Don't be Afraid to Lose what You cannot Keep

Paul makes the most amazing statement in his letter to the Corinthians. In the middle of his statements on marriage, he diverts to a more important topic—undistracted devotion to the Lord.

As if speaking right to our generation, Paul says, “The time is short. Therefore, from now on those who have wives should live as if they had none… those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep, and those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away; and I would like you to be free from concern. …I am saying this for your own good. … that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:29-35).

The fact is that most of us do have commitments that consume our time and attention.  In rather dramatic fashion, Paul is saying we should live almost as though these other commitments don’t matter (or even exist). Obviously we are not to ignore our spouses, or treat our houses and cars irresponsibly. But we must examine our thinking (Romans 12:2) to  make sure that even the good things in this life do not deter us from Jesus. “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3).

Whatever Happened to Hope?

A few weeks ago I read this amusing remark/joke: “Ten years ago, Steve Jobs, Bob Hope, and Jonny Cash were all still alive. And now in 2011, we find ourselves without jobs, hope or cash.”

With good intentions, Barak Obama ran for president on a promise of restoring hope. How disappointed he must be at the hopelessness he found. Last week, with the announcement of a 2.4% growth in the 4th quarter economy, hope appeared on the horizon—the stock market soared. But then yesterday, the European debt crisis negotiations started to fall apart; hope began to vanish.

Let’s be honest. Ever since Adam forfeited his dominion to Satan, the world has continued on its path of hopelessness—even to the point of self-destruction (think of the two World Wars last century). Indeed Satan is the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4) and the author or hopelessness and despair. Even Jesus called him the prince of this world (John 12:31, 14:30; 16:11).

Though Jesus has already redeemed fallen mankind from the power of Satan, the earth will not be restored until His 2nd coming. (Rom. 8:19-22) In the mean time, we mustn’t allow the spirit of despair and hopeless to infect us. Jesus said we would have trouble in this world, adding, “But take heart [courage and hope], for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). And by faith in Jesus’ victory, so will we “because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 5:4-5).

Occupy God

All this “Occupy” Wall Street and “Occupy” Oakland, ad infinitum, has got me thinking a lot about what it is I occupy and what it is that occupies me. I am afraid I am often so preoccupied with “life on earth” that I am not being fully occupied with God—or worse, allowing Him to occupy me.

Arthur W. Pink said, "How little real love there is for God."  In his opinion, the low level of spirituality in the church was a result of hearts being so little occupied with thoughts of God’s divine love. Then he went on to say, “The better we know His love—its character, its fullness, its blessedness, the more will our hearts be drawn out in love to Him." What greater occupation can there be, than to be occupied with seeking to comprehend, appreciate, and apprehend God’s love for us.

The majority of comments spoken by the “occupiers” of these various campaigns seem to spring from an underlying fear and insecurity. But for those who are occupied with God: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment [as with the Occupiers, a fear of harm that will come to them if ‘things’ don’t change]. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

“Don’t Believe Anything I Tell You,” by Jack Kelley (an edited version)

“I tell you the truth. This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” (Matt. 24:34) One possible interpretation of this verse is that the Lord was referring to the people who would be alive when the signs of the End of the Age began to appear. Notice it doesn’t say all the end times prophecies will be fulfilled in the span of one generation.  It says they will be fulfilled within the lifetime of those born at the time of the first sign.

The length of our days is seventy years, or eighty, if we have the strength (Ps. 90:10). I interpret this verse to mean the average 'normal' life span for man is 70. Data collected by the UN between 2005-2010 show that the world wide average lifespan is 67.2 years.  Never in history has the entire world's average lifespan been 70 years of age. According to this interpretation, the end times could not begin until Israel was reborn because the Lord’s specific signs required it. If Israel’s rebirth in 1948 was the first end times sign, and if all end times prophecies will be fulfilled within the lifetime of those being born at that time, that would place the 2nd Coming about 70 years after 1948, or 2018. If the last 7 years can’t begin until the church is gone then the likelihood of the rapture occurring in 2011 is very high indeed.

I’ll remind you again as I have before that this is just my opinion. It is not my intention to pin down a date, but only to suggest a general time because the Bible says end times events shouldn’t take us by surprise.  I’ll close by reminding you of Paul’s warning not to believe anything I tell you, but to search the scriptures and come to your own conclusion (Acts 17:11). You’d better hurry though, because if you listen carefully you can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah.

How are your listening skills?

This last week in my General Psychology class, as I was teaching my students the various personality theories, (Freud, Rogers, Skinner, etc.), I wanted to make sure they understood that these were all “natural” men who had developed “natural” ways to explain man, the who am I?—minus a biblical worldview.

As I was preparing my lesson, Holy Spirit reminded me that God is a Person—a Personality. (And He is not a theory!) And He can and wants to be known as  a Person who thinks, reasons, feels, judges, chooses, and, most importantly, communicates. Unlike thousands of man-made gods, ours is a speaking God.

From Genesis to Revelation, from Priest to Prophets, God spoke. And while the writer of Hebrews points out that Jesus is God’s final Word of salvation (1:1-2), he also indicates that God still speaks today, and that we need to pay attention to Him (2:2; 3:15). How? He speaks Spirit to spirit (1Cor. 2) thru the written Word.  He speaks by answering prayers. He speaks thru life events and everyday circumstances. So since we have a God who speaks, I think it behooves us to work on our listening skills.  I know I have room for improvement (now there's an understatement!).  What about yours?

Helmets popping off at an alarming rate!

I had one of those “laugh-out-loud” (LOL) moments this morning when I read the above-titled article in USA Today. Through the first 7 weeks of this football season, there have been 1,152 instances of helmets coming off in the middle of play. No serious consequences yet, but the potential for injury is great.

The problem appears to be the fault of players who are keeping the four buckles on their chinstrap so loose, the helmet easily pops off when a 250 lb tackler hits them.  The NCAA Rules committee is in angst over what to do.  One suggestion is to give the players a ‘time-out’—sitting out the next play—to make insubordinate players take this seriously.

My regular readers will recall that I wrote a blog post last week about the helmet of salvation which protects our minds during spiritual battle. Today’s ‘story’ adds a witty wrinkle to it.  The secret to keeping your “spiritual” helmet is making sure it is securely fastened, or in biblical parlance, after "putting on" the Word, we must “hold fast” to it. Paul says, “you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you” (1 Cor. 15:2).  Jesus says, “ I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown” (Rev. 3:11). When our helmet falls off, after an especially hard hit from the enemy, maybe it’s not such a bad idea to take a time-out to put our helmet back on and make sure it is securely fastened.

It’s time to get back to the Cross

John Stott, a biblical expositor whose depth & simplicity brought doctrinal clarity to millions of Bible students, passed away in August.  Just before his death, he was asked what was missing in the Church today. He answered: “I think we need to get back to the fact that the cross is the center of biblical Christianity.” It’s true. If you open the pages of your Bible to the center, you’ll find yourself somewhere in the Psalms. But if you were to cut open the Bible “surgically,” to find its heart, you would find the cross.

Speaking prophetically, Watchman Nee wrote, “We are in the last hours of this dispensation. The hand of the clock is approaching the hour of twelve. The Church is rapidly drifting into a state of apostasy, further and further away from God. Dark forces have been liberated which are producing as evil an effect upon the Church as upon the world. The Cross of Christ is the light that will illuminate the present darkness.”

There is a strong 'therapeutic' current running through church teachings today that God wants people to be happy and fulfilled. These Christians, not unlike worldlings, will not know what to do with the doctrine of suffering. But all things will make sense to those whose world-view is dominated by the cross, whose interest in this world has been crucified, and who are living the crucified life(Gal. 6:14; 2:20). 

Have you been WITH Jesus?

I love to study words. Sometimes even the smallest word can be loaded with meaning. Such is the word “with.” There are two words in the Greek language for “with.” One is functional, indicating accompaniment.  For example, “I am going with you to church.” But a second Greek word with expresses association, fellowship, and intimacy: the union of belief, convictions, actions and experiences.

When Peter and John healed a crippled man (Acts 4), the Pharisees became quite disturbed that Jesus’ name was being used and He was being glorified. And they were especially angry that they were losing control over the nascent, fast-growing, Christ-follower movement.  The Scripture says the Pharisees knew that Peter and John had been WITH Jesus (Acts 4:13).  By using this word with, Luke is saying the Pharisees were admitting that the disciples’ intimate relationship with Jesus was the source of their power.

Spending time alone, shut in your prayer closet, studying Him in the Scriptures until you really know Him: these are the ways we are WITH Jesus. Wouldn’t it be great if people would look at us and say “you have been WITH Jesus, haven’t you!?”

"Ding-Dong, The Witch Is Dead!"

The Wizard of Oz song "Ding-Dong, The Witch Is Dead," popped into my head last week, when, after the sadistic killing of Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyans danced in the streets. I had a first-hand experience with tyrannicide 33 years ago when I lived in Afghanistan. In a coup d’état that toppled the government, the President and 40 members of his family—women and children—were brutally massacred. The next day Afghans were jubilant!

So while I was not surprised by the primal mob instincts of the Libyans, I was alarmed by the casual attitude toward such barbarianism by the “civilized” world. No doubt criminal justice demanded Gaddafi’s death, but not to be slain like an animal, dragged through the streets, his body displayed on a filthy mattress in a meat locker. One world leader declared, "On this foundation, families, communities and the nation of Libya will flourish.” Ya think?

Can anyone believe a peaceful democracy can grow out of such anarchy? An ideology of hatred turned into one of forbearance and unity? “Hate begets hate; violence begets violence,” said Martin Luther King. “The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble,” said the Psalmist (46:6). Is this not further evidence  that “the secret power of lawlessness is already at work” among us? (1 Thess. 2:7).

“I’m all shook up” (or Not)

The increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters (particularly earthquakes) along with a  worldwide recession has really shaken people up.  And like scared occupants running out of a shattered building, shaken people are spilling out into the streets.  And not only in the U.S.  And it didn’t begin with Occupy Wall Street, but earlier this year in Tunisia, followed by Egypt, etc. The economic recession and high unemployment has uncorked the rage of the middle class toward the wealthy: a “people” shake.

A recent poll of 1,000 Americans reveals that 7 out of 10 are very pessimistic about an economic recovery anytime soon. And almost everyone believes another major terrorist strike in the US is inevitable. To the natural eye, everything seems to be turning irretrievably awful. In the words of Elvis, “I’m all shook up,” or, in the somewhat more hallowed words of the Lord: “I will shake the nations” (Haggai 2:7). Earthquakes have turned into nation-shakes. 

Haven’t you noticed that even people who don’t believe in God are beginning to wonder if these things mean that we’re nearing the end of the world?  Jesus told us these things would increase as time grew short: “When these things begin to happen, stand with confidence! The time when you will be set free is near” (Luke 21:28). So, keep looking up; don’t look down; and don’t be shaken. But like David, say, “I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me” (Psalm 16:8).

Keep Your Head

Rudyard Kipling once asked the question, ‘can you keep your head when all about you are losing theirs?’ His comment seems frighteningly fitting for our times. With the increasingly intense culture wars of our decade, has there ever been a time in history when we have been more sorely in need of keeping our heads?

To enable you and me to do so, Paul says (Eph. 6) God has given the “helmet of salvation.” The “helmet” is God’s way of protecting your mind and keeping your thoughts straight, i.e., keeping your head. It is a helmet of right thinking and a renewed mind (Rom. 12:2). Bible history is replete with those who, figuratively speaking, "lost their heads" because they were so much more mentally vulnerable than they thought they were. No surprise then that Jesus has given us a piece of armor to protect our minds!

Significantly, the “helmet” is one of the pieces of armor not fixed to the body, like the breastplate or belt. In other words, you have to put it on. And what soldier wouldn’t, if, in the throes of battle, he might lose his head? With the speed and intensity of anti-Christian arrows and spears coming at us, it is crucial to keep our helmet on, if we intend to keep our head.

The Dangers of "Higher" Education

With 21 post-graduate units in theology and a semester of teaching in college, I am acutely aware of the dangers of what-is-called “higher education.”

Several times in the Scriptures, the Lord mentions the fact that an abundance of or excessive reliance upon worldly education can actually be a hindrance to entering into the Kingdom. The beginning words of the Lord’s teaching on the Mount began with the blessing on “the poor in spirit.” According to Strong’s Concordance this phrase means “destitute of wealth of learning and intellectual culture which education affords.” God said He would destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to naught the intelligence of the intelligent (1 Cor. 1:19).

Please do not misinterpret my comments as “anti-intellectualism.” The mind is an essential part in faith: Paul says we are to grow in knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). And Jesus told us to love God "with all our mind” (Matt. 22:37).  The challenge to each of us is to be a diligent student of the Word (2 Tim. 2:15) so we may attain a truly "higher" education.

The Natives are Restless

The phrase "the natives are restless" comes from a 1933 film, “The Island of Lost Souls.” According to the Oxford Dictionary, the phrase is used facetiously to mean trouble is brewing. But more pointedly, it denotes a collective hostility toward authority and control.

Last week, I suggested that the emerging global insurgency, captured by the Occupy Wall Street movement, is the spirit of lawlessness predicted by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2.  Since then, the media are referring to it as "unrest."  Indeed, restlessness pointedly depicts this phenomenon.

In the book of Job, Satan is introduced as a restless creature, “roaming about on the earth and walking around” (1:7). And he is introduced in the book of Genesis as one disturbing the peace and rest of Eden, provoking Eve to distraction. And then at the other end of the Bible, Peter compares Satan to a roaring lion, prowling about restlessly.

While I have deep respect for the constitutional right of dissent, I can’t help but think there is something else happening on our planet. Isaiah says, “those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt” (Is. 57:20).  Don't those words capture the current global mood?  Earth’s natives are restless!  But be careful not to get caught up in it.  Rather, hold on to the One who said “Come unto me… and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

We Have Connections!

Without any fanfare, our cell phones had a birthday last week: the 25th anniversary of the first commercial cell phone call. Of course, since then, our cell phones have grown up.  And they’ve gotten smarter.

In the last decade, our Smart Phones have brought us from connectivity to hyper-connectivity.  And 24/7 instant connection has turned some of us into addicts. You can tell if someone is a connectivity addict by how often he checks his phone for messages!  (The average user sends 42 'texts' a day!)  So, what’s next?

Well, if I could predict that, I’d be a rich man. But I will offer you a rich spiritual analogy: we have 24-7 connectivity with God—hyper-connectivity. (And by the way, there are no “bad” connections to the Throne of Grace!) But like people who underuse their smart phones, some Christians don’t fully appreciate their 24/7 access to God. In the Old Covenant, people couldn’t imagine the privilege of connectivity we have. As New Covenant people, we have a hyper-connectivity smart phone users only dream of!

A. W. Tozer said “every believer can be filled with the Holy Spirit as much as he wants.” Even so, every believer is as connected to God a he wants to be!

Joel Osteen’s TGIF Gospel

Joel Osteen was on the Piers Morgan show last week, plugging his most recent book, “Every Day a Friday, How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week.” Once again, Joel Osteen is offering his own brand of highly therapeutic prosperity theology, with its focus on individual happiness and self-fulfillment.

In the gospel according to Joel, God wants His children to experience every day as if it were a Friday, meaning, every day should feel like the day before a good weekend. (Evidently, there are no ‘weekend warriors’ in Joel’s paradigm.) But Paul tells us (2 Tim 2) that a Christian is like a soldier, a farmer, or an athlete—denoting a “no-day-off” lifestyle, disavowing Joel’s “Have a nice weekend” gospel!

Every false teaching displaces sound doctrine for human experience. While I won’t say Joel Osteen is a false teacher, I will say that his message mirrors the therapeutic and psychological “feel good” philosophy that has invaded Evangelicalism in recent years. Self-development & self-improvement themes permeate evangelical teaching, justified by such words as ‘contemporary’ and ‘relevant.’ Whatever happened to “deny your self and pick up your cross?"

“Since Christ suffered, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer too... Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus… for if we endure hardship, we will reign with him.” (2 Tim. 2:3, 12; 1 Peter 4:1) Can you imagine Paul saying, “Thank God it’s Friday!?”

Should Evangelical Christians Vote for a Mormon?

Is Mormonism a cult or is it just idiosyncratic Christianity? The easiest way to recognize a cult is by its interpretation of the Bible and view of Jesus deity. Mormonism claims that Christianity was incomplete without The Book of Mormon, the Latter Day Saint (LDS) Scripture. With its own teachings and traditions, LDS rejects Christian orthodoxy.  And LDS teaches that Jesus was the brother of Satan.  Knowing this, can a faithful Christian vote for a Mormon candidate?

Well, Martin Luther might have voted for a Mormon! Quoted as saying that he would rather be ruled by a competent Turk (Muslim) than an incompetent Christian, his advice may well serve us in 2012. And we would have to admit that there are non-Christian candidates who share far more of our worldview and policy concerns than some others who identify themselves as Christians.

I still remember the opposition faced by John Kennedy in 1960 from evangelical Christians because he was a Roman Catholic. With increasing diversity in America, Evangelicals are facing unprecedented challenges (what about voting for an atheist?). So in answering today’s question, Evangelicals must think carefully and prayerfully. And it is probably best to do so before you arrive at the voting polls. “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you” (James 1:5 NLT).

Lawlessness in the Last Days

When the U.S. decided to help the citizens of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya overthrow their governments, I wondered how much thought was given to who would replace them. The ‘insurgents’ had no identifiable leaders; and the only thing uniting them was their shared hatred of totalitarianism. Now in Egypt, as internal fighting and power struggles begin, anarchy doesn't seem far off.

"Anarchy" (the state of lawlessness) is on the rise.  And is it this spirit of lawlessness that seems to underly the current Occupy Wall Street unrest that has spread all across the U.S. and to every continent. Some are calling it “a new age insurrection, in which aggrieved people—enabled by social media and inspired by uprisings in North Africa and Europe—are uniting in opposition to what's wrong with the world." But what can protesters, who are only united by their common anger and resentment, hope to accomplish? Without leaders, goals, or solutions, isn’t it just mayhem and chaos?

How are we to discern these things? First, we shouldn’t be surprised. Jesus warned that lawlessness would increase in the end times (Mat. 24:12). Second, we must not be enticed by the spirit of lawlessness and chaos which foretells the day of the Lord. (2 Thessalonians 2:4-11) We are witnessing an unprecedented increase in chaos and lawlessness in 2011 that is much more insidious than a local gathering on Wall Street.

“Dying is Even Better”

Why was Steve Jobs’ death such an international event?—Because Steve Jobs was one of the gods of Silicon Valley, worshipped for his ‘superhuman’ feats. But Steve Jobs knew he was no god; he was a Buddhist. And Steve Jobs made it clear he did not welcome death (Buddhism offers no guarantee of happiness in the hereafter). Upon his demise, Steve believed he would go on into a never-ending circle of reincarnation to receive whatever his karma had earned him. Steve Jobs departed this life with the fear of uncertainty.

The uncertainly of the afterlife is a reason people fear death.  But by His death and resurrection, Jesus has delivered us from the fear of death. (Heb. 2:14-15), which is now replaced with the hope of heaven!  (Shouldn’t we all have our bags packed—ready to go?)  Jesus promised His soon-to-be grieving disciples to take comfort upon his departure that He was preparing a place for them! Every day we are one day closer to being with Him forever.

Knowing a better life awaited him, Paul said “the human eye has never seen nor the ear heard the heavenly wonders God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9). Unlike Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, or any other ‘ism,’ we live and die with certainty: “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better” (Phil. 1:21).

Occupy Wall Street, Main Street, or Your Street

Having been a college student in the 60’s, I am no stranger to protest movements! The current Occupy Wall Street movement reflects our nation’s anger and frustration. In my opinion, it shares commonalities with its cousin, the Tea Party movement, each one wanting to fix what is wrong with our country. Unlike the Tea Party movement, however, Occupy Wall Street is still amorphous, yet to be defined by a specific set of demands. Both are united by shared values; both are occupied with the idea that something is wrong.

It think it is significant they are using the word “occupy.” Like all earthlings, they are occupied with the things on earth. But you and I know that the wrongs of this world’s systems (financial, governmental, and judicial) will never be righted. That is why we are admonished not to become occupied with them.

“Occupy” means to be busy, engaged, or hard at work. When Jesus used this word—“occupy until I come” (Luke 19:13)—was He not only telling His followers to be fully engaged and hard at work taking care of His business (the kingdom of God), but was He also implying we ought not to let the things of this world occupy too much of our attention? It seems to me that during these troubling times, it will be very easy to pay more attention to the things in the world than to what God is doing. Beware of getting too occupied with Wall Street, or for that matter, even your own street.

Stability has left the building

“Occupy Wall Street” is an ongoing series of demonstrations in New York City that has now spread all across the U.S., some of which are teetering on the edge of violence.  Last weekend, nearly 700 persons were arrested for trespassing on the Brooklyn Bridge.

What are they protesting? That’s the strange thing. It is an amorphous movement, less about specific issues than it is about discontent with the status quo—a demand for social and political change.  I think this movement is part of an emerging global restlessness. 

By now we are all familiar with the anti-government protests, known as the “Arab Spring.” But similar anti-government protests are even now occurring worldwide. Since the beginning of this year, there have been anti-government protests in 24 countries. Like a bad hurricane season, one protest after another is battering global shores. One commentator said, “Stability has left the building.”

Our world today has entered into one of the most challenging seasons of history. Has the entire world ever seen such chaos at once? Jesus expected His disciples to be able to discern the times.  Are we?

The Walls are Coming Down

Every house has to have functioning walls. Without walls, what would hold up the ceiling, keep the wind out, keep your neighbor out and the dog in? Walls are an integral part of, not only buildings, but of all civilization. Walls "hold up" the ideals of the entire human race.

Nehemiah is the story of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Walls were important to ancient cities—for protection: to keep the good in and the bad out! But Nehemiah did more than rebuild walls; he restored the spiritual lives of the Jewish people. After 70 years of spiritual neglect (without spiritual walls) the people were unrestrained.

This week a new movie called “Weekend” premiered at the South by Southwest film festival, receiving kudos from the mainstream media. The film covers 48 hours in the lives of two gay men who have a one-night stand. One film critic said the film is resonating with gay and straight audiences alike because filmgoers, no matter their sexuality, can identify with the characters’ fumbling feelings as their relationship evolves into something more meaningful the day after their sexual encounter. The film's producer says “we are pleased to see a broader audience embracing gay cinema; the walls are coming down.” They certainly are, “like a city whose walls are broken down" (Prov. 25:28).

Steve Jobs—World Changer— died yesterday

Steve Jobs was one of the greatest innovators of my generation, and it didn't take long for the people who loved their Macs, iPhones, iPods, iPads to begin paying their respects to this world changer.

Everyone would like to die believing they left the world a better place. There is something in all of us, a God-given desire, to make a difference in our world of family and friends. Is this not what Paul meant when he said in doing the ‘good works’ that God created for us to do, we would change our world (Eph. 2:10).

Steve Jobs' philosophy of life is summed up in the title of his 2005 Stanford commencement speech: "How to live before you die.” Steve Jobs had become a man of great reputation. But however noble it may sound, Steve’s Buddhist doctrine is an inside-out “truth” easily mistaken for the real thing. For the Bible says we can’t accomplish anything until we die to (give up)—selfish ambition, pride, and reputation (Phil 2:7). Only then, can we, as Jesus did (John 17:4), accomplish the things God has created us to do. Our commencement speech would be “How to die before you live.”

Paul’s secret to life is found in these words: “[I am] always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in [my] body…  death works in [me], so life [can work] in you” (2 Corinthians 4:10-12). The only real world changer that ever lived was Jesus.  So only His life in us can make us world-changers too.

Contagious Cantaloupes and Cognitive Contamination

Have you purchased any cantaloupes lately? The Center for Disease Control reports over 100 illnesses and 18 deaths, so far, from listeria-tainted cantaloupes—the worst such outbreak in a decade.

As I read the story, what seemed especially worrisome is that it can take up to two months before the food-borne illness, listeriosis, manifests. The thought that many people may still have the contaminated cantaloupe in their refrigerators is disturbing. Unlike other bacteria, listeria grows well at low temperatures. Why then is the FDA recommending that consumers rinse the cantaloupes under running water. I don’t know about you, but I think I’ll just toss the melons until this is under control.

About the same time, I was learning of this slow-growing bacteria, I read an article about “cognitive contamination”—the spoiling of our minds by cultural influences. Likewise, the contamination of our minds is a slow, methodical, gradual mental makeover. And, like listeriosis, it is covert.

Yes, indeed, clandestine cognitive contamination is a subtle Satanic scheme. Is this not the reason for Paul's war cry: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3-5).

The Solyndra Failure

Every morning on my way to SUM Bible College, I pass the Solyndra Factory on the Nimitz Freeway in Fremont. Solyndra is (was) one of the new “green” companies being sold by the White House as a model of “green” entrepreneurialism. You may recall that Obama stopped in at the Fremont Company last year for a photo op, while announcing He was providing a government-backed loan of nearly one-half billion dollars. Last month (less than a year later), the company filed for bankruptcy. Furthermore, they are under investigation by the FBI for possible fraudulent use of government monies.

Ironically, the “green” company’s motto was “what we do here will someday change the world.” Of course that refers to the development of an energy source (the sun) that will prevent this earth’s atmosphere from imploding into extinction because of the excessive greenhouse gasses. But I can’t help but see the irony here. All of the educated, intellectual, and entrepreneurial efforts of man to “change the world” and save mankind are only that—the futile attempts of man to save himself. I believe this is what Paul refers to as “wood, hay and stubble” and it is doomed for failure (1 Cor. 3:12, 15). It occurs to me that while the ‘natural’ man is striving for the “green,” the spiritual man reaches for the gold!

Well then, call me a Fundamentalist!

In response to an editorial in USA Today last week (“The Truth about Evangelicals”), a retired United Methodist minister wrote the following to the editor:

“I am a Christian and consider myself an evangelical—if you mean someone who believes in propagating the Christian faith. But I don’t believe that Christianity holds all the keys to the kingdom of God. It is more appropriate to use the term “fundamentalist” rather than “evangelical” in speaking of those who think that Christianity is the only way to the kingdom of God and that the bible is infallible. Since two-thirds of the people on our planet are non-Christian, the fundamentalist would say these two-thirds will spend eternity in the fiery flames of hell. Many fine people are fundamentalists… But their philosophy of religion is extremely judgmental and exclusive.”

Would Jesus be called judgmental and exclusive today? Let His words answer that question. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me… Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (John 14:6; Matthew 7:13-14). In our 21st century, anyone who dares to have an exclusive claim on religious truth will be labeled judgmental and exclusive and narrow-minded. Count me in.

What was that Martyr’s Name?

Worldwide, two hundred million people currently suffer persecution because they are followers of Christ. They are arrested, evicted and attacked because of their faith. They are intimidated, interrogated and imprisoned. They are beaten, burned, beheaded, starved, stoned, raped, knifed and killed.

These modern day Christian martyrs are nameless to the outside world. Their sacrificial dedication to follow Jesus has brought them no earthly fame or notoriety; they are unheralded sufferers for Christ. Having forsaken all, these anonymous individuals counted the cost and decide they would rather join the ranks of those who “suffered mocking and flogging, chains and imprisonment, with those who were stoned, sawn asunder, and slain with the sword—of whom this world is not worthy” (Heb. 11:36-39, ed.).

The reason I am writing this is that earlier this week, an Iranian Court convicted a 32-year old pastor of a 400-member church in Tehran of apostasy—sentencing him to death for renouncing his Muslim faith. The story was only given a few lines on page 5 in the SJ Mercury News. And I have seen nothing since. It seems he is about to become one more of the anonymous martyrs of this present day. What can you and I do? “Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies” (Heb. 13:3).

Yokes, Ploughs, & Oxcarts

None of the Gospel writers tell us much of Jesus’ 30 years in Nazareth—except Luke, who tells us a story of Jesus at age 12. When Jesus’ family was returning from their annual “Passover” trip to Jerusalem, they lost Jesus! Upon returning to the City they found Him in the Temple, astonishing everyone with his insight.  But after that, there is an 18 year period of silence. What was Jesus doing?

First, we know He submitted to the authority of his parents (Luke 2:51). It could not have been easy to submit to the will of his parents whose understanding of His mission on earth was very limited (Luke 2:50). Second, we know He worked in His father’s carpentry business. And since people did not have household furniture as we do today, He probably made yokes, ploughs, & ox carts.

For 18 years, the Son of God made yokes, ploughs & ox carts. Don’t you think there were times when Jesus was tempted to break out—to be free of the dull life in Nazareth? I know I would have been. And the Bible says He was “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).

Yet it was His obedience to those who could not possibly have understood Him that prepared him for His ministry to come. For 18 years in Nazareth, “He learned obedience through the things He suffered.” (Heb. 5:8-9). Making yokes, ploughs, & oxcarts may seem like an awful waste of time for the Son of God. But in such cicumstances, Jesus was perfected” (Heb. 2:10). Likewise, you and I will be perfected in our faith. What are your yokes, ploughs, & oxcarts?

Wanted: People of Vision

This semester at SUM Bible College, I am teaching a “College Success” course—a class to prepare incoming freshmen for the academical challenges ahead. One of the objectives of the course is to make them better managers of their time. Last week, after showing them how to set up tracking systems for their assignments, I asked them to make a list of their short and long-term goals. What I received was a plethora of desires and wishes that were not only un-measureable, but probably unattainable. It looks like we’ll be taking a second stab this week at how to establish specific, realistic and measurable goals.

But most of you reading this have already learned that clear vision and good planning is an essential part of success—right? Those who reach their goals in this life are those who have a clear vision of who God is, who they are, and what is His calling (2 Peter 1:10). They follow His vision—not their desires.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (KJV) or “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild” (NLT). The Hebrew word “vision” refers not to man-made goals, but to divine vision. We all know of pastors, missionaries and leaders who have left ministry, disillusioned and discouraged, by their lack of success.  I wonder how many mistook their goals and desires for God’s vision. Perhaps there’s a “freshmen class” lesson, or reminder, here for all of us.

Do Born Again Christians Have Smaller Brains?

The phrase right winger is a belittling term for political conservatives that seems to be interchangeable with born-again Christians. An editorial in this morning’s paper captures the essence of this anti-Christian sentiment: “right wing denial of evolution is a disastrous embrace of ignorance and superstition in the face of fact-based science.” Surprisingly, "evolution" has surfaced in this year’s presidential debates.  The other day, I came across a blog posting titled, “Born Again Christians Have Smaller Brains.” It was a satire on creationist Christians' inability to comprehend college level science.

Well, quite frankly, maybe we do have smaller brains. Maybe as the human spirit takes on its greater capacity for comprehending the things of God, things that are hidden from the world’s brainiest, a part of our brain atrophies. Maybe that part of the brain that makes men proud and boastful actually shrinks. Maybe that part of the brain that Paul calls “foolish wisdom” recedes.

Paul calls the wisdom of this world “foolishness.” “God has revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets… But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it… But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 1-2). Isn't that better than a big brain!?

Are We in the Red Zone?

In President Obama’s speech at the United Nations last week, he made this defining statement, “Something is happening in our world. The way things have been is not the way they will be.” (This is what might be called an understatement!) The entire world’s attention is focused on economic and political destabilization not seen since 1930.  It has all the drama of anxious coastal residents waiting to see where an Atlantic hurricane will land as it appears to be taking on all the qualities of a perfect storm.

The chief of the World Trade Organization said yesterday: “We are in a red zone. We are at a risk of repeating what happened in 2008—when market upheaval shook the global economy.” Unfamiliar with the term “red zone,” I went googling. The term was first used to describe a region of France that was decimated during World War I. More recently “red zone” was used to designate unsafe areas in Iraq after the 2003 invasion.  A “red zone” is a place to avoid.  Are we in the Red Zone?

But an even more alarming statement was made this week by the chief executive of one of the world’s largest investment banks.  In describing the inability of world leaders to solve this crisis, he said: “It’s like an orchestra with 2 sides playing different music and looking to the conductor—but there is no conductor.” The bible foretells a time when the world will look for a great leader: a man of peace, a messiah. But the Bible says shortly thereafter, the entire system of government and religion on earth will be brought to its end when Jesus takes the world stage to establish His kingdom. How close is it? Well, I think it's pretty close when people start looking for a leader to get us out of the “red zone.”