with Brian Tubbs
Christian Living
General posts designed to encourage, inform, or help people in their walk with Christ
Money and the Bible: What God Really Says About Earning a Living and the Love of Money
160 days
Millions of Christians over the years have been misled by religious and church teachings about money. I believe that these false teachings have driven many conscientious, well-meaning people of faith into anxiety, depression, debt, and/or poverty. In some cases, these falsehoods have been promulgated by opportunistic, money-hungry cultists or manipulative ministry leaders. In other cases, the false teachings have come from tragic misunderstandings of what the Bible actually says on the subject of money. And the more I consider this issue, the more convinced I am that the latter category is actually the most prevalent. For with the latter, many Christians have been led to believe that a desire for more money as well as any effort they put into the earning of additional income is inherently idolatrous and sinful. As a result, many people of faith have sabotaged their own efforts to provide for themselves and their families. It’s time to set the record straight.
“No Man Can Serve Two Masters”
When someone or something is your “Master,” it has your devotion along with a definite hold on your life. In the first century Roman world, a master had almost full control over his servants. The servant’s business was the master’s business. The servant could do nothing without the master’s permission, and declaring allegiance to a second master was naturally out of the question. This is the context within which Jesus was teaching. Everyone in his audience knew what he meant when he used the term “master.”
In the fall of 1988, long before I felt God leading me into the ministry, I took a semester off from George Mason University to intern with a congressional campaign in Mississippi. During my time there, I met a gentleman I’ll call “Jeff,” who served on the campaign’s leadership team. Jeff talked money so much, that on one occasion, this naive 19-year old intern blurted out: “There are things more important than money.” After the laughter in the room died down, Jeff looked at me, smiled, and asked: “What else is there?”
Clearly, Jeff would’ve fallen into the category of individuals that Jesus describes in Matthew 6 as having made money their “Master.” Jesus correctly points out that a person can only serve a single Master. One Master will achieve primacy in that person’s heart. Any attempt to serve both will inevitably lead to resentment toward one or the other.
When an individual positions himself or herself at the head of a ministry and uses that position for personal enrichment and gain at the expense of God’s people and/or God’s work, then that person has made Money his Master. We’ve all seen and read numerous examples of ministry leaders succumbing to greed and excess. It’s tragic. And when it happens at the expense of God’s work or people, it’s reprehensible.
Nevertheless, I believe there’s a more subtle and more dangerous teaching regarding money in the “mainstream” Christian community. As a result of this false teaching, honest Christians have been made to feel guilty for wanting extra money or striving to earn additional income. Jesus never said it was wrong for people to earn extra money. He said it was wrong for them to make money their “Master.” The desire for additional money is not necessarily making money your “Master.”
“Go to the ant, Sluggard!”
According to the Bible, a person who needs additional money to live should take inspiration from the ant! In the book of Proverbs, we read: “Go to the ant, sluggard; consider her ways and be wise; who having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provides her food in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest.” (Proverbs 6:6-8)
While I don’t necessarily intend to make a political statement here, ants don’t complain about how unfair or tough it is to make a living. You won’t find ants lobbying for minimum wage laws or holding “Occupy Roadkill” protests. Again, I’m not trying to be political. I’m not suggesting that all protests are bad or that it’s necessarily wrong to (at least on some occasions) address grievances, but sometimes, we invest too much of our most precious resource – time – into complaining, when we’re supposed to be working and producing!
Yet many Christians (in part due to terrible teaching from churches and ministry leaders) sabotage their efforts, because they feel guilty about wanting additional money. Do you realize that, in the ancient world, God’s people often worked sunup to sundown to put food on their tables? Hard work was not only a part of their everyday life. It was something God affirmed. You should work hard to provide for yourself and for your family. And, if the regular full-time job isn’t providing enough for your needs, then you should take a second job or start a part-time, home-based business. That’s taking an ancient biblical principle and applying it to the 21st century!
If you’ll allow for an aside, this principle applies to evangelists, pastors, and ministry leaders specifically as well as Christians in general. (See “Extra Money for Pastors?”) I know several pastors who don’t make enough money from their churches to meet all their needs. Well, to be blunt, Pastor, if your church isn’t providing adequately for your needs, then you need to take a lesson from the Apostle Paul. When the Apostle Paul needed income above and beyond what the churches he was planting were able or willing to provide, he made tents. And let’s be clear. Paul was not working as a part-time employee at Corinth Tents, Inc. He was undoubtedly a small business owner, an entrepreneur. Was Paul making money his “Master” when he set up his own tent-making business? When a pastor today chooses to mow lawns, work a part-time job, start a home-based business, write books, and/or give outside speeches or talks to supplement his income, is he making money his “Master”?
An evangelist recently came to our church to do a revival and asked to sell some of his books in the foyer. I had no problem with this, but asked if other churches had a problem. He said that a few did, and would be happy to remove the books if it were a problem. I told him I thought it was a shame that some professing Christians, including pastors, have a problem with him making money from his writings. He acknowledged that it was difficult as writing and speaking is how he makes a living. Some churches and some Christians have gotten downright ridiculous about this!
This isn’t just about pastors and evangelists, of course. It applies to any Christian. Let’s take someone who chooses to set up a home-based business to add additional income to her household. When she does this, is she making money her “Master”? If so, why is the woman in Proverbs 31 praised as “virtuous,” for that is precisely what she did? All Christians need to embrace this truth: There is nothing wrong, in and of itself, with wanting to earn additional money or working toward the earning of additional money. Nothing.
“The Love of Money is the root of all evil…”
At this point, many Christians say: “Wait a minute! The Bible says money is the root of all evil!” Nope. It never says that. The Apostle Paul wrote of the “love of money,” not money in and of itself. According to the classic King James Version, Paul wrote: “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (I Timothy 6:10)
Many scholars involved in translation work argue that the classic KJV is incorrect when it renders Paul’s words as “the root of all evil.” They say it should be “at the root of all kinds of evil,” which is what most of the other English translations say. Smarter people than me have debated this, but I tend to agree with the classic KJV. I don’t think there’s any need to reword or redefine what Paul said. The reason why is because most people don’t quote the whole verse. Here it is again (in the classic KJV): “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Note that Paul ties the “love of money” in with covetousness, which brings to mind the Tenth Commandment, which in the classic KJV reads: “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his [donkey], nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” (Forgive me for not using the original three-letter KJV word for “donkey” 
).
Today, we think of money as currency – either paper currency or coinage. In the ancient world, “money” took on many forms, including the exchange of goods and services. In Old Testament times, for example, the Levites were not paid a check by the other tribes. They lived off the sacrifices of the people from the other tribes. That meant crops and livestock. Even as recent as colonial times in America, ministers were sometimes paid by the congregation in crops. Also in the ancient world and even into the medieval world, people labored for masters in exchange for food, shelter, and protection, not necessarily currency. You need to put yourself in the mindset of a first century Christian reading Paul’s letter to Timothy. Money had a much broader meaning. It referred to whatever you earned to make a living.
With that in mind, Paul is talking about gain, not necessarily currency. He’s talking about the means by which people accumulate things and services in general. And when people’s desire for more things and services turns into love, it plants seeds in their heart — seeds that can form a root system for greed and covetousness. And that is most certainly at the root of all evil.
Greed = Bad, Making a Living = Good
Biblical teaching on the subject of money can be expressed in the above formula. It’s wrong to desire additional money so that you can accumulate more things and serve your own lusts. But it is not wrong to recognize that you need additional revenue to meet your needs and/or the needs of your loved ones AND to then take the steps you need to take to earn that additional money.
How do you know when you cross the line? There are two tests. First, would you be willing to give up all that you have to follow God’s call on your life? Think about that question. If God asked you to walk away from a high-paying job and all the comforts you enjoy in your lifestyle and head to a foreign field as a missionary, would you do it? If God asked you to take a huge chunk of money you’ve accumulated in your savings account and donate it to a ministry or a family in need? Would you do it? Are you willing to give up what you’ve gained? If you’re not, then money is more important to you than God. Money is your master.
Second, are you tithing? The tithe is, in fact, God’s simplest test. Are you giving Him at least a tenth (that’s where we get the word “tithe” from) from the “first fruits” of your labor? See Genesis 14:20, Leviticus 27:30-32, Nehemiah 10:37-38, Proverbs 3:9, Malachi 3:8-10, I Corinthians 16:1-2, and II Corinthians 9:7. If you’re not obeying God with what you have, then you’ve told God He can’t trust with you more. You need to obey God in your tithes and offerings, if you want Him to bless your efforts to earn more for your family.
Assuming that you pass the above two tests, then there’s nothing wrong with your seeking out ways to earn additional money for your family. I believe that Christians should be the very best they can be in their jobs and businesses. If you work at a restaurant, you should be the most reliable, most conscientious, and most trustworthy employee there. If you’re in law enforcement, you should be the most trustworthy and diligent public servant in your agency, department, or police force. If you’re a sales professional, then you should be among the top producers for your company, assuming that you can do so with integrity, of course. I could go on. Christians should be the best, because we’re working not for ourselves, but ultimately we’re working for God.
And if, right now, you are in a situation where your needs are not being met or your income goals (retirement, savings, paying down debt, etc.) are not being reached, then you have the liberty from Christ to take action to improve your financial situation. Just make sure that you keep God as your Master, with money being but a tool. And never let the tool become your idol.
For more articles related to this subject, check out…
Does God Want You to be Rich? An Analysis of Prosperity Theology
362 days
Joel Osteen, the pastor of America’s largest church, preaches a message of hope and inspiration that many people consider to be “prosperity theology,” the idea that God wants you to be healthy and wealthy in your time on this earth and that the Bible provides instructions on how to achieve those things in your life. It’s been said that “lies” or misleading claims are most dangerous when truth is mixed in. I believe this is the case with false doctrines as well. And let me be the first to say that prosperity theology can be a very dangerous doctrine.
High-profile televangelists and mega-church pastors who proclaim to their followers the virtues of Christian giving and tithing, while themselves living the high life with Armani suits and private jets have always struck this WalMart shopper as self-serving opportunists. As a pastor, I have frequently criticized “health and wealth” prosperity preaching as being dangerous and often heretical. While I stand by those warnings, I nevertheless feel that perhaps evangelical Christians critical of prosperity theology in general, and preachers like Joel Osteen in particular, too often “throw out the baby with the bathwater.”
Does God Want You to be Poor?
Recently, I attended a multi-day training event in Los Angeles, California for motivational speakers. I went because I believe that pastors can and should borrow insights, at times, from the business world. And I knew that the conference would provide some excellent training on public speaking, time management, organization, and marketing. I was not disappointed. It also allowed me to meet some very interesting people, including Bob Yates, a fellow ordained minister who runs a company called Circle of Champions. Bob’s company trains people, especially Christians, in the areas of personal and professional development. Many of his seminars deal with how Christians can achieve financial success through starting businesses and establishing what he (and other financial experts call) “multiple streams of income.”
During one of our many conversations this past weekend, we talked about how many Bible-believing Christians approach what they perceive as “prosperity theology” with deep suspicion. I too shared my concerns with prosperity theologians, including how there’s too much emphasis on financial gain and not enough on eternity. At one point, Bob posed a question that I will never forget. Without meaning to get melodramatic, the question has shifted my thinking on this subject. His question was simple: “How many people do you benefit by being poor?”
Chewing on that question for some time, I realized that it could easily be asked in this way: “Does God really want you to be poor?” I think many conscientious, well-intentioned, Bible-believing Christians feel (deep down) that He does. And let me say that I think there are seasons in which God will take His followers through poverty. The best example of this is Jesus Christ Himself, who had an interesting encounter with a would-be follower while traveling toward Jerusalem. In the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, we read this:
Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” -Luke 9:57-58
Clearly, there will be times when answering God’s call in your life means giving up material comforts and/or possessions. The early church in Acts brought all that they had to the apostles. Such was their commitment to God’s work! The “Great Faith Chapter” in Hebrews tells of men and women losing all that they had, including their lives, to follow Christ. The examples of this are numerous. And anyone who preaches that God only wants or even that He primarily wants physical health and/or material wealth for His followers is distorting Scripture.
Nevertheless, the Bible provides too many teachings on healthy financial living for us to conclude that the above paragraph represents the complete story. Returning to the example of Jesus, what about the thirty years before He began His ministry? Can we agree that the Son of Man most certainly did have a place to “lay his head” while likely serving as an apprentice to His earthly carpenter-father, Joseph? I’m not suggesting that Jesus was materially wealthy prior to beginning His ministry, but I am saying that His needs were provided for. Not provided for in some mystical, abstract “God will provide” kind of way, but rather due to timeless principles of work, stewardship, and provision that God wrote into the very DNA of Creation and the human race.
The Spiritual Cost of Poverty
While I understand that God does call people, at times, to financial sacrifice, let’s get one thing straight. I agree with Bob Yates, Joel Osteen, and others who say that there’s nothing inherently noble in poverty. In and of itself, poverty isn’t noble. It’s tragic.
Have you been in a situation where you can’t earn enough to put food on the table for yourself or for your family? Do you know what it’s like to lose your home because you can’t pay the rent or mortgage? Or perhaps you haven’t actually lost your home, but the shadow of losing it haunts you and your family? I know of many Christians who are completely dependent on the compassion and generosity of others, because they lack the ability (be it the health, skills, resources, know-how, or circumstances) to provide for themselves? While there are exceptions to this next statement, I’ve found that every Christian in such a situation feels trapped in more than just financial poverty. They feel emotionally and spiritually impoverished as well. Is that God’s plan for them?
Let’s take the focus off middle-class or lower-class America and shine the spotlight on other people groups in the world. Picture in your mind’s eye the millions of children suffering right now from excruciating poverty, who live in disease-ridden squalor and who are literally starving to death? Not only do I want to ask you whether that represents “God’s best” for them, I also want to ask whether you’re financially in a position to do anything about their suffering?
Consider how physical, emotional, and financial health all intertwine and deeply impact one’s spiritual outlook on life. In disadvantaged nations, those things can intertwine to impact your health and safety. In America, their effects may not be quite as dramatic, but they are there. Do I actually need to cite the statistics to prove how money-related challenges can lead to anxiety, stress, and depression as well as serious marriage and health problems? The evidence is so overwhelming that one would be foolish to deny such an obvious truth.
Not only is the cost of poverty evident in the lives of individuals and families, but it’s also felt in churches. It’s no secret that these recessionary times in which we live have resulted in decreased financial giving to churches and ministries. With less money to go around in their personal finances, Christians are giving less to God’s work, even though tithing is a fundamental teaching of God’s Word. As a result, churches are not able to do as much as they could to expand God’s kingdom. In the church I’m currently privileged to pastor, we’ve seen almost double growth in our attendance in the last two years, but financial giving has barely increased. More people are coming to church, but only a fraction of them are giving financially.
Does God Want You to be Rich?
Commenting on the dangers of prosperity theology, well-known evangelical leader Rick Warren categories the idea that “God wants everyone to be wealthy” as “baloney.” Warren, the pastor of Saddleback Church in California and author of the bestselling The Purpose-Driven Life, says: “You don’t measure your self-worth by your net worth. I can show you millions of faithful followers of Christ who live in poverty.” I agree, but should Christians strive for poverty? That is the question.
And let’s be clear. That is the question we’re talking about in this article. You’ve heard the saying: “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.” Likewise, if you’re not growing financially, you’re declining financially. Money is fluid. It’s dynamic, especially in our changing economic times. If you make $50,000 in 2011 and do not get a raise in 2012, then you are making less money in 2012. You are falling behind financially. That’s an economic fact. It’s true that we shouldn’t put our primary focus on material gain, but what Bible passage teaches that we should aim for financial loss? Where does it say in the Bible that, to be a good Christian, you should do what you can to make sure you make less money each year?
I would rather hear a message preached by Rick Warren or, even better, John MacArthur, than, say, Joel Osteen. But I agree wholeheartedly with Osteen, when he says: “I think we should have a mindset that God wants us to prosper in our relationships, our health, and our finances.” Is that not what the apostle John wishes for his readers in 3 John 2?
The Dangers in Prosperity Theology
It’s absolutely true that many well-known prosperity preachers have succumbed to greed and excess. And it’s also true that many “health and wealth” ministries have milked their adherents of millions of hard-earned dollars, so that the privileged few at the top can live the high life. This is shameful and reprehensible. God doesn’t command His followers to tithe, so that pastors can sport Armani suits and $500 watches!
I also agree that it’s dangerous to teach Christians that there’s a specific formula you can follow that guarantees you’ll achieve incredible prosperity in every area of your life. What’s more, we as God’s people are not to put our main focus on the things of this earth. Jesus is clear that we are to “lay up treasures in heaven.”
While I read, and was encouraged by, Joel Osteen’s first book Your Best Life Now, I must confess that I was troubled by his emphasis on this life. Jesus wants to bless us now, but the Christian’s best life is not in this fallen earth. There is no better life than eternity with God. In fairness, I believe Osteen would agree with that statement. I just feel that sometimes we get our focus off track.
Most importantly, while Osteen does mention the salvation plan in his books and at the end of his broadcasts, it’s often just that: a mention. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be the primary message of the church. I have no problem with a Christian writing a motivational, self-help book. Zig Ziglar has written some great ones! But I do have a concern when an entire ministry seems to revolve around a motivational, self-help message that relegates the Gospel to a mere “mention.” Of course, Osteen would likely respond that he’s merely following Paul’s instructions in I Corinthians 9 to become “all things to all men” and thus meet audiences where they are. And it’s a fair point. I think there is value in addressing people’s felt needs. Rick Warren would likewise agree.
I will also concede that God has probably used Osteen’s inspirational messages to draw people to salvation in Jesus Christ. But I do believe major caution is in order here. If a person sees Jesus as an add-on (an impression one can easily get when Jesus is simply tacked on as a final, parting mention to an otherwise secular-sounding message), that person hasn’t experienced the call to repentance necessary for salvation. And that’s no small matter. How many of the professions of faith in Christ attributable to Osteen’s ministry represent true repentance (and thus true salvation) versus how many constitute people just trying to tack Jesus onto their lives with no real heart change? I don’t know the answer, and neither do you. Only God does. But it is a question I hope Joel Osteen and the leaders of Lakewood Church are praying about.
Putting God in Charge of Your Life
Nevertheless, I return to Bob’s question: “Who benefits from your being poor?” Rick Warren, for all his just criticisms of the excesses of prosperity theology, is himself doing quite well. God has provided for his needs and given Pastor Warren a global reach that he wouldn’t have otherwise had, were it not for the fame and fortune. True to his character, Pastor Warren has shoveled most of the fortune back God’s way. I read that Warren has paid back his church all the money they ever paid him in a salary and, if I remember correctly, only takes a dollar a year salary now. As to his book earnings, he tithes 90 percent of those earnings and lives off the 10 percent. What a testimony! Likewise, Joel Osteen several years ago stopped taking a salary from his church. Other pastors over the years, such as the legendary W.A. Criswell, were able to do the same when their royalties provided well beyond their needs. There is nothing wrong with this. In fact, it’s a great thing. It helps them and it helps their churches. And it illustrates precisely where I think people like Bob Yates are coming from. The more resources God gives you – whether it be in the way of time, talents, or wealth – the more God can use you.
In our conversations, Bob never said money should be viewed as anything more than a tool. It is a means to an end. And the “end” is where you can really tell a person’s heart. If you desire more money so that you can fly in private jets, own your own yacht, wear expensive clothes to show off to your acquaintances, shop in status-oriented stores, and just “enjoy the good life,” then you are “laying up treasures on earth.” But if, like Rick Warren, you want God to bless you financially, so that you can do more for Him, then your heart is in the right place.
There is nothing morally wrong or sinful with a person being rich. If so, then how do you explain Abraham, Job, Solomon, and Esther (who, can we agree, married into significant wealth)? The issue is not how much money you make or have, but rather what you do with it.
For my own part, I hope that God provides me with whatever I need to fulfill the call He has placed on my life. For I am here for Him, not for myself. I am fully responsible to God for what He gives me now and what He chooses to give me in the future. And, based on the promise of His Word, the more faithful I am to following Him, obeying Him, and serving Him, the better positioned I will be for His blessings along with His additional instructions.
How to Defeat Worry and Anxiety
071 days
by Pastor Tubbs
in Christian Living
In his letter to the church in Philippi, the apostle Paul wrote: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7).
How can we put Paul’s admonition into practice? How can we win the war against worry and anxiety? Here are a few tips to help…
1. Pray
You need a weapon to fight a battle. You need something to occupy your mind, to channel the energy which you would otherwise use (“waste” would be a better word) by worrying. The best tool is the one Paul speaks of in Philippians 4, and that’s PRAYER.
Don’t worry about things. PRAY about them!
2. Count Your Blessings
Worry takes place when our minds focus on things that are bothering us – both real and imagined. These things may be happening now or may be future possibilities. Rather than focus on the negatives, why not focus on the positives? Count your blessings. They are JUST AS REAL as the stuff over which you may be tempted to worry. So, focus on them.
3. Study Anxiety, Fear, and Worry
Brush up on how worry works. Study how the mind processes feelings and emotions. Be proactive in learning how your brain works – and what you can do about it. Here are a couple articles on the subjects of worry, stress, etc. that can get you started…
Count Your Blessings: Name Them One by One
075 days
by Pastor Tubbs
in Christian Living
I basically grew up with a hymnal. The two churches I attended from childhood through my young adult years (Trinity Baptist Church and Bethlehem Baptist Church) loved to sing hymns! For that matter, so does my current church (Olney Baptist Church) and the one I served as pastor in Ohio (Sligo Baptist Church). And one of the hymns still burned into my memory is “Count Your Blessings” by Rev. Johnson Oatman, Jr., one of the most prolific gospel song writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For those unfamiliar with the song’s lyrics, here they are….
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
I can’t think of any better advice for this Thanksgiving season.
The Truth About Life: Five Facts Everyone Needs to Know
083 days
The famous philosopher Socrates once said: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Yet many people wander through life without taking the time to understand the nature of life, the meaning of life, or their direction in life. Bestselling author and legendary motivator Zig Ziglar says that we can be a “wandering generality” or a “meaningful specific,” and it’s the latter type of person who enjoys the most fulfillment, happiness, and success. Here are five facts that everyone needs to know about the life we are each living:
1) Life is short.
In Psalm 90, Moses says that each person can expect to live about 70 or 80 years. This ancient piece of wisdom tracks with modern science. While some people live longer and many don’t even make it to 70 or 80, the average life expectancy for men and women falls pretty close to the range given by Moses thousands of years ago. And these seven or eight decades of life pass quickly. Another biblical writer, James, describes life as a “vapor” which “appears for a little time” and then “vanishes away.”
There’s no way to know for certain how much time you will have. There are things we can do to influence the length of days we are given, but there’s always going to be element of uncertainty and mystery when it comes to the specifics. One thing we can know, however, is that life is brief.
2) We have only one life.
The book of Hebrews tells us that it’s “appointed unto a man once to die, and after this, the judgment.” We get one life on earth. While there are some people who teach an endless cycle of reincarnation, these claims are not supported by biblical or scientific evidence. The Bible is clear that we each have but one life to live….on this earth. And after that, we enter into eternity.
The practical implications of this should be obvious. You have one opportunity to get this life thing right. Just one. You can’t “blow it” in one life and then hope you’ll get it right the next go-around. There is no next go-around. You have to get it right now…in this life. That may sound depressing, especially if you feel your life is a mess, but bear with me. I’ll be getting to the good stuff in a moment.
3) This life isn’t all there is to reality.
While this may seem to contradict my previous point, hang with me. You have only one life on this earth, but your life on this earth isn’t all there is to reality. In fact, the earth isn’t all there is to reality. There’s a greater reality out there. And it comprises more than simply the physical world.
We are conditioned to think and understand reality in terms of our senses. That which we can see, touch, taste, feel, or hear is considered “real.” Otherwise, it’s mythical or false. Yet there are many things which we experience that can’t be explained by our senses….or by science. If you doubt me, watch this video clip of a debate between Christian apologist William Lane Craig and chemist Peter Atkins…
As Dr. Craig articulately demonstrates, there are many aspects of life that are plainly obvious – what Thomas Jefferson would call “self-evident” – that can’t be proved by science or demonstrated necessarily by our physical senses. This establishes clearly that reality transcends each person. There’s more to reality than just us, and this should be both thought-provoking and exciting.
4) When it comes to this life, you are responsible for it.
The one common denominator that all living people share is that they each have their own life. And we are each responsible for this life. While it’s true that life on earth (at least collectively and socially speaking) is full of hardship, inequality, unfairness, etc., it’s equally true that it’s full of wonder and opportunity. Regardless of your present circumstances (whether they be positive or negative), it does little good to point the finger or blame others. You alone are responsible for your life and how it turns out. Yes, other people and other circumstances will impact and influence your life — sometimes greatly so. But you must take responsibility for how you deal with, react, and navigate through life’s challenges and opportunities.
Brian Tracy, the great motivational speaker and personal development guru, said that this realization came to him when he was at the lowest point in his life. Broke, discouraged and working in a dead-end job, Tracy had an epiphany. He writes: “One night as I sat at my kitchen table, I had a great flash of awareness. It changed my life. I suddenly realized that everything that would happen to me for the rest of my life was going to be up to me. No one else was ever going to help me. No one was coming to the rescue.” In his book Goals: How to Get Everything You Want – Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible, Tracy explains: “It is only when you free yourself from negative emotions by accepting complete responsibility that you can begin to set and achieve goals in every area of your life. It is only when you are free, mentally and emotionally, that you can begin to channel your energy and enthusiasm in a forward direction.”
5) The Creator wants a relationship with you.
While scholars and theologians may debate aspects and doctrines within the Bible, one of the many unmistakable themes from Scripture is that God wants to have a relationship with His Creation. I realize, however, that some of my skeptical readers may cringe at my using the Bible to make a truth claim. So, even though I believe the Bible to be God’s Word, I will set it aside for a moment and appeal to common sense.
You exist. Let’s start with that premise, shall we? If you are in the fringe, quasi-philosophical camp that questions existence itself, then you’ll at least have to grant that thought exists, that beliefs exist. Since you are having thoughts and beliefs, it’s fair to say that “you” exist, even if you have a very confused understanding of what “you” entails. For the vast majority of my readers, however, no one will have a tough time grasping the fundamental concept of self-existence. Starting with the premise of existence then, it is fair to consider the question of what caused you to come into existence.
The law of causality, a common sense principle that has underlined science, religion, and philosophy, for most of human history, demands that every cause must have an effect. You exist, yet you have not always existed. Therefore, you were caused. What caused you to come into existence? What caused you to begin to exist? You will undoubtedly think of your parents, but what caused them to exist? And what about their parents and their parents and their parents and their parents – right on back to the beginning of the human race? If you believe in evolution, then what caused the evolutionary ancestors of mankind to exist? And what caused the early stages of evolution to occur? In fact, what initiated evolution itself? (Note that I believe that God created the heavens and the earth. I’m merely playing along with what atheists, agnostics, and skeptics will relate with).
At some point, we will come to Aristotle’s ultimate First Cause. Something or Someone had to begin human existence as well as the universe itself. Basically, anything that comes into existence had to have a cause. And that brings us back eventually to a timeless, infinite, all-powerful supernatural Cause.
Setting aside the Bible and all other religious faiths for a moment, if it’s reasonable to conclude that a supernatural Being of some kind brought the universe into existence (and, as we saw earlier, that it’s obvious there’s more to reality than what science and our physical senses can explain), it’s fair to then assume this Creator had a reason for bringing all of us into existence. When you and I build something, it’s for a reason and purpose, right? Since we’ve been created, it’s therefore reasonable to conclude it was for a reason.
When you then consider the relational aspect of humanity, the fact that we need relationships, then it’s highly probable that relationship had something to do with the Creator’s purpose. From a purely logical standpoint then, it’s highly likely that the Creator wants to have a relationship with the human race. Since you are part of the human race, that means the Creator wants to have a relationship with you.
With the above, I’ve used logic and reason (working off of some pretty common sense premises) to bring us to what the Bible has long claimed: That God created the human race. That God loves the human race. And that God desires a relationship with the human race. That is, in fact, the entire story of the Bible.
Take heart. You are here because God wants you here. And God wants to have a relationship with you. The key to finding your purpose and to achieving happiness in life is having that relationship with Him. Now that you know that, the ball is in your court?
For more on this subject, I encourage you to read the Gospel of John. Nothing beats starting with the Bible. In addition to God’s Word, I would encourage you to read The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren and (though I differ with his Calvinist leanings, especially in Chapter Seven) No Doubt About It: The Case for Christianity by Winfried Corduan.
God bless you.
Choosing Courage Over Fear: A Personal Lesson Learned From My Grandpa
094 days
What is courage? Many years ago, my father explained that the answer to that question is to be afraid of something and yet to do it anyway. The occasion of that lesson was my explaining to him and my mother how I overcame my fear of heights (not once, but twice) to voluntarily take part in a rappelling exercise on one of my National Guard drills. I still remember how scared I was, when I did it. I’ve always had a bit of a phobia with heights. My dad looked at me and said: “That’s courage. Being afraid of something and doing it anyway.” My fear of heights, however, is nothing compared to the fear that Staff Sergeant James Gibson faced over 60 years ago when he stood down a German Tiger Tank (and won!) or when he charged into a squad of German soldiers, firing his rifle and tossing all the grenades that he had!
Yesterday, November 3, 2011, I had the honor and privilege of preaching the funeral for my grandfather, James Gibson. While I’m not sure any words from me can do his life and legacy justice, I’d like to try to add a personal lesson I’ve taken from Grandpa’s life — one that I didn’t share yesterday in my message, because it was so personal and specific. And because I needed some time to really sort it out. It’s a lesson that I hope will remain with me the rest of my life. There’s a lot more to Grandpa’s life than his service in World War II. Having spent years in the coal mines of West Virginia as well as in factories and in the Postal Service, Grandpa was the hardest worker I’ve ever known. He was also honest, upright, and thoroughly devoted to his wife of 68 years, my grandmother. All these things and more I tried to bring out yesterday, and I hope I did satisfactorily. But there’s a personal lesson that I want to share with you now.
My uncle, John Huffman, worked for 25 years with the Department of Veterans Affairs. In that capacity, he filed a claim many years ago for my grandfather for post-traumatic stress disorder. This gave my uncle a chance to interview Grandpa about his experiences, drawing out of him numerous stories of his time in World War II. I had heard bits and pieces of the stories over the years (from Grandpa and from my mom), but reading the transcript of these interviews a few days ago was the first time I had seen them all together in one place. It was a very moving experience. Uncle John said that Grandpa related to him that he and his friends went after the enemy “with abandon” (Grandpa’s words). They “threw themselves at the enemy,” ignoring and shutting down their fears. It was the way Grandpa dealt with his fear.
The conversation with John called to mind a story Grandpa related to my mother many years ago, which she of course passed on to me. According to the story, Grandpa’s platoon was pinned down in a house or barn and outnumbered. And the lieutenant, scared out of his mind, cowered behind a door. When a soldier asked Grandpa if he was afraid, he barked back: “Of course I’m sacred, but I ain’t gonna hide behind no door!” If I’m not mistaken, this was the same firefight in which Grandpa charged out of the house and attacked head-on a squad of German soldiers that had he and his men pinned down. As Grandpa related the story, the enemy squad surrendered….and did so, thankfully, before they realized Grandpa was completely out of ammunition!
There’s another account, during the Battle of the Bulge, where German tanks were running down our infantry men. Grandpa and one of his buddies decided enough was enough. Grandpa grabbed a fellow soldier, who had a bazooka and tried to get him to stand and fight. Terrified, the soldier refused. So, Grandpa took the bazooka from him, got a 5-second ‘crash course’ from the petrified soldier on how to operate it, and fired it himself at an oncoming Tiger Tank! His buddy, Johnny, then got on top of the tank and hurled a grenade inside.
Lest you think my Grandpa made these things up or exaggerated these stories to make himself look good, I’d like to point out two facts. First, Grandpa rarely spoke of his war experiences. It took years for some of these details to come to light. Second, the U.S. Army decorated him with two Silver Stars — one for each of the episodes I’ve laid out in this article. These exploits may sound like they are from a Hollywood movie, but they really happened! I could also talk about how my grandfather navigated his way through a minefield to rescue an enemy soldier or how he distinguished himself in other firefights, but there’s no need. The two Silver Stars, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart (plus all the service medals) are testament enough to his bravery and courage. James Gibson was the real deal….a true, bona fide American war hero!
Yet he was a flesh-and-blood human being. He admitted he was scared. He was afraid numerous times. In one instance, in particular, when his unit was bombed for several days straight and all he and his buddies could do was hunker down in their foxholes, he admitted to coming close to a nervous breakdown! Grandpa was a normal guy who was as scared as the next guy, but he made a choice to do something with his fears…something that made him a hero.
I will probably never face combat like Grandpa did. And I certainly don’t want anything I write here to sound like I’m putting myself anywhere close to the same level as Grandpa. I am unworthy to be mentioned in the same sentence with James Gibson. But I can certainly be inspired by him and I can certainly learn from him. And, so, in addition to my admiration for his marriage, his honesty, his character, and his work ethic, I am full of respect for his courage. And it’s a lesson I hope to take with me through the rest of my life.
Courage isn’t about having no fear. It’s about being afraid and doing what needs to be done anyway. For me, I have no need to fear combat death. But there are other things a person can fear. We can fear loss. We can fear death. We can fear rejection or criticism. We can fear uncertainty. We can fear many things about life. And if I’m to take Grandpa’s lesson to heart, my job from this point forward is to acknowledge my fears, and then to run past them with courage and do what needs to be done.
Thank you, Grandpa.
Make Your Life Count
0123 days
Life is fragile and brief. Though our church recently celebrated the life of an incredible lady who just turned 100, I’ve also attended the funeral of a newborn baby. As a pastor, I’ve been involved with families who have lost loved ones at all stages of life. And I myself have experienced loss, having buried both of my parents well before their time.
We have no idea how long we will have in this life. Will it be 70 or 80 years as Moses indicates in Psalm 90? Will it be more? Possibly, but it could also be less. I’ve had situations where people were diagnosed with a disease and were dead within weeks of the diagnosis! Sudden….totally unexpected. I remember when my father passed away…no warning….no anticipation. Just one heart attack and it was over. Only God knows how long we have.
Two things, however, are clear: 1) We will ALL face death one day. It’s the ultimate statistic….10 out of 10 people die. And….2) We only have ONE life, so we better make it count.
I don’t write this to trouble anyone. On the contrary, I want to encourage you to reflect on your life (whether you’re 15 years old, 30 years old, or 80 years old) and ask yourself these questions….
1) Are you right with God?
2) Do you know where you will spend eternity when your life on this earth comes to a close?
3) Are you right with your loved ones?
4) Are there things you’ve said or done for which you should apologize and seek forgiveness?
5) Are you carrying malice or bitterness toward others?
6) Do you need to reconcile with someone important in your life?
7) Are there goals or priorities that you know you should attend to, but haven’t?
Life is short and it’s fragile. It’s too short to ignore the likelihood that God exists. (If you’re an atheist or agnostic, you are – with all due respect – living in rebellious ignorance of the evidence that’s plainly there for alll to see!) Make sure you are right with God. There is no relationship more important than that one! And that relationship begins with Jesus Christ. Get out your Bible and read John 3 and Romans 10, and then ask yourself honestly and prayerfully if you’ve called on the name of the Lord and if you’ve been born again.
And life is too short to carry grudges, bitterness, malice, and anger toward others. Let go of any hate. Let go of anger. Be humble and gracious. Be forgiving. Do what you can to reconcile. If you’ve been terribly hurt by someone and need help getting through that, seek out the counsel that you need. There’s no shame in getting counsel. There’s only shame if you know you need help and refuse to get it. And if you’ve wronged someone. Make it right.
If, as you’re reading this, you are overwhelmed by guilt, debt, sin, suffering, etc., then start making a change right now. Get on your knees. Turn your life over to God or, if you’ve already done that, renew your commitment to the Lord. Start praying every day. Get into the Word every day. Get into church – and be faithful. Surround yourself with God-honoring, Bible-believing friends and seek out wise counsel. Set some goals. Work on your self-discipline. And ask God to help you out of the pit you’re in. And….look around to see who else you can help out of their pit.
Be an encourager. Be a blessing to those around you. Love the people in your circle of influence. Add value to them. Build them up. Be a conduit for the Lord. Let God channel His love, grace, and blessings through you to others.
Life on this earth is short, but it can be great. Give your life to God each day and make it count for Him. As the Word of God says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
God bless you!
Hurricane Irene is Big and Powerful, but No Match for Jesus!
1163 days
by Pastor Tubbs
in Christian Living
There’s no question that Hurricane Irene is a massive storm. As of 9pm Eastern, Saturday night (August 27), Irene has killed at least 9 people, displaced millions in coastal areas, knocked out power to more than a million homes and businesses, damaged many homes and commercial structures, and caused numerous flash floods. (By the time the hurricane is over, those statistics will all likely be higher). Looking at the hurricane through satellite cameras, one can’t help but be awed by its massive size and terrible scope. As of the time of this blog post, Hurricane Irene stretches from New England to the Carolinas! It’s an amazing storm!
Yet it’s at times like these when it’s helpful to remember that God is more amazing! That we serve a God greater than nature itself.
Mankind has long wrestled with nature. And in spite of all the technological leaps and bounds we’ve made over the centuries, hurricanes and other natural disasters still humble us. We have been able to learn about nature, to exploit nature, to (sometimes) predict nature, and to (at least somewhat) utilize or take advantage of nature. But we have never been able to master nature. But we serve a God who created nature and is thus its master.
That the Lord is master of nature itself is a truth confirmed in the fourth chapter of Mark’s Gospel, which reads:
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
At the close of Matthew, Jesus says that “all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” And in this episode, he proved it. As God’s only and everlasting Son, Jesus Christ is the Master of all the earth and of all nature. So confident was Jesus in this mastery that He was comfortably asleep in the midst of a fierce storm. While this storm was nowhere near the size of Hurricane Irene, let’s not underrate its seriousness. The Sea of Galilee has been known to experience some intense storms. And the disciples were in a first century (wooden!) fishing boat! And they were right in the middle of it! They were scared and quite upset that Jesus, whom they adored and followed, seemed not to care much for their safety. When they woke Jesus, He was if anything annoyed at the interruption. He simply rebuked the storm, chided them for their lack of faith, and left them to wonder about what they had just seen. Reading between the lines, it appears Jesus may have even gone back to finish His nap!
The point of this great story is that, no matter what we face, our Lord is master of it. There’s nothing that the world or the Enemy can throw at us that Jesus can’t take care of! Nothing. This should certainly increase our faith in the Lord, but what about the practicalities of having to deal with the storms of life when we’re in the middle of them? Jesus has not been physically present in this world for 2000 years. What do we do when the winds and the waves seem to overwhelm us? Here are three steps that we can take to lay claim to the peace of Jesus during the storms of this life:
1) Rest in the Lord’s Work
We understand that Jesus was asleep in the ship’s stern, but let’s not ignore the context of his rest. He and the disciples were not out on a pleasure cruise. They were on a mission. I’m not suggesting there’s anything sinful about rest or pleasure. Not at all. There’s nothing wrong with pleasure cruises per se, but it does give us some insight into mindset here. Jesus had just finished teaching multitudes. He had been hard at work doing His Father’s business. After a long day of preaching and teaching, He told his disciples that they should “cross to the other side.” Their work on that side of the Sea of Galilee was done. Now, it was time to go to the other side, to the “country of the Gadarenes.” And during the trip over, Jesus took time to rest.
Jesus was doing everything He was supposed to do. He had completed His work for the day, made plans to continue His work “on the other side” for the next day, and was resting as they journeyed across the Sea. You might be wondering why Jesus was sleeping and the disciples were not. Remember that Jesus took upon Himself human flesh. He was literally God in the flesh. And in his flesh, He was undoubtedly weary. He had spent all day teaching and preaching. As a preacher myself, I can relate to this. By the time I get home Sundays, I’m usually pretty weary. I enjoy the ministry, but there are times my body needs rest. Jesus needed rest, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Jesus was resting comfortably. And He had the confidence to know that He was fully in God’s will. When you’re in God’s will, you can rest comfortably and confidently. You sleep better. You are more at peace. Circumstances don’t bother you as much. Challenges are seen in their proper perspective. Jesus wasn’t afraid of a storm. Why? Because He knew He had more work to be done. He was confident in the Father’s will.
2) Pray
The disciples did get one thing right. They went to Jesus in time of trouble. They knew who to turn to. Do we? Sometimes, when we’re in the midst of a storm, we’ll turn to people, money, circumstances, plans, etc. There’s nothing wrong with those things. God can use them. But when we turn to things or people instead of God, there’s a big problem. When you’re in a storm, go to Jesus.
3) Have Faith
When Jesus rebuked the storms, the disciples were surprised. They were amazed. While they should have been impressed, they should not have been surprised. And they shouldn’t have been afraid for their lives to the point that they felt Jesus didn’t care about them. Too often, we get anxious and afraid about what’s happening in our lives. And sometimes, we get so anxious that we get agitated toward God. We say: “How can you let this happen, God?” Kind of like the disciples did with Jesus. They were afraid. And they got upset with Jesus, because He was unafraid and they took that sense of peace as being a lack of concern.
I can’t promise that Jesus will immediately rebuke the storm in your life in the way He did that day on the Sea of Galilee. I can say that Jesus certainly has the power to rebuke your storm. You need to have faith in Jesus’ power, and also in His preeminence and complete knowledge. To put it bluntly and tritely, Jesus knows what’s best. He has complete knowledge of the past, present, and future. He knows everything going on your life – to a much greater detail than you do. You need to trust Him. Don’t just trust His power. Trust His wisdom and His will. Have faith.
May God bless each and every one you. If you’re in the midst of Hurricane Irene, be safe and stay dry. Pray for those most affected by this storm and for all those people working so hard to provide shelter, medical care, power restoration, emergency services, etc. during this storm.
God bless!
Modern Day Persecution of Christians in America: What a Florida School Teacher’s Suspension Tells us About the Future
3168 days
When a public school teacher is suspended for expressing his Bible-based opinions on Facebook, you know that religious freedom in the United States of America is beginning to falter. And the greatest threat to that freedom today stems from the national “culture war” over marriage. Make no mistake. It is the goal of homosexual activists to make opposition to the homosexual agenda unacceptable in every way. If homosexual activists get their way, Christians who speak out against same-sex marriage will face social, economic, and legal consequences. Momentum is clearly on their side. If things continue as they are now, Christians will be living in a far different America a decade or two from now. Think I’m exaggerating?
Pressured by homosexual activists, the federal government, local school districts, and private businesses alike are taking steps to curb any opposition to same-sex marriage. At the federal level, Congress has thrown its support behind legislation that essentially defines opposition to homosexuality as “hate.” The Obama administration, with encouragement from liberal activist judges, has cleared the way for gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. When conscientious Christians serving as chaplains in the Armed Forces raised concerns that they might be pressured to support or provide services to homosexual couples (which would be against their biblical convictions), they were told basically to change their beliefs or get out of the military! Recently, a business consultant saw his contract cancelled by Cisco, even though his performance ratings were high. His offense was that, on his own time and completely outside of his relationship with Cisco, he wrote a book in favor of traditional marriage! And now a Florida public school teacher, one who was named “Teacher of the Year” recently, was suspended. Why? Because he took a position on Facebook that he was for traditional marriage! If you think these are isolated situations and that this doesn’t reflect an alarming trend, you are naive.
Remember that persecution of Christians in history has almost always been driven by cultural, political, or economic considerations. While Jesus’ crucifixion was of course divinely ordained, the human motive behind his execution was a threat to the power of Caiaphus and his followers and the desire for Roman governor Pontius Pilate to maintain order. The apostles were often persecuted in Acts, because their preaching the Gospel brought them into conflict with the economic interests of pagan cultures or the political goals of governing authorities. In the Roman Empire, the worship of their gods was a measure of patriotic unity and often commitment to the emperor in power. Whether we’re talking the Roman Empire or the Middle Ages or the modern era, Christians are persecuted when their actions (not so much their beliefs) bring them into conflict with society’s prevailing cultural, economic, or political agenda. Right now, the growing consensus for America is postmodern relativism and social (and sexual) libertarianism. And Bible-believing Christians (at least those who act on their biblical beliefs) are a direct threat to that consensus. It’s the recipe for persecution.
For the record, I completely support the moral and legal right of school districts, companies, the federal government, etc. to remove people that engage in genuine hate speech. I abhor gay bashing. It has no place in society and certainly not in the church. Someone who calls for violence against homosexuals deserves to lose their job and should be liable for appropriate legal remedies. But to say that someone is guilty of hate speech simply because they say that homosexuality is a sin (as the Bible does) or that marriage should be restricted to a man and woman is something else entirely. If I disagree with someone, it doesn’t follow that I hate the person. To equate disagreement with hate is a very troubling development in our society.
I understand that the history teacher in question, Jerry Buell, expressed his views rather strongly and did so in a public forum. I understand that it’s not entirely fair for Mr. Buell to categorize his Facebook posts as “private.” When you post something on the Internet, we’ve moved beyond the private sphere. But does the First Amendment only apply to private speech? Isn’t the whole point of the First Amendment’s free speech guarantee to make sure that citizens can speak out freely on even the most controversial issues without facing government penalty? If Mr. Buell had specifically targeted gay students with his comments or had called for some type of violence against gays and lesbians, I would completely support the school district’s action. And even in this case, I can understand the Florida school district asking Mr. Buell to issue some kind of public clarification of his comments that assures students that his views on gay marriage will have no bearing on his treatment of students (whether they be gay or straight) in his classroom. But to suspend him or possibly fire him for expressing an opinion on a public issue is something else entirely.
What if he opposes polygamy? I’m sure he does, by the way, since his views on marriage are derived from Scripture. Does it follow that a person who opposes polygamy hates polygamists? What if the debate were over polygamy instead of gay marriage? (It’s really not that far of a stretch, you know. If we’re not going to define marriage by gender, why should we define it by a number?) Would pro-polygamy activists have the moral right to equate Christians who oppose them with “hate groups”? Would a public school district have the right to suspend a teacher for saying on Facebook that polygamy was morally revolting? Where does this end?
I’ll tell you where it ends. It “ends” with those in power deciding what speech is permitted and what is not. It “ends” with those in power deciding what behaviors, lifestyles, and agendas are off limits for civic discussion or political debate? When that happens, free speech and free religion will, for all intents and purposes, no longer exist. And Christians in America will be staring at a bleak future.
Christians need to wake up and stand up if they want to avoid seeing themselves and their children face some of the same persecution that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ face in different parts of the world today or that the apostles faced in the first century Roman Empire. There’s still time, but there won’t be for long.
What Airport Security Can Teach us About Christian Living
0171 days
by Pastor Tubbs
in Christian Living
The first time in my life I went through airport security, I got stopped. I was eight years old. Airport security was nowhere near as strict then as it is today, but it was still strict. And the metal detector got me. What set off the detector was a tiny, metallic toy I was carrying in my pocket. The funny thing is that I was merely going with my parents to see off a relative. I wasn’t even flying on the plane. But they confiscated my toy anyway. Easy come. Easy go.
Just as airports (and other secure installations) have security checkpoints to detect potential danger, God has told us of a very simple detector, by which we can ascertain a person’s closeness to God (or lack thereof). By keeping an eye (or ear) to this detector, we can pretty quickly and accurately detect whether a person is wise, at peace, happy, and/or close to God. What is that detector?
The tongue. Consider these words of wisdom from the book of Proverbs…
- “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.” (Proverbs 10:11)
- “Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.” (Proverbs 10:14)
- “In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking; but he who restrains his lips is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19)
- “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is a folly and shame to him.” (Proverbs 18:13)
- “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.” (Proverbs 12:22)
There are so many proverbs I could list, not to mention a great deal of the book of James, which has a great deal to say about the tongue. God’s Word clearly teaches that you can understand a person’s character, intelligence, and state of mind by listening to what he or she says and how he or she speaks. The real question you have to ask yourself is this: What do people know about you, in light of your tongue? Do you speak more than you listen? Do you encourage or discourage others? Are you known as one who curses a lot or who engages in gossip and slander? When you speak, what do others detect?
If you have a problem in this area, if you haven’t been the best testimony for the Lord in your words, then it’s not too late to change. You need to confess your sin, ask God’s forgiveness (as well as the forgiveness of those you’ve hurt), and give God control of your tongue. You must also guard your mind and heart. You know the saying: “Garbage in, garbage out.” In the words of King Solomon, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
Practical ways you can guard your heart diligently include significant prayer time, Bible reading and study time, and faithful church attendance and participation. Be careful what you listen to on the radio, what sites you go to on the Internet, and what programming you watch on television. What you put into your mind influences greatly what comes out of your mouth.
May we all be able to say, as the psalmist wrote: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
