Impacting a City: Part 1

Mideast’s Christians Losing Numbers and Sway was the leading front page story printed in the New York Times today, Wednesday, May 13, 2009. According to Ethan Bronner, the reporter of the front page story, the Holy Land’s population was made up of 20% professing Christians a century ago. It is about 5% now. Jerusalem is now predominantly Muslim with only 2% of the population claiming to be Christians. The story attributes the decline in Christian population primarily to emigration and violence. In a Mass at the foot of the Mount of Olives on Tuesday Pope Benedict XVI stated “While understandable reasons lead many, especially the young, to emigrate, this decision brings in its wake a great clutrural and spiritual impoverishment to [Jerusalem].” What an interesting comment. Seriously, interesting. While I don't agree with much of Catholicism I must admit I find this comment by the Pope to bring up an intriguing idea...

What impact does Christianity have on a city? What impact should Christianity have on a city? Unfortunately, these are two very different questions. Let's tackle the first question in this post and the second in a later blog post.

What impact does Christianity have on a city? While I know Pope Benedict was referring to Jerusalem, and even more broadly the Holy Land, I believe the question can be asked of any city. Obviously, it's affect on Jerusalem is great. Jerusalem is the home for the world's three largest religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Judaism and Islam are still abundant in the holy city but Christianity has fallen to 2%. Part of the tragedy here is that Jerusalem was the site of much of Jesus' ministry and Christian history. Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem; he was buried and was resurrected in Jerusalem. He appeared to many witnesses in and around Jerusalem. The church started in Jerusalem and spread out from there. So, it's definitely sad to see Christians leaving Jerusalem. But to say it "brings in it's wake a great cultural and spiritual impoverishment" escalates the effect of Christianity to a whole new level. Why would Christians leaving a particular area or community have that sort of affect on that which it leaves? I wonder how many communities would be affected to that extent if Christianity was to leave? What about your community? Would your city look any different if the Christians left? Would it be culturally and spiritually imporverished? The question "what impact does Christianity have on a city?" asks all of us, both Christians and non-Christians, to take stock of what impact it has had on our particular cities and the like. The answers, especially in America, may be scary for us to confront that claim to follow Christ Jesus. Still, it would serve us well to be honest on what impact we are making within our cultures we do life in. Once we have determined what impact we are making we can then, as those that profess Jesus as Lord, evaluate how to make a bigger impact so that if we were to leave our community for some reason people might actually notice due to a "great cultural and spiritual impoverishment."

For His Renown,

Nathan

Skeptics...Come one, come all

Are you skeptical about God? Are you skeptical about Jesus Christ and who He claimed to be? I believe we all have been at some point in our lives. Even for people who have believed in God since they were children still find themselves skeptical at times. I have a 7-year old son who believes in God and the claims of Jesus but even now still has questions. The fact that skepticism is commonplace and continues to become more commonplace within our culture raises some interesting questions.

First, does increasing skepticism in the existence of God mean that God does not exist? I don't believe this has any bearing on God's existence. Skepticism does not ultimately decide reality; rather, it is a way in which we, as rational creatures, ask questions to help us effectively grasp what we believe reality to be by wrestling with facts, perceptions, and other data. By being skeptical about something it does not effect the actual reality of what is in question but is a helpful way to process information to make an informed and thoughtful decision. For example, if I believe that I can fly and I climb to the top of a 2-story building I am going to go home with a best a bummed knee. My own belief in my ability to fly or my own disbelief in gravity does not actually have any bearing on reality.

Secondly, everyone is skeptical about something. Therefore, no matter if you believe in God or not you must admit there is an element of faith to whatever you believe. There is even faith behind your doubts and faith is what holds up your skeptical beliefs. The fact is that you really cannot disprove God for sure. So, have you ever doubted your faith that there is NOT a God? Have you ever tried to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that God does not exist? For every clue of the non-existence of God there is a stronger clue of the existence of God. Authors such as C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia and many other titles) and Lee Strobel set out to disprove Christianity and the claims of Jesus. Both of them in their study wound up with faith in Jesus as God. I read critics of Christianity...do you read anyone who boasts Jesus as the true God? When you realize that your belief or lack of belief in God is founded on some sort of faith it will inspire you to doubt your doubts and begin searching for truth.

Finally, if you are skeptical of the existence of the God of the Bible ask yourself what is so hard for you to accept or believe? Let's go to the root of the problem. Does the existence of evil inhibit you from believing in an all-loving God that claims to be in control? Does injustice keep you from belief? How about evolution? How about believing there are no moral absolutes? What is your hold-up and then begin researching. Try praying to God and asking him if he is real to make himself known to you.

This topic is really not one in which a short blog can address the issue of skepticism in the claims of the God of the Bible. However, my point was not to change your mind about God. Rather, I wanted skeptics to at least entertain the idea that there is faith behind their doubts and to challenge skeptics to really look into and research the claims of Christianity. And I want you to know that if you are skeptical... you are welcome! Unfortunately, many churches and Christians treat skeptics like they have the plague when in all actuality you should be welcomed with your doubts and all. I believe in Jesus. I believe that He is God's Son and that all purpose in life is to be found in him. I am a Christian. And I personally want to welcome you to bring your doubts and questions and seek out the truth about God, Jesus and Christianity.

Skeptics...come one, come all.

What to do if the election upset you...

It has been about a week since that big night in our nation's history. One week since we watched the first African-American male to become our Commander and Chief. One week since we saw one of the largest landslides in electoral votes since Reagan swept all except Minnesota. One week since we saw our collective nation put it's hope in a leader that promises "change." And it's been one week since I heard many people from here at home to people nationwide grumble and spew ugliness from their mouths over the new President Elect.

The unfortunate thing is that many individuals conveying their utter hatred for President Elect Obama are professing Christians. The same people vocal about their union of beliefs and political allegiance; the same folks who are claiming God in the elections; the same people who claim God is love are showing disdain for the elected officials in our government. Now let me reiterate I am not advocating the views, policies, or ideologies of those that won their respective elections. However, that is not the point now! The way our government is designed is for the elected officials to have a designated amount of power and authority but that power and authority is given to him/her by the people and only for a given time.

When I began hearing and seeing the backlash by some (definitely not all) professing Christians my first thought was for those individuals that are skeptic of the faith and of our God, the one true God. How would they interpret our actions? How would that individual that is not sure there really is a God and if there is would he really want to associate with that God evaluate our response to this election? How would that individual be able to reconcile our actions with what we say we believe?

Here lies the challenge before us all who believe in Jesus: we must live our lives believing that He is good, He loves us, He is working all things for our good because He is good and that He can be glorified in our world today. And we must trust Him with what we cannot control. We cannot just believe this but we must live this. Anyone who is skeptical of Jesus and Christianity is always looking to us for legitimate hope or for us to fall on our face...and sometimes both. I don't blame them for this in the least. As believers in Christ we are not perfect and we will make mistakes. That is unavoidable. However, our lifestyle and mindset should be one of humility and love to the world around us that doesn't know Jesus.

So how would God want us to respond if the election upset us? We should pray for President Elect Obama. Plain...simple. We should pray for our leaders. There is not a single person who can thwart God's plan in human history! People have tried...they always fail. We need to pray for Obama to have wisdom during his presidency. We need to pray for God to use him for His purposes. We need to pray that God will save him and redeem him if he is not already a believer in Jesus. Our country needs prayer. Our leaders need prayer regardless of their faith and tax plans they want to enforce.

God has allowed or put (depending on how you view God's sovereignty) Obama in place. While scripture is the ultimate authority for us our elected officials are also in authority over us and until the elected officials require us to do something that goes against God's will in the scriptures. At that point we must stand for truth!! Definitely! But until then we are to submit to their authority.

1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Romans 13:1-2

My fear is that our negative speech and absence of grace towards President Elect Obama and those who voted for him will lead them from the cross instead of to the cross. We will make mistakes because we are human but if our heart is in the right place God's grace will fill the gaps. So let's go love people who are skeptical; let's love those who don't love us; and let's pray for our nation and our leaders. Why? Because God will get the glory and we can be a blessing by leading people to Him!! Isn't that what our goal for life is?

I love you all,

Nathan

Why pray for the Election?

So, it is finally here...well, almost. It is Monday night, November 3, 2008. Tomorrow we, as Americans, get to exercise one of our greatest liberties and responsibilities. We get to vote. And what an important vote it is. Now I could get into all of the reasons why it is an important vote, however, I would rather spend a quick moment discussing why it is vital that we not overlook praying for the election.

The scriptures teach that God is the one who appoints kings and rulers to there proper places. We see this in 1 Samuel 8 and 9 when Israel is demanding a king to rule over them like the other nations. Up to this point they had Judges but God was to be their king. Israel though, seeing the nations around them ruled by a human king, began demanding of Samuel that he annoint a king of Israel. So, after warning them of how a king will treat them and the Israelites still demanding a king, God allowed them to have what they thought they wanted. God told Samuel to annoint Saul king. Not long after in 1 Samuel 13 God is angered by Saul's lack luster performance as king and lack of faith in battle. He then prophesies through Samuel that Saul will be removed as king and God will insert a king after his own heart. That king was David. This is just one example of how God puts rulers and kings in their place for a reason and purpose.

So that begs the question...why even pray about this matter? What good would it do to pray if God is the one who appoints rulers; good and bad? Well, scripture also teaches that God is moved by our prayers! That is astounding to me, really! As I was considering this truth earlier today I was trying to think of different places in God's Word where we see Him change plans (so to speak) and be moved by the prayers of humble servants. Sure enough, God brought an example in my daily bible reading this very night! Isn't God awesome?!! I have been reading through Isaiah and just so happened to come to chapter 38. Check this out:

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the
prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: Set
your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover." 2Then Hezekiah
turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3and said, "Please, O LORD,
remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart,
and have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 5"Go and say to Hezekiah,
Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I
have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6I will
deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will
defend this city. Isaiah 38:1-6

Wow! Now I think that is pretty cool. I mean we have Isaiah roll up on the scene and essentially tell Hezekiah that he needs to get things ready to continue without him because he is going downhill quick and will not live. I love how Hezekiah responds. He prays earnestly. He pleads with His maker. He throws himself on the mercy seat of God. And what happens? God hears his prayers, sees his tears, and God's heart is moved. That is amazing!! God loves us and does hear our prayers. And sometimes, God even is moved! There are many more examples in scripture but I wanted to bring this out tonight.

So, the challenge to all of us is this: during election day pray continually for our nation and that the officials that are elected all over our great nation from President to local mayor would be people that love God, fear the Lord and seek Him with all of their heart! You never know what might happen in the election then! Forget what the media says about who is supposed to win because our God reigns!! Then, trust Him that regardless of the outcome He is sovereign over all things and has our joy and best interest at heart!!

For His Name!

Nathan

Grace is Borderline Scandalous

"Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found; was blind but now I see." Chances are by the time you finished reading that first line you were singing those words or humming along. Amazing Grace is probably the most recognized hymns ever. Chris Tomlin, a worship leader, has produced a song titled Amazing Grace (My chains are Gone) that expounds on the classic hymn. The chorus claims "My chains are gone I've been set free. My God my Saviour has ransomed me. And like a flood His mercy reigns, unending love, amazing grace." That is quite a claim! But, what makes Tomlin's rendition and the old hymn so popular?

Could it be because it tells of something so precious that it's seems too good to be true? How could someone love you and I that much. Sure I want to believe it but it is almost too hard to fathom a true "unending love."

Something about grace seems borderline scandalous. Philip Yancey has written a book What's So Amazing About Grace in which Part III is titled "A Scent of Scandal." Scandal usually carries a negative connotation with it. In fact Webster defines it first as "Libelous, defamatory." The second definition however is the one I love: "shocking." Why? Because grace is shocking!

The world in which we live is so incredibly performance driven it is no wonder that we would have a hard time understanding grace. Love in our world tends to come with strings attached. "Do this for me and I will love you. Don't do this and I won't leave you." Performance love; that is the common love we find in our world. Frankly, I think we are more comfortable with performance love. It makes more logical sense to us. Unconditional love full of grace blows our minds. It seems many of us want a love where we know what we have to do to earn it. However, grace says "I love you no matter what." Grace says "I forgive you." Grace claims that "your sins are remembered no more."

The truth of grace shocks us to our very core. That is part of what makes it amazing. Grace impacts an individual to the very core of who they are! When a person encounters the grace of God they are changed forever! It breaks down barriers we have built. It softens hard hearts! God does not sit on His throne with your life on a scale of good and bad deeds. The same grace He offers me is the same He would offer the world's worst serial killer on death row. Does that sound fair? No, it sounds scandalous!

Jesus' death and resurrection enables God to be perfectly Just and perfectly Loving. It is through Jesus that we are offered this amazing grace. Jesus' death and shedding of blood on the cross 2000 years ago paid the penalty for sin. He was the righteous lamb of God whom the angel prophesied to Mary in the book of Matthew

"...you shall call His name Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins." 1:21

Once we receive Him as our savior by realizing He is the only way to God we are offered that amazing grace. And the best part is it's free!

When I think about all the bad things I've done or decisions I have made in my 27 years on this earth it is hard to believe that I could be completely forgiven. Could I really have a clean slate without having to earn it? You bet! As Yancey states in his book "There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less." Not every church you enter will tell you that but it's true. God loves you completely! In fact, you can be wiped clean by a Holy God without having to clean yourself up first. It doesn't seem fair. That is the beauty of it. It's called grace and it's freely offered by the Lord. It's not fair; it's shocking! And it sure seems scandalous!

Hope you have an extra special Christmas!

Nathan

A child-like mind can make a lot of sense

I was in the car last week taking my son to school. He is in first grade and rather intelligent. Heck, the kid can already multiply 12 x 12...ok, you don't care.

So, we were listening to the radio when a song called "East to West" by Casting Crowns came on. I was singing along when my son asked me what the song meant. I thought to myself, "how is he going to understand this?". I did my best. I told him that when we are born and we sin that separates us from God because He is perfect and does not do anything bad. But He loves us so Jesus, His son, came to earth, lived a perfect life and died on the cross for our bad things. Jesus took the punishment for our sins and if we accept Jesus as our savior then God removes our bad things from us. We aren't in trouble with God for them anymore. The Bible tells us that when He removes them from us they are as far from us as the east is from the west. Hence, the title of the song.

At that point I thought I had probably lost Him but what he said next blew me away. He said, "Dad, God moves our sins so far away so He can make room for Himself next to us?" I was so amazed at the simplicity in his statement that I almost forgot to answer him. Finally, I said, "Yes, son. That is right."

That was the end of our discussion that morning but I was dumbfounded at the logic of my 6 year-old son. Sometimes, a child-like mindset can make a whole lot of sense.

Enjoy your day!

My Ways are Watched and Pondered

What would you do if you knew every move you made, every step you took, every path you walked, and every thought was watched? That is kind of scary to think about.

I was reading in Proverbs this morning and God's Omniscience pierced me. Now, I was taught from childhood that God is all-knowing (Omniscient) but this morning it struck me in a new way. When I was growing up I viewed God as all-knowing and therefore was ready to paddle me when I did wrong. Unfortunately that view of God is more common than the factual view of God. One of my favorite lines from Bruce Almighty is when Bruce is feeling God hates him and he yells up to the sky "Smite me Almighty Smiter!" Beyond the humor is the perception of many in our world today that God is the Almighty Smiter. The beautiful thing for all of us is that this perception is not reality.

In all actuality, God is not an Almighty Smiter. He is the Lover of Our Souls! What does that mean? Well, in Proverbs 5 it tells us that He knows us and the decisions we make:

For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all His paths. Proverbs 5:21

Now, the context of this verse is Solomon speaking against the snare that is adultery and sexual immorality. So, it would seem that this is a word of warning to immoral people. That is true; it does serve that purpose. However, as I was reading this I was thinking about God's love for His people. God not only knows my ways and choices but Proverbs says that He ponders them. He is not just making checks for error or checks for good deeds; but rather, He is pondering my ways. There is thought and consideration as He views my life. As a Christian, saved by grace alone and faith alone, the Lord is active in my life and He is forming me to be more like Christ.

The point I am trying to make is that God knows what we do when we do it. Still, it is not to smite us when we screw up. If you are one of His children (saved by grace) and Jesus is Lord of your life take heart that He ponders your ways. So, live for His glory and allow Him to bring glory to Himself through you. If you are not a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ then know that God knows and ponders your ways as well. God is slow to anger and quick to show mercy, but as you read the rest of Proverbs 5 you will find that your sin will ensnare you if you continue. Our behavior is under constant scrutiny by a Holy God.

Nathan
Soli Deo Gloria!