evangelism

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Compelling Love

I’m reading Tortured for Christ and it’s an inspirational and eye opening book. 

The cruelties inflicted on Christians in communist countries are evil beyond compare because, as Richard Wurmbrand says, the presence of evil in it’s darkest state was seen in the eyes of their torturers. 

  The love of Christ, though, is greater than all evil. 

What’s amazing to discover is that the Christians never hated, belittled, or backstabbed their tormentors. 

The grace and love of Christ compelled them to see these men as who they could be. 

All around the world, persecuted Christians share this same view. 

I want to follow their example. I want to love others with the pure love of Jesus. 

The level of selflessness expressed by my persecuted brothers and sisters calls me to action, challenges my apathy. 

If you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend it. 

Go to The Voice of the Martyrs website to request the book (it’s free). 

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The Ultimate Authority

Yesterday I told you we’d talk about the right way to view the Bible.

It’s not a trump card to be used as an “In your face!” insult.

The Bible is the Word of God, the way in which God chose to communicate with man. His directives, the history of who He is, the redemption story, how to live a godly life, how the world will end (and begin anew) can be found in the progressive revelation of the narrative.

The Bible is the ultimate authority and the final say.

Whenever I talk with friends and family about my beliefs on a topic, I have to take them to the Bible. There’s nowhere else for me to go.

And, no, I’m not contradicting myself. My use of the Bible to define my beliefs using scriptures is not the same as using a trump card.

My use of the Bible as my guide makes me a Christian.  

I find it so funny that people are offended by this notion.

Yes, Christians make all decisions based on the beliefs found in ancient writings, yet here’s the crazy thing: So does everyone else.

Why, then, is it only “weird” when a Christian says, “Sorry, I don’t believe that because it goes against the Bible”?

I am aware of the rampant biblical illiteracy and the number of Christians who, in the name of culture, twist and bend scripture.

Besides the obvious, logical conclusion that Christians aren’t the only group with nominal followers in it’s camp, let’s put these things aside for a minute, okay?

I think the crux of the problem stems from what Christians profess:

Jesus is the only way, only truth, the only life.

This bothers people.

How can that be?

Isn’t that judgmental?

Isn’t that rather exclusive?

The beliefs about Jesus–who He is, what He came to do–are very clear in the Bible. If you don’t believe the truth about Him, you can’t be a Christian and you don’t believe in the totality of scripture.

So, when I say that this way of viewing the Bible is the best, I don’t say it lightly.

My commitment to the Bible as the ultimate authority means that everything (and I mean everything) is filtered through this singular lens. 

 

 

 

 

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The Gospel over Lattes

see you latteSelling a $5 latte in a cup that doesn’t  say “Merry Christmas” or “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” is not persecution.

I’m pulling out the Pharisee card on this one, okay?

This situation requires me to challenge the legalism behind the idea that not acknowledging a holiday means the whole world is against you.

Maybe we should ask Christians in the Middle East about persecution–over a nice, steaming latte in a Starbucks red paper cup.

“I mean, persecution is so awful, right?” we sob.

“I don’t know, friend, they’re pretty nice to let us sit in here. I was run out of town for being a Christian.”

What do we want from non-believers?

We freak out about homosexuality and sexual immorality and so many things…..things that unbelievers do not have the conscientious to understand on their own.

But don’t they know what the Bible says about _____________?”

No!

They’re not Christians.

1 Corinthians 1 says,

 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks[b] foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Stop trying to shove your beliefs down people’s throats. You’re not helping anyone.

The gospel changes lives–not a cup!

  1. Share the gospel.
  2. Stop acting like a crazy person (Christianity is already an out there concept. Additional weirdness is not needed).
  3. Repeat.

Who knows?

Maybe it’ll be a conversation at Starbucks–sipping lattes out of red cups–that will be the tipping point in someone’s life.

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Unity is better

There are 7 billion people on this planet and no one is just alike.

This should be as common knowledge as the fact we all need oxygen to breathe. And yet, the way we talk about differences online makes it sound like scientists just figured it out.

Fighting over differences makes no sense when you understand that humans are created for relationship.

God said to Adam, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).

The church is called a body and we are to work together for the growth of the kingdom by spreading the gospel.

unityAll of these things point to relationships, so why are we struggling?

I could list a million reasons, but the crux of it all comes down to the issue of unity. We have forgotten what connects us all.

In the absence of this knowledge, division is rampant. It’s blinding and leads to disconnection.

Looking back to Genesis, this is what connects us: All humans are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27)

I do not believe “all ways lead to Heaven” and “we’re all God’s children”.

There is only one way to Heaven (Jesus) and while we are all created in the image of God, only those who accept the one way (once again, Jesus) become children of God.

Here’s what makes the gospel so powerful: Jesus came to redeem all humanity. No one is left out. We can all have a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.

In all of our wonderful, God given differences, may we never forget what unites us: We are the most precious of God’s creation.

Everything God did in Genesis 1 and 2 was done for man and woman. Provision and shelter, safety and rest, family and friendship all started in the Garden of Eden.

Even when we messed up, God’s redemptive plan was to give it all back.

Let’s agree to unite around the gospel.

Let’s agree to unite around the fact that people are important.

Differences are wonderful, but unity is even better.

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An incomprehensible love

I read an article once that said many Christians feel uncomfortable when questionable people attend church. You’ve probably read or heard something similar before too.

Homeless people, prostitutes, druggies, murderers, pedophiles….

Even reading that list probably made some of you cringe just a little.

But Jesus died for us all. He didn’t say, “Unless your past was questionable. That’s where I draw the line.”

If a questionable past can keep you out of Heaven, I’m already disqualified.

All of us deserve hell. We just can’t measure up to God’s righteousness by ourselves.

And that’s why God–from the foundations of the earth–had the plan of salvation ready to go.

God, creator of the world, knew BEFORE IT HAPPENED that man–his most special creation–would screw up.

Then he created us anyway.

Why?

Because He is a God of love and wanted a people to lavish that love upon.

This fact still blows me away!

God has ALWAYS loved you. He loved you BEFORE you were ever loveable. He loved you even when He KNEW mankind was going to say, “Buzz off! I’ve got this under control.”  

It’s a love that’s beyond comprehension.

Why is the church not sharing this wonderful news?

God's loveBecause we can’t run around telling people Jesus loves them just as they are. There are conditions you know!

So the church continues to avoid homeless people, prostitutes, druggies, murderers, pedophiles….

And don’t even pull the “So your saying that we should all just do whatever we want? That’s greasy grace” card.

It’s a tired argument that needs to die.

I’m simply stating the fact that a behavior modification program, which has never worked (just ask the children of Israel) is not the same as the transforming power of grace.

The “bad” people we try desperately to avoid need Jesus.

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A hope worth celebrating

It’s been quite the weekend! 

I had the privilege of serving as a counselor at the Greater Birmingham Festival of Hope. 

Franklin Graham shared about the remedy for the pain and emptiness in our lives: accepting the finished work of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus lived and died to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law. Without His sacrifice, His blood, we would have no hope at all. 

Hope is an awesome thing. 

It’s the fuel of our sanctified imaginations. 
It’s the reason we can endure hardships with joy. 

Jesus came to give us hope!

A life without hope is no life at all. 

So, I want to end this wonderful weekend by giving thanks to Jesus Christ. 

He’s the author and finisher of our faith. 

He’s the giver of hope. 

And now hundreds of people have hope for a brighter future. 

All I want to do is celebrate!

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A camping we will go! 

Today’s post is more of an update. I had the opportunity to pick up kids for Camp Shocco for the Deaf.

For many deaf children, it’s the first time they’ve heard the gospel. Also, it’s a camp that allows a deaf child’s hearing brothers and sisters–and other close relatives–to come as well.

This year’s camp attendance is great! Over 100 kids filled the chapel when I left this afternoon. Wow!

 Please be in prayer for camp this week. Pray for all the kids and staff. I’m believing that a lot of kids will be saved. I’m also believing that everyone will be safe and have lots of fun.

On a personal note, I’m believing to be off this Saturday so I can help take kids back home and hear about their week.

Birmingham Community Deaf Church, Deaf Christian Fellowship, and the Alabama Baptist Conference for the Deaf are paying for camp this week. 
They still need donations to pay for students’ tuition. The cost per camper is $250.

Donations of any amount are appreciated.

Feel free to send a check to one of the addresses listed on the letter or leave me a comment if you want to send a donation electronically.

Remember to pray for camp this week, okay?