The Clash

Sooner or later (probably sooner) if you go into any depth at all with the Christian faith you are going to run into Biblical doctrine that grinds against everything you have ever thought or felt to be right or wrong.

It's only a matter of time.

Perhaps the Bible will label as sin something which you are absolutely positive is no sin at all - or you may discover within its sacred pages attributes assigned to God which you are beyond certain cannot possibly be true of Him. Some may find the Bible to be defining the roles which they occupy in life (husband, wife, employer, employee, father, mother, friend, etc) in ways that are offensive to put it mildly.

"If that's what the Bible says a husband/wife is to be - then I reject the Bible"

If the Bible is rejected as the inspired Word of God we are left with a Christianity that is governed by nothing more than the thoughts and feelings of man. To rob the scriptures of authority is to place the man who believes in salvation by faith in Christ alone on equal footing with the man who believes in salvation by clicking together the heels of the ruby slippers 3 times while chanting, "There's no place like heaven, there's no place like heaven..."

There are two options available to us when the clash comes:

1. Read beyond what the text says forcing it to submit to pre-determined human understanding.

2. Yield positions of human arrogance and submit to hard truth.

It's a matter of Lordship.

They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.
Isaiah 29:13

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6




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By Popular Demand

My good friend Harry Mahood (a.k.a. Hoody) is the head coach of the Phoenix Polar Bears Jr. A Hockey Team in Phoenix Arizona. After the Polar Bears lost a close game last Friday night Hoody "tweeted" the following message:

"Losing in regulation is embarrassing. Losing in OT is humiliating. Losing in a shootout has nothing to do with hockey."

Talk to most hockey purists and they will tell you that they despise the shootout; hockey is a team sport but the shootout is all about the individual. The obvious question then is, "If the majority of the people who hold the power don't like it - why does the shootout remain?"

Answer: The fans LOVE the shootout!

I guess it's only good business sense to give the paying customer what he wants, but is it possible to concede too much?
More knowledgeable men than I will decide the fate of hockey but what about church direction by popular demand? "Give the people what they want" works wonders in the business arena - but is it right to adopt these practises for building the Kingdom of God?

Why in the church is it now so rare to hear any mention of sin or its consequences?
Why has the cross become so conspicuous by its absence?
Why are so many worship songs so light and fluffy and lacking any doctrinal meat?
Why are the sermons (When they aren't replaced by video clips) so trendy and vacuous and completely gospel free?

Is there any danger in treating Christians like consumers of a religious product?
Should faith be marketed as "new and improved"?
Is it wrong to sell Jesus as a ticket to a better life?
What happens when life doesn't get better?
What happens when faith in Christ equals rejection, abandonment, persecution, or suffering? What happens if tragedy strikes?

Is it possible that by viewing the world through our North American cultural glasses we have completely misunderstood the meaning of the "abundant life" Jesus mentioned in John 10:10? The popular definition just doesn't seem to fit with Luke 9:23.

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

For now it seems the customer remains king, "felt needs" rule over mankind's actual need and the congregants are free to vote with their feet heading to wherever itching ears are being scratched. 

Shame about the shootouts though.

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Jesus & the Filthy Sinners

God is Holy and a part of that Holiness is revealed to us in the fact that God is a just judge (One before whom we must all stand to give an account of our lives - Romans 14:12). Once we discover exactly what God requires of us in the law we respond in one of two ways - hardened defiance or broken contrition.

It is a horrible cruelty to preach the law (God's requirements) without following it with the gospel. (God's solution to our inability to meet His requirements). The reason so many Christians find their religion to be a burden that they drag through life is because they are hearing all law and no gospel. The following clip illustrates the point perfectly. 




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Dude Looks Like A Lady

I just finished reading a recent blog post at AlbertMohler.com about a new form of teenage rebellion known as gender bending. (Read it here.) It seems that some young men are fighting conventional social norms and sexual stereotyping by showing up for school in skirts and make-up while the young ladies are wearing anything from baggy jeans to tuxedos.


The question being addressed by Dr. Mohler seems to be;

“What is going wrong and what should Christians be doing to fix it?"

From the article -

For Christians, the issue is a matter of biblical concern. The Bible reveals a concern for respecting and honouring gender as God's gift. In the Old Testament, the Law taught respect for these distinctions and roles. In the New Testament, we find similar expectations. As the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11: 7-15

Is this really a matter of Biblical concern for Christians? 

If there is a New Testament directive concerning the policing of secular society, I need someone to point it out to me. I don’t see Jesus or the apostles taking on the wicked cultural practises of the Roman Empire; yet in our day there seems to be no end of this kind of activity being pursued and promoted as the main indicator of spiritual fervency. Have we come to believe that if we can’t get people to actually become Christians then we should at least force them to act Christian as the next best thing?

This is counter-productive to the Christian cause. 

Forcing sinners to live by the rules of saints only leads to self-righteous pious secularists who cannot see their need of a savior or to closeted rebels who hate the church for meddling in their affairs. Our mission is not about changing society – our mission is about changing hearts – and hearts do not change except by rebirth. Enough of bemoaning the darkness; let's just turn on the light. 

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Bring It To Life?

With sincere apologies to the Christian prohibitionists I found this new Guinness ad on You Tube and thought it was worth sharing.



Do you like the ad or not? In your opinion does this ad make any kind of a statement about God, evolution, creation, or fallen man's desire to be like God? (Or supplant maybe?) 
I know, I know, - sometimes a cigar is just a cigar and sometimes a beer ad is just a beer ad -  but I thought this one was pretty cool and I'm interested to see if anyone else agrees or disagrees or maybe even thinks that as a pastor I should not even acknowledge the existence of beer.

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Going My Way?

Stubborn, Pig-headed, Arrogant 

Today I am thinking about pride. Not the good kind of pride, not the kind that comes in a job well done, or the kind a dad feels as he watches his son achieve a worthy goal. I'm thinking about that other kind; the dark kind.

Religious, Intellectual, Economic, Social

I'm thinking about the kind of pride that rises up and refuses to yield even when logic is screaming that it is in the wrong. I'm thinking about the kind of pride that stops ears and refuses to listen, the kind that digs in its heels and ignores everything but self.

Sarcastic, Condescending, Mocking, Belittling

It is this dark pride that loves to follow Jesus - as long as He is going my way - but if or more accurately, when the path turns - look out! When Jesus says or does something that goes against my grain - that is when I discover the identity of my one true LORD.

As a younger man bent on achieving my own warped definitions of success I used to "confess" that "Things go my way". It was great - until they didn't.
C.S. Lewis said, "Pride robs a man of common sense." and I would wholeheartedly agree. What of God in this case. Does He humble a man or does He create the circumstances that lead a man to humble himself? I'm not sure, maybe you have an opinion you'd be willing to share. I like these words of Ravi Zacharias, "Wherever there is a proud man, there is a sovereign God working behind the scenes."

A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honour. (Proverbs 29:23)

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Meet My Invisible Friend

It seems to me that there is ample evidence to support the claim that one does not need Jesus in order to experience positive life change. 

Read the right new book and you may be inspired to turn your finances around, watch a documentary on modern farm practices and you may find yourself wandering the vegetarian aisle at Safeway, experience a brush with death; maybe the unexpected heart attack of an acquaintance who just happens to be the same age as you, and you may find yourself at the gym with a new passion for health and fitness.

Here's a shocker for you - some people have spiritual experiences that result in improved moral behaviour - in religions other than Christianity!

In light of this reality do you think maybe Christians should spend a little less time promoting Jesus as the ultimate invisible friend and life coach?

Coming to the cross is not about a better life - it's about eternal life. 
Jesus didn't come to save us from unhappiness by teaching us the keys to success; Jesus came to save us from our sin by taking its penalty upon Himself.

Most of the people I meet outside of the church already believe that God loves them (if they believe that He exists at all);  - what they need to know is HOW God loves them.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.   (1 John 4:10)

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Assuming the Gospel

I'm guessing (assuming?) we are all familiar with the old saying about what happens when we assume. If not send me a private e-mail and I will explain - or just stare at the picture on the left and think really hard.

I think that one of the many mistakes I have made as a minister (and there are too many to list) over the past 20 years has been the sin of "assuming the gospel". What I mean by this is that in choosing topics and preparing sermons I have often omitted the gospel message altogether or relegated it to some secondary addendum that is addressed only to the unchurched. I have "assumed" that the regular attendees already know the gospel and so I haven't wanted to bore them with repeated information. There are three immediate problems that come to mind as a result of this assumption.

First - We wind up with a very man-centred version of Christianity (Me-ianity?). 

Lots of talk about family life, financial planning, goal setting, leadership, sexual issues, careers, education and on and on; - not so much as a mention of Christ crucified. There's nothing wrong with teaching on important aspects of human life - but these should not be allowed to supplant Christ as the central topic of Christian preaching. Christianity is not primarily about you and me and what we do; Christianity is about Jesus and what He has done, is doing and will do.

Second - In assuming the gospel we forget that fallen men and women have a default setting of legalistic piety.

Because the law of God is written on our hearts we naturally drift into works based rule keeping as the route to pleasing God. We all do it.

"God must not be pleased with me because of this thing I did - or that thing I didn't do."

All believers, myself included, need to be constantly reminded of the cross, reminded that we do not stand approved before God based on anything we have done; we stand justified because of what Jesus has done for us - that is the gospel or good news that sets Christianity apart from every other religion of man.

Third and finally - In assuming the gospel we run the risk of suffering eternal loss.

Consider for a moment that on any given Sunday I may be preaching to some individual the last sermon they will ever hear in this world. What do I want as the content of that sermon? What do I want as the content of the final sermon I will ever preach for that matter?
- Life Tips?
- Financial Aides?
- 10 Keys to Marital Bliss? - No, no, a thousand times no!

On my last day in the pulpit I want to have fulfilled the great commission, I want to have warned the wayward soul, I want to have encouraged the weary saint, and I want to go out with the glorious message of God's saving grace on my lips.

No more assuming the gospel!

Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. - 1 Cor. 1:17-18

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What Is The Real Problem?

What is the real problem between God and man?

Is it that God is so fragile that He cannot stand the sight of me in my fallen state? Is He so easily offended that He behaves like the constantly shocked church lady of late night fame - shooing the dirty sinners away?

No the problem between God and I is not His easily offended sensibilities - the problem is that when I come into His presence the light of His holiness reveals TO ME the horrible truth of my shameful nakedness. I am the one who flees from the light; I am the one who becomes offended seeing myself as I truly am.

I either run and hide in shame or allow Him to mercifully clothe me in Christ's righteousness.

You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. - Rev. 3:17-18

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What Do I Deserve?

I am just returning to normal health after a week of battling a nasty flu bug. (Not the H1N1 according to the symptom checker.) This one started last Wednesday with a sore throat then morphed into fever and a wicked headache followed by a day of steady vomiting and ended with a few days of chest congestion, runny nose and relentless coughing, all in all not a nice week. There is nothing like a little dose of the flu to get me thinking about how much I take for granted my usual good health. I don’t do sick well, I’m a bad patient, I just feel that there should be some sort of Star Trek(y) type of hypo-spray thingy that fixes me instantly by now – I mean what are we doing with all that research money anyway? I digress.

To my point - and yes I know this is infantile - at one point in the week I recall rolling over in bed and in my misery complaining/praying/whining to God; “What did I do to deserve this?”
This is what I would like to hear from you on:


Do people get what they deserve? Do we all deserve good health? Does anyone ever deserve anything bad? What about people who have done horrific things – what do they deserve? To those of you who are believers – what part does God play in all of this? Is there any justice and if so, how and when do we see it?

 

Bored at Church

Eliminate a team from play-off contention and attendance wanes.
Sell off all your stocks and following the markets becomes blasé.

It isn’t easy to stay engaged in things that have no real importance to them.


Once the team is eliminated it doesn’t really matter how slick the advertising promo is - they’re done - see ya next year!

 When it comes to finance - I don’t care if Poppy stands on her desk and sings the latest acquisition news, I have nothing invested, I’m not tuning in.

Here’s my point. There is a lot of talk these days about church being boring, especially to men. We need to find ways – we are told - to be more relevant, more engaging. Eerie warnings abound that the masses are beginning to find the “courage” to “leave church”, to exchange commitment to a local body of believers for chats about God over coffee or on the golf course. There’s a coming revolution don’t you know?

I think our quest for relevance is the problem – not the solution.

We have neutered the church by cutting out everything that might be found offensive.

There are no sinners anymore, only the horrible spectre of global injustice. There is no coming wrath, no judgement, no accounting for individual iniquity, only a call to “look for what God is doing” so we can join Him in His dream for humanity. It’s all so beautiful... one could even say Christianity is the search for beauty... but...here’s the thing though...

We don’t need a crucified savior for that – in fact what was Jesus doing up there on that cross anyway – didn’t he realize that the cure for the human condition is to switch to fair trade coffee and to drive hybrids? (yawn)

So then ... Let there be lights, motion backs, dance, drama and the arts. Bring on the professional singers, comedians, and occasional athlete testimonies, don’t forget the video announcements, secular music, and clowns in a Volkswagen - but, at the end of the day; if we are just another concerned citizens group trying to hold the attention of the crowd we are already irrelevant.

The only thing we have to offer is the message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Christ died in my place on that hill – and that never gets old - or boring!


I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! (Gal. 2:21)

This Sunday at DCC

"Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” (Acts 5:42)



They never stopped proclaiming… that Jesus is the Christ.


This Sunday morning I plan to continue on with the “Incomparable Christ” series by finishing up our look at the divinity of Christ and then launching into an examination of Jesus’ humanity.


Does it really matter if Jesus was fully human, and if so why, in fact if Jesus is both man and God as the Bible declares - doesn’t that make Him some sort of 50/50 hybrid and not really fully a man or fully God?


“We must have a human Christ, and we must have one of real flesh and blood too; not of shadows or filmy fancies. We must have one to whom we can talk, one with whom we can walk, one who is so intimately connected with us in ties of blood, that he is as with us one, the head of the family, first-born among many brethren.” - C.H. Spurgeon, March 25, 1861


Hope to see you Sunday!

A Favorite!

To Be Found In Christ

I woke up this morning with this scripture on my mind, (I should say that this waking up with Bible verses in my head is not a regular occurence):

...that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Phil. 3:9

To gain Christ, to be found "in Him", is to be trusting in a righteousness that is not of human origin, not the result of my diligent attempts at a pious life, not anything that I can point to as validation for my ministry - or as a boost to my fragile ego.

To be found "in Him" is to rely on Him.

To rely on Him, is to cease from relying on myself. I don't know about you, but I do not want to stand before Holy God hoping that I have lived well enough to earn His favour.

What have I done that is worthy of being rewarded eternal life? What about you? Do you suppose God grades on a curve?

What We Must Preach

Many Faiths?

There are many religions in the world today and a growing number of people seem to think that although we are referring to Him/Her by many different names and observing many different rituals, we are in fact all talking to one and the same benevolent God who joyfully loves and receives everyone regardless of their various paths of ascent.

This "many faiths - one god" idea is really somewhat of a misnomer because Christianity stands alone in the faith category. Every other religion under heaven subscribes to a code of conduct that adherents must obey in order to attain the end goal of their religion; only Christians attain salvation not by obedient observance but by FAITH in Jesus.

Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:28-29)

If the whole world is under the impression that Christianity is the same type of works based religion as all the others I wonder what it is that Christians should do about it? Ideas?

Incomparable Christ

"Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” (Acts 5:42)

They never stopped proclaiming… that Jesus is the Christ.

This Sunday at DCC I begin a new series entitled “Incomparable Christ”; in which we will examine the biblical claims concerning Jesus’ divinity, his humanity, and his role as sole mediator between God and man.

The first sermon will be on the divinity of Christ, a topic of crucial importance to those of us who look to Jesus as Savior and Lord.

If we take away the divinity of Christ from the gospel, we are left with no reasonable hope of salvation whatsoever. Remove the Word who was in the beginning with God, and who was God, and we are left with a leader who is nothing more than a pseudo enlightened example to follow - and one who was confused about his own make up and origins at that.
Without a divine Saviour, our gospel is a rope of sand; a drifting soap bubble; something less substantial than a dream. If Christ were not God, he was the worst kind of impostor. He was either God incarnate or else he was an arch-deceiver of men, because he fooled many of them into believing that he was God, and in that claim He managed to bring the consequences of what they called blasphemy upon Himself.

Do you have any questions, comments or relevant ideas that you think should be addressed in this series? If so I would truly appreciate your input! Clicking on the "comment" link below to respond.

Thanksgiving

"One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.” (Luke 17:15-16)

The cool crisp early morning air, the leaves crunching underfoot on a walk through the park, the smell of roasting turkey and pumpkin pie filling the house, the sounds of family and friends loving and laughing while a football game drones softly in the background; these are a few of the things that make Thanksgiving the annual favorite holiday that it is for me. I cannot help but feel overwhelmed at the goodness of God as I reflect on His many blessings to me and mine - and yet, all of these temporal blessings pale in comparison; they cease to matter at all in fact when held up next to the ultimate gift that God has bestowed on each of us in Christ’s sacrifice for our sins on Calvary’s dark hill.

I want to remind you today to take time this weekend to, like the Samaritan in the passage above, throw yourself at Jesus’ feet and thank Him! If family festivities or travel plans will be preventing you from gathering with our Church family on Sunday morning, then please - wherever you may find yourself - remember to give thanks for what God has given you in Christ!

For those of you who will be joining me at DCC, please come prepared to share communion, to worship in spirit and truth from hearts of sincere gratitude; and to be fed the word of God. I am really excited to share a Thanksgiving message from Luke 17 entitled - “One Out of Ten”.

I hope to see you at 596 St. Mary's tomorrow!

The New Martha's

The cry is ringing out all over Christendom. It is time for Christians to get busy. No more sitting around listening to the teachings of the apostles (Acts 2:42), no more growing spiritually fat on sermon after sermon (1 Cor. 1:21), no more exclusionary salvation by faith in Christ alone (Acts 4:12); it’s time for Christians (or perhaps I should more accurately say “Christ followers”) to stop going to church and to start being the church!

The new Martha’s are aggressive in their pursuit of works righteousness, not content to quietly do their good deeds in secret, they insist upon having their rewards now; on letting not only the right hand know what the left is doing, but in declaring that every hand must see and participate or risk being relegated to the scrap heap of irrelevance.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against doing good deeds; as the fruit of the Holy Spirit is produced in our lives through relationship with Christ that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control is going to find expression in all sorts of wonderful ways. Husbands are going to be more loving of their wives, employees are going to be more conscientious as they do their jobs “unto the Lord” rather than from selfish ambition, widows are going to be treated with love and kindness, the sick are going to be visited and yes Martha, dinners will be served to the hungry and homeless. (Read: Jesus and His entourage)

The trouble with the new Martha’s is the same one that existed in Jesus’ day at the home of the original Martha. Not content to joyfully serve the Lord in the capacity they have chosen, like their hard working ancestor they feel compelled to criticize - even to call into question the very salvation - of the Mary’s who know and love the Lord and treasure every moment of rest, sitting and learning at His feet.

Now as then the Martha’s complain to the Lord, - now as then the answer remains the same,

"Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:40-42)

It's All Him!

In the first chapter of Acts Jesus tells His still bewildered followers that they are not to rush right out to work on His behalf; rather they are to gather and wait in Jerusalem until they have received the promised Holy Spirit. It seems they are to be baptized in a manner that has not been experienced until now in the history of humanity and that that this new baptism of fire would in some way result in their empowerment to “be” His witnesses in the whole world. Does this seem a little strange?

The job has been completed, the cross has been endured, redemption has been secured, the redeemer has risen from the dead, and all that is left is for the story to be told; yet even this is not left up to human effort. “Wait until you are empowered”.

The New Testament teaches that through faith in Christ we are reborn and that in this reborn state we actually become the temple of the Holy Spirit. God Himself comes and takes up residence in us. Think about that. Is there anything that you could possibly have done to make yourself worthy of this honour?

While we were still lost in the deep darkness of our sin, Jesus came to seek us out and to save us from the coming wrath of God. Without any acknowledgement or assistance from us He died on the cross and took upon Himself the penalty for our misdeeds and in so doing bought us back or redeemed us from our sorry condition of utter slavery. All that is required of us is faith, is to believe in the sent One, and even the faith for that is given to us by Him.

Why are we so intent on turning Christianity into a religion that requires human effort for validation?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. – Galatians 5:22-25

The Spirit of God lives in us and as we “keep in step” with Him or as we walk with Him the evidence of His presence within naturally becomes apparent; just like the apples on an apple tree, and this empowers us to spread the good news.

Apple trees do not work hard to produce apples; as long as the connection to the source is secure they just naturally appear. The same is true for Christians and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Ignore the purveyors of works based righteousness and simple enjoy walking with God. This is not an ego-centric religion; Christianity is not about what we do Christianity from beginning to end is about what Jesus does, that’s why He’s known as the Alpha and the Omega.