christians – Page 3

Am I a Bigot?

September 24, 2018 by Dudley Hall

Holding Worn Bible Sunlight Reverence - 900

The guy in the t-shirt promoting abortion, the sexual revolution, social victimization, and open borders said that I was a misogynist, legalist, and racial bigot because I did not agree with his t-shirt. Am I?

Honestly, I felt the arrow. Maybe I harbor hidden bias. Perhaps I don't love the world as Jesus does. Then I remembered some verses from the apostle John that give perspective.

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. -- 1 John 3:18-19 (ESV)

Our own hearts are not infallible in evaluating our standing in righteousness. God is greater than our hearts. He knows everything. His verdict is the one that matters. (Now, there is a t-shirt for Christians: God's verdict matters.)

What Does Love Look Like?

What does it mean to love the world? Well, we know God does. What does his love look like?

First, he didn't allow the world to define love or what was needed. He looked beyond the deceptive thoughts of people bound in sin, and blind to true beauty, and gave the only gift that would free us and restore the glory of humans. He gave to meet the needs we had misidentified, so we could enjoy a greater liberty than we could imagine.

In order to prove my love, do I have to agree with everyone? It would be anything but authentic love to promote what I believe is destructive.

Second, he gave himself at great cost. It wasn't just a theory he was promoting. He didn't give a new ideology or fresh idea on how to structure society. He came into our dilemma and accepted the eternal consequences of our condition so that we could enter his condition as righteous before God.

Third, he loved us as people. Each of us has a unique story of need, though we share a common alienation from God because of sin. Jesus doesn't deal with us as a subset of society classified by our ethnicity, sex, or social standing. He loves persons!

Authentic Love

Someone asked me if my biblical worldview prevented my loving the LGBTQ community. Instead, it compels me to love the people who may identify or be classified by those letters.

I know and love many people who have been classified in this subset -- and I am eager and willing to love many more. I am just not sure what loving a subset of society means. In order to prove my love, do I have to agree with the particular agenda of that subset? It would be anything but authentic love to promote what I believe is destructive. If Jesus had loved like that, he would have abandoned us to our own wishes, consigning us to the misery of self-delusion forever. I can respect their right to believe without affirming their belief to be right.

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Jesus' love was expressed in that while we were yet bound in deception and ignorant of our desperate condition, he did what was necessary to set us free. (See Romans 5:8.) Love is costly, and it expresses itself in actions. It cares more for the condition of another than for our own comfort and ease. (See 1 Corinthians 13.)

If I listen to the angry voices telling me who I am, I will either shrink from being real, or I will strike back and lose my sense of peace. Either way, I will be weak and cowardly. Confidence comes from knowing God's verdict and accepting it as final. That frees me to see any person as created in the image of God, valuable and worth loving. It also releases me to hear God, my Father when he lovingly tells me that I have hidden bias he wants to eliminate. I like being loved like that, and I want that for everyone.

Christianity Works Only in Its Most Radical Form

September 17, 2018 by Dudley Hall

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After 30 excruciating minutes of expressing deep frustration with his personal life, Peter confessed, "I gave up on Christianity during college days. It just didn't work." He went on to describe how hard he tried to stay inside the moral boundaries as outlined in the teaching of the Christian church he attended, but never could. In an effort to be authentic, he decided to abandon the standards and live like most of his friends.

Peter is an example of the thousands of former churchgoers who now identify on religious surveys as "nones." The now have no affiliation with a church. Some wear that identity as a badge of freedom from religion.

A Broken Form of Christianity

It is now coming to light that the form of Christianity that has been promoted for several generations is not the form that Jesus taught and lived. From the Roman Catholic's sex abuse scandal to the slowly dying Protestant congregations, to the garish consumer-driven spectacle affecting Evangelicalism, the evidence seems to suggest that something isn't working.

Disciples like those who brought transformation to cultures in the early days of the church are few today -- and rarely noticed by the church culture. The model disciple today seems more interested in gaining and maintaining relevance to the culture, rather than offering an alternative to the steady march toward meaninglessness.

The agenda of secular society is gaining momentum while we Christians try not to be perceived as contrarians. We must not offend. We must not confront. We must lose or ignore our convictions. We must change our core beliefs. All the while, millions are fraught with life-destroying addictions, dysfunctional relationships, and twisted identities.

Only Full Abandonment Satisfies

When the popular brand of Christianity eliminated the power of transformation from its core, multitudes were doomed to live in their spiritually defective condition with nothing stronger than willpower to confront their afflictions. It is no wonder we have normalized behavior that is prohibited by both Scripture and common sense. If we can't change, we must adapt. We now call that progress.

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Early Christianity offered radically changed lives, as evidenced by the apostle Paul's comments:

Or 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, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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.

-- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV)

The early church was not a gathering of good people trying to be better. They were captivated by the One who was raised from the dead. They had been transformed by him.

But radical Christianity is not just for the extreme outcast of society. Even regular church attendees are often beset by disappointment with their level of spirituality. They are discovering that a partial buy-in cheats the seeker. Any hold-back denies the bounty of grace. Only full abandonment to God's love satisfies the yearning of the human soul, which was designed to be loved fully.

Living By the Spirit

Jesus describes a life far beyond external standards and man's ability to achieve them. He spoke of forgiving your enemies. Turning your cheek to insults. Eliminating hatred, anger, lust, greed and vengeance. He described disciples as lights in the darkness, salt in society, and houses built on a foundation that no storm can topple.

He commanded people to do things they couldn't so he could do those things for them and through them. "Stretch forth your hand," he commanded a man with a withered hand. "Lazarus come forth," he said to a dead man. Later, his apostles followed suit, giving instructions that can only be obeyed by those born of the same Spirit that raised Jesus from death. "Love without hypocrisy," "outdo one another in showing honor," "bless those who persecute you," "live in harmony with one another." The implication is that when a Christian does these things, it is coming out of his new life -- the one he shares with Jesus by means of the indwelling Spirit.

Those who are born of the Spirit are infused with a radical love that demonstrates a radical alternative kingdom.

These displays of love have death-defying power in them. This kind of love cannot be defeated. It annihilates hate. It exterminates fear. It will not stop at the edge of human hardness. It will still be reigning when all the ideologies of history lie bankrupt in the pit of shame.

It Took a Radical Act of God to Redeem Us

The form of Christianity that settles for theological propositions, transcendent principles, altruistic projects, and moralistic practices doesn't work!

It took a radical act of God to redeem us. It required a costly death, a miraculous resurrection, and a glorious ascension. Nothing short of that would have solved our problem. The radical act of grace demands a radical response of faith. God's grace toward us does not produce a half-hearted moralist who is trying to get better. Those who are born of the Spirit are infused with a radical love that demonstrates a radical alternative kingdom.

The Crisis We Can Do Something About

August 20, 2018 by Dudley Hall

I awoke one morning this week with a heavy burden to pray for our country. It was a day after another of the tweet-wars that captures the media's attention. It was as if I could hear God saying, "I'm serious about Christian responses to accusations."

Of course, I agreed that we have sunk to a low level of social interaction, and immediately prayed again that President Trump would stop the vitriolic tweeting. But there was more. There was a warning that hit me in the face.

Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them ... And don't think You know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone ... never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God, for the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back." Says the Lord ... Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. (Romans 12:14-21 NLT)

The Difference Christ Makes

That is not just for the President. That is the authoritative word of our Lord to all who have been blessed. (That's us.) That is how Christians demonstrate the difference Christ makes in one's life.

Anyone can be vindictive. Anyone can return insult for insult. People who have been delivered from the curse of disobedience and blessed with the grace of resurrection-life can do better. We are not receiving curses, so we don't pass them on. We are recipients of blessings, so that is what we give away.

There is massive power released when we bless rather than react naturally. It is the secret weapon of the Christian. It cannot be defended. It is empowered by the authority of heaven. It takes the teeth out of the crouching tiger of evil. It overcomes evil with good.

A Warning

The warning: If we don't bless instead of curse, evil will conquer. God is very serious about our presumption. We are not in charge of revenge. We are too limited in our knowledge and too underdeveloped in our character. God alone can mete out true justice. We get to patiently wait for him to set everything right -- and he will. He has paid a high price to do so.

Accusation and Slander Isn’t Working

The objection that some use is that the current trend toward accusation and slander is working. They see the enemies of their ideology being confronted with the same vitriol as they give. It is easy to reason that the only way to fight fire is with fire. We could console ourselves by remembering how long their opposition has been ruthless. "Finally, we have stood up to the vile attacks of the enemy," we sigh. We must remember that God is not mocked. Whatever we sow will come up. (Galatians 6:7)

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God's mercy is longsuffering, but his justice is sure. For instance, God did not judge his people Israel for their idolatry on the first day of disobedience. They had years of believing that their rebellion was working, before their land was taken and their temple was destroyed. We must not erroneously conclude that we can ignore God's order still avoid chaos.

A Movement of Blessing

Why not start a movement of blessing? I am not suggesting some religious drivel, but down in the dirt, real, praying for God to bless those who slander and accuse us. We don't have to act like some school yard kid kicking back at bullies. We are sons and daughters of light. We know who we are and we know a power stronger than curses. Let's use it.

Lessons From Elijah on Depression

July 30, 2018 by Dudley Hall

Considering all the reports about the plague of depression affecting all ages in our society, we are looking for some answers. We just finished up a two-week training course for young men ages 16-25. I was amazed that so many of them describe depression and anxiety as a significant problem for them and their peer group. There is no age group immune to this growing angst. Maybe we can find some help from an incident recorded in Scripture. It is found in 1 Kings 18-19.

In summary, Israel was in rebellion against God and the prophets of Baal were influencing the society in destructive ways. Elijah forced a confrontation with them by challenging them to a god-contest. The god that would answer by sending fire on the altar would be the winner. The Baal prophets went first and spent hours begging their god to respond. Nothing happened. Then Elijah built an altar and even poured water on it and around it. When he prayed, the God of Israel answered by consuming the whole thing, water and all. Israel responded by declaring that Jehovah was the true God after all. The prophets of Baal were slain, and Elijah took off for the capital city. He was pumped by the victory on Mt. Carmel.

But then he learned that Jezebel, the wife of the weakling king Ahab, had put out a contract on his life. This time, instead of running with the favor of God upon him, he ran in fear deep into the desert. He knew he didn't have the right to kill himself, but he begged God to take his life. He was exhausted, physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. All the color had faded from his vision. His hope was very dim.

God’s Response to Depression

It is here that we learn of God's approach to this condition.

Your value is inestimable. We need you. Jezebel is not the final word. Her threats are empty.

First, he met Elijah's physical needs. An angel of the Lord baked him bread and provided fresh water. He encouraged him to sleep. We are beings with bodies. We aren't just souls or spirits. Sometimes we must address the physical aspects of our life. Sometimes nourishment and sleep are needed more than going to another church meeting. Of course, there are those who think the physical is all that matters and would treat such exhaustion with chemicals only. Their personal worldview does not allow for us being more than body and mind.

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Second, God met Elijah's psychological need. The angel touched him and talked to him. We are unique beings that include a psychological makeup that needs care. A touch from a friend is a healing balm for one experiencing isolation. We thank God for those skilled in listening and drawing us out of our darkness. But, we are more than minds and feelings.

Third, God met Elijah's spiritual needs. All the talk in the world will not meet the needs that lie behind the psychological. We are spiritual beings. We thrive on truth. When lies have lodged in our minds and doubts have captured our hearts, we need an encounter with the living truth who loves unconditionally.

Hearing the Gentle Voice of God

Being energized by the help of the angel of the Lord, Elijah went down to Mt. Horeb and entered a cave. This is Mt. Sinai, where Moses had met with God. Some say that the cave that Elijah entered was the same as the one Moses was in when God passed by and showed him his goodness. (See Exodus 34.)

Elijah was looking for God. He had seen God do mighty things in the Baal contest, but things had gone wrong since then. Jezebel was not supposed to have happened. Why would God let this wicked woman cause such turmoil? Maybe Elijah had tried putting God in his own mental box. He needed to see the true majesty of God. He can't be bribed with our obedience, coerced by our passion, or contained in our imagination. He can reveal himself in the might of the wind, the terror of an earthquake, or the awe of fire, but he is not limited to those.

God repeatedly asked Elijah what he was doing there. It wasn't because God needed the information. Elijah needed to face his disappointment and hear the gentle voice of God telling him to get on with his assignment. God can't be boxed. He refuses to be bribed. But he is willing to work with his weak and wounded children without rebuke or rejection.

Give God the Final Word

Depression is serious. We grieve over lives lost because people gave up hope. There can be many influences that push us there. We must not be embarrassed to acknowledge that we are physical, psychological, spiritual beings that need help. We aren't designed to make it without each other, and certainly not without God. God cares for the whole person. He has angels, both human and spiritual that can help. Please don't give up.

The cave is an excellent place to encounter God's grace, but he will send you out of it to complete your assignment. Your value is inestimable. We need you. Jezebel is not the final word. Her threats are empty. God's word, revealing himself to you, is life-giving and eternal. Listen for the gentle voice of God.

God is Building His Church. Just Keep the Light On

June 3, 2018 by Dudley Hall

When I left my little country church and went off to the university to prepare for my calling as a minister, I felt a little intimidated by those who came from larger churches with more sophisticated ministries. After all, there wasn't much in the way of entertaining church services at my church.

Mr. Jack would lead the congregational singing, but many of the hymns seemed to drag unnecessarily. Mrs. Mildred would play the piano in a kind of staccato style. The same deacons took up the offering every Sunday. The pastor was in training at a Bible school and came to the church field only on weekends. Well, you get the picture. I was tempted to be embarrassed by my church.

But, we must remember that God has not made provision for a plan B. It is his Church, and he is committed to its success.

God is Building His Church

It seems there are many today who embarrassed by the Church. It takes a beating in the media, which is to be expected, but it also is being dismissed by its own. Some are even demanding it catch up with the culture as if the culture were the norm for truth and morality.

It is easy to find things wrong with churches and even the Church at large. After all, it is made up of humans who have confessed to being sinners and needy of God's grace. The Lord we worship is perfect, but all the rest of us are in-process, discovering more of his love and being transformed at different paces.

But, we must remember that God has not made provision for a plan B. It is his Church, and he is committed to its success. He is building it. When all other social structures have fallen, it will still be standing.

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Keep the Light On

Here's the rest of the story (as Paul Harvey used to say). It was a Wednesday night prayer meeting at my country church. The usual 15-20 people were there. The same folks were praying similar prayers. A visitor slipped in. Of course, in such a small, tight-knit group, he stood out. You could see whispers during the prayer meeting as members were asking each other who it might be.

Finally, just before the benediction, he stood and asked if he could say something.

You don't know me, but I am a traveling salesman. My route brings me by this church on Wednesdays twice a month, on my way to Atlanta. I have been doing this for most of twenty years. I did not go to church as a boy and have not seen the need for whatever churches do. But, I always noticed that regardless of the weather there was a light on here. I have been by on cold rainy nights when only three cars were parked, but your light was on, and you were here.

I've had some hard times lately, and in the middle of it all, I have come to know Jesus as my Savior and Lord. One of the reasons I could never fully dismiss the reality of God was my memory of this church and the light always being on. Thank you.

Not perfect. Not sophisticated. Not highly trained. Not entertaining. But they kept the light on. So, will the Church of the living God.

Scratching the Adam Itch

May 22, 2018 by Dudley Hall

Recently, I have been bothered by a foot fungus like Ring Worm. It seriously itches! Finally, I consulted with a doctor and progress is being made. Also, I have learned something about an itch. It begs to be scratched, and it feels so good at the time -- but it doesn't help the cure. I first heard the term, "Adam's Itch" from Alan Bias when he was referring to our tendency to gravitate toward the Law rather than the Spirit.

Since the shame of the Garden of Eden, humans have sought to regain glory by striving to live up to a standard of acceptance. That is what the apostle Paul called "flesh." It is futile and egregious.

For the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. -- Romans 8:7 (ESV)

It reveals a blindness to the depth of sin and gives rise to efforts to make up for our wrongs. Sin is much more than a violation of a standard. It is the choice to yield to the mastery of evil. We continue to sin because we are slaves to the evil power behind it. The existence of the Law is not sufficient to overcome it.

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. -- Romans 7:15-17 (ESV)

As I referenced earlier, an itch begs to be scratched. The Adam Itch is no different.

The Adam Itch

The tendency to rely on human efforts to qualify for blessings also reveals a misunderstanding about relating to God on the basis of Covenant. The "If you will obey, I will bless" concept from the Old Covenant is undoubtedly true. God cannot bless disobedience. If we either deny his order in life or ignore it, we will move into disorder. But obedience must be complete.

When it was evident that God's vessels of mercy couldn't fully obey, God instituted another covenant in which Jesus as our representative obeyed and received all the blessings of the fulfilled covenant. We are blessed in him alone. Our efforts to gain personal blessings apart from trusting him are dead works.

As I referenced earlier, an itch begs to be scratched. The Adam Itch is no different. People like to hear formulas for success based on something we can do. We love doing more and trying harder. We rush to listen to the newest sales pitch about how to get God's favor by practicing a new approach to obedience.

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The Fast God Has Chosen

One of the texts that many use as a formula for success is Isaiah 58. It addresses the people of Israel as they are practicing their worship activities with vigor. They are scrupulously doing what the instructions said regarding temple worship, including fasting and praying for guidance for their own direction. Yet, God is not responding.

They are perplexed. They have pulled the lever of religious obedience, and he is not delivering the expected blessings. They are practicing "Israel's folly." They have interpreted God's selection of them as an end in itself. They are oblivious to the needs of the society around them. They evidently believe "God chose us for us." Fasting was an extreme form of showing sincerity and zeal. They were serious about getting God to act in their behalf (much like alarmed Christians in today's culture). They had chosen a severe fast, but it had to do with their efforts to qualify for God's intervention. Through the prophet Isaiah, God explains that the fast he has chosen is not the same as the one they have chosen. He chose Israel to be vessels of mercy to bless those around them. He will act consistently with his own mercy towards the Israel that chooses that fast.

There was only one Israelite that chose that fast. He represented the whole people of God when he came as Messiah.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. -- Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)

The next time someone is offering to scratch your "Adam Itch," refuse. It feels good for the moment, but it is inflaming the problem.

Blessed to Bless

Since he met the conditions Isaiah had given in chapter 58, he gets the benefits mentioned in the remainder of the text. There are several "thens" listed:

Then, your light shall break forth, and God's righteousness will protect you. (Isaiah 58:8) Then God answers your request with his own presence. (Isaiah 58:9) Then, your original glory is restored. You will be fully human again. (Isaiah 58:10-12) Then, you will live in the delight of the Lord. (Isaiah 58:14)

Jesus lived with such blessings. The good news is that because we who believe in him are in him, we receive such blessings based on his obedience. Because Jesus fasted in this way, we can feast on his obedience. One of the blessings we get but can overlook is vitally important. We get to share his mission. We can't just gather the blessings for ourselves like Israel was doing. He was our representative in covenant with the Father. We are his representatives on earth. We extend his mission by embracing our calling as vessels of mercy, sent to bless the world. We are blessed to bless. God loves those who still endure the curse of sin, so he has sent us with the love that captured us. The blessings continue to flow through us toward those in need.

The next time someone is offering to scratch your "Adam Itch," refuse. It feels good for the moment, but it is inflaming the problem. There is no religious lever to pull. If you want to do something, focus on Jesus. Trust him. Delight in him. Look up and see those around you whom he loves and extend your hand to make the connection. The river of grace flowing through you to others will stop the itch.

Jesus the Gardener

March 30, 2018 by Dudley Hall

The Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene, designed by C.T.G. Formilli (1927 – 1932), is seen in the Brompton Oratory (Immaculate heart of Mary) Catholic church in London, England.

Jesus has many titles. He is the Son of God; the Son of man; the Lamb; the Messiah; etc. But seldom do we call him the gardener. Mary Magdalene mistook Jesus for a gardener when she went to the tomb on Sunday morning and couldn't find Jesus' body. She asked him where the body had been taken so that she could attend to it. He revealed himself as the resurrected Lord. But there is a real sense in which her mistaken assumption was correct: that he was the gardener.

Adam was the first gardener. He was created by God to manage the Garden of Eden with a view to expanding to the whole world. It has always been God's intention to rule the earth through his human partners -- one garden at a time. We are all too familiar with the story of how Adam and Eve sinned and were exiled from the Garden. A curse came upon all the earth because of their sin, and the garden of the earth felt the effects of neglect, including all societal structures.

Authority Over Creation

Later, God chose the descendants of Abraham as his partners and gave them a land to manage. They too sinned and were exiled into Babylonian captivity. Then, God sent his Son. He appeared as the final Adam, and as corporate Israel, to accomplish what neither of them could. After he had paid the cost of their failure, he arose from the dead -- in a garden, as the first fruits of a new creation. Those who are "in Him" are assigned to manage the new garden.

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While with his disciples before his death, he had shown them what it looked like. He sent them out into the villages to herald the arrival of the Kingdom of God. Since he sent them, they had his authority to heal, cleanse and deliver. He spent 40 days after his resurrection with various disciples speaking to them about the nature and implementation of the Kingdom. Then he ascended to the right hand of the Father. Finally, there was a man (God-man) ruling God's creation.

It has been testified somewhere,

"What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that your care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet."

Now in putting everything in subjection to him he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him, But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

-- Hebrews 2:6-9

Heralding the Presence of His Kingdom

After his ascension, the disciples were sent to the whole world to herald the presence of the Kingdom of God. This is the mission of the church in our day. It is what we do in the meantime based on what Jesus has already done while we wait until we receive resurrected bodies in the culmination of the new creation.

We are working in his garden under his loving rule. We are privileged to be his partners sharing in his life and mission. We live with confidence in him though we face daunting tasks while living in a world that reels from the chaos of sin. The great news is that He is already on the throne and no one rivals him. He wins, and we share in his victory. As we glimpse at the garden through the eyes of John, the human author of The Revelation (chapters 21-22), we see the garden in the final form.

Let's identify our personal gardens and get to work.

He Called My Name

March 26, 2018 by Dudley Hall

Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus who had been healed by him. She was deeply grieved at his death. Though disillusioned, on the first day of the week she came to the tomb where Jesus had been placed. He was gone.

As of yet, none of the disciples understood about the resurrection. For Mary, confusion was mounting. She had hoped that Jesus would restore Israel to a place of prominence in the world and thereby judge her enemies. She had some vague notion of a final resurrection of the dead, but Jewish teaching concerning such an event was sketchy.

She had watched the obvious evil in the civil and religious authorities as they unjustly put Jesus on trial and brutally crucified him. And then to top it all off, his body was missing. She couldn't even grieve properly. Her world must have been spinning out of control. Stressed beyond belief, she was begging what looked like the gardener, to tell her what they had done with the body. She was willing to get it and find a suitable place for it.

Fully Known, Fully Loved

Then, one word settled her soul.

Like a stiff breeze blows away the fog; like a flipped switch vanishes darkness in a scary attic; like the first sight of home for a child lost in the woods, that word brought immediate comfort. He called her name, "Mary."

She no longer needed to know all the "why's." She knew she could trust. Everything made sense, though it no longer had to. He had defeated death. He was alive. He knew her, and he still loved her.

He knows me. He knows me thoroughly.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether ... My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. -- Psalms 139:1-4, 15

We, humans, tend to think that we can't be both fully loved and fully known at the same time. We fear that if someone fully knows us, they surely won't fully love us -- so we hide the true self, hoping for love. We would like to be transparent. It would shed our hypocrisy and make us feel more authentic, but it is too costly. If others ever discover what goes on in the dungeon of our inner being, or even if they discover what we have done, we will be lucky to avoid jail. Needing love, we trade away being known.

Jesus knows. And he loves us fully.

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God Has Acted. New We Respond.

He has gone before us to live an obedient life in our behalf, thereby reaping the rewards that he transfers to us. He has died to fulfill justice. He has been resurrected from the dead to verify the divine acceptance of his sacrifice. He detoured his trip to the right hand of the Father to tell his disciples that all has been done to assure our participation in his eternal life. He came out to tell Mary and all other disciples that He knows not only our name but everything about us -- and he loves us.

What does it mean that he both knows and loves us?

Your sins are forgiven. Jesus' resurrection verifies God's acceptance of his sacrifice. The final sacrifice has been made. There is no need to try to pay for personal sins. Your shame has been covered. No more hiding behind the bushes in the garden. He sees through your bushes and loves you still. You are no longer categorized as a hostile. You are in the family with the rights of a son. Your body will also be resurrected. You share his life in total. One day your now decaying body will be resurrected like his. Your life can be empowered now by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave. He will respect your choice. But you do make a choice. God has acted. Now we respond. If he is not raised, the whole Jesus' story is a myth. Forget about admiring the teaching of Jesus as a great moral leader. If there is no resurrection he is a fraud. If he is raised, it is the only way through death to life. No one else has died and been resurrected to never die again.

Listen! Do you hear him calling your name?

The Lord Has Spoken

February 28, 2018 by Dudley Hall

A favorite scene in the popular movie Forrest Gump shows Forrest running and a crowd following him. He has been running for two years and not saying a word. He stops, and the following crowd can’t wait to hear his profound first words. After the breathless pause, he says, “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now."

Not the profundity they were expecting! When people, whom we deem significant, finally speak we long to hear what they say. Who is the most significant person in the universe? Of course, it is God himself. When he speaks, something happens.

He spoke, and creation came into existence. He spoke to Moses, and Israel as a covenant people came into existence. He spoke fully by sending Jesus as the Word of God to reveal his thoughts in a way that any hearing heart could understand.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son whom he appointed he heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. -- Hebrews 1:1-2

Jesus, Lord Over All

Jesus has been made Lord over all (Acts 2:36), and his words carry the weight of sovereignty. Contrary to current fantasies, everyone's words do not have the same weight of truth. Jesus is truth, and all his words are true. As he closes out the most famous sermon ever preached, he said,

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. -- Matthew 7:24-27

The significance of this declaration was that Jesus was differentiating between his interpretation of truth and that which the religious leaders had called the word of God. Even today, Bible verses interpreted without the aid of Jesus, the living Word, are a form of manmade religion, and they can be very dangerous.

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The Foundation of Truth

The cosmic battle has always been about the truth of what God says. The serpent challenged God's word to Adam and Eve. Pagan religions denied the word of God as it was given to Israel. Herod tried to stop the word of God from being fulfilled by killing the young boys when Jesus was born. The Pharisees had replaced the word of God with their own traditions.

Jesus told a parable about his kingdom in terms of sowing seed, and it revealed the various responses to the word of God. The devil stole some of the seeds. Some were scorched by persecution. Some were choked by the busyness of daily life. Some fell on good soil and produced fruit -- the same fruit as the wise man who built on the rock. It is a clear teaching of scripture that the words of the Lord are essential.

We can reject them in favor of some other opinion. Or we can neglect them by refusing to take advantage of their availability. Either way, we lose. Neglect has the same effect as rejection in this case. The word does not produce life.

A house built on anything but the rock-solid truth of God's word revealed in Jesus is going to fall at some point.

The original Liar is actively replacing God's truth with lies. These lies that replace the word will produce death. One of the most prominent lies is that we can ignore the words of the Lord and still succeed in his creation. But his words don't fail.

A house built on anything but the rock-solid truth of God's word revealed in Jesus is going to fall at some point. The rain will come. The winds will blow. The house will fall. Whether it is one's personal life, the family, the business, the church, or the government -- it will not stand.

Listening to the Lord

God has shown his mercy in giving us his word and the promised power to align with it. Rejecting his mercy is serious. He will continue to love the fallen as a Father cares for his children, and there is no pit too deep that he can't deliver, but there are consequences that follow foolishness -- which cause pain to many.

It is not a light thing when a person or a society rejects or neglects the word of God. Mocking Jesus and his words might seem to be funny on late-night talk shows, but there are rains coming to reveal the foolishness of such.

But there is great promise to those who hear and embrace the word of the sovereign Lord. A house built on that solid foundation will withstand whatever comes against it. It will be productive as the seed of the word grows. Since Jesus is Lord, we should listen to his word and be eager to make it a priority to implement it in every aspect of our lives.

Jesus is lord -- and he has spoken! What he says is profound. Listen. Hear. Build your house on it.

The Dangerous Confession

February 24, 2018 by Dudley Hall

When I was a teenager the big question at church youth camp was whether it was possible to know Jesus as Savior and not as Lord. Many of us wanted the assurance that we were "saved" from the penalty of our sins, but we weren't sure we wanted Jesus to be the Lord (Boss) of our lives. Little did we know how dangerous it is to confess Jesus as Lord.

The first gospel sermon after Jesus' ascension was proclaimed by Peter who spoke at the Pentecost event. Extraordinary signs were taking place and some were accusing Jesus’ disciples of being drunk at 9:00 AM.

Peter explained that the same Jesus the crowds had known as a man from Nazareth, who had taught and done many miracles, was now sitting at the right hand of the Father as Lord over all His kingdom. He had lived a perfectly obedient life; died as the sacrifice for sins; been resurrected from the grave; and now was both the Lord and the Christ. The signs were evidence of the gift of the Spirit that the King was sending to His people.

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. -- Acts 2:36

That was a subversive confession at that time. Rome was the ruling authority, and the Caesars were claiming divinity. "Caesar is the Lord." Many Christians died because they wouldn't recant their confession of Jesus as Lord.

It is not Caesar or Hitler, but a form of secularism that demands total submission today.

Jesus is Lord

Albert Mohler in his recent book, Prayer That Turns The World Upside Down, compares the rise of Hitler in 1942 to such a time. Many Christians and Jews lost their lives because they would not confess that Hitler and his Nazism was Lord.

It is becoming clear that we are approaching such a time in our own culture. Christians who hold to orthodox beliefs about a personal relationship with Jesus are being mocked regularly in public. Already we are being criminalized in public discussion for believing in the authority of Scripture, the atonement of Christ, the gifts of the Spirit and final judgment.

It is not Caesar or Hitler, but a form of secularism that demands total submission today. To believe and declare that Jesus is Lord is viewed as not only primitive superstition but subversive.

Culture-Ruled Religion

How does a culture come to such a stance? The climate conducive to false and destructive "lords" to arise is a culture-ruled religion. When true religion begins to accommodate the culture for the sake of gaining respect and influence, it loses both. It is the perfect "greenhouse" atmosphere for tyrants. Culture-ruled religion does not satisfy the cry of the human soul, designed by God for a passionate faith, an extraordinary vision and a sure hope for eternal significance.

Humans can't long abide a passionless faith. We are made to trust and risk. We long for an adventure that only faith can provide. We are uniquely created to enjoy the uncreated God. Anything less than knowing and living with him is less than our souls demand.

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The Jews of first century Israel had accommodated their once strong monotheism with Rome's polytheism just to get along. Even the Romans were restless. They had it all yet they were not satisfied with countless gods and multiple rituals. Caesars rule in such an environment.

Germany had experienced the awakening of the Reformation as well as the Renaissance and there were churches in every town, yet they had lost their passion. Propositions replaced personal intimacy. They were ripe for the tyrant.

The American civil religion of 2018 is similar.

Morals Without Relationship

Just a few years ago, the culture and the church were so much alike that public schools were as good as private schools in upholding morals and virtue. In my hometown, the same teachers that stood to teach science in the school on Monday had taught Sunday School down at one of the churches the day before. Parents could trust the teachers and the schools.

Sadly, though, it was mostly morals without relationship. Without the vigorous promotion of the gospel from the churches, passion was left out.

The message of the churches accommodated the standards of the culture and promoted the good life, without God. The extraordinary vision of daily walking and talking with God in our assignment to bless the world through service was lost to a much lesser vision. We gave ourselves to self-fulfillment and self-improvement. We concocted doctrines that magnified our soon-coming escape from trouble and settled for a deadening pessimism for the future of the world. Our culture told us that any meaning we might find must be found in us -- and we bought it.

We were no longer awed by the privilege of knowing God and being his partner in world affairs. We began to doubt heaven and hell and decided to find our hope in our own achievements and large central governments.

Notice that there are no more Caesars. Hitler is dead. Secularism in all is atheistic forms will fall in on itself. But Jesus still reigns.

Jesus Still Reigns

There is good news. Jesus is Lord.

Regardless of the seeming success of secularism's claims, we are assured that "God has made him both Lord and Christ." He rules now and forever and is ready to work with His people who joyfully take up the task of extending His rule.

We are promised that His word will not fail, servants eventually rule, the last word is His, and darkness always retreats from light. It might become illegal to confess that Jesus is Lord, but it will never be illegitimate. He is Lord and we are His people.

Notice that there are no more Caesars. Hitler is dead. Secularism in all is atheistic forms will fall in on itself. But Jesus still reigns. It is true -- and dangerous.

Needlessly Alone

January 16, 2018 by Dudley Hall

Several years ago, I was visiting the Republic of Congo in Africa as a part of an effort to acquire telephone service for the country. (This was long before cell phone technology was as sophisticated as today). While staying in a hotel in Kinshasa I met a businessman who had been trying to get in touch with his company in the U.S. for two weeks, but was unable to get a call through. He felt isolated, and incapable of doing his job. His days were spent in frustration.

I have felt that way myself as a partner with God on earth. I theoretically know that in the great salvation He has given, I am restored to mankind's role as God's partners on earth. I conceptually know that He is always present. But often, I practically forget that I am never cut off and isolated. That I have not been sent to do a job with no phone contact.

I find myself burdened over problems that beset me and obstacles that block my path. I too begin to feel inadequate and unqualified to work with him. Frustrated, I spend too much energy trying to find a solution on my own.

Meeting With God

When I finally cry out for help, He reminds me that I am not alone. That He knows all about the situation I'm in and that He is both capable and willing to get involved with a solution He has already thought of. What a relief! I then marvel that it took so long for me to remember the truth.

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In the delusion of isolation, life is joyless and frightening. Why not begin every day with a meeting with my Father and boss? After all, this is His business. I was made a partner because He wanted me to enjoy working with him. It could be a short or long meeting, but the purpose is always to lay before Him our problems and hear His strategy.

Casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. -- I Peter 5:7

He reminds me that if it’s big enough to cause anxiety in me, it’s enough to cast on him.

I have found that it is ok to ask direct and personal questions. I don't usually doubt that He is incapable of handling the big problems. I mostly doubt that He cares to address the little ones. I mistakenly think I can handle those myself. Then they begin to gnaw away at my sense of peace and drain my joy. He reminds me that if it’s big enough to cause anxiety in me, it’s enough to cast on Him. He delights to show His strength in our behalf.

Feeling alone? Schedule a meeting. Now.

Christ-Centered or Christ-Added

January 6, 2018 by Dudley Hall

I grew up going to the country church where my parents attended and served as volunteer leaders. We prided ourselves both as a church and as a denomination that we could always count on a Christ-centered message coming from the pulpit. We were mission-minded where other churches were maybe more doctrinal or liturgical. We wanted to make sure that anyone who attended the services had an opportunity to profess faith in Jesus as Savior. The "plan of salvation" was always given at the end of every service.

What I now realize is that when it came to the preaching, we meant more Christ-added than Christ-centered.

Christ-Added

I can remember the pastor using various passages from the Bible and spending most of his time explaining how we should cease from certain behavior and begin doing something more beneficial. Then, at the end, he would briefly mention that Jesus was ready to save us if we would trust him. Maybe he would help us keep our promises or live up to our resolutions.

Man-centered messages with Jesus added are not only powerless to transform, but they are false representations of the gospel.

The focus was unmistakably on what we should do to be better. Christ was added like instant tea to cold water. He would add flavor, but the task could probably be accomplished with enough faith and willpower. It was more about what we should and must do to make God happy -- and Jesus would help us.

There were sermons and Bible studies on the principles that assure success in our endeavors. There were lectures on ethics. There were interesting Bible stories explaining the moral characteristics of the characters, with the exhortation to "dare to be a Daniel," or "be courageous like young David."

Sometimes there were in-depth doctrinal sermons on great theological controversies, but they always ended with: "I don't want anyone to leave today if you haven't accepted Jesus as your own personal Savior and Lord. If you will admit your sin, and confess by open profession, your faith in him, you can be saved."

A Growing Hunger for the Christ-Centered Message

Sadly, not much has changed -- not only in the small country churches like that one but also in some of the largest pulpits in our world.

We seem to have forgotten that Jesus took the first disciples on a tour of the Bible and showed them that he was the subject and center of the whole story. We seem afraid to tell the raw truth that Jesus alone is the way to the Father and that only through him can we know intimacy with God now and forever. We add him to our well-crafted speeches that really feature what we can do, rather than what he has done.

Man-centered messages with Jesus added are not only powerless to transform, but they are false representations of the gospel.

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A growing hunger for the Christ-centered message which energized the early disciples is becoming evident. The entertaining talks and dramatic presentations have not satisfied a deep longing for a glimpse of Jesus the Lord. We are made for him. Our eyes are never fully opened until we see him by faith. Our hearts are never at peace until he is our all in all.

When we are the center and Jesus is added, we slowly die. When we see him as filling our field of vision, we find ourselves in our proper position. If he is Lord of all, he can never be an "add-on."

What Does Love Look Like?

Authentic Love

A Broken Form of Christianity

Only Full Abandonment Satisfies

Living By the Spirit

It Took a Radical Act of God to Redeem Us

The Difference Christ Makes

A Warning

Accusation and Slander Isn’t Working

A Movement of Blessing

God’s Response to Depression

Hearing the Gentle Voice of God

Give God the Final Word

God is Building His Church

Keep the Light On

The Adam Itch

The Fast God Has Chosen

Blessed to Bless

Authority Over Creation

Heralding the Presence of His Kingdom

Fully Known, Fully Loved

God Has Acted. New We Respond.

Jesus, Lord Over All

The Foundation of Truth

Listening to the Lord

Jesus is Lord

Culture-Ruled Religion

Morals Without Relationship

Jesus Still Reigns

Meeting With God

Christ-Added

A Growing Hunger for the Christ-Centered Message

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