Getting Back to the Bible

   I receive a number of ministry webpages geared to help the pastor do a more productive job in ministry. . . creating ministry, using one's time more effectively, etc.  What is becoming apparent is the lack of biblical dependence by the writers.  It is most like there but hidden (I hope this is the case).    But I fear this is not the case.  It is academically more impressive to refer to the Atlantic than the Bible. 
   I grew up mainline until I accepted Christ in university some 54 years ago.  My pastor came out of Boston University and gave us a diet of Saturday Review and the Atlantic.  There was the nod to Scripture from the lectionary and that was it.  Eighteen years of Saturday Review and the Atlantic came from the pulpit.
   My concern is that as evangelicals we have ditched the Bible for other sources and our opinions in our quest to be relevant?  This is not a call for "proof texting".  It is a call for serious, scholarly grappling with God's Word and how it relates to world today.  It is a call to shaped once again by Scripture and not by the world.

Out in the Cold Once Again!

                                                                           

I became a Christian in 1963 while a student at the University of Nebraska.  It was such a fantastic change in my life.  I had come from a Methodist background which was considered a bastion of liberal theology and social concern.  It was an era when people came to church because “it is the thing to do”!  Evangelism was considered coffee and donuts between services because that “brings them in”.  Of course, the point was not to share the Gospel (that might offend the visitor), but to share the donuts.  I loved it because I love donuts!

I went away to college thinking I was a Christian.  I had been confirmed, taught Sunday School, an officer in the youth fellowship, and sang in the choir.   What a winning resume.  From my youth group I learned how to carry a Buddhist prayer wheel.  The only sermon I remember from my youth was the pastor telling about his trip to Paris (he and is wife went to "les Folies Begere" which he shared in the sermon).  Other than that we had a lot of reviews of the Saturday Review.  


My church left me out in cold because it never preached the Gospel.

My freshman year I met a guy who shared with the claims of Jesus Christ and the gospel of grace.  To learn I was a sinner and needed to accept Christ in my life was the devastating confrontation I needed to face.  My church had offered me donuts.  This person offered me Christ.

After my first year at the university I transferred to a  small mainline church college.  Our religion professor, an extreme liberal, made the observation that evangelicalism would become “liberal” just like the main-liners. He was not being belligerent but stating historical trends of religious movements.   I, of course, stood up for my evangelical convictions and said that would never happen.

Unfortunately, I think that day has arrived and though we are not liberal like my childhood church  the Gospel seems to have been left behind for another message.  A message that “tickles the ear”, issuing warm fuzzies, psychologically sound sermons or "that's entertainment" more than proclaiming the evangelical gospel of repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ.

Now I am sitting in the church bistro with my cup of coffee reading my pastor's latest book (which I got at a tremendous discount) wishing he was in the pulpit long enough so I did not have to buy his books.  This time there are no donuts and once again I am out in the cold

Letting Go

So you’re in a spot of trouble.  Well, you aren’t the first and you sure won’t be the last—so have faith and keep your hope up—whether you make it out alive or not will largely come down to you: your attitudes and your actions (Bear Grylls, survivalist).

When it comes to survival, Bear knows his stuff.  When he’s not grossing me out, I enjoy watching him survive situations most of us never want to encounter.  Unfortunately, we live in the world and we face various situations that mess with our lives and well being.  The ultimate question is how do we handle them?  Do these adversities control us or do we control them?  For the believer do we let God be in charge or not? 

It is never easy to abandon ourselves and let God work his will.  But until one comes to that position, one is never free to experience the power of Christ in one’s life.

Easy?  Never.  Necessary?  Absolutely.  To quote the timeless adage:  “Let Go and Let God!”

Honoring Who?

In January Louie Giglio turned down an opportunity to  pray at the president’s inauguration.  Gay activists found a sermon he delivered some 15-20 years prior which took a stance against the gay lifestyle.  Because of the controversy he did not think it wise to be involved in the ceremony.  This, of course, raised controversy from both sides.  The following is a quote from the Huffington Post:

“Just because Giglio honors God with his ministry doesn't mean he didn't miss a huge opportunity to repent of a past sermon that was filled with language not honoring to the millions of Americans who are gay, and have been hurt by the church”  (see note below).

When I read through this article this statement jumped out at me.  The thought came to mind, who are we, as ministers of the gospel, here to please?  The writer, Emily Timbol, seems to offers two solutions…God and the gays.  In my mind that calls the question, to whom do I answer?  Who determines my belief and conduct?  Do I let society shape me into its mold  or do I let God set the agenda through his Word?

Pardon me if I choose to side with God and not mankind.

In today's world we face many conflicting positions with the world.  Our worldview is different.  It is not based upon what the world decides is right, but is based upon God's Word.  The teachings are clear it is up to us to either accept or reject what he has already declared.


The link to the Huffington Post blog:
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emily-timbol/louie-giglios-missed-pportunity_b_2473775.html) 

The link to the actual sermon Giglio preached:
 http://www.discipleshiplibrary.com/search.php?a=1&e=1&m=0&p=0&n=0&s=message_title&t=NAME&ss=Giglio&st=speaker_exact&ssf=Louie

A Change of Life

It has been interesting to approach retirement.  In my work environment most people can't wait to walk out the door and get out of their job.  I have thought much about this because that has not been my direction.  In fact, I have gone out of my way not to retire. 

The difference is between a job and a calling.  Without sounding self-righteous,  I have enjoyed my work.  It has not been merely a paycheck, but it has been sharing the good news of the gospel with people in need and/or people who have wanted to grow in their faith.  That is not a job it is a privilege.

When I locked up my office for the last time, it was not walking away from a job.  It was walking away from a significant part of my life.  Now trusting the Lord to fill the vacuum that it creates...maybe it would have been easier to treat just as a job!

The President of Denver Seminary wrote the following in the Summer 2011 issue of Denver Seminary Magazine:

But passionate belief must never eclipse compassionate engagement with those who do not see the truth as we see it.  In the life of a Christian, there is no room for demeaning and disrespectful behavior toward others.  The integrity of our faith and witness demands charity toward all people.  Being charitable toward another is more than being polite; it means seeking the good of others, even those who misunderstand you, malign you, and even seek to harm you.  Although often mistaken for weakness, acting charitably toward others requires the strength of conviction and depth of character that many lack (p.2).

We do not communicate anymore.  We do a great deal of talking, but we fail to listen to what the other person has to say.  We are so caught up in ourselves and our positions, we do not bother to listen.

We have come to the point where everything is viewed through our point of view.  One cannot criticize without be accused of some form of bigotry.  


A friend tells of a pastor who sees everything from the feminist perspective.  It seems that no matter what the issue, if she is challenged it because one is anti-feminist.  The discussion is clouded, if not ended because of one's bias and distortion of the issue. After a while, one just decides not to discuss anything substantive...what good does it do!


I guess I'm a news junkie, or at least used to be one.  But the news channels have turned into yelling matches and no one listens to the other point of view.  

Congress is easy to ascribe names to those who differ with them.  The President paints villainous those who disagree.


Where's the communication?  One cannot say "I want to hear you!" and at the same time plug their ears and call others names. 


We need to keep our mouths shut and listen for a change...particularly as believers in Jesus Christ.

 

This started out to be a less than serious birthday wish to a brother in the Lord who destroyed my back playing racquetball in Texas some 30plus years ago. Then, I got too serious, so I decided to post it. So, here it is:

To my younger brother in the Lord! Getting older is not all it's cracked up to be! BUT knowing that God is in charge of every day is!! The world has to depend upon positive thinking. The believer KNOWS that God is in charge and HE is the source. It is not saying, "I can do it!" It is saying "This is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). It is everything knowing that God can (and does) do it for His children.