with Brian Tubbs
Christian Living
General posts designed to encourage, inform, or help people in their walk with Christ
Choosing Courage Over Fear: A Personal Lesson Learned From My Grandpa
0197 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
0226 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!
1266 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
4271 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
0274 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)
Why Was Frank Turek Fired From Cisco? And What Does it Say About Persecution of Christians in America?
7289 days
Bible-believing Christians in America need to sit up and take notice. Frank Turek, a Christian author and speaker, was fired from his contract with Cisco as a result of beliefs he publicly expressed outside of work. That a Christian would lose his or her job because of political or religious views expressed outside of work is deeply troubling to say the least. It’s certainly understandable that an employer would prohibit, limit, or regulate religious or political speech or activism within the workplace. It’s not only understandable, but perfectly reasonable. However, when an employer terminates an employee’s position or vendor’s contract over political speech or activism that takes place outside of work hours and off campus, that is something else entirely. And that is precisely what happened with Frank Turek.
Turek is a widely known Christian author, speaker, and ministry leader. Until recently, he was also a corporate consultant and trainer, using his expertise in leadership and management to supplement his family’s income. Turek was careful not to mix the two spheres, keeping his political and religious views out of his corporate work. That was not good enough, however, for a self-described gay manager at Cisco. In spite of the fact that Turek received high marks for his training and performance, this particular manager was appalled at Turek’s writings and public advocacy for traditional marriage. He complained. And Turek was fired.
What’s the big deal, you say? Simply this…if it happened to Frank Turek, it can happen to you. In fact, this kind of thing has long been happening in academia, especially on liberal college campuses. Now, it’s happening in corporate America. The bottom line precedent that’s being set right now is this…Christians can be fired from their secular jobs if they publicly write or say things outside of work that are deemed offensive by co-workers.
Professing Christians who pick and choose which parts of the Bible they’re comfortable with and/or who avoid taking any kind of stand on moral issues need not fear. Those types of “Christians” will be the last to face persecution, since they are not much of a threat to anyone. (Though even these Christians may find themselves passed over for promotion or undermined in subtle ways if they are associated with churches or pastors that DO take a stand).
For this blog post, I’m writing mainly to true followers of Jesus Christ. True followers of Christ will always be considered a threat to the Enemy as well as to a morally perverse culture, because they stand for the principles and precepts of God’s Word. Fortunately, for most of American history, Bible-believing Christians have enjoyed a wide amount of latitude in the free exercise of religion and in their free speech rights. Note the past tense of that statement, however. For if the story of Frank Turek is indicative of what’s on the horizon, the days of enjoying a high level of religious freedom in the United States may be numbered.
How Should Christians Respond to Osama bin Laden’s Demise?
0383 days
by Pastor Tubbs
in Christian Living
Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil in all our history, is dead. His demise is due to the courage and valor of a U.S. Navy SEAL team that attacked his compound. Regrettably, many Christians in the United States are conflicted over how to respond to this news. Some are openly rejoicing. Others are criticizing the people who are rejoicing, and some don’t know how to respond at all.
Many Christians see Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels, such as “turn the other cheek” and “love your enemies,” as the baseline for a pacifist philosophy. For these Christians, they see no moral justification to celebrate the death of any enemy, no matter how evil or dangerous. These Christians tend to oppose capital punishment as well as war. Some of the more extreme pacifist Christians are even uncomfortable with police carrying firearms.
Seeing this doctrinal error play out in the current new cycle is truly disturbing. It’s a shame that Christians are so confused. More study of God’s Word would solve this problem. In his letter to Timothy, Paul urged his young protege to “study to show himself approved unto God, a workman who needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Studying and understanding the Bible takes work. It takes discipline. It takes time. And it takes setting aside personal emotion and agenda. That so many Christians are emotionally and spiritually conflicted over the death of Osama bin Laden is evidence that too many of our brothers and sisters in Christ simply are not taking the apostle Paul up on his challenge.
It’s true that individuals are commanded not to kill, not to take revenge, and to show love and kindness to personal enemies. God’s people should not give themselves over to hate and revenge. In our support for the President and our military, Christians in the U.S. should be careful not to drift toward vindictiveness or hatred. Consider Ezekiel 33:11: “‘As surely as I live,’ declares the Sovereign LORD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.”
However, God has ordained government to protect the innocent. In Romans 13, Paul writes: “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.”
Government does what individuals should not and cannot. Individual people should not take justice into their own hands. Individual people should practice love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, etc. Government is God’s way to allow individual people to live at peace with one another. In I Timothy 2, Paul urges Timothy to get his church to “pray for those in authority” that we may “lead quiet and peaceable lives.”
It’s government’s job to protect us! And Paul makes clear in Romans 13 that God has authorized rulers to “bear the sword.” The “sword” represents power — specifically the power to take life! And the ruler doesn’t bear the sword just for show. He bears it to “execute wrath” against those who “practice evil.” Right there is your justification for a well-armed, well-trained military and police force!
Osama bin Laden was a dangerous enemy to the United States. He proved this by orchestrating the murder of thousands of innocent people. Not only did he act against the United States on September 11, 2001, but had already targeted the United States (and claimed the lives of Americans) prior to 9/11/01. And he continued to lead his terrorist organization against the United States after September 11, 2001. Osama bin Laden was at war with the United States. No sane person can deny this!
And the government of the United States has a God-given responsibility (not to mention a legal and practical responsibility) to protect its people. Once again, no sane person can possibly deny this. We, as God’s people, should pray that our government continue to take this responsibility seriously…and we should support it when it does so. It is therefore completely justifiable for the President of the United States to supervise military operations designed to destroy our enemies (until such time that they cease to be our enemies), and the Navy SEAL unit that killed Osama bin Laden should be commended by the American people for its actions. And, yes, commended by Christians too!
Seven Principles That Should Guide Every Church Member
1410 days
In the sixteenth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, Simon Peter declares Jesus to be “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” In response, Jesus announces the establishment of His church and proclaims the “gates of Hell will not prevail against it.” The kind of church that Jesus spoke of in Matthew and which was empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in the book of Acts often bears little resemblance to the average Christian church in the United States of America today. Think about it. Jesus spoke of a church that was on the attack, advancing the Kingdom of God against the forces of darkness, even pressing against the “gates” of hell itself. Yet, look at the American landscape today, and you don’t see the kind of life-giving, Kingdom-advancing power Jesus envisioned for His church. Why?
The answer I think lies in the attitudes and mindsets pervading the average American church. And if we could infuse our churches with the principles covered in this blog post, I believe you would see major shifts in these attitudes and mindsets — so much so that churches across America would explode and our nation would experience the kind of revival it desperately needs.
1. We are here for God, not for ourselves.
This seems obvious, and it should be. But it’s rarely lived out by the average Christian today. Most church members approach life as if it’s all about them. Of course, we are all born selfish. After all, we’re all born with a sin nature. The true test of salvation and then spiritual maturity is when a person sees himself or herself as a servant of God who is here on this earth solely for the glory of Almighty God.
Not surprisingly, selfishness factors into church. Many Christians see church in the same manner that they see their own personal lives. They see the church as theirs, and they focus their energies into molding and shaping an environment that is pleasing to them. Even longtime church members can be like this, especially in churches that operate by congregational government. These folks see their tithes and offerings (if they give at all) as if they are stockholders paying for influence or control of the organization.
According to the Bible, the church isn’t here for its own members. Saying that the church exists solely or primarily for its own members is like saying the purpose of the United States Army is to take care of its own soldiers. Yes, the church should help take care of its members, just as the Army desires to take care of its soldiers. For the church, this is especially the case with those who need help and care, like the “widows and orphans” of the first century. But that’s not its primary function. The primary purpose of the church is to serve and glorify God.
2. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Jesus is the founder of the church and is the reason for the church existing. Thus, every church member should hold the teaching of John 14:6 sacred. In that famous passage, Jesus declares Himself to be the “Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Without Jesus, there is no church to speak of. You just have a club. This is why it’s such a travesty that many churches have deemphasized or diminished Jesus. When I was in Ohio, a local pastor invited a group of “scholars” known as “The Jesus Seminar” into his church. This group of scholars denies the supernatural miracles of Christ, including the Resurrection, and believes that most of the sayings of Jesus (as recorded in the Gospels) are inauthentic. Talk about deemphasizing Jesus! But, even in churches that claim to believe the Bible, we often see the diminishing of Jesus Christ. One of the deacons in our fellowship told me that, in his previous church, the pastor hardly ever mentioned the name of Jesus Christ, including his prayers. Other churches, though they talk about Jesus and sing about Jesus, don’t really emphasize the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ or concern themselves much with the teachings given by Jesus in the Gospels.
Any church that deemphasizes Jesus no longer can call itself a church. Without Jesus, there is no church. Every member of every church in America should make sure that Christ is exalted in their lives, attitudes, and involvement in their local church.
3. The Bible is the authoritative, inspired Word of God.
Four main problems here. First, most Christians are simply unfamiliar with the Bible. They are functionally illiterate when it comes to God’s Word. Second, many other professing Christians (often overlapping with the first group mentioned) simply don’t consider the Bible sacred or authoritative. They see it as flawed, corrupted, etc. Third, other Christians believe they can interpret the Bible however they see fit. And, fourth, others claim to believe the Bible, but when the Bible is applied to their own life or something they hold dear, well….let’s just say the Bible doesn’t always win out.
All these factors come together in your average Christian church in America, where one can see the lack of biblical allegiance in attitudes that church members have toward evangelism, tithing, church government, service, and so forth. It’s truly a shame, and it’s getting worse. Even at the two wonderful congregations I’ve had the privilege of serving (both of whom believe the Bible is authoritative), I’ve had numerous conversations in which members will claim they believe in the Bible, but their opinions or perspectives on various issues (be they cultural issues, lifestyle issues, or church issues) don’t always line up with Scripture.
Church members in the United States must read the Bible, study the Bible, and must bring their convictions, opinions, and lives into conformity with the Bible. Only then will we position our churches for God’s blessing.
4. The purpose of the church is found in the Great Commission.
Read what Jesus says in Matthew 16. There’s nothing about erecting a safe haven for like-minded believers. There’s nothing about constructing pretty buildings or seeing to it that everyone has a “warm and fuzzy” experience every week. No! Jesus talks about storming the gates of hell! It reminds me of General George Patton who said there would never be any retreats under his command, that he wanted his armies always advancing. (That’s a G-rated summary of what he actually said).
By contrast to the New Testament church founded by Jesus Christ, the average church in the United States today consists of fewer than 150 members. In fact, according to the National Congregations Study, the median church has 75 participants at their Sunday morning worship service. Things get a little better when you focus on Southern Baptist churches. According to one blog I read, 60% of Southern Baptist churches have fewer than 300 members. That’s better than 75, but we’re nowhere near anything like Pentecost! I certainly don’t think we can talk about storming the gates of hell with numbers like that!
I have had the joy and privilege of serving two wonderful congregations as pastor. And I have nothing but love for those congregations, but I must confess that it frustrates me that the average churchgoer is more interested in his or her own comfort than in advancing the Kingdom of God. The churches I have served are not alone. Most churches in America are like this. Look around the Christian landscape and you’ll find that most evangelical churches don’t split over doctrine. They split over personality, building issues, or petty politics. And even in churches that don’t split, many Christians feel they’ve “served the Lord” if they are part of sixteen different committees. The more a church is focused on internal politics, the less they are focused on the Lord and on the mission field!
5. Every church member is a servant and minister.
Ask any church growth expert about church barriers and they will tell you that the toughest barrier is between 100-200 members. Not coincidentally, most churches in America never exceed 200 in active membership or participation. Why? Because in order for a church to break past the 200 mark, the church must be completely sold out to the Great Commission and every member must have a servant’s mindset.
When I came as a candidate to my present church, I was asked whether I did visits (as in hospital visits and home visits to shut-ins). My answer was that every member should do such visits. It’s completely contrary to the Word of God for believers in Jesus Christ to delegate the work of ministry to full-time “clergy.” Every single Christian is to do the work of the ministry. Every single member. The pastor’s role isn’t to do the work of the ministry. It’s to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. Doubt me? Read Ephesians 4. And, while you’re at it, check out Acts, I and II Timothy, Titus, and I Peter too. Should a pastor do ministry? Of course! But he does so to be an example and as a means of teaching others to do so.
We understand this principle in most other realms, for it is simple common sense. You’ve read the ancient Chinese proverb: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Apply that to the church. The pastor’s job is to teach people to fish. For those who are unable to fish, it’s the job of every single church member to distribute fish.
Of course, the problem isn’t just with those who want a personal chaplain rather than a pastor-teacher. The problems are actually legion in this area. Church leaders often have to pull teeth to get members to step up and be involved. Ten percent of the average church congregation does ninety percent of the work. It shouldn’t be that way. And until that changes, our nation will never get the revival it needs.
6. Church members should pray and not complain.
I could write a whole book on this one, and perhaps I will. If the average Christian spent as much time praying as he or she does complaining, churches across America would explode with revival! Instead, we grumble and complain. Think God has a problem with that? Ask the Israelites. Ask the apostle Paul, who wrote in his letter to the church at Philippi that we are to do “all things without murmuring and disputing” (Philippians 2:14).
Quite often, we complain because we are focused on the wrong things or we see even the right things in the wrong light. Paul addresses this too in Philippians, when he writes that we should meditate on those things which are true, virtuous, and worthy of praise. See the fourth chapter.
If someone has done something to offend you, there’s a proper procedure we are to follow. See Matthew 18. Yet, frankly, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Sometimes, we get our feelings hurt or our “nose out of joint” when we shouldn’t. Some things aren’t worth making a big deal about. Let’s focus on the right things. Learn to forgive. Learn to let things go.
If we would simply channel our frustrations, anxieties, worries, and challenges into our prayer life instead of gossip, negative talk, etc., we would be better off, and so would our churches.
7. Everything we do should be driven by love for God and love for others.
At a church growth conference I recently attended, the speaker (Bill Easum) said that “churches are among the meanest places on earth.” My first reaction was that he was exaggerating. The more I thought about it, though, the more I had to concede there was some truth to the statement. People should be able to come to church with the confidence that they will be loved and encouraged! And they should come to church with the determination to love and encourage others! Jesus says that the way people will know we are his disciples is if we love one another. See the Gospel of John and the first epistle of John.
The most disappointing experiences I’ve had as a pastor have centered around church conflict. Some Christians, when their feathers get ruffled, don’t act like Christians. It’s one thing to disagree with a brother or sister in Christ. It’s quite another to be mean-spirited about it and to engage in slander and gossip.
We, of course, are to love God first and foremost. Everything we do should be driven by our passionate love for God Almighty. He should be the reason we go to church, serve in church, and invite others to church. And we should manifest God’s love for us in all the human relations that He gives us.
The church is the most important institution in the world today. Conceived by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the church will be the basis of any revival the United States may experience in the future. But such a revival will be truly rich only if God’s people are loving, praying, and living as we should. For my own part, I want to be part of such a revival, and not a bystander or obstacle to it.
Boundaries are Healthy
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One of the most difficult things I have to do, as a pastor, is to set boundaries. I don’t like it, because my inclination is to want to please everyone. Yet when I try to please everyone and “be there” for everyone when they want me to be, I end up tired, stressed, and burned out. Worse, I find that a few people end up monopolizing my ministry time at the expense of others. I’m learning (painfully) that I can’t take every phone call, return every call immediately, or “be there” every time someone “needs” to talk.
I was tempted not to post this, but I know I’m not alone in this. My mother also had a tough time setting boundaries, and I can think of several people I know who likewise struggle. The failure to set boundaries results in greater stress, anxiety, and depression. You basically surrender the steering wheel of your life to others, and wind up in a constant state of reaction. Setting boundaries is crucial to your health and well-being.
And the best example we have of setting boundaries is Jesus Christ himself! Check out this terrific article on how Jesus set boundaries in his life and ministry…
Lessons I’ve Learned in Pastoral Leadership
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In the fall of 2004, I surrendered my life to full-time pastoral ministry, and since the summer of 2006, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the lead pastor of two wonderful churches. From 2006 to 2009, I served Sligo Baptist Church in Wilmington, Ohio. While in Ohio, I also served as the part-time administrator of Wilmington Christian Academy, a small Christian school in Clinton County, Ohio. And then, in the fall of 2009, the Lord led Jane and me back to the Washington, DC area where I now serve as pastor of Olney Baptist Church in Olney, Maryland. In the course of the last five years, I’ve learned a few things about leadership and about ministry. I shared some of my thoughts on Facebook a few days ago, and thought I’d provide an updated version of that article here at my ministry blog.
“Seven Lessons on Leadership I’ve Learned as a Pastor”
When I was in my teens and twenties, I wanted to be a leader. Those who knew me well back then will remember how high those aspirations were. Whatever God had in store for me, I knew leadership was a part of it. I remember, as a very young teenager, I felt God might be calling me to the ministry. I resisted that call, much to the delight of my mother, who said she never wanted to see me become a pastor, because pastors get hurt. My reasons for resisting the call were more selfish. I wanted to get into politics, and perhaps make a lot of money along the way. By the time I got into my 30s, I recognized that doing things my way wasn’t getting me anywhere, except for frustration. I surrendered my life to the Lord’s will, and He quickly led me back to that original calling — the ministry. First, as a Christian school teacher, and now, as a pastor. I should say that Mom was happy with my surrender to that call, though she still worried about me (right up until her passing), because she knew how sensitive I am and knew God had to still grow me some more.
Since answering God’s call, I’ve been a Christian school teacher and department leader, a pastor of two churches, and the administrator of a small Christian school. And I’ve had plenty of that leadership thing to which I once aspired. And, let me tell you, leadership looks much more attractive from the outside than it does from the inside.
While I believe I’m doing what God called me to do, I have to be honest and share some lessons of leadership that I’ve personally (and, at times, very painfully) learned. I hope that these will be a help to those of you reading this who are in a leadership role or who may one day aspire to serve in one.
1. Leadership is based on responsibility.
Leadership is NOT about giving orders or being in the limelight. It’s about responsibility. You’re not a true leader, unless you fully and completely engage the people you’re working with and totally embrace the responsibilities you’ve been given. This is why one sees Presidents age so rapidly when in office. Responsibility can be heavy. And, while I don’t for a moment think I have responsibilities as heavy as the President, I can tell you that church leadership (and school leadership) carries a heavy sense of responsibility. Check out Hebrews 13:17, which tells church member to obey their leaders, because those leaders “watch out for your souls.” That’s a powerful phrase. I literally have to watch over the souls of the people in my church. Talk about heavy. It’s definitely a sense of responsibility that reminds me to get on my knees and pray….a lot.
2. Leaders get criticized.
I hate this one, but God has worked me over on this point more than any other. Most of my life, I recoiled from, withdrew from, and tried to avoid confrontation and criticism. Unfortunately (for my sensitivity), leadership is all about confrontation. It’s all about agitation. Why? Because leadership involves change. It involves moving people from one place to another and challenging people to do X or Y, when they may have other plans. It involves sticking your neck out. And, quite often, it means that you’ll get criticized — sometimes gently. Sometimes, not so much. Sometimes, the criticism is based on a misunderstanding. Being misjudged and criticized unfairly is the hardest type of criticism. Of course, sometimes, the criticism has merit. And a good leader learns from it and is humble enough to admit when he or she is wrong. The fact is that God has grown me in this area more than any other in leadership.
3. Leaders disappoint others.
This is the second hardest challenge of leadership for me personally. In fact, at this point, it may have become #1 (since God has worked me over so much on the criticism side of things). I hate disappointing people and letting them down, especially good people. This is especially difficult when it comes to employment related decisions, and our church has been going through this the last few months. Not easy. Not fun. My nature is that I want to encourage everyone and make everyone around me feel good. It’s why I love to crack jokes and have developed a sense of humor (that is, at least SOME of the time, effective ). But there are times when the laughter needs to stop and tough decisions need to be made, and people get hurt or disappointed. And the leader is right at the center of it, and there’s nowhere to hide. A good leader has to stand up straight, make the tough decisions, and accept that some people, including solid, good, wonderful people, might be hurt. This also drives me to my knees quite often, because it’s where I have to trust God to provide the comfort that’s needed, because let’s face it…God is a much better comfort provider than I will ever be.
4. Leaders must be followers.
No leader can become a leader, unless he or she is first a follower. And not only that, but no leader can remain a leader, unless he or she remains a follower. In my case, as the pastor of a church that’s congregationally governed, I’m accountable to the overall body of believers, while specifically following God Himself. That means, as the apostles taught, I must be in the Bible and in prayer continually, because that’s how I get my marching orders. In I Peter 5, the Bible makes clear that I answer to the Chief Shepherd. If I’m not following my leader, then I forfeit any right to lead the flock over which Jesus put me.
5. Leaders must be accountable.
As Harry Truman once said, “The buck stops here.” Until I became a pastor, I had the privilege of being a part of the organization, exercising some influence and leadership, but being safely within an umbrella of leaders above me. That’s not the case, when you’re “the Guy.” While a certain amount of lee-way and patience can and should be extended to leaders at the top (when it comes to mistakes, inefficiencies, problems, etc. within the organization), there comes a point where all eyes are on the leader to address situations and resolve problems. And there’s nowhere the leader can run or hide. The leader is…the leader. And he or she is accountable.
6. It’s easier to give an opinion, than to make a decision.
When I was lower in the leadership food chain, I had lots of opinions and ideas. And I would often share them. The higher up I got, the more aware I became that sometimes, leaders must say ‘no’ to ideas, even sometimes GOOD ideas, because of the need to maintain direction and balance in the organization overall. Giving an opinion is easy. Opinions are the cheapest commodity on earth. Making a decision is hard, because it affects more than simply your mood or state of mind or even your life. As a leader, the decisions you make affect a lot of people. This requires wisdom. And wisdom is not a cheap commodity. Read the book of Proverbs. Wisdom is more precious than gold and all the precious gems in the earth. And it’s something I pray for every day.
7. Leaders need prayer.
Forgive me for being self-serving here, but leaders need prayer. Many years ago, one of my pastors made a decision that was particularly difficult. I remember that people were often free with their opinions, but not so much with their prayers. I remember many years before that, one of the pastors I worshipped under fell into sin. Once again, many people were free with their criticisms and condemnation, but what about their prayers? One of the first things that went through my mind, when I heard the news, was: “I should’ve prayed for him more.” The real convicting thing is that I rarely prayed for him, and thus I consider myself partly to blame for the sin he fell into. Why? Because we as people are commanded to pray for our leaders, and prayer packs POWER! The apostle Paul tells us in I Timothy 2 to pray for those in authority over us. We should pray for our President, for example. And our Congress. And our Supreme Court. And our state and local governments. And, yes, our pastors! We should pray for our leaders. They need it.
For anyone reading this, I hope that this has been an encouragement to you, especially if you aspire to be a leader some day or are in a leadership position now. I encourage you to pray every day, read the Bible every day (including the Proverbs – great stuff on leadership there!), and also study leadership itself. Check out John Maxwell, for example, who has written some really great things on leadership. Most of all, remember this…
If you’re a follower of God, and you’re responding to God’s call, then God will give you the strength you need to do what He has called you to do. You just need to lean on Him and stay close to Him as He does this.
God bless you!
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