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Questions to ask at the beginning of a new year:

31 Dec , 2012 No Comments

Are you in a rut? Are you slow to think about resolutions because you’ve made them (and tossed them) before? If you’re not intentional, momentary ruts can cost you greatly and you’ll end up squandering days, months, even years of this one and only life you’ve been given. The following diagnostic questions will help you dream again and, with God’s help, allow you to be all you can be in 2013.

  • What is your dream for your life?
  • What do you see as the vision/calling- or God-given picture– of your life?
  • If you had unlimited resources (of time, money, energy, people) what would you want to accomplish with the rest of your life?
  • What do you love to do more than anything else?  What makes you feel fully alive?  Why?
  • What do hate the most?  What makes you angry?  Why?
  • What do you do best?  What are your best gifts?  These are things you’ve heard others (not just mom) say mark you as being unique.
  • What is God’s unique mission for your life?
  • How will you fulfill this mission, starting TODAY?

You can begin by setting S.M.A.R.T. goals now. It’s critical that you write them down.

S pecific- Be as detailed as you can be about the goals you are stating. A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general goal. I heard years ago that, “If you shoot at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” To set a specific goal you must answer the six “W” questions: Who will be involved? What do I want to accomplish? Where will it happen? When will it happen? Which requirements and constraints will place on me? Why will I do this? (What will be the specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing this goal.

M easurable- Every goal must be measured. How will you know you’ve accomplished it? What will be success? At what point will you know you’ve achieved that goal?

A ttainable- An attainable goal will stretch you to achieve it, but it will not be extreme. Attainable goals will challenge your attitudes and abilities and help you develop skills you may not have in order to reach them. Attainable goals will help you identify previously overlooked opportunities and bring you closer to the achievement of goals you once thought impossible.

R ealisitic- A realistic goal represents something that you are both willing and able to work toward. A goal can be both very challenging (perhaps seemingly beyond your reach to start) and realistic.  You are the only one who can decide just how challenging your goal should be. But be sure that every goal represents major progress. Challenging goals are more often reached than lower, easier ones because a low goal exerts a much lower motivational force.

T imely- Your goals must have target dates. If you don’t set a timeline you will not be motivated and you will not reach your goals. A deadline too far in the future is too easily put off and a goal that’s set too close is unrealistic and then discouraging. Place times/dates on a calendar that will mark where you should (will!) be when you get to that date.

PRAY, DREAM again and then set S.M.A.R.T. goals in order to accomplish your dreams. Remember: If your dreams are not God’s dreams for your life you will fail, or even worse, you will succeed at the wrong things and squander your life. Go for it!

Happy 2013!

The Separation of Church & Hate

07 Oct , 2012 No Comments

Every four years Christians in America are challenged again to rediscover the incomparable power of the Gospel. Oh, most don’t realize that’s what is happening but it really is. It happens every four years. We claim that Christ alone is the hope of our nation and our world, that it is only the power of the Gospel that brings real transformation, but during the presidential race we seem to forget that. Our language, our argumentative spirits, our anger, and often hateful speech, betrays our hearts and the true nature of our belief.

As I’ve watched this season approaching, I’ve grown increasingly disappointed with how Christ followers are more passionate about politics than the Gospel. And I know, already the questions surface, “But don’t politics matter? Shouldn’t we be engaged in every sphere of culture, including the political domain? Don’t we have a God-given right and responsibility to engage, inform, and enter the public discourse of politics?” Yes, yes, yes, and yes. But we are to enter into public discourse like Jesus (our perfect Model in all things) or we do more damage than good. To remain silent is not an option but to be ill-informed or to have a spirit that does not represent our Savior is unacceptable. Authors Gabe Lyons and David Kinnaman, in their book unChristian, point out that most young (18-29) non-Christians in America see the primary witness of the Church as a political witness.  We simply do not find this in the teachings of Jesus or anywhere else in the New Testament. Many believe this younger generation just “don’t get it” (like former generations thought of them), but I see a generation of young believers who are tired of the culture wars and they see another way. Young Christians are ready for peace.  As one young Christian said, “We are ready to lay down our arms. We are ready to stop waging war and start washing feet.” The Jesus way is a different way.

How do we enter the political fray in a way that honors Jesus and keeps the Gospel central?

Too often believers seem to get a pass for their political indiscretions. Often they are applauded for what the Bible calls “slander.”  We slander others in order to win an argument, disguising it all behind “righteous anger.” What is more, other believers applaud our passion and “conviction”, all the while losing the battle but feeling good they were able to “speak our mind.” Rather than simply engaging in political discourse (which is rarely “discourse” in the end), Christians should actually elevate the process.  We are called to stand with Jesus, above the great partisan divide and demonstrate a better way.  I heard one speaker remind us that, “Jesus did not come to take sides but to take over.” If He is Lord of our lives, others will see a better way. Remember:

1. Simply because someone disagrees with you doesn’t mean they’re wrong. Imagine that. Believers should approach political discourse with a humble posture. We should enter in (like any conversation) first to understand, and then to be understood. Understanding, of course, means I enter in loving my neighbor, eager to learn, and willing to express the love of Jesus. When I disagree, I do so in a humble, clear yet loving way.

2. People from both political parties are followers of Jesus (and thus, your brothers and sisters). On the weekend just prior to the election, churches will gather together and pray towards the outcome. Some will pray for God’s “will to be done”, but most will be praying for their candidate to win. That’s an appropriate prayer but the point is that sincere Christians on both sides of the political aisle will be praying equal and opposite prayers. And I doubt God is wringing His hands over the conflicting prayers of His people. He is sovereign over all things.

3. Some people like to argue more than others.  Simply because someone is more passionate than you are about politics doesn’t mean they’re more committed to Christ than you are. You are probably more passionate than they are about other matters of faith and culture. In fact, the Bible teaches us that those who cause strife and are prone to quarrel are weak in their faith, not stronger (James 4:1-2). Consider the biblical strategy up against what we see most of the time in the public discourse of our day:

“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.  And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.  Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:23-25

4. Thinking any one political party’s platform is altogether right, is wrong.  Any government, nation, or political party is only as good as those who make it up. All politicians (like each of us) are imperfect people and many (not all) are driven by sinful ambition. The policies of your political party are not altogether biblical or Spirit-led.

5. Broaden your perspective by listening to opposing views.  Many people narrow in on one political perspective and then listen only to those who affirm and confirm what they already believe, right or wrong. Remember that political talk radio and cable news channels are in it for the ratings; it’s what keeps them afloat.

Many who obsess over one political perspective become paranoid because the message heard is that the world will end if “our” political agenda is not established. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Our identity, worth, perspective, hope and focus is found in Jesus Christ.

6. Scripture tells us to pray for our governing leaders and to respect those in authority.  We are told to pray for those whom God has allowed to be placed over us (2 Timothy 2:1-4).  We are to give honor to our leaders and to show them respect as well because, “there is no authority except that which God has established” (Romans 13:1-7). Instead of vilifying our political leaders, we should pray for them.  I’ve often wondered what God would do if we prayed for our political leaders for as much time as we spend talking about them, and often maligning them.

Finding Freedom from Religion

04 Jul , 2012 No Comments

More than 70 years President Roosevelt gave his famous “Four Freedoms” speech in which he upheld the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. As we reflect on our freedom as Americans, every follower of Jesus should also reflect on the freedom we have in Christ.
If freedom of religion is one of life’s great freedoms, I would suggest that freedom from religion is much more significant and costly freedom. In fact, it was the apostle Paul who described religion when he referenced “the law” in the Book of Galatians. Any structure, belief, ritual, moral behavior, or action by which we seek to achieve a right standing before God (through human effort) is “religion”. Ironically, many religious people are living in bondage. When we truly understand the difference between religion and biblical Christianity, it impacts everything about our relationship with God. Then, and only then, is true freedom found.
In Galatians 3:1-14 Paul uses the strongest terms possible in exhorting believers to go back to the Gospel as the one and only basis for their Christian lives. The essence of the Christian life is the Gospel. It is what Christ has done on the cross. But this is not only a means toward salvation, it is the means toward our sanctification, the motivation for our obedience, and the power to live our lives in Christ.
It may sound strange to some, but Christ came to set us free from religion. 2,000 years ago God sent His Son to rebel against a religion that He, Himself, began. And by “religion” I do not mean “Church”. The Church is the Body of Christ- the “living out” of our faith is a community project- we do it together AS the Body of Christ. But it all starts as we stop trying to gain God’s approval through our own efforts, give up, and admit our need for a Savior, confess our sin and our inability to set ourselves free.. then, we can escape the bondage of our sin. Jesus said…
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 What did Jesus really mean? Paul answers the question in Galatians. His battle cry is the same as the great reformers of the 1500’s. During the Reformation, the most dramatic shift in Christian history, many protested against the Catholic Church- at the time- with its works-based, religious add-ons to what Christ has done. From these protestors or “protestants”- came many groups forging their own way with the Bible alone as their guide. In fact, a brief history lesson and a look at the theology of the reformers will be helpful for our study of this 3rd chapter. In fact, it was the book of Galatians (along with the book of Romans) that most influenced Martin Luther to post his 95 theses (complaints) on the door of the Wittenburg Church- that sparked the Reformation- protesting the religion of his day. So, quickly…
The 5 Pillars of the Reformation “Solo, soli, sola”, are all Latin for, “alone/only”
1. ‘Sola Scriptura’ – By Scripture Alone
2. ‘Sola Gratia’ – By Grace Alone
3. ‘Solus Christus’ – By Christ Alone
4. ‘Sola Fide’ – By Faith Alone
5. ‘Soli Deo Gloria’ – Glory To God Alone
The Book of Galatians focuses on numbers 2 through 4 in particular- “By GRACE through FAITH” alone we are justified, we are sanctified, and we will be glorified. From start to finish it is faith in the finished work of Christ (not religion or “works of the law”).
By Grace Alone
I want you to examine your heart- to see if you have truly been set free in Christ. AND all of us need some freeing- None of us have arrived.. nor will we. I want you to ask yourself a series of questions and do a kind of self-examination (a Holy Spirit investigation). With each point below, ask yourself: How do I know if I think and live this way?) DO YOU FOCUS ON:
• Christ’s sacrifice or the Law? (vs. 1-2) Do you live your Christian life on the basis of works or by faith? And here’s what most of us miss: The demand of the Law is perfection. The fallacy of the “What Would Jesus Do?” question is this: Jesus would do it perfectly. And that’s game over for us. The Father is not grooming you to be the replacement for His Son. He is calling us to give up, fall on our knees, and believe that there is shelter through faith in His Son. Do you rest in Christ’s fulfillment of the law and His sacrifice OR do you strive and work to become pleasing to God? It will never happen- not through your works! And this not bad news, this is Good News. Is your life one big “thank you” or are you constantly driven to gain God’s approval? Are you motivated by fear or out of gratitude? Are you striving to win God’s approval or do you rest and revel in the fact that you already have it?
• God’s Spirit or human effort? (vs. 3) Having received Christ’s Spirit at salvation, are you now turning away from the Spirit- (the only power to transform you) and going back to your religious ways (thinking that a modification of your behavior will transform your heart?) This is crazy! Are you trying to let Moses finish what Christ has begun? Do you strive to “do the right thing” in your own power or do you constantly go back to the liberating truth of the Gospel -that it is God’s Spirit changes you, not your efforts. Do you pray for His power to move in your life or do simply try harder day in and day out? Are you constantly measuring your performance before God or comparing yourself to others? Are you quick to judge? These are signs you’re focused on human effort, not the Spirit. Are you obsessed with thoughts about your performance or are you obsessed with the Gospel? Because it is the Gospel that is our motivation for obedience. ARE you focused on:
• Your faith or your works? (vs. 5-9) Do you live by faith or by works?
Most of us live by works because that puts us in control. The law (or works) puts everything on us- and the truth is, we like that. Because we like to keep score. Faith takes us out of the picture and puts everything on God. Faith makes all of my works and human effort as no consequence and I can no longer keep score- I can’t come before God or others and say, “Look what I’ve done, look how righteous, how kind, how religious I am.” Faith puts us all on the same level so that we cannot boast about how we’re on some higher plane than others. It’s faith FIRST and it’s faith LAST. Faith in what? Faith in Christ- who is and what He’s done for us. Many Christians start out with a simple, focused faith- relying fully on the grace of Christ, but they desert the purity of the Gospel and enter into legalism and works. Here’s a profound truth: It is possible to avoid Jesus as Savior as much by keeping all the biblical rules as by breaking them. Paul says- that kind of life leads to- not a blessing, but a curse.
• A blessing or a curse? (vs. 10-14) Again, the demand of the Law is
perfection. If you’re going to keep any of the law, you must keep ALL of the law. “What Would Jesus Do?” Here is the costly answer: Jesus would do it all perfectly. And that’s game over for you. The Father is not grooming you to be a replacement for his Beloved Son. He is announcing that there is blessing for those who take shelter in his Beloved Son. because “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) and the “wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). So if you want to measure yourself by the law- you’re under a curse! You’ll never be blessed. In 2 Cor. 1:22, Paul says that God has “set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
Are you living as one blessed? If so, you seek to be a blessing to others. Then in verses 15-22 Paul argues that in every day life people make binding agreements that cannot be nullified just as the covenant was originally given to Abraham. But THEN came the law (after the covenantal promise) to show us that we are prisoners to sin. But the promise of salvation and freedom have finally come to us through Christ- making us sons and daughters of God- not prisoners.
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Cor. 1:21-22
• A child or a prisoner? (vs. 23-25) The law has become a “tutor”. The Greek word is “pedagogos”- a “child-conductor” or “moral teacher”, a strict disciplinarian” who would train boys (6-16 years old)- a kind of moral guidance counselor- often through harsh methods if they felt it was necessary. The law was a temporary, often harsh, disciplinarian, given to us so that we might see that we cannot measure up to the high and holy demands of God. Christ came to live the perfect life and fulfill the holy requirements of the law (so we wouldn’t have to) and he died on the cross for our sin (because we could not). It is by grace through faith that we are saved. Grace is the most expensive free gift you’ll ever receive.
Joy is found, not in obedience to God’s law, but in surrender to His love. The Gospel frees us from this pressure to perform, this slavish demand to “become”. The liberating declaration of the Gospel is that, in Christ, we already ARE. Here’s the freedom of the Gospel of grace- IF you are a Christian, here’s the Good News: Who you really are has nothing to do with YOU- how much you accomplish, who you become, your behavior (good or bad), your strengths or your weaknesses, your sordid past, family background, your education, your looks, and on and on.. Your identity is firmly anchored in Christ’s accomplishment, not yours, His strength, not yours; His performance, not yours; His victory, not yours. Your identity is steadfastly established in His substitution, not your sin. The Gospel doesn’t just free you from what other people think about you; it frees you from what you think about yourself.
Now you can spend your life giving up your place for others instead of guarding it- because your identity is in Christ, not in your “place”… I am now content with the back of the line, the last place, the role of a servant, you and I can GIVE freely.. because our identity is not found in what we possess.. and all of this is because of Christ’s finished work declared to us in the Gospel. So the final question-focus on
• Religion or relationship?
Is your life defined by your religious activity or by your relationship with Jesus Christ? And how would you know? Simple really. What do you think about? Where do you spend your time? Do you seek HIM daily or more activity? Do you focus on what Christ has done or what you must do? Are you experiencing a vibrant relationship with Christ or are you just trying to live a religious life?

Two challenges: One is to those of you who have never realized that true Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God- through Jesus Christ. The second challenge is to a group that I call the “religious Christian group”- and before you think that you’re not in this group, most of us are. The religious Christian and the grace-filled disciple live very different lives.

• The religious Christian loves a routine; a grace-filled disciple longs for mission.
• The religious Christian knows the letter of the law; a grace-filled disciple lives the spirit of the law.
• The religious Christian loves tradition; a grace-filled disciple loves a challenge.
• The religious Christian is satisfied with ritual; a grace-filled disciple thrives in mystery.
• The religious Christian desires stability and certainty; a grace-filled disciple seeks a life with Jesus filled with risk and adventure.

How do you want to live your life? In a religion or a relationship?

The Misplaced Doctrine of Lostness

16 Apr , 2012 No Comments

Throughout the Bible it is very clear that sin has separated us from God and we are in desperate need of rescue. We are LOST apart from God’s intervention. It was Jesus Himself who explained His core purpose in coming in Luke 19 when He said,

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

Save from what? What does it mean to be ‘lost”? The Bible describes the state of the lost as “dead in trespasses and sins,” “children of disobedience,” “perishing,” “condemned,” “under the wrath of God,” “blind,” “in the powers of darkness,” “living in darkness,” “under the control of Satan,” “disobedient to God”. THIS is the scandal of the cross- this is what’s so offensive about the Gospel. You are lost and hell-bound apart from Christ and there is nothing you can do about it. The most well-known verse..

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

It says, “perish”, but perish in what way? Jesus said,

“Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and His angels.” Matthew 25:41

In fact, it was JESUS spoke more about hell than anyone else- because He did NOT want anyone to go there. Have we become so sophisticated, so educated, so enlightened, that we no longer believe in hell? Well, unfortunately studies (Pew Research and Barna) reveal that we do NOT. Only 59% of Americans believe in hell. Interestingly, about 80% believe in heaven and of those who do and most- close to 70% believe they’ll go to heaven when they die. But most troubling is the differences in how they anticipate getting there. The Barna Research group says that only 43% of those who think they’re going to heaven said that they would get there because they have “confessed their sins and have accepted Christ as their Savior”. The other 57% believe they’ll get to heaven because they’ve “tried to obey the 10 commandments” or they’ve “basically been a good person” or because “God loves everyone and will not let anyone perish”. And only one-half of 1% of Americans believe they’re going to hell. Here’s where all these numbers come down for us today: Probably the MOST disturbing number from studies like this is that 50% of people in Protestant churches today are NOT Christians- that is, they have never received Christ as their Lord and Savior. Have most of us become “closet universalists”- believing that, in the end, everyone is going to heaven?

The Power of the Gospel (Romans 10:9-17)
1. The Gospel is salvation through faith in Christ. (9-10)
• IF you…
Notice that our salvation is conditional- immediately we see that not everyone is saved.
• confess with your mouth
What Paul is NOT saying is that simply SAYING something out loud will save you. We must understand our context here, he has said that the people of Israel, under Moses and the Law- had the word in their mouths- they knew the Law, they could say the Law, but it also had to be in their hearts. He’s continuing this parallel of thought and expression. In fact he explains:
• believe in your heart
Believe what? “That Jesus raised Him from the dead”- this would involve His life, suffering, death, burial and resurrection- the Gospel is Christ’s death upon the cross and His subsequent burial and resurrection. Notice Paul says, it is with the heart that we believe and are justified.
• you will be saved. What is the Gospel? In the end the Gospel is Jesus.
When we get saved, we get Him. The GOSPEL is not being a good person- it’s Christ’s righteousness covering my sin. I am superior to no one- I’m a Christian because of what Christ has done- NOT what I have done.
Let’s rediscover the doctrine of lostness in our preaching, our teaching, and in all aspects of our mission.

Why Forgive?

27 Feb , 2012 No Comments

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34  The first of seven phrases from Jesus on the cross is a prayer, not for Himself, but for His executioners.

Now, you think of someone you need to forgive.  But remember, we forgive people, persons, (individuals) not institutions or groups of people.  You forgive what they have done, not what they are.  And you can only forgive someone who has done something to you directly that has wounded you.

1. It breaks the chain of “ungrace”  Only grace breaks the cycle of retribution.  If Jesus had prayed, “Father, give them what they deserve” there would be no forgiveness- no grace.  Do you forgive others who are “executing/crucifying” you?  You see forgiveness has that maddening quality of being undeserved, unmerited, unfair.  But as I forgive, as you forgive, we break the law of retribution- the chain of ungrace is broken.     

2. It sets us free from anger  Often we think, “I have justifiable pain!”  This is simply another way of saying, “I will not forgive.” 

3. It sets the offender free  Forgiving does not remove our scars any more than a funeral takes away all of our grief.  We often carry a scar even after the wound has been healed.  But if we continue to have resentment over time, we are “feeling again” the pain caused and our response in hatred.  “Forgiveness” in the Greek means, literally, “to release, to hurl away, to free yourself”.  You know you have forgiven the person when you release the person to God- and even hope for good.

4. It heals the relationship  Forgiveness brings life to the relationship again.  But, not always- Jesus forgave but not every one was reconciled.  Forgiveness doesn’t always mean reunion or reconciliation.  Sometimes we pay for our sin by being shunned, let go- we are left to our desires and pay the consequences.  

5. It sets us free to love again  One of the best books I’ve read on forgiveness is Lewis Smedes’, “The Art of Forgiveness”. In it he writes, “When we genuinely forgive, we set a prisoner free and then discover that the prisoner we set free was us.”

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”- Colossians 3:13   

Theologically, the Gospels give a straightforward answer as to why God asks us to forgive: because that is what God is like.  We are never more like Christ than when we forgive.  Why?  Because Christ has forgiven you.  We are to forgive “AS” HE has forgiven us.  How has He forgiven you?  Completely. Unconditionally. You cannot fully forgive until you’ve been forgiven.  Was Jesus’ prayer answered? Every prayer He ever prayed was answered.  You have been forgiven so that you might be one with God.

You and I cannot muster up forgiveness on our own.  We must allow Christ to transform us from selfish, prideful, unforgiving people into those who extend grace to others. But it begins when we embrace the One who is Perfect, the Giver of grace.

“The object of my faith is not personal change. It is the unchanging perfection of another Person.” Byron Yawn

 

Forgive.