Satan, On Evangelism

Everything has polar extremes. Within the topic of evangelism and God's sovereignty, you can find folks who are swinging way out the opposing sides of cynicism and fanaticism.

Those who (correctly) have a high view of the sovereignty of God run the risk of becoming detached from evangelism believing (incorrectly) that God will just save who He wants to save without their help. Others who haven't yet given the complete nod to God in the realm of sovereignty (at least by their actions, though they may profess it), will do anything, however theatrical and ridiculous to get a person to make a decision for Christ.

J. I. Packer puts it like this:

"Satan, of course, will do anything to hold up evangelism and divide Christians; so he tempts the first group to become inhibited and cynical about all current evangelistic endeavors, and the second group to lose its head and become panicky and alarmist, and both to grow self-righteous and bitter and conceited as they criticize each other. Both groups, it seems, have urgent need to watch against the wiles of the devil." ~ Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

So the devil would like for us to be crazily spinning off to one side or the other, because each one hampers true evangelism. This makes it mightily important that we stop making "guesses about [God's] plan", as Packer says elsewhere, and do what we have been commanded to do: preach the message of Christ in word and deed and through relationship.

Dew To Israel

From Hosea 14 . . .

1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God.
Your sins have been your downfall!
2 Take words with you
and return to the LORD.
Say to him:
"Forgive all our sins
and receive us graciously,
that we may offer the fruit of our lips.

3 Assyria cannot save us;
we will not mount war-horses.
We will never again say 'Our gods'
to what our own hands have made,
for in you the fatherless find compassion."

4 "I will heal their waywardness
and love them freely,
for my anger has turned away from them.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
he will blossom like a lily.
Like a cedar of Lebanon
he will send down his roots.

Throw Me A Lifeline

Here's an "I've-got-great-things-to-sit-down-and-write-about-but-I've-been-ridiculously-busy-try-a-video-instead" post. This is a fantastic song by Brooke Fraser called "Lifeline". Extra points to anyone who can guess her location in the very first frames!

Not Here, Not Ever

From J.I. Packer's Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God:

"[We should not] be preaching the gospel (though we might imagine we were) if all that we did was to present Christ in terms of a human's felt wants. (Are you happy? Are you satisfied? Do you want peace of mind? Do you feel that you have failed? Are you fed up with yourself? Do you want a friend? then come to Christ; He will meet your every need. - as if the Lord Jesus Christ were to be thought of as a fairy godmother, or a super-psychiatrist.)

"In common honesty, we must not conceal the fact that free forgiveness, in one sense, will cost everything; or else our evangelizing becomes a sort of confidence trick. And where there is no clear knowledge, and hence no realistic recognition of the real claims that Christ makes, there can be no repentance, and therefore no salvation."

Do you know any churches or ministries like this? I'm afraid they've sprouted up like dandelions all over the fruited plain of the United States. How can it actually be that there are "ministers" and "ministries" that offer up an easy-believism. These men (and women) may as well resign the churches and earn their living being the motivational speakers they are rather than continue pretending that they preach the Gospel.

I admit, that may sound like a harsh statement. I will further admit that my own preaching prowess needs constant work and that I must continually grow in my understanding of the Gospel and how to present it accurately and faithfully. However, I am concerned that so many folks are being made to feel good about themselves every Sunday morning, instead of feeling the weight of their sin brought to bear. Who needs a Savior when Pastor Peprally is behind the pulpit?

The Gospel should be about the truth of the state of our souls, and about the risen Christ who has suffered and provided forgiveness for us, and the true, lasting joy and confidence that only He can bring. Let us never allow our own churches to become self-help centers. Not ever.

A Fish, A Plant, A Worm & A Scorching Wind

He was reluctant, disobedient, stubborn and pouty, thus creating a perfect opportunity for the grace and mercy of God to shine in the life of Jonah the prophet.

Jonah appeared to suffer from a malady found among many modern day Christians, namely, some sort of schizophrenic religious xenophobia: God has shown His special mercy to me, which makes me special, but you don't deserve it because you're so sinful.

It's obvious from the story that Jonah was ticked off because God didn't vaporize Nineveh. So he's mad that God is merciful.

God, however, keeps moving forward, unfolding His plan and saving people. I love the way the point of God's sovereignty is hammered home in Jonah's story with four perfectly placed blows: "...the LORD provided a great fish . . . a vine . . . a worm . . . a scorching east wind."

It's easy to accept the first two; they were salvation and comfort for Jonah. But what's up with the herbicidal worm and the hot breeze? That's just not very nice! But, are we to accept good from God, and not trouble?

The point is that wounds from God are faithful: He supplies the provision that saves me as well as the provision that chastens and changes me.

What right do I have to be angry and troubled about discomfort? Does not the Lord still cause (even send!) all these things to work together for my good? And shouldn't I be slightly more disturbed by the lost all around me than my own measly troubles? Furthermore, when the breeze blows hot, I should be content that God is mightier than I, much more merciful, and faithful to complete His work in me and others.

A Quick Quote from DeYoung

I've just finished reading Kevin DeYoung's "The Good News We Almost Forgot" (btw, you should really pick this book up - it's instructive, edifying and winsomely written), and this quote is from one of the pages I've kept bookmarked:

"Anger is one of those respectable sins. It doesn't seem like a big deal. Granted, not all anger is sin (think Jesus in the temple). It is possible to be angry and sin not (Eph. 4:26). But, honestly, that doesn't describe most of our anger. Sinful anger is anger directed at the wrong person, motivated by the wrong reasons, or out of proportion to the offense. Sadly, this is a truer description of our anger. We take our rage out on other people, get upset for less than noble purposes, and blow up over minor hurts and slight inconveniences. We get grumpy with checkout clerks, snap at tech support over the phone, hold grudges against our spouse, spew venom when sports don't go our way, wish the worst on our enemies, and cherish thoughts of revenge toward those who hurt us....

"We can talk about murder and the sins of others, but if we don't love our neighbors - even those who get their theology all wrong and those who annoy us to no end - we have not been transformed by the Spirit of Jesus and we have not truly understood the Sixth Commandment."

Those Cursed Thorns

"Cursed is the ground because of you...it will produce thorns and thistles for you..." Genesis 3:17,18

Three summers ago, some creature, probably a bird, ate a blackberry in the woods, flew over my backyard and "deposited" the remains of it near my garden. A volunteer plant sprung up and last year I picked my first blackberries from this "gift". This year, the bushes have quadrupled in size and I can hardly keep up with the picking.

I don't know why, but I love berries. I don't care too much about the thorns and chiggers; I will pick berries as long as there are berries to pick. Lately I've found myself thinking about blackberry bushes on the new earth: thornless and chigger free. I imagine myself actually laying down among the bushes and eating to my heart's content.

I think it's good for believers to consider their future digs. It does give a little perspective on life. It won't make the problems disappear, but it's a nice breath of fresh air. Jesus said He had to go away to prepare a place for us, and He's not one to lead people on. If He said He's making a new home for us, He'll return to take us there.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth..." Revelation 21:1

Man's Anger

I've been here before, but as a male of the human race, I keep coming back to it: "Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:20

Obviously it is significant that Scripture is specific about mentioning man's anger, and not just anger in general.

I know my own innate anger doesn't bring about anything good. For me, it amounts to headaches, spiritual blockades, violations of Ephesians 5:25, and further sins. Next to and perhaps more powerful than sexual temptation, the impulse for anger is a major hurdle for most men. It is the opposite of Christlike character in that it seeks to control, twist, overthrow, exalt self and wreak vengeance. Not exactly what we have described in Matthew 5:3-10 or Galatians 5:22-23.

So that's man's anger in a nutshell. What about God's anger? I believe righteous anger brings glory to God, freedom to captives and is even marked by humility. Righteous anger strikes at the things that destroy life and defile what is holy. Righteous anger is the sworn enemy of sin, and therefore, man's anger. One is holy, one is far from it.

How do you know when your anger is holy or not? Well, first of all, what exactly is the object of your anger? Are you wanting to strike out to save yourself or someone else? What would diffuse the anger for you? Revenge or real justice?

I want to be angry, I just want to be angry at the right things.

Just A Little Lightsaber Fun

Just exactly what is it that is so appealing about a good sword fight? I'm not sure, but I think it must be the combination of face to face combat with the art of swordplay. It's mind and muscle performing a delicate and dangerous dance. And it helps if there's cool soundtrack playing at the same time, and your sword is a lightsaber. Star Wars fans, enjoy!

"An elegant weapon, for a more civilized age."

Wanna Buy A Rolex?

A lot of people want a fake Rolex because to the casual observer it looks like the real thing, but it doesn't cost as much as the genuine article.


Fascinating, Rick, thank you.

A lot of people want a fake Jesus because to the casual observer it looks like the real thing, but it doesn't cost as much as the genuine article.

Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons have a Jesus, but that Jesus wasn't the divine and only Son of God.

Christian Scientists have a Jesus, but that Jesus isn't even really real.

Some people have Jesus as their homeboy, but that Jesus is just a kitschy fashion trend.

Many people in this country have a Jesus who haunts their American dream and brands them as "Christian", but that Jesus is a just a patriotic conceit, not a Savior.

So many are convinced that they’re holding something valuable, but in reality they possess precisely nothing but a faked and faulty image of the real thing. You've either got Jesus Christ, or you've got something else - and counterfeits don't count. They cost you nothing except your soul.

Sadly, many would rather have the fake because it looks nice but it costs them NOTHING. For Christ, we are called to deny ourselves, to be willing to lose it all to gain everything.

The very fact that Jesus claims He is THE TRUTH demonstrates that there are fakes. And if those “reproductions” are out there, then knowing the TRUTH is vital.

The truth is that Christ is the eternal, only begotten Son of the Father. This Jesus born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and became the perfect sacrifice in my place, suffering my sins to purchase my salvation. He died, was buried, rose again and ascended into heaven. And He's coming back. That's the truth.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:1-6

Anything But God

Global flood. The Bible describes it. Why do so many find it so hard to believe? Because every last one of us humans is corrupted to point of denying God no matter what evidence is presented.

In "Refuting Evolution" by Jonathan Sarfati, he describes how scientists deny the possibility of a catastrophic inundation of water here on earth while they easily admit evidence of it on Mars:

"Ironically, NASA scientists accept that there have been 'catastrophic floods' on Mars that carved out canyons although no liquid water is present today. But they deny that a global flood happened on earth, where there is enough water to cover the whole planet to a depth of 1.7 miles (2.7 km) if it were completely uniform, and even now covers 71 percent of the earth's surface! If it weren't for the fact that the Bible teaches it, they probably wouldn't have any problem with a global flood on earth. This demonstrates again how the biases of scientists affect their interpretation of the evidence."

I am amazed at how many intelligent, well-studied, even brilliant, professionals I have met who cling tenaciously to the intellectual sieve that is Darwinian evolutionary theory, looking for anything but God.

Commander Sozo Calls One Home

Dana Key has passed away. If you don't know who he is, it probably doesn't matter a whole lot, but if you do, it probably does. Degarmo & Key was a huge band for me during my teen years. I remember seeing them play in Kansas City when I was about 15, and during one of Dana's solos, his Strat just up and quit. Tommy Cathey and Eddie DeGarmo duelled it out while Dana and stage hands tried to fix the problem, the answer to which was to grab another guitar from backstage.

I still love this stuff, and today I'm just a bit envious of Dana.

Sovereign Or Not

It's been said before (I remember hearing it from R.C. Sproul), that God is either sovereign, or He is not. If there is anything in this universe over which God is not sovereign, then He fails to be truly sovereign.

Scripture is clear:

"The LORD works out everything for His own ends - even the wicked for a day of disaster." Proverbs 16:4

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

"Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Romans 9:11-12

"For by him (Jesus) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." Colossians 1:16-18

Now when humans try to imagine total sovereignty, we often default to images of a great Being furiously micromanaging the universe, meddling in human affairs and keeping the planets spinning like so many plates on sticks in a Chinese circus! That's not an Almighty God.

The one who "rides the ancient skies above" is unperturbed, nonplussed, and resolutely carrying out His merciful plans to perfection. This is the God to which Scripture clearly and logically leads us. A God like that I cannot completely comprehend, but I can trust Him absolutely.