God is Good?

You may wonder why the title of this post is ended by a question mark. In my mind I imagine this statement said with a condescending and upward inflection. The reality is that many Americans, and other throughout the world even, ask this question of Christians all the time. Many who believe they are scientifically, or philosophically, "enlightened" are quick to point out to any Evangelical the "inconsistencies" within the Bible, and even the way the world is, in relation to who God is and what he does. Within my own dealings I have heard that, "The God of the Old Testament [or Tanakh] and the God of the New Testament are characteristically different." Also I have heard or been asked ,"How can God exist when all this bad is going on in the world [disease, war], and how could he allow 'good' people to die?" A closer look at scripture shakes the very fabric of these statements and questions, along with the perceptions of the world we have been taught.

First, we must understand that God is completely sovereign. He is the creator, sustainer, and ruler over all. He is fully good, and in his goodness he is completely just.

The next thing we have to do is understand our place as humans in scripture. Many people see humans as generally "good". This is what we learn as children and it gives us a false sense of entitlement. The reality is that we are not "good", not a single one of us. We are born into a world that is in a fallen state (Genesis 3). This is the reason that a sacrifice is needed to cover the sins of man (see Old Testament instruction in the book of Leviticus), but the blood of animals could not permanently cover sin, thus the reason for the death of Christ on the cross (Hebrews 10:1-18). We often fail to realize that God, being good, has full right to pour out his judgement on all of us. Yet in his goodness saw fit to send Christ as a permanent sacrifice for our sins.

A close look at scripture shows a God who is unwaveringly just, but also completely loving and good. The death of Christ on the cross is a testament to both of those characteristics. He is just, therefore there must be payment for our sin and rebellion, while being loving and good in that he sent his son to live a perfect life, then die and overcome the grave, so that we may live! He created us to give himself glory, and was not obligated to give us life in that, he would gain the glory either way. We see strong examples of this in the Old Testament, where God uses the Israelites, as well as other nations against them, to bring himself glory (as well as so many more examples). Yet he loved us so, that he covered our sins with the sacrifice of Jesus.

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

Being Who God Calls Us to Be- Are you up for it?

The idea presented in this video by Darrin Patrick is on that needs to be heard by many people in our churches today. Over the years churches have risen and died because of a lacking in discipleship. Granted there are always a couple of people here and there that take discipleship of younger generations seriously, but that number gets fewer and fewer as time rolls on. I can remember in my own childhood, after I publicly professed my salvation that I had a severe sense of being lost. In my mind I was saying, "I'm saved, now what do I do?" but the answer never seem to come. See, there were a wealth of great men in my church, many that came through later on, but there at the very start I had no one who told where to go from there. As a result, my spiritual life was stunted. I searched for a role model in other areas, like my older brother and his friends, and then people older than me in school. Time and time again they all failed me, and it led me down a path opposite of where God has called me, ending with me feeling completely lost in life. I won't continue to harp on my own experiences, but as always feel free to ask if you would like further detail.

Luckily, I was fortunate to find strong Christian leadership, but the problem is that many people have not or will not find that if trends continue. That is why one of my biggest passions in life is discipleship. Without that we end up with generations of men and women who have no idea how to carry on their faith, or as the video said, have no interest in doing so. As Darrin Patrick discusses in the video, we need leaders and pastors in the church who are up to the task of being an adult, not ones who are trying to prolong their adolescence. It is far from "lightly" that I say this... We need strong leadership from generation to generation, to teach, lead, and bring up the younger generations in the truth of God's word, so they may learn how to be the men and women God calls them to be. We are to follow the example of Christ, bringing people up in his teachings.

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."- (Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV)

I echo the final words of the video, this comes from me just as much as it came from Darrin Patrick in the video, "I don't want anyone to have a bigger dream for my church, and my city, than I do."

If we fail to do this, our churches will stand only as a testament to what they once were.

Letters to Corinth: 3-Wisdom from God (Part 2)

Passage- 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

We talk about seeking true wisdom from God, and we know that it comes from him, but it is also important to see how he reveals his wisdom to us. See, in the time of the life of Christ, he was there to speak words of wisdom to his disciples. After the ascension of Christ, He was no longer present to share that wisdom. Prior to his ascension though, as told in Acts chapter 1, Christ tells the disciples that he will send them his Holy Spirit so that they will be his witnesses to the people. Then in the beginning of Acts chapter 2, we see where Christ's promise of the Holy Spirit comes on the day of Pentecost where all of the disciples were gathered in one place.

Now, getting to 1 Corinthians, Paul has been discussing in this letter about the wisdom of God and how wisdom from God is true wisdom. We should seek out wisdom from God, learn from him the things that do not come in our own understanding. Though in this, we must comprehend that this wisdom is revealed to us only through the Holy Spirit. We see in verses 6 through 8 that apart from the wisdom of God, we cannot understand the purpose of Christ and his death on the cross, as the rulers who executed Jesus did not understand. In the same way, without the Holy Spirit Paul, the Corinthians, and even us today could not understand the meaning of "Christ crucified", as discussed in the last post.

"these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." - (1 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV)

The role of the Holy Spirit is key. The Spirit not only searchers our hearts, but also the depths of God. The Spirit is the bridge in the gap between our hearts and God. The truth of Christ can only be understood by the wisdom of God. It is when the Spirit is at work in us that we are able to truly see sacrifice Christ paid on the cross for us. When teaching the word, it is not human wisdom that is given, as Paul discusses in verse 13, but it is the Spirit that teaches of the wisdom of God through us. True wisdom is from God alone, and it is by the Holy Spirit that we are given this wisdom.

"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." - (1 Corinthians 2:14-16 ESV)

Christmas Time is Here!

Now that the Thanksgiving holiday is over, it's officially time for Christmas. Let the decorating begin, the cookies start their baking, and most of all... the music be played! I am always a big fan of Christmas music, provided it's done tastefully and the singing of it is not depressing and contrary to the words themselves.

Someone who does a fantastic job of this is Phil Wickham, one of my favorite worship artist! He has just released a new album entitled, "Songs for Christmas". I can't get enough, and Phil does not shy away from what Christmas music really should be, worship of the Father. I encourage everyone to get a copy of it, and in the mean time, here is a snippet of the song "Christmas Time" of the album. Enjoy!

Christmas Time by Syntax Creative

Going Out or Staying In?

I've been seriously pondering how we do church in the United States lately. For some reason we feel this need to bring people to "church" so they can hear the gospel. But is that what we are called to do?

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”- Matthew 28:19-20 ESV

At the end of Matthew 28 we see what we call "The Great Commission". In this, Jesus' call and command is to GO and make disciples, not invite them to a building. We spend so much time working on ways to get our church numbers up, as if that really matters, and trying to get non believers in a building that many have a lot of animosity towards. Our culture is full of misconceptions of what the church really is, and it's because we treat it like some exclusive club.

We see in Acts that the church is a body of believers that go out into the community. What if our focus stopped being on filling seats, but rather on taking the love Christ to the people?

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”-

Romans 10:14-15 ESV

Check out this video of an event held by Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. While most churches hold fall festivals at their building and invite people to it, this body of believers took the festival to the people, playing music, games, and giving out groceries to needy families, even with only a one hour window. With this small time slot they probably touched the lives of more people than hours of effort in inviting people to an event at a church. Is this really that revolutionary of an idea, or just one that we overlook?

Flash Fall Festival from Elevation Church on Vimeo.

Check This Out

Great thoughts from Dr. Russell Moore on testimonies!

Check it out here- http://theresurgence.com/2010/11/07/do-our-church-testimonies-empower-satan

Letters to Corinth: 2-Wisdom from God (Part 1)

Passage- 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

In continuing the next section into 1 Corinthians, I want to split up this next section into to two parts. Paul is further addressing the wisdom of God that was a main piece of chapter 1. Of the whole of chapter 2, let us section off the first five verses.

"[1] And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. [2] For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. [3] And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, [4] and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, [5] that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." - (1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ESV)

Paul begins, talking about how he did not come to the people of Corinth with "lofty speech or wisdom", but rather to speak in the simplicity of the message at hand. Paul simply rests in the truth and simplicity of the message of Christ crucified. That's it! The fundamental truth of our faith that rests above all else is Christ crucified on the cross for our sins, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11). Anything aside from that truth is fallacy. We must not rest in our own ability, but the truth of the message of Christ. As Paul states in verse 3, he as the messenger was in just the same place as everyone else, humble before the power of God!

That is how we should be in proclaiming the Gospel, being weak in and of ourselves, but strong in the message of Christ!

This is an important piece of truth, and though this passage doesn't make for a very long blog post, it is further testament to simplicity of the message of Christ crucified. I will end with this... In verse 4 and 5 Paul states that the Gospel is not "plausible" by the wisdom of man. The knowledge and ability of man will not save people, so don't rest on your own ability, but rest only in the power, truth, and wisdom of God.