Persistently

Jeremiah 35:12-15
"12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the Lord. 14 The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. 15 I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, ‘Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.’ But you did not incline your ear or listen to me."

The faithfulness of God is astounding! When I read these words in Jeremiah, especially within the larger context of Israel's unfaithfulness during that period in history, I am amazed. The depth of Israel's rebellion against the Lord, over and over again, juxtaposed with God's continued mercy, forgiveness and grace simply leaves me at a loss for words when I really get to thinking. The word that stands out to me in the passage quoted above is 'persistently'. God has spoken to His children persistently and He has persistently sent prophets to warn and teach the people how to follow His ways. What an incredible effort expended by the Almighty on a bunch of rebels!

Either God is really quite thick-headed and unable to figure out that these people are so self-absorbed they will never incline their hearts towards Him...or He has a redemptive plan so powerful and amazing that it almost defies human comprehension. Think about what this persistence in the face of rebellion says about the character of God. Knowing that I serve a God like this merciful is incredibly comforting to me. At the same time, it makes me tremble.

Our lives as Christians too often parallel the nation of Israel. We profess deep faith that produces great love for our Savior...then we go off and willfully disregard His will in simple issues of obedience, illustrating a shocking lack of faith. It seems that the Rechabites (read verses 1-11 for more context) among us are far and few between (no, this post is not at all about the issue of alcohol consumption).

Lord, please help me to consider Your persistent action on my behalf to communicate the fullness of your beauty, greatness and love to me, Your enemy. My the power of Your grace working by the Holy Spirit produce in me the will and desire to obey You in all things great and small. I don't want to 'go after other gods to serve them' as I have done so often in the past. Increase my faith, Lord! Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

You may have heard the story of Thanksgiving as a national holiday in its current form. For those who haven't heard, I've copied it below, as posted in a wonderful blog called Girl Talk (Focus: "Conversations on Biblical womanhood and other fun stuff"):

“The Woman Who Brought Us Thanksgiving”
by Harold Ivan Smith

Most Americans associate Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims. Fifty-one survivors of the Mayflower gathered to celebrate after their first fall harvest. Governor William Bradford proclaimed it a day of thanksgiving.

But during the next century and a half, thanksgiving was an irregular celebration, varying from community to community, dependent at times upon the religious and political climates and the attitudes of individual governors.

Then the victory of the Americans over the British at Saratoga in October, 1777 prompted the Continental Congress to set aside December 18 as a day of thanksgiving and praise to be observed by all the colonies.

On September 28, 1863, Sarah Josepha Buell Hale wrote President Abraham Lincoln urging him to make the annual Thanksgiving “a national and fixed Union Festival.” By this time, she had built the circulation of her magazine, Godey’s Ladies Book to 150,000. Hale’s letter could not be ignored. Nor her editorials. Her annual Thanksgiving editorial in Godey’s opened with Nehemiah 8:10: “Then he said unto them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our Lord; neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’”

Hale argued, from her strong Episcopal faith, that if Nehemiah set aside a time of thanksgiving in a time of national stress, “in a time of national darkness and sore troubles, shall we not recognize the goodness of God never faileth, and that to our Father in heaven we should always bring the Thanksgiving offering at the ingathering of the harvest?”

Lincoln weighed the matter and decided that the timing was right for something that would promote national unity. He ordered Seward to draft the proclamation.

Early on October 3, Lincoln read the proclamation: “The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and helpful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.”

Seward wrote, “No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gift of the most high God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”

Lincoln commended Seward for a project “well done” and then focused on the last paragraph: “I do, therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”

Three things struck me as I heard this story read at a Thanksgiving dinner we shared with friends this evening:

• The strong Biblical motivation expressed by Sarah Josepha Buell Hale in her editorials urging Lincoln to proclaim a national day of thanksgiving.
• The unashamed focus on God by Lincoln in his proclamation. (For more God-focused talk by Lincoln, go to the Lincoln Memorial and read the text of his Second Inaugural Address that is engraved on the wall...or read it here)
• Lincoln's inclusion of "those who are sojourning in foreign lands" as part of his proclamation...that's me!
  

God bless America!

Homosexuality Awareness for Christians

As Christian believers, it is important for the world to know us by what we are for more than by what we are against. We are for spreading knowledge, excitement and life in and through Jesus Christ! We are against sin, yes, but we are against sin, not because we enjoy being against things and/or people, but because we don't want it to cloud the goodness and glory of Jesus.

Within this mindset, I believe it is important for Christians to understand the culture as it relates to the issue of homosexuality. The reality is that popular opinion and perception of homosexuality has changed incredibly in recent years. The following blog entry by Albert Mohler offers important insight into the current cultural climate on this issue. You can read it here.

As we seek to share the life transforming power of the Gospel with those who commit homosexual acts (yes, their lives do need to be transformed, as any sinner without Christ), we should have accurate awareness of the issues we will face in this process. I pray that we will not be disheartened by our changing cultural climate. I pray it will heighten our awareness of our need to sacrificially and lovingly share the Gospel with those who are lost.

Mindful of the 'Millennials'

As one who is within the age range usually given to define 'Generation X' (~1964-1980), but on the younger side, I feel a bit schizophrenic when I read articles like The "Millennials" Are Coming. I can certainly identify with some of the things said in the article about the 'Millennial' generation. Still, my typical response is to take all of the good things said about Generation X, lump them together with the admirable qualities of the Millennial Generation and claim the result as a pretty good description of me and 'my kind' (this post is really about humility, can't you tell)! Seriously, I was intrigued when I read the article and thought it might make some light bulbs go on for any of you out there who are over 30. Blessings!

Let the Little Children Come!

Today was moving day at the House of Grace orphanage in Chantaburi Province, Thailand! The orphanage is run by a Thai pastor and his wife, but 2 members of our home group from church have been intimately involved in the work. Over the last year, a new home has been constructed for the approximately 50 children who, until today, have been housed in cramped quarters at an old school.
Now, the children will live in two sets of dormitories, one for boys and one for girls. Each dorm has 3 wings that are designed to house 8 small children, 2 teenagers, and one houseparent, for a maximum of 60 children. There is also a wonderful dining hall with a large multipurpose educational/worship room upstairs.

There is one thing that makes the House of Grace unique. About half of the kids here are HIV positive. In this loving environment, the children are helped by administering the confusing regiment of drugs and diet restrictions that keep the virus at bay. There is also a dorm that has apartment-style rooms where AIDS widows can stay with their children.

There are tears in my eyes right now as I reflect on what an honor and privilege it was to see this wonderful work firsthand. I was also humbled to meet the Thai couple who have given their lives to those many consider the untouchable refuse of society. Their faith throughout the process that has led them to this day is nothing short of miraculous. Praise God!

'One Issue' Voting

Pat Robertson has recently raised some eyebrows with his endorsement of Rudi Giuliani for President. The eyebrows are raised because Giuliani's position on abortion is, to quote the Washington Post,

"I hate abortion," which is "morally wrong." But "people ultimately have to make that choice. If a woman chooses that, that's her choice, not mine. That's her morality, not mine."

Columnist Michael Gerson's overall reasoning is sound when he questions the validity of Giuliani's position:

But the question naturally arises: Why does Giuliani "hate" abortion? No one feels moral outrage about an appendectomy. Clearly he is implying his support for the Catholic belief that an innocent life is being taken. And here the problems begin.

How can the violation of a fundamental human right be viewed as a private matter? Not everything that is viewed as immoral should be illegal; there are no compelling public reasons to restrict adultery, for example, or to outlaw sodomy. But when morality demands respect for the rights of a human being, those protections become a matter of social justice, not just personal or religious preference.

John Piper expresses a similar argument in his article, One-Issue Politics, One-Issue Marriage, and the Human Society.

I'm sure Pat Robertson has heard and considered these arguments. His endorsement hinges on the belief that, whatever Giuliani's personal view on abortion, his promise to appoint conservative, 'strict constructionist' judges to the Supreme Court means voting for this particular pro-choice Republican candidate will potentially do more to protect the unborn than support for an unelectable pro-life candidate.

Here is where I cry foul. If the decision is up to me (and it is when I'm in that voting booth), when a candidate has refused to take a stand on an issue of justice, who cares how his presidency might promote an issue I hold dear if such and such and such happens down the road? The bottom line is that there really are single issues that disqualify someone from public office.

In the end we, as Christians, need to remember that we serve a sovereign God who does not require the assistance of the Republican party to ensure that all is right with the world. I won't get into to it now but, in many areas, I feel like I've been 'sold a bill of goods' by a slew of Republicans who, at heart, don't share my convictions about the unborn or other social and moral issues. I feel 'courted' because these folks know they can't win without my 'Evangelical right' vote. So that I don't overstate the issue, let me assert my belief that there are many godly men and women serving in elected positions throughout the country, intentionally glorifying God by their service.

I've lived overseas for many years now in countries (Malaysia and now Thailand) where Christian views have absolutely no impact on the political process. Christians in these countries routinely glorify God and the government never asks their opinion when making policies for the country. America is certainly a bit different. Still, I have to face the fact that 'Republican controlled government' is most definitely not synonymous with 'Motivated by a desire to glorify God-controlled government'.

Based on these observations, I will still continue to exercise my right and responsibility, as an American, to vote. In my mind, however, my vote will serve more as an expression of my Bible-based beliefs than as a tool for making America a more God-centered place (at least in a Clinton-Giuliani-everyone else race). I will not support a candidate who is unwilling to stand up for the rights of America's most oppressed population segment, the unborn.

Let me know what you think. I don't have all the answers on these issues! I'm happy to dialogue with those who disagree.

Prayers in Many Languages

Our international church in Bangkok recently had a prayer time for the new building that is currently being constructed. The largest room in the new building is designed to be a fellowship hall but it will also serve as a temporary sanctuary seating up to 450 people that we will use until a larger auditorium-style sanctuary can be built on the location of our current, smaller sanctuary.

During the prayer time, a large group from the congregation met together and, with permission from the builders, went into the large, unfinished room to pray. Each of us had with us a permanent marker that we used to write prayers and Scripture verses on the floor and walls of this new room (all will ultimately be covered by carpet and paint).

I was excited about the time because I thought it was cool to be able to write all over the floor and walls! When we started the process, I was blown away by how powerful the experience was. After I finished writing my Scriptures, I started walking around the room and looking at what other people were writing. I started noticing many other languages! Eventually, I started counting until I realized that there were 13 different languages represented on the floor and walls!

I praise God for the wonderful unity within cultural diversity that He has created at our church. I also praise God for the English language which enables all of us to come together for worship, fellowship, and cooperation in outreach to a lost world!

Commission Stories Website

Please have a look at a new website put out by the International Mission Board called Commission Stories. A few years ago, production of the excellent printed magazine called The Commission was discontinued for financial reasons. Now, through this website, the quality journalism is back with stories about what God is doing around the world. Unlike a printed magazine, the website offers videos and other interactive media to help you get a glimpse of what is happening in places both near and far.

Co-ed Combat and Cultural Cowardice

I recently ran across the following article by John Piper entitled Co-ed Combat and Cultural Cowardice. It struck a cord with me because our church is currently going through a transition phase where we are making decisions on gender issues as related to church leadership.

Whatever your views on these issues, I encourage you to read Piper's article. It's so shockingly counter-cultural that you will either dismiss Piper immediately as an outdated fool, or you will give the issue some serious thought. I'm certainly not 'egalitarian' or supportive of 'Christian feminist' perspectives. Still, Piper's article was a stretch for me. What I learned is that I need to give the issue more thought and, more than anything, make sure my perspectives are informed by the Bible. As I attempt to let the Bible inform my views, I need to be aware of how powerfully cultural perspectives from the world around me can exert influence as well.

The Fire of God

Jeremiah 20:9

"If I say, 'I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot."

Do you ever experience the presence and the power of God in ways like the prophet Jeremiah describes? I pray that God will work in my heart, drawing me nearer to Himself so that I have clear understanding about God's words to me and to those in the church and world around me. As God gives me confidence of His words, through the Word, I pray that God will give me grace, wisdom, faith, and boldness to proclaim those words in exactly the way He intends, to His ultimate honor and glory.

That all might sound great and spiritual, but it's actually very simple: Seek God, hear and understand His Word, obey. Simple yet hard to accomplish because of the sin that continues to dwell in us, even as believers.

Perhaps you or I have experienced God working in us and then through us to communicate life-giving truth into someone's life. It's an amazing experience! We might read Jeremiah's words and wonder what his problem was. Why would he even want to hold God's words inside? Why, if he was right with God and clearly understood God's message, wouldn't he hurry to communicate the truth? To get the answers to those questions, we need to read the rest of the passage and book of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah spent over 40 years proclaiming messages from God that nobody wanted to hear. He started out during the reign of King Josiah (a good King who is cast in favorable light) with a message from God for people to truly repent in order to avoid coming destruction. I can imagine his listeners thinking he was a bit over the top since they were, obviously, in a much better state because of all the reforms Josiah was instituting. 'Just go with this good flow! Don't get so negative on us!'

All the kings after Josiah went downhill morally, leading the kingdom of Judah into multitudes of sins. Jeremiah's message from God shifted to proclamation of God's coming judgment on Judah because of the peoples' continued rebellion against God. These folks definitely didn't want to hear Jeremiah's message. There were at least two plots to kill him along with beatings and imprisonments.

Now, we get a better understanding of why Jeremiah might have desired a break from being the bearer of bad news! Yet he kept preaching. More than that...he was incapable to stop proclaiming God's messages to the people.

When I consider some of the sorry excuses and rationalizations that lead me to put a muzzle on the truth that comes out of my mouth at times, I am ashamed. I've never once been beaten for proclaiming the truth. I've never been in prison. I've never knowingly had my life threatened. It's not threats like these that keep me from proclaiming. Instead, I keep quiet for reasons as ridiculous as finishing the next chapter in a novel.

Lord, please enliven the vibrancy of my relationship with You. Reveal to me the truth You have each day for my life and the truth You wish to convey to others through me. Help me to have the faith to believe that a broken conversation about You with a Buddhist taxi driver will bring more joy than a few pages in a mindless spy novel. Let Your fire burn so brightly in my bones that it has no option but escape through my life! Amen.

Hollywood Writers Strike

I have recently read a few stories about the current strike by Hollywood screenwriters that has already started to affect some popular shows. Others may go off the air by January or February if the strike continues.

I'm intrigued by the range of emotions I've experienced while reading this news. My first thought was about how this would affect some of the shows my wife and I enjoy watching (we get the DVD versions after the seasons are over and watch at our own pace). Hints of sadness at the thought of being forced to wait longer before I know what happens between Jim and Pam on The Office. I was even a bit put out at the thought of not being able to know how in the world the folks who bring us Lost will continue on after the rather bizarre ending to season 3. What new disaster will Jack Bauer thwart this time (although it can be convincingly argued that the disasters of the last couple of seasons weren't exactly 'new')? We may not find out for quite some time...

Do I feel sorry for the writers who are arguing for more pennies from each DVD sale to come their way? Or do I get angry at the ridiculously rich and greedy studios? What about the actors? What am I to think about all this craziness?

Finally, I drifted back to this reality: Me, myself, and I (along with my multi-million member band of cohorts around the world) am the ultimate source of this madness. If we never bought any DVDs, tuned into a show at the right time or clicked the mouse to visit an official website of my favorite show, there wouldn't be any shows at all! It's that whole supply/demand thing.

How is it that Hollywood pulls millions and millions of dollars from the economy every year? The answer is simple. People like me watch. We usually watch the ads as well. We buy the products that are advertised. That money goes into more ads and that money pays for more TV shows and movies.

What I'm really trying to point out with all this rambling is that it's hard for us to realize the true value that something has for us in our lives until it is gone (at least potentially) and we can gauge our reaction. How much of my life's energy is spent being entertained? How high up on my list of priorities is 'fun'? In the end, I'm reminded of a quote from St. Augustine that hangs beside my desk:

"He loves Thee too little who loves anything together with Thee which he loves not for Thy sake."

Where does Hollywood fit?

Relational Evangelism (Part 2 of 2)

Go to Part 1
What does it look like to relate to a non-believer in a ‘real’ way while, at the same time, seeking to share the Gospel with that person? I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no authority on the subject. I regularly struggle to find the right balance. I often find myself retreating into comfortable relationships with my family, Christian friends, or a good book in lieu of intentional, real, and meaningful interaction with non-believers. Of course, in Thailand, I have the added communication challenges that come when a foreigner tries to build a relationship with someone from a different culture who speaks a different language! Still, one thing that is non-negotiable is that my relationship with Jesus shines…“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

If I’m to have a real relationship with a non-believer, we won’t get past the first few conversations without him realizing that Jesus is central to my life. In fact, if I found it easy to interact for weeks or months with a non-believer without making a ‘big deal’ about my faith in Christ, I’d be worried! To me, that would evidence that Jesus hasn’t yet taken control of many aspects of my activities and thoughts about the world around me.

Will a non-believer think I’m strange at times when I express God-centered and Bible-informed views on the things in the world? Of course! Will some decide they don’t want to continue in relationship with me because I’m too ‘out there’? Probably. The number who choose to discontinue the relationship will be much smaller, I’m convinced, than most people fear. God has built people to worship their Creator. Yes, sin has turned us from the worshipers we were intended to be in to rebels to the core, but we’re still hard-wired for worship! As someone relates to me over a period of time, they will begin to get, I pray, a picture of my God-centered worldview. I truly believe that God will use this picture as one tool to draw that person to Himself.

Let’s combine sincere, God-given joy in relating to non-believers with an unashamed willingness to let them see the ‘real us’, especially the real part that desperately seeks to honor Jesus in every aspect of life.

Relational Evangelism (Part 1 of 2)

What is the essence of our responsibility as believers to share the Gospel? Is going to church enough? What about praying before we eat at a public place? Do we actually have to open our mouths and tell someone we believe in Jesus? Is the goal of 'sharing the Gospel' to get someone to bow their head with us and 'pray the sinner's prayer'? What about street preachers? Should we always rely on a tried and true system to make sure we say everything and don't leave parts out?

So many questions! Often, today, I hear people boil their approach to evangelism down to one word, 'relational'. That sounds good, but what does it mean to do relational evangelism? In my view, it simply means that we share the Gospel with another person within the context of a personal relationship. We don't view people only as potential converts, rungs to climb on the evangelistic effectiveness ladder. We view people as people; people who are worth our time because we have been filled with love for them. Because of this love, we enjoy other people. We enjoy interacting, discussing, and joking. Spending time with people is not the necessary evil required to achieve the goal of glorifying God by that person's conversion. No, spending time interacting with non-believers is, itself, glorifying to God. The Gospel is shared as we intersect our lives with those who are lost.

There is a stream of 'relational' evangelism that bothers me, however. I've heard people describe their interactions with unbelievers as the process of 'earning the right to share the Gospel'. Typically, this means the believer is interacting with a non-believer on various levels in order to 'build the relationship' and 'establish trust'. Almost always, it's implied that this phase should involve little or no verbal discussion about spiritual truths in order to make sure the non-believer doesn't get 'turned off' because the relationship 'hasn't reached that level yet.' According to this view, non-spiritual interaction needs to continue until the right moment arrives and Gospel truth can be shared. The time required for this initial phase varies, but it is usually measured in weeks and months, not in days.

I understand that proponents of the sort of ‘relational evangelism’ just described are reacting against people and methods that insist upon sharing a prepared ‘Gospel presentation’ during every encounter with a non-believer. I, too, do not agree that we should be aiming to steer every conversation toward ‘spiritual matters’ so that we can deliver the full ‘Gospel presentation’ that will be followed by a call for belief and ‘praying the prayer’. Still, ‘relational’ evangelism that tells Christians to interact with non-believers on a non-spiritual level for a long time goes too far to the other extreme.

Here’s the crux of the matter. How can a style of evangelism be relational when a key part of the process involves withholding discussion about the most significant part of the believer’s life? As a Christian, if my relationship to Jesus is central to every aspect of my life, how can I have a true relationship with a non-believer if I intentionally refrain from conversation in this area? That’s not relational, it’s deceptive! If a non-believer doesn’t understand that everything significant about my life relates to Jesus and His work, there is no real relationship.

In Part 2, we’ll look more closely that the type of relationship we should seek with non-believers as we share our very lives with them (including the most important part—Jesus).

Only Hope

The words of the song Only Hope by Caedmon's Call spoke to me as I was sitting in traffic today. I share them with you here:

Depth of mercy can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God, your wrath forbear
Me the chief of sinners, spare?

Chorus
It's my only hope
You're my only hope
It's my only hope of Heaven
At the cross forgiven...

I have long withstood your grace
Long provoked you to your face
Would not harken to your calls
Grieved you by a thousand falls

There for me the Savior stands
Shows his wounds and spreads His hands
Face to face before the Son
And like Isaiah I'm undone

Depth of mercy, vast and free
So much deeper than the sea
God of love, you heard my cry
Now into your open arms I fly

Copyright 2003 Mighty Molecule Music (Admin. by Music Services). Charles Wesley, Randall Goodgame.

Not All 'Baptists' Are Created Equally

I was appalled today as I read one of the lead news stories as sorted by Google News. Here's the link. The story is about the settlement awarded to the family of Lance Cpl Matthew Snyder, a marine who died in Iraq last year. Apparently, a church from Kansas picketed his funeral, waving signs suggesting that American deaths in Iraq are due to America's tolerance of homosexuality. I was appalled, not because the court ruled against the church (I'm thankful for that ruling on many levels), but because of the church name: Westboro Baptist Church. The news story points out that the church is not affiliated with any major denomination. In other words, even though it has the word 'Baptist' in it's name, it is not part of any major Baptist convention in the USA; it functions independently.

Yes, living a homosexual lifestyle is sinful and a person who continues in an unrepentant state, ignoring the Bible's teaching about their sin, will go to hell when they die. As Christians, we cannot ignore the seriousness of sin! At the same time...

We must not ignore the majesty and wonder of God's love, mercy, forgiveness, grace, and life-transforming power that is freely available in Jesus Christ for all who will believe!

It is true that a person needs to understand the true meaning of their sin in order to be saved: without Christ, every person is a depraved rebel against our holy and righteous Lord. EVERY human is in desperate need of salvation, hopelessly lost in their sin without Jesus. However, any message that stops there, with only a message of hate and judgment, is NOT a Christian message!

As Christians, let us do the hard work of loving those in society who do not agree with us. Part of loving means we must not condone sinful behavior and we must be honest about the real consequences of sin (in this life and the next). Part of loving also means we continually hold out the hope of Jesus to unbelievers and we continue to act with love towards them even if they do not believe or stop their sinful behavior.