Discipleship – Page 19 – Muscular Christianity

Faith Must Trample Under Foot All Reason…

I) Intro

Martin Luther once said “Faith must trample under foot all reason, sense, and understanding.”¹ To those who maintain that having faith in God mandates an act of intellectual suicide, Luther’s statement seems ironically appropriate, especially given the fact that the leader of the Reformation seems agreeable to the idea that the less you engage your mind, the better suited you are to be a Christ-follower.

But you have to remember that it was Luther’s “mind” that allowed him the opportunity to connect the biblical dots, as far as recognizing how faith is referenced in the book of Habakkuk and then repeated throughout the New Testament. Luther read and understood Hebrew as well as Greek. He was a scholar and it was because of his education and his capacity for rational thought that he was able to challenge the then current system of Confession and Indulgences and “reform” it with the authentically biblical view of Grace and Forgiveness.²

What Luther was condemning was not the engaging of one’s mind when approaching the metaphysical aspects of life, rather he was condemning the manner in which the “created” sometimes elevated themselves above the Creator in the name of “education” and “academia.”

II) Use Your Head

The Bible encourages questions and understanding. Paul applauds the Bereans in the book of Acts for not just “accepting” what he had to say as true, but took the time to examine the Scriptures for themselves in an effort to validate and better understand his content:

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)

Consider also Scriptures like Isaiah 1:18 as well as as in Acts 17 and 18 where it says Paul “reasoned” with the leaders of the synagogue in order to show them the validity of Christ.

The problem that Luther is addressing is found in 1 Corinthians 1:20-21:

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of the age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him , God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. (1 Cor 1:20-21)

The “educated man,” who insists on dismissing anything that he cannot completely understand or observe empirically in an effort to explain his origin, his purpose and his destiny, is faced with an insurmountable quandary in that he can’t explain the natural world with the natural world. And what makes his disposition so heinous is that he is ultimately celebrating his intellect over the One Who created it to begin with.

III) Science and Theology Play Very Well Together

Science and Theology can co-exist very comfortably. Sir Issac Newton’s career in science and math demonstrates this exceptionally well. While he has been called the “greatest scientific genius the world has known,” he spent less time on science than he did on theology.³

Newton’s theology profoundly influenced his scientific method, which rejected pure speculation in favor of observations and experiments. His God was not merely a philosopher’s impersonal First Cause; he was the God in the Bible who freely creates and rules the world, who speaks and acts in history. The biblical doctrine of creation undergirded Newton’s science. Newton believed in a God of “actions [in nature and history], creating, preserving, and governing … all things according to his good will and pleasure.”⁴

IV) Faith Must Trample Under Foot All Reason if…

The bottom line is this: The “mystery of faith” is sometimes a catch-all type escape that biblically illiterate believers run to when confronted with having to defend a faith that they’ve never bothered to question themselves. But Jesus positioned Salvation as a concept that could be comprehended by children (Mk 10:15). God can be understood as far as the fact that He authored the created order (Rom 1:20) and that He is a God to be interacted with and appreciated on a personal level (Ps 139:1-16; 143:8; 1 Jn 3:1; Rev 3:20).

That isn’t to say that God can be wholly understood. If that were the case, He wouldn’t be God. But the fact that God Himself is beyond human understanding does not mean that the Gospel or the fact that “He is,” is indiscernible apart from some kind of mystical power of deduction. Faith in Christ is a logical response to not only the grandeur of creation (Ps 8; 19), but more importantly to the Person of Christ – His Life, His Message and the fact that He really did die and He really did come back to life.

Faith must trample under foot all reason if it’s the type of reasoning that dismisses God as superfluous and human intellect as supreme. On the other hand, if it’s the capacity to think and ponder the facts and the evidence that exist – that is what God wants and expects. Ultimately it’s the pride that manifests itself as “reason” that needs to be squelched and not the desire to understand.

For more information about how reason and faith not only coexist, but compliment one another, visit the sites and resources belonging to:

These are but a few of the brilliant minds out there who do a great job in championing the gospel amongst the intellectual community.

1. BrainyQuote, “Marthin Luther Quotes”, http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth151410.html, accessed December 29, 2014
2. Ligonier Ministries, “Justification by Faith Alone: Martin Luther and Romans 1:17” http://www.ligonier.org/blog/justification-faith-alone-martin-luther-and-romans-117/, accessed December 29, 2014
3. Christianity Today Library, “The Faith Behind the Famous: Isaac Newton”, http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1991/issue30/3038.html, accessed December 29, 2014
4. Ibid

Marley’s Ghost

Intro: Remember Jacob Marley?

He was Scrooge’s partner in “A Christmas Carol.” He comes back to haunt Scrooge at the beginning of the movie to alert him to the fact that he will be haunted by three spirits, all of whom will show him a perspective of his life that will ultimately inspire Scrooge to become a completely different man before the end of the story.

The theme of Christmas is promoted throughout the movie as being a special time. There’s one statement made by Scrooge’s nephew towards the start of the story where he’s been challenged to elaborate on why Christmas represents such a pleasant time of the year. This challenge, made by Scrooge, comes from a heart that weighs everything in terms of gain – much like the stereotypes that are often charged with commercializing Christmas. His nephew responds by saying:

“There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,’ returned the nephew. ‘Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that- as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”¹

I’ve recently encountered some individuals that literally sneer at the notion of Christmas. They lace their criticisms with profanity as though by cussing the strength of their perspective resonates with an even stronger and more compelling tone. In some ways, they remind me of Dickens’ Marley. Weighed down by the burden of their own perspective, theirs is a life of crass cynicism and an obligatory preoccupation with self resulting in a hollow existence and an even emptier eternity.

I hear their rhetoric and I’m immediately challenged to try and respond with something profound. I say “challenged” for two reasons: First off, I’m convinced that there’s a significant chunk of meaning that is absent from their approach to life. A “chunk” that isn’t recovered by anything other than revisiting the spiritual Reality of God and I want to say something that points them in the right direction. Secondly, I’m challenged because the more aggressive side of me gets irritated me that “tolerance” seems to apply to any and everything save a reverent mention of God’s Name. While I want to be an agent of positive change, there’s another part of me that wants to deliver a stinging rebuke that leaves my foul counterpart dazed from the overwhelming effect of my logic.

I’m not sure if I’m capable of either, but I do feel obligated to highlight some things that critics often think or articulate that are simply wrong. There’s more to the Holiday Season than animated specials and traditional melodies. It’s a commemoration of the single most unique birth in the history of humankind. And with that birth came a Remedy and an Answer to a quandary that every human being has. To understand it is life, to miss it is more than tragic. Those are the stakes.

My first thought is – Courtesy:

You may not subscribe to the idea of a Savior being born a baby and Him growing up to redeem all of mankind. But in the minds and in the hearts of many, He is is both Savior and King. He’s not a catch phrase, He’s not a mere tradition – He defines all that is good and worthwhile in a person’s life. So from that standpoint, while you obviously don’t agree, if you have any point to make at all, your best bet is to approach the subject with some kind of respect and polite-ness. The fact that you don’t reveals you as being less than credible and your entire platform is dismissed as a collection of bitterness and frustration and your problem is far deeper than the presence of a mere Nativity scene.

My second reaction is – Common Sense:

Anytime you intentionally include any aspect of the Gospel, you’re inspiring people to be more giving and more pleasant. From a purely historical standpoint, Christ is a model of virtue and selflessness. However you choose to acknowledge Him, be it a purely academic nod of the head to a heartfelt prayer, by doing so you assert something noble into the equation that often inspires the best in people.

Some are quick to point to the way in which the “church” has been the source of suffering and violence throughout history. Two things need to be kept in mind when evaluating the history of the “church…”

You don’t evaluate a system according to the way it’s abused. Unless a particular action or decision of the “church” can be reinforced biblically, it’s not the “church” that you’re looking at, let alone Christ. Rather, you’re looking at the kind of individuals that are referenced in 2 Corinthians 2:17:

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. (2 Cor 2:17)

To continue with our “Christmas Carol” illustration, the Ghost of Christmas Present responds to some of Scrooge’s sarcasm that contains some of the same kind of venom, as far as “Christianity” being an all too common label worn by people revealed to be more concerned with profit than they are Christlike-ness. Take a look:

There are some upon this earth of yours,’ returned the Spirit, ‘who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name; who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.²

In other words, don’t make the mistake of confusing Christ with those who proclaim to know Him, yet exhibit nothing in the way of actions or motives that could be perceived as consistent with His Character let alone His commands.

Secondly, apart from specific personalities, the “church” in general is often charged with things like the Crusades, as though these wars were sanctioned by Scripture.

While the Bible doesn’t shy away from the use of military force, bear in mind that the Muslims took over Jerusalem in 638 A.D. It wouldn’t be until 1096 that the Pope would call for the knights of England to liberate the Holy Land. That’s 458 years that the Muslims occupied Jerusalem and no one said anything on the level of a Holy War. Why the sudden change of heart? Was it a revival? Did some clergyman suddenly light up the streets in Constantinople and inspire Alexis the II to make his appeal to Rome? No. The catalyst came in the form of a new presence in Jerusalem, namely the Seljuk Turks. Not satisfied with the conquest of the Holy Land, theirs was an agenda that included the neighboring territories including the Byzantine Empire.³

As a response to the aggressive threat now posed by the Turks, Alexis II reached out to Pope Urban II and it was fear for his own skin that drove Alexis to seek out assistance from the Pope, more so than a desire to reclaim access to the Holy Land. That was a convenient selling point more so than it was the primary motivation.⁴

In short, the Crusades had nothing to do with the spreading of the Gospel as much as it had to do with the protection of political territory. Money and Power was at the root of the Crusades, not Forgiveness and Grace.

As a critic, your best Source is God Himself and not those who supposedly represent Him while simultaneously carrying out acts that are contrary to His commands. In the words of Christmas present, “charge their doings on themselves, not us.“

Final point: Comparison

In his book, “How Should We Then Live Live, ” Francis Schaeffer makes an excellent case for how “freedom without chaos” is best arrived at when man processes himself as subordinate to Divine elements. It’s when man makes himself God, and the arbitrator of what it is that constitutes moral absolutes, that tyranny and any one of a number of atrocities abound.⁵

If one were to proceed from that line of logic, the next question is “Which of my religious options constitutes the best one?” The answer to that question would be determined by which religious school of thought answers life’s most critical questions in the most comprehensive manner.

Christ stands apart from all other options in that while others claim to represent God, only Jesus claimed to be God Incarnate. He then went on to prove His claim to deity by dying and coming back to life (Matt 12:40; Lk 24:25-27). Not only did He validate His claims, but He also validated His Message of loving others as one loves himself and any one of a number of virtuous tenants that benefit society.

However you choose to process all of this spiritually is your choice, but from a purely empirical standpoint, you have an enormous amount of evidence to consider as far as that which substantiates the claim that the more like Christ a person strives to be, the more amicable, the more productive and the more beneficial to others that person becomes.

Again, there’s a huge difference between “religion” and true Christianity. You’re no more a Christian by walking into a church than you are a hamburger by walking into McDonalds. Jesus used the illustration of a fruit tree in that you could tell the kind of tree it was based on the fruit it yielded (Lk 6:43-45). And while your outward behavior is important, the Ultimate Litmus Test for your belonging to Christ is whether or not His Spirit lives in you (Rom 8:37). You can “pose” all day long, but what’s contributed more to the notion that “religion” is detrimental to society are the actions of those who’ve proclaimed Christ while simultaneously prosecuted an agenda that had absolutely nothing to do with the Gospel, let alone the Person of Jesus Christ.

Compare what’s out there, but when you compare ensure that you’re looking at Christ Himself and not those who claim to represent Him, yet champion nothing and no one other than themselves.

Conclusion

To maintain the idea that the whole of life can be explained and processed according to a purely humanistic point of view is to mandate the inclusion of imaginary numbers and theoretical values.⁶ In addition, you have to maintain an illogical tenacity when it comes to overlooking the state of man that is in place whenever God and the Absolutes He brings to the table is dismissed in favor of a humanistic worldview. At that point, justice and morality give way to whims, moods and trends. Without a transcendent Absolute, everything is relative, nothing has value and any defense of such an approach is easily dismantled by saying “That may work for you, but that’s not the way I see it.” Without a bottom line, every assessment is valid and nothing is neither right nor wrong.

“Christ’s Mass” – a church service set aside to commemorate the arrival of the Messiah. If something as pure and noble as the foundation upon which Christmas is built can somehow be twisted into a reason to be crass, you’ve got a substantial weight bearing down on you. In the words of Marley, it is a “ponderous chain.”⁷

The good news is that it’s a choice and like Scrooge chose to adopt a more spiritually mature perspective, you have the same option. Nobody just all of a sudden determines to loathe the cross. Somewhere, somehow you got damaged and your outlook now is tainted by a bad experience that has left a collection of profound scars. But there’s One Who has more scars than you and He’s earned the right to be heard over the din of those who’ve misrepresented Him.

Listen to Him and God bless us, everyone!

1. “Goodreads”, “Christmas Carol Quotes”, https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3097440-a-christmas-carol, accessed December 25, 2014

2. Ibid

3. “Wikipedia”, “Alexios I Kommenos”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexios_I_Komnenos, accessed December 26, 2014

4. “Essential Histories: The Crusades”, David Nicolle, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, UK 2001, p13

5. “Wikipedia”, “How Should We Then Live”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Should_We_Then_Live%3F, accessed December 28, 2014

6. “The Case for a Creator”, Lee Strobel, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 2004, p101

7. “You are fettered,” said Scrooge, trembling. “Tell me why?” “I wear the chain I forged in life,” replied the Ghost. “I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?” Scrooge trembled more and more. “Or would you know,” pursued the Ghost, “the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. You have laboured on it, since. It is a ponderous chain!” (“A Christmas Carol,” http://www.stormfax.com/1dickens.htm, accessed December 8, 2010)

August 26, 2014

I don’t know what it is about birthdays. When you’re a kid, it’s assumed that you regard that day with a special kind of appreciation, simply because that’s what kids do. The cake, the presents, the attention…You grow up looking forward to that “day” when you know that people who know and love you are going to go out of their way to make you feel special.

As you get older, the gifts cease to be as much of an issue, just because your “wish list” changes. And while you wake up with a bit of a smile on your face, you know that, apart from some landmark milestone, while there isn’t going to be a great deal of fanfare, today should be a good day. It’s as though the childhood dynamic has matured into a simple, expectation that today’s a day where you’re going to be given a break from the grind and odds are good that someone is going to do something nice for you in that it’s “your birthday.”

Perhaps that’s why August 26, 2014 was especially challenging. I wasn’t expecting any presents. We were broke and Michelle and I had already determined that there wasn’t going to be any gift giving simply because our sense of fiscal responsibility didn’t allow it. Facebook had several one liners in it, which was nice. But right now, it’s a little after 5:30 in the afternoon. I’m parked off in an obscure corner of the parking lot adjacent to my son’s flag football field where he’s practicing with his team.

I’ve chosen a discreet location so I can have a “moment.”

I’ve been unemployed for the better part of five months. While God’s been gracious and provided what we need to stay afloat, our financial situation is neither strong nor stable. The desire / need to provide that springs from a sense of duty and responsibility has been repeatedly rebuffed as interview after interview has failed to yield a job offer.

There’s something about having to look in the eyes of your bride and say “I’m sorry,” and apologizing for the insufficient income you’re bringing to the table. Yes, you’re a team. Yes, she’s among your biggest fans. But women are wired for security. I remember hearing that during our “pre-marital” counseling. And don’t forget your in-laws. While they’re supportive, they carry around a bit of a burden as they’re compelled to watch their daughter shoulder a level of anxiety that is justified. After all, there are mouths to feed and bills to pay. That’s a standard part of life, and you’re the “man.” Get it done.

Right?

Every morning you stare at the reflection in the mirror. You’re optimistic, but you’re tired. It takes energy to maintain a positive disposition, especially in the face of one defeat after another. It’s not difficult to start slipping a little bit. You put on your best “hire me” face when you interview, but there’s a subtle desperation that you try to mask with good sounding replies and enthusiastic responses.

And now, it’s your birthday.

Perhaps it’s because of the aforementioned expectation that accompanies the anniversary of your birth that things that would normally be processed and appropriately “handled” are amplified and you find yourself having to fight back feelings of despair and not just disappointment.

That’s me in that van over there in the corner. And if you’re looking from the back, you might catch a glimpse my shoulders moving up and down as I’m sobbing.

My confidence is hanging by a thread. My emotions are dominating my disposition as well as my attitude towards the future. I’m feeling like a complete waste of resources, a total loser and a man with a non-existent foundation for a cheerful outlook.

Prayer?

O, I’m praying. But it’s not sort of conversation you would describe as “noble.” It’s hard to be worshipful when you look at your basic needs / wants and feel as though your hand gets repeatedly slapped by the One Who fashioned the universe. “Surely, You can spare a crumb of encouragement,” you yell. “It says in Scripture that You own the cattle on a thousand hills, well, how about throwing a steer in this direction?”

At one point during my rant, a thought occurred to me. A well known celebrity had recently taken their own life. From a distance, you wonder how could a person be so despairing that hanging themselves appears as a plausible response to their scenario?

It was then that I determined that the only way in which a person can lose all hope is by elevating their assessment of their situation above the Perspective and the Nature of God.

I wasn’t on the ledge at that point, but I was figuratively on the street looking up at the place from which a suicide victim decides to jump and hearing myself in my mind saying, “I get it.”

So, what makes the difference in that moment? What prevents you (me) from allowing all of the bulbs on that psychological string of Christmas lights to go out as opposed to limiting your perspective to that which you can know and trust, regardless of how circumstances draw you into a boiling cauldron of dark thoughts that plunge you into ever increasing shades of hopelessness? What keeps that emotional string lit with the exception of one bulb as opposed to all of them being out?

Truth.

However isolated I may feel, I’m not alone (Matt 28:19-20)
However discarded I may feel, I have value (1 Jn 3:1)
However aimless I feel, I’ve got direction (Ps 139:16; Jer 29:11)
And here’s the crown jewel for those who are “done…”

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Rom 5:1-5)

Hope. And also a “reason” for the garbage that we’re having to contend with: Perseverance and Character. You don’t get there without having to sweat and cry. It’s during those times when everything is falling apart that you’re more inclined to revisit the One Who holds everything together to begin with.

Carter’s practice is over and I’m “OK.” I’ve vented and I’ve been reminded of Whose I am and I’m ready for whatever’s next. No, not because I’m all cheerful and giddy and I just know everything’s going to be ducky. I’m ready because I’ve chosen to fix my gaze on the One Who my circumstances have to answer to.

That’s not a “better mood.” That’s not “positive thinking.” That’s “profound thinking” and mixing it with a healthy dash of “practical.” I’m taking a deep breath and I’m going to go home and fill out some more job applications.

Fast forward to today. I’ve been gainfully employed for the last couple of months. I’m bringing home more than enough money to keep the lights on and, honestly, there are times as I’m headed into work, that I get a little emotional thanking my King for my job. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons that He allowed me to go through that season – to get to a place where when I thank Him for my food, I’m not just regurgitating some mindless little childhood catechism. I thank Him for taking care of me, for providing for me and blessing me and being the same good God both in times of abundance as well as in times of, well…

The kind of times I was dealing with on August 26, 2014.

The Good Works of Tim Tebow

Can someone who’s not saved be “nice?” Can they do things that could be categorized as “good works?”

Sure. At least from a human standpoint. But there’s more to a good work than the action itself. Take a look:

Isaiah 64:6 says:

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. (Is 64:6)

Human beings evaluate actions as they resonate according to our limited powers of perception. God, however, sees the heart. An unregenerate heart cannot produce anything that is processed as “holy” or “good” by God. We are spiritual corpses and even on our very best day, we are light years removed from what is acceptable to a Perfect and Holy King.

But as born again believers, our identity is defined according to the Perfection He awards us and now our “actions” are welcomed as “works.”

Here’s where it gets good…

Tim Tebow scores a touchdown. When he does that, is it nothing more than an addition to the scoreboard, or is it more than that?

John 15:16 says:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (Jn 15:16)

Because Tim makes a point of referencing his Heavenly Father as the Source of his talent and success, those touchdowns endure beyond the context of the game. Reason being is that the focus of those who are taking the time to notice Tim is now on his God and not just his throwing arm.

That’s the difference between an “action” and a “good work.” The “action” is simply the output of a human resource that is, by default, limited and flawed. The “work” may be the same kind of action from a human standpoint, but because it’s done with eye towards glorifying one’s Heavenly Father and is empowered by the Strength coming from God, it now resonates through all eternity as a good work and as fruit that will last!

Approach your day from a perspective that intentionally perceives the Divine elements that transform your actions into “works” and let that shape your outlook. It’s a different kind of day when you’re aware of your activity as being more meaningful than simply getting something done.

Go get ’em!

James Madison – Changing Your Mind Wisely

Prior the war of 1812, President James Madison had instituted some policies that weren’t especially popular, but nevertheless appropriate.

Britain had yet to respect the new nation as anything other than a collection of former colonies that needed to be disciplined. Napoleon’s war machine required Britain to respond with a Royal Navy that was nothing less than combat ready. So, in order to keep her ships adequately staffed, England often boarded American vessels and forced US sailors to serve in the British Navy.

The practice of impressment was more than exasperating and Madison’s administration instituted embargoes against England in order to try and discourage her from doing so. While the effect of the embargoes was questionable in terms of Britain’s disposition, it was both obvious and dramatic in the minds of those in New England.

Those in the northern part of the new nation depended upon a healthy amount of trade between themselves and England. Madison’s embargoes, however needful in order to respond to Britain’s actions without going to war, were nevertheless condemned as evidence of shortsightedness and bad leadership on the part of the Oval Office.

Madison had to maintain a firm resolve in order to perpetuate the economic pain he hoped to inflict upon England. But the scene in Europe would change. Whereas the embargoes were a logical strategy given England’s inability to trade with very few nations in light of Napoleon’s rule over much of the continent, once Napoleon was defeated, England now had access to any one of a number of opportunities. Read more

The 90 Day Bible Study Guide

The Bible can be a little intimidating.

Big book, not a lot of pictures…

And there’s no denying that some of the passages, without some kind of context, appear to be kind of dull.

“The 90 Day Bible Study Guide” is designed to walk you through every book of the Bible in a way where you can get your arms around what each book is bringing to the table in terms of Israel’s history, Old Testament Law, poetry, music, drama, sin, grace and how it all points to Jesus.

When you are able to process the book of Nahum as a prophecy that spells out in detail how one of the greatest cities in the ancient world was going to be conquered, Nahum suddenly takes on a different look. When you recognize howthe book of Isaiah articulates specific information about the Messiah that would come to pass centuries later in the Person of Jesus Christ, Isaiah is now much more than a lofty sounding piece of spiritual literature.

Even Leviticus. Old Testament Law is a laborious topic. But when you realize that there are three types of law and that two of those dynamics were fulfilled in Christ – now it’s legitimately interesting if for not other reason than to see how Grace has uncoiled what would otherwise be a tangled assortment of legal requirements – none of which could be obeyed to the degree that merited a truly righteous status before God.

With the “90 Day Bible Study Guide” you’re spending just under 30 minutes each day on Scripture readings and corresponding Bible study questions designed to guide you to a better understanding of the personalities, the history, the conflicts the miracles and the Truth that is the Christian faith.

If you’re getting ready to wrap the “Muscular Christianity: 90 Day Workout Plan,” this is a great way to follow things up.

Click here for more information!

Left Behind Bible Studies – Video Commentaries

Recently I had the chance to write the adult bible study curriculum to compliment what compliments the “Left Behind” movie.

How cool is that?

Having seen the rough footage, I’m confident this is going to get some people thinking about the Reality of Scripture. For some, it will be an occasion to beef up their defenses, for others it will be a chance to revisit the fact that one day the Rapture is going to happen. Just like that, we’re going to see Him face to face and that’s good news.

One question that you hear a lot is “How could a loving God send a person to hell?” On the surface, that seems like a reasonable question.

But it’s the wrong question. The real question is “How could a rational thinking person say ‘No’ to God?”

And you know what? It’s not just a matter of your eternal security. We say “No” to God quite a bit when it comes to being on top of our spiritual game in general. We’ve got this amazing invitation sitting in front of us every day to grab on to some serious Truth and look at ourselves and the world around us from a perspective steeped in Purpose, Peace and Power.

I get stoked anytime I’ve given the chance to challenge folks with questions like “If you had to create a billboard that promoted a relationship with Christ and you couldn’t say anything about missing hell and going to Heaven, nor could you say anything about how God helps you with your problems, what would your billboard say?”

In John 17, Jesus defined eternal life as “knowing God.” Salvation was never engineered to be something that comes to bear only in the context of a Divine emergency procedure or a funeral parlor.

The six sessions you see below are designed to get you thinking and get you fired up about life in general. You weren’t put here to make an appearance, you were put here to make a difference. And that difference is accomplished by you and I taking the time to catch a clear vision of Who God is, hearing His Voice and enjoying the benefits that go along with obedience.

Buckle up!

Session One: Are You Ready?

Do you believe in God? Do you believe that Jesus rose from the grave? You do? That’s awesome. But if you’re thinking that’s enough to get you into Heaven, think again. The demons believe all that and they’re not spending eternity with God. No sir. This session looks at what it means to believe in your heart and how it’s God’s Spirit in you that defines you as someone who truly “believes.”

Session Two: Your Guide to a Spiritual Six Pack

1 Timothy 4:7 says to train yourself to be godly. I love that word picture. So often we marginalize spiritual disciplines as things that you do when you’re feeling either especially noble or extremely desperate. Nuts to that! You train so you can better implement and enjoy the Resources Christ brings to the table:

passionate approach to the mundane
confident perspective on the impossible
steady response to the difficult
gracious reaction to victory
unshaken resolve when confronted with the unexpected

That’s a life worth living right there! And that’s the result of a toned spiritual six pack!

Session Three: Location, Location, Location

While it’s not uncommon to be more preoccupied with the words that we say, we have to be attentive to the life that we display and be able to use that as a way to earn the right to be heard. Location, location, location. “Where are you at?” Where are you at in terms of your personal life, your vocation, the relationships you have with your friends and family? Do those dynamics reveal the Power of Christ in a way that makes people curious? Does the way you live your life earn you the right to be heard?

Session Four: Apples of Gold on a Tray of Silver

You’ve earned the right to be heard, now it’s time to say something. You know what you want to say, but have you given much thought to the way it needs to be said. It’s one thing for someone to hear you, but it’s another when you’re able to speak in a way where they’re truly listening. That’s the example Christ sets when you look at the way He interacted with the woman at the well in John 4. “A word aptly spoken…” That’s what we need to be shooting for.

Session Five: How to Handle Angry Customers

Not everybody is open to the Truth. Some are downright antagonistic. What do you do? This session looks at three things to keep in mind: Don’t take it personally, find common ground, and try to see it from their perspective. Not everybody who’s “difficult” is skeptical. Some are carrying around some hurt that never healed. Should God determine to use you to influence the way they think, you want to be real intentional making sure your words are not compromised by your emotions.

Session Six: Lose the Frogs

Pharaoh had an option of either ridding himself of the frogs immediately, or he could choose to let them linger for one more night. You’ve got to wonder what he was thinking. Why in the world would you put off the relief that’s staring you right in the face? Yet, as outrageous as that may seem, we do the same thing. God calls, He offers, He invites, He commands and we…put Him off. Like Pharaoh, we would prefer one more night with the frogs.

Lose the frogs!

If any of these session resonate with you, be sure to head out leftbehindthemovie.com and click on “Minsitry Resources.” They’re offering free samples as well as other materials for your entire church. Great stuff!

Go get ’em!

Your Spiritual Six Pack

What’s true in fitness is just as true when it comes to spiritual fitness – eliminating the “excess” that would otherwise keep you from hearing and obeying your Heavenly Father.

When you train spiritually, you’re studying the Word of God and spending time talking with your King. You’re listening to His Counsel and being aggressive when it comes to being obedient.

Before you start though, you want to clarify your “Inspiration.” Why are you getting up extra early to read God’s Word? Are you just going through the motions to pacify an otherwise guilty conscience, or is it because you want to ensure you’re hearing and obeying your Heavenly Father in order to experience the benefits of Joshua 1:8?

When you train, are you focused? Are you getting “through it” or are you getting “to it?” Are you really listening and benefitting from what you’re hearing in the context of the time you spend with your Heavenly Father, or are you just going through the motions?

2 Corinthians 3:18 says “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with every increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Is that true? Is there a stronger Presence of Christ in our lives than there was last week or even this morning?

We’re not necessarily in a position to know, in that we’re not the best judge of our own heart (Jer 17:9-10). But we can look back over the ground we’ve covered and notice how God has taught us and how our perspective has changed (1 Jn 2:12-14).

Ultimately we do all things for the same reason: To be like Him and make Him look good in the process (Col 3:17). We want His Purpose, His Peace and His Power working through us to the point where others are drawn to it and become curious (Matt 5:16).

We do this, not just in terms of spiritual disciplines, but in all things including the gym and the dinner table. The result is a more “muscular” Presence of Christ in every area of our lives and that is “Muscular Christianity!”

I Can’t Find My Keys

Keys.

They can be the most exasperating little “jingle” in your pocket. They’re always there when you’re not looking for them, but woe to the person who’s in a hurry and can’t find them.

A Bad Day

Recently, I was having a bad day. Nothing especially dramatic, just a lot of little irritants subconsciously building up in a way that I wasn’t even aware of.

I was headed out of the house, on my way to go get something done and I couldn’t find my keys.

At first, I’m just absentmindedly walking around the house, thinking about the myriad of items on my “to do” list that hadn’t gotten done, while simultaneously looking for my keys. After a few minutes, I’m still coming up with nothing and now The Keys are center stage in my thinking.

Of course by now, it’s not just “the keys.” The Keys now represent everything that hasn’t gone right and everything that I’m now confident is teetering on the precipice of epic failure. I’m angry, I’m not a nice person to talk to, I’m obviously preoccupied with things that have nothing to do with my keys. But still…

I. Can’t. Find. My. Keys! Read more

Financial Planning When You’re Not, You Don’t, You Can’t and You Won’t

A Healthy Desire

On one hand, you’ve got greed and a “love of money.” (1 Tim 6:10) On the other hand, you have a healthy desire to succeed (Josh 1:8) and prosper (1 Chron 4:10).

What distinguishes those two extremes is not always readily apparent. However noble a particular venture or desire may be, apart from being intentional about your relationship with Christ, “compromise” poses as “reasonable” and you’re on your way to something unhealthy (1 Pet 5:8).

But assuming you’re on top of your spiritual game, you’re quest for more in the way of material resources is not so much about satisfying a selfish agenda as much as it’s a desire to bless others. Perhaps you want to alleviate someone else’s angst over a financial burden, maybe you just want to surprise someone with an unexpected blessing. Whatever the reason, it’s an honorable one, but regardless of how hard you work, how hard you pray, your hand keeps getting slapped by different forms of discouragement. Whatever “financial planning” you would like to do, you can’t, because you’re not, you won’t, and you don’t.

You’re Not, You Don’t, You Can’t and You Won’t

You’re not, you don’t, you can’t and you won’t…

It’s not a negative disposition, it’s not a lack of confidence. It’s a fact.

I’m not qualified
I don’t have the platform I need
I can’t make someone give me more money
I won’t ever get beyond my current situation

And being a person of faith, you’re more than willing to believe that God can completely transform your situation. But that can make it even more exasperating in that He’s not responding and your situation, rather than being remedied, continues to drag on and on.

Brace Yourself Like a Man

It’s interesting that when God finally responded to Job’s plea for some kind of explanation as far as why he was being allowed to suffer the way he was, God didn’t start by apologizing nor did He let Job in on the conversation with Satan that had set the stage for the disasters that Job would have to contend with. Instead, God’s first comment to Job was:

“Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” (Job 38:2-4)

In the verses that follow God’s introductory statement in Job 38:2-4, He enumerates various examples of His Absolute Authority in the context of creation. His Attributes are so obvious and so overwhelming that Job, who is still in the throws of physical pain and emotional despair, does a complete one eighty. However “deserving” he felt a moment ago, as far as some kind of rational explanation for everything he’s had to endure, he enthusiastically embraces the opportunity to simply revere his King.

He goes as far as to say “I repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:6) He says that because he’s awestruck by the Grandeur or God. The instant God appears, His Perfection effortlessly overwhelms whatever indictments Job had prepared and the only thing that registers as present and worthy of consideration is God Himself.

A Position of Strength

It’s imperative to realize that Job’s response is not fearful, nor is he begrudgingly admitting a subordinate position relative to God’s Omnipotence.

Confronted with a clear view of God’s Reality, He figuratively runs to God’s Throne and drinks in every drop of Substance and Glory that emanates from it. And while it may not change Job’s situation, it completely changes Job. Rather then feeling like a hopeless victim of unfortunate circumstances, he’s now on his feet and facing his situation from a position of strength.

By reminding Job of Who it is that commands every nuance of creation, Job is able to perceive the true nature of his status. It is neither random nor is it intimidating when viewed from the perspective that recognizes God’s unchanging commitment to his welfare and the subsequent sense of Purpose that now characterizes every aspect of his dilemma.

Psalm 16

David’s being pursued Saul who’s determined to kill him. Things were looking especially bleak in that Saul was closing in and David’s options were nonexistent. That is the setting for Psalm 16. At one point, he says:

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. (Psalm 16:6)

Strange verbiage, considering it’s coming from someone being hunted and on the threshold of complete destruction.

David would be delivered and he would go on to great things. But the point here is that David penned this Psalm at a point where he could say with confidence: “I’m not, I don’t, I can’t and I won’t.” But David was also aware of the fact that his plight was not based solely on what he could see or what he could control. He knew that, not only God CAN deliver, but He IS in the process of doing that presently.

That’s the Truth that needs to be recognized. God hears and God answers. There’s no disconnect and there’s no delay. His response is exactly what it needs to be in order for His Purposes to be accomplished. And while His Purposes don’t always include the immediate relief you’re hoping for, the fact of the matter is, you’re being heard and your situation is being addressed. You can, you are, you will and you do.

You can, you are, you will and you do.

Job’s pain did not go away in Job 38 and David was still several chapters removed from becoming king of Israel as God had promised. But in both instances, they experienced the same strength that you and I have access to right now. The perspective that gives meaning and purpose to the pain, the mindset that’s founded on God’s Awareness and Power and the disposition that’s authentically optimistic because of Who it is that’s Ultimately in charge.

It’s the basis for the contentment that Paul refers to in Philippians 4:13 and it’s the Truth that gives us what we need to not only endure, but to excel and to grow into the enhanced character that God has designed us to become.

You’re not, you don’t, you can’t and you won’t…?

No.

You are, you can, you will and you do.