When your ministry becomes your source of validation …
It truly is “your” ministry.
Category: Simple Truth
When faith is reduced to little more than personal piety, then of course our politics are reduced to personal angst …
Because both are all about us rather than the Sovereign Lord of all.
No matter what happens at the polls, it’s not too late:
Learn His ways;
Repent of making it all about our own wants, needs and fears; and
Pledge to never again be embarrassed by candidates who so mockingly reflect our own poverty of spirit.
It’s easy to be naïve …
When others bear the price.
A government that wants the power to solve all of our problems …
Soon becomes the problem.
Idolatry takes many forms …
As does its bondage.
May God’s people have the wisdom to resist both.
Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.
True liberty is the freedom to pursue virtue …
Not autonomy to pursue vice.
I think I need to be sent to millennial sensitivity school.
Back in 2016, I was having lunch at a fast food joint with two bros who often ministered with me in the local jail.
We were minding our own business at our own table, talking privately between ourselves about the upcoming elections and the Second Amendment, when a thirty-something dude walked up and told us to stop talking because it was “hurting his feelings.”
Continue readingIf you’re confused about why it takes victims of sex abuse in the church so long – if ever – to build up the courage to speak up …
Look no further than your own reaction when it involves abuse by someone you support, like or know.
Planned Parenthood received birthday congratulations from President Obama and Hillary Clinton today, which is ironic …
Given the millions of babies who will never have a birthday because they were killed by Planned Parenthood.
Those who claim the Bible is God’s authoritative written Word only in spots,
And by implication that they have the authority to spot the spots,
Are not teaching some new revelation but the same old deception …
Which starts by asking,
“Did God really say?”
I get so tired of the lie, repeated whenever someone wants to avoid the hard work of living by their convictions – or even having convictions – that we must not judge.
Where does Scripture make a blanket prohibition on judging?
Continue readingMoral compromise rarely seeks to deliberately advance evil …
But to preserve our own comfort zones instead.
Which, from evil’s standpoint, is perfectly fine also.
Disgusted with the choice of Trump verses Clinton?
The answer is not to wash our hands of “politics” by retreating into a theology of Gnostic dualism – which isolates our spiritual life from the “real” world and all its shortcomings. Jesus never taught that, but proclaimed full authority over both heaven and earth – while sending us out into all the world.
God’s people need to be careful about wide swings between hope and disillusionment. Wisdom seeks to find, instead, the Biblical precepts which stand firm and will remain true even after the present unpleasantries fade into the past.
Let’s be engaged in a world Christ yet loves, but with a renewed discernment that’s been lacking in God’s people.
The problem is not so much Clinton or Trump as much as our lack of engagement and discernment – in disregard of God’s call to be His salt and light in all spheres of life.
This election, more than most, we are paying the price for our own failures.
Let’s learn the right lessons, vote for whom our conscience allows (while understanding there are more issues and offices up for grabs this election than just the White House), and resolve to never let this happen due to inaction and poor judgement again.
The solution to problems caused by our past disengagement from the civic life of our nation, and from lack of discernment, is not more moral relativism and retreat.
That’s entirely the wrong lesson to learn from the current mess we’re in.
Let’s take our lumps, vote as best we can, learn from our mistakes and resolve to never again be reduced to such poor choices.
How do cultish groups, “churches” and movements attract people?
It’s simple:
Feed the need for validation …
Through a false Jesus who reinforces our own hopes and fears.
Many burnout by repeatedly ministering to folks who want our time, energy and resources …
Without fundamentally dealing with their underlying issues through honest repentance.
Continue reading“Christian” existentialists live lives of angst and doubt, seeking a Jesus of their own perception and definition.
They would do much better submitting to Christ as He perceives and defines them instead …
Because it’s only there that life and liberty are found.
So-called “progressive Christians” insist on a Jesus of their own creation, defined by their own perceptions, sensibilities and ideologies …
Leading to doubt and malaise.
The authentic Jesus, however, defines Himself – along with His creation, absolute truths, redeeming grace and moral precepts – through His plenary authority of Scripture …
Leading to life and liberty.
The Law given as part of the Old Covenant is no longer in force (including the Decalogue), since the Old Covenant no longer is in force.
However, the moral precepts which undergird the laws of the Old Covenant are still relevant.
That’s because God’s overarching command to “be holy for I am holy” …
Is re-stated multiple times in both the Old and New Testament and still applies.
God’s nature does not change, and neither have His moral precepts …
Which are part of God’s own, immutable self-revelation throughout Scripture.
So be holy …
But not Old Covenant.
I have no problem with the doctrine of “total depravity.”
Apart from God’s grace, I see no evidence to the contrary …
Plus Scripture is clear that apart from His grace, we have no hope.
However, I likewise have no problem with the doctrine that we can resist His grace.
Not because we have any power to frustrate God’s sovereign will …
But because He sovereignly wills to grant us that choice.
Why do some only speak up about fraud and abuse in the church …
When it’s to urge silence by the victims and those standing with them?
They are not peacemakers, but enablers.
They are not courageous, but cowards.
They are not principled, but complicit.
What we call “church” these days is so far removed from the New Testament …
That we dare not let those who see that truth …
Also speak that truth …
Without “correcting” it with a “but,” “and” or “or” …
Rooted in presumptions, anxieties and rationalizations from our own man-made traditions.
Deconstruction?
I’m all for examining our assumptions, traditions and doctrines in light of Scripture.
But “Christians” who reject God’s plenary authority, as expressed through His written Word …
Become their own standard for what’s ultimately true, real and right.
Is it any wonder, then, why they never seem to “get” Scripture?
Plumbline Faith 