Open, Closed, or Renewed Mind: Your Choice

Our family was enjoying an episode of "The Waltons" last night when I began thinking through something very serious. You can blame it on John-Boy if you like but I really do believe that it was the Spirit of God. I started thinking about how people tend to be close-minded or open-minded when what we really need is a renewed mind.

On this particular episode, John-Boy was experiencing a lot of criticism for his decision to print some of Hitler's writings in the newspaper. Much of the criticism was even coming from his pastor (imagine that). It even got to the point where the pastor of the church "called" him out during a service. This is the point where my mind went into overdrive. I began to wonder how many people over the years had been called out in such a fashion. It's probably more than I want to know.

The close-minded view of his pastor stirred up even more controversy than John-Boy could have done on his own. Things got so bad that there was even a book burning that was organized by the pastor and other members of the church. However, there was an amazing turn of events. John-Boy stepped in, picked up one of the German books that was laying on the ground and asked a woman to read it. She read it in the original language and then translated the first few verses of Genesis 1. I honestly felt the Spirit of God permeate the room. In that one moment, it seemed as though all eyes were opened to the truth that even German's have Bibles and they almost destroyed the very thing that they were trying to protect.

Being too close-minded and too open-minded can lead to the same place: Ignorance.

Far too often we see people on both sides of the fence actually destroy the very things they are trying to protect. Living with a mind that is being renewed by the Word of God allows us to approach life differently. We understand the necessity of possessing core values, clear cut theology, and a belief system that cannot be shaken. At the same time we understand that not every thought or opinion is damaging to the cause of the Kingdom.

I'm often reminded of Mark 9:38, "John said to Jesus, 'Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn't in our group.'" Jesus response: "'Don't stop him!' Jesus said. 'No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.'" (vv.39-40)

This is the message that Protestants in many places have forgotten. We aren't working for a Baptist Kingdom, Pentecostal Kingdom, Church of God Kingdom, etc. We are working for the Kingdom of God. The only way that we will ever see the validity of other groups is when we allow the Spirit of God along with the Word of God to unlock our minds. It's the renewing of our minds that brings about the transformation that we all need.

I realize that I challenge a lot of traditional beliefs about church and even the faith that many of us were brought up under. However, it's not because I'm anti-tradition. I'm anti-ignorance. And the only way we will move out of ignorance is when we allow the Word of God to speak for itself. That means that we must sit down and read the Word of God and view it through the lens of Holy Spirit rather than through a denominational lens. My friend Thom Cooper often says that "Everybody believes something. The question we have to ask is what gives us the right to believe what we believe."

My challenge for you this weekend is to re-discover the wonder of God's Word. Sit down with a copy of the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. Don't have any other agenda other than hearing from Him. Throughout this week I have been amazed at verses that I have read over and over again that He has unlocked for me. What I am seeing and hearing has caused a revolution within me. The truth of God's Word is powerful and as I walk in that truth I am being set free. I pray that you will experience this same freedom.

Spiritual Surveys & Other Random Thoughts

I found this picture online and had to laugh. Honestly, it's probably more for me than you. I get asked to complete surveys all the time (denominational life, pastoral, spiritual inventory, etc.). It seems to be the way our nation works from the political arena to church life.

The most recent survey that I responded to was used to gauge the role of a pastor in the local church, how the pastor viewed things such as discipleship and spiritual maturity, and our view on the role of the local church. I believe the survey was to help generate materials that would be helpful in equipping pastors but I have to wonder if it is gauging where the church lines up with a traditional view of church life.

***Living with Realistic Expectations***

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone about areas where you are trusting God and they try to convince you not to have unrealistic expectations? Here's what I'm discovering: As long as you are believing God for something that only He can do, then you are not living with unrealistic expectations. According to God's Word, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for...evidence of things unseen..." Jesus said, "With God all things are possible." We live with unrealistic expectations when we are expecting God to do what He has told us to do or believing God for something that He has ALREADY provided.

***Is you Faith Comfortable?***

I had a conversation with a friend today where we discussed the willingness to allow God to change our beliefs. It seems that far too many people are only willing to remain comfortable in what they believe rather than allow God to share His view and opinion. A comfortable faith says "I will tow the line", "I will stay within my denominational/traditional beliefs", or "I absolutely refuse to consider what other Christian groups believe." In fact, I have seen many people take a militant approach to ensure that nothing allow them to be swayed by other groups. I think it's time to allow the Holy Spirit to be our teacher once again.

***If it is broke - FIX IT!!!***

My grandfather (and probably yours) had an old saying, "If it ain't broke then don't fix it." But what if it is broke? Much of the data I have seen over the last few years indicate that churches are not growing in most major denominations. While you think this would cause denominational leaders to scramble for answers and seeks solutions, most of them simply repackage what they are already doing. The results of our inability to see outside our denominational boxes means that we continue to see the same thing. As Albert Einstein once said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again expecting different results."

***Are we the children of Adam?***

Yes...but the question that you have to answer is "which Adam?" According to Romans 5 everyone under the 1st Adam were brought under condemnation. Jesus became the 2nd Adam and He brings life!!! Jesus (2nd Adam) became the 1st of a new species of humanity. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Anyone in Christ is a NEW creation..." (an unheard of, uncommon, and unprecedented creation). God created in Christ a whole new race of people that He has been reconciled unto. Hear the words of Paul: "And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins." What an exchange!!!

***Final Thoughts***

If spiritual gifts were to cease then why does Paul instruct the Corinthian Church (and all who would read his letter) "not to despise prophecy and do not forbid speaking in tongues"?

Why is that people will give an incredible amount of grace to a lost person who fails miserably but heap judgement and condemnation upon a saved person who fails?

When did Christianity become the religious wing of the Republican party? And when did Jesus become the figure head for liberalism? According to Ephesians 3:10, "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms". It seems to me that God wants to change the world through the church and NOT a political party.

Thanks for letting me ramble. Have a blessed day!!!

The Finished Work of Christ (My Journey)

I am currently on an incredible journey with God. No...I haven't left the country. Much of this journey has taken place in my study, in the office, or enjoying His creation. I have two incredible companions with me in the journey: The Bible and Holy Spirit. And in this journey I'm discovering more and more about the finished work of Christ.

The "finished work of Christ" is a term that I have become familiar with over the last few years. To be quite honest with you, I never heard it growing up in church. I'm not even sure that I heard the phrase while attending Bible College. So what I'm about to share with you has been gleaned through a crash-course study initiated by the Holy Spirit.

The term "the finished work of Christ" refers to all that was accomplished through the death of Jesus. It was at the Cross where God poured out His judgement against our sin. Jesus endured this punishment as our substitute in order to become our Savior. While I do not have time to give you a complete rundown of everything I am learning, I will do my best to get you excited about what God has accomplished.

The Bible uses 3 terms primarily to describe the finished work of Christ:
PROPITIATION
"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10)
REDEMPTION
"In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7)
RECONCILIATION
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18)

Propitiation means "to satisfy wrath by sacrifice"
Redemption means "to buy out of, and remove from, the market in order to set at liberty"
Reconciliation means "to change completely"

Here's what we just celebrated this past week: God was, in Christ, providing the atoning sacrifice that would satisfy His wrath against sin. He was purchasing humanity and bringing about a complete change. ***Insert Happy Dance***

What this journey has compelled me to do is look back over what I have believed, how I have witnessed to the saving grace of God, and essentially re-learn some amazing truth. In fact, just this morning I was revisiting a very familiar portion of Scripture and saw it in a different light. Romans 3:23 tell us that "All have sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard." I have often used this verse to convey to people the sinful nature that dwells in man. What I discovered is that this isn't what Paul was communicating at all. While there is a common denominator in humanity, verse 24 unlocks what was accomplished in the finished work of Christ. "Yet now God in His gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins." It's when we recognize that God did all of this BEFORE we ever came to faith in Jesus that we begin to understand the liberty that comes through the finished work of Christ. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. This is what the Bible teaches. This is why Paul could tell the church at Rome that we are now viewed as those who have been set free from the curse of sin.

I know...this is a lot to take in and it's a lot to work through...especially if you were raised in a church that doesn't communicate the finished work of Christ. But if you can get this understanding, you will say with the Apostle Paul "it's the goodness of God that leads to repentance."

His Joy = Our Joy

John 15:11, "I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!"

This forces me to ask the question: Where's the JOY?

Joy is a grace that is found in the Holy Spirit of God. This grace should be a part of our every day lives. While we are not promised life without difficulties, we are promised life with a joy that overflows. If you are not experiencing joy then you are not experiencing Jesus.

Over the course of my Christian life, I have often thought of the necessity of joy. Jesus made sure that His followers understood that He was giving them His joy and that their joy would be full. I'm going to share with you some of my own thoughts on the subject.

Joyful people are easy to be around
- Think about it...if you had a choice...who would you rather spend time with: a person who is not joyful or someone who is really joyful? We tend to gravitate toward people who are filled with joy. They make our day brighter and better. The joy of Jesus was not rooted in this world but in the Kingdom. Therefore, He could always share joy with others regardless of the circumstance.

Joy on the inside is evident on the outside
- This principle is clearly seen in small children. They always express what they feel. It seems like over the course of time that we have been robbed of this childlike quality. Joyfulness leads to laughter, smiling, humor, etc. Joy is something that is difficult to contain. Have you ever tried to stop laughing? God wants His joy evident in our life. Joy has the ability to alter your physical appearance. Why not let it?

Joy is contagious
- Joy is something that can be shared with others. In fact, I'm always surprised by the ability to give joy to people and see them return the favor. When our joy is rooted in the work of the Holy Spirit, we will discover a joyfulness that cannot go away. We can experience His joy at any moment in life and then allow that joy to be spread around.

Joy is synonymous with refreshment
- If you were to look at the synonyms for joy, you will discover that there are several words to describe the great happiness and pleasure that is received from it. The opposite of joy is sadness, sorrow, unhappiness, and woe. Is it any wonder that the psalmist declared that it was the joy of the Lord that strengthened him? Is it any wonder that Paul prayed that the God of hope would fill the church with joy and peace in believing? Joy in our lives brings a refreshment - an exhilaration in faith and life that must be experienced.

With all that being said, I'm not asking you to mask your life nor to fake what you are feeling. I'm simply stating that the Joy of Jesus is yours to experience. His Joy is Our Joy. Everything that we need for life and godliness is experienced through the Holy Spirit in our lives. We carry a message that is good tidings of GREAT JOY - I think it's time our lives matched the message. The writer of Hebrews said that Jesus endured the Cross for the joy that was set before Him. It was the joyful anticipation of what would be accomplished in you and the Kingdom that gave Him the ability to go through such agony. If joy can give Jesus the strength to endure the cross then I believe we can endure as well.

If you are not experiencing His joy today then take some time to get into His presence. In His presence is fullness of JOY!!! Watch God change what you are feeling. Allow Him to change your environment. Allow His Joy to be Your Joy. And enJOY it.

Increasing Faith

Matthew 17:20, "...if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

What are you believing God for?

I have been thinking a LOT about faith lately and the practical role it plays in our lives. The followers of Jesus Christ are to be people of faith - not just a common faith that links us together but a radical faith that produces something in and through us. It's easy to say that we are a part of a particular faith but quite another to say that we live in faith.

As yourself some questions:
What is the primary role of faith in my life?
Do I live in a faith that simply trusts God for heaven when I die or do I believe that we can see heaven invade earth?
What have I done with my faith?
Is my faith just something I fall back on when everything else fails or has my faith led me to an intense relationship with Jesus?

Someone asked me the other day about what it means to believe God for something. This man said, "I don't know...is it just something that comes as you grow in your relationship?" I said "Yes" - as you experience God through your faith then you will find it easier to believe Him for even greater things. There is an aspect of our faith that increases through experience. This is why it is pivotal that we remember what God has done in our lives.

James is famous for saying "I will show you my faith..." We tend to look at this statement and consider the works that are associated with our common faith. But I believe that the statement goes much deeper than just our works. I can only show you what I operate in. If my faith only leads me to good works then that is what I'll show you. However, if I have learned how to believe God for even greater things then that's what I'm going to put on display.

For far too long the Christian community has operated in practical faith. And by practical I mean that we do what we can do and trust God for the rest. I think it's time we start operating in a radical faith that says everything I do comes from Him. I'm not just trusting God for the big stuff but I'm walking with Him in the every day stuff as well. I'm believing for the healing of that person in the hospital but I'm also believing for the healing of that person sitting across from me. I'm believing for the salvation of the lost but I'm also believing for the salvation of the person I'm sharing with today. If you want to increase in your faith then you must exercise it more often.

When we hear Jesus talking about the mustard seed, we immediately think about its size. And that's good...cause I don't believe Jesus is pushing for "more faith" as much as He is trying to lead us into a "quality" of faith. We have spent a lot of time emphasizing the mustard seed and yet fail to recognize the fact that "nothing shall be impossible for you." That's the faith we need to operate in - not big faith or small faith but the quality of faith that says this can happen!!!