Salvation and a Happy Meal

Abba Father, break my heart for your people... break my heart for my sin... break my heart for my selfish attitudes and desires...

Where is the truth?

I fear for our churches.. I fear for our congregations... I worry that our theology from our pulpits has become far too watered down and people-pleasing. I've asked several people from my church lately what must one do to be saved and have been met with a litany of disturbing and heartwrenching answers. These include responses such as...be baptized, go to church, follow the "rules in the Bible", be involved in service and mission trips... Don't get me wrong, these are all important parts of Christian life, but they are not the source of salvation. For it is found in Christ alone.

While these answers cause me great concern, there is yet another more subtle, and yet deeply more dangerous, lie that is circumventing our ministries and our messages. I have noticed it most markedly in youth ministry- perhaps simply because that is my sphere of service and most active involvement.... I see the church putting GREAT emphasis on accepting Christ as Savior- believe in Him, believe that He died on the cross and only through His sacrifice can one be saved... Nothing wrong with that. However we forget to tell people that He cannot be our Savior unless He also becomes our Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation. THE OLD HAS GONE, the new has come!" (Emphasis mine) A life in Christ must be a life that is changed. We seem to have little to no accountability in displaying the evidences of a changed heart and a changed life. I can think of so many youth that I have met in ministries that are completely convinced that because they prayed a prayer through tears at dimly lit, emotion-wrenching, frenzied youth rally, concert, service, etc. that they have a one way ticket to Heaven. Even though they don't think the Bible has any application to their lives, they live in a way that almost entirely contradicts any of its teachings, and Jesus' name only crosses their lips when they're upset or trying to make a point. But somehow we have convinced them that's all it takes to be a Christian... that's all it takes... say some words, cry a few tears, and live a life that's leading you straight to Hell.

Calling All Missionaries to America...

So this was a rather saddening and compelling fact to know...

" A recent report by the Barna Research Group shows at least five major faith groups in America today. Evangelicals, defined as those who see their relationship with Jesus Christ as the grounds for salvation and the Bible as accurate and authoritative, represent 8 percent of the population. Thirty-three percent are non-evangelical, born-again Christians. They have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, but do not believe various core doctrines from Scripture. Forty-four percent of the population falls into the "notional" Christian group, considering themselves Christian but unsure of their eternal destiny and less likely to embrace core biblical doctrines. Atheists and agnostics represent 8 percent of the population, and other faith groups make up 7 percent. For the full report, see http://www.barna.org/. (Pastor's Weekly Briefing, February 1, 2002)"

Percentage-wise, there are as many atheists as there are evangelicals... And what of all the people tossed in the middle?... the 44% who don't know what's going on? Wow... There are other countries who are sending missionaries to America to reach the lost people here! What are we doing?!?! What am I doing?!?! Lord forgive me.. Lord help us...

Passion Like Paul

Thank you Lord for the privilege of spending another day on this earth. Help me to use my time wisely, to love you more when I fall asleep than when I first woke up, and to always be striving for Your Glory.

I desire to have passion like Paul did. For one of my classes this semester I was assigned to write a lesson plan and then group teach the lesson over Philippians 1:12-30. We taught yesterday and my part of the teaching was specifically in regards to verses 22-27a. Paul struggles with this dichotomy of desiring to depart and be with Christ and yet realizing the need for him to remain on earth for the furtherance of the gospel and for the encouragement of the believers. It really made me reflect on my own life, my own desires, my own heart. A dangerous thing. Do I have that passion for Heaven? That desperate longing to shed this earthly body and be united with my Lord? No, not as I should. I get far too caught up in my life, my struggles, my hurts, my physical needs and wants, what's going on around me, etc. I focus far too often on this world and all of its trappings and far too little on what will last forever.

Then, conversely, do I see the need to remain on this earth as Paul did? Ultimately he realized that, even though his passionate desire was to be with Christ, it was far more necessary for him to remain on in the flesh. This necessity, however, is not brought on by his selfish desires, but rather a burden to continue the gospel and to build up the body of Christ. Why do I want to live? What's my motivation for each day? Is it to make money, to hang out with friends, to live for me? Or is it because I have a burden for the lost? Do I have a burden for the lost? There are nights that I cry myself to sleep because Christ has broken me for His people, but those nights do not happen often enough. So often it seems that my heart desires God, but not His people. But then, is my heart even truly desiring God?

What is my motivation? What is my burden? What is my passion? Lord, let it be You. Let it be Your will. Let it be for Your people. Let my heart break for the lost, the hurting, the poor, the sick, the lonely, and the heartbroken. Let my life reflect Your Glory. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways', declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" Lord, change my thoughts, my heart, my patterns of thinking to be more focused and more in tune with Your thoughts and Your ways.

The Valley of Vision

This a poem found in an amazing book entitled, 'The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions', compiled by Arthur G. Bennett. It's one of my absolute favorites.

The Valley of Vision

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;

Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy Joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley.

Sent Packing...

I was remembering all the trips that I've been on in the past, trips friends have been on, family memories, and began thinking about the incredible amount of excitement that people feel when they're getting ready to go someplace new, thrilling, and unfamiliar. Whether they're intending to go to learn about something, experience something exotic, or simply to be able to relax and get away from the ordinary, trips are usually eagerly anticipated. They make you want to tell everyone where you're going and what you'll be able to do.. be it to tell your best friend or the grocer at the supermarket.. everyone HAS to know where you're going and they must share in your excitement! And yet, as Christians, the best trip, the most amazing journey, and the paramount destination is the one that occurs as we pass from this life. We have a hope.. we are going on a trip.. we're not sure when the actual departure date is, but we know we're going. Why... WHY do we not have the same excitement for that as we do for our little vacations that we take during our lives? Why do we not prepare and plan and tell eveyone we come in contact with about this incredible place that we're going to? Why is that when we do share, if we share, we do so almost apologetically and with great care so as to not offend or "step on anyone's toes"? We have a hope!! We should rejoice!! We should be excited and have that desire to share our joy with others! Why don't we? What in the world is our problem? Why have we been able to become so complacent and so blase about our salvation. We get so caught up in this life and the things of this world that we lose our focus on Heaven. Paul said, "so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)... "But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3:20,21) Focus on Christ, focus on Heaven, and share that with everyone with joy and excitement.