The Culture Continues to Secularize but The Gospel is still Greater & More Powerful!

As the culture continues to secularize and the biblical church becomes more and more strange in the world, I become more encouraged and optimistic as a Believer. The darkness of the secular culture shows the light of the Gospel more vividly to a dying world that secretly seeks substance over style.  

 I believe now, more than ever, the church will have a greater opportunity to love extravagantly.  We love like Jesus, no matter the circumstance or cultural roadblocks. Part of that love is, with great compassion, informing non-believers that which separates humanity from God (aka sin). When Jesus caught the woman in adultery He defended her, literally saved her life, and then he said, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11).

For the Christian to proclaim the destructive and murderous nature of sin, he or she must be honest and transparent about their own struggles with sin as well. My own struggles of lust, anger, and impatience (just to name a few) have hurt me, my family, and my friends in more ways than I care to recall. I am thankful that my salvation is secure because of God grace and not because of my good works. “ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). And I am also grateful that after my salvation no one can snatch me out of the hand of Jesus (John 10:27-30).  However, my sins even after salvation, has consequences.  

But let’s not be fooled into thinking that a transparent Christian will not suffer persecution in this world.  Peter understood that Christians will be persecuted  and reminded the church not to forget their true identity in Christ and live lives of purity and holiness.

“. . . you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.  Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12

The ESV Study Bible explains 1 Peter 2:12 as follows: “Believers are to live godly lives even though they will be criticized by unbelievers. When believers do good deeds, some unbelievers will repent and believe and thus glorify God.”

Therefore, let’s keep doing what God has always commanded the Believer to do. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39).

What Is Real FREEDOM?

Paul often calls himself a slave to Christ.

“Paul, a SLAVE  of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.” Romans 1:1

Why are Christians slaves to Christ?

Because Christ purchased us with his atoning sacrifice on the cross that cleanses us of sin.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were BOUGHT  at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

However, as slaves to Christ, we experience ultimate FREEDOM.

“It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us FREE. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

The slavery Paul is referring to is ceremonial law and works theology. This type of slavery leads to pride, a disingenuous persona, and ultimately sin.   

I pray you have experienced the FREEDOM Christ offers. Don’t let this world blind you and enslave you to that which is temporal and ultimately unsatisfying.  “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." Psalms 34:8

 A SLAVE to Christ is one who truly experiences ultimate freedom.

Jesus Loves the Outcasts

Such true and comforting words. Part of the way He loves outcasts (which we all fit in that category in one way or another) is to demand repentance. Repentance, simply put, is actively admitting and turning away from sin. Sin is what separates us from a living and vibrant relationship with Christ. Jesus, in complete perfection, died on the cross to glorify His Father and offer eternal and abundant life to those who receive Him as Lord and Savior. He ultimately defeated death and ascended to the right hand of His Father. Our repentance means we agree with God that sin is sin and we are guilty and in our sinful state can’t have the relationship with God that He desires. The gift of receiving Christ gift of salvation includes our repentance.

Some mistake this as RELIGION and I understand how some may get these confused. Webster defines RELIGION as “an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods.” What makes FAITH IN CHRIST different that the completely other category of RELIGION is the MOTIVE behind our obedience. RELIGIONS demand their followers obey rules in order to achieve their god’s love, or to achieve nirvana or to get rewarded in some way. Christ followers don’t follow rules made by man in order to win God’s approval. We obey the infallible Word of God in order to express our love back to Jesus for His saving work on the cross. The very nature for our obedience to God is our LOVE expressed back to God. Our Obedience to God’s Word has nothing with earning His love or approval. I am blessed with 4 children and none of them have to earn my love no matter what they do. I am also blessed in knowing they love me. The most sincere expression of their love is their obedience to their mom and dad. But they are not perfect. They miss up and we lovingly correct them (like Christ does with the Christ-follower).

Amazingly enough we are not left on our own when we receive God’s grace through Jesus Christ. After we repent and receive Christ, God gives us another incredible gift of Himself in the Holy Spirit who actually abides in the new Believer. Now we have God in us via the person of the Holy Spirit. He then guides, directs, gives discernment, wisdom, and convicts us when we sin and comforts us when we hurt. This is not a complete list of all the Holy Spirit does and this does not happen without the new Believer actively seeking the Holy Spirit consistently. (That is why Paul says to, “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

I did not intend this to be this long of a statement. My original intention was just to state a cool lyric for an old Relient K CD.  I am not expecting to start a debate or even to change minds. My expression in the post is to hopefully provide clarity for those who confuse RELIGION with RELATIONSHIP.  (Disclaimer: the words in ALL CAPS were not an expression of shouting, but to draw attention to significant words and phrases.)

Parents and Discipleship

I have been a youth pastor for over 20 years.  When I was in my 20’s, and single, my arrogance was shameful. I thought I had the “game plan” and that all the parents had to do was drop off their kids at church and I would return them loving Jesus more than anyone in their family.  As I have gotten older and God has blessed me with a godly bride and 4 kids, my approach has changed drastically.

 First, I see the need for humbleness in all phases of ministry but especially when dealing with parents and intentionally involving them in ministry at church and at home. I didn’t realize how little I knew about discipleship until I got married and had children. (I am not saying getting married and having children is a prerequisite to understanding true discipleship. I am simply stating God unveiled to me glaring weaknesses in MY understanding and approach to discipleship through my family.)

Second, my focus has shifted more from trying to understand youth culture to better understanding God’s Word. Youth culture changes so rapidly that even youth can’t keep up with it anymore. The unchanging, solid-rock foundation of God’s Word is what the only enteral part of their being (their souls) truly craves. I still examine the culture, but not with the intensity I once did.

Lastly, I understand that I have to give up a few popular things in the ministry in order to better equip parents to disciple their children at home. This part has not been easy. The time constraints families have on them today are tremendous.  We have had to cut back on a few things in order to allow a time where we can have the most parents available so they can be better equipped to disciple at home. This is such a passion of mine that I am currently writing my D. Min. dissertation on “Equipping Parents to Fulfill their Role in Biblical Discipleship.”      

The biggest thing I have learned in teaching 3 weeks of this 10 week class is how excited and hungry the parents are to be better equipped to biblically lead at home. I gave them a questionnaire to gage their competence and understating of in-home discipleship during the first class and one of the questions that we asked was:  “Have you ever had training or a class that taught you how to disciple your children?” An abysmal 2% said yes. This is an indictment on our church and shows our failure to address one of the most glaring problems in the church today. Parents need the church to step up and at least offer some equipping in the area of in-home discipleship. To not do this means we are not fulfilling the role of the pastors to equip the saints as stated in Ephesians 4:11-12.