Frontline Faith!

Recently when a friend sent me a link to a missional program called “Life on the Frontline,” I was struck by the word “frontline,” a military term for the heaviest place of battle, where soldiers are in the trenches and closest to the enemy.

Paul says, “Endure suffering along with me. As a good soldier of Christ Jesus, put on all of God’s armor, for we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world” (2 Tim. 2:3-4; Eph. 6:12-13). Peter also uses a martial metaphor, “Since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also for the same purpose” (1 Pet. 4:1). In other words, God's warriors should never go to the frontline unarmed!

In the last days, Jesus is looking for those who have the “frontline faith” of happily conscripted armed servicemen and women, willing to take a stand for ‘unpopular’ truth, even if it means giving up their lives for the “Captain of their Faith” (Heb. 12:2). Will He find us on the “frontline” when He returns?

Resistance, Russia, and the Devil

Warned about possible sanctions if they do anything to escalate Ukraine’s internal conflict, what did Russia do? They flew jets into Ukraine's airspace and aligned themselves with rebel Russian Ukrainians over control of the rebel-held town of Slavyansk—whose outcome could determine if Russia takes control of the whole of eastern Ukraine.  

Should it surprise anyone that after invading Crimea with almost no resistance from the U.S. or Europe, Russia is pushing the boundaries (quite literally), changing geopolitics for decades, even centuries.

Not to infer that Putin is the devil, the word “resistance” brought to mind a spiritual truth—we have to resist our enemies. If you “resist the devil, he will flee from you” (4:7). Imagine that! We have the power to put the devil to flight! And not unlike what is going on in Russia and Ukraine, if we do not resist him (giving him the advantage), the personal outcome will be disastrous. “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will stand firm (Eph. 6:13).

You're not a Saint until the Pope says you're a Saint!

Dear saints, I cannot let yesterday's historical religious event go without a comment. In a ceremony at Vatican City, watched by millions on Satellite TV, Pope Francis canonized John XXIII and John Paul II. In Roman Catholicism, canonization only happens by papal authority after a long process proving the person lived and died in such a holy way that he or she is worthy to be called a saint. 

Can the Roman Catholic tradition be reconciled with biblical teaching? Not at all.

In Roman Catholic theology, the “saints” are in heaven. In the Bible, the “saints” are on earth. In Roman Catholic tradition, a person does not become a “saint” unless he/she is “beatified” by a bishop or “canonized” by the Pope. In the Bible, everyone who has received Jesus Christ by faith is a “saint.” In Roman Catholicism, the “saints” are prayed to. In the Bible, “saints” pray. (Acts 9:32; 2 Cor. 8:4; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:2; Heb. 6:10)

There are No Losers Anymore

A recent study in England shows a majority of children less concerned about competition, winning or losing, than just playing for fun, the cultural effect of the 21st century “we’re-all-winners” philosophy! As good as it sounds, how does a life without loss prepare children for the adult world of disappointment and rejection? And what happened to the notion of building character through defeat?

Likewise, our spiritual children must have a solid doctrinal understanding of adversity, or they will lose hope and abandon their faith when hard times come. Jesus said, “whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it… Everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property for my sake will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children, wife or property—along with persecution. And in the world to come, eternal life” (Mark 8:35; 10:29-30). In other words, in God’s economy, the biggest winners are the losers!

“Heaven is for Real” - the Movie

Not having read the book, “Heaven is for Real,” I was quite curious to see the movie; I had lots of questions, wondering why it was generating so much interest. Author, and father of Colton, Todd Burpo said he is very satisfied that the movie portrays his book accurately and honestly. In fact, Todd claims that God is telling the story. Why, I wondered? Is the Bible incomplete? Or will Colton's story turn non-believers into believers? And then I remembered the story of Dives who, from his place in Hades, asked Abraham to send someone to warn His brothers: “If someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.” To which Abraham replied, “They won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:30-31).

While the Bible gives few details of Heaven as a ‘place,’ it gives us a few amazing sights of the king of Heaven. Isaiah says, “I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Is. 6:1). Ezekiel saw Jesus: “high above on a throne was a figure like that of a man, glowing, as if full of fire, and brilliant light surrounded him.” (Ezekiel 1:26-27). The Apostle John saw “someone like a son of man, his eyes were like blazing fire, and his face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance, and the throne He sat on was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian.” (Rev. 1:13-17; 4:3). Upon seeing Jesus in His glory, John and Ezekiel fell down like dead men. Isaiah felt his sinfulness: “I am a man of unclean lips” (6:5).

In contrast, the 4-year old Colton’s view of Jesus is that of a white man with blue-green eyes, curly brown hair (John tells us Jesus' hair was white, like wool), dressed in a plain white robe. And that's a problem: Colton's “Heaven” is too earthy. And believers in his heavenly visit are more taken up with natural details and knowing which of their relatives he saw in Heaven than they are about the enthroned Jesus.

One reviewer said, “'Heaven Is for Real' gently shares biblical truths in an accessible and non-preachy way—offering hope, encouragement and a strengthening of faith for both Christians and non-believers alike.” Non-preachy or otherwise, it is doubtful there is enough truth in the movie to bring a non-believer to Christ or, for that matter, to lift a believer higher because of its underlying message of "universalism." In answering who can go to Heaven, the film ends with a cross-less, Christ-less message of universal love.

Elusive Rest

When a person dies, we say he has entered his “final rest.”  But there is another death that leads to rest: being “dead to self and alive to God” (Rom. 6:11).

Unfortunately, many believers have not understood this “dying to live” principle. It is very simple: we are legally dead to sin, but as we live in this world, we must die experientially. And as we do, He gives us rest (Matt. 11:28). But for those yet alive to self, in its various hyphenated derivatives, i.e., self-importance, self-defense, self-promotion, ‘rest’ remains elusive. 

Today as you commemorate Easter morning, don't forget that after Jesus arose, “He sat down at the right hand of God,” a posture of rest: His work was done (Eph. 1:20; Heb. 12:3). And now we, having risen with Christ, are “seated in the heavenlies” with Him, entering His rest (Eph. 2:6; Heb. 4:11). But since this capacity for resting is something we grow into, I can just imagine that whenever we start to feel the restless pull of life on earth, Jesus is saying, “Please come up here and take your seat”?

The Cross is Personal

When Jesus picked up a wooden cross and died on it, He was not dying for His principles. It was personal—He died “for” you and me. And when Jesus said “pick up your cross” (Luke 9:23), He made the “cross” even more personal—that we die “with” Him. 

“Your cross” points to something individual, and personal: to give up ownership of your desires, ambitions, and plans. Not that they are sinful (some of them may be), but they now serve God's purpose. Jesus warned his cross-bearing followers that devotion to Him would mean a detachment from things on earth, even the right to one’s own life:

“You are not your own; you are bought with a price that you should no longer live for yourself, but for Him who died and rose again on your behalf” (1 Co. 6:20). Only by picking up your cross, by losing your life, will you find your life (Matt. 10:39). And you can't get any more personal than that. Have a blessed Easter!

Restless Sheep and Popularity Contests

Any high school election is just a popularity contest. Hopefully, when these teens are old enough to vote in a general election, they will also be mature enough to judge candidates on legitimate merits, not on good looks and personality.

That said, in my lifetime, I've observed an increase of popularity contests among churches, as they try harder and harder to outdo each other in attracting large crowds. Sadly, though, most churches are not increasing the flock with “new believers” but by “transfer” growth, people moving from one church to another. This is sometimes referred to, especially by the 'losing' church, as “stealing sheep.”

In the Church at Corinth, the sheep were aligning themselves with the most popular shepherds within the local church, causing divisions (1 Cor. 3). While this was condemned by Paul, he did not address any problem with “transfer” growth (after all, there was only one church). In our day, there seems to be an increase of restlessness among the sheep. Is this another sign of our times?

What's in the Bottom Drawer of Your Night Stand?

A new George Barna poll finds a sharp increase in the number of Americans who consider the Bible a book written by men rather than God. Even among self-proclaimed Christians, only twenty percent read the Bible regularly. And the number of Millennials who are skeptical of the Bible has doubled since 2011.

At the same time outside the U.S., the number who want a Bible, but don’t have one, is exploding—the Voice of Martyrs reported their Bible waiting list is 200,000. While these Bible-less believers wait, the average American Christian's Bible sits in the bottom drawer of his/her bedside table, gathering dust!

French philosopher Voltaire wrote in 1728 that in 100 years the Bible would have passed out of history as people became more enlightened. Since then, more than 5 billion Bibles were printed and sold. Voltaire is dead now, but “the Word of God is active and living” (Hebrews 4:12); and one of Voltaire's houses later became a printing and storage center—for Bibles.

The ‘Signs of the Times’ on Steroids

End-times scholar Hal Lindsey  says, “I am amazed at the speed with which events are moving today. The Bible tells us that in the last days, the ‘signs’ of the times will appear with ever-increasing frequency and intensity. In our modern lingo, maybe we could describe this phenomena as the signs of the times on steroids!”  What are these signs?

One of the most significant signs is that Israel has become the center of geopolitics—and Jerusalem the most sought after real estate on the planet. And considering Iran’s threat of nuclear attack, if Israel strikes preemptively, it would surely destabilize the world's political and financial institutions, necessitating world restructuring, most probably in the form of a one-world government made possible by new technology, and setting the stage for a messiah-like person who will promise to restore peace and order.

Of course there are other signs, most of which are too disheartening to speak of. No wonder Jesus said, “When you see these things happening, look up!” How else can we not let them get us down?

How do Muslims View the End Times?

Did you know many Muslims believe that the end times are here? According to Mideast expert and theologian J. Richardson, many jihadists have joined the conflict in Syria because they see it as an apocalyptic war. Just before the Muslim messiah, Mahdi, comes to earth, there will arise a Sufyani, an enemy of Mahdi, who will battle for control of the earth. Such are the implications of the Syrian conflict. And because of this end-time perspective, jihadists are willing to fight to the death.

In addition to being just plain fascinating, the Islamic end-time doctrine evokes thoughts of Christian themes: Armageddon, antichrist, martyrdom, and John's description of the tribulation saints who did not love their life even when faced with death (Rev. 12:11). When Jesus told his first followers to pick up their cross, they knew exactly what he meant: they had seen thousands of their countrymen crucified by the Romans. But unlike Islam, Christians don't die for a cause, but for Christ's glory! The start of Passion Week is a good time to consider the question: Have I given up everything to follow Christ (Matt. 10:28)?

The Biggest Cultural Paradigm Shift in History

Last week, after the Mozilla CEO's support of California’s Proposition 8, against gay marriage, became known, he was forced to resign his post. Was this a victory for gay rights, or a setback for free speech?

According to Dr. Albert Mohler, “endorsement of same-sex marriage has rather suddenly become nonnegotiable”—those in opposition judged to be unenlightened bigots, racists, homophobics and xenophobics. Mohler declares, “the debate is essentially over, the conclusion foregone; the legalization of same-sex marriage in every state is only a matter of time, and probably not much of it at that” (edited). Mozilla’s action reinforces the notion that intolerance of liberalism will not be tolerated.

Should we fear what this portends? Yes. Society’s rejection of traditional values has resulted in the greatest, and fastest, cultural paradigm shift in history. And in its wake, pulling in young evangelicals who question whether a ‘Christianity’ that was wrong about the Crusades, about slavery, about civil rights, about its own hypocrisy, may also be wrong about homosexuality. Is the church losing its moorings? Can a shipwreck be far off (1 Tim 1:19)?

Having "All Things" in Christ and a Flat Screen TV Too!

Yesterday I was driving through our neighborhood and saw a rooftop TV antenna, bringing to mind the days when we had little TV sets with rabbit ears and 3 channels. When we got rooftop antennas with more reception, we were ecstatic. And then, color TV. I remember feeling deprived that we still had a black-and-white when others had color. Imagine that; I thought a color TV would make me happy.

But it did not take me long to realize the fleeting pleasure of “things.” A very wealthy and wise King Solomon said, “Human desire is never satisfied” (Prov. 27:20). And who better to attest to the vanity of “things.” He had every “thing” (Eccl. 1:8). If he were alive today, no doubt he would have a humongous home theater!

Jesus warned of vainly pursuing “things” (Matt. 6:32); yet promised to give us “all things:” every “thing” we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), the spiritual, psychological, and physical resources required to accomplish the “things” He created us to do.  (Eph. 2:10; Phil. 2:12-14). But in order to take full possession of “all things,” we must let go of our “things.” And there isn't any “thing” worth more than that (Matt. 16:26)!

A “Home Invasion”

Through former CIA spy Edward Snowden’s revelations last year, U.S. citizens found out their government is secretly watching them more than they knew. Every internet search, view, and purchase (even though in the privacy of our homes), along with every phone conversation, is not only observed but is apparently being stored in cyberspace. Some might say this is a violation that is nothing short of a “home invasion.”

But if this “home invasion” makes you feel vulnerable, think about the Spirit’s “holy invasion” [see yesterday’s post] of your heart. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable” (Heb. 4:13). How would it change us, I wonder, if we had a greater revelation of the Holy Spirit’s ownership and occupation of our body and spirit which are His dwelling place: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples [homes] of the Holy Spirit who is in you… and that you are not your own?” (1 Cor. 6:19), a “home invasion” that began the instant you gave Jesus the key.

Your Own Jihad: a Holy Invasion

Most everyone knows that the Arabic word “jihad” means a holy war against the enemies of Islam. But you probably did not know the Koran also gives it a broader application: it also means an internal spiritual struggle—probably not unlike our biblical term “spiritual warfare.” And like “jihad,” our “spiritual warfare” denotes both an inner and outer battle: the latter, our battle with the “god of this world” and demons in the heavenly realm (2 Cor. 4:4, Eph. 6:12); the former, the warring of the Spirit against our unruly flesh (Gal. 5:17, Ro. 7:23) in order to bring it into subjection.

Significantly, one of the primary strategies of “Jihadists” is to secretly invade the place they plan to attack. Similarly, the Holy Spirit employs an aggressive invasion strategy—a ‘search and destroy’ mission in our hearts, to root out everything that is un-holy in us. Unlike jihad, though, it is truly a Holy Invasion, and He is a welcomed invader. “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Ps. 139:23).

What Next? Holograms?

In what seems a confirmation of the world’s technological readiness for apocalyptic events, Pope Francis will become the first pontiff to be seen globally in 3D in a Vatican ceremony on April 27 when he will perform an unprecedented double canonization of his predecessors, John Paul II and John XXIII.

The high-profile event, produced by the Vatican TV Center, will be beamed into 3D movie theaters across the planet in what is being touted as the first convergence of HD, 3D and 4K technologies.  What next?  Holographic images? 

Historically, media moguls have exercised amazing social and political influence over the masses. And with today's technologies, world leaders can control what information people receive, and ultimately, what they believe. When the antichrist comes into power, he will deploy the greatest misinformation campaign the world has ever seen, in 3D.

Civil Rights and Wrongs

Last week, Michigan became the 18th state to allow gay marriage after a U.S. District Court overturned the State's law defining marriage as between a man and a woman. When the Courts began redefining moral issues as civil rights, our culture took a moral U-turn, catching biblical conservatives off guard. As it is highly doubtful these decision will be reversed, our challenge, going forward, is to defend the integrity and authority of God’s Word despite claims that a book written eons ago is no longer relevant.

To have thoughtful, intelligent discussions about  civil rights and morality will require diligent Bible study (2 Tim 2:15) by us whose duty  it is to judge ‘modern’ issues against the ageless principles of Scripture. And not with rigid legalism, but in words seasoned with grace and love (Eph. 4:15, 29) to  express the heart of God. (Do you remember how Moses incurred God’s wrath when he struck the rock in anger?)  Our charge is to show the world that He is a God of love and grace and, yes, HOLINESS—no matter how ‘uncivil’ it may seem!

God is Alive in Your Nearby Movie Theater

After yesterday's post on the movie “NOAH,” it's starting to look like I'm a movie critic, but I must plug “God’s Not Dead,” (Altha and I saw it Saturday). Not a perfect film, but all in all, engaging and inspiring. The story of a college freshman who is told by his philosophy professor he will fail the class unless he denies the existence of God, or can otherwise prove that God exists, provides the backdrop for the movie’s multiple characters, each of whose commitment to follow Christ is tested, at great personal cost.

The thing that impressed me most about “God’s Not Dead” is that it communicates a significant and timely message to our prosperity-prone, easy-to-believe Christian culture: to be willing to suffer the loss of all things in order to gain Christ (Phil. 3:8). With anti-Christian sentiment escalating through pluralism, we who claim to have picked up our cross to follow Jesus are sure to be tested. Will our faith translate into power and action?  “It is a trustworthy statement: if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure [suffer], we shall also reign with him; [but] if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Tim. 2:11-12).

A Hollywoodized “NOAH”

Controversy about the movie “NOAH” started even before the film hit the theaters.  And not just from fundamental Christians; three Muslim nations banned the film. Not to be thwarted, the movie topped $75 million at the box office.  The problem with “NOAH” is not just that Hollywood writers took creative license to turn the brief Genesis story into a 2-hour feature. They totally debased it: the act of creation is adapted to fit evolution; God is seen as condemning, not redeeming; God’s mercy to save is subverted by His desire to destroy. And rather than a “preacher of righteousness” (2 Pet 2:5), Noah is a murderous sociopath. 

Of course Hollywood's version is man-centered; the Genesis account, Christ-centered. The flood pictures the need for a Savior; the Ark personifies the Savior. The door points to Jesus, “I am the door; by Me if any one enters in, he shall be saved” (John 10:9). And did you know that the door to Noah's Ark remained open, to all, until the very end!?  They say the movie is never as good as the book. Isn't that the truth! (In fact, that is the only true thing you can say about  the movie “NOAH”!)

April Fools for Christ

I googled April Fools' Day, wondering if I could find some hidden insights. Wikipedia says its practices include, among other things, sending someone on a ‘fool's errand,’ that is, trying to get people to believe ridiculous things. You can imagine this description caught my attention. According to Paul, “the preaching of the cross is foolishness [ridiculous to believe in] to those who are perishing” (1 Cor. 1:18). 

Paul was not afraid of appearing foolish. When he said, “We are fools for Christ, but you are wise” (1 Cor. 4:10), he was scorning the Corinthians for priding themselves on their astute and eloquent preaching. (They were too smart to go on a ‘fool's errand!’)

I think April 1 should serve as a reminder to all cross-bearing believers that we are called to be “Fools for Christ.” And what better maxim for the day than Jim Elliot’s truly astute and eloquent declaration: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”