The End is Near!

     Yes, 2012 is almost upon us.  And, yes, I know that many are talking about the end of the world.  But that’s not what I’m talking about.

     “Now hold on just a minute!” you say.  “What about the European financial crisis?  What if Iran goes nuclear and sparks another war in the Middle East?  Is that the beginning of the end?”

     Maybe.  But that’s not the ‘End’ I had in mind.  I’m talking about the end of the year.

     Every year at this time people become wistfully reflective.  “Where did the year go?” they ask.  “Time is just flying by,” another will say.

     But, instead of commenting on the obvious, why not consider the obscure?  Instead of barreling through life at top speed, why not briefly slow the pace and ponder some of life’s important questions.

     Questions like, “Is this all there is?”  Or, “When you die, what's on the other side?  What’s the final reality?”

     Morbid?  Not really.  It’s more likely that you or I will enter the ‘Final Frontier’ in 2012 than that the world will end.  Every day more than 150,000 people enter eternity.  Are you prepared?

     People spend their lives planning and preparing for retirement.  And how long does that last? Fifteen to twenty years?  Or maybe thirty--if they’re blessed with good health and long life. 

     And remember--there’s no guarantee they’ll even make it to retirement!  But everyone is guaranteed to die.  Last time I checked, no one is exempt.

     Because of this fact of life, the Bible’s advice to us is, “Prepare to meet your God.”

     Now the Bible doesn’t tell us that to frighten or scare us.  The point is to encourage us to push the “Pause” button on our busy lives and think about what happens when life’s movie ends.

     Listen to the wisdom of God’s Word:  “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the dust returns to the ground it came from and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”

     According to the Bible there is no reincarnation, no purgatory, and no second chances.  Jesus clearly taught that eternity holds just two options:  a place of delight the Bible calls heaven and a place of eternal punishment Jesus called hell. 

     To be sure we don’t miss this fact, the Bible says, “Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment.”  That’s the facts straight up.  No sugar coating.

     The good news is that God made it possible to spend forever with him.  Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God offers forgiveness and peace to all who come to him through faith in Christ.

     Jesus came to bring new life now and eternal life later to everyone.  God’s offer is not just for Jews or Christians.  It’s for everyone. 

     The angel who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you.  He is Christ the Lord.”

     A New Year’s resolution can help change a habit.  But Jesus Christ offers a changed life—both now and forever.  Faith in him brings us peace with God and can help us be at peace with others.

     Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”   Because Jesus came we can follow him by faith to our eternal home.

     So whether ‘The End’ is near or not, we can live without fear by trusting in Christ. And that's the best way to start 2012!

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Christmas Cancelled

     It was the year with no Christmas.  At least for my family.

     Dad and Mom had read a book about the pagan origins of many Christmas traditions.  They were convinced that God wasn’t honored by the way Christmas had become so commercialized.  And the way all the focus had switched to presents and getting what you wanted.

     So we sat down as a family and they explained to us children that there would be no tree, no decorations and no gift exchange in our home on Sherman Avenue that year.  My brother, sister and I were completely surprised.   And confused.

     Up to that point I’d lived through twelve Christmases.  And every year we bought a Christmas tree, put up decorations and exchanged gifts.  Even the difficult years saw some presents under the tree.  But now there would be none.

     Seventh grade had been tough.  We had moved and I was the new kid in school. But by eighth grade I had made some friends.  Things were looking up.  Then this.

     Of course, the thing I was most upset about was that we’d have no tree and no presents.  The two went together in my mind.  I enjoyed giving, receiving and opening the presents.

     As I recall, I wasn’t sure what to think about this turn of events.  I was upset that we wouldn’t be celebrating Christ’s birth as we had been.  And I was really concerned about the presents.

     “Now hold on just a minute,” you may say.  “How could your parents be so cruel?”

     My parents had always made sure that our focus at Christmas was on Jesus.  We children patiently listened to the Christmas story because of what came next–opening the presents!

     You see, even in Christian homes the focus can shift to the gifts.  As a result of the mixed messages they hear, it’s easy for children to think that Christmas is about them and the things they so desperately want.  And being good enough to get the stuff on their list.

     But the Christmas story and the birth of Jesus is about something more.  It’s about the grace and forgiveness we so desperately need.  Why?  Because we’re not good enough–even though we try to convince ourselves and others that we are.

     So what will your focus be on this year?  Will you celebrate ‘Giftmas’ or Christmas? 

     Children imitate their elders.  And what you do as a parent or grandparent determines what your children or grandchildren believe and think about Christmas.

     By buying into the whole Santa myth are we unwittingly destroying the true meaning of the Christmas celebration?  It may be that our self-indulgence and extravagance is what leaves both our hearts and our wallets empty.

     So what should we do?  Well, almost everyone agrees that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. So instead of canceling Christmas, why not gently turn the attention back to Christ?  Let one of the children read the Christmas story from the Bible in the Gospel of Luke, chapter two.

     Then make the children’s birthdays about them with all the presents you want to give.  But make Christmas about Jesus, God’s gift of love to the world.  Talk about why he was born.

     Listen to what the angel said in announcing his birth to Mary: “You shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.”

     The Bible adds, “For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”  Jesus isn’t just a Savior for Christians or for a particular nation.  The Bible calls him “the Savior of the world.”  Now that’s something worth celebrating.

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Chasing Christmas

     The perfect Christmas is an elusive prize that many people would like to catch.  But what would it look like?  How would you know when you found it?

     Sadly many don’t know what Christmas is all about.  A small child was once asked why we celebrate Christmas.  Her answer? “Because it’s Santa’s Birthday!”

     At least the little girl got it half right.  Christmas is about a birthday–but not Santa’s!  The fact that some children think that shows we need to do a better job explaining Christmas. 

     No doubt some children think Christmas is about them since they receive all the presents.  Many children get more presents at Christmas than they do for their own birthday.

     “Well, hold on just a minute,” you may say. “Then what’s the point of Christmas?”

     According to the dictionary Christmas is “an annual Christian festival on December 25, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.”  It also says that it’s become a secular holiday when people traditionally exchange presents and greetings.

     We practice many of our Christmas traditions without ever giving thought as to why we do them.  Exchanging presents is a good example.  Why do we do that?

     One reason we give gifts is to remind us that the birth of the Savior was God’s great gift to the world.  But it was a surprise gift.  Most people don’t think they need a savior.  They don’t feel like they need to be rescued.  So why a savior?

     Two thousand years ago Israel was looking for a savior to deliver them from the rule of the Roman Empire and Caesar.  What they got was someone who offered deliverance from sin instead of political deliverance.  The nation’s leaders, however, rejected and crucified him.

     But God turned the rejection and death of Christ into an offer of salvation for the whole world.  The Bible says that faith in Christ brings deliverance from sin and judgment to come. 

     What a gift!  Salvation that doesn’t depend on being born into the right family or belonging to the ‘right’ religion!  Salvation that is free!  What a Christmas present!

     Today many people are drowning in failure and the consequences of bad decisions.  In the Bible God gave us standards to live by.  Those who break his rules often suffer the consequences in their health and in their relationships.  The Bible calls that ‘sin.’

     Unable to fix our broken relationship with God, we need someone to save us.  And that’s where God’s great gift comes into the picture.  God’s purpose in sending Christ was for him to become the Savior of the world.  To save us from sin and its consequences that lead to death.

     The angel told the shepherds, “Today in the town of David [Bethlehem] a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”  People who heard Jesus and personally experienced his ministry recognized that he was “the Savior of the world.”

     So this Christmas, before you put down your credit card to buy presents, pick up a Bible and turn to the Gospel of Luke.  Read about the first Christmas in chapter two.  Join in the wonder the Shepherds felt when they saw Jesus, the Savior.  Worship him with the wise men.

     When a person recognizes who Jesus is and puts their trust in him to save them, God gives them the ultimate gift, eternal life.  That’s the real Christmas present!  Have you received it?

     If you’re chasing Christmas, I hope you find it.  Just remember that the real reason for Christmas is not found in a store or under at tree.  It’s found in a person, Jesus Christ.

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

No Peace On Earth?

      America was at peace, but it was an unsteady peace the first week of December 1941.  Unemployment was high but better than it had been.  Many served our country in the military. 

     Our nation was not at war, but Europe was.  We didn’t call it World War II yet.  It was simply ‘The Emergency.’ 

     Seventy years ago, people went about their daily lives with a sense of normalcy.  They listened to their Philco and General Electric radios.  Children went to school and families anticipated celebrating Christmas in a few weeks.

     On Saturday, December 6, football fans looked forward to the Sunday NFL game.  The Washington Redskins had struggled through another losing season. But the Giants had won the Eastern Division and would play the winner of the Packers–Bears game for the championship.

     No one expected war and the President was in the midst of pursuing diplomatic solutions with the Japanese.  An attack on the Homeland was the furthest thing from anyone’s mind.

     In Washington, D.C. Sunday, December 7 began as a beautiful late autumn day.  People were going to church, reading the Sunday papers and relaxing. 

     Then at about 7:30 a.m. in Hawaii (early afternoon on the East Coast) more than 300 Japanese airplanes dropped from the sky.  They attacked our military bases on Ford Island, Hickam Field and Pearl Harbor.  It was completely unexpected.

     December 7, 1941 was one of those rare days when every American old enough to understand remembered exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news.

     Overnight the United States went from isolationist and nationalistic to an internationally involved country. And the Great War, World War I, instead of being “the war to end all wars,” was the beginning of a long line of wars and military actions that stretch to the present day.

     In fact, ever since the Christmas angels announced to the shepherds in the field, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward to men,” there’s been anything but peace on earth.  Instead it’s been nothing but “wars and rumors of wars.”

     “Now hold on just a minute!” you may say.  “Then what’s all the talk at Christmas time about ‘Peace on earth’?  Who are we kidding?”  Good question.

     Jesus Christ is called ‘The Prince of Peace’ and he talked about a new kind of peace. “Peace I leave with you,” Jesus said, “My peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.”

     In this world real peace is not the absence of war, but the protection of the presence of God. The peace of God is a peace that will never leave you.  If you have Jesus, he gives you peace.  And his peace is not the brief kind that the world makes–it’s a lasting peace.  

     The Bible says that if we follow Christ and trust in him as Lord and Savior, “The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

     In Christ we are finally at peace WITH God and also have the peace OF God in our hearts.

     Peace comes from understanding that God is in control.  And from choosing to let him be in control of our lives.  When we try to control everything we have no peace.

     December 7, 1941 was the 9/11 for my parent’s generation.  And 9/11 was the ‘Pearl Harbor’ for the younger generations.  Sadly neither World War II nor all the wars since have brought the world any sense of lasting peace.

     What’s the solution?  To walk with God through faith in Christ and be filled with his peace.

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Friday Frenzy

     By now it’s old news–but the frenzy on Black Friday to kick off ‘Christmas’ shopping never ceases to amaze me.  And this year didn’t disappoint.

     We slipped in and out of a few stores last Friday to pick up some items we needed.  Every store was crowded.  In some places shoppers had lined up during the night or early morning to be the first in line for special pricing.

     Even grocery stores were jammed with people. It was like someone flipped a switch and, all of a sudden, everyone HAD to go shopping!

     Black Friday is the official start to the holiday shopping season.  It is so named because, for many retailers, it moves them from being ‘in the red’ to being ‘in the black.’  It makes the year.

     For shoppers, it’s a chance for big savings on Christmas presents.  With the ‘door-buster’ sales, some can purchase nicer gifts than they otherwise could have afforded.

     But you know what’s surprising? We live in a secular culture where even non-Christians go all out to celebrate what is essentially a religious holiday–Christmas.  Why is that?

     “Now hold on just a minute,” you say. “What’s wrong with everyone celebrating Christmas?”

     Nothing, I guess.  But it makes about as much sense as Americans going all out to celebrate the Queen of England’s birthday.  If we’re not her subjects, why bother?

     And if you’re not a Christ follower, if you’re not a member of God’s forever family through faith in Jesus Christ–why would you even want to celebrate Jesus’ birthday?  Seriously!

     Of course the answer is that, for many, Christmas is no longer about Jesus Christ.  It’s all about the presents.  Even in many families who call themselves ‘Christians.”

     You want proof?  Then think about this:  If you plan a party to celebrate someone’s birthday, your main concern is not whether the guests will like the party favors.  Your main concern is whether or not the guest of honor is pleased.  But how many holiday revelers are concerned whether or not Jesus Christ is happy with the celebration?  Very few, if any.

     No, our main concern is seen in our stress over whether someone will like the present we got him or her.  Or whether we can return a gift without the giver being offended.  It’s all about us.

     Jesus didn’t come so you could get an amazing deal on the latest electronic gadget.  He came to be the Savior of the world.  Just as the angel told Mary, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

     He became the Savior of the world by dying for our sin on the cross and rising from the dead. Christmas, you see, really points to Good Friday and Easter. 

     Christmas is a God event.  It’s about God the Son entering our world as a man in order to change the course of human history.  Not politically or economically but spiritually.

     It’s approximately four weeks until Christmas Day.  I encourage you to get a Bible and read the Christmas story as recorded at the beginning of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.  Read the Gospel of John for a good picture of Jesus’ life and ministry.  It won’t take long.

     Then for Christmas Sunday find a Bible believing, Bible teaching church.  Take your family and start a tradition of focusing on Jesus Christ as you celebrate his birthday.

     It’s about time Christians stood up and said, “Wait a minute!  This is OUR holy day and it’s about JESUS.  Can I tell you about Him?”  Some folks just might be interested.

     Enjoy the season and decorations. But why not skip the frenzy over gifts and focus on Christ?

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Thankless to Thankful

     Tradition tells us it’s the week to be thankful.  But how many will actually thank God?

     If you listen to the average American, they can be more thankless than thankful. Complaints, gripes and grumbling seem to be the order of the day.  

     Times are tough.  Many are still unemployed.  Gasoline prices are sky-high.  It’s hard to sell a house or get a mortgage refinanced. The cost of everything is going up.  Children are ungrateful and won’t listen to their elders. And the NBA strike is delaying the start of the basketball season. 

     Plus there’s a seemingly endless war going on.  Many families will spend the holiday worrying about their loved ones who are in harm’s way.  Some Americans will wake up on Thanksgiving Day feeling like there’s more to be worried about to be thankful for.

     Life can look pretty grim at times.  But it doesn’t mean God has given up on us.

     The Pilgrims knew that.  So did Abraham Lincoln.  Do you?

     “Now hold on just a minute,” you may say.  “Why should I thank God if I’m depressed?

     If that’s true, you’re not the first American to feel less than thankful in trying times.  Consider the story of the first Thanksgiving in America.  The winter of 1620 was devastating.  The harvest was almost non-existent.  The cold was numbing.  Parents saw children die in their sleep.

     But then came the bountiful harvest of 1621.  The Pilgrims gathered to thank God for blessing them.  Things could have been better but they also could have been much worse.

     Now fast-forward 242 years after that first Thanksgiving feast.  Listen to the words of a man who faced a different, but no less devastating trial.

     Abraham Lincoln was the president of half a country involved in a bloody battle with the other half.  Yet in the middle of the Civil War, he declared there was much that the no-longer-United-States could be thankful for.

     On Oct. 3, 1863–just two weeks after more than 34,000 Americans were killed or wounded in the battle of Chickamauga–Lincoln issued a proclamation establishing a national day of Thanksgiving.

     “The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies," he wrote. "To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added….”

     Lincoln went on to observe that America was at peace with foreign nations.  Farming and industry continued, as did international trade.  He said, “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”

     “It has seemed to me fit and proper,” he continued, “that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States…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.”

     If Lincoln and the Pilgrims were able to thank God in the midst of the trials they faced, shouldn’t we be able to do the same?  Surely our difficulties are no worse than theirs.

     The Bible tells us to “Be Thankful.”  It reminds us to “Sing…with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do…do it…giving thanks to God.”

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Non-Prophet

     “I’m not a prophet or the son of a prophet–but I work for a non-profit!”  That usually brings a smile or a laugh when I share it in conversation. 

     However, not only do I serve a non-profit organization (a church), we are also ‘Non-Prophet.’  In other words, we do not believe that some kind of modern prophet is necessary to correctly understand the Bible, God’s holy Word.

     “Now hold on just a minute,” you may say.  “Then who decides what the Bible means?”

     Good question!  And the Bible can help us.  It is the best commentary on itself.  We are not free to change the meaning of the Bible to suit our opinions.  That’s why many churches require leaders to be trained to interpret the Bible correctly.

     Bible interpretation and application require great care and accountability.  Many times I have reminded people I teach, “If you wonder how I came to my conclusion or where I got it from, you have every right to ask me.  And if it’s my opinion, I will say so.”

     Suppose someone claims to be a modern prophet.  That they alone have God’s truth.  The Bible warns us to test such a person: “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken.”

     In the Bible, the penalty for being a false prophet was death.  God is serious about his words.

     What if a ‘prophet’ claims to be called to ‘restore’ Christianity?  Then his claim requires a close examination in the light of the Bible.  It alone is the authority on Christianity.

     The New Testament declares that “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom he made the universe.”

     The Bible tells us that Jesus’ “divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him.”  So why would another prophet be necessary?

     Paul, the Apostle, adds, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”

     I encourage you to pick up a Bible and read it for yourself.  Not to prove a point or demonstrate that you’re right.  Read it like a child and ask God to speak to you through it.  The Gospel of John in the New Testament is a good place to begin.  And then keep reading.

     The Bible warns, “Don’t let anyone deceive you.”  It says that in the last days people will “perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” It warns that many will “believe the lie” and be condemned by God. –Don’t let that be you or your family!

     If you allow a religious leader or church to determine your beliefs, here’s a question to ponder:  “Are you willing to stake the eternal future of your soul on your belief in that person or church?”  Have you done due diligence and made a careful investigation of what you’ve been taught to see whether it is true to the Bible?

    We must always be careful.  The Bible warns Christians, “Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.  So be on your guard!”

     Why do people believe a lie instead of the truth?  Marilyn von Savant answers in her November 13, 2011 newspaper column.  She said it’s “because people get freaked out by the notion of being wrong about anything.  It makes them feel insecure.” 

     “After we leave school,” she writes, “we tend to head down one of two roads: (1) We close our minds to new or different information while becoming more and more sure of ourselves; or (2) we watch, listen and learn as we get older.  The second path, is also the path to wisdom.”

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Busy Bees

     In the bee world, there’s no rest for the worker bees.  First they search for nectar and pollen and then make wax and honey.  In addition the worker bees feed the queen and larvae, build and repair the hive, keep it cool with their wings, and protect the hive against enemies.

     Their job isn’t to think–it’s only to work.  And in that regard, they’re like members of a cult.

     “Now hold on just a minute,” you may say.  “What’s wrong with keeping folks busy?”

     Nothing.  Unless it’s designed to keep them from thinking or asking questions.  Or worse.

     What could be worse?  Good question.  And it brings us to another mark of a cult.

     Cults multiply law-keeping requirements.  They may SAY they believe in salvation by grace, but then talk about ‘merited grace’ – a contradiction.   Or they talk about good works that are necessary to remain in God’s good graces or to ‘inherit’ salvation.

     ‘Grace’ means that salvation is an UNmerited gift from God. That is the clear teaching of the Bible.  It says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

     If you believe doing something earns salvation, then your salvation is based on works. What’s so bad about that? Well, God is so holy and righteous that the Bible says our good works are like “filthy rags.”  They can never earn salvation.  And being too busy to realize that is tragic.

     The reason God can offer salvation as a free gift through faith in Christ is because Jesus paid the price for us.  He lived the perfect life we should have lived and died the death on the cross that we deserve for our sins.

     All God asks is for us to come to him on the basis of what Christ has done, not on the basis of what we have done.  That’s faith.  That’s trust.  And that’s the message of the Bible.

     A cult talks about having faith, but it’s always faith PLUS obedience to their group’s laws and ordinances.  And if good behavior is necessary to earn any part of one’s eternal salvation, then they cannot say, as the Bible does, that through faith in Christ, God “forgave us all our sins.”

     That a cult requires loyal obedience for salvation is not surprising.  Most religions do.  Probably because the default mode of human religious thinking is legalism.  But Jesus came to change all that.  His goal was to help us establish a personal, one-to-one relationship with God.

     Several people that once belonged to cults related to me that busyness was part of the plan to keep members from thinking.  Some people in a cult develop doubts but they just ‘put them on a shelf’ in the back of their minds.  For the fortunate ones, the shelf eventually ‘breaks’ causing a crisis of faith and driving them to seek for the truth.

     The Bible warns us, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

     If you want a simple test to identify a cult, remember the four math operations: Add, Subtract, Divide and Multiply.  Do they insist on adding to the Bible?  Do they subtract from the Bible’s description of Jesus as the virgin born Son of God who is God in the flesh?  Do they divide loyalty to God by demanding unquestioning devotion to their ‘church’ for salvation?  And do they multiply law-keeping requirements that must be obeyed to be ‘saved’?

     If the answer is “Yes,” it’s a cult.  Stay away!

     Then look for a friendly, Bible teaching, life-giving church where you’re free to ask questions, where your faith will be encouraged and where you and your family can serve God.

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

True Believers

     Are you a ‘True Believer’?  A ‘True Believer’ believes that what they’re told is true, with no doubts.  Their source is usually a teacher or someone they see as an ultimate authority.

     Not only that, but to some ‘True Believers’ the facts may be secondary, if they matter at all.  Their belief, philosophy or religion makes them feel good–so it’s right, no matter what.

     Such an approach may be comforting and assuring but it is not Christian.  In fact it is another mark of a cult.  Christians have always compared what they believe with the Bible.

     “Now hold on just a minute,” you may say.  “What’s wrong with being sure of yourself?”

     Not a thing if your beliefs rest on solid evidence.  But how many people bother to check?

     I was raised in a God-fearing Christian home.  But, when I was in college, I remember my father challenging me with these words: “It’s time you lost your parents’ faith and got one of your own.”  And I knew exactly what he meant.  Up until then I was living on my parents’ faith.

     Fortunately I attended a college that encouraged people to honestly examine their beliefs.  I learned that convictions arise through our doubts, not in spite of them.  Our doubts drive us back to the evidence.  And after thoroughly examining the evidence, the result is convictions.

     A person that’s never done that believes what is convenient.  They may even become dogmatic when asked to defend their views because they have no evidence to back them up.

     In a previous column, “Cult or Christian,” I observed that two marks of a cult are that it adds to the Bible and subtracts from the person of Christ.  Cults also divide people’s loyalty between God and their group.  One must unquestioningly trust God AND the group’s teaching. 

     Usually this means that a follower is not permitted to doubt the group’s teachings or read books and watch anything contradictory to what they believe.  Just believe it because they say so.

     Christians have often been accused of that approach, but the opposite is true of genuine followers of Christ.  Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  Jesus’ followers are not afraid of the truth. 

     Even the physician, Luke, who wrote a record of Jesus’ life in the New Testament, did due diligence.  He wrote, “Many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us.  It seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you.”

     In the Old Testament book of Job, God never condemned Job for questioning him.  To the prophet, Isaiah, God said, “Come now, let us reason together.”

     Even the great Apostle Paul encouraged an examined life.  He said, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”

     So if you are part of a group that has added to the Bible or constantly ‘corrected’ their own ‘Testament’ in many places, ask yourself “Why?”  The Bible says, “Every word of God is flawless.  Do not add to his words or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” 

     Remember, no one has ever come up with something that Jesus should have said.

     Do you attend a ‘church’ that talks about Jesus but does not consider him ‘God the Son’ as well as the ‘Son of God’?  Do they elevate another ‘prophet’ up to his level?  If so, beware.

     And if your ‘church’ demands unquestioning loyalty, be careful.  That’s a mark of a cult.  Find a church where your questions are welcome and answered honestly from the Bible.

     If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to get a Bible and read the New Testament.  But read it as a child.  Without any pre-conceived notions.  Let the Bible speak for itself.

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Loner Christians

     One of my favorite Halloween costumes was to dress up as the Lone Ranger.  Popular on television in the 1950s, the Lone Ranger was a fictitious Texas Ranger.  The lone survivor of an outlaw ambush, he was nursed back to health by Tonto, an orphaned Indian he once rescued. 

     The Lone Ranger made a career of righting wrongs and capturing outlaws.   But the Lone Ranger worked alone--without the aid of organized law enforcement.  So his name made sense.

     One man can make a difference, but he can’t live a fully productive life by himself. The truth is, we all need other people.  “No man is an island,” said the English poet John Donne.

     The Lone Ranger’s adventures made good TV but he’s a poor example for Christ’s followers.

     “Now hold it just a minute,” you may say.  “What’s wrong with being a loner?”

     Loner Christians don’t think they need the church or anyone else.  They believe they can get along just fine by themselves.  One once told me, “I can worship God on the tree stump in my back yard just as well as on a church pew.”

     Often they became loners because, like the Lone Ranger, they were “ambushed” –usually by well-meaning church folks.  With their feelings hurt, they retreat to a hermit-like faith.

     “Why should I go to church?” they ask.  “Everyone there is a hypocrite!”

     Let’s be honest.  Church folk sometimes say and do hurtful things.  Unfortunately every Christian is not a perfect example of their faith.  But that’s no reason to give up on the church.

     Jesus took the religious leaders of his day to task for their poor application of Scripture and failure to obey God.  But he still attended worship regularly.  With the hypocrites. 

     New Testament churches were full of problems.  There were church bosses, false doctrine and people living in sin.  But did the apostles give up on the church?  No–they worked hard to help it become all God intended it to be.  When the church is working right it’s the hope of the world.

     Most of the New Testament is written proof that the Apostles of Jesus Christ were not willing to write off the church.  Time and again they wrote to correct problems in the churches and to encourage Christians to live out their faith. 

     The church is not a museum for perfect Christians.  It’s a repair station to fix problems.

     Sylvester Stallone, who played Rocky and Rambo in the movies, once told a group of pastors, “Living without the church is like working out without a trainer. You need to have the expertise and guidance of someone else. You can’t train yourself. I feel the same way about Christianity.”

     “The church is the gym of the soul,” Stallone continued. “Pastors are like trainers that guide you through difficult times and take you to places you don’t believe you can go. A lot of people say, ‘I can do it on my own, I have a one-on-one relationship with God.’ Well, it’s not quite the same…The more I turn myself over to the process of believing in Jesus, listening to His Word and having Him guide my hand, the more I feel as though the pressure is off me now.”

     The Lone Ranger was the classic Western at its best.  But it was just fiction. 

     The reality of Christianity is not about loner Christians.  We were made for community.  So the early church “devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  Community is necessary for the church to be the church!

     God’s advice through the Apostles was pointed and direct: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day [of Christ’s return] approaching.”

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Cult or Christian?

     The conversation at the next table in the restaurant was quite lively.  Four young adults were discussing the fallout from a pastor’s introduction for a presidential candidate last week.

     News reports indicate the pastor referred to one of the candidate’s opponents as a member of a cult.  However that opponent refers to himself as a Christian.

     As I listened to the nearby discussion, it occurred to me that the question being raised was an important one.  And not just for presidential politics.  It’s important for you and me.

     Since his remarks, the pastor took some hits in the media for what they called “disparaging statements” about the other candidate’s religion.  Some even called him a ‘moron.’

     But are remarks ‘disparaging’ if they are true?  Shouldn’t the media do a fact check first?

     “Hold on just a minute,” you say.  “If a person says, ‘I’m a Christian,’ who are we to judge?”

     Who indeed?  But someone has to decide.  Otherwise, if the word ‘Christian’ means anything the speaker decides, then it means nothing.

     Just what makes a person (what the pastor called) “a genuine follower of Jesus Christ?”

     I propose that, to settle the debate, it is most appropriate to let Christianity’s founder decide.

     When Jesus Christ was first introduced publicly by his cousin, John the Baptist, John said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  And Jesus did not disagree.

     A “genuine follower” believes Jesus when he said, “I and the Father are one” [John 10:30].  His listener’s understood he was claiming to be God and not just a man.

     Then Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” [John 14:6] Another time he said, “I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved” [John 10:9].

     “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother,” said Jesus [Mark 3:35]. When asked what it meant to do God’s will he replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent” [John 6:29].

     Speaking of himself Jesus said, “The Son of Man must be lifted up that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” [John 3:14].  Later the Bible states, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” [Acts 4:12].

     If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to get a Bible and read the Gospel accounts again.  But read them as a child.  Without any pre-conceived notions.  Let the Bible speak for itself.

     Some religious groups claim they helped ‘restore’ the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  But it’s never been lost.  It’s right there for all to read in the Bible.  And you don’t need special glasses to understand it.  The language is plain and simple enough for a child to understand.

     The Bible says about Jesus, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” [John 1:12].  Notice that membership in God’s family is by grace alone.  It is a gift from Jesus Christ to you.  All you must do is believe and receive it.

     God wants you to find faith in Christ so he kept it simple.  He also warns us against “turning to a different gospel–which is really no gospel at all” because some people are “trying to pervert the gospel of Christ” [Galatians 1:6,7].

     The best test of whether someone is “a genuine follower of Jesus Christ” is to compare what they believe with what Jesus taught.  If they add to the Bible or take away from what it clearly teaches about Jesus Christ, you can be sure they belong to a cult.

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Three Apples

     Someone said last week that three apples changed the world:  Adam’s, Newton’s and Steve Jobs.’  That’s quite a tribute to the man behind Apple, Inc. who died last week.

     We still remember Adam for eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. The Bible tells us in its first book, Genesis, that Adam’s act of disobedience to God changed the world. 

     Adam’s ‘apple’ changed our relationship with God and the world from friend to foe. If you’re skeptical about that, consider this:  Adam’s act is so ingrained in the human story that we still refer to the bump on the front of a man’s throat as his ‘Adam’s Apple.’ Apparently it got stuck!

     Isaac Newton’s apple changed our understanding of the world.  It fell on his head–remember?  Finally we learned that there are natural laws, like gravity, that govern the universe.

     Steve Jobs’ Apple changed the way we communicate and interact with our world.  His ideas and amazing innovations made our lives more interesting.  In fact the computer I’m typing on and the Internet hardware I use are products from Steve Jobs’ Apple.

     Whether you liked him or not, everyone agrees that Steve Jobs made a significant impact on his world.  So much so that many idolize him and even try to dress like him.  According to media reports there was a run on his signature black turtlenecks two days after he died!

     While many tried to imitate or copy him, there is a better option.  A way to make a significant impact on this world with eternal results.

     “Now hold on just a minute,” you say. “Everyone can’t be an Isaac Newton or a Steve Jobs.”

     True.  But everyone reading this can make a significant impact on this world with eternal results.  How?  By following Jesus Christ.

     First Jesus calls us to be his disciples.  And that’s harder than it seems.

     Jesus does not call us to become more religious, sincere or fanatical.  He calls us to become worshipers of the one true God.  The One who the Bible reveals as Creator of the universe.

     “True worshipers,” Jesus said, “will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

     To do that we must abandon the European model of the holy place, the holy man, and the holy ritual. We must understand that we can live in the reality of walking with God.  Every day.

     The Bible tells us that we must come to God through his son, Jesus Christ.  We must repent of our sin and trust in Christ’s death on the cross to pay the penalty for it.  And we must believe that through his resurrection we have eternal life.

     But more than just agreeing with a set of facts and attending religious services, faith in Christ is entering into a real, living relationship with God, himself.  It is a transformed life.

     Second Jesus calls us to make disciples.  We do that by telling others the good news about Christ and encouraging them to put their faith in him, also.

     Being a disciple or follower of Jesus is so much more than attending church and putting money in the offering.  It is a complete change of our life’s direction from loving and serving ourselves to loving and serving God and others.  Every day.  Not just one day a week.

     When you do that, your life will have a significant impact on this world with eternal results.  Eternal because all who believe in Christ change their eternal destination from hell to heaven!

     It sounds amazing but, according to the Bible, it’s true.  ‘How do you like them apples?’

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Hope for the World

     When a church is working right it presents and represents Jesus Christ, the hope of the world.  I hope you attend such a church.  It can make Sunday the highlight of your week!

     Sadly, many churches have stopped presenting hope for the world.  And most of their members didn’t realize it! These churches gradually became “Christian Clubs” with songs, rituals and gatherings that focus inward instead of outward. They serve themselves, not others.

     “Now hold it just a minute,” you say. “What does a church that’s ‘working right’ look like?”

     Great question!  And to answer it we turn to the Bible, the only authoritative Word of God for the church of Jesus Christ.  There, in the New Testament book of Acts, we find the answer. 

     The church was a vibrant growing group of people focused on worship, prayer, God’s Word, fellowship and serving others. They proclaimed the simple gospel of Jesus Christ:  “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.”  Lives were changed for good.

     The result was that “everyone was filled with awe” and the church grew incredibly fast. 

     What a church! It was the ‘happening place’ in Jerusalem. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?  Broken lives were restored and desperate people found help.  The fearful found peace, the empty were filled with purpose and those overcome with sorrow found joy.  It was amazing!

     Sadly, most Christians have settled for a church that is so much less.  In some the worship service is the most boring hour of the week.  Where is the awe and excitement?  What happened?

     What happened is that man tried to ‘improve’ on God’s plan for the church.  Some groups stopped taking the gospel message to others altogether and focused instead on fellowship.

     Other groups strayed from the simple gospel of Christ.  Instead of teaching forgiveness for all our sins as a gift of God, they taught you must believe in Jesus Christ AND follow a bunch of laws, ordinances and rituals.  Rather than salvation by GRACE, it was by ‘Good Works.’

     Some even went so far as to say, “The most damnable, heretical doctrine ever proclaimed by man is ‘saved by grace.’” Amazing–since that’s how God says we are saved from sin!

     The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

     Once we understand that forgiveness and a new life are God’s gift, everything changes.  The joy and freedom that result from faith in Christ are indescribable! Money and things, while still necessary, lose their attraction.  Religious rule keeping is replaced by a relationship with Christ. 

     People whose lives are truly changed by the gospel want everyone to have the same joy and freedom they have in Christ.  The love of God in their hearts gives them a compassion and love for others—just like Jesus had.  Life is no longer just about them and their desires.

     A Church with leaders and people like that is an oasis of hope in a hopeless world.

     When a church is ‘working right’ lives are transformed, prejudice is overcome, failures are forgiven and selfishness is replaced with a concern for others. Genuine hope becomes a reality.

     The solution is for people to return to the message and mission of the church in the Bible.

     If you’re not a part of a church like the Bible describes, change yours or find one that is!

     The church I pastor is not, nor is any church, ‘perfect.’ But we do have a perfect Savior, Jesus Christ.  Through faith in him we have peace with God, joy in our hearts and the forgiveness of sin.  We have Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to provide, protect and lead us. 

     All of that, plus God’s promise of eternal life--now that’s real hope for the world!

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Who’s Ur Bff?

     I’ve tried to keep up with the language of the younger generation.  But text messaging has brought with it a whole new set of cryptic abbreviations.

     For instance, when two students are good friends one may text the other, “Ur my bff!”

     Now what in the world does that mean?  You only need to ask a teenager to find out.  It means, “You’re my Best Friend Forever!”

     We all need friends.  But experts tell us there’s a disturbing trend taking place. In the American Sociological Review, researchers cited evidence Americans have a third fewer close friends than twenty years ago.

     Even more disturbing, the data indicates the number of people who have no close personal friends has more than doubled. Even in families, intimacy has diminished considerably.

     As a result, many people feel lonelier and more isolated than ever.  We long to be appreciated and loved for who we are.

     Collier’s Magazine once published a story about a little girl in an orphanage.  The other children avoided her and the staff disliked her.  For some time they suspected she was writing secret notes to people outside of the orphanage.

     One day their suspicions were confirmed. Another orphan reported seeing her write a note and hide it on a tree near a stone wall. The director hurried to the tree and found the note.  Then he passed it silently to his assistant.  The note read: “To whoever finds this: I love you.”

     She wanted a friend.  More than that, she needed a bff.  Someone who would never leave her.

     But where can you find a bff?  Where can you find true friendship?  Look in your Bible.

     “Now hold on just a minute!” you say.  “Why do you always head for the Bible?”

     Because the Bible holds the answer for many of the difficult problems of Life.  And the truth is, Jesus Christ wants to be your bff–your best friend forever.

     Jesus was speaking to his followers when he said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.” Then he says, “I have called you friends.”  He adds, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” 

     With those words Jesus predicted why he would die.  He knew that “the wages of sin is death.”  And that the only way to free us from sin’s penalty was for him to die in our place.

     Jesus wants to be your bff–best friend forever. Will you accept his offer of friendship today?

     After a person hears the good news about Christ they must decide:  “Am I willing to give up trying to earn God’s favor and stop working for my salvation?  Am I willing to accept the gift of forgiveness God offers to everyone through faith in Jesus Christ?”

     If you say, “Yes,” then you’re ready to give yourself to Christ. To believe and trust in God.  To become part of his forever family.  So if you will say to God, “Father, accept me and adopt me, not because of what I’ve done but because of what Jesus Christ did for me in dying on the cross”–if you will do that, then the Bible says you become a child of God. At that very moment.

     Sooner or later, people fail us.  Religious.  Nonreligious.  Even the most dependable friends can fail us.  But Jesus never will.  He promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  And he alone can keep that promise because, in his resurrection, he conquered death.

     The Bible is like Jesus’ note to you that says, “To whoever finds this: I love you.”  You’ll never find another friend like Jesus Christ because he truly can be your bff–best friend forever!

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!