Monthly Archives: July 2016

Faith

The Fear of the Lord.

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A growing but troubling trend in the church today is the movement away from teaching believers to fear the Lord. I was reminded of this recently when a respected pastor informed his congregation that to properly fulfill God’s purpose in life they needed a perspective adjustment. Specifically, they needed to view God through the lens of love rather than fear. Only then could they enjoy His presence; only then could they fully comprehend and follow Him.

On the one hand, I understand this perspective. Many pastors grew up in churches that emphasized the fear of the Lord to the exclusion of His love. Their ministers taught the wrath of God, the terrible day of the Lord, and pounded on the existence and dangers of hell. Irrespective of the text on any given Sunday, the pulpit would intertwine these themes into the message. Many of the youth in these churches eventually learned the existence of God’s love, mercy and grace elsewhere and it resonated with them.

Fast forward a couple decades and some of these youth have become the pastors, leaders, speakers, and teachers of today’s church. In an effort to avoid falling into the same trap their ministers did, today’s pastors often ignore wrath, hell, and the fear of the Lord altogether. But emphasizing the love of the Lord to the exclusion of His judgment is dangerous. Such a narrow and incomplete view of God produces Christian lifestyles and attitudes that often mirror those exhibited in secular society.

Absent a reason to fear God our motivation to obey Him often diminishes. Moreover, God’s forgiveness, mercy, and compassion are unnecessary if His wrath does not exist. An accurate and healthy understanding of God, then, recognizes that each of these attributes represent His character.

The early church understood this truth. In Acts we learn that “the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied” (Acts 9:31, NKJV). These churches experienced considerable growth because they walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. They didn’t stress one characteristic of God over another. Instead, they held a complete view of God, which included both His compassion and His judgment. A healthy view of God always incorporates fear and love.

Some readers may wonder what value exists in teaching the fear of the Lord. Others argue that such instruction turns people away from God. To attract modern society, they argue, we need to abandon any talk of fear, wrath, or judgment. But without an appropriate fear of God and respect for His standard of holiness, people and cultures adopt sinful lifestyles without concern for eternal consequences.

The prophet Malachi tells us that God brings judgment, “Because the people do not fear the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:5). Absent a suitable fear of God, we enter into sin lightly until it becomes an established habit. The writer of Proverbs describes the anecdote for such behavior like this: “By the fear of the Lord one departs from evil” (Proverbs 16:6, NKJV).

In Revelation, the apostle John uses the following language to summarize the everlasting gospel, “Fear God, give Him glory … and worship Him,” (Revelation 14:6-7). While mercy and forgiveness represent critical components of the gospel, no need for either exists without judgment and wrath. A vibrant understanding of our need for God’s love and compassion begins with a proper fear of God. They go hand-in-hand.

And recall King Solomon. He invested considerable resources, energy, and time pursuing every action, thought, and philosophy to discover the meaning of life. He distills his findings into the following wisdom: “Here is the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, NKJV). The essence of our purpose is to know God, and that includes a healthy fear of Him; doing so reflects reverence and recognition of His greatness.

Solomon spoke from experience. Early in life He possessed a healthy fear of God and conducted His affairs accordingly. But as that fear diminished His obedience waned and He began committing a variety of abominations that led to his downfall.

Other benefits from fearing the Lord include the development of wisdom (see Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7, 9:10), God’s blessing (Psalm 112:1; 128:1,4), and an understanding of the mysteries of God (Psalm 25:14). In fact, societies that teach and embrace a healthy fear of God experience renewal and restoration. That is an outcome sorely needed in America today. In closing, I encourage Christian leaders to reinstate a healthy fear of the Lord into their sermons and for churchgoers to embrace that message. It is one that has the power to transform our nation.

Bible Prophecy

Prophecy Primer – Overview.

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Prophecy courses through Scripture, Old and New Testaments alike. It fascinates and interests both Christians and non-believers, especially passages purported to describe individuals and events of the last days. That burgeoning interest has led to a cottage industry of prophecy interpretation from a wide range of authorities, many of whom offer rigorous insight that provides a biblically based framework for understanding the end times.

Unfortunately, there are also many self-described experts who claim the mantle of prophecy scholar in order to hawk their views for financial gain. Their perspectives often advance a narrative that aligns with the writer’s political or personal agenda, not Scripture.

For these reasons it is critical we avoid embracing any interpretation of prophecy without careful and measured study. Scriptural discernment, especially biblical prophecy, requires guidance from the Holy Spirit. It is imperative, then, we request His leadership as we seek to understand the Bible’s revelation on end times.

We should also remember that while Scripture yields many clues and details about the last days it doesn’t always give enough specifics to reach definitive answers on some questions. Other questions it intentionally leaves unanswered. That should not surprise us since the Bible clearly states that some mysteries will remain hidden until Christ returns. We must therefore resist the temptation to assert indisputable conclusions where the Bible leaves open multiple interpretations.

That said, the Bible gives sufficient information to gain understanding of broad themes and key players on the world stage as Christ’s return nears. It is my intent to share details on some of these trends, figures, and countries to help us process current events through the lens of Bible prophecy.

As we witness growing similarities between global events and biblical prophecy, I hope a renewed urgency grips the church to proclaim Christ’s love and sacrifice to a dying world. For prophecy is not revealed merely to inform but to spur the people of God to redouble our efforts to fulfill His will and prepare for His return.

With that background I will post a Prophecy Primer about once a month, selecting a key verse or passage, specific event or trend, or key person or nation to examine. My intent is to provide readers with a basic foundation in Bible prophecy. I encourage you to augment what you learn by leveraging other resources and studying Scripture directly. Most of all remain diligent to ask God for insight and wisdom – not just on prophetic passages but the entirety of His Word. May the Lord richly bless your efforts to understand the Bible and your role in implementing His plan during these troubling times.

Faith

Spiritual Attire.

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Irrespective of our style when it comes to attire, our wardrobe preferences are as unique as our personalities. Fashion forward individuals wear cutting-edge outfits that establish trends in society while those who prefer professional chic want apparel that blends elegance with style. Some of us favor designer labels while others prefer value brands. Some gravitate to bright hues, others to muted pastels, and still others to dark colors. Some are meticulous about creating matching ensembles while others invest little time pulling an outfit together. But regardless of specifics, most of us would agree our wardrobes reflect who we are and signal something about our personality.

Did you know that the same principle applies with our spiritual wardrobes? The behaviors, language, and attitudes we wear on a daily basis reveal a great deal about our faith and signal to causal observers what we really believe. Consequently we ought to focus as much time and attention on how we are clothed spiritually each day as we do on our outfits of cotton, cashmere, and corduroy.

The apostle Paul speaks to this in Colossians. He tells us, “Since God chose us to be the holy people He loves, we must clothe ourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12, NLT). I love the metaphorical imagery Paul uses. His counsel is not a recommendation; it is a command. As an expression of our gratitude for God’s love, we dress ourselves in these characteristics that define Him. Moreover, Christ modeled these traits as an example for us to follow and demonstrate to a hurting world.

Moreover, in a culture marked by judgment, rudeness, arrogance, brutality, and impatience, such godly attributes offer a compelling contrast. They attract the attention of those weary and crushed by society’s cruel indifference. Clothing ourselves with the behaviors Paul mentions opens doors to sharing the gospel with those who otherwise might have no interest in discussing God.

Additionally, there are three important insights we can glean from the imagery of Paul’s clothing metaphor. First, we need to wear spiritual garments consistent with our faith in Christ. A grizzled motorcyclist would never enter his favorite bar wearing yellow trousers, a periwinkle shirt, and a cashmere sweater; nor would a fashionista saunter down Main Street sporting apparel from Wal-Mart or Dollar General. Such outfits are incongruous to their identities as a tough guy and an authority on style. Similarly, we ought to clothe ourselves in appropriate spiritual attire that reflects Jesus’ attributes.

Second, we need to dress ourselves spiritually on a daily basis. How many of us wear clothes only a couple days a week and walk around naked the rest of the time? None, I suspect. Likewise, it is insufficient to wear our spiritual attire on only an occasional basis. We must clothe ourselves in love, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience every day, and keep that attire on throughout the day. We must resist the temptation to remove any of those garments when faced with a challenging circumstance or sticky situation.

Finally, we must be intentional in putting on our spiritual apparel. Do you ever leave home just hoping your body clothed itself or do you deliberately go to the closet, select an outfit, put it on, and check the mirror to make sure everything’s fine? Similarly, we must do more than hope we have on spiritual clothing when we leave the house.

Develop the practice of asking God to give you a spirit of humility, mercy, patience, kindness, and gentleness as you get dressed each morning. By linking the two together you will develop the habit of ensuring you are clothed in the attributes of Christ as you start each day.

Faith

Counting All Things as Loss for Christ.

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Society is hurtling down a path of rebellion against and rejection of God at an alarming rate, perhaps unprecedented in modern history. We have arrived at an era where culture labels good evil and celebrates the wicked. And in all likelihood things will get much worse before they get any better – perhaps not improving until Christ returns.

In particular, those who profess faith and fidelity for Christ will face increasingly daunting and difficult circumstances that will test their commitment to Him. And retribution for practicing Scripturally-sound faith will come not just from the government, as many fear, but from commercial and social institutions as well.

It doesn’t require much creativity to imagine businesses in the near future demanding all employees sign a covenant committing to the organization’s values, some of which will certainly contravene those espoused by the Bible. Those who refuse will be swiftly terminated and not enjoy the benefit of a favorable reference when they seek new employment.

Similarly, social media seems increasingly hostile to those who embrace a biblical worldview or have the temerity to share the Gospel. It seems reasonable that such opposition will intensify to the point of marginalizing and ostracizing to society’s periphery any who publically claim Christ as Lord. In fact, many believers will find themselves verbally abused, bullied, and rejected not just by online trolls but by former friends as well.

In short, the cost of surrendering to Christ, declaring your love for Him, and obeying His word will continue to climb. For many, the cost will become too steep and they will renounce their faith outright, or sanitize it so society no longer deems it offensive, or practice it in private to avoid the consequences. But Jesus expects us to stand firm, persevere in the face of intimidation, boldly proclaim His Word, and resist the temptation to compromise truth.

So how do we prepare for the pending tsunami of persecution? How do we avoid acquiescing to societal pressure out of fear and remain steadfast in our love for Jesus despite the coming consequences?

We need to adopt the mindset of the apostle Paul, who before his conversion to Christ enjoyed every imaginable benefit of this world. He was wealthy, powerful, admired, feared, and distinguished. He wanted for nothing and lived a charmed life.

But after his encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road, Paul adopted a new view on those things he previously counted as gain (such as his reputation, influence, comfort, and authority). He tells us, “What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Indeed, I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him … that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:7-8, 10, NKJV).

Paul endured significant suffering, deteriorating health, imprisonment, and the loss of all things he previously valued. Yet his faith never wavered. In fact, it thrived because he had come to terms with the cost of following Christ. He willingly exchanged those things he previously valued for “the excellence of knowing Christ.” For Paul, the choice between the world’s enticements and fellowship with the living God was no choice at all. And so he recalibrated his priorities, his plans, and his perspective accordingly.

What things do you count as gain in your life today: your career, reputation, financial stability, safety, or a life of comfort and leisure? Would you compromise, sanitize, or renounce your faith to preserve them? Or will your faith emerge more vibrant and mature than ever following the approaching onslaught of coercion, cruelty, and consequences?

Commit today to counting as loss those things that now hold your attention and distract you from your relationship with Christ. Commit anew to pursuing the excellence of knowing Him, following His example, and embracing His standard of holiness. As you do, you’ll not only know Christ more intimately but, like Paul, you’ll also know “the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering” so that you may “attain to the resurrection of the dead.”

 

Faith

Discerning God’s Will.

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Throughout life we face a constant barrage of decisions. From life-altering choices like where we work, who we marry, and where we live, to ongoing ones like how to discipline our children, how to invest our time, and where to spend our money, decisions are an integral part of life. Significant choices like these – unlike minor day-to-day decisions we make with little thought – often spur us to solicit God’s counsel in hopes of learning His will before moving forward.

And while the desire to learn and follow God’s design on major decisions is always a good idea, waiting until we confront such inflection points before seeking His will is not ideal. That practice suffers a serious flaw in its foundation. It incorrectly assumes God’s will is a series of unrelated binary decisions we navigate throughout life. Absent the presence of a metaphorical fork in the road, we can cruise through life with little focus on God’s plan for us.

That thinking often leads to a dangerous habit: choosing when to seek (and follow) God’s plan and when to go it alone. For choices deemed manageable, we may decide to move forward on our own strength, reserving God’s guidance for those situations we find overwhelming or daunting.

What that perspective fails to recognize, however, is that God’s plan exists in the midst of the mundane, not just in milestone moments. Further, God’s will involves much more than making right decisions; it includes the adoption of behaviors, attributes, and habits that reflect Christ at work in our lives. Let’s examine a couple verses that crystallize this point.

The apostle Paul encourages us to: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NKJV). These verses demonstrate that the will of God is a lifestyle that envelops us, not a collection of isolated decisions made over the course of one’ life.

Notice that all three activities ought to be done incessantly. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in everything. In essence, Paul instructs us to cultivate a lifestyle that radiates joy, prayer, and gratitude. In doing so we fulfill God’s purpose.

If your life does not reflect sustained emphasis on these attributes, is it reasonable to expect God to reveal His will on monumental decisions? Shouldn’t we obey Him in ways He has explicitly labeled His will if we want His revelation in situations unique to our lives?

Paul also reminds us, “This is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3, NKJV). Sanctification is not a one-time decision that occurs in a brief moment. It is the ongoing lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. Sanctification produces the growing presence of Christ in our lives until He eventually permeates every aspect of who we are.

God’s will, then, involves placing our identity in Jesus, pursuing His presence regularly, and modeling ourselves after Him. If we’re unwilling to live like Christ on a daily basis then any attempt to understand His will on consequential matters seems a bit paradoxical. If our actions, thoughts, and lifestyle do not reveal a growing familiarity with Jesus we ought to ask God for that desire.

That is of critical importance. When we limit God’s will to a handful of big decisions we never develop an intimacy with God that sharpens our ability to hear His small, still voice – which is a product of sanctification. Consequently, we’re easily distracted by worldly influences and voices, making it difficult to discern God’s plan when confronting critical choices.

Paul describes it like this, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you” (Romans 12:2, NLT). We must resist the temptation to conform to this world, choosing instead to allow God to transform us by changing how we think. As that transformation occurs, our ability to discern God’s will improves dramatically.

So what can we say about God’s will? First, it extends beyond making the right decisions at crucial crossroads in life – which is a limited and insufficient definition. A proper understanding of God’s will embraces the idea that it impacts every area of life. It yields a spirit of joy, produces a posture of prayer, and fuels a passion for our sanctification. Most of all, it transforms us into passionate followers of His Son so we reflect His love and truth.