-written and/or re-formatted some of my earlier posts; it's like getting a chance to start over. Don't I wish it were that easy in the real world. Is there anyone who never wished they could erase some part of their beginning and start again? But, there are no “do-over's” in “time.”

In the spiritual realm, however, we are not only promised a new start, we are incited to it. After Paul promises us  we can be “renewed” each day (2 Cor. 4:16), he urges us to “walk in newness” (Rom. 6:4). Jesus tells us to treat each day as new, not looking back regretfully (Matt. 6:34; Luke 9:62). And this is better than a ‘do-over.’ “It means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor. 5:17). Don't allow yesterday's mistakes to infect your new day. (Col. 4:5)

Judge? Yes. But don't be Judgmental

Whenever Christians express disapproval of something the Bible calls a sin, they will be reprimanded with the favorite words of those who are otherwise ignorant of the Bible: “Judge not” (Matt. 7:1).

According to Jesus, it is not judging, but judgmentalism that is wrong. Opposed to a judgmentalism stemming from a sense of moral superiority, Jesus said, “First remove the beam from your own eye; then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” In other words, don’t be hypocritical; judge yourself first. 

Judgmentalism is wrong, but moral judgments are not (the Bible is replete with them). For Biblically-centered believers, explaining what the Bible calls 'sin' is part of the job description, especially given the degree of biblical illiteracy and moral ambiguity in our secular culture.  So the next time you are accused of violating the “judge not” rule, turn it into a teaching moment, explaining the difference. But, don't forget to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

You have just Entered the No-Blame Zone

Shifting blame is a sure sign we are the “sons” of Adam, who not only blamed Eve, but God too—“After all, God, you gave this woman to me!” I wonder what the rest of Adam’s very long life was like. How long did it take him to stop blaming God?  Imagine how awful it must have been to see the consequences of his wrong choice played out in subsequent generations.

But aions later, God is still getting the blame for the world's troubles. “Mother Nature,” a euphemism for a sovereign God, is blamed for every natural disaster; and every man-caused tragedy evokes the thought on everyone's mind, “Where was God?” When calamity strikes you, what is your first response!? 

I know this blog post is not the right venue for a ‘theodicy’—a defense of God’s character in an evil world. Suffice it to say that one day, Satan will be judged; and sin and suffering will cease. Then everyone who blamed God will understand. Until then, let us make every effort to stay in the “No-Blame Zone.”

The "Affluenza" Defense

Does anyone remember the 1978 shootings of SF Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk?  In a controversial verdict, Dan White was convicted of manslaughter (not murder) due to what became known as the “Twinkie” defense. His lawyer convinced a jury that he suffered diminished capacity by depression that was worsened by eating too much sugar, including Twinkies.

Last month, a 16-year-old boy from Texas who killed a family of four in a drunken car crash, was convicted of manslaughter, but got no jail time—probation only—due to the expert witness of a psychologist who persuaded a jury that the boy, from a wealthy family, had a feeling of privilege, called “affluenza,” which diminished his capacity for judgment, and was deserving of a lighter sentence.

Perhaps the precursor to this “I-can't-be-blamed; I-have-a-disorder” cop out was the 1970's expression made famous by Flip Wilson, “The devil made me do it.” As a psychologist, I know there are legitimate disorders, but this “blame-it-on-someone-else” excuse is as old as Adam’s “she-gave-it-to-me” defense in the Garden. Might this be one way the spirit of lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:6-7) is manifesting itself today?

The Pope's Birds of Pray Attacked by Birds of Prey

In a symbolic gesture in St. Peter's Square last week, Pope Francis released two doves of peace after praying for peace in the Ukraine. Then (symbolically), the just-released doves were attacked by a black crow and a sea gull. Short of a few feathers, the doves broke free and flew away, their ultimate fate unknown.
 
It’s hard to imagine a more fitting picture of failed attempts at peacemaking. From the birth of civilization to the present, the world suffers violence. So, nations seek peace. Leaders negotiate for it. Millions pray for it. Militaries fight for it. Imagine a leader who could promise world peace.
 
But that won't happen until Christ returns: “The government shall be upon His shoulder; and His Name shall be called the Prince of Peace. And of the increase of His peace there shall be no end…” (Isa. 9:6-7). Ignorant of this, however, the world's quest for peace continues, until the arrival of a false man of peace, the Antichrist (Dan. 8:25) who will swoop down like a bird of prey on people who are as naïve as doves.