Starbucks and Salvation

Wonder Who We'll See In Heaven That Surprises Us...

I'll get back to the postings on the gospel Monday...

Tonight, I pose this question...who do you think you'll see in heaven that will surprise you? (assuming you make it there ;) )  I pose this question for this purpose...the only thing that has been more overwhelming than all the nostalgia in media this week over the passings of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett has been this...all the evangelicals who have buried their blogs and posted their headlines under a mass blanket of statements how "sad" it is that Jackson and Fawcett have entered into an eternity without God (that's a nice way of saying they went to hell).  Posts like "The King of Pop has met the King of Kings" and others like it have surfaced all across the web.  It is widely accepted by evangelicals that Jackson is not in heaven because he was first a Jehovah's Witness and then reportedly a Muslim, and Fawcett is not there because she was a Catholic.

Granted, in our finite human minds, all we can possible draw conclusions on are what people said and did in their lifetime regarding their faith.  We have nothing else to use for support...but is that enough to know their eternal fate?  The thief hanging on the cross had no life experience whatsoever to result in his entrance into heaven...however, in the moments before his death he uttered simply, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."  Jesus' reply?  "Surely, today you will be with me in paradise."  Hmm...this man, whose words and deeds placed him far outside the reaches of "good" people, just gets promised an eternity with Christ at essentially, the last minute.  How interesting...

I'm not suggesting Jackson and Fawcett are in heaven...I'm also not suggesting I know they are in hell.  I am suggesting however, that if either before they drew their last breath cried out to the Savior, and were genuine...He responded.  What they did before the last breath and the last brain wave subsided is unknown to us...so why do we feel the need to proclaim that we know with certainty where they are this minute?  Is it so we can feel better about what we claim to believe?  Does it somehow elevate our faith to be able to point at someone and say we know they didn't make it?  Is it some kind of self-serving religous parlor trick so we can sleep better at night? 

Wonder who we'll see in heaven that will surprise us...

What is the Gospel...part 2

My plan is this...we will look at instances of the word 'gospel' in each of the 4 gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), then look at the usage of the word in the remainder of the New Testament.  For each post, I am using the English Standard Version.  We begin with Matthew...

Matthew 4:23 states, "And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people." 

Matthew 9:35 states, "And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction."

Matthew 24:14 states, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Matthew 26:13 states, "Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."

4 times the word gospel is used in Matthew's writings.  We can assume based upon the 1st 3 instances, that Matthew's focus (and Jesus' words) is on proclaiming the kingdom that is to come.  This is evidenced by the accompanying miracles Jesus did such as healing diseases and afflictions.  These healings provided for those who witnessed such things, a foreshadowing of that new kingdom where there would be no death, no sickness, no tears (Revelation 21:3,4).  In the 4th account, Jesus uses the word on the heels of being anointed with ointment by a woman (acknowledged as Mary in John's gospel).  The disciples, witnessing this event, lash out at Jesus for the 'waste' of the ointment, which could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor according to them.  Jesus responds to them by coupling the woman's actions with the proclamation of "gospel"...the gospel referred to here refers back to Jesus' words from 24:14.  Incidentally, many end-times enthusiasts point to 24:14 as the basis for the belief that Christ will not return until every tribe/tongue/people group has been reached with the message of Christ.

So what do we extract from these 4 passages in Matthew?  In these instances, Jesus is speaking clearly it seems of a proclamation of a future kingdom, a day when things as we know it will never be again.  At least in Matthew's writings, the gospel seems to be more about that message than a personal salvation message.  Additionally, Jesus response in 26:13 couples Mary's actions with the message, indicating perhaps that as followers of Christ, the message of the kingdom may be heightened and advanced alongside our actions. 

Mark's usage of the word to come next...

What Is The Gospel???

I'm going to begin a series on here revolving around this question, what is the gospel?  It's a series I've wanted to start for some time, and feel ready now to begin.  The reasons for this series of posts are many, and I'll give insight to those as we work through the idea.

For starters lets lay the foundation of the word, gospel.  As a noun, it is defined as follows from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: in the NT, it denotes the good tidings of the Kingdom of God and of salvation through Christ, to be received by faith, on the basis of His expiatory death, His burial, resurrection, and ascension...the Apostle (Paul) uses it of two associated yet distinct things, a) of the basic facts of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, b) the interpretation of these facts as well as how the Gospel is viewed historically and doctrinally.  Additionally, the following phrases describe the subjects or nature of the Gospel...the Gospel of God, the Gospel concerning His Son, the Gospel concerning Jesus Christ the Son of God/our Lord Jesus/Christ/the glory of Christ/the grace of God/the glory of God/the Kingdom.  Finally the Gospel is expressed through the following according to scripture; preaching it, speaking it, testifying of it, proclaiming it, serving unto it, laboring in it, receiving it, and obeying it. 

So there you have it...the Gospel is built around those things according to scripture.  Tomorrow, we begin to look at how/where it is used in the scriptures, and lay a foundation of what the Gospel is, and what it means for us individually and in reference to the work of the church.

Some New Videos of Kenzie...

here's Kenzie praying...

Here's Kenzie singing "Hi Ho"

Kenzie beating my foot w/ Hannah Montana microphone...

Reflections From Father's Day Weekend...

It's been 4 1/2 years since my dad died of lung cancer...there are days it seems like it was yesterday, and there are days it seems like my dad is almost an historical figure I simply studied about.  As I thought about dad yesterday, it was a strange day.  I thought a lot about dad's character, his work ethic, and his love for family.  I thought a lot about his love for golf as I watched the US Open.  I thought a lot about his love for the Lord. 

Without going into great detail, let me simply say my family is in a tough way right now.  We are experiencing some unexpected trials lately that we would not have thought probable just a year ago.  The trials have stressed our family, and yesterday as we gathered, it was weird and out of balance.  I wondered if we would have gotten to this point if dad were still alive.  I wondered if the family members who are most responsible for this would have acted differently, or made different choices if dad were alive.  I wondered if we should have done what he would have done...gone and beaten on doors until we were let in and not left until people knew exactly what we thought.  Dad would have thought that would have made a difference...and he probably would have been right. 

As I reflected on those thoughts I thought about how sad I feel that I didn't do what Dad would have done...I know that he would not want me to feel like I let him down, but at the same time I know he would also have done anything to address and attempt to fix the situation.  I then thought about things on a larger scale...how things get messed up in life when we don't do what our heavenly Father would have us do.  How He gives us second chances, but also reminds us that if we do what He asks in the first place we wouldn't need second chances. 

I know all day yesterday, I loved on my daughters more than ever.  I became aware that I was constantly hugging on them, kissing them, and telling them how blessed I was that I was their dad.  Not how blessed they were, but how blessed I was...for whatever reason, I was bound and determined to make sure before they went to bed last night, they knew that I had a great Father's Day simply because I have the opportunity to be their father, not because of any gift they might have gotten me.  I thought about why I loved on them like that...and I came to this conclusion; I want my girls to know that there will never be anyone on this earth that will love them like I do.  I want them to know that there will never be anyone who gives them more chances than I do; that there will never be anyone who will stick by them like I will.  I did that yesterday (and plan to do it more often) for this reason...that when they are in a moment of decision, a moment where they can choose right or wrong, they will choose right...not out of fear of me, but out of love.  If they choose right out of fear in me, eventually they will choose wrong, because even the thought of temporary love trumps fear.  But if they choose out of their love for me, and out of their knowledge of my love for them...that love will conquer the fear of that situation...the fear of not fitting in, the fear of not being accepted, the fear of not being loved.  God loves me like that...He asks me to choose right or wrong because in the words of John, "God is love".  Love is His identity, and it is at the basis of all He does.  When I live in the truth of that love, I make right decisions.  Father's Day was odd this year...but it was temporary.  Just as my earthly father left me an example of how to live and love, my heavenly Father does so a step further.  I pray both examples will continue to manifest in my life...

Let's Get Saved!

Here in central Kentucky, it is a hotbed of activity for churches...we are in the midst of the annual Vacation Bible School season for kids!  My church, Hope Community Church, is doing ours this week, and I'm pretty sure at least 3-4 other churches in the Lawrenceburg and Frankfort area are as well!  Plus, multiple signs all over for VBS activities at other churches to come in the next couple weeks...

If you're not from the bible belt, let me explain a little about Vacation Bible School.  There is no real concrete historical narrative I'm aware of re: VBS but in a nutshell, it has its beginnings somewhere around the 1890's-1920's.  Supposedly, Christian teachers were frustrated with not having an impact on their students when they were out for the summer, so they developed a summer curriculum program built around arts & crafts, bible stories, and fun & games.  This caught on and spread, and with the push for mass evangelism in the 50's and 60's, denominations saw VBS as a way to spread the Gospel among elementary aged children (and in some instances middle school and high school students) through an intensified week long 'bible school'.

So in the bible belt for sure, VBS season is in full swing.  I'm not sure what the summer event schedule looks like in other areas of the country, but here it is well defined.  The title of this post is "Let's Get Saved!", and I'll be honest...I LOVE VBS and the opportunities it affords to not only expose kids (and in some cases their families) to the Gospel of Christ, but also the opportunities for community building and fellowship it brings.  However, as with all "mass evangelism" events, I tend to get concerned about the 'number' of people saved sometimes.  We have often talked as a staff how important it is to follow up with kids (and adults) after they 'get saved' and continue to teach them about being in a local body of Christ, moving on with obedient steps like baptism, and similar things.  I think we do a good job of that here at Hope.  I pray the same thing is done at other events.

Why would I even think like that?  Well, in 10 years of ministry, I've run into countless adults who say, "I got 'saved' at a VBS/bible conference/stadium evangelistic event and said "the prayer", but I really didn't know what I was doing."  It seems at times we have been so eager to report big conversion numbers that we have really forgotten what biblical calling and salvation looks like.  Jesus said "Follow me." and then lived out examples of what that looked like.  Paul never said "the prayer" with anyone, nor did Peter, John or any of the other early church leaders.  They obviously did have times of mass evangelism (Acts 2 records 3,000 people responding to the Gospel message), but the salvation experience did not stop there.  Acts 2:42 for example, after the 3,000 responded, "And they (the 3,000) devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers."  There was devotion among those who 'got saved'...devotion to being under biblical teaching, to being a part of a local body of believers, to social interaction with believers, and to spiritual disciplines.  For there to be that type of devotion there had to be 2 factors...1) people wanting that type of devotion and 2) people willing to play a role in that devotion.  1 pastor could not have done that with 3,000 people.  This is why the single pastor role is so damaging in the American church...one man, responsible for the spiritual well-being of 100, 1000, or 10,000 people...not exactly biblical. 

Do I believe there are Holy Spirit moments when the light bulb goes off over peoples heads?  You betcha...do I think the Holy Spirit suddenly and powerfully reveals God to people?  Absolutely.  But I also believe that salvation is life-long...that when Paul tells us to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12) he is reminding us when we 'live out' our getting saved, we are constantly reminded of God's power and love for us.  Let's not simply let others "get saved"...let's take them as our own and disciple them...so they may do the same for others.

Just A Quick Saturday Post...

Finished w/ the final thoughts for tomorrow's message, and getting ready to head home to help my pop-in-law with the final touches to our kitchen remodel...so just a few thoughts before I go.

Preaching tomorrow on the love of God...we have taken the love of God and in many ways in modern Christianity, reduced it down to kitschy phrases and Hallmark sentiments.  But His love so much greater than that!  1st of all, His love is not simply something God has 'developed' over the years.  It is His essence, His identity.  We humanly grow in love, and learn to love in greater depths and levels, but for God, His love has always been at the highest level.  There really is no growth in love for God to achieve.  2nd, love requires personal exchange...for me to love someone or something requires me to give of myself in some way, shape or form.  His love resulted in the greatest of exchanges...He sent His son to take our place of punishment for our sin.  That is no small feat! 

When we take the love of God and reduce it to 'bumper sticker theology' we do it a great injustice.  His love should be the most revered example we have of sacrifice and commitment.  Studying it this week has awakened it anew in my life, and refreshed me to the core.

The Question...

From Brennan Manning's book The Furious Longing of God comes this question...

"Are we responding to the love of Jesus living within us concretely and consistently in our love for one another?"

I recently came across a blog that was unashamedly Southern Baptist in nature. (Note: much of my critique on various blog entries revolve around SBC life...it's not that I think they are the only ones who miss the point; I'm sure on many levels each denomination has room for critique.  It's simply that for this point in my life the SBC arena is the one I'm most directly associated with.)  The sub-heading of the blog was titled, "Restoring Unity Through Biblical Discipleship and Baptist Identity". 

Now, I'm not always the sharpest crayon in the box, but it seems to me the sub-heading mentioned above is one big oxymoronic statement.  If I seek to "restore unity" in some area of life, but tie that restoration into one or more criteria, am I really seeking said restoration?  It would be analogous to stating, "I'm seeking to restore unity in my marriage, as long as my wife has dinner on the table at 6:00 sharp and presses my dress shirts daily."  The issue here is the two criteria: Biblical Discipleship and Baptist Identity.

"Biblical Discipleship" is just a thinly veiled way of stating, "We can be unified, as long as you interpret scripture like we do and apply it as we do."  This is found to be true by way of denominational decisions.  I recently read a story concerning Sojourn church in Louisville.  They have reduced their missional giving to the denomination (for those of you outside of the SBC circle, that missional umbrella is known as the Cooperative Program).  Sojourn has received some criticism for that decision.  The explanation behind the decision is simple...Sojourn, like many other churches, has chosen to completely support a couple who has moved overseas to do missionary work independent of the SBC.  Why independent of the SBC you ask?  Two reasons...1) the couple in question uses real wine when they serve communion (which is the only time they partake of any wine) and 2) the wife was baptized by immersion, but not in a baptist church, so her baptism is not 'recognized' by the International Mission Board.  Using alcoholic beverages of any sort is forbidden by IMB missionaries, and rather than fudge on the question, they would have had to answer 'yes' when approached about usage.  Additionally, the wife would have had to be 're-baptized' to serve.  This seems to be man-made and extra-biblical, so the couple chose to work with another organization and Sojourn is supporting them directly (as many missionaries are required to obtain their own monetary support).  This is but one example of 'biblical discipleship'. 

"Baptist Identity" is projected as being true to the writings of God's Word as a denomination.  However, this again is thinly veiled as something else at its core...Baptist Identity has more to do with heritage and history than the interpretation of God's Word.  At one blog which is BI to the core, a picture is at the top of the home page with 7 theologians of the past, with 4 of the 7 having direct ties to SBC life.  At the bottom of the picture is this statement, "They being dead, yet speak".  BI is more directly impacted by history than His Story. 

So how can we achieve 'unity' through these measures?  We can't...the unity being sought here is to be unified in one camp, with those at the campsite adhering to creeds and commands as opposed to a unity of the body of Christ.  When we deny missionary work to someone because we "don't recognize" their baptism, something is dreadfully wrong.  There are many faithful Southern Baptists who are trying with all their might to turn the ship toward a Godly future...but there are just as many if not more who confuse that Godly future with their historical past.  Their is already a large exodus from the SBC now...it appears with this type of 'unity' being sought, that exodus may grow larger.  John 13:35, "By this all people will know you are my disciples; by your love for one another."  Perhaps both groups need to emblazon this on our doorframes, that we may see it before we see each other. 

What Do You Do With Stories Like This???

Yesterday I was told this account...a lady somewhere in Western Ky was traveling along a road and saw a hitchhiker.  Passing him by, she felt overwhelmingly that she was to turn around and pick him up.  After some internal discussion with herself, she did just that.  Asking him how far he was going, he replied, "About a half mile down the road."  She took him to a spot and before he got out he apparently made this statement, "The trumpet is not far from his lips."  (a reference to either 1 Thessalonians 4:16 or Revelation 8 & 9)  As the story goes, she drove down the road and you guessed it, he vanished in her mirror.  She pulled off the road, and after a while a state trooper pulled off to check on her.  As she recounted her story supposedly he told her, "You're the 4th person today to tell me that story."

Now, the people passing this story along are not people I would consider given over to lunacy.  They are people I would trust with most anything in my life.  So what do we do with a story like this?

We can dismiss it as gossip and slightly crazy...but in doing so we run the risk of labeling those telling the story the same.  We can believe in the story and believe that God is sending messengers ahead of time to warn mankind.  But in doing so, many questions are raised...why western Ky?  Why not use a media source to warn more people instead of one at a time? 

You may be saying, "What's the big deal?  It's just a story."  The thing is, it's not just a story.  Some people hear accounts like this and put their whole basket of faith in it.  Some will hear this story and chalk it up to "just another crazy fundie Christian".  Stories like this that are passed around create havoc and concern at the same time.  Additionally, why are we so concerned that we 'know' when the time is coming?  Do we have concern for others that their time is running out, or could it be when we hear stories such as this it reminds us to "get ourselves right" just in case?  Regardless, we in the Christian community seem to be fascinated with accounts such as this.  The scriptures do tell us we may "entertain angels unaware" (Hebrews 13:2).  Perhaps roaming roads in America are angels we are unaware of...what do you do with stories like this?

Throwback Christianity...

I posted a couple weeks ago that I was starting a new book by Brian McLaren titled Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices.  I am finding out that you either love McLaren's writings, or you deem him a heretic...I personally love his writings.  This book is proving to be no different.  The premise of the book is returning our Christian life back to the ancient practices or disciplines, and realizing why that is necessary. 

Some statements from the book which have spurred me to thinking (I'm only 40 pages in!)...

"I am convinced that Jesus didn't come to start a new religion; He came to proclaim a new kingdom."

"Jesus never makes 'Christians' or 'converts', but He calls disciples and send them out to continue the process: learn the way so you can model and teach the way to others who will do the same." 

"Both strugglers and the comfortable, then, need to mind the gap between the character they want to have and the character they are actually devloping...spiritual practices are actions within our power that help us narrow the gap."

"Spiritual practices are ways of becoming awake and staying awake to God."

Needless to say, I am pumped about this reading!