What to do? What to do?

Read: Acts 4:13-22

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,
16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”
18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,
20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.
22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Reflect:

What to do?  What to do?

In the passage above two groups of people are faced with the same question – what will we do?  The first group of religious leaders were perplexed at the miracle performed in the name of Jesus.  Their response to “warn them to speak no more to anyone in (Jesus) name” was really one of compromise because they were afraid of the people.

When face with the same question, the response of Peter and John is one of stark contrast: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Respond:

Take a look at the newspaper headlines today.  There are plenty of opportunities for the Christian to respond either in compromise or integrity.  Let’s follow the example of the Spirit-filled life of Peter and John and stand boldly.

No Other Gospel

Galatians 5: 1

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5: 1 will be our theme verse over the next few weeks as we consider the Gospel as presented by Paul to the churches of Galatia. It was Christ and Christ alone who set us free to live in (what else) FREEDOM. This is not just some kind of abstract idea or concept. Today, in Christ, we can live in freedom from our past life of sin, freedom from our failures and experience freedom to live a life wholeheartedly pursuing the one who freed us.

What keeps us from a life of Freedom in Christ? In his first epistle John warns about the threat from outside the church referring to the love of the world. But for the churches in Galatia, the challenge to the Gospel was altogether different. The Galatians had been led away by perverted teaching within the church.

We face the same type of challenge today with at least three different methods of “Jesus Plus” types of teachings.

In the next post, we’ll begin with the first chapter of Galatians. We’ll consider what makes the Gospel the Gospel and how to spot the difference and we’ll consider the life of a person whose life was literally transformed by the power of Christ.

Standing to Make a Difference

Does choosing to stand really make a difference?  Let’s consider two different questions today.
This morning I received an email with the subject line – ABC’s Offensive Television Pilot. The plot centers on the life of reformed “mean girl” Amanda who returns to her hometown of Dallas to find herself fodder for malicious gossip from the women in the Christian community.

“Still in the early stages, the pilot has not been guaranteed a spot on ABC’s lineup. And though the show’s title may change before it goes to broadcast, “Good Christian Bitches” is already causing uproar…the show, which features the tagline “For Heaven’s sake, don’t let God get in the way of a good story!” could put Christians in an unfairly bad light.”

Sorry to include the title of the show, but I think it is necessary for the story. Now let’s consider the two questions.

First, should we as believers take a stand against a show that will put Christians in such a negative light? Yes.  I don’t have any interest in watching the show, but there is something even more important we can do and that revolves around the second question.

Why would someone consider writing and producing such a show in the first place?  Could it be that there is an element of truth to it?  How many of us have been guilty of some form of gossip when we “share” a prayer request?

Paul warns us of “gossips and busybodies” in 1 Timothy 5: 13.  If we are spending our time tearing down others at home or at work or in the church we have lost all credibility, haven’t we?  Can our lives stand up to the scrutiny of others or have we hidden the light of Christ by our conversations?

Thinking Differently

So now we’ve made a decision to surrender completely to God. What does it mean in my daily life? Years ago, Apple computer ran an advertising campaign built around the idea that it is okay to “Think Different.” While the people at Apple and the world in general would be pleased to applaud for the “outside of the box” thinking of someone like Gandhi, what would they say about you if you decide to refuse to be molded by the culture and experience true spirituality according to Jesus? 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 reminds us that many of us have made a decision to surrender that puts us at odds with the old way of doing things. “9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Now we have been ” washed…sanctified.. and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Again, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Verse two of Romans 12 begins by encouraging us to “not be conformed to this world.” We need to “think different” and, more importantly, be different.

 

 

You’re kidding me…

This weekend I was asked about what Jesus meant in Matthew 7:6 – Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. “

My response included the tendency we have to continue to speak to people about Christ who have absolutely no interest in Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus actually warns that doing so can result in an attack on the person trying to reach the lost ones….

This morning I heard of at least two churches who wave started to invite muslim groups into their facilities – not to invite them to worship the Son of God, but to openly worship Islam.

Here’s what Christianity Today reported:

Meanwhile, some churches have modeled a much more welcoming approach. At Heartsong Church in Cordova, Tennessee, Steve Stone and his congregants put out a sign welcoming incoming neighbors at the Memphis Islamic Center. The church then allowed these Muslim neighbors to use their sanctuary as a makeshift mosque throughout Ramadan while the Islamic Center was under construction. Stone and Heartsong received extensive national media coverage for their efforts.

For Stone, allowing Muslims to worship on his church’s property was a matter of “What would Jesus do?”—a matter of his United Methodist congregation modeling the love of Jesus to strangers, just as Jesus had welcomed them.

Another United Methodist pastor 900 miles away came to a similar conclusion when a neighboring Islamic congregation asked to use his church’s space for five months of Friday prayers. Jason Micheli, pastor of Aldersgate Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, shares part of his theological reasoning in a sermon published at Scot McKnight’s Jesus Creed blog.

While Micheli uses more explicitly evangelical and exclusivist language than Heartsong and Steve Stone, he similarly defends his decision by appealing to Jesus and Christian love: “[W]hen we say that Jesus is the only way to the Father, we don’t just mean our belief in Jesus is the only way to the Father. We also mean Jesus’ way of life is the only way we manifest the Father’s love. That we would welcome Muslim strangers into our sacred space with no strings attached is not a reduction of what we believe about Jesus (or a betrayal); it is, I think, the fullest possible expression of what we believe about Jesus.”

I am almost speechless, but not surprised.  Yes, Jesus does intend for His message to be shared with people who do not yet know Him, but His love was not extended to those who persisted in their unbelief.  In the third chapter of John, Jesus responds to Nicodemus that those who fail to believe are condemned because of their own unbelief.  Am I a bit narrow?  Yep.  So is Islam. This is a serious question. Islam teaches exclusivity of its beliefs. While it honors Jesus as a prophet, the Quaran denies His sacrifice for sin, His death on the cross and His resurrection.

Now for a bit of hyperbole – would a church be open its doors for groups that would like to use their facilities for worship of Satan? Or how about a group dedicated to pedophilia?

Should we really be inviting false worshipers into our churches to worship their false gods? Be careful.  They may just trample your best intentions and turn on you.

Can’t Keep It To Myself

What activity to you find most enjoyable or rewarding in your life?  For Paul, it was the opportunity to share his faith.  In this passage he writes that he is eager to preach the Gospel!  When was the last time you were eager to do something?  Even when he wanted to do anything but preach, the prophet Jeremiah said,“If I say, I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name, there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” Jeremiah 20:9 I imagine Paul felt this “fire shut up in his bones” and if he did not share the gospel, he would burst. But it is not always so easy for many of us. Have you ever been embarrassed or ashamed of the gospel?  For me, there was a particular day during college in an anthropology class when I failed to stand for what I believed by simply saying nothing. In that hour, I was ashamed of the Gospel. I didn’t want to make a scene or put myself in a place of ridicule by the professor and my peers. I wanted to avoid any kind of pain. It was a time I regret to this day. Immediately after I failed, I was ashamed of myself and I was reminded of the words that Jesus said in Mark 8: 38. “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Contrast this with Paul’s statement in verse 16 - “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”   I believe the difference is Paul’s lack of a fear of man.  He was completely convinced of his faith and the saving grace made available to all.  And his conviction and appreciation for God’s plan made him able to stand firm through the Holy Spirit as he encountered world views very different from his own as he met Jews and Greeks and Barbarians and wise and foolish people. We live in a similar world today where “spiritual” people will consider nearly any point of view that is considered to be inclusive and universal. The doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ is considered to be narrow-minded and anything but inclusive, yet it remains God’s plan to redeem those who will believe. While I regret the day in 1980, I have been determined to avoid that feeling since by moving forward and speaking up concerning the Gospel.  No matter where we are in this journey, let us commit today to ask God to strengthen us through His Holy Spirit to stand unashamed before the people in our lives proclaiming his Truth with our daily actions and our words.

The Truth about Lying

“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” 

Albert Einstein

Has anyone ever lied to you?  I know, that is a stupid question, but take a moment and think about what the lie(s) did to your relationship with the liar.

Liar- now that’s a harsh word.  Most of us have an easy time with thinking about other types of “really bad” sins, but in the final list of sins found in the Bible, those  who have trouble with the truth are included with the rest.

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Revelation 21:8

Do the people closest to you trust your word? Are you careless with the truth?  Earlier today I read the following passage.

Ephesians 4: 21-25

“…You have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.  Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”

Paul is careful to give us clear direction regarding how we should live our lives honoring God.

1. Put off the old self including your deceitful desires and put on the new self by renewing our minds.

2. Put away falsehood and speak truthfully to those around us because we are family.

Take a moment and think about your relationships and the truth.  Is there a difference at home and at work or at church?  If you’re doing well, great.  If not, decide how you can start to repair relationships and build confidence?  Take one practical step today.

The Manhattan Declaration and Apple

I do some creative work in my spare time and use a number of Apple products. Why?  Over the years I have found both the hardware and software applications to be dependable and effective.

I expect Apple products to work.  I generally don’t expect Apple to share my worldview.

But recently, I have faced a dilemma regarding Apple’s hostility toward the Manhattan Declaration.  I pulled the following quote from the home page at www.manhattandeclaration.org.

“Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family. It was in this tradition that a group of prominent Christian clergy, ministry leaders, and scholars released the Manhattan Declaration on November 20, 2009 at a press conference in Washington, DC. The 4,700-word declaration speaks in defense of the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty. It issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere firmly to their convictions in these three areas.”

What’s the beef with Apple?  The Manhattan Declaration created an app for the iPhone only to have it pulled by Apple in response to some well targeted complaints.  Apple said, “the app contains references or commentary about a religious, cultural or ethnic group that are defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited or likely to expose the targeted group to harm or violence will be rejected.  We have evaluated the content of this application and consider its contents to be objectionable and potentially harmful to others.”

Apple has a right to reject an app.  It’s their store.  But is an organization that stands for Life, Marriage and Religious Liberty really that controversial?

Unfortunately today the answer may be yes.

Conquering Fear of Man

In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.  What can mere man do to me?

Psalm 56: 4

I saw a book title this week that said, When People are BIG and God is small.

While I didn’t have time to read it, the book covers the subject of fear and specifically the fear of others. What will they think of me if I stand up for my convictions?  What if they stop talking to me?  What if I lose my friends?

If you’ve ever felt the inner conflict of peer pressure (and I believe all of us have), you’ll understand the failure of well known characters from the Old and New Testaments who struggled with trying to please others for the moment instead of living to honor God no matter what.

Consider the words of Jesus from Luke 12:4

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.”

and from Proverbs 29:5, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.’

Relying on Scripture is easy on Sunday, but what about the rest of the week?

How do we respond?

The news this week is filled with commentary and speculation regarding the church in Florida which plans to burn copies of the Qur’an on the anniversary of 9/11. What do you think about it? How should a believer respond?

There does seem to be a double standard in play.  Many of the same people who would call the burning of a Bible free speech are speaking loudly against this small church of fifty members.

But we have a higher standard.

In Romans 12, Paul echoes the standard of Jesus when he writes,“17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. 20 To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21

Consider those verses.  Phrase by phrase.  Slowly. Waiting for God to respond is difficult isn’t it?  My initial reaction is generally one of action – some kind of action – any kind of action….usually not the best idea. I wonder how believers who live in Muslim countries might be treated in reaction to the Qur’an burnings.

Could it be that the Thessalonian church experienced some of the same emotions and questions as they were suffering for their unwavering faith in Christ?

Here in his second letter to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul encourages them in their suffering for the name of Christ, “since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might…”
2 Thessalonians 1: 6-9

Instead of winning the war against Islam, where is our concern about winning the individual Muslim for Christ? If you know someone who is Muslim or sympathetic to their cause, begin this day praying for that Christ will be revealed to them as He is this day and let us remember the believers in these countries as well.