Question: “When is a “Christian” a true Christian? Answer: “When he or she--”
“Wait--hold on just a minute! Who decides what makes one a true follower of Jesus Christ?”
You’re right. It’s not up to me. Only God decides what makes a Christian a true Christian. And his book, the Bible, tells us what that is.
Some believe that to be a Christian all you do is believe in God, go to church and pray. But, as I‘ve pointed out before, Jesus didn’t call anyone to be a Christian. He called us to follow him.
Before the Bible even mentions the word “Christian,” it talks about becoming a “child of God” instead of being a “child of the devil.” So how does one become a “child of God”?
We must receive Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Sounds simple enough.
In the framework of the New Testament, “receiving” Jesus meant accepting him for who he claimed to be: the divine Son of God who died for the sins of the world so he could save people everywhere from their sin. It didn’t just mean agreeing that he is the Savior.
When you “believe in his name” you trust in Jesus Christ to forgive your sin and make you part of God’s forever family. But you must believe for yourself. No one else can do it for you.
What if you were baptized as a baby? If so your parents made a wonderful commitment to bring you up in the church. But infants can’t “receive him” and “believe in his name.”
Another scripture makes it clearer: “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It’s obvious that a baby cannot yet “confess” or “believe.”
So what should you do if you were baptized as a baby? Complete your parents’ intentions. Their hope was that you would choose to follow Jesus with your life. So put your trust in him.
The church cannot save you. The Bible says that only personal faith in Christ can save you.
Perhaps you know someone who says they have trusted in Christ but their life or their lips tell an entirely different story. What about that?
We cannot judge what has happened in another’s heart. God will do that. But the Bible does say to “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course you fail the test.”
The Bible adds, “Make your calling and election sure…. For if you do…you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
To pass the Christian Test, first check if you have personally received and trusted in Jesus. Then examine your life. Are you growing in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”? Those are the result of God’s work in your heart.
Next, do you love to obey God? The Bible says, “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
If you claim to be a Christian, go to church and hear the Bible taught, but don’t obey God, you are deceiving yourself. Sadly that’s what so many do.
Some say, “But I’m trying!” That’s nice. But as Jedi Master Yoda said to Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars,” “Do or do not. There is no ‘try.’” Simple but profound.
So how can you tell if you are a true Christian? Answer: If you trust in Christ and obey him.
God helps true Christians obey him and gives them joy. I wonder--do you pass the test?
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Identity Theft
If someone stole your identity, how could you get it back?
Identity theft is the 21st Century crime. My dictionary defines it as “the fraudulent acquisition and use of a person's private identifying information, usually for financial gain.”
Maybe you’ve already had your identity stolen. I have. And it’s hard to get it back.
Several years ago someone emptied my bank account by posing as me on the Internet. Two months ago I began receiving 30 telemarketing calls a day. Someone tried to harass me by signing me up for information from online companies.
My tormentor even went so far as to sign me up for a long distance service I didn’t want.
Now each of those companies thought I was someone I was not—either a potential customer or, in the case of the long distance company, an actual customer. But I wasn’t.
Someone with a hidden agenda was misrepresenting me and I had to convince the companies who I really was. And the same thing has happened to Jesus Christ.
Now hold on just a minute. Jesus Christ suffered from identity theft?
Yes. And if those who misrepresent him fool us, it will result in more than a financial loss!
There are those today who tell us that you can become a god like Jesus. Others say he was less than divine. That he was just an ordinary man but a great teacher. Or he was a prophet like Buddha or Mohammed. Some refer to a sacred mushroom as “Jesus.” Really!
You owe it to yourself to discover the truth. Why? Because where you spend eternity rides on your answer to two questions: 1) “Who is Jesus Christ?” and 2) What will you do with Jesus?
The Bible gives God’s answer to both questions. First it calls Jesus the “Word of God.” It says, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”
Not “a god” but “God.” And if anyone tells you differently, they have stolen Jesus’ identity.
Listen to Jesus words: “Before Abraham was born, I AM!” The words “I AM” translate a special holy name for God in the Jewish Bible—what Christians call the Old Testament. And since Abraham lived around 2000 B.C., Jesus was saying he existed before Abraham.
Another time Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” Those who heard him understood he was claiming to be the Creator God of the Bible. They told Jesus they were going to stone him “Because you a mere man claim to be God.”
So be careful where you get your facts about Jesus. Even some groups calling themselves a “church” have tried to steal Jesus’ identity and misrepresent him. But the truth is easy to find.
Your best source is the Bible itself. Don’t take my word for it. Pick up a Bible and read what it says about Jesus. Get a reliable modern translation. Avoid groups claiming to be the only ones with the truth or the right translation. Run if they won’t let you question what they teach.
A good place to start is in the New Testament Gospel of John. John was one of Jesus’ friends and records what he saw as an eyewitness. Plus he doesn’t have a hidden agenda.
What should you do with Jesus? John tells us: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
The truth is that through Jesus Christ you can live your life the way God intended. You can experience true forgiveness for your failures. You can find a lifelong purpose. And you can have an assurance and a peace about eternal life that is available nowhere else.
The Bible says Jesus is the Son of God who died for sin and rose from the dead. Trust in him.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Identity theft is the 21st Century crime. My dictionary defines it as “the fraudulent acquisition and use of a person's private identifying information, usually for financial gain.”
Maybe you’ve already had your identity stolen. I have. And it’s hard to get it back.
Several years ago someone emptied my bank account by posing as me on the Internet. Two months ago I began receiving 30 telemarketing calls a day. Someone tried to harass me by signing me up for information from online companies.
My tormentor even went so far as to sign me up for a long distance service I didn’t want.
Now each of those companies thought I was someone I was not—either a potential customer or, in the case of the long distance company, an actual customer. But I wasn’t.
Someone with a hidden agenda was misrepresenting me and I had to convince the companies who I really was. And the same thing has happened to Jesus Christ.
Now hold on just a minute. Jesus Christ suffered from identity theft?
Yes. And if those who misrepresent him fool us, it will result in more than a financial loss!
There are those today who tell us that you can become a god like Jesus. Others say he was less than divine. That he was just an ordinary man but a great teacher. Or he was a prophet like Buddha or Mohammed. Some refer to a sacred mushroom as “Jesus.” Really!
You owe it to yourself to discover the truth. Why? Because where you spend eternity rides on your answer to two questions: 1) “Who is Jesus Christ?” and 2) What will you do with Jesus?
The Bible gives God’s answer to both questions. First it calls Jesus the “Word of God.” It says, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”
Not “a god” but “God.” And if anyone tells you differently, they have stolen Jesus’ identity.
Listen to Jesus words: “Before Abraham was born, I AM!” The words “I AM” translate a special holy name for God in the Jewish Bible—what Christians call the Old Testament. And since Abraham lived around 2000 B.C., Jesus was saying he existed before Abraham.
Another time Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” Those who heard him understood he was claiming to be the Creator God of the Bible. They told Jesus they were going to stone him “Because you a mere man claim to be God.”
So be careful where you get your facts about Jesus. Even some groups calling themselves a “church” have tried to steal Jesus’ identity and misrepresent him. But the truth is easy to find.
Your best source is the Bible itself. Don’t take my word for it. Pick up a Bible and read what it says about Jesus. Get a reliable modern translation. Avoid groups claiming to be the only ones with the truth or the right translation. Run if they won’t let you question what they teach.
A good place to start is in the New Testament Gospel of John. John was one of Jesus’ friends and records what he saw as an eyewitness. Plus he doesn’t have a hidden agenda.
What should you do with Jesus? John tells us: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
The truth is that through Jesus Christ you can live your life the way God intended. You can experience true forgiveness for your failures. You can find a lifelong purpose. And you can have an assurance and a peace about eternal life that is available nowhere else.
The Bible says Jesus is the Son of God who died for sin and rose from the dead. Trust in him.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, July 14, 2008
The Blessing Myth
Would you like God to bless you? Wait--don’t answer until you know what you’re asking for.
I know what you’re probably thinking. “He’s crazy! Of course I want God to bless me!”
Well, hold on just a minute. What if your idea and God’s idea of blessing don’t match up?
Our idea of “blessings” is usually things. Stuff. You know—money, cars, gadgets, games, houses and vacations in exotic places. But that’s a myth. It’s not completely accurate.
Some preachers will even say that God wants to give you things like that. And God may. But he may not. God’s plan is not the same for everyone.
To find out how God may bless you, check your Bible. One reason it records the life stories of so many people is so we can learn from their examples.
Take Mary the mother of Jesus, for instance. Speaking of her the Bible says, “Blessed are you among women.” We would say, “Amen! She became the mother of Jesus. What a joy!”
Yes, but stop and think for a minute. What did it mean for Mary to be “blessed”?
Mary lived in a small town. Did you ever think about what the gossip was like once she started to show? Most people today have heard of the “virgin birth,” but what would Mary say? How could she explain it to her friends? Who would understand or believe her?
Instead she would have been shunned. Her family and friends wouldn’t have understood.
And the talking! The whispering behind her back. The “looks.” On top of that, the punishment for pregnancy outside of marriage could be quite severe.
In fact the Bible says that her husband-to-be even thought to “divorce her quietly” to avoid the public disgrace of her day. And he would have if God hadn’t explained to him in a dream what was happening.
Then Mary was told that her son would “cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against…. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
When Jesus began his ministry, Mary no doubt found his words and actions confusing and troubling. She didn’t understand yet what he had come to do.
Then he was arrested. And she had to watch him die a horrible death without being able to do a thing to help her son! Imagine her grief.
Yet all of that was a part of God’s blessing in her life. Because through her joy, her pain and her loss, God provided a Savior—not only for her but also for the whole world.
Jesus himself pointed out the unusual nature of God’s blessing. He said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”
So being blessed by God is not what we expect. That’s because God sees the “big picture.” The Bible says God is able to work all things together “for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
When life doesn’t make sense we have this assurance: If you seek God, love him and obey him then he will bless you. It may not be what you expect. Or it may be better than you expect!
Jesus said, “Everyone who has left houses or brother or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
Sacrifice and suffering are sometimes the lot of God’s children. But he promises to guide, provide and protect. All of that and Heaven, too! Now that’s being blessed.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
I know what you’re probably thinking. “He’s crazy! Of course I want God to bless me!”
Well, hold on just a minute. What if your idea and God’s idea of blessing don’t match up?
Our idea of “blessings” is usually things. Stuff. You know—money, cars, gadgets, games, houses and vacations in exotic places. But that’s a myth. It’s not completely accurate.
Some preachers will even say that God wants to give you things like that. And God may. But he may not. God’s plan is not the same for everyone.
To find out how God may bless you, check your Bible. One reason it records the life stories of so many people is so we can learn from their examples.
Take Mary the mother of Jesus, for instance. Speaking of her the Bible says, “Blessed are you among women.” We would say, “Amen! She became the mother of Jesus. What a joy!”
Yes, but stop and think for a minute. What did it mean for Mary to be “blessed”?
Mary lived in a small town. Did you ever think about what the gossip was like once she started to show? Most people today have heard of the “virgin birth,” but what would Mary say? How could she explain it to her friends? Who would understand or believe her?
Instead she would have been shunned. Her family and friends wouldn’t have understood.
And the talking! The whispering behind her back. The “looks.” On top of that, the punishment for pregnancy outside of marriage could be quite severe.
In fact the Bible says that her husband-to-be even thought to “divorce her quietly” to avoid the public disgrace of her day. And he would have if God hadn’t explained to him in a dream what was happening.
Then Mary was told that her son would “cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against…. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
When Jesus began his ministry, Mary no doubt found his words and actions confusing and troubling. She didn’t understand yet what he had come to do.
Then he was arrested. And she had to watch him die a horrible death without being able to do a thing to help her son! Imagine her grief.
Yet all of that was a part of God’s blessing in her life. Because through her joy, her pain and her loss, God provided a Savior—not only for her but also for the whole world.
Jesus himself pointed out the unusual nature of God’s blessing. He said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”
So being blessed by God is not what we expect. That’s because God sees the “big picture.” The Bible says God is able to work all things together “for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
When life doesn’t make sense we have this assurance: If you seek God, love him and obey him then he will bless you. It may not be what you expect. Or it may be better than you expect!
Jesus said, “Everyone who has left houses or brother or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
Sacrifice and suffering are sometimes the lot of God’s children. But he promises to guide, provide and protect. All of that and Heaven, too! Now that’s being blessed.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Christian or Not?
Would you call someone a Christian who doesn’t believe what Christ taught?
Probably not.
You might call them a non-Christian. That would make more sense.
Well what about people who call themselves Christians but disagree with Jesus?
Now hold it right there for just a minute. How can a Christian disagree with Jesus?
Good question. My dictionary defines a Christian as one who believes Jesus was sent by God to save the world. It also says that Christians accept and follow his teachings and example.
A person was called a “Christian” in the first century because he or she believed Jesus was the Savior and turned to him for forgiveness from sin. “Christian” means “Christ follower.”
When Jesus Christ walked the earth he claimed to be God in human flesh. Not just another teacher or prophet. God. He offered his miracles as evidence.
Those who believed him followed him. And when he taught that Heaven was a real place and that he was going there, they wanted to know the way to get there.
Jesus’ simple answer leaves no room for misunderstanding. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Another time he added, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.”
It’s clear that Jesus taught he is the only way to salvation from sin and an eternal home in heaven. He said he was “THE” way and “THE” door. Not just “A” way or “A” door.
Fast forward to 2008. A Pew Forum poll found 70 per cent of Americans, including 57 per cent of Evangelical Christians, agree that “many religions can lead to eternal life.”
While we might wish it were so, no evidence exists to support the view that “many religions can lead to eternal life.” But as Americans, we seem to think we can vote on everything--even truth!
Only one person has ever claimed to be the Son of God who could prove it. That was Jesus Christ. He predicted that when he was killed, he would rise from the dead. And he did.
Those who followed Jesus also found that his power transformed their lives. As a result, the Bible records they taught what Jesus taught—that salvation is found in Christ alone.
They preached (and the Bible proclaims), “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Does that sound like “many religions can lead to eternal life”? It doesn’t to me either.
We must choose between the Church of Wishful Thinking and following Jesus Christ. The Church of Wishful Thinking offers a “hope so” religion. Jesus Christ offers truth.
The Bible says, “This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.”
So you can go with the majority of Americans and have a “Hope so” religion or follow Jesus Christ who offers “Know so” truth.
A Christian believes in Jesus Christ and follows him. Those who don’t believe what Jesus taught may be religious but they’re not following Christ. So they’re not “Christian.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Probably not.
You might call them a non-Christian. That would make more sense.
Well what about people who call themselves Christians but disagree with Jesus?
Now hold it right there for just a minute. How can a Christian disagree with Jesus?
Good question. My dictionary defines a Christian as one who believes Jesus was sent by God to save the world. It also says that Christians accept and follow his teachings and example.
A person was called a “Christian” in the first century because he or she believed Jesus was the Savior and turned to him for forgiveness from sin. “Christian” means “Christ follower.”
When Jesus Christ walked the earth he claimed to be God in human flesh. Not just another teacher or prophet. God. He offered his miracles as evidence.
Those who believed him followed him. And when he taught that Heaven was a real place and that he was going there, they wanted to know the way to get there.
Jesus’ simple answer leaves no room for misunderstanding. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Another time he added, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.”
It’s clear that Jesus taught he is the only way to salvation from sin and an eternal home in heaven. He said he was “THE” way and “THE” door. Not just “A” way or “A” door.
Fast forward to 2008. A Pew Forum poll found 70 per cent of Americans, including 57 per cent of Evangelical Christians, agree that “many religions can lead to eternal life.”
While we might wish it were so, no evidence exists to support the view that “many religions can lead to eternal life.” But as Americans, we seem to think we can vote on everything--even truth!
Only one person has ever claimed to be the Son of God who could prove it. That was Jesus Christ. He predicted that when he was killed, he would rise from the dead. And he did.
Those who followed Jesus also found that his power transformed their lives. As a result, the Bible records they taught what Jesus taught—that salvation is found in Christ alone.
They preached (and the Bible proclaims), “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Does that sound like “many religions can lead to eternal life”? It doesn’t to me either.
We must choose between the Church of Wishful Thinking and following Jesus Christ. The Church of Wishful Thinking offers a “hope so” religion. Jesus Christ offers truth.
The Bible says, “This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.”
So you can go with the majority of Americans and have a “Hope so” religion or follow Jesus Christ who offers “Know so” truth.
A Christian believes in Jesus Christ and follows him. Those who don’t believe what Jesus taught may be religious but they’re not following Christ. So they’re not “Christian.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Where Freedom Ends
We’re proud of our freedom in America. But freedom has its limits.
To forget that is to do so at our own peril. Like the immigrant I once read about.
As the boat neared New York harbor, the Statue of Liberty came in to view. The sight of that majestic lady and the city’s skyline was more than the old man could bear. He began jumping up and down shouting, “I’m free! I’m really free!”
He had heard that in this new land you could speak your mind without fear. That the police were your friends. That a man could do just about anything he wanted.
When the boat docked at Ellis Island, the new immigrant was the first one down the gangplank. He immediately ran up to a man and punched him in the nose.
Bleeding profusely, the American decked the old man. In shock he cried, “Why did you hit me? This is a free country. I can do what I want!”
“Sure, buddy,” said the American, “But your freedom ends where my nose begins!”
Now that story might be true. But our forefathers understood the danger before it happened. And they crafted a land where privilege is balanced with responsibility.
Freedom in America is not the ability to do whatever you want without constraints. A good citizen is one who exercises his choices with wisdom and respect for the law.
I’m old enough to remember when schools used to give awards to students who showed “Good Citizenship.” To receive such an award was a real honor. But not today.
Today it’s “cool” to be “bad.” To ignore the rules. So doing what you want and getting away with it is one of the ultimate highs. A real “rush.”
A student’s T-shirt I saw not long ago sums up such an attitude. It said, “It’s not illegal if you don’t get caught.”
Hold it right there for just a minute.
Would you want to live in a country with that motto? I wouldn’t. Who could you trust? No one. And unless you were the biggest, strongest, fastest and smartest, you wouldn’t be safe.
Today America is on the verge of trading liberty for license—freedom with no limits. The courts seem to find new rights every day that our founding fathers never dreamed of!
And when personal freedoms trump the law, we descend into a hell of our own making.
What’s the solution? The French historian and political scientist Alexis de Tocqueville observed, “Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.”
The Bible has the only answer that always works. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Did you catch that? Obedience brings true freedom.
When we respect our nation’s laws and follow them we are free from fear of punishment. And, as Jesus pointed out, the same is true in the spiritual realm.
Obeying God brings freedom from sin’s punishment. Instead of fear we live at peace with God and others. A free society works only when its citizens practice moral goodness.
Unrestricted freedom ends where the law begins. The law exists to punish the lawless.
Real freedom starts with the truth. Not just any truth but the truth about Jesus Christ. And the truth of Christ is that the lawless can find forgiveness in his name. And true liberty.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
To forget that is to do so at our own peril. Like the immigrant I once read about.
As the boat neared New York harbor, the Statue of Liberty came in to view. The sight of that majestic lady and the city’s skyline was more than the old man could bear. He began jumping up and down shouting, “I’m free! I’m really free!”
He had heard that in this new land you could speak your mind without fear. That the police were your friends. That a man could do just about anything he wanted.
When the boat docked at Ellis Island, the new immigrant was the first one down the gangplank. He immediately ran up to a man and punched him in the nose.
Bleeding profusely, the American decked the old man. In shock he cried, “Why did you hit me? This is a free country. I can do what I want!”
“Sure, buddy,” said the American, “But your freedom ends where my nose begins!”
Now that story might be true. But our forefathers understood the danger before it happened. And they crafted a land where privilege is balanced with responsibility.
Freedom in America is not the ability to do whatever you want without constraints. A good citizen is one who exercises his choices with wisdom and respect for the law.
I’m old enough to remember when schools used to give awards to students who showed “Good Citizenship.” To receive such an award was a real honor. But not today.
Today it’s “cool” to be “bad.” To ignore the rules. So doing what you want and getting away with it is one of the ultimate highs. A real “rush.”
A student’s T-shirt I saw not long ago sums up such an attitude. It said, “It’s not illegal if you don’t get caught.”
Hold it right there for just a minute.
Would you want to live in a country with that motto? I wouldn’t. Who could you trust? No one. And unless you were the biggest, strongest, fastest and smartest, you wouldn’t be safe.
Today America is on the verge of trading liberty for license—freedom with no limits. The courts seem to find new rights every day that our founding fathers never dreamed of!
And when personal freedoms trump the law, we descend into a hell of our own making.
What’s the solution? The French historian and political scientist Alexis de Tocqueville observed, “Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.”
The Bible has the only answer that always works. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Did you catch that? Obedience brings true freedom.
When we respect our nation’s laws and follow them we are free from fear of punishment. And, as Jesus pointed out, the same is true in the spiritual realm.
Obeying God brings freedom from sin’s punishment. Instead of fear we live at peace with God and others. A free society works only when its citizens practice moral goodness.
Unrestricted freedom ends where the law begins. The law exists to punish the lawless.
Real freedom starts with the truth. Not just any truth but the truth about Jesus Christ. And the truth of Christ is that the lawless can find forgiveness in his name. And true liberty.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
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