A deadly serious matter

I'd like to recommend, for your thoughful and prayerful consideration, this post by Rick Phillips at the Reformation 21 Blog. Think about it. And make full use of all the means God has given us, so that we may not be "just like Ted Haggard".

Prompted by a comment at one of my posts, I read again Ephesians 5:1-17 and 1 Corinthians 9:27-10:14. Here's what I saw: If we're enslaved by sin, we give evidence that we are unregenerate, our Christian profession notwithstanding.

No doubt about it: sin is a deadly serious matter. Quoting John Owen, "Be killing sin or it will be killing you."

An Election Day thought

Today is Election Day. Whatever the results may be, whoever ends up in power or out, at the end of the day God is still in control. As some of the old folk used to say, God "has all pah-vuh ("power") in His hands!" He rules and "super-rules"! (If you recognize these phrases, you grew up around Southern-born, "country" Black folk like I did!)

Let's remember what Nebuchadnezzar learned about God the hard way (Daniel 4:34-35):

"His dominion is an everlasting dominion,

and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as
nothing,

and he does according to his will among the host of
heaven

and among the inhabitants of the earth;

and none can stay his hand or say to him,

'What have you done?' "

So, as believers we know that everything will be all right, because we're not in the hands of the Democrats or the Republicans--

We're in the hands of God.

Excellent article re Ted Haggard

Tim Challies at Challies.com has written an excellent article regarding the tragic news of Pastor Ted Haggard. Please read it, because what he writes is applicable to all of us. You can access the article here.

I'll be preaching next week

I'd like to ask your prayers for me as I will be preaching next Sunday, November 12, at New Life Fellowship Church in Vernon Hills, Illinois.

If you will be within reach of the far-north suburbs of Chicago next Sunday, please stop by. I'm sure Pastor Louis Love and his church family would appreciate your presence.

And, thank you for your prayers.

Rev. Moon and the Black Church

I grew up and spent 35 years of my life (9 years as a preacher and minister) in the traditional Black Church. Even though I no longer worship within that cultural and theological context, in many ways, my heart is still there. But, there is an ache in my heart because large portions of the Black Church are in a spiritual crisis.

When I think about the Black Church, I feel like Paul in Romans 10:1-2,

"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge."

Well, when I came home from church today, what should I find on the front page of the Chicago Tribune but this article about "Rev. Moon and the black clergy". The Unification Church is making inroads in the Black community, and it has been going on for a while. I first heard of it about 8 years ago. A prominent pastor in our denomination, here in the Chicago area, was involved with Moon's organization. At the time, other prominent Black pastors across the US were also getting involved. I can only imagine the problem has grown since then.

At any rate, you need to read this article; you need to know what kind of inroads Satan is making into the Black community and the Black Church.

While reading Psalm 119 today, I came across this verse (it is very fitting):

"My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law" (Psalm 119:136).

I need to vent!

(Note: This "vent" is brought to you courtesy of a recent experience I had.)

You know, the human heart really is at enmity with God.

("Well, duh!", I can imagine someone saying.)

What I mean is that people's idea of God often has little to do with the Bible. The God they admire and say they worship is not really God; it's the God formed by their personal opinions about God. It's certainly not the God described in the Bible. And when you try to present the God of the Bible, well...let's just say, they don't like that God! They prefer their personal opinions about God.

People don't want God as He is; they want God as they would like Him to be.

Here is the sad thing: I'm talking about church people. I'm not talking about some unchurched "Harry" and "Mary" on the street; I'm talking about people who sit in the pew, listen (I assume) to the teaching and preaching, and who would affirm that Jesus died for their sins. They probably even prayed "the sinner's prayer".

Yet, many of these same people (let me just say it like I would say it at home), "they don't know squat!"

About the Bible, that is.

Something is terribly, horribly wrong (no revelation there).

What in the world are churches and pastors teaching the people? Just what are we doing in our churches on Sunday morning and during the week? Just messin' around? Toying with souls?

It would be revealing to hand out a short-answer questionnaire in church, for the people to individually fill out, that had questions such as these:

Do you think Jesus is actually God?

The "Holy Spirit": he, she or it? (circle one)

Define "Holy Spirit".

What is the Trinity?

Briefly explain the gospel.

How does a person get to heaven?

Can people who don't believe in Jesus get to heaven?

What happens to those who don't go to heaven?

Is all the Bible true?

I'm talking Christian basics--Christianity 101. Honestly, I'm not so sure the people in the pew know the answers to these basic questions.

And, how can they? If they aren't taught the Bible, and if they don't study their Bibles, how in the world can they know the Bible?

So, please, If you're a pastor, preach the word of God! And that means, teach them what it says!

If you're a person in the pew, read and study your Bible! Seek to know it for yourself. Let your pastors know that you want to be taught, you want to be fed. Stop being satisfied with "Bible-lite".

And, pastors/preachers, stop listening to "experts" who say the people won't come if you don't give them "Bible-lite". That's a lie. Stop reading their books, stop listening to their DVDs, stop going to their conferences! You preach the word! Give it to your congregations full strength. Don't water it down. Don't make apologies for it. Give the people definite, clear, unequivocal teaching.

Listen to me: Some of your people, that sit in front of you every Sunday, have their heads filled with some really fuzzy ideas about basic Christian doctrine. You might think you're teaching it but, I can tell you, they ain't gettin' it! Explain the text so your people will know what it means. And, when you do, take your time. It won't kill you to go over 20 minutes, and it won't kill the people to sit there and listen for over 20 minutes.

They don't have anything more important to do, do they?

If they have something more important to do than listen to your sermons, there's something wrong with your sermons! Preach like you've been alone with God and gotten a message straight from Him, and you won't have to worry about losing your audience.

(Sigh!)

Okay. I feel a little better, now.

Excuse me, while I go study my Bible and pray.

"Lord, have mercy..."

By now, I’m sure everyone has heard the sad news about Pastor Ted Haggard of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I don’t want to comment on that story other than to encourage you to pray for all involved.

I do, however, want to tell you what I think about when scandalous sin is brought to light within the Body of Christ.

I think about my own sins.

There are times I wish I had selective memory. I wish I could only remember the true, the honorable, the just, the pure, the lovely and the commendable things in my life—the things Paul exhorted the Philippians to think about (Philippians 4:8). Unfortunately, that’s not the case. I clearly remember innumerable failures in my life. I remember things I’ve said—sometimes 15 or 20 years ago—which still bring tears of regret to my eyes. I remember thoughts I’ve entertained, for which I still feel shame. I remember things I’ve done that, if it were possible to turn back the clock and live my life over, I would not do again. I’ve made choices that, but for the grace of God, could have resulted in personal scandal for myself, if the Lord had not mercifully stopped me from making a total fool of myself.

Then, there is the potential for evil that exists in my heart by nature. I shudder to think what I would have become had the Lord not saved me. As sinfully flawed and failing as (Lord knows) my life has been, it would have been far, far worse for me had the Lord not saved me. Who knows where I’d be? Dead, in prison, in the insane asylum…?

I don’t know!

I do know this: “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Those who are quickest to call for harsh punishment for Haggard, I fear (and suspect) haven’t probed their own hearts deeply enough. Who can consider and meditate on the holiness of God and their own sinful heart, and be quick to condemn anyone? We all deserve to suffer torment in hell, and we’d all be on our way, too, but for the grace of God.

When a brother or sister in Christ has been caught in sin, church discipline should be carried out by the local church, in accordance with the guidelines set down in Scripture (e.g., Matthew 18:15-20). I do not, in any way, advocate overlooking sin within the church body. But, for us mere onlookers and spectators, our time would be better spent looking into our own hearts, rather than tsk-tsk-ing someone else’s fall. Could not scandalous revelations like those in Colorado Springs be God’s way of mercifully warning His people that they need to be about the business of killing sin in their own lives? Some of us just haven’t been caught...yet. God has given us another chance.

Notice how, in a way, 1 Corinthians 10 could be applied in light of our modern-day church scandals:

“Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did” (1 Corinthians 10:6).

“Now these things happened to them as an example… Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12).

“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14).

Do you see any relevance for us? I do.

That’s why, when I hear of scandals in the church, I think of my own propensity to sin. I think, “Lord, have mercy on me! Keep me from falling!” I also think about checking my own life. How am I doing with killing sin? As the apostle Paul urged, “Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Galatians 6:1b). I also think we should pray for our pastors, especially those pastors and Christian leaders in high-visibility positions: “Lord, keep them from falling!”

May this terrible and sad news out of Colorado Springs cause all of us to humble ourselves before God, consider the sinfulness of our own hearts, and commit ourselves to killing sin—every sin—in our own lives.

A prayer memo from Dr. Grudem

In our nation’s highly polarized political climate—knowing the vast majority of White evangelicals vote Republican, while the vast majority of Blacks vote Democrat—I hesitate to bring up national politics.

However, I think this piece deserves fair consideration. It is a “Memo on prayer and the Nov. 7 election” by Dr. Wayne Grudem. I sat under Dr. Grudem’s teaching years ago, during the brief time I was in seminary. From my perspective as a student, he was a godly man who was obviously driven by a deep commitment to God’s word. Whether you agree with him or not, I believe you should prayerfully consider what he writes. You may read his article here.

Lastly, as you prepare to vote this Tuesday, prayerfully seek God’s guidance. And “whatever you do, do all [including your voting] to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Fantastic promises

“And Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours’ ” (Mark 11:22-24).

Some promises just seem too good to be true.

We’ve all heard or read advertisements for some product or some service and have exclaimed, “That’s sounds too good to be true.” Experience has taught us that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is not true.

However, what about the promises found in Scripture? The Bible contains some fantastic promises for God's people. One of the definitions of the word "fantastic" is, "seemingly impossible; incredible." Some of Scripture's promises do, quite frankly, sound too good to be true.

We have such a promise in Mark 11:22-24. Jesus said, “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.” As if that weren’t incredible enough, Jesus adds to His statement: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

What do we do with a promise like this? Usually, we qualify it. We know, from comparing this text with other Scripture texts, that whatever we ask God for must be according to His will. God does what He wants to do; we don’t tell God what to do. Prayer is for the accomplishment of His purposes, not ours:

“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Psalm 115:3).

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13).

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (John 15:16).

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3).

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Additionally, we know that personal sin will hinder our prayers:

“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18).

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

Still, believers have here an awesome promise from the Lord Jesus Christ: Whatever we ask in prayer, that is according to God’s will, if we believe—if we “have faith in God”—God will give it to us. “It will be yours”, said Jesus.

Let’s not qualify Jesus’ promise down to the point that it becomes meaningless. Clearly, Jesus promised His followers answered prayer. Further, Jesus said that answered prayer brings glory to the Father: “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13).

Are we willing to heartily embrace Jesus' promise? Yes, it sounds too good to be true, but it must be true for God’s word is true. God will back up His word. The question is, will we trust God? Remember, Jesus said, “Have faith in God.”

God wants His children to ask Him for the things they need to do His will. When we ask, we acknowledge our need. We acknowledge that God is our source and provider. When we ask, we admit our inability and express our confidence in God's ability. When we ask, we glorify God.

So, let us ask God for what we need in order to do His will, believing that He will fulfill His promises.

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

“You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2c).

“Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7a).

Ask Him.

"Nothing Between"

My last two posts featured the writings of Charles Wesley and John Owen, but I think it would be fitting to pull something from the rich legacy and tradition of the Black Church: namely, a hymn by the Black Methodist pastor and songwriter, Charles A. Tindley (1851-1933) of Philadelphia.

Charles Wesley wrote of “a principle within” to fight indwelling sin, and Owen wrote of the “mortification” of sin. Tindley, here, writes of what I believe must be our commitment if we are to conquer in our ongoing fight with indwelling sin.

Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
Naught of this world’s delusive dream:
I have renounced all sinful pleasure,
Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.

Nothing between, like worldly pleasure,
Habits of life, though harmless they seem,
Must not my heart from Him ever sever,
He is my all! there’s nothing between.

Nothing between, like pride or station;
Self or friends shall not intervene;
Though it may cost me much tribulation,
I am resolved! there’s nothing between.

Nothing between, e’en many hard trials,
Though the whole world against me convene;
Watching and prayer and much self-denial,
I’ll triumph at last, with nothing between.

(Refrain)
Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favor;
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

May God help us to experience this reality.