Fakes are all around us.
There is fake butter (margarine), fake sugar (artificial sweetener) and fake coffee cream.
My first time on a movie set, I was amazed at how much was not what it appeared to be. Rocks, props and much of the set were all fakes. But they looked real and fooled the camera.
Many movie stars and other wealthy types wear fake copies of their expensive jewelry so there is less risk of robbery. The fakes look authentic and fool all but an expert’s eye.
So it shouldn’t surprise us that most churches have Fake Christians—people who look, talk and act like real Christians, fooling the church. Fabulous Christian Fakes, if you please.
Whoa! Hold on just a minute—fake Christians? How can there be fake Christians?
Jesus predicted that among his followers there would always be fakes--people who would be hard to tell from genuine believers. Judases. Later the Bible warns the church to look out for false leaders and teachers whose only goal is to gain a following and reap financial rewards.
One Christian leader recently stated his personal opinion that just fifteen to twenty percent of members and attendees at most churches were true Biblical Christians.
Well how can you tell if you are a “real” Christian? What’s the evidence?
Does walking an aisle and praying a prayer make you a real Christian? Does catechism, baptism, church membership or any other experience show you are truly a Christian? If you claim to be (or someone says you were) “saved” or “born again,” does that make it real?
Many evangelical church groups refer to true believers as “saved” or “born again.” They take these terms from the Bible. Jesus said, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” He went on to describe a spiritual re-birth resulting from faith in him.
In the New Testament book of Romans God says, “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.” The context makes it clear that being “saved” is from sin’s effects, consequences and punishment.
So the first part of being a Biblical Christian involves putting faith and trust in Christ for salvation and forgiveness from sin. It also involves a turning away from sin and towards God.
But this internal act of belief always results in an external change of behavior.
Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Others should be able to observe in Christians the same compassion and the same selfless, sacrificial love Jesus showed.
The Bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” It’s not complete perfection but an obvious transformation--a changed life.
God’s Word warns Christians, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” The proof of believing is in the doing—out of joy and not duty.
Many people in America claim to be Christians. Some attend church occasionally. They tell themselves, “I believe in God, I pray and I go to church. I’m a Christian.” What’s sad is that they have settled for a ritual instead of a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Often they are sincere, well meaning religious people. But their faith is a fake faith.
What they need to do is to humble themselves, trust Jesus with simple childlike faith and receive him as their Lord and Savior. Then they will want to please God, read his Word and allow it to change their lives. And God will change their desires, their habits and their speech.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Hope or Hype?
When the church is working right it is the Hope of the world.
When the church is not working right it fails the world. It’s just a lot of hype.
Many churches ceased being the “Hope of the world” years ago. What’s sad is that most of the members didn’t realize it. These churches gradually became “Christian Clubs” with songs, rituals and gatherings that focus inward instead of outward. They served themselves, not others.
Hold it right there for just a minute! What does a church that’s “working right” look like?
To answer that we must turn to the Bible, the only authoritative Word of God. There, in the New Testament book of Acts, we find the answer. It’s a vibrant growing group of people focused on worship, 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.
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 it? Broken lives were put together, desperate people found help, the fearful found peace, empty people were filled with purpose and those overcome with sorrow found joy. Wow.
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 just stopped taking the gospel message to others and focused on fellowship.
Other groups strayed from the simple gospel of Christ. Instead of teaching forgiveness for all our sins is a gift of God, they taught you must believe in Jesus Christ AND follow all their 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’s Word 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 a gift from God, everything changes. The joy and freedom that result from faith in Christ are indescribable! Money and things, while still necessary, lose their luster. They are no longer the main reason for living.
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 heart gives them a compassion and love for others—just like Jesus. Life is no longer just about them and the desire for things.
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 changed forever, prejudice is overcome, failures are forgiven, selfishness is reduced, compassion grows, and real hope becomes a reality.
The solution is for people to return to the message and mission of the church in the Bible.
If you are 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 hope!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
When the church is not working right it fails the world. It’s just a lot of hype.
Many churches ceased being the “Hope of the world” years ago. What’s sad is that most of the members didn’t realize it. These churches gradually became “Christian Clubs” with songs, rituals and gatherings that focus inward instead of outward. They served themselves, not others.
Hold it right there for just a minute! What does a church that’s “working right” look like?
To answer that we must turn to the Bible, the only authoritative Word of God. There, in the New Testament book of Acts, we find the answer. It’s a vibrant growing group of people focused on worship, 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.
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 it? Broken lives were put together, desperate people found help, the fearful found peace, empty people were filled with purpose and those overcome with sorrow found joy. Wow.
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 just stopped taking the gospel message to others and focused on fellowship.
Other groups strayed from the simple gospel of Christ. Instead of teaching forgiveness for all our sins is a gift of God, they taught you must believe in Jesus Christ AND follow all their 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’s Word 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 a gift from God, everything changes. The joy and freedom that result from faith in Christ are indescribable! Money and things, while still necessary, lose their luster. They are no longer the main reason for living.
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 heart gives them a compassion and love for others—just like Jesus. Life is no longer just about them and the desire for things.
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 changed forever, prejudice is overcome, failures are forgiven, selfishness is reduced, compassion grows, and real hope becomes a reality.
The solution is for people to return to the message and mission of the church in the Bible.
If you are 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 hope!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Do It Yourself Religion
There are only two kinds of religion in the world: Jesus Saves and “Do It Yourself.”
All of the world’s religions, except one, are of the “Do It Yourself” variety. The down side to a DIY religion is that you can never be sure you will make it to paradise, nirvana, reincarnation or whatever it is you hope for.
Well hold it right there for just a minute. Are we without hope? How can a person be sure of what they will find on “the other side” after death?
Most religions offer a “maybe”—and that’s if you do everything you should just right. Interestingly, radical Islam tells its followers that there is one way they can be certain.
Walid Shofrat, a former Muslim PLO terrorist, describes it like this: “In the case of Islam, the way to assure yourself to go to Paradise is by dying yourself as an offer to God.”
Muslim suicide Jihadists believe that, by killing themselves, they are offering Allah their most precious gift: their soul. The problem is that no suicide Jihadist has ever come back from “the other side” to tell if they made it.
There is only one book and one person that offer the promise, proof and assurance of an eternal life in a true paradise called Heaven. The book is the Bible and the person is Jesus Christ.
In the fourteenth chapter of the New Testament Gospel of John, Jesus promises that he will prepare a place in Heaven for those who believe in him. He offers his word, as the Son of God, that he will take believers to be with him forever. Then he proved his power over death by one of the best-documented events in history, his resurrection.
Jesus Christ is the only one to ever bring himself back from “the other side” –and have many witnesses to prove it!
When man attempts to create a religion, it is always of the “Do It Yourself” variety. You must keep certain laws, observe sacraments, or do “penance” for your sin. In every case you die in uncertainty. There’s no assurance you “did it right” or proof you attain “paradise.”
God’s plan in the Bible is far different. His plan involves the perfect Son of God, Jesus, dying on the cross in our place for our sin. Then God offers forgiveness for sin and salvation from sin’s penalty as a free gift to those who accept it. It’s free to all with no strings attached.
Like a condemned prisoner on Death Row accepting a pardon, all you have to do is believe it’s true and put your trust in the one who pardons you. Sadly, some find that hard to do. They choose instead to believe that eternal life is “Do It Yourself.”
It goes against our pride and self-reliance to accept a gift as valuable as eternal life. That’s why God sent Jesus Christ into the world. The Bible says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
When Christians announce that “Jesus Saves,” they are not trying to judge other religions. They are not being religious bigots full of hate and intolerance. It is simply a joyful announcement to other seekers that what they are seeking is found in Jesus Christ!
The truth of Christianity is that the assurance, joy and purpose of life--both life in the here and now and eternal life in the “by and by”--is found in Christ alone. And the best part of all is that it’s a free gift. No assembly required. It’s by faith alone. Faith in Jesus Christ.
Life has many choices. Religion has two: Jesus Saves or “Do It Yourself.” Think it over and then choose carefully because you will live with your choice for a very long time.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
All of the world’s religions, except one, are of the “Do It Yourself” variety. The down side to a DIY religion is that you can never be sure you will make it to paradise, nirvana, reincarnation or whatever it is you hope for.
Well hold it right there for just a minute. Are we without hope? How can a person be sure of what they will find on “the other side” after death?
Most religions offer a “maybe”—and that’s if you do everything you should just right. Interestingly, radical Islam tells its followers that there is one way they can be certain.
Walid Shofrat, a former Muslim PLO terrorist, describes it like this: “In the case of Islam, the way to assure yourself to go to Paradise is by dying yourself as an offer to God.”
Muslim suicide Jihadists believe that, by killing themselves, they are offering Allah their most precious gift: their soul. The problem is that no suicide Jihadist has ever come back from “the other side” to tell if they made it.
There is only one book and one person that offer the promise, proof and assurance of an eternal life in a true paradise called Heaven. The book is the Bible and the person is Jesus Christ.
In the fourteenth chapter of the New Testament Gospel of John, Jesus promises that he will prepare a place in Heaven for those who believe in him. He offers his word, as the Son of God, that he will take believers to be with him forever. Then he proved his power over death by one of the best-documented events in history, his resurrection.
Jesus Christ is the only one to ever bring himself back from “the other side” –and have many witnesses to prove it!
When man attempts to create a religion, it is always of the “Do It Yourself” variety. You must keep certain laws, observe sacraments, or do “penance” for your sin. In every case you die in uncertainty. There’s no assurance you “did it right” or proof you attain “paradise.”
God’s plan in the Bible is far different. His plan involves the perfect Son of God, Jesus, dying on the cross in our place for our sin. Then God offers forgiveness for sin and salvation from sin’s penalty as a free gift to those who accept it. It’s free to all with no strings attached.
Like a condemned prisoner on Death Row accepting a pardon, all you have to do is believe it’s true and put your trust in the one who pardons you. Sadly, some find that hard to do. They choose instead to believe that eternal life is “Do It Yourself.”
It goes against our pride and self-reliance to accept a gift as valuable as eternal life. That’s why God sent Jesus Christ into the world. The Bible says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
When Christians announce that “Jesus Saves,” they are not trying to judge other religions. They are not being religious bigots full of hate and intolerance. It is simply a joyful announcement to other seekers that what they are seeking is found in Jesus Christ!
The truth of Christianity is that the assurance, joy and purpose of life--both life in the here and now and eternal life in the “by and by”--is found in Christ alone. And the best part of all is that it’s a free gift. No assembly required. It’s by faith alone. Faith in Jesus Christ.
Life has many choices. Religion has two: Jesus Saves or “Do It Yourself.” Think it over and then choose carefully because you will live with your choice for a very long time.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Understanding Our Times
It’s the best of times. It’s the worst of times.
Two terrible wars are going on in Afghanistan and Iraq. Terrorism is spreading around the globe. But, in spite of worldwide market fluctuations and the mortgage mess, people are still buying flat-screen televisions, new cars, iPods and iPhones like there’s no tomorrow.
Well, what if there was no tomorrow?
Frankly, I think there will be a tomorrow. But what if tomorrow brings a very different world than today? That’s a more likely scenario.
Now hold that thought for just a minute. Could the world be all that different tomorrow?
Absolutely.
We know from recent history that the world can change overnight. It happened several times in my lifetime. It’s just a matter of time before it happens again.
The day after President Kennedy was assassinated, our world was a different place. It changed forever the day after the Columbine School shootings. After 9-11-2001 people talked about a “New Normal.” And six years later we’re still learning to cope.
It seems like every day the newspaper or television reports a catastrophe somewhere: Earthquakes and hurricanes; terrorist attacks planned, thwarted or perpetrated. Every night the news from the Middle East is more disturbing than the day before.
Does anyone really understand the times we live in?
Someone does. More than 2,000 years ago, God told the prophets of Israel about what would happen in our times. They recorded this “future news” in the Bible for our benefit. Author Joel C. Rosenberg calls prophecy “Intelligence intercepts from the mind of God.”
God revealed to the Old Testament Prophet Ezekiel that in the last days Russia would enter an agreement with Iran. For more than 2,000 years there has not been a Russian-Iranian treaty--until now. God says that Babylon (in Iraq) will one day rise again to be a world power.
Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples about the end times. He described worldwide wars and earthquakes. He talked about the rise of false religions and cults. He said evil would increase and then there would come a time of great distress, unmatched in human history.
The Prophet Joel talked about all the nations turning against Israel and seeking to divide it. In the New Testament book of Revelation, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse brings a devastating worldwide food shortage, which leads to massive inflation.
These events sound as if they could be ripped from today and tomorrow’s headlines!
One of the purposes for the Bible is to help us understand the times in which we live and to enable us to see history from God’s perspective. It tells us that part of God’s plan is for Jesus Christ to return one day and fix the mess we’ve made of planet earth.
Students of Bible prophecy and signs of the times tell us that recent history and current events seem to line up with many of the Bible’s predictions. Our world could change overnight.
What should we do? How should we live in such a time as this?
The Bible gives us the answer. Peter, the disciple of Jesus, wrote that since “the day of the Lord will come like a thief,” that is unexpectedly, “you ought to live holy and godly lives.”
I don’t know where you are in your relationship with God. Maybe it’s been a while since you were in church. But consider this: Now just may be the right time for you to seek the Lord.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Two terrible wars are going on in Afghanistan and Iraq. Terrorism is spreading around the globe. But, in spite of worldwide market fluctuations and the mortgage mess, people are still buying flat-screen televisions, new cars, iPods and iPhones like there’s no tomorrow.
Well, what if there was no tomorrow?
Frankly, I think there will be a tomorrow. But what if tomorrow brings a very different world than today? That’s a more likely scenario.
Now hold that thought for just a minute. Could the world be all that different tomorrow?
Absolutely.
We know from recent history that the world can change overnight. It happened several times in my lifetime. It’s just a matter of time before it happens again.
The day after President Kennedy was assassinated, our world was a different place. It changed forever the day after the Columbine School shootings. After 9-11-2001 people talked about a “New Normal.” And six years later we’re still learning to cope.
It seems like every day the newspaper or television reports a catastrophe somewhere: Earthquakes and hurricanes; terrorist attacks planned, thwarted or perpetrated. Every night the news from the Middle East is more disturbing than the day before.
Does anyone really understand the times we live in?
Someone does. More than 2,000 years ago, God told the prophets of Israel about what would happen in our times. They recorded this “future news” in the Bible for our benefit. Author Joel C. Rosenberg calls prophecy “Intelligence intercepts from the mind of God.”
God revealed to the Old Testament Prophet Ezekiel that in the last days Russia would enter an agreement with Iran. For more than 2,000 years there has not been a Russian-Iranian treaty--until now. God says that Babylon (in Iraq) will one day rise again to be a world power.
Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples about the end times. He described worldwide wars and earthquakes. He talked about the rise of false religions and cults. He said evil would increase and then there would come a time of great distress, unmatched in human history.
The Prophet Joel talked about all the nations turning against Israel and seeking to divide it. In the New Testament book of Revelation, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse brings a devastating worldwide food shortage, which leads to massive inflation.
These events sound as if they could be ripped from today and tomorrow’s headlines!
One of the purposes for the Bible is to help us understand the times in which we live and to enable us to see history from God’s perspective. It tells us that part of God’s plan is for Jesus Christ to return one day and fix the mess we’ve made of planet earth.
Students of Bible prophecy and signs of the times tell us that recent history and current events seem to line up with many of the Bible’s predictions. Our world could change overnight.
What should we do? How should we live in such a time as this?
The Bible gives us the answer. Peter, the disciple of Jesus, wrote that since “the day of the Lord will come like a thief,” that is unexpectedly, “you ought to live holy and godly lives.”
I don’t know where you are in your relationship with God. Maybe it’s been a while since you were in church. But consider this: Now just may be the right time for you to seek the Lord.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Playing God
Do you like to play God?
The way we play God is by judging other people. And we do it all the time.
Now hold it right there for just a minute. Why is judging others playing God?
Because God says it’s his responsibility to judge. He judges the living and the dead.
The Bible tells us in James chapter four, verses 11 and 12, “Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?”
Why do we do it? Because it appeals to our pride. Because we think we’re better than others. It’s a self-righteous attitude of putting other people down, being critical and being judgmental. Jesus condemned it more than almost any other sin.
When we hear about how other people have fallen, there's something inside us--a little bit of pride--that makes us gloat over their misfortune. We think, “At least I’m not THAT bad!” and we judge them as a failure.
Some people speak and act as if they have the gift of criticism. But God says we shouldn’t speak against or judge others, comparing them to ourselves.
In addition, when we judge others we break God’s law that says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus called it the second great commandment. Loving God was the first.
One of the reasons we have the Bible is so we can know how to live and act toward others. But, for some reason, we can’t leave well enough alone. We have to add our own rules to God’s perfect law—and then we judge others by our rules.
Jesus said it’s wrong to judge others when we are involved in the same sin we condemn. He called people who do that “hypocrites.” And when we judge others like that, it blinds us to our own faults.
Often we judge others based on outward appearances: their face, hair, or clothes. Many times we are quick to condemn before we hear all the facts. When we do, we show our prejudice.
Religious people especially love to judge others based on external observances. We count how many services a person attends and judge them accordingly. If someone worships on a different day or eats a different diet than we do, we judge them. And God says, “Stop it!”
We also like to judge other people’s motives. Why they do what they do. But the Bible says, “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He…will expose the motives of men's hearts.”
Playing God comes natural to us. To stop doing it, remember that God says he will use the same standard to judge us that we use to judge others. The Bible reminds us that we are all accountable to God: “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.” We need to just stop doing it.
I think it’s a part of our fallen human nature to take delight in seeing another “Get what they deserve.” Well don’t forget that God shows mercy to us. None of us “get what we deserve.” If we did, we’d all be miserable! God is a merciful God and he wants us to be merciful too.
If you want to find fault in others you can. Everybody is imperfect. It all depends on what you look for. One of the things you have to do with friends is overlook their faults.
And when you come to God, through Jesus Christ, God not only overlooks, he forgives!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
The way we play God is by judging other people. And we do it all the time.
Now hold it right there for just a minute. Why is judging others playing God?
Because God says it’s his responsibility to judge. He judges the living and the dead.
The Bible tells us in James chapter four, verses 11 and 12, “Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?”
Why do we do it? Because it appeals to our pride. Because we think we’re better than others. It’s a self-righteous attitude of putting other people down, being critical and being judgmental. Jesus condemned it more than almost any other sin.
When we hear about how other people have fallen, there's something inside us--a little bit of pride--that makes us gloat over their misfortune. We think, “At least I’m not THAT bad!” and we judge them as a failure.
Some people speak and act as if they have the gift of criticism. But God says we shouldn’t speak against or judge others, comparing them to ourselves.
In addition, when we judge others we break God’s law that says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus called it the second great commandment. Loving God was the first.
One of the reasons we have the Bible is so we can know how to live and act toward others. But, for some reason, we can’t leave well enough alone. We have to add our own rules to God’s perfect law—and then we judge others by our rules.
Jesus said it’s wrong to judge others when we are involved in the same sin we condemn. He called people who do that “hypocrites.” And when we judge others like that, it blinds us to our own faults.
Often we judge others based on outward appearances: their face, hair, or clothes. Many times we are quick to condemn before we hear all the facts. When we do, we show our prejudice.
Religious people especially love to judge others based on external observances. We count how many services a person attends and judge them accordingly. If someone worships on a different day or eats a different diet than we do, we judge them. And God says, “Stop it!”
We also like to judge other people’s motives. Why they do what they do. But the Bible says, “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He…will expose the motives of men's hearts.”
Playing God comes natural to us. To stop doing it, remember that God says he will use the same standard to judge us that we use to judge others. The Bible reminds us that we are all accountable to God: “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.” We need to just stop doing it.
I think it’s a part of our fallen human nature to take delight in seeing another “Get what they deserve.” Well don’t forget that God shows mercy to us. None of us “get what we deserve.” If we did, we’d all be miserable! God is a merciful God and he wants us to be merciful too.
If you want to find fault in others you can. Everybody is imperfect. It all depends on what you look for. One of the things you have to do with friends is overlook their faults.
And when you come to God, through Jesus Christ, God not only overlooks, he forgives!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Name Game
When you pray, to whom do you speak?
Several weeks ago, a Dutch Roman Catholic bishop, Tiny Muskens, proposed that Christians call God, “Allah.” He suggested that if all believers in one God would call him “Allah,” it would bring us closer together. “What does God care what we call him?” he asked.
Good question. So which name should we use? It depends on whom you want to reach.
Jews view God’s special name as too holy to speak and say “Adonai” (Lord). Christians pray to God the Father in Jesus’ name. Muslims pray to Allah. Is this just a name game?
Well hold it right there for just a minute. It makes a big difference what we call God.
When you call a friend on the phone, would they respond to another person’s name? They’d probably say, “Wrong number!” And when you pray, you don’t want a “wrong number.”
Here’s the issue: God’s name is not just another name like yours or mine. In the Bible his name tells us something about his character, his nature and his relationship to his people.
When God revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14, he didn’t ask Moses to invent a name for him. Moses asked God for his name and God said, “I AM.”
The God of the Bible is the self-existing God. We did not create him--he created us!
The Hebrew word for this name of God is “Yahweh” (often spelled “Jehovah”). It means “He is” or “He will be.” God said, “This is my name forever.” Seems like God has a preference.
God also told Moses, “I will be with you,” That promise included a form of God’s special name. In effect, God pledged his person and being--through his special name--to be with his people. His name tells us who he is and assures believers of his presence with them.
Jesus applied this special name to himself in the New Testament saying, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I AM!” The people of his day knew exactly what he meant--he was claiming to be their God. Since they didn’t believe him, they accused him of blasphemy.
The Bible says that an angel appeared to Jesus’ parents before his birth. The angel said, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” “Jesus” means “Jehovah saves.” The angel also said Jesus would be called “the Son of the Most High.”
Those who say Allah is the God of the Bible have a problem. Scholars tell us Allah is not seen as a personal deity in the sense that the God of the Bible is. In addition, the Qur’an clearly denies that Allah has a son. It also considers the idea of a triune God to be a blasphemy.
The Trinity, however, is essential to the Christian concept of God. Jesus revealed that the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. Though it is a great mystery, all three are one God. Jesus was not just a prophet (as Islam claims). He said he was God in human flesh.
When Jesus taught us to pray, he said we should pray to “our Father who is in Heaven.” He also said we should ask in his name. Apparently using the right name IS important.
So, if Allah has no son, “Allah” can’t be the name of “our Father.” And when we pray to the God of the Bible, if we say “Allah,” God could just say, “Wrong number!” And if Allah were God, since he has no son, what difference would prayer “in Jesus’ name” make to him? None.
These are not just a “minor differences” or a “points of discussion.” A Christian’s entire faith and salvation depend upon who God is and what he did through Jesus Christ on the cross.
Speaking of Jesus, the Bible clearly 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.” Hmm. “No other name.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Several weeks ago, a Dutch Roman Catholic bishop, Tiny Muskens, proposed that Christians call God, “Allah.” He suggested that if all believers in one God would call him “Allah,” it would bring us closer together. “What does God care what we call him?” he asked.
Good question. So which name should we use? It depends on whom you want to reach.
Jews view God’s special name as too holy to speak and say “Adonai” (Lord). Christians pray to God the Father in Jesus’ name. Muslims pray to Allah. Is this just a name game?
Well hold it right there for just a minute. It makes a big difference what we call God.
When you call a friend on the phone, would they respond to another person’s name? They’d probably say, “Wrong number!” And when you pray, you don’t want a “wrong number.”
Here’s the issue: God’s name is not just another name like yours or mine. In the Bible his name tells us something about his character, his nature and his relationship to his people.
When God revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14, he didn’t ask Moses to invent a name for him. Moses asked God for his name and God said, “I AM.”
The God of the Bible is the self-existing God. We did not create him--he created us!
The Hebrew word for this name of God is “Yahweh” (often spelled “Jehovah”). It means “He is” or “He will be.” God said, “This is my name forever.” Seems like God has a preference.
God also told Moses, “I will be with you,” That promise included a form of God’s special name. In effect, God pledged his person and being--through his special name--to be with his people. His name tells us who he is and assures believers of his presence with them.
Jesus applied this special name to himself in the New Testament saying, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I AM!” The people of his day knew exactly what he meant--he was claiming to be their God. Since they didn’t believe him, they accused him of blasphemy.
The Bible says that an angel appeared to Jesus’ parents before his birth. The angel said, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” “Jesus” means “Jehovah saves.” The angel also said Jesus would be called “the Son of the Most High.”
Those who say Allah is the God of the Bible have a problem. Scholars tell us Allah is not seen as a personal deity in the sense that the God of the Bible is. In addition, the Qur’an clearly denies that Allah has a son. It also considers the idea of a triune God to be a blasphemy.
The Trinity, however, is essential to the Christian concept of God. Jesus revealed that the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. Though it is a great mystery, all three are one God. Jesus was not just a prophet (as Islam claims). He said he was God in human flesh.
When Jesus taught us to pray, he said we should pray to “our Father who is in Heaven.” He also said we should ask in his name. Apparently using the right name IS important.
So, if Allah has no son, “Allah” can’t be the name of “our Father.” And when we pray to the God of the Bible, if we say “Allah,” God could just say, “Wrong number!” And if Allah were God, since he has no son, what difference would prayer “in Jesus’ name” make to him? None.
These are not just a “minor differences” or a “points of discussion.” A Christian’s entire faith and salvation depend upon who God is and what he did through Jesus Christ on the cross.
Speaking of Jesus, the Bible clearly 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.” Hmm. “No other name.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, September 3, 2007
Reading People
Can you read people like a book?
That’s an interesting question. We are a so-called “literate” nation. Statistical reports vary, but a high percentage of Americans can read. Most of us learned in first grade.
But we are also a nation of aliterates--people who can read but, for the most part, are completely uninterested in reading and literature. We choose not to read.
So many love their TVs and movies more than books. A report I once heard said the average person reads one book between their graduation and death.
But back to people. Many folks read people like they read books. They don’t.
In the same way we drive by libraries without stopping to read, we pass people every day and never stop to “read” them. We don’t pay attention to their hopes, dreams or needs. We’re not very interested in them unless they can do something for us.
Well hold it right there for just a minute! Why do other people even matter?
Other people matter because, according to the Bible, they’re part of life’s purpose.
The majority of Americans buy the lie that life is about accumulating things. Our unofficial motto is “Get all you can; can all you get; sit on the lid and poison the rest!” We want it all and we want more than anyone else. Plus we’ll pay almost any price to get it. So we sacrifice our health and even our families to “have it all.” How foolish.
In the process of pursuing our dreams, we run right over other people—and we never find satisfaction in life because we ignore them. They’re just not that important to us.
Jesus taught that people are very valuable to God. He will judge us based on how we help others. Jesus said that God expects more from those who have received much.
Unlike us, Jesus was a good reader of people. The Bible says that he knew men’s hearts.
One day a large crowd was with Jesus. His disciples saw a lot of people but Jesus saw them as “sheep without a shepherd.” He looked beyond the faults and saw their needs. He “read them like a book.” Why? Because he cared about them. He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus’ followers realized that he saw people in a different light. They saw people as a bother. Jesus saw in them his purpose for being here on earth!
On the day of Pentecost Jesus’ disciples received the Holy Spirit and finally understood. They saw people like Jesus did. And when you become a Christian through faith in Jesus Christ, you finally begin to realize that life isn’t just about you. We are here to serve others.
The world’s standard, as acted out by millions of people every day, is “Hate one another.” But the Christian standard is “Love one another.” Jesus told his followers, “Do to others what you want them to do to you.” We call that “The Golden Rule.”
Over and over the Bible instructs Christians in their responsibility to others. They are to live in harmony with one another, love one another, accept one another, instruct one another, agree with one another, serve one another in love, be kind to one another, forgive one another, submit to one another, teach one another and encourage one another.
Why do we need the reminder? Because, if we “do what comes naturally,” we only think of ourselves. But, as someone observed, the best way to spell J-O-Y is Jesus, Others and You. Joy comes when we put Jesus first in our lives, then others second and ourselves last.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
That’s an interesting question. We are a so-called “literate” nation. Statistical reports vary, but a high percentage of Americans can read. Most of us learned in first grade.
But we are also a nation of aliterates--people who can read but, for the most part, are completely uninterested in reading and literature. We choose not to read.
So many love their TVs and movies more than books. A report I once heard said the average person reads one book between their graduation and death.
But back to people. Many folks read people like they read books. They don’t.
In the same way we drive by libraries without stopping to read, we pass people every day and never stop to “read” them. We don’t pay attention to their hopes, dreams or needs. We’re not very interested in them unless they can do something for us.
Well hold it right there for just a minute! Why do other people even matter?
Other people matter because, according to the Bible, they’re part of life’s purpose.
The majority of Americans buy the lie that life is about accumulating things. Our unofficial motto is “Get all you can; can all you get; sit on the lid and poison the rest!” We want it all and we want more than anyone else. Plus we’ll pay almost any price to get it. So we sacrifice our health and even our families to “have it all.” How foolish.
In the process of pursuing our dreams, we run right over other people—and we never find satisfaction in life because we ignore them. They’re just not that important to us.
Jesus taught that people are very valuable to God. He will judge us based on how we help others. Jesus said that God expects more from those who have received much.
Unlike us, Jesus was a good reader of people. The Bible says that he knew men’s hearts.
One day a large crowd was with Jesus. His disciples saw a lot of people but Jesus saw them as “sheep without a shepherd.” He looked beyond the faults and saw their needs. He “read them like a book.” Why? Because he cared about them. He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus’ followers realized that he saw people in a different light. They saw people as a bother. Jesus saw in them his purpose for being here on earth!
On the day of Pentecost Jesus’ disciples received the Holy Spirit and finally understood. They saw people like Jesus did. And when you become a Christian through faith in Jesus Christ, you finally begin to realize that life isn’t just about you. We are here to serve others.
The world’s standard, as acted out by millions of people every day, is “Hate one another.” But the Christian standard is “Love one another.” Jesus told his followers, “Do to others what you want them to do to you.” We call that “The Golden Rule.”
Over and over the Bible instructs Christians in their responsibility to others. They are to live in harmony with one another, love one another, accept one another, instruct one another, agree with one another, serve one another in love, be kind to one another, forgive one another, submit to one another, teach one another and encourage one another.
Why do we need the reminder? Because, if we “do what comes naturally,” we only think of ourselves. But, as someone observed, the best way to spell J-O-Y is Jesus, Others and You. Joy comes when we put Jesus first in our lives, then others second and ourselves last.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
