Almost A Christian

Are you almost a Christian?

“Now hold on just a minute! How can someone be almost a Christian?”

A good friend once told me he was “almost a Christian.” He attended church regularly. He sang in the choir. He took Communion. He tried to be a good husband and father.

But the day came when he realized those things didn’t make him a Christian.

His new perspective came when we looked at the Bible together. He saw, for the first time, how the Bible says a person becomes a Christian. In its pages he met Jesus and followed him.

The scripture we read was in the New Testament book of Romans, chapter 3, verse 23. It says, “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

For the first time my friend understood that sin pays a wage. We deserve it. Just like getting paid for work. And the wages for sin, God says, is death. Eternal separation from God.

Then he saw that God wanted to give him a gift, something he didn’t deserve or work for. That gift was the opposite of death. Life. Life that begins now and extends into eternity.

Next we looked at a scripture that specifically tells how to be saved from the penalty of sin. It says, “If you will confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The Bible adds, “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame’” (Romans 10:9, 10).

My friend suddenly realized it wasn’t religion, a church or going to a church that saved his soul. Instead it was a one-to-one, heart-to-heart faith relationship with Christ. He saw that he could receive eternal life by trusting personally in Jesus’ death on the cross in our place.

What I love about the Gospel, the good news of Christ, is that it’s uncomplicated and so simple. Jesus took care of our sin problem. Now the only decision to make is “What will you do with Jesus Christ?” All it takes is simple faith, a child-like trust in him. Because Jesus saves us.

But not everyone hears the good news about Christ and believes in him. A man in the Bible, King Agrippa, said he was almost persuaded to be a Christian. Almost a Christian.

God doesn’t force faith on anyone but he extends an invitation to everyone. Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”

Many people in churches today are ‘Almost’ Christians. Another man put it this way. He said, “I knew my catechism, but I didn’t know the person of Christ.”

The same could be said for many churchgoers. They know about the Bible, its doctrines and what they should believe. They know about Jesus but don’t know him personally. They’re living on someone else’s faith and beliefs. They’re “almost a Christian.”

Like Jesus’ disciple, Thomas, we all need to come to Christ and say, “My Lord and my God!”

What will you do with Jesus? Will you believe what the Bible says about him? It says, “Look, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” and “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Perhaps up until now you’ve been “almost a Christian.” That can change today.

The Bible says, “To all who received him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” By faith you can move from ‘almost’ to “I am a Christian.”

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

Drowned Out

We are drowning in a deluge of data. At least I know I am! You probably are, too.

Remember when “media” was just a TV or radio and you turned it on or off? Today media has multiplied into smartphones, MP3 and portable DVD players, interactive video games and laptop computers.

In many homes and offices media is always on. You can’t get away from it. Even gas pumps and elevators have video monitors. “Watch! Listen!” they seem to say.

To say we’re struggling in a torrent of technology is no exaggeration. Every day brings a flood of facts and information.

The result? We’re incapable of being “fully in the moment.” Our thinking is thwarted and our capacity to discern is diminished. Information overload undermines our ability to focus.

So much daily data is overwhelming. The average American is bombarded with 5,000 media messages per day. Plus our gadgets allow us to multi-task anywhere, anyplace at anytime.

This nonstop interactivity is one of the most significant changes in the human environment. While we’ve convinced ourselves we’re good at multi-tasking, research shows that to be a modern myth.

A recent New York Times article reports that juggling e-mail, phone calls and other incoming information changes how we think and behave. It creates an addictive excitement.

This constant input also has an unintended consequence: We no longer listen for God’s voice. He’s been drowned out by all the noise of our media.

“Now hold on just a minute! How does modern technology keep us from hearing God?”

It’s true our media brims with Bibles, sermons, teaching and religious programs. But it’s too easy for us to be distracted with our new toys and the habits that go with them.

One techno-savvy student described his problem this way. He said, “a little voice would be saying, ‘Look up’ at the computer, and I’d look up.” And while he intended to read for only a few minutes, he ended up searching his favorite web sites and then checking Facebook.

So how does all this affect us spiritually? The bursts of information are so distracting that we fail to take time to look for meaning in life. We have a lot of data but no discernment.

God says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Many times throughout scripture God calls for our undivided attention. Why? Because he loves us.

Like any relationship, a relationship with God takes an investment of time and attention.

God has done his part. He sent his son, Jesus, to reveal to us what God is like. He gave us the Bible so we might meet him in its pages and learn of his love and forgiveness.

But God knew we’d be distracted. So he gave us the solution. He said, “Be still and know that I am God.” In other words, don’t let the noise of modern life drown God out. Be still.

When was the last time you made yourself stand still or sit still? You’ve probably wanted to slow down but you never found the time.

Try it. It may be difficult and awkward. It may even be uncomfortable. But turn off the media and get alone with God. Read your Bible. The Psalms, maybe. The Gospel of John.

You might hear God’s quiet voice and finally start a relationship of faith with him. Do it daily and you’ll find that, instead of stressed, you’re refreshed. It’s a great way to start the day.

Tomorrow is a new beginning. Slow down. Be still. Tune in to God and find rest.

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

Hybrid Faith

A hybrid car sits in my driveway. Under the hood are both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. It runs on gasoline and electricity and gets excellent mileage.

Before buying it I discovered that a highly respected consumer reporting group rated it as “the best bang for your buck.” That got my attention and eventually my purchase.

Hybrid cars are remarkable engineering. But while a hybrid car may be good for the budget and the environment, hybrid faith isn’t so good for your soul.

“Now hold on for just a minute! What is hybrid faith?”

A ‘hybrid’ is a combination or mixture of two different things. In the plant kingdom it’s the result of crossbreeding two different types of plants (like roses). In the animal world it’s the result of mating parents from two different species (like the mule).

Hybrid faith, then, would be the combination of two different belief systems. An example would be someone who says, “I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior” and then adds, “but all religions lead to the same place.”

Surveys consistently show that a majority of Americans believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. They also believe he died on a cross for the sins of the world.

Where many have trouble is with the exclusive claims of Christ. They choke on believing he is the only way to God and eternal life.

But if we believe that he is the Son of God and the Savior of the world, then we cannot ignore his claims. And based on what he said, Jesus taught he was the only way to God.

The founders of other religions present their teachings as the way to God. Jesus presents himself as the way to God when he said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Another time Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.”

The Bible is very clear. Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”

It’s obvious Jesus didn’t allow for other ways to God through another religion or faith.

Out of eleven major religions in the world, ten teach salvation is through personal effort. Only Christianity teaches it is God’s gift to those who believe in Christ—a gift of faith.

Jesus claimed to be God, know God and speak God’s truth. So you must compare his claims with other religions. And the fact he died for his enemies while praying for their forgiveness.

Besides, hybrid faith isn’t really an option. The truth is that all religions claim exclusivity. Even beliefs promoting tolerance are not tolerant of religious views that claim to be exclusive.

Would I recommend a hybrid car? Well, based on my experience, I would. But I wouldn’t recommend a hybrid faith.

When it comes to faith, consider the claims of Christ. Compare them to other beliefs. Ask God for wisdom and then decide carefully. Because it affects your life now and for eternity.

A hybrid car will get you where you want to go at a real savings. But a hybrid faith is a dead end. It prevents you from having the one thing that offers forgiveness for your sin, whole-hearted faith in Jesus Christ.

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

Losing Touch

Have you lost touch with reality? Some people do.

Like the person wearing a T-shirt that said, “I live in my own world. But it’s OK—they know me here.” It made me smile because I used to inhabit my own world to escape from reality.

When I entered Junior High School I moved to a new town and lived with my grandparents for a year. That was the year I discovered Science Fiction.

The idea of space flight and traveling to other worlds fascinated me. Reading became a way to escape from the reality that I had no friends and my parents were far away.

Seventh grade is challenging by itself. But when your world is completely topsy-turvy seventh grade is almost impossible. As a result I lived to read.

I would get lost in a good book and explore worlds that didn’t exist anywhere except in my mind. But it seemed real to me. Plus, fictional people don’t mock you or leave you.

It was an alternate reality. Kind of like some religions.

“Now hold on just a minute! What kind of thing is that to say? Isn’t that insensitive?”

Perhaps. But not if it’s the truth. Because truth is real. And reality is our friend. Especially when it comes to religion.

The Bible says in the New Testament book of Romans, chapter one, that people “suppress the truth by their wickedness since what may be known about God is plain to them.” It adds that, “God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

Instead of pursing a relationship with God, people “turn aside to myths.” The Bible goes on to explain how, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.”

When we suppress the truth and exchange the truth of God for a lie we lose touch with reality.

That’s why the Bible warns us to “Be on your guard.” “See to it,” God says, “that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”

It’s just too easy to lose touch with reality—especially when it comes to spiritual things.

We were all born into some spiritual tradition. But eventually we must stop blindly accepting what we were taught. We must question traditions, reject myths and verify the truth ourselves.

Each one of us must come to terms with faith and discover the reality of God. We must stop depending on our parents’ faith (or lack of it) and determine our own convictions.

Either we are alone in this universe or there is a God who exists and has revealed himself to us through his Word, the Bible. But you must discover the truth. Your eternal future is at stake.

What if it’s true that Jesus Christ died for our sin? That God spared not his own son but freely offered him on the cross for our sin so we could enjoy his blessings now and eternal life forever? That God will never leave us or forsake us? What if it is true?

I encourage you to get serious about your relationship with God. Pick up a Bible and read about Jesus in the New Testament Gospel of John. Ask God to show you the truth.

Reality is your friend. Pursue the truth. Live, not “as if” it were true, but because it IS true!

When you do, instead of losing touch with reality, you will get in touch with the God who is. You will find that the path to him goes straight to Jesus Christ, “the way, the truth and the life.”

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

Life Interrupted

I wanted to land on Mars. To become an astronaut. Really!

The 1960s was an exciting time to be a student. Almost anything seemed possible. The United States’ space program was on an exciting roll. President Kennedy said we would put a man on the moon by the end of the decade and I believed him.

Americans watched and prayed during the Mercury, Gemini and the Apollo programs. We mourned our three heroes on Apollo 1: Grissom, White and Chaffee. But we still believed.

In school I focused on math and science. I read all I could about the space program. I built a model of the Titan II rocket that launched the Gemini capsule.

NASA’s plan called for an Apollo moon landing in 1969. After it succeeded the next step was a planned mission to Mars in the early 1980s. And I believed I could be on that mission.

But God interrupted my life.

“Now hold on just a minute! How does God do that?”

It happened to me during the summer of 1968 at Camp Ha-Lu-Wa-Sa in Hammonton, New Jersey. For some that may seem like ancient history. But for me it seems like yesterday.

All summer I served as a counselor for junior age boys. For 8 weeks I was away from home, family and friends. There was no television or radio. Just a different group of 7 boys each week.

Pastors and missionaries came and shared their stories. They challenged campers to serve God and others instead of self. To make an impact on the world and a difference for eternity.

Campers were invited to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for the forgiveness of their sin. They were challenged to make Christ Lord of their lives and serve him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.

When the first of my campers responded to the challenge, I prayed with him as he became a follower of Christ and a child of God. Afterwards I rejoiced with him over his peace, joy and forgiveness. And that the Bible said his name was written in God’s Book of Life.

At that moment the direction of my own life was changed for the second time. The first time was the day I received Christ as my Lord and Savior. The second time was when I saw that God could use me to point others to Christ and increase the Kingdom of Heaven one person at a time.

Let me tell you, there is nothing more exciting in the world than that. The most thrilling ride on a rocket ship couldn’t begin to compare with the experience of leading someone else to Jesus!

My life had touched eternity and I would never be the same.

That fall I returned to my high school a different person. The first dance concert I attended seemed trivial and inconsequential. While still exciting, the space program had lost its luster.

Instead of being consumed by what others thought of me, I was more concerned with pleasing God. As I began to study my Bible, it came alive as never before and changed my life.

My relationship with God continued to grow. I knew that, whatever I did with my life, God would come first. Serving him and others in Jesus’ name became my primary goal.

I have never regretted the day God interrupted my life. Instead of landing people on a heavenly body like Mars, I decided it was more thrilling to show people how to get to Heaven.

Following and serving Jesus has been more exciting than anything I could have imagined.

It can be for you, too, if you follow him. Jesus offers forgiveness, peace and a life of service like no other. It may interrupt your life, but you’ll never regret it!

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

Modern Problems

Is your life hectic? Welcome to modern living and life in the ‘fast lane.’

Contemporary Americans routinely multi-task at work and in their personal lives. If you recently lost your job, you may be juggling a job search with more training.

Futurist Alvin Toffler is reputed to have said, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

Add to that one expert’s observation that, just to survive, modern business people must be “frantic learners” and you have a recipe for stress.

With two-career marriages, sports, multiple school activities and children who have more dates on their calendars than parents—the modern family lives on the edge of insanity. Dr. James Dobson from Focus on the Family once described modern family life as “Routine Panic.”

If being busier means life is better, Americans should be the happiest people on earth! But such is not the case. We’re working harder to buy more things but have less time to enjoy them. Surveys show that instead of enjoying satisfaction with life, Americans are fighting depression.

Med Yones, President of the International Institute of Management wrote a paper titled “The American Pursuit of Unhappiness.” In it he reports that depression rates in the USA rose during a recent 10-year period. Major depression more than doubled from 3.33 percent of adults to 7.06 percent. Antidepressants continue to be prescribed for adolescents, children and even toddlers.

Perhaps we’re headed toward what author Elizabeth Wurtzel called a “Prozac Nation.” Americans seem to think that even normal problems can be solved with pills. Like the old Rolling Stones song, we go “running for the shelter of a ‘mother’s little helper.’” Peace in a pill.

“Well, hold it right there for just a minute! Isn’t there a better way to peace and happiness?”

There is according to the Bible. It says: “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”

Jesus told us not to be troubled or anxious about life because God is in control. That he loves us and cares for us. Beyond just existing, obeying God leads to a life of blessing.

Real life seems to bear this out. A survey by the Barna Group showed that 99 percent of Evangelical Christians reported being happier and more satisfied than other Americans.

“Happiness and satisfaction? Give me some of that!”

So what are “Evangelical Christians?” According to Barna they say they are “born again,” meaning they’ve made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. When they die, they believe they’ll go to Heaven because they’ve confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior.

They also believe eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not works; the Bible is accurate in all it teaches and they are personally responsible to tell non-Christians about Jesus.

It’s more than just believing in God, going to church and praying.

So if modern problems have you stressed out, if you’re looking for happiness, peace and satisfaction in life, consider the difference faith in Jesus Christ can make in your life. Why? Because you must know God personally before he will give you the help you need.

To face life’s problems, my advice is to first make things right with God. Follow Jesus. Read the Bible. Stay close to God and obey him. Then, instead of “modern problems” and stress, the Bible says you can enjoy an amazing peace and the blessing of God in your life.

Jesus called it an “abundant life.”

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

Silent Lies

Have you ever told a silent lie?

“Now hold on just a minute! How can you lie silently? Is that possible?”

Silent lies are told every time you shut up when you should speak up. When you disagree with what was done and keep quiet to avoid hurting someone’s feelings or ‘rocking the boat.’

Where’s the lie? The lie is the impression you gave that you’re in favor of what was done or that you agreed with what was said. But you weren’t and didn’t.

Maybe you raised an eyebrow. Something just didn’t sound right. But you said nothing.

Since you didn’t speak up, the perpetrator (and others) thought you agreed with him or her. It was the same as if you spoke and lied about it. As if you said, “I agree with you. Do it.”

Occasionally some leaders (politicians, ministers and more) may abuse their authority. And while people are hurt, the natural human tendency is to ignore it. To ‘sweep it under the rug.’

Sometimes churchgoers are disturbed when sports camps, games or practices are scheduled during church services. But they say nothing. Politicians misbehave and we play dumb. We hear of other countries engaging in religious or ethnic persecution and we remain silent.

Why? Sometimes it’s because we just don’t want to get involved.

When we refuse to get involved, when we just ‘go along’ we’re letting our true morals show. We want to avoid trouble more than we believe in our values. Instead of convictions our morals become conveniences. We practice them only if it’s the easiest path to follow. We’re cowards.

So the innocent suffer, the righteous are destroyed and the power of the wicked increases. And all the while we lie silently. Until it’s too late and we suffer the consequences.

Then we wonder, “What happened? Will no one come to my defense? Where is everyone?”

The fact is they’re still there. Standing behind you. Silently lying right along with you.

God asks in the Bible, “Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”

The biblical prophet Obadiah spoke to people who didn’t want to get involved and resist those doing wrong. Through him God said, “On the day you stood aloof [uninvolved]…you were like one of them.” By doing nothing they became part of the problem.

If we remain silent too long, we help destroy the moral pillars of our society. The Bible’s warning is clear: “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

What’s the solution? What can we do? Speak up! Take action!

Is someone being mistreated? Are elected officials overstepping their bounds? Are the innocent being destroyed? Then take a stand for what’s right and speak up! Demand justice.

Through the prophet Isaiah God says, “Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” The book of Proverbs adds, “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Silent lies also have a negative effect on relationships with friends and family. When someone misbehaves, spreads rumors or speaks unkindly, do you speak up or remain silent?

Every time we shut up when we should speak up, we cast a vote in favor of bad behavior. And all because we want an easy life, someone to like us or we don’t want to offend.

The Bible reports that Jesus Christ was “full of grace and truth.” That ought to be our goal as well. And we can be like him if we will always “speak the truth in love.” Not lie with silence.

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