The Time To Speak

This week at work, on Wednesday, we took our regular morning break at 10:45. Our breaks last 15 minutes, which is just enough time for me to drive to the nearest gas station around the corner from our office. Occasionally, I hit a wall around 10 or 11, so some coffee/rockstars are often needed. Anyway, I drive up to the gas station at about 10:51, and as I pull up, I notice there are four African-American teenage boys standing outside the door, all of them wearing the same t-shirts. The shirts read something like this... "Organization to keep young kids off the streets." As I began to walk toward the door, one of the young boys stopped me, and began to give what seemed to be a speech or a pitch that they probably had been trained to give. The boy was probably 15 or 16 years old. He began to tell me about their organization, and how their purpose was to give at-risk teenagers jobs or tasks, in order to keep them off the streets. Although I do not know anything about the boys, they all seemed very troubled. Needless to say, I was ready to listen to what they had to say. They each had a cardboard box that was filled with crackers and cookies of some sort, that they were intending to sell. I did not have any cash on me, so I was unable to buy any of their cookies. I thanked him, and proceeded to go inside to get my much-needed rockstar. As I was getting my drink, I could not stop thinking about these young, troubled teenagers, and the difficult life they must face everyday. In addition to that, I could not stop thinking about the gospel, and the hope that is found in it, and how badly I wanted to share it with them. Though I wish these were the only two concerns I had in my mind at the time, I would not be speaking truthfully if I didn't tell you of the third concern I had..."I'm gonna be late." After I purchased my drink, I looked at my watch and saw that it was 10:55. I was due back in the office on the phones no later than 11:00. As I said, all I wanted to do was stop and talk to these boys, and tell them about Christ! Maybe they already know Christ, maybe they've never heard the gospel, maybe they've refused the gospel. I didn't know the answers to these questions, but everything in me wanted to find out. So as I walked out the door, the boys were there, and the only thing that came out of my mouth was a mere, "Hey, thank you guys for standing out here in the heat. I'm sure it's hot, but it's good to see you guys out here." I proceeded to walk to my car, opened the door, and sat down to turn my car on, only to see my clock that said 10:56.

Time reigned supreme. I had a responsibility; an obligation to my place of employment. The entire drive back to the office, I really struggled with this. Was I just going to let my job responsibility stand in the way of these boys' eternity? Is that even a fair question? Of course, I need to steward the job that I have been given well, but should it be at the expense of the gospel being spoken, and possibly believed for the first time? Maybe that would be the only time for some of those boys. As I drove back to work, I started to think about how often situations similar to this one occur, and how time always reigns supreme. I was frustrated, but I couldn't figure out if my frustration was toward myself for not ignoring my responsibility, or toward the entirety of this issue that we face here in our busy, one place to the next culture we live in here in America. Everything revolves around schedules, meetings, responsibilities, deadlines, obligations, and time constraints; and I think this is paralyzing for the church as well. We are not outside of this problem. No, we are right in the heart of this problem, and may not even realize the extent to which it keeps us silent.

In Romans 10:13-15, it says...
"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

I have been to Africa on two occasions. We have occasionally joked about something we like to call, "Africa Time." For example, if we were to schedule some sort of gathering at 10:00, we should plan on beginning everything at 10:30, or possibly even 9:45...who knows? All of the people who are coming to the gathering will be arriving based around "Africa Time." Though on the surface, this seems kind of silly, and may possibly seem to be the result of a non-advanced culture, I think that at the heart of this issue, they are more advanced than we are. I argue this because PEOPLE should be the main motivator, and the epicenter for any sort of advancement. The problem is that, in some cases(most), we have flipped this. Advancement for the sake of advancement has taken precedence over advancement for the sake of people. What I would like to highlight is not the fact that, in Africa, everyone is almost always late. I think that we would be selling their culture short if we were to stop there. I want to highlight WHY they are late. You see, in Africa, if you are on you way to a responsibility of some sort, (which would also include your job), and on the way you ran into ANYONE you had ever met before, or even seen for that matter, you stop. But when you stop, you do not merely stop and say, "How are you?", "Good, how are you?" No, you stop and have a real conversation with that person, and it's because that person is more important than your deadline.

I once saw a video called "God Grew Tired of Us". The video was about the story of a group of "lost boys" in Sudan, who were eventually given an opportunity to move to America. The video portrayed each lost boy's story of their new life in America. I remember one story of a young Sudanese man who began to live in New York City, and he shared an experience he had faced, where he was walking along the streets of New York, and saw a lady crying loudly on a bench. He watched as every person noticed her troubles, but continued on their way as if she were not there. I don't believe for a second that no one was affected by this woman. There were probably some who could care less, but there were also probably some who did care, but cared more about their time constraints, leading them to continue walking. The Sudanese man said that he was amazed, because something like this would have never happened in Sudan. He said that every person would have stopped. Needless to say, he stopped and spoke with this woman, and was able to encourage her greatly.

Though this whole issue is frustrating, again I want to point out that I am not outside of this struggle. I often choose to walk by, but not because I don't want to speak with them. It's because I always have somewhere I have to be. Am I saying that we should relinquish all responsibilities all the time? I don't think so. As I've wrestled through this frustration, I've also struggled to come up with an over-arching solution. My aim is to make us all consider our priorities, and be certain to prioritize the gospel over every circumstance. The "How's" and "What's" will all be situational in accordance with your own personal responsibilities. The only thing I am certain of, is that in opportunities that are "missed", we better plead to the God who saves on behalf of that person. For we know that John 6:44 says that, "no one comes to the Son, unless the Father draws him first." We can find some rest in this, but that rest should NOT be a sufficient substitute for seeking a solution to our problem of time here in America. That rest cannot be a sufficient substitute for searching your heart to figure out where your priorities are. That rest cannot be a sufficient substitute for silence. Though the Father is the one who first draws, "how are they to hear without someone preaching?" Though we may not have the time to speak, I believe it's time to speak!

I will leave us with a verse to meditate on in response to this problem. I pray the Lord teaches us to overcome, and grants us the wisdom to do so.

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
Psalm 90:12

"O Lord, make me know my end, and what is the measure of my days, let me know how fleeting I am."
Psalm 39:4

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also the the Greek. For IN IT the righteousness of God is revealed..."
Romans 1:16-17

It's Getting Late. It's Getting Serious.

Here's the song that's been on my heart this week as I wrestle through this...

Take Up Your Cross

I have been ruminating on a thought/passage for a few weeks now. I have been studying Jesus' command to those wishing to come after Him, saying, "let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me." (Mark 8) Traditionally, when the church hears or speaks these overly used (out of context) words to "take up your cross," it is in reference to what Paul would call "momentary light afflictions." (1 Corinthians) We use pithy statements like, "oh, this is just my cross I have to bear," while referencing regular occurring life circumstances like stubbing your toe, or struggling to pay your rent. I DO NOT believe this is what Jesus meant when He gave this command to His disciples. If we continue to reference this passage in this way, we will be reducing Jesus' command for salvation to whatever portrait suits our fancy, so that we do not really have to take up a cross. Yes, literally take up a cross.

In order to understand the meaning behind this text, we have to understand what discipleship looked like to a first century Jew. Typically, boys would become disciples around the age of 13 or 14 by choosing which rabbi they would follow. Jesus' disciples follow a similar pattern, yet very different as well. Rabbis were traditionally given an opportunity to have followers once they reached the age of 80. As we know, Jesus was in his thirties at this time, and the disciples did not pick Him as the rabbi they would follow, He chose them. Talk about counter-culturalism. That's another story. Anyway, a disciple would be someone that would literally mimic every move of the rabbi. Almost like a contemporary game of Simon Says, or Follow the Leader.

Prior to Jesus explaining what must happen, the disciples had a misunderstanding of the King that they were expecting, as well as what they were expecting Him to do. At this time, the Jews were being oppressed by Rome, and they needed a King who would regain the throne, and deliver them from oppression. Peter, believing and confessing that Jesus was the Christ, had his own expectation of what must happen for their deliverance. Upon Jesus' explanation that "the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected...and be killed, and after three days rise again," Peter was thrown off. Peter began to rebuke Jesus privately (funny), immediately followed by Jesus rebuking Peter publically (funny).

Now that we understand what is going on here, as well as know the expectations of a disciple, we will see the importance of Jesus saying that "the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected...and be killed, and after three days rise again." As a disciple, they should very well know the expectations that are placed before them, are to mimic their Rabbi, or as we would say, Follow the Leader. Obvioiusly, Peter was not expecting this, but even more so, he knew of the possibility that he may have to do the same. Finally, Jesus says that "if anyone wants to come after me (follow the leader), he must DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, and FOLLOW ME. Now would be the time to be somewhat afraid if you were one of His disciples. Jesus is not speaking from a metaphorical standpoint, merely saying that it might be somewhat hard at times, He is demanding that His disciples take an oath of death, but not just any death, the most shameful of all deaths. This is the cost of following Jesus. He is saying, I am going to do this, and I want you to follow me, and do the same.

This is validated in multiple places, but here are a few examples: Mark 10:35-45, James and John are telling Jesus that they want to sit at His right and left in His glory. Jesus says, "you do not know what you are asking, are you able to drink the cup that I drink," referring to the very same cup that is mentioned in the garden of gethsemane when Jesus is asking the Father for another way, and to take this cup (death) from Him. James and John say, yeah, we are able and will do whatever. Jesus' response is awesome, saying, "Yes, the cup that I will drink, you WILL drink." I guess they asked for it huh? Later we see that both James and John, as well as Peter, drank that very cup.

Now that we see that "take up your cross" is a very literal phrase, and that Jesus requires us to follow Him, to the point of death, even death on a cross, we begin to see the cost of following Jesus. This is very difficult to grasp as Americans, knowing that we are in a place where there is almost zero threat of death, persecution, or even the slightest loss for following Jesus. Typically, one would receive much praise and approval at the decision to follow Jesus, which brings us to a problem. How can we understand this passage according to its' original intent? How can we know the cost, count the cost, and follow Him accordingly, when there seems to be no cost? Maybe it IS hard for a rich man to enter His Kingdom!? We are very quick to have much pity on people in places where there is little food, little comfort, much violence, yet filled with true followers of Jesus, who actually had to make sacrifices to follow Him. My pity is beginning to shift. I pity those who have everything they need, yet do not have Christ. Maybe we are lacking in Christ's afflictions. Maybe we are racking up treasures that will be destroyed by moth and rust, while walking in ignorance to the gospel. It is a dangerous place to say, "Jesus Paid It All", if by saying that you mean, "I have nothing left to pay." I believe Jesus would say otherwise. I pray that He will show us the cost, so that we would not be blinded by the god of this world to the light of the gospel of Jesus. Here lies the seperation between those who profess to follow Christ, and those who follow Christ.

Prayer Substituted

As I drive to Graham Texas every Wednesday, there is a particular church that stands alone on the side of the road, that grabs my attention every time I pass by. The first few times I drove by, my immediate response was one of comic relief and laughter. I wanted to laugh at just how silly what I saw was. After a few times, the Lord began to stir in me a brokenness for what I was seeing.

Every time I drive by this church, they have something new and creative on their sign, that shows itself as a desperate attempt to grab peoples' attention, and place them in the pews. The majority of the signs are just plain silly. "Come in for a faith lift;" "The person who is steering the boat does not have time to rock it;" "You Think It's Hot Here?" As I said, at first glance my response is that of laughter. But as I began to think on these things, I have been shown all over the place in ministry, that PRAYER IS TOO OFTEN SUBSTITUTED WITH ATTEMPTS OF CREATIVITY. I found that this often rang true in my own heart as well. God began to work a lot in my heart about this.

I am too easily convinced that I have to create new and exciting ways to grab peoples attention, while the Lord is sitting on the throne waiting, and saying, "Just Ask!!!"

Psalm 116 reads:
"I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live."

James 4:8 reads:
"Draw near to God and HE WILL draw near to you."

John 14:12-14 reads:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."

Hosea 7:13-14 reads:
"I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me. And they do not cry to Me from their heart when they wail on their beds; For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves, they turn away from Me."

Could go on forever with the scriptures. Consider the call to pray over your ministry first!!! See what He does!!!

Repentance: A Tradition of Words?

Too often, I have found that professing Christians, very much including myself, are filled with repentant words that are chained down by an unrepentant heart. The evidences of this are as follows: 1) Ill-concerned attitude towards sin and its' offense to a pure/holy/righteous/glorious---God. 2)Continuance in sin (typically excused with presumed notion that we are NOT "more than conquerors," and that we have no choice but to keep on sinnning) 3)An assumed (comfortable) idea of who we want God to be, almost as if we have made God in our own image.

First of all, what is repentance? Simply stated, it is a turning away from something, coupled with a turning toward something. In this case, we are referring to the turning from sin, and the turning towards Christ and His beautiful cross. If you were raised in church or are under the influence of Bible Belt christianity, you probably understand repentance as more of a TRADITION than a transformation of the heart. It has turned into one of those Sunday School answers that everyone would be quick to respond with, while typically having little meaning in the hearts of those who claim to be repentant.

In the church as a whole, (not nessecarily the local church), sin is almost meaningless. "No big deal," or "it's ok, i can just ask for forgiveness." I find that because of the cultural/christian influences that I have experienced, sin does not weigh enough in my own heart either. Sin is too often, not a big enough deal in my heart than it needs to be. My heart is my heart though, so it would be unfair to blame culture on my own unrepentant heart. I would caution Christians to be weary of repentance becoming merely A TRADITION OF WORDS. That's a scary place to be, seeing that the very BASIS OF OUR SALVATION is on repentance, unless easy-believism is your preference, which would indicate a heart that could very possibly be flattering their way to an eternity of punishment. 60-70 good years, at the expense of an eternity. Be weary.

I will give what I believe to be a good example of what true repentance looks like. Psalm 51. Read it. David was caught, and immediately fell to His face in anguish, BECAUSE HE KNEW GOD. Anguish? That can't be right; I'm supposed to be happy...FALSE!!! If we truly know God and His character, we understand the offense of sin against His holiness. It makes sense though; when you've grown up trusting in a God that freely hands out grace coupons, it's easy to begin to claim that as His character, which makes sin not a big deal.

I wish that I could interview a bunch of Christian people's hearts, instead of interviewing a bunch of Christians mouths. I think that if I asked their hearts questions about sin and repentance, I would find answers like these: 1)I believe I am a slave to sin. 2)I believe sin doesnt matter that much. 3)I am not repentant for my sins. ...But we don't have that option, so matters of the heart are left as our own responsibility, and flattery will continue to play its' course in sure destruction. I don't believe you can truly understand His unending love and grace until you understand the weight of sin.

So where do we go from here? Be willing to look at your heart, more than what you say. Beg for God to be gracious, and to transform your heart. Beg for God to blot out your transgressions. Beg for God to create a clean heart in you. Beg for God to renew a steadfast spirit in you. Beg for the Holy Spirit to intercede on your behalf, and to plead your cause for you (Psalm 119:154). And this one's tough---Beg for God to put you in anguish over your sin!!! Scary prayer, but true joy and true freedom are generally born in anguish. Think of the focus we can have on sharing Christ, when the sin in our own hearts is truly addressed.

LET'S MAKE WAR WITH OUR FLESH AND OUR SIN!!! PUT YOUR ARMOR ON AND LET'S GET AFTER IT!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

NO TEST-TAKERS?

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-unless indeed you fail the test."
2 Corinthians 13:5

I am learning that there are some verses that people in the church take seriously, and some verses that seem to fall "under the radar." I am saddened that this verse seems to be more of an "under the radar" verse. And it seems that the root of the fact that this verse rarely pierces the hearts of professing Christians, is the fear of not living up to a standard that the church has set before us.

"For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."
Galatians 1:10

The church today (as a whole) would typically respond in a few different ways to someone who would confess a need to test their salvation. Here are a few:
1. Oh dear! You must not have it. Pray this prayer.
2. That's just the enemy trying to distract you by making you doubt.
3. I see tons of fruit in your life. I know you're a Christian.

Could it be that these three types of responses are actually leading the church into an easy-believism, and urging false converts to remain false converts, for fear of gaining the church's disaproval? Hopefully Not...But Possibly So.

A few things to consider:
1. The church is constantly changing, from Corinth to 2009.
2. God desires our obedience to commands, regardless of the approval of men.
3. Would the enemy make someone who really DOES NOT have salvation, doubt their salvation? It would seem as though he's already got them right where he wants them.


Are you confident in your salvation based on what the church says, or what the Word of God says? Be weary of putting your faith in the church, as the church today is very much different than the church 100 years ago, than the church 1,000 years ago, and so on. I would urge professing Christians to be willing to examine themselves, regardless of the impression that it gives. Especially if, in your heart, you know that you are good at "fakin it." Be careful of developing your own definition of how narrow "the narrow way" (Matt 7:13) is, because as I study the text along with the world around me, I'm beginning to see more and more that "the narrow way" could very possibly be even more narrow than we may think. Make sure your words are in line with your heart, and "test yourselves to see if you are in the faith." Eternity is forever. FOR-E-VER.

Struggle Well-The World is Watching

We live in a fallen world. Because of sin. Therefore, whether lost or saved, there will be suffering. I'm beginning to see that our response to suffering is a HUGE part of what sets us apart from the world, and a HUGE part of what points the world to Christ. Amidst suffering, the lost would tend to run to the world. Seeking to fill voids, fill wounds, medicate hurts and pains through temporary worldly relief. As believers in Christ, our response SHOULD be to cling to the cross. That SHOULD be an evidence that we have a greater hope and a greater joy. It's obviously NOT EASY to always cling to the cross, as I've very much learned over the past few weeks, but if our hope is in Christ, and if our hope is in something more than the world we live in, and if our hope is in the cross, we can suffer well, and proclaim the name of Jesus through our suffering. I want to do that. This is the only way I know how.

"For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us."
Romans 8:18

"All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."
Hebrews 12:11

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."
James 1:2-3

"For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart."
Hebrews 12:3

"we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."
2 Corinthians 4:8-10

"but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God."
1 Peter 4:16

"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Thy statutes."
Psalm 119:71

"The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble, and those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee; For Thou, O Lord, hast not forsaked those who seek Thee."
Psalm 9:9-10

"He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds."
Psalm 147:3

"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O King. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O King, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
Daniel 3:17-18

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Still, blessed be the name of the Lord."
Job 1:21

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10

"The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

"For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."
2 Corinthians 1:5

"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison."
2 Corinthians 4:17

"LET US THEREFORE DRAW NEAR WITH CONFIDENCE TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND MAY FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED."
HEBREWS 4:16



WE HAVE A REASON TO BE JOYFUL!!! ONLY WHEN WE LOOK TO THE CROSS OF CHRIST!!! LET'S TAKE THAT JOY TO THE WORLD!!!

WHERE'S THE SUFFERING?

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation, to all those who believe..."
Romans 1:16



Suffering is not the only evidence of whether or not we are ashamed of our gospel. Merely a part. Just hard to ignore all the accounts of suffering for the sake of the gospel.