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God’s Harsh Love

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iStock-621596240__1479931259_198.49.27.212

A dear friend’s wife had stopped on the interstate with all the other cars for a traffic accident. A large 18-wheeler slammed into her and her car burst into flames, and she died. She had so much life and was such a giver of life to others. He called me a few minutes later.

Life can be harsh.

The call transported my thoughts to the early morning call I received almost 15 years ago. My 93-year-old father's home was struck by lightening and he died in the fire. I remember screaming out to God, "Why like this? Death is bad enough, but burned beyond recognition -- why?"

Love can be harsh.

God’s Love: Beyond Our Understanding

When we hold a concept of love as a standard, and things happen we don’t think loving, we can accuse the one who could have altered the circumstances but didn't of not being loving. Judged by our definition of love, God is condemned. Some have done that.

But real love, God’s love, is too large for the meager minds of men. Our concepts don’t cover it. In order to embrace it, we must trust. God is love, but our understanding of love does not define God. God defines love.

The God of the Bible is clearly revealed as both sovereign and loving. He makes it plain that He rules in the affairs of this world, weaving together the choices of his people and the events of history to accomplish his ultimate objective, which is to delight us in his love.

Real love is too large for the meager minds of men.

The grand narrative of the Bible shows that God's love is larger than our concepts of love. With our sentimental concept of love we would view the expulsion Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden as unloving. What about the flood? Seems horrible, doesn't it? The plagues on Egypt were severe. The conquests of the land of Canaan were brutal.

But more brutal than anything man has ever endured is that God himself through the Son became sin and absorbed the wrath that hung heavy over a rebellious creation. Love has never been harsher. It has never been more real than it was on the Cross.

He loves enough to correct, discipline, destroy evil and take the consequences of our choices upon himself. His ways are beyond finding out, but they are always expressions of love. Trust opens our hearts to find a comfort that our minds could never discover apart from his revelation.

Finding Joy in God’s Sovereignty

Look at Job. The book of Job confounds many people. They are so certain that Job's troubles were the result of his sin that they find a way to justify God's harsh treatment of him. Oh, I know it was Satan who did the dirty work, but he had to ask God. But Job would not be persuaded that God had turned on him, nor would he agree that it was his sin that brought on the trouble.

His confession revealed his trust in God’s love. "Though He slay me, still I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to His face." (Job 13:15) Job didn’t impose his own understanding of love upon God, but trusted that God loved him and everything that happened to him somehow showed God’s love.

The greatest delight that mankind can experience is a living trust in the God who is eternally both good and sovereign.

The greatest delight that mankind can experience is a living trust in the God who is eternally both good and sovereign. He doesn't mind our questions; He even entertains our arguments; but in the end we fall into loving arms of the Father who loves us so much that He gave His Son who gave His life that we might know the love of God.

Nine Great Blessings in God’s Forecast for You

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Rays of Sunlight - 900

Have you ever thought about the idea of blessings and curses? These words are seldom used these days, except as polite and impolite words we sometimes interject in our conversations with each other.  The Bible takes the idea much further than that, telling us that people may live under a curse or a blessing. But what might that mean?

Some people think of witches and potions when they think of curses; and as for blessings, that's mostly about thinking nice thoughts. That's not what they're about, though, and the difference is important.

Paul, the author of much of the New Testament penned this to the sophisticated people of Ephesus in the first century.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:3)

Jesus Christ, our representative before the Father, has been blessed fully and eternally. All available blessings have been conferred upon Him. Jesus followers are "in Christ," so God's forecast for them is bright and sunny. It is full of blessings.

Should we then be concerned about living under a curse? Alan Wright says, "a curse is not so much a magical spell whipped up in a witch's pot, as it is the voice of fear forecasting [things that are] opposite from the word of God."

Though we who are in Christ are not cursed, we can live as those who are by believing something contrary to God's word concerning us. When we make conclusions based on fear instead of trust, we will be inclined to forecast a future that features calamity and conspiracy.

For instance, when the people of Israel confronted the promised land, they were told by God through Moses that it was theirs for the taking. They sent out spies to see what was there and how they would go about taking what God had given. Most of the spies came back with fear; they concluded that they would fail if they tried. When the people believed that fearful report, they chose the curse of its fulfillment. When Joshua and Caleb believed the promise of God in the face of daunting circumstances, they moved ahead under blessing.

What then is God's forecast for His people in Christ?

Your faith is evidence of God's election and His eternal love being expressed to you. His mercy has been bestowed upon you. Jesus "became sin" so that you could be His righteousness. He set you apart as His chosen vessel to display His glory through you. He has given you His life so that you could enjoy Him as He enjoys you. He sees you as His child and delights in your success in fulfilling your calling. He has made you an heir to His entire estate. He has already gone into the heavens to establish your place there. He has conquered death to free you to live now with trusting abandon. He has allotted necessary grace for each stage of your life and every circumstance on your journey.

Thanksgiving was just a couple days ago, but the time to embrace your blessing with thanks is still now. Refuse the report that comes from fear. Keep your external and internal conversation consistent with His proclamation.

In Christ we are blessed, because He took the curse. The giants may appear imposing, but the forecast is sunny.

A Coming Exodus?

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Mass Exodus Exit Vision - 900

Is it time for another exodus? Is God setting the stage to deliver His people from another government gone bad? The great Exodus from Egypt is the central event in the Old Testament Scripture. God delivered His people from the oppressive rule of Egypt. Several Hollywood types threatened to leave the country if Donald Trump won the election. It’s hard to tell whether they’ll actually carry through with that, but perhaps another exodus of an entirely different sort may be coming.

I want to explore what would warrant such an exodus in today's world, what it would look like, when it might take place, and what its effect might be.

What would warrant another exodus?

In short, a departure from our culture's defining narrative -- which is indeed happening. We know that cultures are built around narratives that tell the people "who we are," "how we got here," "what is wrong" and "how to fix it." All moral decisions and ultimately all social structures tend to adhere to this narrative. Today in America, those responsible for sustaining our founding narrative, the one by which our culture was created and has been upheld, have set it aside for another one.

The people want their culture back. They don't realize the narrative has changed.

Much of Americans' frustration can be traced to the fact that the people want their culture back, but don't realize the narrative has changed. At one time it was a story about the creator and His creation, in which humans are given the privilege of managing the earth according to His principles of order. This same creator-God is also a redeeming God who does what is necessary to resolve the conflicts of human failure. This narrative has been replaced by one in which mankind has become the final authority by means of random chance. The ramifications are staggering. When there is no authority above human intellect, human-created governmental structures tend to grow until they begin to define reality and determine individual rights. All other social structures such as family, church and business shrink in liberty and power as they are regulated by a central governing agency. Religious liberty, God-ordained rights, and private property fall under grave threat.

What would such an exodus look like?

I'm not talking about hordes of people packing up and moving out physically. I'm talking about moving out from under the new, false narrative. When the children of Israel made their exodus from Egypt it wasn't just to another land. It was to freedom and to a better and truer narrative regarding reality. This is what I would expect of another exodus, then, based on the pattern in biblical history and the nature of the gospel narrative.

It will begin with people tired of an oppressive culture. These people will defined themselves not so much by class, race or education as by an overriding story that gives them hope. (Otherwise, they will just be revolutionaries reacting in frustration.) They will believe in that story enough to die for it. They will coalesce around the essential tenets of the story and live in an interdependent community where the ramifications of their narrative can be practiced. Their culture within the national culture will be criticized, marginalized, and sometimes criminalized. They will need each other for survival. Yet for them the story will have preeminence. It will be prized, preached and practiced until it serves as the basis for all moral decisions and social structures.

The one story that meets these conditions is the gospel of Jesus Christ

Of course the one story that meets these conditions -- especially that of being worthy to die for -- is the gospel of Jesus Christ

When will this exodus take place?

Not as long as people are willing to let the new narrative of comfort and convenience -- administered either by government, the economy or religions marked by compromise -- rule their lives in place of the true gospel narrative. But there is great hope for a real exodus in the not-too-distant future. God is already raising up spokesmen for the original story. Those who have heard in the depths of their hearts the joyful sound of God's redemption in Christ are tired of the empty materialism and moralism that had demanded center stage for too long.

They want more than a spectator church. They long for community where faith is lived out among broken but confident believers. The seed of God's word has taken root in them and they earnestly desire to learn and grow in it. They have put up long enough with nice motivational talks, and they are tired of being spiritually anemic. They are ready to demand the bold proclamation of the mighty works of God accomplished through Jesus the Son.

Will the coming exodus result in the preservation of this country?

All I know is that it is our only hope. If we continue to insist upon or permit a society that excludes God as creator and sustainer, we pull the curtain down on this experiment of a democratic republic. Destruction is not a matter of if, but when. A government "of the people" cannot function when controlled by the spirit that works in the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:1-2) The salt and light influence of the gospel is essential for any such government to properly function.

What would happen if miraculously a large remnant returned to the original narrative revealed in the gospel?

In a word, it would mean life-giving change for our culture. When we acknowledge God as the source and sovereign Lord of life, we begin to think sanely again. Moral reason returns. We see that God created mankind with a special dignity with unalienable rights that must not be oppressed by any man-made structure. In that light we submit to our assignment of managing creation under His guidance and authority. We define work, worship, recreation, and procreation in light of the truth of His word as interpreted by the gospel.

Virtues like responsibility, accountability and integrity become more valued than bank accounts and titles. Our approach to education changes in the light of the knowledge that wisdom begins with the proper fear of the Lord. Leaders in church, government and business see themselves primarily as servants rather than superiors. Creativity thrives, leading to art that enlivens and ingenuity that provides unexpected solutions.

In short, we reflect the kingdom of God on earth, resulting in more people being truly helped than was ever possible under the existing ineffective structures. The effect will work like leaven through the loaf. There is no promise in scripture that God will save America. There is great promise that God is exalting His Son and those who join Him will not be ashamed. This is the best we can hope for, and I choose to live with that hope in my heart.

If we are tired enough of the oppression, let’s cry out to God. He is already saying, as He said to His people in Revelation 18:4, "Come out of her, My people." We don't have to move our address. Just our hearts.

The War is on, and the Chief Weapon is Accusation

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warrior - 900

Contrary to popular opinion there is a spiritual war going on right now. Those who mock that suggestion, thinking that spiritual reality is a myth reserved for the primitive mind, do so at their own peril. There is a devil, and he has schemes intended to defeat humans and deface God:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10 (RSV)

To be willfully ignorant of such schemes is to cede victory to the devil. To know the schemes and ignore them is foolish and will produce the same result.

The designation of the evil one is "Satan." The word means "accuser." He accuses without the foundation of truth. In the original garden, he accused God to Adam and Eve of not being forthright with them, thus not being fully good. After Adam and Eve sinned, he began his shame campaign on the human race. His hatred is always aimed at God, and he tries to deceive those whom God loves. He loves to reinterpret circumstances to show that God is not both sovereign and good. Those who accept that perspective are held captive by such deception.

His main scheme with believers is to distract by accusation. It works like this: The believer trusts God for full forgiveness and cleansing. With a purified soul the believer can attack the strongholds of deception and evil, and Satan loses. So, Satan focuses on getting the believer to doubt his cleansing and remember his failures. Now, the believer can't see the opportunities to displace darkness with light, because he is focused on self.

An example of this was evident in the first presidential debate. Donald Trump' supporters groaned when he needlessly spent several minutes defending himself against accusations instead of focusing on the message he needed to deliver. There's a lesson here: you can't focus on yourself (either in defending or in promoting) and still see the opportunities to attack your enemy.

Many a Christ-following father has grieved the waywardness of a son who refuses to honor his parents and legitimate authorities. The son justifies his actions and accuses his father of being a hypocrite. If the father takes the bait, he disqualifies himself from the battle. He might needlessly try to defend himself or slip into condemnation based on the accusation. The truth is that he is still the father and the forgiven believer who has the name of Jesus and the discernment of the Spirit. Based on truth, he can engage in prayer and in communicating truth in love.

As long as we are susceptible to accusation we will easily be taken out of the fight. Defending our own righteousness is foolish. We have no such righteousness to defend. But followers of Christ have been given the righteousness of Jesus, which needs no defense. When Satan suggests that we are not fully clean and qualified to represent the kingdom of God on earth, he is accusing God of an incomplete salvation. We don't have to take the bait. The salvation given through Jesus satisfies God and that is enough.

The times are crucial. There is no time for foolish fighting. The real war is raging. The people of the ultimate victor must engage in it or our generation will walk in deeper darkness.

Who Named You?

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whonamedyou

Who named you? Pastor Alan Wright, discussing Peter's confession of Jesus at Caesarea (Matt. 16:13-20), makes the point that the power to name a person is huge, for that power belongs to whoever or whatever is most important to you.

Peter recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah of Israel and the Lord of creation. When Jesus named him Peter (he had been "Simon" until then) it was settled. Peter means "rock." Though Peter had to walk through some tough lessons, he was indeed the rock that Jesus said he was. He gave the key address at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-42) and was a recognized leader in the early church. He was most honored by being martyred for his faith.

In our neo-polytheistic culture, it is no wonder that so many are confused as to their identity. With the proliferation of gods giving out names to people, the fog of confused self-identity has settled on the land. Money is a favorite god dispensing names. Those who value it most are named by it and spend their lives running from poverty and trying vainly to accumulate enough of it to be significant. They measure their standing based on the symbols of wealth like houses, land, possessions, and the friends to whom those metrics are important. Many of these people (God called them fools in Luke 12:13-21) are so sad while trying desperately to be happy.

Another popular god is sex. When this god is given the right to rule it names people based on their various lusts and desires. While this is spun to look like freedom of expression, in reality it reduces humans to the level of animals, which are primarily defined biologically. Content or even proud to be identified by sexual preferences and practices, some conclude that they have no option but to be named by this criteria, but they have yet to hear that God has a better name for them.

We could go on identifying the gods of this culture that are eager to name people. For instance, those who value peer approval above all will be named by that cruel tyrant. They will live each day for secondhand pleasure. Not able to enjoy what they are doing because they are concerned what others think of it, they are slaves to approval and affirmation. The list is long and growing as other gods crowd into the mix, but you get the point. Who should name you?

There is only one who has the right to name us. He created us with a gracious plan for our lives. We are His by creation. After Adam and Eve chose to disobey Him, Satan began his long habit of accusing the race and assigning names based on criteria other than God's word. But God's plan was permanent and gracious. He sent His Son to be sin on our behalf so that we could be called the sons of God. We are His by redemption.

So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Gal. 4:7 (ESV)

This identity makes all other roles we play work in harmony. Living in a false identity guarantees disharmony and dissatisfaction. When God is most important to us we listen when He names us. We refuse to allow any of the cultural gods to have that power. They did not create us nor redeem us. They just want to conform us. They don't have that right.

Missionaries or Just a Minority

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Minority Humble Christian Cross Missionary Gospel - 900

The impact of the Christian message in American culture is quickly becoming marginalized. The narrative that created the culture which produced the constitutional republic we know as the United States of America, is rapidly being replaced by another narrative. Instead of recognizing we are a people created by God to glorify Him as stewards of His creation with honor, dignity and respect for His order and all people, we have jettisoned God as creator and denied His right to rule in the affairs of mankind.

As a result we have lost respect for each other as well as the laws that reflect God's order in creation. Thus it is no surprise to see truth being trampled like dirt under our feet and "justice" being determined by those who have the power to control. After all, if we are simply a link in the chain of evolution, our overriding motivation is survival. The truth be damned; the "fittest" rule and mete out their interpretation of justice.

This is the cultural dilemma we face as Christians. There was a time when we felt in the majority, when the biblical narrative had respect, when it greatly affected the decisions made by leaders in the community. No longer.

It is easy to complain about being reduced to a minority. We can choose to withdraw and simply accept our minority status in an effort to survive, or we can accept the call to be missionaries to the culture in which we live.

Missionaries are people on a mission. They represent another culture, and they have been sent with the authority of their Lord. They have a message to proclaim that will create an alternate culture when embraced. They know going in that the prevailing culture will fight back. They are willing to give everything in the fulfillment of their mission.

Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, did not voluntarily go to Babylon as missionaries (Daniel 1:1-7). They were exiles there, but they refused to give up their own narrative. Babylon gave them new names (you may be more familiar with three of them as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego), offered them a new diet, and directed them toward a new kind of worship. But these four young men impacted the whole culture and affected history by displaying the lifestyle of God's chosen people. Though they were called by their new names, they never gave up their true identity. They rejected the king's diet and refused to bow and worship him. They did not fear the fiery furnace, and they came out of it without even the smell of smoke.

Just like Babylon, every culture seeks to conform the inhabitants to its mold. Those who fall asleep will be absorbed in it and face confusion as to their identity and purpose. Sound familiar?

The apostle Peter wrote to Christians in the first century who were scattered among unfriendly cultures. They were suffering persecution, and they were confused as to why. His first priority was to remind them who they were and what they were about, according to the narrative of the gospel: that they were selected by God and set apart by him to live in obedience to Jesus, thereby revealing a superior kind of life. Regardless of the suffering and pressure, they could still live with an "inexpressible joy." (1 Peter 1:1-8) So can we. God has always used the fire of suffering to purify faith; and the peace and joy His people exhibit in the midst of it has always proved attractive those who have no such hope.

We are not a minority, just trying to hold on and survive until we can become the majority once again. We are missionaries scattered among unfriendly cultures with a narrative of reality that will produce a lifestyle more precious than purified gold. Our culture is infectious and will overcome rivals just like light will overcome darkness. Get used to it. You are a missionary.

How Does the Devil Fight?

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ITALY - JULY 09: Venice, Accademia (Picture Gallery) Original sin, 1550-1553, by Jacopo Robusti known as Tintoretto (1519-1594), oil on canvas, 150x220 cm. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

The very thought of spiritual warfare frightens some people. They seem to think of the devil as they do Santa Claus or the Easter rabbit. Reality is so much more comfortable if it's confined to what we can see, observe, and understand. But the New Testament makes no apology for defining a reality with spiritual forces at work. The Apostle Paul, writing to the people he loved in Corinth, stated his concern for their plight while facing doubts about spiritual authority.

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

If we can ascertain how the serpent deceived Eve, we can gain insight in how to win in our battles with his attacks.

Basically, the serpent reinterpreted the circumstances in the Garden. There were many trees with fruit on them, matching all of Adam's and Eve's needs and tastes. There was another tree that was forbidden to them. You see, the good and sovereign God had created them out of the overflow of His love so that they could enjoy Him fully. They were partners with him on earth will full access to Him. Everything was an expression of his love. The trees offered satisfaction for every possible desire in the couple.

The tree in the midst of the garden offered them a special opportunity: If they would trust God without fully understanding why, they would taste the most delicious delicacy possible for humans: a trusting life together with the One is good, trustworthy, and had their best interests at heart. It would be like dessert after a great meal.

Now, look at how the serpent reinterpreted the circumstances. He implied that God was good, but not totally. "Sure, he has given you all the trees but has forbidden you to eat from some of them. He is holding back on you. His character is in question. He doesn't want you to be like him. He wants to keep you suppressed from your potential."

Too often we focus on our unpleasant circumstances and blame them on the devil. It is his distorted interpretation that should draw our attention. Don't get me wrong. He deceives people and thereby brings pain to others. So many of the horrendous things we do to each other come from deception, which incites weak and fearful people to act wickedly to protect themselves.

But the serpent is not sovereign. God has promised to work all things together for our good. (Romans 8:28) The devil is always suggesting an alternate interpretation of what is happening. If we listen, we will become bitter, fearful, angry, vengeful and cynical. Think of all the people you know who are now skeptical of church, government, family and even former friends. Many of them have been hurt according to a distorted interpretation of the events. Now they're isolated from the very means of their joy.

Let's review the truth as God has affirmed it.

God is good and sovereign. He is actively involved in the lives we are living. He is always seeking to do us good even when bad things happen.

The devil is real. He is constantly reinterpreting the circumstances in our lives to cast doubt on God's goodness and his rule. We have the responsibility to resist him and choose to believe the truth -- even when we don't fully understand.

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. (James 4:6b-7)

How Does the Devil Fight?

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ITALY - JULY 09: Venice, Accademia (Picture Gallery) Original sin, 1550-1553, by Jacopo Robusti known as Tintoretto (1519-1594), oil on canvas, 150x220 cm. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

The very thought of spiritual warfare frightens some people. They seem to think of the devil as they do Santa Claus or the Easter rabbit. Reality is so much more comfortable if it's confined to what we can see, observe, and understand. But the New Testament makes no apology for defining a reality with spiritual forces at work. The Apostle Paul, writing to the people he loved in Corinth, stated his concern for their plight while facing doubts about spiritual authority.

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

If we can ascertain how the serpent deceived Eve, we can gain insight in how to win in our battles with his attacks.

Basically, the serpent reinterpreted the circumstances in the Garden. There were many trees with fruit on them, matching all of Adam's and Eve's needs and tastes. There was another tree that was forbidden to them. You see, the good and sovereign God had created them out of the overflow of His love so that they could enjoy Him fully. They were partners with him on earth will full access to Him. Everything was an expression of his love. The trees offered satisfaction for every possible desire in the couple.

The tree in the midst of the garden offered them a special opportunity: If they would trust God without fully understanding why, they would taste the most delicious delicacy possible for humans: a trusting life together with the One is good, trustworthy, and had their best interests at heart. It would be like dessert after a great meal.

Now, look at how the serpent reinterpreted the circumstances. He implied that God was good, but not totally. "Sure, he has given you all the trees but has forbidden you to eat from some of them. He is holding back on you. His character is in question. He doesn't want you to be like him. He wants to keep you suppressed from your potential."

Too often we focus on our unpleasant circumstances and blame them on the devil. It is his distorted interpretation that should draw our attention. Don't get me wrong. He deceives people and thereby brings pain to others. So many of the horrendous things we do to each other come from deception, which incites weak and fearful people to act wickedly to protect themselves.

But the serpent is not sovereign. God has promised to work all things together for our good. (Romans 8:28) The devil is always suggesting an alternate interpretation of what is happening. If we listen, we will become bitter, fearful, angry, vengeful and cynical. Think of all the people you know who are now skeptical of church, government, family and even former friends. Many of them have been hurt according to a distorted interpretation of the events. Now they're isolated from the very means of their joy.

Let's review the truth as God has affirmed it.

God is good and sovereign. He is actively involved in the lives we are living. He is always seeking to do us good even when bad things happen.

The devil is real. He is constantly reinterpreting the circumstances in our lives to cast doubt on God's goodness and his rule. We have the responsibility to resist him and choose to believe the truth -- even when we don't fully understand.

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. (James 4:6b-7)

Not ‘The Man Upstairs’: Your View of God Matters

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viewofGod

I suppose it is because some Christians don't want to be offensive that they seem hesitant to disclose the name of God. They prefer terms like "a higher power," or the "the man upstairs" instead of God or Jesus. I appreciate their trying to be sensitive to those who might not believe in God -- though I notice that people of other religions don't hesitate to identify their deity.

The idea behind this vague reference to God seems to be that His name and His nature don't matter. What matters is just that one believes. That's all.

Actually that is very deceptive. Who God is makes all the difference. It determines the way in which He calls us to approach Him, and what kind of relationship we can enjoy with him.

The fourth chapter of John's Gospel relates the story of a Samaritan woman who met Jesus at Jacob's old well. In the midst of their conversation Jesus told her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." She thought He was a just a traveler, although unusually kind and strange for a Jew. If she had known He was the Messiah she would have been enjoying the opportunity to drink from the river from heaven rather than being suspicious of Him. She would have been asking for the life she had longed for rather than questioning Him about Samaritan theology.

When people believe God is angry, they try to avoid His wrath. When they believe He is distant, they live in loneliness. When they view Him as mostly a judge, they try to do good and hide or justify their failures. When they see Him as a boss, they try to perform for blessings and curry His favor. But when they have seen Him as the loving Savior, they rejoice in admitting to being a sinner. Only the sinner qualifies.

I can remember when I first saw this about God. I had tried to qualify for His pleasure, earn His favor; gain His blessings, be a good person. But I knew I was a sham at best. Good deeds didn't erase my guilt or shame. But when I understood who God really was, I knew at last I qualified for something: I was eligible for grace.

The righteous (whoever they might have been) did not need him. The strong were doing fine. Even with all my effort, though, I knew I was neither righteous nor strong.

When I came face to face with God's true nature, I was astounded. He came for me! He had more mercy than I had sin! He had more grace than I had weakness! I could never drain the resources of His love. I wanted to run toward Him. I wanted to know Him. I wanted live with Him. I was free from trying to make points because I realized He wasn't keeping score.

Don't settle for relying on your faith in some nebulous higher power. Refuse to let vague snapshots or previous impressions of God serve as your perspective of Him. He has revealed himself fully in His Son, and His Spirit will open your eyes to see Him when you ask. If you knew the one who today is confronting you, you would ask and He would give.

Is Trump a Modern Cyrus?

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Trump Cyrus - 900

It was the 6th century B.C., and God's people, the Israelites, had been in exile for almost 70 years. They had broken covenant with their God, but God had promised to show them mercy and restore them. Their Babylonian conquerors had themselves been conquered by Persia, under King Cyrus. Cyrus became God's means of release for the Jewish people.

Some people today are wondering whether Donald Trump might be a modern-day Cyrus.

Cyrus was not a believer in Israel's God. He was acting according to his own political expediency, yet it fit nicely into what God was doing at that time. The prophet Isaiah verbalized God's view of Cyrus (Isaiah 45), even referring to him as God's "anointed." He was an unwitting leader, chosen by God to accomplish the purpose God had in mind for His people.

Surely God does that kind of thing in history. The illustrations are numerous. But we must be cautious about drawing parallels between Cyrus and Trump.

First, the Israelites were God's people by virtue of his covenant with them. That is not the case with America as a nation. The closest parallel today is not between Israel and America, but Israel and God's people, the Church.

Even here there is another very important distinction: Cyrus as a deliverer pointed as God's illustration toward God's ultimate rescue by His ultimate "anointed one," the Messiah. Israel's return to the homeland was only a shadow of the full blessing God had in mind. Jesus Christ, the ultimate deliverer came and fulfilled the covenant, even paying the penalty for breaking the covenant, defeating death and giving true believers the Spirit to live as his people on the earth. That was true deliverance indeed.

So we see that the rescuer the Scriptures have in mind is Jesus, and the people are the people of God by faith in His Son. Any other connections to historical or prophetic persons are incidental and secondary.

To see Cyrus as biblical grounds for hope that Mr. Trump will be the rescuer of this nation is wishful thinking. Sure, we would all like to see a sensible way out of disturbingly confused political trends, but the supposed Trump/Cyrus connection is not it.

God has sent his anointed one to liberate his people, not from political oppression, but from sin's oppression. Cultures change as people experience God's freedom and infect society with the virtue they have found in Christ. Governmental structures then begin to magnify justice, mercy and humility.

So if we want to stop the slide toward societal rot, we must place our hope in the one true deliverer. Where we have been complacent, passive, judgmental and irresponsible, we must repent. We must take our place as God's liberated army fighting against the spiritual forces of deception and destruction.

We have the authority of Jesus' name as well as the power of His Spirit within us as individuals and corporately as his body on earth. We can do something that matters while we place our trust in the sovereign God who has the kings of the earth in His hands.

We do have hope. We trust in the sovereign God of the universe who can use anything or anyone in carrying out his plan. But we don't look for saviors when we already have one. We don't have the luxury of wasting time in expecting Mr. Trump to deliver God's people. Our Savior is currently knocking at the door of the Church, desiring to come in and empower us to express the transcendent power of his kingdom (Revelation 3:20). Let's welcome him in and the nation will reap the benefits of a healthy Church led by the ultimate deliverer.

Yes, Conservatives Should Vote According to Conscience

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America Compass Morals Conscience - 900

Regardless of what you think of Ted Cruz's speech at the Republican National Convention, he is right about one thing: Conservatives should vote according to conscience.

The two most important issues in selecting the future political leaders of this country are religious liberty and protecting the unborn. These are issues of conscience that trump (no pun intended) many another issue that have gotten far more press. Without equal protection for innocent life, and with the recognition that religious liberty is a God-given right, there is no enduring ground for positive change generally.

Safety for the unborn should not have to be discussed. Murder is not only morally wrong based on religious beliefs; it is a guarantee of mutual annihilation. Eventually the governing powers who decided killing babies was legitimate will decide to permit the killing of other segments as well -- until the society has decimated itself. This isn’t conjecture. It’s human history. In How Civilizations Die, David Goldman details how civilizations that cease to cherish life and children eventually crumble.

The very fact that we are still debating the life issue as if it were just a political decision should shock us awake from our politically induced coma. When 58 million of us die at our own hands while we celebrate the right to choose, we have placed ourselves on very shaky ground for judging the Nazis or any other murderous regime. Murder is not a political position. It violates the core of morality.

The other, religious liberty -- and with it, freedom of conscience -- is a God-given right. There's a reason it is enshrined in the Bill of Rights as the first right in the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It’s known as the first freedom because it is the foundation on which all other freedoms stand. If we don't have the freedom to live out what we believe, all other freedoms are irrelevant.

We are created to respond to God and his order, and we are ultimately accountable for our response. When under the guise of equality for all, any authority enacts laws which infringe on our responsibility, that authority stands in direct opposition to God. That government will assuredly fall. It might last a little while, but as sure as the sun rises and sets, the kingdom of God will bring it down.

When we have any loyalties that pressure us to violate our own conscience, they are illegitimate. God never meant for the crown of his creation to be manipulated or dominated by any political structure. God stimulates us to think and believe for ourselves. Governments don't grant freedom, but if they are beneficial they will ensure it is protected.

People are not free just because there is no barbed wire fence around them. They are responsibly free when they can think, believe, speak and act according to their own conscience, and especially when their conscience is enlightened by the word of Christ.

Refuse to be distracted by lesser issues. There are lots of fireworks in the air seeking to get our attention. Make sure your conscience is aligned with the word of God, and vote accordingly.

The Transforming Power of God Gives Us Reasons For Hope

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Paul's Conversion Etching - 900

The early church's most notorious enemy was a man who firmly believed he was doing right, yet in reality was blind to the truth. Later on he described himself as "foremost of sinners." (1 Timothy 1:12-17) But he had a transforming encounter with the resurrected Jesus that gave sight to his spiritually blind eyes. He believed that if God could change him, the worst, God could use his transformation to give hope to all other sinners.

There is hope for anyone. Presidential candidates can change. You can change.

In interviews recently I have been asked if I believe our nation has gone too far to be rescued from destruction. Some, looking at two very flawed candidates for President, wonder if there is any hope for either of them, that he or she could be fundamentally changed for the good. My answer: I have no option but to hope, because I believe in a resurrected Savior who specializes in transformation.

History is replete with testimonies of people being radically transformed when their eyes were opened by the grace of God. They admit that they were not immediately made perfect in behavior, but they also confess that once they saw reality, they began moving toward the truth that progressively liberates us from deception. (John 8:31-32) There is definitely hope for individuals to change -- including ourselves.

But God does not always fix people the way we might ask in prayer. We must realize that as we pray for His work in the lives of others, we are giving Him permission to work in us. But why wouldn't we want Him to change us? Who would want to live in deception when He desires to give us sight?

The same Paul whose eyes were opened to the truth by his encounter with Jesus later prayed for the people to have their eyes opened. (Ephesians 1:18) It is the nature of deception to fool us: we're unaware that we've been deceived. We continue believing and doing the same things thinking we are in the right. Others may see how misguided we are, but blind men can't see until they are given sight. He has given His people the privilege of working with Him by praying and proclaiming the truth, but God alone specializes in giving new sight. The outcome is up to Him.

That sounds too timid for some. They are so exercised by the problems they see, they find prayer too slow or consider it a cop-out. But that's a reflection of the same spiritual blindness that we're hoping God will heal in others!

The truth is that prayer is always the first response of those working with God. We have already built too many walls that have had to be torn down, and planned programs that have turned to dust, because we worked before we prayed. We must believe that God cares more about what we are praying for than we do. He is ready to work with us, but refuses to simply stamp our independent initiatives as valid. If we can do it without Him, we aren't doing it His way.

There are bountiful reasons for hope, but only if we include what only God can do. He can give sight to the blind. He can displace deception with reality. He can empower weak people to do what they couldn't do. Why would we waste time worrying and complaining when we could be praying and obeying?

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