Last week, we heard of Typhoon Haiyan coming through Tacloban, Philippines killing 10,000 people. Yesterday, news reached me of 75 tornadoes ripping through the Midwest of our own country. 20 out of our 50 states were under extreme watch. Why do these type of atrocities occur? Why do children die unexpectedly and why does Aunt Sally have a tragic accident on the way back home from church? These questions all fall under the big umbrella of theodicy (the problem of evil). How do we answer the problem of evil, suffering, and pain in our world? In reality, there is no 1 answer that fits the question and there will be times in this life that we will never receive an answer. I recently heard a mother express just that in reference to her child being shot at Sandy Hook. She may be right. She may never know on earth why the gunman pulled the trigger.
With that being said, let me give you a few possible solutions to the problem of evil, however I remind you that these solutions are not a one size fits all approach to answering the problem of evil question. Colossians 1:24 speaks of us filling up what is lacking in our afflictions of Christ. What is it that is lacking? It is our pain or suffering that God can use to point other people to the gospel. Sometimes we do experience pain because God is disciplining us or bringing depth in our walk with God (think of Job). Sometimes God is just demonstrating his greatness to us in suffering by reminding us that He is our greatest treasure.
Romans 8:28-29 is a great passage of Scripture for those experiencing evil, pain, or suffering. Many times our suffering is present to make us become more like Christ, who suffered more than we ever will on the cross. We must remember God doesn't exist to make us happy. The "everything works for our good" part of Romans 8:28 doesn't say for our happiness. In this case, good could imply suffering if that is what it takes for us to gain what is lacking to look more like Christ. Plus people take notice when they see us suffer and our hope remains in Christ. Many people don't take notice when everything is going normal as is.
Other times, we suffer because we live in a fallen world, because of our own sin, because others sin against us, because the devil tempts us, or for God's good purposes. Jesus is our example in suffering. From Him, we learn how to suffer well. I Corinthians 1:3-7 gives us the paradigm for suffering. We suffer and receive comfort from God in our affliction so we can then turn and comfort others in their affliction which in turn produces hope.
Remember, nothing in your life has happened that hasn't already crossed God's desk. The suffering we receive from God has ministry in view. Even your suffering doesn't belong to you. It belongs to God. The redemptive purpose in all of this is hope in a fallen world!
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Remember When ...
Remember when times were simpler, when there weren't so many choices, when enough was enough. How far have we come in 30 years? We live in an age now where most things happen instantly, where people feel entitled to something without working for it, and where more seems to never be enough.
As a child, I remember living on a tree farm in Georgia. In the winter time, dad would pull out his chainsaw, march into the woods, and bring back firewood which would heat the entire house through our centrally located iron wood stove.
I remember going out to eat. I was what you call a plain Jane. I ordered the same thing every time from everywhere and didn't need side items.
I also remember a man who would come on one of our four tv channels (no cable) from time to time who would speak a message of grace to the masses. This was always a special occasion as the family enjoyed gathering around in the living room to listen to his message, even though we could hear the same type of message preached on most Sunday mornings at our local church. If you have not guessed it yet, this man's name was Billy Graham.
Ohhh...how things have changed. Now I have electric heat, I enjoy ordering side items, and Billy Graham just turned 95, preaching his last sermon. But with the onset of the information or digital age, we seemed to have lost something. We may indeed now have it all and know it all but we are lacking in substance. And that substance is found in the simplicity of a message that Graham spent his life sharing about.
Though no man is perfect, it is admirable that Graham stuck to his core values to the end. Through the changing seasons, the life changing message does not change. This message has become more offensive over the past 30 years but we must not and can not change the message to fit the desire of the masses.
What truly has happened over the past couple of decades is we were given more idols. In this case, more was not better. Giving into these idols, many have begun to water down the message. Many today have allowed these idols to crowd out their ability to hear from God on high. Graham, a NC farm boy witnessed God put him in places he would never have imagined about growing up. From traveling to the oval office to meet with Presidents and from traveling worldwide to meet with world leaders, Graham became known in the United States as America's Pastor. I think Graham stating recently that he has wept for America will be some of the last words that we remember him by. I have to agree with Graham. As a nation, we have been running from God for too long. Now is the time to turn back!
As a child, I remember living on a tree farm in Georgia. In the winter time, dad would pull out his chainsaw, march into the woods, and bring back firewood which would heat the entire house through our centrally located iron wood stove.
I remember going out to eat. I was what you call a plain Jane. I ordered the same thing every time from everywhere and didn't need side items.
I also remember a man who would come on one of our four tv channels (no cable) from time to time who would speak a message of grace to the masses. This was always a special occasion as the family enjoyed gathering around in the living room to listen to his message, even though we could hear the same type of message preached on most Sunday mornings at our local church. If you have not guessed it yet, this man's name was Billy Graham.
Ohhh...how things have changed. Now I have electric heat, I enjoy ordering side items, and Billy Graham just turned 95, preaching his last sermon. But with the onset of the information or digital age, we seemed to have lost something. We may indeed now have it all and know it all but we are lacking in substance. And that substance is found in the simplicity of a message that Graham spent his life sharing about.
Though no man is perfect, it is admirable that Graham stuck to his core values to the end. Through the changing seasons, the life changing message does not change. This message has become more offensive over the past 30 years but we must not and can not change the message to fit the desire of the masses.
What truly has happened over the past couple of decades is we were given more idols. In this case, more was not better. Giving into these idols, many have begun to water down the message. Many today have allowed these idols to crowd out their ability to hear from God on high. Graham, a NC farm boy witnessed God put him in places he would never have imagined about growing up. From traveling to the oval office to meet with Presidents and from traveling worldwide to meet with world leaders, Graham became known in the United States as America's Pastor. I think Graham stating recently that he has wept for America will be some of the last words that we remember him by. I have to agree with Graham. As a nation, we have been running from God for too long. Now is the time to turn back!
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
The Doctor is here!
Last night, CBS Evening News reported an interesting trend in this country. For the link, visit http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50158569n. In a little over a year, there have been 11 mass shootings leaving a total of 85 people dead. Along with this find was the fact that in many of these shootings, the shooter was found to be dealing with some form of mental illness.
According to a survey from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1 out of every 5 Americans has some form of mental illness. If we look close enough, we can find someone in our own family struggling with mental health issues. Mental Illnesses can be found in people of any age, race, religion, or income. The most common mental illnesses are depressive disorders and anxiety disorders.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides us with a good working definition of what a mental illness is and the different forms it takes.
A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder. The good news about mental illness is that recovery is possible.
I am not surprised that the number of Americans being identified with a mental illness is increasing or that the number of mass shootings is at an alarmingly high rate and that its frequency is related to the mental health of the shooter.
The question we need to ask ourselves is "is the gospel powerful enough to cure the mental health patient?" The Bible would answer that question simply and emphatically with a YES! The apostle Paul said the gospel was the power of salvation to ALL men. It is not just the mentally ill person that is ill. It is ALL men. The Bible says that ALL men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Sin is the illness we all suffer from and the illness we all need cured from. Only when we submit to God's power found in the gospel can our minds and our hearts be made right in His sight.
One good thing we can take away from the mentally ill is that in most cases, these individuals admit they are suffering and indeed do need some form of help. In relation to sin though, how often do most people say I'm a good person and everything is ok. Jesus has something to say to both types of individuals: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
According to a survey from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1 out of every 5 Americans has some form of mental illness. If we look close enough, we can find someone in our own family struggling with mental health issues. Mental Illnesses can be found in people of any age, race, religion, or income. The most common mental illnesses are depressive disorders and anxiety disorders.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides us with a good working definition of what a mental illness is and the different forms it takes.
A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder. The good news about mental illness is that recovery is possible.
I am not surprised that the number of Americans being identified with a mental illness is increasing or that the number of mass shootings is at an alarmingly high rate and that its frequency is related to the mental health of the shooter.
The question we need to ask ourselves is "is the gospel powerful enough to cure the mental health patient?" The Bible would answer that question simply and emphatically with a YES! The apostle Paul said the gospel was the power of salvation to ALL men. It is not just the mentally ill person that is ill. It is ALL men. The Bible says that ALL men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Sin is the illness we all suffer from and the illness we all need cured from. Only when we submit to God's power found in the gospel can our minds and our hearts be made right in His sight.
One good thing we can take away from the mentally ill is that in most cases, these individuals admit they are suffering and indeed do need some form of help. In relation to sin though, how often do most people say I'm a good person and everything is ok. Jesus has something to say to both types of individuals: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Friday, November 1, 2013
What is Love?
In September, I addressed the question Where is the love? Really before we answer that question rightly, we must first pose the question what is love? Perhaps you remember the old Saturday Night Live rendition with Jim Carrey and his friends at a Night at the Roxbury. These three head bob weaving men find themselves at a club looking for love in all the wrong places. The saddest part of it these three men don't really understand what true love is. And once given the opportunity to express love, these men quickly turn their suitors away. Granted, it is funny to watch these three stooges dance themselves out of a partner. But what is not funny is that these men actually represent many real people in our society who think they will find love without actually taking the time to get to know the person they find themselves with. Dancing with someone you just met at a club and calling it falling in love couldn't be further than the truth. For all you know, you may have just danced with a mass murderer. In fact, it is only in spending time with another person that you develop what is known as trust in a relationship.
In 1995 (a few years before the SNL skit got popular), Gary Chapman wrote a book called The Five Love Languages. In the book, Chapman lists five ways to express and experience love:
Gifts
Quality Time
Words of Affirmation
Acts of Service
Physical Touch
Chapman says we often have different primary and secondary ways that we like to both give and receive love. So, for example, in that the primary love language you might like to show your love to another may be in giving gifts, the primary love language you might like to receive love may be something entirely different such as physical touch. Thus, these are not things you learn overnight about another person but rather over time. Chapman adds that it is important that we not automatically give the love language we like receiving the most but rather give the language that our mate prefers. After reading the book, Mindy Meier suggested food as a sixth love language. I think that makes sense when you consider the time it takes to make a meal and the benefits that come from experiencing fellowship together through sharing a meal.
The analogies are endless. Men are from Mars, are like dogs, are like microwaves, and are like waffles and Women are from Venus, are like cats, are like crock pots, and are like spaghetti may all be true to an extent (buy the books) but we must first remember the verse found in I John 4:8 that says, "Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love (read the bible). I believe that! Without first possessing a relationship with Jesus Christ, it is impossible to know or experience true love. Local Pastor J.D. Greear puts it this way, "only knowing the love of God for you produces the love of God in you. Are you staking God's love for you in the finished work of the cross that happened nearly 2000 years ago? If so, then and only then can you begin to answer the question of how you genuinely desire to express and receive love yourself? What are your primary love languages?
In 1995 (a few years before the SNL skit got popular), Gary Chapman wrote a book called The Five Love Languages. In the book, Chapman lists five ways to express and experience love:
Gifts
Quality Time
Words of Affirmation
Acts of Service
Physical Touch
Chapman says we often have different primary and secondary ways that we like to both give and receive love. So, for example, in that the primary love language you might like to show your love to another may be in giving gifts, the primary love language you might like to receive love may be something entirely different such as physical touch. Thus, these are not things you learn overnight about another person but rather over time. Chapman adds that it is important that we not automatically give the love language we like receiving the most but rather give the language that our mate prefers. After reading the book, Mindy Meier suggested food as a sixth love language. I think that makes sense when you consider the time it takes to make a meal and the benefits that come from experiencing fellowship together through sharing a meal.
The analogies are endless. Men are from Mars, are like dogs, are like microwaves, and are like waffles and Women are from Venus, are like cats, are like crock pots, and are like spaghetti may all be true to an extent (buy the books) but we must first remember the verse found in I John 4:8 that says, "Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love (read the bible). I believe that! Without first possessing a relationship with Jesus Christ, it is impossible to know or experience true love. Local Pastor J.D. Greear puts it this way, "only knowing the love of God for you produces the love of God in you. Are you staking God's love for you in the finished work of the cross that happened nearly 2000 years ago? If so, then and only then can you begin to answer the question of how you genuinely desire to express and receive love yourself? What are your primary love languages?
Monday, October 21, 2013
The Prodigal Father
Ever read the Prodigal Son story in Scripture? The word prodigal means lavish so we could rename this story the prodigal father as it was the father's lavish love upon his backslidden son that comes to the forefront. This captures the gospel in a nutshell for both you and me! God didn't send his Son to die on the cross to turn us from bad people into good people (behavior modification). No, God sent his Son to die on the cross to turn us from dead people into alive people (spiritual transformation).
Why then, having so much to celebrate (forgiveness of sin, eternal life, relationship with God, etc.) do we party so little as believers? The prodigal father (representing Father God) is a party throwing father. He threw his son a party when he came back home! Likewise, when we come to repent of our sins and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ, the angels in heaven throw a party! At the opposite end of the spectrum sits the world. The world has so little to celebrate (whatever can be found in this temporal life) yet parties the most - Just observe a normal weekend. When will The Church recognize that we have so much more to celebrate or party about than just meeting together and eating ham and cheese sandwiches and oreo cookies in the fellowship hall?
Captured in this great love story of the prodigal father is the fact that the Father was found "going after" his lost son. Are we "going after" lost people - how about just one? Until the one matters to us, the many never will. All 7 billion people living on planet earth at this moment are valuable in God's eyes and was worth Him sending his only Son to die for their sins. Father God showed us what it means to "go after" the one when He came running after us.
This is a story we need to share in our postmodern culture. Many people are at the end of their ropes and need to hear about a God in heaven who is chasing after them despite the fact that they have run away from him. They need to hear the gospel answer for their life that their is someone who can relate to their story and who lavishes his love upon them despite their shortcomings. Perhaps we would share the gospel more with lost people if we partied more. Need to party? Watch this video and get lost in the chorus! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlA5IDnpGhc
Friday, October 18, 2013
Cold Christianity
In the book of Revelation, Jesus makes reference to spitting a church out of his mouth because they were found to be neither hot or cold. My fear is the lukewarm spirit Christ referenced matches well with the spirit found in many of our churches found in America. Cold Christianity is simply not living out what The Bible says to be true. It is giving verbal accent to the claims of Christ yet not seeing them at work in our own lives. Cold Christianity is saying Jesus died for our sins yet living day to day like we will not have to give an account on the day of judgment of our every thought, word, and action. Cold Christianity includes skipping over the reality of hell, forgetting lost people exist, and becoming so preoccupied with self to the point that truth is ignored.
Does reading this bring a reverent sense of fear in your spirit that one day we all will have to stand before a Holy God. Are you devoted to Christ or are you devoted to the things of this world? Is your life leading others closer to God or closer to the things of this world? Radical Christianity (as if there were any other) is not taking a Bible and shoving it down another person's throat. To the contrary, Radical Christianity is simply living out your life as if what the Bible contains in it is actually true. We sometimes reference this as having a Christian worldview but what does this actually look like. The best illustration I have heard comes from David Nasser, a well known youth speaker. In making life decisions, we use the Bible as a sieve, sifting out everything that doesn't match with what Scripture says to be true. Think of flour. Flour is composed of a fine coarse material. If it's not flour, it doesn't make it through the flour sieve. David says we often use a coffee filter to explain this illustration but that does not adequately capture the true picture because how many times have you used a coffee filter yet found coffee grounds in the coffee you are drinking. A sieve is much better in describing how certain life choices that are before us looked at through the lens of Scripture are completely sifted away forever. In looking at the totality of Scripture, many of our daily choices can't even be forced through the Sieve of Scripture and must be tossed to the wind.
In his book Radical, David Platt offers a 1 year challenge for believers to 1. Pray for the entire world 2. Read through the entire Word 3. Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose 4. Spend your time in another context and 5. Commit your life to a multiplying community. Is this what a radical Christian looks like? No doubt, these are good things to do and I am a big fan of David Platt's teachings. However, we can't check these 5 things off a list and say that we have arrived. Following God's Spirit is much more important in our life than checking off a list. If you want to be a Radical Christian, simply do your diligent study in The Word and then do what it says in your life!
Does reading this bring a reverent sense of fear in your spirit that one day we all will have to stand before a Holy God. Are you devoted to Christ or are you devoted to the things of this world? Is your life leading others closer to God or closer to the things of this world? Radical Christianity (as if there were any other) is not taking a Bible and shoving it down another person's throat. To the contrary, Radical Christianity is simply living out your life as if what the Bible contains in it is actually true. We sometimes reference this as having a Christian worldview but what does this actually look like. The best illustration I have heard comes from David Nasser, a well known youth speaker. In making life decisions, we use the Bible as a sieve, sifting out everything that doesn't match with what Scripture says to be true. Think of flour. Flour is composed of a fine coarse material. If it's not flour, it doesn't make it through the flour sieve. David says we often use a coffee filter to explain this illustration but that does not adequately capture the true picture because how many times have you used a coffee filter yet found coffee grounds in the coffee you are drinking. A sieve is much better in describing how certain life choices that are before us looked at through the lens of Scripture are completely sifted away forever. In looking at the totality of Scripture, many of our daily choices can't even be forced through the Sieve of Scripture and must be tossed to the wind.
In his book Radical, David Platt offers a 1 year challenge for believers to 1. Pray for the entire world 2. Read through the entire Word 3. Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose 4. Spend your time in another context and 5. Commit your life to a multiplying community. Is this what a radical Christian looks like? No doubt, these are good things to do and I am a big fan of David Platt's teachings. However, we can't check these 5 things off a list and say that we have arrived. Following God's Spirit is much more important in our life than checking off a list. If you want to be a Radical Christian, simply do your diligent study in The Word and then do what it says in your life!
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
The Political Answer
Well, here we are again. Republicans vs. Democrats. More name calling, blame casting, finger pointing, on and on, etc. Both sides remain in a stalemate and the country remains in a shut down. We are a little over 24 hours from hitting the debt ceiling and from having things go from bad to worse. National politics are extremely important and do effect our everyday lives. National media from both sides continue to portray the opposite side in the wrong light and move forward with their own agenda. What should our response be as believers in Christ? Our there lessons we can learn from our elected governed officials? Better yet, are there lessons our national leaders can learn from us?
The Bible is God's playbook for life. One book found in the OT in particular, I like to refer to as a Coach's handbook. The book has 31 chapters, 1 for each day of the month! Even Billy Graham said he read one chapter a day from this book so he would know how to treat his fellow man. The second greatest commandment, Jesus said, was to love your neighbor as yourself. If you have not guessed it yet, I am talking about the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is full of principles that man can follow which will allow him or her to gain wisdom in this life in relating to people who come from different backgrounds and perspectives.
Here are some words of wisdom that politicians and believers could both use:
Proverbs 3:29: Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.
Proverbs 4:24: Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
Proverbs 11:12: Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent
Proverbs 14:34: Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
Proverbs 24:17: Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles
Proverbs 24:28: Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
Proverbs 27:1: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
30 years ago, we embodied these principles as a nation much more than we do today. The Bible and the name Jesus Christ both had more relevance. How nice it would be if we could return to our national roots.
Unfortunately, I think words from Proverbs 6 capture more where we find ourselves today:
"There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers."
Pray that our national leaders might look up for guidance so they can learn how to relate better to others down here. Even Jesus, when crucified, looked up in his spirit so that he could say this about those who were crucifying him, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
The Bible is God's playbook for life. One book found in the OT in particular, I like to refer to as a Coach's handbook. The book has 31 chapters, 1 for each day of the month! Even Billy Graham said he read one chapter a day from this book so he would know how to treat his fellow man. The second greatest commandment, Jesus said, was to love your neighbor as yourself. If you have not guessed it yet, I am talking about the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is full of principles that man can follow which will allow him or her to gain wisdom in this life in relating to people who come from different backgrounds and perspectives.
Here are some words of wisdom that politicians and believers could both use:
Proverbs 3:29: Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.
Proverbs 4:24: Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
Proverbs 11:12: Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent
Proverbs 14:34: Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
Proverbs 24:17: Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles
Proverbs 24:28: Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
Proverbs 27:1: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
30 years ago, we embodied these principles as a nation much more than we do today. The Bible and the name Jesus Christ both had more relevance. How nice it would be if we could return to our national roots.
Unfortunately, I think words from Proverbs 6 capture more where we find ourselves today:
"There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers."
Pray that our national leaders might look up for guidance so they can learn how to relate better to others down here. Even Jesus, when crucified, looked up in his spirit so that he could say this about those who were crucifying him, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)