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Awakening to the War
Awakening to the War
In Psalm 12, David describes the alarm we sense when accosted by the noise filling the air around us:
Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind. They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak...those who say, 'With our tongues we will prevail; our lips are our own -- who is our master?' (Psalm 12:1-4 NRSV).
An Abrupt Awakening
What are we seeing in these days? We can be sure that our God has not forgotten us or gone on a vacation. He is not quarantining in fear of being infected by COVID-19. He is acting to awaken His people to the real war that is going on, and He is empowering them to wake up and shine as lights in a dark world. We have been sleeping through a gradual disintegration of culture. God is abruptly waking up His people who are called to be His representatives on earth.
It is seldom pleasant to be awakened abruptly. We are at first disoriented and even resentful. After all, we were enjoying the sleep. But, to be awakened to the reality that we are in a war is even more disturbing. The subtle lies of our consumer culture have been invading each sphere of society for a long time. All of a sudden it seems they have snowballed, and we feel that there is no one who tells the truth anymore -- no trusted Walter Cronkite or Billy Graham or Abraham Lincoln. The government, the media, the church, and medical science have all lost credibility.
Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, I will now rise up, says the Lord; I will place them in the safety for which they long (Psalm 12:5 NRSV).
God sees and he cares when the people he loves are being oppressed by deception. He is rising to bring truth to the stage. The children of light are being awakened to the true nature of the war and God's strategy to establish His purposes in this generation. Carl Von Clausewitz, a military strategist from the era of the French Revolution, said that the first, grandest, and most decisive act of any general or statesman is to understand the nature of the war in which he is engaged. Our war is a war of words: truth versus lies.
Truth Versus Lies
We were lulled to sleep by the influence of moral humanism. As a culture we have elevated the human hierarchy of needs above the truth of God's word. The consumer-culture demands that what we feel that we need must be addressed and any societal structure that does not comply must be canceled. Human glory is the highest goal imaginable. God's glory is ignored and even mocked. We demand safety, security, acceptance, esteem, and self-actualization from our government, our religion, and our society. We cancel any voice that contradicts our demands for our felt needs to be met. We even cancel God when He doesn't perform according to our definition of good. It is alarming, but it is just the beginning of God's move to exalt truth in a bigger way than before.
Our war is a war of words: truth versus lies.
Waking up is turbulent. We instinctively fight it, ignoring the alarm bells ringing. Denial is a familiar response. We want to find voices that tell us that everything is fine. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in Great Britain in the late 1930s said that Hitler was not so bad and could be appeased. He was wrong. It is impossible to make peace with deception. Contrary to popular opinion, truth is not subjective and selective. God's word is full and final. We cannot deny the encroachment of evil by wishing it would just go away. We cannot simply change our metrics to substantiate our current practices. For instance, churches have ignored the lack of discipleship in our programs and instead celebrated the numbers of people gathered and the size of the campuses we have built. We told people that if they came to meetings and listened to the services, they would be fine. We lied. People who have not built their lives on the words of Christ will not stand in the storms that are now coming.
Don’t Hit the Snooze Button
Delay is another instinctive response to the discomfort of waking. We want to push the snooze button on the clock. Just 10 minutes more… We have developed doctrines that have people expecting a great day in the future, but also expecting evil to prevail until then. Abandoning our role as God's lights in the darkness, we have only looked to a future escape from the world of wickedness.
Of course, something in us all tempts us to want to fly away like a bird to a mountain of rest. But we are assigned here, and we have been given the necessary supplies to not only stand, but to advance. Escapism takes many forms. We can try drugs, distractions, entertainment, or just abdication. We expect the government to take care of us, the public schools to educate our children, the church to make sure we go to heaven, and the media to inform us of what we need to know. Irresponsibility has the same results regardless of how we express it.
Who’s Telling the Truth?
The issue today is the same as in Adam and Eve's day, David's day, and Jesus' day -- it is a war of words. Who is telling the truth? Jesus said very clearly at the end of His Sermon on the Mount that lives built on His words would stand in the storms. Others would fail. It has always been true. History is the faithful witness that only those societies that are built on the eternal transcendent word of God as interpreted through the person of Jesus will last.
The Epistle of James is adamant that the tongue is mightier than anyone expects. It determines direction for people and nations. It can destroy whole structures like a fire in the forest. No human can tame or domesticate it. It is hooked to the heart and expresses the thoughts and desires of the heart. Only when the heart is changed through regeneration of the Spirit can the tongue begin to produce the fruit of righteousness as it was designed.
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God cares about the poor and despoiled. He is raising up spokespersons to speak the truth to the lies of this culture. There are some new "pulpiteers" on the horizon. They won't be so enamored with oratorial performance as with clarifying the truth of what God has done in Christ Jesus. But, it is not the pulpit only. Disciples of Jesus from every stripe will be declaring the good news and its ramifications in homes, offices, and hideaways. Mass media will not control the word communicated by those whose hearts have been captured by God's love.
We are seeing the beginning of a return to God's word as authoritative and life-giving. We will appreciate the need to interpret the Scripture accurately. It is not a matter of winning a theological point, but of spiritual and societal survival. We can't take the word of media preachers as to what God is saying. We must hear from Him, and He is eager to tell us.
Exciting Days Ahead
We shall also see the appearance of true shepherds. They will care more for the welfare of the sheep than their own ministries and kingdoms. They will get equipped to feed and protect those under their care. The emergence of the Christian community is beginning. People need each other and are seeing that we have a common foundation, but different gifts. The focus will be on "We" rather than "Me." All of these factors will produce a kind of life that is more akin to the biblical norm than the American dream.
Adventurous and risky lifestyles will be the order of the day. No longer will we read of the miracles of scripture and wonder where they are. Our witness will give hope to those languishing in circumstance-controlled situations. We will live on the edge because we have seen the invisible and believe the promises of the faithful God of might.
These are either scary days of shocking deception or exciting days of early awakening. I am asking God to give us eyes to see what He is doing. We can join Him and see the light push back darkness.
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream. He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures, a sought-after speaker, an engaging preacher, an effective consultant, and a trusted spiritual father. Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works, Incense & Thunder, Glad to be Left Behind, Men In Their Own Skin, Orphans No More, When Hard Times Come, Follow Me and his latest, a children's book laced with gospel truth: Shorty the Substitute Ram.
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There are Aliens Among Us
This is not an attempt to mimic "check-out line" magazines that just try to grab attention. This is an attempt to a biblical approach to an obvious tension among Christians regarding their civic duties. We live with this tension because we have two homelands. We are born from above yet assigned to live and die on this earth: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3 NRSV).
If we only think of our eternal homeland, we will neglect our earthly duties. If we only think of our earthly existence, we will be conformed to our culture's norms, susceptible to all the fears and frustrations that come with being cut off from home. We will either be legitimately accused of being so heavenly-minded we are of no earthly good, or of being so worldly that we are hypocrites.
"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11 NRSV).
As God’s Slaves, Live as Free People
Aliens have a special kind of freedom. The apostle Peter expressed it in what seems to be a paradoxical phrase: "As God's slaves, live as free people..." (1 Peter 2:16 HCSB). Since the original fall of humanity into sin, we have been captives to fear and frustration. The only freedom possible is submitting to be slaves to the One who is sovereign love. When He is responsible for our provision and protection, we are freed from self-preservation, self-exaltation, and fear. Nothing is stronger than He, and love motivates everything He does. His purpose is to restore us to true humanity as originally designed. It is an honor to be His slave. The only other option is being a slave to sin.
Alien Freedom
Peter goes on to explain the nature of this alien freedom: "Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor" (1 Peter 2:17 NRSV). As we respect all people as being created in the image of God and worth the redemption price of the Son, we eliminate prejudice, racism, and injustice. As we love the family of believers, we embrace the purpose of God to bless the world through His family of priests. As we fear God, we respond to Him as the final authority and last word in our lives. As we honor the emperor, we accept God's use of civil authority to order society, and we submit to participate in it.
A Role to Play
When Peter wrote his letter, there was one emperor of Rome. In our day we live in a democratic republic where the people being governed have a role to play in who establishes order and how it is done. We honor this process by lawfully participating in it with diligence.
The same root word for honor is used for our attitude toward everyone and toward the emperor. We don't have to approve of what everyone or the emperor does in order to honor. We do have to see them as God values them. Emperors change. Civil authority is God's established way of ordering society. It remains. We must constantly work to establish laws that reflect the values of God's kingdom. Personalities are not as important as policies.
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Being aliens who are enjoying a freedom that is other-worldly, we are faithful to embrace our earthly assignments seriously. We are slaves to God who has made us His sons. We can leave the earth a better place than we found it. Aliens who are aware and awake make good citizens of the earth for we know we will be going home.
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream. He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures, a sought-after speaker, an engaging preacher, an effective consultant, and a trusted spiritual father. Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works, Incense & Thunder, Glad to be Left Behind, Men In Their Own Skin, Orphans No More, When Hard Times Come, Follow Me and his latest, a children's book laced with gospel truth: Shorty the Substitute Ram.
The post There are Aliens Among Us appeared first on The Stream.
Not Just the Election, It’s the (mis)Direction
I sometimes get the feeling that I'm watching an illusionist entertain his audience with the art of misdirection.
I admit that I've always been a fan of those "magicians" who amazed us with the impossible. We all went away shaking our heads, but knowing that we had been handled. We knew that somehow the illusionist had misdirected our attention enough to suggest he had done magic. What is going on in our land is not a harmless magic show. We are being handled, but not by an artist simply wanting to entertain. The spin of political strategist and fake news of biased media are designed to direct our attention away from what's really happening.
Voting for a Person, Not a Party
For instance, it is easy to make elections simply about the candidate. Some people even pride themselves in their bipartisanship proclaiming, "I don't vote for the party. I vote for the person."
It's healthy to be open minded and uncontrolled by a political party. But such a view can reduce the election to what we like or don't like about the individual candidate and end up having a beauty contest, while the direction of the country veers toward destruction.
For the critically lazy, the candidate can become be the only issue. Political strategists aim at those who won't take the time to examine what's really at stake. In our world of spin, a naive person will be a pawn.
Illusionists don't want close examination. They want to define and impose their definition of reality on us while we enjoy the show.
Skepticism can be healthy -- however, cynicism is deadly. While the skeptic demands evidence to make up his mind, the cynic refuses to consider evidence that might change his mind. When cynics discuss or debate there is only accusation -- no genuine exchange of ideas, no greater appreciation of truth.
Sadly, we have a growing number of lazy cynics posing as spokespersons for philosophical assumptions -- assumptions that need close examination. The illusionists don't want close examination. They want to define and impose their definition of reality on us while we enjoy the show. I encourage a vibrant skepticism. Ask the hard questions and demand evidence for what is reported to you.
Looking 20 Years Down the Road
The upcoming 2020 election is immensely important. The issue is not Donald Trump and his personal legacy vs. the pool of Democrats trying to vindicate their accusations while vying to be the opposing candidate. At stake is the direction of the country morally, politically and spiritually. We must ask a directional question: Where will this path take us 10-20 years down the road?
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Right now, the economy is doing well. We all know that could change because of factors outside our control. We can't just sit back and enjoy a robust economy, expecting it to continue unabated. Socialism is being touted as the way of the future. It offers government-provided solutions to every material need. But look at the societies that have adopted socialist tendencies and see where they are 20 years later. Can you see tax rates of 70%-90% in the future? Are you sure that only the wealthy will pay while you live free?
Individual freedom and total self-autonomy is running the show now. The future for that is anarchy. We love freedom, but in the past, we knew that it came at a high price with big responsibility. We built social structures to provide healthy boundaries for our liberty. These institutions are being marginalized now, and will be eliminated in the future. What will life be like without churches that proclaim the truth that is foundational to any and all flourishing? Do we want government-controlled universities where secularism alone can be taught? Do we want to eliminate the religious influence in hospitals, and health care?
Direction Leads to Destination
Political magicians have tried to focus our eyes on women's rights while innocent babies die. If we can legally kill a baby before and immediately after birth, shall we one day soon kill seniors immediately prior to and after economic productivity? We just won't be able to afford those who are a drag on our progressive march.
Direction leads to destination. Where shall we be in 10-20 years on the path promoted by progressive secularism?
Direction leads to destination. Where shall we be in 10-20 years on the path promoted by progressive secularism? We will have eliminated the effects of Judeo-Christian foundations. We will have abandoned an ethic based on spiritual realities and inserted a man-centered worldview that limits our hopes to what we humans can produce. Evil will no longer be identified and resisted. It will be reclassified as an option for those who choose to express themselves in whatever manner they like.
Remember! We are not watching a magic show enjoying how skillfully we are being misdirected. This is our lives and our future. We have great responsibility. It is too important to be distracted by Trump's tweets or Pelosi's pouting. We must keep our eyes on the issues that are setting the direction of our future.
Not Just the Election, It’s the (mis)Direction
I sometimes get the feeling that I'm watching an illusionist entertain his audience with the art of misdirection.
I admit that I've always been a fan of those "magicians" who amazed us with the impossible. We all went away shaking our heads, but knowing that we had been handled. We knew that somehow the illusionist had misdirected our attention enough to suggest he had done magic. What is going on in our land is not a harmless magic show. We are being handled, but not by an artist simply wanting to entertain. The spin of political strategist and fake news of biased media are designed to direct our attention away from what's really happening.
Voting for a Person, Not a Party
For instance, it is easy to make elections simply about the candidate. Some people even pride themselves in their bipartisanship proclaiming, "I don't vote for the party. I vote for the person."
It's healthy to be open minded and uncontrolled by a political party. But such a view can reduce the election to what we like or don't like about the individual candidate and end up having a beauty contest, while the direction of the country veers toward destruction.
For the critically lazy, the candidate can become be the only issue. Political strategists aim at those who won't take the time to examine what's really at stake. In our world of spin, a naive person will be a pawn.
Illusionists don't want close examination. They want to define and impose their definition of reality on us while we enjoy the show.
Skepticism can be healthy -- however, cynicism is deadly. While the skeptic demands evidence to make up his mind, the cynic refuses to consider evidence that might change his mind. When cynics discuss or debate there is only accusation -- no genuine exchange of ideas, no greater appreciation of truth.
Sadly, we have a growing number of lazy cynics posing as spokespersons for philosophical assumptions -- assumptions that need close examination. The illusionists don't want close examination. They want to define and impose their definition of reality on us while we enjoy the show. I encourage a vibrant skepticism. Ask the hard questions and demand evidence for what is reported to you.
Looking 20 Years Down the Road
The upcoming 2020 election is immensely important. The issue is not Donald Trump and his personal legacy vs. the pool of Democrats trying to vindicate their accusations while vying to be the opposing candidate. At stake is the direction of the country morally, politically and spiritually. We must ask a directional question: Where will this path take us 10-20 years down the road?
Help us champion truth, freedom, limited government and human dignity. Support The Stream >>
Right now, the economy is doing well. We all know that could change because of factors outside our control. We can't just sit back and enjoy a robust economy, expecting it to continue unabated. Socialism is being touted as the way of the future. It offers government-provided solutions to every material need. But look at the societies that have adopted socialist tendencies and see where they are 20 years later. Can you see tax rates of 70%-90% in the future? Are you sure that only the wealthy will pay while you live free?
Individual freedom and total self-autonomy is running the show now. The future for that is anarchy. We love freedom, but in the past, we knew that it came at a high price with big responsibility. We built social structures to provide healthy boundaries for our liberty. These institutions are being marginalized now, and will be eliminated in the future. What will life be like without churches that proclaim the truth that is foundational to any and all flourishing? Do we want government-controlled universities where secularism alone can be taught? Do we want to eliminate the religious influence in hospitals, and health care?
Direction Leads to Destination
Political magicians have tried to focus our eyes on women's rights while innocent babies die. If we can legally kill a baby before and immediately after birth, shall we one day soon kill seniors immediately prior to and after economic productivity? We just won't be able to afford those who are a drag on our progressive march.
Direction leads to destination. Where shall we be in 10-20 years on the path promoted by progressive secularism?
Direction leads to destination. Where shall we be in 10-20 years on the path promoted by progressive secularism? We will have eliminated the effects of Judeo-Christian foundations. We will have abandoned an ethic based on spiritual realities and inserted a man-centered worldview that limits our hopes to what we humans can produce. Evil will no longer be identified and resisted. It will be reclassified as an option for those who choose to express themselves in whatever manner they like.
Remember! We are not watching a magic show enjoying how skillfully we are being misdirected. This is our lives and our future. We have great responsibility. It is too important to be distracted by Trump's tweets or Pelosi's pouting. We must keep our eyes on the issues that are setting the direction of our future.
The post Not Just the Election, It’s the (mis)Direction appeared first on The Stream.
Has It Come to This?
Someone has said that prayer is the most talked about and least practiced activity of the Church. Why do we have such a hard time with it? It is usually a last resort activity. We use it only when all else has failed. It is not uncommon to have someone announce with urgency, "we need to pray" and we all wonder: “Has it come to this?
The societal diagnosticians remind us often that we are a society full of angst, anxiety, frustration, anger, and panic. We spend billions of dollars and hours of time trying to alleviate these. Sometimes, trying to manage our anxiety becomes our full-time job. Our search for a modicum of personal peace defines our very existence. God gave us his solution through a man who had multiple obstacles in his life and every reason to fret. The apostle Paul offers:
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NRSV.)
Have We Neglected Prayer?
Maybe our angst is not a sign of the troubled times we are in, but a sign of our neglect of prayer.
Jared Wilson in his book, The Gospel-Driven Church, says "prayer is expressed helplessness. When we are not engaged in prayer, it is because we feel like 'we got this.' The extent to which you are not engaged in prayer is the extent to which you are relying on your own strength." I think he is right and it exposes my own presumption.
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But I think there is more going on as well. I'm not sure we know how prayer fits into our purpose and how it works in our relationship with God.
As preposterous as it sounds, we are God's partners in God's earthly work. He has chosen to work through humans to accomplish his purpose on earth. Adam and Eve were assigned to such a task for the whole race. This gives us a clue to understanding why we are incurable "fixers." We are attracted to problems and projects that need to be developed, fixed, or eliminated. However, we tend to forget that we are to do it as partners with God rather than as independent agents. We even despise those who appear to be always praying and never using their own minds to think and hands to work. We try to not to bother God with stuff we can handle -- and sadly, we think we can handle it all.
We Want Control
We don't like desperation, so we run from it. We enjoy being in control. But, we should not be surprised that God confronts us with problems too big for us. He does not want us living boring lives. We were designed and are redeemed to participate in bringing the supernatural kingdom of God to expression on earth. We are not made to be satisfied with accomplishing only what humans can do alone. We are agents of the heavenly realm. We crave supernaturality (new word? Why not?).
The life that we share in our relationship with God through faith in Jesus is energized by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. We expect to confront issues that require intervention from the supernatural. This perspective anticipates desperation. We are called to do that which can only be done in partnership with God. Our part always starts with prayer. It is our first response, not our last resort.
As we take our posts as citizens of both the kingdom of God and the land in which we live, we discover that there are issues that we just can't control. For instance, we can't change people by our own strength. But we are not limited to our own strength. If we are willing to partner with God we can see people change as he desires.
It is our time to get involved. There are multiple opportunities for divine intervention. We have a part. Yes. It has come to this.
Has It Come to This?
Someone has said that prayer is the most talked about and least practiced activity of the Church. Why do we have such a hard time with it? It is usually a last resort activity. We use it only when all else has failed. It is not uncommon to have someone announce with urgency, "we need to pray" and we all wonder: “Has it come to this?
The societal diagnosticians remind us often that we are a society full of angst, anxiety, frustration, anger, and panic. We spend billions of dollars and hours of time trying to alleviate these. Sometimes, trying to manage our anxiety becomes our full-time job. Our search for a modicum of personal peace defines our very existence. God gave us his solution through a man who had multiple obstacles in his life and every reason to fret. The apostle Paul offers:
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NRSV.)
Have We Neglected Prayer?
Maybe our angst is not a sign of the troubled times we are in, but a sign of our neglect of prayer.
Jared Wilson in his book, The Gospel-Driven Church, says "prayer is expressed helplessness. When we are not engaged in prayer, it is because we feel like 'we got this.' The extent to which you are not engaged in prayer is the extent to which you are relying on your own strength." I think he is right and it exposes my own presumption.
Help us champion truth, freedom, limited government and human dignity. Support The Stream >>
But I think there is more going on as well. I'm not sure we know how prayer fits into our purpose and how it works in our relationship with God.
As preposterous as it sounds, we are God's partners in God's earthly work. He has chosen to work through humans to accomplish his purpose on earth. Adam and Eve were assigned to such a task for the whole race. This gives us a clue to understanding why we are incurable "fixers." We are attracted to problems and projects that need to be developed, fixed, or eliminated. However, we tend to forget that we are to do it as partners with God rather than as independent agents. We even despise those who appear to be always praying and never using their own minds to think and hands to work. We try to not to bother God with stuff we can handle -- and sadly, we think we can handle it all.
We Want Control
We don't like desperation, so we run from it. We enjoy being in control. But, we should not be surprised that God confronts us with problems too big for us. He does not want us living boring lives. We were designed and are redeemed to participate in bringing the supernatural kingdom of God to expression on earth. We are not made to be satisfied with accomplishing only what humans can do alone. We are agents of the heavenly realm. We crave supernaturality (new word? Why not?).
The life that we share in our relationship with God through faith in Jesus is energized by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. We expect to confront issues that require intervention from the supernatural. This perspective anticipates desperation. We are called to do that which can only be done in partnership with God. Our part always starts with prayer. It is our first response, not our last resort.
As we take our posts as citizens of both the kingdom of God and the land in which we live, we discover that there are issues that we just can't control. For instance, we can't change people by our own strength. But we are not limited to our own strength. If we are willing to partner with God we can see people change as he desires.
It is our time to get involved. There are multiple opportunities for divine intervention. We have a part. Yes. It has come to this.
The post Has It Come to This? appeared first on The Stream.
America! Pray for the Church
While many church leaders are encouraging their congregations to pray for the country, the country should be praying for the church.
Prayer is an intuitive response of humans when important things are threatened. It is an implicit recognition that we are finite. It is expressing a level of faith in a higher power or person. Some prayers are simple gasps of hope thrown heavenward. Others are thoughtful petitions aimed at communicating with God hoping for a response. Praying is good unless it is just a show of personal piety and a display of self-righteousness.
I sometimes wonder what people expect when they pray for the nation to be revived. Is God going to send a cloud full of angel dust to magically fix our ills?
Partnership With God
I think that if we understood how God has chosen to work on earth, we would want the church healthy and praying. Think about it. God has chosen to work on earth through human instrumentality. He has linked himself to humans in accomplishing his purposes on earth. His designation of Adam and Eve as his partners reveal his original intention. The biblical narrative tells how this has always been the way.
At any time, he could have intervened with angels, or he could have instituted another way of running the world, but he stayed true to his purpose. He chose Noah to build an ark to save a remnant when the world was so evil that it was destroyed. He chose Abraham to be the father of a family that would ultimately produce a son who would bring blessings on the earth instead of the curse of human disobedience. He chose Moses to lead God's people out of Egyptian bondage. He chose David to be the king of the nation. He chose Israel to be the vessel of blessing to the world.
Finally, he came as the ultimate God-man-partnership in Jesus. The Incarnation is God's declaration that human instrumentality is his way of working on earth.
Today People
Today, as always, he works through his own people to bless all people as they manage the earth. Those who have come to know God as Father through Jesus are his "today people." The church is that entity. They have been given the privilege of interceding for the world.
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Having been reconciled to God by the sacrifice of Jesus, they know that the core problem of society is separation from God. They know the message of reconciliation. They want the whole world to be reconciled to God, regaining what humanity lost in the Garden of Eden. They have a promise from Jesus that they can pray in his name and their prayers are heard. They share the life and mission of Jesus as his partners on earth.
In Fellowship With God
God blesses societies on earth when the people of those societies are liberated from the destructive fruit of separation. All people are designed to live in joyful fellowship with God, and when they are alienated, they are fraught with fears, and vulnerable to every demonic suggestion.
When the church prays, and offers the way of reconciliation, societies have hope. If all Americans knew the role of the church, they would be praying for the church to be revived. Peaceable and productive life on earth depends upon the health of the church.
A Healthy Church
Anyone can see that the visible church is not perfect. It is easy to criticize it for its failure. It is designed to show that God loves and forgives sinners; a safe place for anyone. It is made up of humans with all their weaknesses living with each other as forgiven children employed in God's mission to reconcile all to himself. The healthier it becomes the more effective it becomes. The welfare of any nation depends upon it.
Under the guise of "separation of church and state," rhetoric, some are trying to eliminate the church. They not only want its influence out of society, they want it out of existence. That is an obvious strategy from hell. Jesus has already said that "the gates of hell will not prevail against his church." (Matthew 16:18)
Pray for the Church
We pray with confidence that as members of his body, we are privileged to do his work. We pray that individuals who live in alienation from God and will see that he wants them; that he has provided a way for them through the Son; that they will find their role in blessing their own world with the freedom they have found; that their families and communities will see the light in the darkness; that behavior changes to fit their new identity; that laws will reflect the values of God's order -- to the glory of God.
America! Pray for the church. The nation depends on its health.
Is Santa Claus Our Projection of The Messiah?
I earned some extra Christmas money during college days as I worked as a shopping-mall-Santa. It was good money, but it almost ruined the Christmas season for me. You can only listen to Christmas mall music so long, before you fall on the sword. And of course, there were the children who got so excited they couldn't control their bladder while sitting on my knee. It took a few years, but the joy of the season revived. I love the music, laughter, smiles, giving, and Santa.
I don't want to ruin the Santa experience for children, but it does bother me that many adults have not made the distinction between Santa and Jesus. I fear that the most common concept of Jesus is closer to Santa than to the Jesus who appears on the pages of the New Testament.
Jesus and Santa Claus
He was God who came as a human to give himself to rescue us from the bondage of the tri-fold tyranny of sin, self and Satan. He is not keeping a list of who is naughty or nice. We are all naughtier than we know. He doesn't reward the nice with gifts while leaving black coal in the stockings of the rest. Only the fully obedient gets the reward. Jesus, as a human, did that.
He doesn't just come to town periodically to judge and dispense gifts. He came to live with us in intimate fashion, 24/7. In fact, he made his people living stones in his permanent temple on earth.
He doesn't just consider our wish list with care. He gives us what we need -- even when we don't know it. His list of prepared gifts is astounding. We would settle for some temporal toys, while he brings eternal life with all its benefits.
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In an effort to be inclusive and inoffensive, Christians have quietly succumbed to a secularized Christmas. Santa typifies our concept of God as mythical, transactional (If we offer our goodness, he gives his gifts), and useful for the naive. The radical act of God becoming man is too much to comprehend. And after all, Santa usually ignores the "list" and gives good things to all who want a gift. So, God must not really be serious about our aligning with his design for living.
Surely we are not so naughty as to need a Savior to die in our stead. That is too bloody and violent. If he exists at all, he must just offer advice on how to be better people.
The Real Message of Christmas
The real message of Christmas is earthshaking. It is no wonder that the wise men traveled, the shepherds were amazed, and the angels sang. Santa is a laughable myth we can enjoy for a few days. Jesus is the Lord of all who gives us the Spirit that raised him from the dead and grants us joy forever.
Santa comes to town once a year. Jesus came to earth once, and nothing has been the same since. We can wink at Santa, but we worship when we see Jesus. And we don't have to wait until he comes again.
We Have a Gratitude Deficit
Alarms are sounding all over in our society. It seems that every interest group is touting their version of the biggest crisis ever. Sadly, we become numb to so many alarms and drift off to sleep even though the noise is deafening.
I think I am detecting a crisis that may be at the root of most, if not all, the others. We are frustrated, lonely, disoriented, and depressed because of the lack of gratitude. Before you stop reading, hear me out. If I'm right, there is a solution. If it is more complicated than this, the hope for surviving the crisis is dim.
Content to Remain Victims
We are competing for the prize of who has been most victimized. Identifying with segments of society that have felt oppression, real or imagined, gives us a voice to demand attention.
While all segments may have been oppressed in one way or another, there are clearly groups that have experienced more injustice than others. In all cases, it is shocking to discover that we have so little control over what happens to us, but that we have a choice in how we respond. When we are content to remain victims and project that as our identity, certain dynamics kick into gear.
We can easily justify personal vengeance. We can even promote violence toward the perceived oppressor. We adopt an entitlement mentality demanding that our personal demands be met regardless of what it might cost others. Believing that our voice has not been heard sufficiently, we can justify shutting down all other voices. We don't want to discuss issues but vilify anyone who disagrees. We become disoriented as to truth and functional relationships because we have focused on ourselves. We stagger like a child trying to walk a crooked path while looking only at her shoes. We long to be with people but are afraid to interact with them for fear that their views might make us feel unsafe. We gather in the crowded coffee shop with earbuds so we can be lonely together.It was ingratitude that started this crisis.
Denied Design
"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Romans 1:21)
With no design, we have been at a loss to figure out how creation works. No wonder we wander.
This text is in the apostle Paul's explanation of why the gospel is needed by everyone. He explains that God made himself known in creation and conscience enough for humans to recognize him as God the creator and designer. But, in blind rebellion, we as a race chose to disregard him as such and refused to give thanks. That is, we refused to acknowledge that we are always the recipients, and never the source. Such a choice left the whole race alienated from God, incapable of making life work.
Without acknowledging the designer, we denied the design. With no design, we have been at a loss to figure out how creation works. In our disorientation, we have confused creation and creator, male and female, animals and humans, as well as truth and deception. No wonder we wander.
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With no God to guide according to a design, and no source to trust for our needs, we become gods -- but very small ones. We conclude that we are the only hope for addressing the problems of society and promote ourselves as saviors.
We are besought with what Nietzsche called "the will to power." We want desperately to be in control and will do remarkably bizarre things to achieve it. And even more desperate things to keep it.
It is such a tenuous grasp, however, since there is no truth beyond what we can discover for ourselves. We feel alone in the universe, and in our best moments, we tremble at how little we are in charge. Having very little to say, we scream, hoping the volume will cover the shallowness of our words.
The Fruit of Ingratitude
It is not hard to spot the symptoms of ingratitude.
It is reflected in disrespect for parents and parentage. Those who mock their parents and the ideal of parenting will suffer the lack of a secure identity. They will find respect difficult to give and receive.
It is also seen in the general disregard for authority. Structures like government, church, and family are considered outdated and malicious tools of historical oppression. The Bible is mocked or ignored by many who still contend they are Christians. It is their opinion supported by selective science that holds sway in personal decision-making. This leads to rampant dereliction of duty.
Ingratitude only focuses on what's for me. We don't even pay what we owe to those who teach us, protect us, and guide us.
There is disdain for paying taxes though we demand the government provide every comfort we demand. We demand that those who have more should divest themselves and equalize provision. Churches should fulfill our religious needs, but we should not be expected to participate in the upkeep of the ministries. Charities should help the poor, sick and afflicted, but someone else should fund them. Children should be educated, but teachers should be willing to sacrifice to get that done, without our help.
Ingratitude only focuses on what's for me. We don't even pay what we owe to those who teach us, protect us, and guide us. It produces a society of derelicts.
It is Time to Give Thanks
Is the answer, then, for us to just say thank you periodically? That is a good idea, but we all know how hypocritical we feel when we say thank you, and we really don't mean it. Like children at a birthday party being told to say thank you for their gifts when they are disappointed in what they were given, "thank you" is hollow.
Consider this. Jesus has shared his life with us. After his crucifixion and resurrection, he ascended to the right hand of the Father and sent the same Spirit who had filled him in his life and raised him in his death, to live in his people. Though he was the Son of God, he spent his life in gratitude to the Father for everything he had. He respected the authorities of his culture even though they were not perfectly reflecting the authority of heaven. He paid his taxes to the temple and to the government. He has given his life to us to enjoy now.
It is time to give thanks -- as a lifestyle. To do anything else is to live in delusion.
We have been given the same access to the Father that he had. We are loved by the same love that Jesus knew. We have been given his name to use against the powers that seek to destroy. We are the eternal recipients of a grace that supplies every need we shall ever have. We have his presence, his provision, his protection, and even participation, in his glorious mission on earth.
It is time to give thanks -- as a lifestyle. To do anything else is to live in delusion. He is God. He has given. We are his people. We have received. Such gratitude to God releases us to be grateful to all others who are his channels of grace.
"Be filled with the Spirit...giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:18, 20)
We Hold the Key!!
We are experiencing a suffocating wave of despair and loneliness in these days. Many are wringing their hands wondering where we are headed. While rancor and violence are on display, voices that could offer solutions are either silent or ignored. Political parties offer to solve the problem, but are obviously a major part of stirring it. But there is some good news. It is in fact, great news because it has the authority of heaven behind it.
We Hold the Key!
We hold the key! America's moral future is in the hands of Christians. It is our time to shine in service to our culture. We have no time for being personally offended by those who don't understand. We are not victims of a darkness that cannot be penetrated. We are vessels of mercy in the hand of our God who loves all people and wants societies to flourish. Jesus declared us to be lights in a dark world as we reflect him. We are sprinkled in society as salt for the preservation of truth and the establishment of peace.
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We have been given the great privilege of knowing the Father through the Son, thereby having access to both his wisdom and his life. We can not only know what to do, but do it, as we are energized by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.
We have kept silent while those who deny the existence of the creator have tried to find a way to run the world. With no creator of order, and no discoverable order, there is no right way to structure life. We cannot stand by while such nonsense permeates the public sector. We have the word and the voice that offers hope.
The word is the truth that sets people free from the deceptions that paralyze them. It declares that God has acted to restore us to the humans he envisioned in creation. As humans who can know and be known by God, we are capable of being his partners in earth's development.
We Have a Voice!
We have a voice. There are still millions of ears eager to hear the sound from God's body on earth. There is a lot at stake. We can no longer shrink back from criticism or fear of losing tax status. God addresses moral issues and if we are faithful witnesses, we do too. There are several issues that we have a right and responsibility to address.
(1) He endowed humans with a dignity that is not determined by public opinion. Humans are persons whether in the womb or outside, with the rights of all humans. That is not political. That is moral.
(2) God gave personal property as a means of developing our managing skills. It is to be protected.
(3) God gave some more than others to ensure human sharing. He wants to the strong to care for the weak.
(4) God is the source of our provisions, and governments that deny that are sure to fail. All cultures that refuse to recognize the distinction between creator and creation are doomed to deception and destruction. It is impossible to ignore the source of truth and hope to find truth.
It is time to stop with the complaining and criticizing and get on with our commission. We are sent into the world as God's vessels of mercy. We represent the ultimate authority and it will not be toppled. We will suffer persecution, but that is not a deterrent. Amid persecution, we shall display a kind of peace the world does not now know, but is desperately longing to find. The key is in our hands. Let's stop wringing them and use them to hold up our Lord.
Pay What You Owe
There seems to be some major confusion in our minds regarding what is free. My father told me at an early age that there is no free lunch. Somebody pays for it. Yet, there is the sentiment that some things are free.
Christians sometimes fall for such ideas because salvation is free for us. We forget that it was paid for by someone else. This distinction is especially important in our day when socialism is again raising its head and government welfare is so expensive. Please go with me for a few minutes into what the Bible says about it.
God’s Sovereign Love is Expressed in Delegated Authority
In the thirteenth chapter of Romans, Paul deals with our relationship with earthly authorities. This is in the section of the book that could be called the "how to apply" section.
For the first 11 chapters, Paul explained what God has done to have a people on earth who live as restored humans in partnership with him in blessing the earth.
In chapter 12, he tells us that our response to God's acts of grace is to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God. He reminds us that it will require a whole new orientation of thought, because we are accustomed to thinking according to the values of our present culture. Our transformation in behavior comes from our minds being renewed to the new reality that has been created by the advent of Jesus who fulfills all promise and hope.
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Paul then begins to explain how we are to apply this new reality and what life in the newly inaugurated kingdom looks like. One of the issues he addresses is the whole concept of authority expressed through earthly structures. In other words, how do people who are citizens of the Kingdom of God relate to the kingdoms of the world.
We learn that God's sovereign love is expressed in delegating authority to various institutions for the benefit of the whole society. (Romans 13:1-8)
Submitting to Authority
It is vividly clear from scripture that God instituted the family as the cornerstone of human society and has given it authority to nurture and orient us to living with him in his family on his earth.
God's intention is that we get the basic lessons of life in the setting of a family where there is structure and mutual submission. Husbands are to lead as Christ leads in love. Wives are to respect God's order as joint heirs with their husbands. Parents are to rear their children with love and respect, as persons made in the image of God. Children learn how to respect authority first in the family.
The civil government is given authority to protect the citizens of society from wrong doers relating to their persons, their property, and their pursuit of their dreams. The Church is given authority to define truth and offer transformation to all persons who make up society.
Respecting these expressions of authority reflect a submission to ultimate authority. All earthly forms of authority are established by God, who rules over all. It is his mercy that grants to human instrumentality the privilege of managing life. God gives adequate authority to fulfill the role he has designed for each institution. If an institution tries to manage a part of society outside its jurisdiction, it is a form of tyranny. Refusal to honor the purpose and existence of earthly authority is a form of rebellion.
Sustaining the Structures of Society
Being a citizen of the transcendent Kingdom of God does not exempt us from our earthly responsibilities. We are part of creation and have a part in its development and its upkeep.
“Pay to all what is owed to them; taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whim revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” -- Romans 13:7
Any concept of welfare assistance that robs a person from participating in the upkeep of the structures of society is destructive to the person's soul, as well as to the sustainability of the structures. It violates God's design of humans and society. When we are the beneficiaries of the authority, we owe our part in sustaining it. We pay our taxes recognizing that we are enjoying the benefits of that revenue. Those who are so disenchanted with government that they refuse to pay or cheat to keep from paying should refuse to drive on the roads, never call the police, and never depend on the courts to protect their legal rights. They are stealing from those who are paying the bills.
We may object to such an approach to earthly authorities by pointing out how some of the humans who are in the place of authority are not good people, even sometimes evil. This is obviously true, but it doesn't cancel the purpose for the authority. History has proven that such persons will either be changed or be judged by the ultimate authority. God brings justice to all in his time. We can honor the authority without admiring the character of the individual representing it. We should never opt for anarchy. That is the goal of hell's forces. Chaos is hell's order.
We not only owe fiscal participation, we owe honor and respect. The current trend to dishonor executive, legislative, and judicial authority with vulgar and demeaning rhetoric because we don't like the person(s) holding the office is reprehensible, especially for citizens of the Kingdom of God.
Civil Responsibilities
In our society, we are blessed to have some voice in who sits in the seat of authority and even how that process is determined. That requires even more responsibility. When Paul wrote the letter to the church in Rome, Nero was representing the civil authority there. He was one of the most cruel and despotic leaders in history. We have plenty of corruption and ineptitude today, but not at that level -- and we have some say in changing it.
Maybe it is time to stop criticizing from afar, as if it were someone else's responsibility, and engage in honoring the institution of authority by infecting it with the eternal truth found in Christ. Before we conclude that the institution is demanding that we dishonor God thereby justifying civil disobedience, we should do our duty.
I encourage every citizen to exercise the right and responsibility to vote, but I ask every citizen to think first.
And it is not enough to just vote, though that is a high privilege and responsibility. First, think! What are the moral issues? Don't allow culture to convince you that because an issue has become political, that the church can't have a position. Political issues often reflect a moral position. Abortion is just one example. Murdering an innocent person is not just a political issue, and it is not the only issue that matters, but it cannot be ignored by shrugging our shoulders and mumbling something about the law of the land. We can change the laws -- and we should.
I encourage every citizen to exercise the right and responsibility to vote, but I ask every citizen to think first. Candidates will come and go. Laws that reflect morals affect society for a long time.
Pay What You Owe
It is a serious thing to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God living in the kingdoms of this earth. We have the assurance that our King is already on the throne and is ruling, even when it seems like evil is ascending. The judgment has already been decided.
We are privileged to carry out the purposes of our King amid societal struggle. We are not victims, and never shall be. Earth and heaven will ultimately see right prevail in every case. God's justice guarantees it.
We live with hope, confident that light is pushing the darkness back even while we suffer the pangs of a creation waiting for complete adoption. We might have to suffer persecution, and there might come a time for civil disobedience. For now, pay what you owe!