REVDANS

Charlottesville may be one of the most recent settings for the display of the poison of hatred and violence, but it certainly is not the first place and, unfortunately, will not be the last. I am no prophet; I am only a student of human nature. Sadly, people feel that, in order to be heard and bring about change, they must shout, agitate, and inflict harm. As a Christian, I stand opposed to violence and hatred. When Christians have taken a stand throughout the centuries, they have chosen to be persecuted, rather than deny their faith and renounce their allegiance to the Savior. But rather than lashing out, they chose to "turn the other cheek." Rather than violently displaying anger, frustration, and disagreement, they willingly suffered at the hands of violent men. Their example should point us in right direction in these days of angry rhetoric and violent protests.

Neither do I wish to deny that certain groups of people have been the recipients of violence, hatred, and prejudice for simply no other reason than their skin color, their national origin, their cultural heritage, their religion or their sex. The sad fact about the human race and our various differences is this: we seem to see differences as deficiencies to be put down, punished, or stamped out rather than as beneficial advantages to be celebrated, appreciated and utilized. In any relationship, if two people are exactly alike, one of them is unnecessary. We cannot lift ourselves up by putting others down. Proclaiming that others are inferior does not prove our supposed superiority. Tearing others down will not make us feel better about ourselves. It is our differences that allow us to be of help to one another; it is our unique abilities that enable us to contribute the most to others; it is our differences that allow us to provide our strength in another's weakness and accept their strength in our weakness, thus enabling us both to be stronger together than alone. It is our differences that challenge us to think from a different perspective, gain a deeper understanding, and garner a new appreciation of those differences.

I do not want you to think that I believe all differences of opinion, ideology and theology are created equal. Some are true while the opposite is not. Some are beneficial while others are destructive. Some are clear while others are ambiguous. When I speak of differences, I do not refer to differences of opinion or thought. I refer to innate differences, differences over which we have no control, differences infused into us by our Creator. We must embrace those differences.

As a Christian who believes the Bible and its explanations of human origins, I want to say more than these things: Racism is wrong! Violence is wrong! Love is our overarching value! I must also say that, according to the Bible, race itself is a wrong way to view humanity and human beings. The Bible only knows one race: the human race. We are all descendants of Adam and Eve. We share their DNA. We come from the same stock. Adam called his wife Eve because she was the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20). Paul's argument in Romans 5:12-21 only makes sense by viewing mankind as a unit where all are affected by the actions of our ancestor Adam.

Acts 17:24-27 The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation;

I do not presume to think that we do not divide ourselves into various groupings. The Bible acknowledges this when in the book of Revelation we are told about those from every tribe, tongue, people and nation (Revelation 5:9). But one of the goals of God's plan of redemption for the human race is that of breaking down the barriers that divide us. In the Apostle Paul's world humanity was divided into two groups: Jews and Gentiles, but he says that God's plan is to abolish what separates them ("the dividing wall of hostility").

Ephesians 2:14-16 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

In the gospel, we find the answer to violence, hatred and bitterness.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Think of it. When we embrace the gospel, Christ's sacrificial love for us now compels us to love others. As Paul says, the love of God has been poured out into our hearts (Romans 5:5). We no longer live for ourselves. We seek to serve others. We have been reconciled to God and we are now ambassadors of Christ sharing the message of reconciliation. Reconciliation: bringing people to God and bringing people together. This is the opposite of worldly wisdom: earthly, natural, demonic (James 3:15). Earthly wisdom is manifested where jealousy and selfish ambition exist in disorder and every evil thing (James 3:16).

James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

If we embrace the biblical explanation of human origins, we will seek to look past the superficial differences that seem to divide us and seek to embrace our common heritage, our connectedness, our identity as a part of a large family, the human race. If we embrace the gospel, we will embrace the teachings, values and goals of the gospel. As Christians, we will also embrace the privilege of belonging to the family of God, the household of faith, a brotherhood of believers, the church of God. This family is made up of people from every tribe, tongue, people and nation from every generation and will display the beauty and splendid variety of God's glorious kingdom.

Until we Christians view people the way the Bible teaches and until we love them the way God does, we will continue to be a part of the problem rather than a part of the solution.

Sadly, churches, like individuals, die. This has been on my mind and heart recently, since one of our sister churches in my denomination, a church from which the church I pastor sprung up, closed its doors. In fact, it has so weighed on my mind that I arose at 2:30 A.M. to begin writing this post. The church was one with a long history of ministry in its community. It had been pastored by men I knew personally and respected greatly. It was a seedbed for raising up pastors from its ranks. It is gone and the loss brings the same stages of emotion as the death of a person: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Even though I was not personally connected to the church since I was not the pastor, a member, or close friend of members, I have been affected by the loss. I know people who are grieving because this is or was their church. Some had a close association with the church at one time in their lives. Some have known or been associated with the pastors I mentioned. Some used to call this church their home church. Now it is gone and grief is the only way to describe the loss.

Sadly, when churches die, there is no obituary posted, no funeral service conducted, no burial plot to visit, and no autopsy performed. In essence, there are few opportunities for people to understand what happened or to gather and mourn the loss. Grief is present, but opportunities for expressing and processing that grief are absent. People are left to grieve alone or to find their own way to process their grief. It doesn't seem right that a church can close its doors without some kind of opportunity to recognize its impact on the lives of others and to let the survivors (those present members who are left) know the depth of the loss.

Sadly, the estimates are that between 4,000 and 7,000 churches close their doors each year (see http://www.churchleadership.org). They do so for various reasons, but one reason that cannot be avoided is another statistic: 3,500 people leave the church each day. Many do so hurt and disillusioned. A pastor friend (Bill Keaton) collected a list of church diseases and published them in a diagnostic tool for an emphasis we were calling Great Commission Churches. Sadly, I have been unable to locate my copy, but I did find a list of diseases on the website: http://www.chucklawless.com. He lists the following diseases:

Community Disconnect Disease. Churches with this disease meet within a given community, but they do not know that community.

Methodological Arthritis. The name says it all: this church is stuck in doing things the way they’ve always done them.

The “Grass is Greener” Syndrome. This syndrome is a malady where pastors or people see this church as a temporary place to be until they can find a "better" church.

Professional Wrestling Sickness. Sooner or later, we realize that in PWS it’s all fake. The church with PWS talks a good game in standing for righteousness, but hypocrisy is everywhere.

Program Nausea. Churches with Program Nausea try a program, toss it soon, and then quickly try the next one. They never seem to find a stability on which to build a ministry.

Baby Believer Malady. This congregation is doing evangelism well, but they have no strategy to grow new believers. Their unwritten, and wrong, assumption is, “As long as you show up for our small groups and worship service, you’ll grow.”

Theological Self-Deception Ailment. While no church with an unbiblical theology can be healthy, TSDA is characterized by a belief that teaching theology is all that is required to be a healthy church.

“Unrecoverable Void” Syndrome.  Church leaders and laypersons alike suffer from an overemphasis on self-importance, characterized by statements like, “This church will close its doors after I’m gone.” Church members with UVS fail to realize that God’s church will go on without any of us.

Talking in Your Sleep Disease. They go through the motions, but the motions lack energy. They meet for worship, yet the atmosphere is lifeless.

Congregational Myopia. The congregation with this condition is nearsighted, focusing on themselves only. They have no vision for the future, and they fail to see that their current direction will likely lead to further disease and decline.

I am sure that, if we were to conduct more thorough research, we could come up with other common ailments and diseases. The point is that, just as with individuals, churches may become unhealthy with one or more diseases that, if left untreated, can bring about their demise. The first requirement is to recognize the symptoms. The next is to diagnose the problem. Then a treatment must be prescribed. And, of course, the patient must be willing to undergo treatment. The sad fact is that, just as in cases with individuals, this all too often comes too late to save the patient. Early diagnosis provides the greatest opportunity for successful treatment. Prevention (pursuing healthy practices for church development and growth) is the best way to avoid these diseases, just as pursuing a healthy lifestyle is the best defense against illness and disease.

I hope that you have been able to stay with me through the more theoretical and less personal aspects of this post. I believe that the information is important and relevant, but I want to return to the personal matter of grief. The death of any individual we know subjects us to the contemplation of our own death. Mortality presses upon us as we face the death of a loved one. We wonder about how we may face death and we are reminded that death is inevitable for each of us (unless the Lord returns before we die).

Of course, the longevity of a church certainly may exceed that of an individual and I don't personally believe that its death is inevitable. In this, the analogy breaks down. But we do live in a world of chaos, confusion, and destruction, a world of death. Although it doesn't have to be inevitable, I believe that it is always a possibility for a local church to grow ill and die. In my own denomination I have seen almost half of our churches close in my 42 years of ministry. Several of those churches that closed were churches I had pastored. It is with a heavy heart that I recall the memory of my time there in those churches and the once vibrant ministry conducted there.

When a church closes, we ask ourselves, even if our church seems vibrant and healthy, "Could this happen to my church?" It is not a question to ask lightly. When we hear of the closing of another church, we should take seriously the opportunity to consider the health of our church, to observe any symptoms that might indicate some illness or disease, and to take preventative steps to address any problems we see. Overconfidence and complacency are our greatest enemies. We ignore the signs of illness to our peril. If we wait to long, the disease may become terminal.

But there is hope. About 1,000 churches are born each year and that number is increasing. Also, many churches have recovered from one or more of the diseases mentioned above. Death is not inevitable and the prospect of revival is encouraging. We should not lose heart or grow weary in well-doing. If we do not faint, we will reap the fruit of our labors. The work of ministry may be for people, but it is not about people. The one requirement for a steward (manager) is faithfulness. We answer to the Lord of the harvest, the Head of the church, the King of kings and Lord of lords. We don't need to build the church, because he said, "I will build my church." We were left with one priority, "seek first my kingdom." We were left with one activity, "stay busy in the work till I come." We were left with one reminder, "the servant only needs to please his master."

As I heard one pastor put it, "I would rather BURN OUT than RUST OUT in the ministry!

You need the church and the church needs you. I'm not ready for my church to die, because Christ died for the church. He wants his church to fire up, hold up, study up, stand up, wake up, toughen up, and fess up! (See Revelation, chapters 2 and 3).

1. Do you understand that the church is NOT man's invention, but God's design?
2. Are you burdened for the local church to which you belong?
3. Are you praying for it fervently?
4. Are you ready and willing to serve diligently?
5. Do you desire to do all you can to prevent the death of your church?

I’ve been hearing a lot about “being positive” lately. It would seem that the greatest sin, the root of the world’s evils, is being negative. Now, I understand that negative thinking can drag people down, be unproductive and destructive, or turn people off. Although I don’t want to appear to endorse a negative mindset or support the negative approach many are taking, I wonder where truth and positive thinking are required to part ways.

Nobody wants to hear the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, especially when it is negative. Take the doctor’s dilemma. Should she be “positive” and encouraging and just stroke her patient with “don’t worry; you’ll be fine.” Or should she dash his hopes and shatter his world with the truth: “your body is riddled with cancer and we don’t know how much longer you’ll be able to survive this.” She may attempt to remain positive in her attitude as she shares this gut-wrenching news, but she would be guilty of malpractice should she choose to ignore the diagnosis and fail to share the “negative” situation with her patient. As unpleasant as it often can be, negative news must be shared, because it represents reality.

I have been involved in ministry for 41 years. I have sought to see the truth, believe the truth, and share the truth in love. I have always thought that ministry should be founded on the truth. And now that the truth is no longer in vogue, no longer valued, I still find that I cannot, for that reason, renounce it. I am convinced that it is needed now more than ever.

Do people seriously believe that maintaining a positive mental attitude while ignoring bad habits, destructive behavior, wasteful spending, shallow thinking and irresponsible living will really create “a positive environment” and yield a “good life?” Are we so shallow that we really believe it is more important to feel good about ourselves than to face the problems and challenges before us? How can we feel good about ourselves while ignoring “reality” staring us down? I don’t think that we should “throw in the towel” or give in to “self-loathing.” Obviously, remaining positive that things can change, that we can change, is important.

The truth does not need to be “negative” or bring on “negative thinking.” Even negative truth can bring positive change, when we face reality and and deal with it responsibly and appropriately. My positive attitude does not come from ignoring the truth, but by embracing it and determining that the God I serve, who says that he will be with me and enable me to overcome, will help me deal with whatever negative truth I face. The only way to move forward with positive change is to face the negative situation with grace and resolve. Otherwise, I will splash in “positive thinking,” while sinking in the pond of negative reality. While admitting the reality of a negative situation, I can remain positive in my attitude and hopeful in my situation, trusting in a God who will not let me go. That’s the TRUTH.

This is in response to a comment from Linda on my blog post: In the World or of the World.

Numbers 25:1-3: While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.

2 Corinthians 6:14: Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

Revelation 2:14: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.

All through the Old Testament and the New Testament, even into the book of Revelation, God, through the prophets and apostles, frequently warned his people about allowing ungodly and worldly influences to pull them away from him and their faith. Anyone familiar with the story of Israel as recounted in the Old Testament can confirm that those warnings often went unheeded, bringing judgment upon them.

It seems that many in this present generation have turned the doctrine of grace into a license to sin, since forgiveness is just a breath away. They live careless, reckless lives believing that grace forms an invincible net to catch them whenever they fall. They fail to consider the tremendous impact the world is making in their lives and they are unaware of the awful price they will pay for their spiritual adultery.

We must return to lives of holiness and the message of holiness. This is a facet of grace omitted in Christian circles today: grace to not only forgive past sin, but grace to cleanse from present sin and grace to empower godly living.

SO, what do we do?

1. We need to lead the way and set the example. We must not underestimate the power of a godly lifestyle to make an impact on others.
2. We need to help swing the pendulum back toward a balanced Biblical viewpoint by reemphasizing holiness and holy living. 
3. We need to constantly monitor the effect the world is having on us, and make spiritual adjustments where necessary (repentance, refusing bad influences, etc.). 
4. We need to reconsider the role of the spiritual disciplines in maintaining spiritual health (Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, fasting, etc.)
5. We need to be more observant of family and friends, seeking to encourage and exhort them when we see warning signs of approaching dangers.
6. We must not underestimate the power of our human nature to explain away, excuse, or otherwise justify compromising, worldly thinking or behavior. 
7. We need to be “filled with the Spirit”, who will empower us to live lives that please our Lord.

The words of an old hymn come to mind as I consider the struggle we face (and yes, Linda, it is, and has always been, a hard struggle). 

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
I’ll praise the mount I’m fixed upon it
Mount of thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by thy help I come
And I hope by thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wondering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.

Accommodation – a process of mutual adaptation between persons or social groups, usually achieved by eliminating or reducing hostility.

James 4:4: “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”

Accommodation isn’t always bad. If I want Mexican cuisine and you want Italian, accommodating your appetite by choosing Olive Garden over Pancho Villa is a gesture of friendship. No harm to either of us, except possible indigestion. Maybe you want to go to a concert and I prefer an action movie. Navigating such differences in preferences is a daily occurrence. Each of us makes choices to accommodate others and create a smoother, more tranquil environment. 

However, if I choose to adapt my beliefs or alter my behavior to accommodate your beliefs, I have rejected my core convictions and given in to appease you or at least to minimize discomfort between us. My sin is that of thinking that it is more important to please you or others or to fit in than to please God. Christians have always felt the tension between being in the world and being of the world. We live and so must function in a world of conflicting opinions, convictions, beliefs, values, priorities, and behaviors. We must find a way to navigate this maze of conflicts without contradicting our core beliefs. We must make some accommodations in this effort, but if we go too far, we fall into a pit of miry clay called “worldliness.” It is the opposite of godliness and puts us at odds with the God we claim to serve, making us his enemies.

Worldliness – the sinful tendency to conform to the world, to be contrasted with the biblical command to maintain contact with the world while avoiding becoming like the world. Believers are called to live in the world, while not being of the world.

1 John 2:15-17: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-17: Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. 

As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”

Two aspects of worldliness are presented in the previous verses. First, worldliness involves adopting the values, priorities, and goals of the world system. Falling in love with the world keeps us from recognizing, accepting and following God’s way. I saw on the local newscast that a pro-football rookie had decided to give up a lucrative contract to pursue the ministry. People who have adopted an attitude of worldliness fail to understand the magnitude of such a decision. Neither would they understand the decision of Moses to reject being known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and to endure hardship with God’s people. The author of Hebrews explains it this way:

“He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (11:25-26)

Worldly-minded people would consider such choices as foolish and radical. Why couldn’t this rookie take a few years to play ball and then give himself to another pursuit, after he has become financially secure? Why couldn’t Moses stay in Egypt and help the Israelites as a Prince of Egypt rather than reject that life for the wilderness? Worldly people simply don’t get that God has better plan, though, at the time, the plan may seem foolish, even ridiculous, to them. 

I have often said that the difference between faith and foolishness is not how wise or how ridiculous the plan may seem. The difference is whether this is God’s plan or just my hair-brained idea. God’s ways, being higher than our ways, are not understood by worldly people, so they think those ways are foolish, but Spirit-minded people see God’s hand at work and recognize His wisdom. 

Worldliness is an attitude, a mindset, that accommodates the world system, seeking to be a part of it rather than standing against it.

Second, worldliness also involves relationships. We show ourselves to be worldly when we choose to go along with others (with the crowd) rather than choosing NOT to be defiled by the sinful pursuits of the world (see Daniel 1). Daniel “purposes in his heart” not to defile himself by rejecting the lifestyle to which God had called him. He said “no” to the lavish lifestyle of the king’s court and “yes” to God’s commands, thus receiving the blessing of God upon his life. He even said “yes” to God, though it cost him a night in the lion’s den.

We often think that we can reach people and influence them for God by becoming involved with them in their sinful ways. That’s probably what the Corinthian Christians were saying to themselves, as they were going with pagans to offer sacrifices to the pagan’s Gods and joining in their pagan rituals and feasts there in the idol temples. It seems we overestimate our ability to influence others and underestimate sin’s power to tempt us. The Apostle Paul confronts the Corinthians for falling to temptation and submitting to idolatry and sexual immorality. I’m sure that’s not what they started out to accomplish, but evil has a powerful pull on even the strong-minded. 

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 – Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

I often give a spiritual inventory to people I counsel which asks a long series of specific and personal questions. Honest answers to those questions yield spiritual fruit. Here is a sample:

1) Do I love what God loves and hate what God hates? Yes or No

2) Am I hurt by things that hurt the Lord? Yes or No 

3) Do I delight and thrill in things that please the Lord? Yes or No

4) Do I value highly things that God values? Yes or No
(Winning lost souls, His Word, prayer, etc.) 

5) Is my value system:
( ) Eternal (“things not seen”) or ( ) Temporal (for getting all I can right now, “things seen”) 

If you immediate shun these questions or begin to mentally make excuses or justifications, you have already begun to walk the worldly path. Once you start down that dark path, it will begin to dominate your life.

So, what do we do when we realize that we have given in to the ways of the world and begun to develop a spirit of worldliness? When I am headed in the wrong direction, my Maps app barks at me, “Make a U-turn!” You need to turn around and head in the right direction…IMMEDIATELY!

The Bible calls that “repentance.”

John 21:1-7 NIV[1] Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: [2] Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. [3] “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. [4] Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. [5] He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. [6] He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. [7] Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

I have always been intrigued by the story that concludes the Gospel of John (and John is my favorite Gospel). It doesn’t seem to be the grand finish that Matthew uses to conclude his Gospel, one where Jesus appears and commissions his disciples to go into all the world, share his message, and make disciples. But I have come to appreciate John’s ending much more as I have studied his Gospel more.

Now there is nothing wrong with fishing. Fishing is a noble profession. The description of fishing from the NIV First Century Study Bible reveals it to be a profession of skill and hard work:

“Fresh-water fishing along the shores of the Sea of Galilee was a profitable and noble profession. In the city of Bethsaida (meaning “house of fishing”), where at least three of the disciples were from, archaeologists have uncovered jar handles with fishing seals as well as seals of weights, anchors, hooks and every sort of ancient fishing implement. Fishermen needed to be skilled in boating, in several types of fishing, and in smoking, drying, pickling and salting fish. The fishermen also made, prepared and cleaned their nets, some of which were hundreds of feet long.”

To set the context of John’s description of the fishing trip, Peter had denied the Lord three times and had been filled with sorrow and remorse as he saw the disappointment of his Lord as his eyes met Jesus’ eyes. Peter had done what he emphatically (three times) declared that he WOULD NEVER DO! He denied he even knew Jesus. Most of us have made similar declarations (I WILL NEVER DO THAT! Or I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!). And most of us have experienced the agony of failure as we caved in in the moment of weakness and renounced what we had resolved to do. Peter’s bitter weeping gave evidence of the deep disappointment he felt in his failure. As we all know, though, we cannot go back and rectify past failures. So how do we move forward?

Peter went fishing. And as the leader of the group, the other disciples with him joined him in the endeavor. But what was Peter really doing?

This is what Louie Giglio says in his book, The Comback:

“By going fishing, Peter was saying that he was finished. He had had his chance at following Christ, but he blew it and denied him three times. We do the same. Whenever we fall down, it lessens our confidence in God. The Enemy comes in to attack and says, “You’ve let God and yourself down. Don’t even bother going back to God. Don’t pray about it. God’s fed up with you. He won’t listen. You’ve blown it for the last time.”

Peter finds that without Jesus nothing is the same. Peter had probably experienced fishing failure before, but the failure is heightened here. He goes back to the life and profession he had known before following Jesus. He had been good at it, good enough to support his family, and now, fishing all night, catches nothing. Jesus had tapped these disciples to become “fishers of men” and they have resorted to “fishing for fish.” Then Jesus appears. Under his direction they catch a boatload of fish! Jesus makes all the difference!

What do you do when you have failed (I mean, BIG TIME!)?

Often we try to find comfort in the old ways. We try to go back to the way things were before. We try to establish some success in what we already know and are good at accomplishing. We want to lessen the feelings of failure and disappointment. Maybe we just want to find some distraction from those feelings for a brief moment. But we find that there is no going back to “the way things were.” We aren’t ready to launch out into the unknown and set sail toward a new adventure. We aren’t ready for the challenge of the calling we know we should pursue. So we settle. But things can never be the same after Jesus comes into your life.

Going back isn’t the way forward. Peter tried to go back to fishing, thinking his calling to be a fisher of men was over. He had denied the Lord. When he had failed to follow, how could he challenge others to follow? The challenge Jesus put before him that day to “feed my sheep, my lambs” was an encouragement to forsake the feelings of failure and follow him anew. He was encouraging Peter to embrace a future that would move him forever from his past.

Going back isn’t the way forward. Let me speak frankly about the church. Often we want to go back to the old ways, to the glory days. We want to recapture the way things were before the present days of low attendance, waning loyalty, spiritual dullness, Biblical illiteracy, and church neglect. The way forward is to embrace the calling of God on our lives as individual disciples and as the church of the living God. We must not fear the future, nor should we cling to the past. We must not be paralyzed by failures.

Jesus said to Peter (and to us as well):

Matthew 16:18 NIV And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Recently, my nephew, Michael Courson, posted an observation on Facebook that caught my attention.

Here is his post:

Maybe I don’t know what I am talking about since I’m not a parent myself, but I personally can’t fathom how parents can take their kids to Walmart or the grocery store and ignore every single question that they ask. Yes, their questions are endless, but they’re looking to you as their role model and as a person who has experienced more of the world than they have. It seems to me as if many of these kids adore their parents and the parents are too preoccupied with themselves to notice. You’re standing in line… Do you really have something better to do than giving your kids a little attention?

The greatest gift we can give our children is OURSELVES, our love and our time.

We need to hear what Moses told parents in Deuteronomy 6. The nation of Israel is about to enter the land God had promised them. They cannot fully understand that their environment, their culture, their diet, their technology and their occupations will undergo a radical transformation. They will face new obstacles, new challenges, and new opportunities. Moses undertakes the task of preparing them for this new adventure.

In the first three verses Moses notes that God’s commandments are presented so that Israel may obey them. They are challenged to be careful to observe them, so that it may be well with them, that they may multiply greatly, and that their days may be prolonged. This theme of blessing following obedience is not unique to this chapter; the theme runs throughout the entire book of Deuteronomy. It seems that moderns have forgotten or willingly neglected this principle. When we fail to align our lives with the principles found in God’s Word, we face the consequences (and there are always consequences) of such disobedience.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” – Proverbs 14:34 (WEB)

This instruction crosses generational lines: you, your son and your grandson. It must be handed down to the next generation, and so on. Hanging in the balance is the transmission of the foundational principles of faith. Later in Israel’s history, we encounter what happens when transmission fails to take place.

“When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel.” – Judges 2:10 (NKJV)

Our generation is witnessing the effects of a failure to transmit the foundational principles of the faith to succeeding generations. For a compelling analysis of what is happening, refer to Jim Denison’s article on The Great Evangelical Recession, http://www.denisonforum.org/america/1296-the-great-evangelical-recession.

The Shema (the Hebrew word for “Hear”) lays the foundation for life. “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4, NKJV) This is the priority of life, the ultimate reality, the foundational truth. God exists and He alone deserves our allegiance. Of all the so-called gods, He alone is THE GOD. He is not just one in essence, He stands alone as the one we are to worship and serve. Where commitment to Him falters, a failure to obey ensues. Whereas He told Israel that they were to “have no other gods before Him,” in our day many gods are exalted above Him: Power, Success, Money, Fame, Sex, etc. Where our commitment to Him falters, we will also fail to transmit His priority to following generations.

Of course, obedience without relationship won’t work. The greatest commandment is nothing less than to love God with all our being. It is only in relationship that duties become opportunities to express love (“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” – John 14:15) rather than obligations that burden or demand reciprocation or reward (“You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”). Parents want children to “do what I say, because I said it,” but without building a relationship of love and trust, parents may expect children to be reluctant, resistant, even rebellious.

In verses 6-9, Moses lays out the parental responsibilities that relate to training children. The first principle is essential: you must first embrace what you expect from your children. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.” “Do as I say, not as I do” will not work. And children are perceptive. They have a built-in monitor that can sniff out even subtle hypocrisies.

The thrust of the remaining verses (7-9) focus on the context of teaching. We teach our children in real life situations as we are living life. We teach them in the various activities of life and in our daily routine. We make sure that they are constantly confronted with the life principles we are seeking to teach. In other words, Michael, parenting is a very intensive, consuming process that, if done correctly, demands a considerable commitment of time and effort.

In the final verses of Deuteronomy 6, Moses specifically challenges parents to be perceptive, open and available when their children ask questions (see verses 20-25). I call these questions “teachable moments.” Children are most open to our teaching when they are asking questions and they are most likely to really hear our answers when we are responding to their questions. When it comes to spiritual questions, our answer should be in the form of a personal testimony, as we share not only what we know, but also what we have experienced. We testify concerning what God has done in our lives, how He has led us, and how He has provided for us. And we let them know what God expects from them, as well as why they should listen and obey.

Michael, there is no greater opportunity or challenge than to spend time with our children, teach them life lessons, and build a relationship with them. They are our greatest opportunity to leave a legacy.

Psalms 127:3-5 (WEB)

Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh.

The fruit of the womb is his reward.

As arrows in the hand of a mighty man,

so are the children of youth.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.

They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Teen Sunday School Class Review of First Lesson
Quarterly Study: Learning to Defend Your Faith
Lesson 1: Be Prepared

EXPLANATION: I am using space on my blog to provide reviews for my Teen Sunday School class to use in refreshing their memories about what we are studying. Hopefully, they will also be useful or encouraging to others who follow the blog.

1. The first key to getting prepared to defend your faith is to BE COMMITTED!

(1 Peter 3:15 [NET]) But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.

Set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts. The most important questions you will answer are: “Where is your allegiance?” “To whom are you committed?” “Who will be the master of your life?” “Whom will you allow to call the shots?” The answer to these questions will make a difference when you are challenged to stand for your faith or cave into pressure to conform—to go with the flow or against the flow. If you have determined to follow Christ and to do what He wants, you will have greater success in standing up, speaking up, and moving up in your witness for Christ. If you love Him and accept Him as Lord in your heart, you will not want to reject Him, ignore His commands, or disappoint Him. “Always be ready” reminds us that opportunities abound to give witness and defend our faith. What we offer the world is desperately needed and, ultimately, only found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ—HOPE! The world around us desperately needs hope and we have found hope in Jesus Christ.

2. The second key is to BE READY!

(Ephesians 6:14 [NET]) Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,

The Roman footwear was designed to provide the greatest stability and foundation for fighting. Spikes allowed the soldier to hold his ground in the battle. Having the “whole armor of God” to support and protect us allows us to be ready to defend the gospel. What can you do to get ready? Make sure you have a simple, short testimony that you can use to tell people about how you came to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is impossible to argue with a clear testimony. People may think that they can never have what you have or be what you are, but they can know why you are who you are now. It is also important to understand the common questions people have and ask. Studying and preparing answers to these questions will prepare you to help them when they have questions. Also, be ready to provide reasons to believe. Although many people think that faith is unreasonable, we have the opportunity to show them reasons to believe.

3. The third key is to BE WISE!

(Proverbs 11:30 [NET]) ​​​​​​​The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, ​​​​​​and the one who wins souls is wise.

First, understand that the Bible is a source of great wisdom for us. If we want to be wise, we can best learn that wisdom from reading and studying God’s Word, especially the book of Proverbs. Second, understand that we can best win or draw people to ourselves and to Jesus by learning to discern the best times and places to speak about our faith. God promises that His Holy Spirit will guide us in knowing when to speak and what to say. You always have help when you decide to speak for God and about Jesus Christ. God uses the Scriptures, parents, godly leaders, friends and prayer to guide us.

4. The fourth key is to BE HUMBLE!

(1 Peter 5:6 [NET]) And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand

Some people get angry when their faith is challenged or their character is maligned. The people we are seeking to win may get angry when we try to speak to them about God. They may throw insults at us or try to ridicule us or put us down. But anger never accomplishes the righteous purposes of God. It only alienates. So, we must refuse to get angry when we are challenged or tested. This is NOT about us; this is about the Lord and whether or not people have a relationship with Him. If we are proud instead of humble, we may come across as callous, or know-it-alls, or people who care more about being right than about helping people. God wants us to be patient with people and to be gentle and kind. He wants us to show them respect as fellow humans created in His image.

5. The fifth key is to BE CONFIDENT!

(Proverbs 28:1 [NET]) ​​​​​​​The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, ​​​​​​but the righteous person is as confident as a lion.

We can have complete confidence in what we are doing. We can be confident that God’s Word is true. We can be confident that the Holy Spirit is working. We can be confident that Jesus will be glorified through our faithfulness in sharing. We are in the right—right with God and seeking to be right with others. We have nothing to hide or to be ashamed of. Jesus promised His disciples confidence in witnessing for Him because they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:8). You don’t have to be afraid that you are not intellectual enough, that you don’t have all the answers, that people will turn away or seek to retaliate. All you are being asked to do is to be God’s voice and share His message. How people respond is not your responsibility. But you can count on God to help you, strengthen you and encourage you.

I stopped blogging close to two months ago. My wife and I made a move from across town to the home on the church property. We have enjoyed the place where we were living. It was a place in the city that felt more like living in the country. Although located within a mile of almost any kind of amenity imaginable, it was surrounded by trees and across from a forest-covered hill. Deer, squirrels, rabbits, ground hogs, and a host of birds inhabit the area and could be observed on the property frequently. A huge cedar, a large oak, an assortment of others, and even a pear tree, nestled on an acre and a half of hillside, gave the feel of country living. The front porch swing and the backyard patio afforded the opportunity to be transported back in mind to days long gone when, amid the sweat and heat of work, men and boys would stop and sit for a spell, sipping a soda and listening to the old-timers telling stories about the “good ole days.”

Seven years ago, we moved from South Carolina to Nashville, TN in a 26-foot U-Haul with a car carrier hitched to its back. We packed up everything we could (or thought we could not live without), gave away or threw away a host of boxes full of baby clothes (we weren’t going to need them anymore ), keepsakes (that really weren’t worth keeping), and stuff that I had not seen or touched since the last time we moved. It’s funny how we find letting go of that “stuff” so difficult. We packed up my library of over 100 boxes of books, and left behind about a third of it. We thought we were shedding the pounds and becoming a lean, mean moving machine. Men in my church still remember and talk about ALL those BOXES of BOOKS! That move was over 500 miles and this one under 30 miles. Why is it that this one seems more difficult than that one? We are still throwing away, still giving away, and still putting our hands on stuff that we haven’t touched in seven years! And we have ADDED STUFF since that last move! The last move of 500 miles took us about two weeks to pack up and unpack. This one of 30 miles has taken us two months. Is moving getting harder or are we getting older? (You don’t need to answer that).

Since coming to Nashville, I have worked for a company that serviced Home Depots, worked in a warehouse driving a tow motor and loading tractor trailers, served as dispatch and office manager for a wrecker company, and worked in Kroger stores, resetting and merchandising product lines and displays. These opportunities provided extra income to meet our needs as we sought to focus on the primary ministry of serving the church. Now, we are refocusing our lives to make ourselves more accessible to church members, to live and be closer to the people we want to serve and reach, and to pour ourselves into the lives of others. I have told my people that I feel that I have ten years of active ministry left, God-willing. I do not intend to “retire” from the ministry, but I know that age, health, and other factors will limit what I will be able to do beyond that. I want to give myself fully to the task of preparing the church for its future, to discipling and training, to teaching and preaching. I want to help the church realize the vision that it set forth at its inception. So, in order to prepare for this phase, the church and we have entered into a transition that will hopefully lay the foundation for this ministry to proceed and prosper with and without me.

When I was younger, I had the privilege of serving as camp director at a rustic camp in the North Georgia mountains. It’s a beautiful setting and is situated close to the Chattooga River, where we would schedule a day of rafting. What an adventure! We never new what to expect or what lay around the bend. First, each rafting group would carry their raft and equipment down to the water to set in. Then, after a few hundred feet of quiet, we would face the first challenge—a water fall with a 10-12 foot drop off straight down. Many rafters were floating down the river trying to reunite with their raft after capsizing there. There were swift rapids, where precise navigation meant the difference between staying in the raft or being thrown from it. In one instance, a fellow rafter swung his oar around and knocked me from the raft. There were places where, because of low rainfall, the river was shallow and we had to literally exit the raft and carry it to deeper waters. Bull Sluice, the final challenge before putting in, was both a curved waterfall and a whirlpool. Because of the way the water poured in there, it formed a tornado-like tunnel of whirling water that had caught some unsuspecting rafters and taken their lives. It was important to hit it just right, or trouble was likely.

That day of adventure stands as a picture in capsule for the way life flows. The ups and downs, alternating fast and slow pace, unexpected turns and falls, the safe calm and dangerous chaos all appear at unexpected and often unprepared moments. Transitions are a part of the life of faith. If you think that you are settled, if you think that you are secure, if you think that your life has become predictable, better hunker down and brace yourself. The next rapids may be lying just around the corner, ready to take you in a whole new direction or throw you off course. Some campers spent the entire day complaining about each new challenge or trial. They were so intent on focusing on the negative aspects of the challenge, on the difficulties they had to endure, and on the failures of the people around them that they refused to enjoy the adventure. Those who faced each situation, seeking to adapt, adjust, and accept each challenge, faired no worse than anyone else but enjoyed the day so much more!

Forest Gump, your mother was right! “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get!”

Are you complaining about the transitions in life or are you enjoying life’s journey? Have you come to grips with the FACT that TRANSITIONS are a part of life and are you willing to TRUST GOD in these TRANSITIONS?