Archive for: God
The Associated Press on Monday, June 23, 2008, released a statement that caught the attention of millions, Christians and non-Christians alike. The statement read, “Among the most startling numbers in the survey conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57% of evangelical church attendees said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching.”
Once again, the issue comes back to a very simple question. Is Jesus Christ the One He said He was? If He was, the evangelical church attendees could not be more wrong. If He wasn’t, anything evangelical church attendees say has as much authority and credibility as what He said.
He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:26). If He was indeed the Son of God and the only one who can extend eternal life, then there is no other way to God except through Him. If He wasn’t the Son of God, what He said about being the only way to God is of no value whatsoever.
How do we know if He was who He said He was? The issue is bigger than the Bible. It’s the resurrection and the empty tomb the third day. That is the issue on which everything Christ said stand or falls. The Bible declares itself ot be the Word of God, without error or mistake (II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:20, 21). But the proof behind the empty tomb is far wider than the Bible. In fact the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most attested fact of history. Thomas Arnold, who was author of a three volume history of Rome and appointed to the Chair of Modern History of Oxford said, “I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by letter and fuller evidence of every sort to the understanding of a fair inquirer than that Christ died and rose again from the dead.”
Therefore, before anyone, anywhere can say, “There are many religions that can lead to eternal life,” they must disprove the empty tomb of Christ. So far, nobody has. In fact, I personally do know of one person who objectively studied the evidence behind the empty tomb that did not become a believer. That means they came to God as sinners, recognized Jesus Christ paid for their sins on a cross and rose again, and trusted Christ alone as their only way to heaven.
Every Christian should go to Israel, have a good guide, and be amazed! I just completed my first trip to Israel and I’ve got thoughts to process for many years to come. Someone asked me at lunch today what I have learned, and I know that I’ve learned more than I can explain, but I’ll try to give you a little overview.
Even tiny, tiny interventions of God go out into the centuries. I learned that the history that the archaeologists uncover under almost every foot of the ground relates to the truth of Scripture somehow, even if we don’t understand yet how God has planted each little thing for us to find. An example of this was the little plaque in a big Canaanite dig in Dan that said on it, “the House of David.” Buried for thousands of years, this little signpost was the first “find” that named the House of David and verified the existence of the King David of Scripture for those who had contended that he was a figment of the Biblical writers’ imaginations! It was a tiny love letter to the faithful who believe without seeing and confirmation for those who must see to believe.
I read the Bible with a different eye now because I’ve seen those places. Capernaum, excavated black basalt rock, was a little town back then, right up against the Sea of Galilee. It was so intimate that “finding” Jesus there was a matter of walking to the synagogue and opening one’s eyes!
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My recent trip to Israel coincided with the 60th anniversary of Israel’s statehood. In the scope of the number of years that God’s chosen have lived in the land, 60 years is a blip. But what a 60-year span it has been — a successful re-start that we can study to see God’s hand at work. Our Jewish cousins, upon whose Biblical foundation we stand, have succeeded in reclaiming a land, a people, and a dream.
It was great to celebrate the miraculous convergence of events and courage that resulted in the declaration of Israel’s statehood in 1948. The pioneers who came to the new state from the dispersion around the world even before statehood were persistent in the most difficult circumstances, buying land from Turkey that everyone thought was worthless and making it bloom. The hardy hopeful who were trying to create agriculture on top of limestone and desert had such physical and engineering challenges that we can hardly imagine them. The ink had not dried on their declaration of statehood before folk were taking up arms against them.
Over the last sixty years a testament to the sheer determination of free people has happened in the land of Israel. Only this country, in the history of all countries, has been able to successfully integrate millions of folk who did not know the language, arrived with nothing, and had limited future prospects because they had fled for their lives to reach their homeland. Many were highly educated, but poor. Some were secular, Jewish in heritage but not religion, some were tied to Jewish religious tradition through generations, some were Arabs who lived in the area declared to be Israel and who still live there – citizens in exactly the same way their Jewish neighbors are citizens. So many were coming, coming in waves, rescued, airlifted, willing to suffer passage in boats too small – it was an amazing migration. None of the effort really mattered to them – they were all coming home, going “up to Jerusalem.”
They had survived the worst that mankind could throw at other human beings. While almost the entire world sat in deadly silence they died in the Holocaust. When the world waked up and came to their assistance a generation of Europe’s fine Jewish heritage had perished. Every Christian owes every Jewish person an apology for the depth of suffering supported by our sins of omission. We all need to look at their subsequent “resurrection” as a nation and thank God for His mercy, His provision, and His grace. The Western world’s laws, religious heritage, culture, flowed out of their history into our daily lives.
Guest Blog by: Mary Margaret Gibson
It has been said that it does not take new believers very long to distance themselves from their non-Christian friends and neighbors after their salvation experience. What a tremendous witnessing opportunity he or she is missing as a result of the misguided influence of self-righteous Christians. Are we supposed to be “set apart” and pursue holiness to the extreme that we miss the opportunity to tell of the same grace by which we were saved? No! By all means, convince a new believer that they are a missionary to those in their lives that are lost. Encourage them to take the Good News of their salvation to their friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Remind them to “make the most of every opportunity” (Col. 4:5). Realize that a new believer is instantly qualified for evangelism. He can share his testimony of the trust he is placing in Christ for his salvation. Or he can tell of the security he has of knowing that he will spend eternity in heaven.
Relationships with non-Christians should be maintained regardless of the amount of effort it may take. According to Dr. Haddon W. Robinson:
“Making a place in your life for non-Christian neighbors demands effort, thought, and at times risk. Bridges are harder to construct than walls. But that doesn’t alter this reality: Outsiders to faith are first drawn to Christians and then to Christ. Unfortunately, not all Christians attract. Like a turned magnet, some repel. Yet Christians, alive to God, loving, caring, laughing, sharing, involved at the point of people’s needs, present an undeniable witness for Christ in their society” (from the foreword of Aldrich’s “Lifestyle Evangelism”).
God may use your relationship with that person to draw your friend to Himself. God may use you to share the gospel with your friend. If He did provide that opportunity, would you be prepared? If not, visit Evangelism.net and EvanTell.org for resources and training to help you overcome any obstacles that would render you ineffective if an opportunity to share the gospel comes your way.
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Is God who He says He is or isn’t He? Of course He is! If so, then we can speak to God as simply, humbly, and sincerely about our lack of concern for the lost as we speak about our temptations, financial struggles, employment hassles, or marital difficulties. The Scriptures exhort us, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). That being the case, I can come to Him and say, “God, You’re easy to talk to, but what I want to tell You is not easy to talk about. I really don’t share Your compassion for the lost. Quite frankly, non-Christians don’t concern me that much. But if You will help me change, then I’m willing and I’d like to start today. Would You help me develop the same kind of heart that You have—one that cares for those who don’t know You? I’ve seen You answer my other prayers. Would You kindly answer this one?” Or we can say, “I get my priorities so messed up, but if You will show me how, I want to move lost people up on my list of priorities.”
One word of caution: If we sincerely mean what we pray, we need to stand back and get ready. God will answer. He has an abundant supply of compassion for those who ask Him for it. First John 5:14–15 assures, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” There is no question that such a prayer is according to His will, so when we pray for a heart like His we may expect an answer.
As I mentioned in the site description above, DNA is best described as the basic genetic building blocks that determine who we are and ultimately what we will become. I apply this to the church – every church has building blocks that determine its current practices and its plans for the future.
Let’s not overlook or assume anything in our planning for the future of your church. First of all, pray that God will give you a passion for the future of your church and that he will guide your steps. Secondly, pray for creativity and a deeper insight into what relevant ministry looks like in your particular context. And finally, pray that God will protect you and encourage you in your challenge to lead your sheep to greener pastures (fields that are ripe for harvest – but that is another blog entry).
The thought of rocking the boat and leading your congregation to a future that goes against the status quo can be scary. In fact, I know that sounds like a daunting task. Allow me to motivate and inspire you with one of the greatest challenges for future ministry and courageous living that I have ever encountered.
The “Lion Chaser’s Manifesto” by Mark Batterson:
Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey.
Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion.
Are you ready to “chase the lion” and boldly pursue God’s plan for your future? If so, take the next exit.
Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC, is one of the most influential and creative young pastors in the U.S. today. Enjoy what he calls the “Lion Chasers Manifesto”, check out his blog, and/or buy his book, “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day”.
