Mar

21

Just another holiday?

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

Holidays come and go. They’re just days, really. Though as a kid, we thought differently. At twelve-years-old, I was allowed to stay up to see the clock strike midnight on New Year’s eve. With all of the anticipation about the the new year, I was seriously disillusioned that there wasn’t more when the minute hand and the hour hand both hit twelve. Then at one minute after twelve, aside from a few pots and pans still banging outside, the dark hour became no more exciting than the fact that it was time to go to bed.

But not all holidays are alike.  Above and beyond, most people would probably say Christmas is their favorite holiday. Of course, this holiday is special because of Jesus’ miraculous incarnate birth. But there’s something to be said for Easter.

Of all the special holy days and traditions we ascribe to as part of our faith, there is none more significant to the Christian belief than Easter. Christ’s rising from the dead is significant in light of the fact that it is the fulcrum upon which our faith hinges. If he didn’t rise from the dead, to what purpose would our adherence to Jesus lie?

While honoring Christ would be a noble pursuit, even then, if he weren’t truly God in nature, then what has been proposed through the prophets and the Lord himself would be a lie. If Jesus didn’t die and rise to life again, then we who are believers in scripture are the most foolish. What’s more, we would still be dead in our sins.

Jesus’ death is significant for several reasons:  1) It defeats any and all of Satan’s arsenal to harm what is justified and protected by the Lord. 2) It demonstrates the power and glory of the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. 3) It shows the humility by which our God emptied himself in every conceivable way to prove to his creation how much he loves us.

While we celebrate our glorious Jesus every day in our hearts, soon we will commemorate his resurrection on Easter Sunday. His birth was miraculous, his rising from the dead, even more so.

 

Mar

12

So where is Jesus in all this?

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

A brother in Christ recently posted a link from a New York Times article about the apparent mass exodus of black people from white evangelical churches. In my opinion, the NYT is a purveyor of indoctrination more so over fact, but that did not stop me from reading the story. After reading it twice, I ventured to share my thoughts about the story.

My initial question was:  So where is Jesus in all of this?

The comebacks were kind and measured, with most in the conversation asking the same question. My thinking to leave the conversation with the question in the air would have been prudent. Though in the name of Christian apologetics, I felt there was more to say. After praying that God would be with my mouth I proceeded to ask a second question:  Is this a spiritual argument or a political one? 🙂

Things remained cordial until I defended the truth as I saw it by quoting scripture. Then came the attacks. It didn’t take long before someone’s ire rose and I was verbally shut down.

In the online discussion, I attempted to share my thoughts about the woman in the story and what may have caused her to want to leave her primarily white evangelical church. The fact that she suddenly didn’t feel welcome coincidentally after the 2016 election sent up a red flag for me. She did not undergo any overt ostracism or persecution.  She just did not want to stay there. I wonder if it’s because her candidate did not win the election? Our discussion swayed into politics–the politics of “social justice,” diversity, multiculturalism, and racism.

In my purview, I go to church to worship the Lord and not to have my ears tickled. It’s really not about me or what color the person next to me is; it’s about worship, evangelism, and encouraging others. It’s not about ourselves and how we feel when we walk out of there. Church is not about getting high on the entertaining music. That’s not church, that’s a party.

Unfortunately, Satan is alive and well in churches. He hates them and will use any means possible to disassemble and divide, cause friction and animosity–subtly or otherwise.

As the discussion continued, they didn’t see a kernel of truth to my assessments nor anything I said. They had no cogent reply than to espouse their viewpoints, shame and silence me before labeling me a racist.

So I believe I answered my own initial question. This wasn’t about Jesus at all.

 

Mar

07

Fan or Follower

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

No doubt, the 2018 Superbowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles have a large following. They spend money on season tickets, fervently rally for them at games, and talk about them, praise, and promote them at every turn. When the Eagles lose a football game, the true followers—the dyed-in-the-wool ones—are devastated. Their whole lives and identity hang in the balance of their beloved team. There are others, though, who are merely fair weather friends, who glom on only when the team is winning.

In the Lord’s time on earth, when Jesus invited Peter and Paul and the rest of the disciples to be his followers, they went. They gave up their plans and laid them aside to follow Jesus—literally and figuratively. Would you have been one of them?

Today, there are many who claim the name of Christianity. Of course, I’m a Christian, they say. I go to church! Not being a Jew, a Hindu, or a Muslim… Christianity is the demographic some claim for lack of any other. But going to church does not a Christian necessarily make. When someone is a true follower of Christianity, he aligns his will to the one he’s following. Not merely jumping on the bandwagon of fandom, true followers abide through thick and thin, no matter the tide or season. They lay down their lives, as many have, for the sake of the Lord and the Gospel.

In Matthew 7: 21-23, the Lord said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven…  Did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.”

Feb

26

Hope springs eternal…

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

 

What is your source of hope? Is it in your material abundance? Intellect? Your fine house, car or bank account? These are all good things in and of themselves, but how long does that new car scent last? Or the house stand? Our abundance today may be our scarcity tomorrow.

Despite Jeriemiah’s grief after King Nebuchadnezzar’s army ravaged Jerusalem and killed many Israelites, he directed his thoughts toward God (Lam. 3:21-24): “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

The world is passing away. Through all of the evil and mayhem stemming from the actions of the lost and sinful who have no hope, we need to continue keeping steadfast and holding onto our true anchor of hope—our Lord and Savior. And it’s only in the power of the Holy Spirit that true joy is fulfilled in us.

The Lord says not to put our trust in riches or even in our fellow man, for he will often let us down. The only sure thing we can rely on is the Lord. Jeremiah says, “The Lord is my portion… therefore, I have hope in Him.”

In Christ alone we have peace, hope, and joy that doesn’t just have to trickle down to us; he is the fullness of all we need… the fount of all blessings today and forever.

 

Image result for waterfall pictures

Feb

22

Divine healing…

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

In chapter five of James, he writes to a struggling people who are weighed down by adversity and hardship. He encourages them to proactively seek restoration—both to God and to each other. Falling into the temptation of doubting God’s purposes and to blame him is not difficult to do, and James is advocating the power of prayer rather than a negative response to their trials.

When we turn a blind eye to God, we suffer. The sufferings can take the form of pride, egoism, judgment, and even sickness. Prayer is the intercessor through Jesus that brings results, particularly if the one who prays is convicted of his own sin. James assures that prayers will make the sick person well . . . the Lord will raise him up . . . he will be forgiven . . . so that you may be healed.

The sickness spoken of is not always a physical ailment. The verb is translated in Greek (astheneo) and means “weak or “weary.” The people in James are spiritually weak and are encouraged to call for the elders—the spiritually strong. The Lord promises to restore and raise up the sick person spiritually.

The concept of being healed can have a spiritual sense with the verb, iaomai, as in 1 Peter 2:24, which refers to Isaiah 53, although James recognizes a possible combination of illness and sin. The vision he is sharing is for both the physical and spiritual healing of their lives. “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”