Would You Like Fries With That?

I love the book of Hebrews. But it’s a not an easy read. Not what you’d call the milk of the Word; it’s definitely what Paul meant by “solid food” (1 Cor. 3:3). However, in chapter 5, the writer reproves the Hebrew Christians as yet being like babies, still drinking milk, and unable to digest solid food. Further explaining, he says; “by this time you ought to be teachers instead of needing someone to teach you…” (5:12-14).

Beginning with mother’s milk—with all the necessary nutrients for early life—babies must advance to solid food for development of teeth, bones, muscles, and in particular, the digestive system itself.

A relevant comparison for today is that most Americans are so accustomed to eating processed foods (Fast Foods, frozen foods, canned foods), they are nutritionally deprived and digestively challenged. The over-processing of food has made digesting almost irrelevant.

Likewise, too many Christians are passive pew-sitters & radio-listeners, receiving digest-able teaching from someone who has spent hours chewing on the meat of the Word so they might receive it. But all the real work of masticating has been done for them. The result: they are unable to digest and absorb into their spiritual ‘blood stream’ anything but the simplest truths: their spiritual growth is stunted.

Let us be careful we do not get lulled into passivity by our pastors’ sermons, our great TV and radio teachers, and a plethora of good books, and forget how to feed ourselves the Word. “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)

How’s your appetite? Are ready for a good meal? (Skip the fries!)

Are You COPING or CONQUERING?

What would you think of me if I told you I own a watch that doesn’t keep good time? It usually runs about 30 minutes slow by the end of the day, but each new morning, I reset the time, hoping it will do better. First, you’d think my expectations are oddly low. Second, you’d want to know who the watch maker is so you can avoid purchasing one.

It seems to me this is how most Christians live their lives—with such limited expectation they bring into question the reliability of their Maker! Ouch!

ARE YOU JUST COPING WITH YOUR IMPERFECTIONS?
The Bible says we are free from the power of sin. In fact, the Bible tells us we should be pursuing “perfection” (also translated “mature” and/or “complete”) in our walk with God (Hebrews 6:1). This presumes that “perfection” is possible. Not afraid of using superlatives, Paul says: “we are more than conquerors.” YET IT SEEMS TO ME MOST CHRISTIANS DO MORE COPING THAN CONQUERING! We say ‘no,’ we will never be free of those nagging sins, always controlled by those nasty temptations. It’s just the way we are, we say; after all, we are sinners.

Why is it so hard for us to believe the power of sin is broken? Why do we so easily believe in the power of our sinful self life, but find it hard to believe in the greater power of Christ’s life? Paul says the life of Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. Yet we still believe that sinning is inevitable!

Andrew Murray said: “The necessity of sinning daily and the impossibility of living for one day without actual transgression is a deeply-rooted belief in most Christians. Confusion about the believer’s freedom from the power of sin is so universal that most Christians consider it a dangerous doctrine.”

A. B. Simpson said: “most Christians hold to the subtle belief that it is impossible to be kept from sinning.”

Ray Stedman said: “This struggle can cease only when we reckon on who we really are in Christ. It is a new self-image that delivers us. When we begin to think of ourselves as God thinks of us, we will find we have the power to say ‘No’ to sin.”
The Bible says we are sons of God with a new identity (John 1:12; 2 Cor. 5:16-17) no longer slaves to the power of sin (Romans 6:6, 11). The greatest mistake Christians make is interpreting these wonderful truths by their own experience. They say “the Bible says I am dead to sin, but I seem to be alive,” paying more attention to their experience and feelings than to absolute truth.

Meditate on Paul’s statement on perfection: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own… [so] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus… let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way…” (Philippians 3:12-15, RSV). In other words, let's raise our expectations!

Take a Stand

Every day in the news, I read of politicians unwilling to take a stand (we call this ‘sitting on the fence’) on the important moral issues of our day: gay marriage, abortion, legalization of marijuana, internet pornography. Remember when Obama was asked about his position on abortion? He replied: “that’s above my pay grade.” [I am not disparaging our president; I am merely pointing out his unwillingness to take a stand.]

Because the proponents of these issues have managed to re-define them from issues of “morality” to “civil rights” and “free speech” issues, even many Christians are being deceived. And they are afraid to take a stand. But alas, I am not really wanting to talk about political issues!

Last year, I took a stand against a popular celebrity preacher. Some of my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord were uncomfortable with my stand, and some advised me against using “harsh” language. I respectfully toned down my language, but held fast to my position that this man was an enemy of the cross (Philippianss 3:18).

I believe the time is coming when we will all have to take a stand for truth. Paul warned “that in the later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).

And how will we know deceitful spirits? They will NOT be teaching the cross. Paul said: “we preach Christ crucified…for the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23,18). Will you take your stand with me today for the preaching of the cross of Christ?

If a person doesn’t stand for something, he will fall for anything.

Is the End Near?

Threats of nuclear attack from rogue nations; unending terrorist insurgencies in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq; unresolved Israeli/Palestinian conflict; unparalleled numbers of earthquakes, incomparable floods, unprecedented global recession; warnings of global warming (endangering polar bears and cuckoo birds)—just a few of today’s headline stories—reminders, or perhaps heralders, of this earth’s ultimate doom.

Is the end near?

In his Newsletter this week, our longtime friend and trusted teacher Lambert Dolphin said: “I am following world affairs far more closely than ever this year because of the speed of major developments around the world. I believe we are very near the end of the age, which means the Lord Jesus could well return for His church at any time now. Christians in the First Century hoped He would take place back in their day. We can't predict the date, but the news is full of signs that the Stage of History is now being set for the last act in the history of this age. Up ahead will be a terribly violent time culminating in the return of the Lord Jesus to restore and rebuild His planet and His people.”

Jesus told His disciples: "…be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming…” (Matthew 24:42).