Billy Graham's Last Message? Could Be...So Don't Miss It.

Francis Chan Rope Illustration

Voddie Baucham - The Supremacy of Christ and Truth in a Postmodern World

"Though You Slay Me" (featuring John Piper)

You Love Second

From the excellent Book "Note to Self:  The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself."

You must learn, relearn, and remember your Savior's love and sacrifice for the wicked, the rebellious, the black-hearted - for people like you.  And when you see the Holy One's sacrificial love for you, you not only see what love looks like, but also you find strength and power to love like Him.

The Church Outside Our Denomination - Reasons to Give Thanks

I could have titled this blog entry "The whole counsel of God."


I had a good discussion with a colleague of mine.  We both teach at an Christian School that is inter-denominational, committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the inerrancy of the Scriptures.  Earlier in his career, he taught at a school within his denomination.  He told me that, although his convictions toward the particular doctrines of his denomination are rock-solid, he much prefers the current environment.  


That discussion led me to think about the diversity within true Evangelicalism and how important it is.  To be clear, "true" Evangelicalism includes the belief that God's Word is absolutely without error and that it holds all authority in all matters of life and death.  It also includes the truth that Jesus is Lord and only He is.  There is no other Lord and there is no other way to heaven, salvation, God the Father, sanctification and glorification - except through Jesus.


This post could also have been called "the whole counsel of God" for this reason.  Evangelical denominations are full of imperfect human beings who lack the ability to keep all the important things about God in view at the same time.  There are two reasons for this.  First of all, we are not God.  We are not omniscient.  We are not all-wise.  Our minds cannot know everything.  Further, our minds cannot consider each thing we do know in relation to all the other things we do know.  Secondly, sin has tainted our perspectives.  Sin turns even our pursuit of the things of God into an exercise in self-worship.  We wear what we've learned like badges of intellect or spiritual assent.


For this reason, all Evangelical denominations value their "distinctives" at the expense of the "whole counsel of God."  Further, Christians in each denomination tend to view themselves as intellectually and spiritually superior to others.  That is really too bad.


So, when my colleague trumpeted the value of being at a place that includes Bible-believing Christ followers from many denominations, I began to consider the benefits that some of the Evangelical denomination brings to our school and, in a universal sense, the Body of Christ.

• From Reformed & Presbyterian Christians we learn the sovereignty of God and our exclusive purpose in glorifying Him.
• From Baptist Christians we learn the need to preach the gospel and make disciples around the whole world.
• From Wesleyan & Methodist Christians we learn to about holy living for sanctification.
• From Pentecostal & Charismatic Christians we learn about "the forgotten God" and how we must be utterly dependent upon the Holy Spirit.
• From Lutheran & Episcopal Christians we learn about the need for discipline in the Christian life.
• Some things that have been reiterated to me from Christians within denominations other than my own:
• Beauty - In God's created order and in our expression of it through the arts.
• Apologetics - And the need to defend the Gospel from secular and pagan movements and world views. 
• Justice - And the need to practice our religion by presenting the Gospel AND to feed the poor.
• Sola Scriptura - That God's word tells us everything we need for salvation and sanctification.

It's not that true Evangelicals don't believe that all these things are true and worthy.  It's just that, without each other, we probably won't remember them all.  We should all strive to know "the whole counsel of God."  

I like what D.A. Carson says in his book Preach the Word.

When Paul attests that this is what he proclaimed to the believers in Ephesus, the Ephesian elders to whom he makes this bold asseveration know full well that he had managed this remarkable feat in only two and a half years. In other words, whatever else Paul did, he certainly did not manage to go through every verse of the Old Testament, line by line, with full-bore explanation. He simply did not have time.

What he must mean is that he taught the burden of the whole of God’s revelation, the balance of things, leaving nothing out that was of primary importance, never ducking the hard bits, helping believers to grasp the whole counsel of God that they themselves would become better equipped to read their Bibles intelligently, comprehensively. It embraced:  

• God’s purposes in the history of redemption (truths to be believed and a God to be worshiped) 
• an unpacking of human origin, fall, redemption, and destiny (aworldview that shapes all human understanding and a Savior without whom there is no hope), 
• the conduct expected of God’s people (commandments to be obeyed and wisdom to be pursued, both in our individual existence and in the community of the people of God), and 
• the pledges of transforming power both in this life and in the life to come (promises to be trusted and hope to be anticipated).

I am afraid that we cannot know what Paul intended unless we know each other. 

What is the World's Creed?

I heard this creed quoted in a talk by Christian philosopher and apologist Ravi Zacharias.  With obvious sarcasm, English journalist Steve Turner wrote this "Creed" of Postmodernism.  It is, I hate to say, a true reflection of the prevailing thoughts and actions of the world's citizens.  It really could be our creed.

We believe in Marxfreudanddarwin
We believe everything is OK
As long as you don't hurt anyone
To the best of your definition of hurt,
And to the best of your knowledge.


We believe in sex before, during, and after marriage.
We believe in the therapy of sin.
We believe that adultery is fun.
We believe that sodomy’s OK.


We believe that taboos are taboo.
We believe that everything's getting better
Despite evidence to the contrary.
The evidence must be investigated
And you can prove anything with evidence.


We believe there's something in horoscopes, UFO's and bent spoons.
Jesus was a good man just like Buddha, Mohammed, and ourselves.
He was a good moral teacher though we think His good morals were bad.


We believe that all religions are basically the same-
At least the one that we read was.
They all believe in love and goodness.
They only differ on matters of creation, sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation.


We believe that after death comes the Nothing
Because when you ask the dead what happens they say nothing.
If death is not the end, if the dead have lied, then its compulsory heaven for all
Excepting perhaps Hitler, Stalin, and Genghis Kahn

We believe in Masters and Johnson
What's selected is average.
What's average is normal.
What's normal is good.

We believe in total disarmament.
We believe there are direct links between warfare and bloodshed.
Americans should beat their guns into tractors.
And the Russians would be sure to follow.

We believe that man is essentially good.
It's only his behavior that lets him down.
This is the fault of society.
Society is the fault of conditions.
Conditions are the fault of society.


We believe that each man must find the truth that is right for him.
Reality will adapt accordingly.
The universe will readjust.
History will alter.
We believe that there is no absolute truth excepting the truth that there is no absolute truth.


We believe in the rejection of creeds,
And the flowering of individual thought.
If chance be the Father of all flesh, disaster is his rainbow in the sky

And when you hear
State of Emergency!
Sniper Kills Ten!
Troops on Rampage!
Whites go Looting!
Bomb Blasts School!
It is but the sound of man worshipping his maker.

He Has Destroyed It By Enduring It!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
   for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
   for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
  He has destroyed it by enduring it.

—John Chrysostom, bishop of Constantinople; sermon, ca. 400

Haiti & You

Samaritan's Purse is now offering text giving for Haiti relief! Text SP to 85944 to make a $10 gift and play a part in ending the suffering in Haiti. Spread the word through social media like Facebook and Twitter!

One thing I love about Samaritan's Purse is that they'll focus on the spiritual and social gospels as they help these devastated people. Be sure to give....RIGHT NOW. Then, let me know that you did and challenge others.

Love What You Have?

Most of us give lip service to the truth that we should not put our possessions above God or other human beings. Here's a good test for you. Estimate what percentage of your awake life has been devoted to money and possessions. Remember to include investing, managing, maintaining, using, researching and purchasing them. Then add the time spent working to obtain them.

Have you been that dedicated to anything else in your life?

How to Take up Your Cross

Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily...but what does that mean? It is often mischaracterized as meaning that each Christian will have his or her own unique burden to bear. Further, this line of argument seems to usually imply some sort of physical malady (thorn in our side) that we have to endure for the sake of Christ.


However, a careful reading shows this as a misinterpretation. The text does not say this and the context does not imply it.


Instead, it is Jesus teaching us how to live the LIFE He promised us while we are still on this earth. It is so simple that it is difficult for us to comprehend. It seems too easy.


The WHOLE key to living is this: Everyday, decide to trust Him instead of following the desires of the flesh. That's it. It's not about trying harder to do better or to do more. It's about trusting Him.


Warning: Your flesh will rebel against that notion and The Adversary will whisper lies about this saying "surely you must do.". Satan may even quote Scripture to you, "faith without works is dead."


Yes. But your job is the faith (which comes first). God's job is the works. Trust God first and the result will always be good and perfect works. Works not preceded by trust in God is nothing more than us striving to do it on our own. That is called religion.


Everyday, before anything else, trust Him to work through your life. Everyday. Before your family, friends, ambition, insecurities, plans - first take up your cross that was borne by Him and simply trust Him. Deny self and everything and everyone else and trust Him first and only.
Matthew 16, Matthew 10, Luke 14

Can You DO the Fruit of the Spirit?

If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you have heard many messages on the Fruit of the Spirit.  You know the list...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Today's tough question is "can you DO the fruit of the Spirit?"  Let's take a look at Galatians 5:16-24 for some clues:  

5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 

5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 

5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 

5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 

5:20  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 

5:21  envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

5:23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

A couple of points to think about:

First, the fruit of the Spirit is the Holy Spirit's fruit.  The Holy Spirit's very nature is made up of these things.  

Second, The fruit is not the Christian's fruit.  Paul does not call it "the fruit of the Christian."  

Third, the Christian's flesh does some stuff - but Paul calls them "deeds" (v19) instead of fruit. Deeds are things we do.  In fact, our flesh desires to do these bad deeds.

In versus 16 and 18, Paul gives us the keys.  If we walk by the Spirit:  1.  we will not do the evil deeds of our flesh and 2. the Holy Spirit will manifest His fruit in our lives.  Paul clarifies further by implying in versus 18 and 23, that if we trust in our own selves and try to live by the law, the result will be the deeds of our flesh.  

The point Paul makes is "trust God" in your life instead of taking it upon yourself to "do the law."  Haven't we learned by now that we are not good at doing the law?  If we could do it, wouldn't Jesus' sacrifice have been in vain?

So, the answer to the question is "no," you cannot do the Fruit of the Spirit.  But, by trusting God, His Spirit will display those fruits in your life.  Walk in the Spirit (v16).  Let Him lead you (v18).

Make sense?