So, I have been pondering something. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, who is it for? Or better yet, who is it NOT for? A wierd question a guess, but over the years, a few things have bothered me in relation to how we (Christians) view the Gospel. It appears that we put the power of the Gospel in a box and think that it is only intended for a certain audience. Maybe I am over exaggerating, maybe I am reading too much into these things, or maybe you have experienced what I have experienced. I will list a few examples (in no particular order) and give a brief response.
Politics:
It appears that in our day that God must be a Republican. It's crazy I know, but to hear many Christians speak, you would think that republican = saved and democrat = lost. It has really elevated over the years that conversations within the church are so passionate about politics, especially over right wing vs. left wing, conservative vs. liberal, and republican vs. democrat, that one would think that being a republican is something scriptural and a democrat something anti scriptural. Now obviously following the principals of Scripture would lead you to make the best decision possible, but my point is the gospel is not only for republicans and it excludes democrats. I am sure there are democrats and republicans alike who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps the most daunting statement Christ Himself gave concerning politics is in Matthew 22:21:
Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the
things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
It was just as shocking to them as it is to us. We want Jesus to be a certain "party", namely the one we hold to. We will speak with such boldness that our way is God's way. It is sad to see the passion most Christians give towards politics and yet have little to no passion concerning the things of God.
Race:
This could be a touchy subject. The reality is that our churches are still too segregated today. I am sure that some of it is out of our hands (the community we live in). Nevertheless, there still seems to be an issue in our churches that the gospel is only for a certain "race" of people. Many American Christians simply have a problem with the infiltration of other people groups. We speak boldly about our jobs being lost to these people groups and how they have negatively impacted our economy and yet we never dream of or desire to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. Simply put, we don't believe it is for them. Many of us only have this view of American Christianity and the harsh truth is that it is a shallow view. Whether it is Hispanics or Chinese or Muslim or caucasion or African American, no matter the "people group" the call of the Gospel goes out. It must go out!!
Revelation 5:9 says :
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open
its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
So whatever our issues with other people groups, it would be a good idea to seek the Lord to rid them in our lives because the eternal reality is we will be joined with myriads of others who make up every people group in the world in worshipping the Lord ETERNALLY!
Well, there are others and I don't want this to drag out, but I am sure we have experienced these in our lives. Like how we treat homosexuals, murderers, abortionists, drunkards, drug addicts, and the list could go on and on and on. The reality is that we are to herald the Good News of Jesus to a world who is steeped in sin. That sin comes in different shades and most of it grosses us out because we have been redeemed from that sin, but let us not ever forget where we were or where we could have been. May we do that what was simply commanded of us and that is simply to "preach the gospel"! That is it. So, who is the Gospel for? Everyone, and after that, the results are up to the Lord!!!
Ephesians 2:1-10
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
T4G 2012: Fortaste of Heaven
In our lives as Christians, there can be many things that seperate us. These can come in the form of doctrinal issues, personal convictions, or simply one's own opinion. All too often, our lives are defined by these differences and instead of embracing one another, we become abrassive towards each other.
This past week, I had the wonderful privelege of attending this year's Together for the Gospel conference. A rare treat it was. For three days I was able to stand with, sing with, worship with, laugh with, cry with and grow closer to God with thousands of men and women. The KFC Yum! Center may have been filled with 10,000 men and women who could be defined by there diffrences of denomination or the others that I mentioned above, instead we were fixed upon our Savior and we stood, sang, worshipped, laughed and cried together for the gospel.
During one particular session, I was moved to stop singing and just listen to an arena full of men and women praising God. The beauty of the unity of the voices singing to God Almighty was not only worshipful, but gave me a glimpse of Glory. As I was quiet and listened, I couldn't help but imagine of the hope that lies ahead of me, that day when I will be forever in the presence of Jesus.
It was humbling to reflect the fact that we are called by the gospel, we are entrusted with the gospel, and we are to preach the gospel.
From the very beginning, the first session (C.J. Mahaney) to the last (John Piper), through all the panel discussions and the breakout sessions, for three whole days, I was blessed to envision and was given a foretaste of Heaven.
If you have never been to a Together for the Gospel conference, it is well worth it. You can start planning now. The next conference is in 2014 (April 8-10). If the Lord doesn't come by then, my encouragement would be that you find a way there. Husbands take your wives, take a friend, a child, just make it there. You will not be disappointed, you will be greatly blessed. For more information, or to watch the sermons and panel discussions, go to www.t4g.org.
This past week, I had the wonderful privelege of attending this year's Together for the Gospel conference. A rare treat it was. For three days I was able to stand with, sing with, worship with, laugh with, cry with and grow closer to God with thousands of men and women. The KFC Yum! Center may have been filled with 10,000 men and women who could be defined by there diffrences of denomination or the others that I mentioned above, instead we were fixed upon our Savior and we stood, sang, worshipped, laughed and cried together for the gospel.
During one particular session, I was moved to stop singing and just listen to an arena full of men and women praising God. The beauty of the unity of the voices singing to God Almighty was not only worshipful, but gave me a glimpse of Glory. As I was quiet and listened, I couldn't help but imagine of the hope that lies ahead of me, that day when I will be forever in the presence of Jesus.
It was humbling to reflect the fact that we are called by the gospel, we are entrusted with the gospel, and we are to preach the gospel.
From the very beginning, the first session (C.J. Mahaney) to the last (John Piper), through all the panel discussions and the breakout sessions, for three whole days, I was blessed to envision and was given a foretaste of Heaven.
If you have never been to a Together for the Gospel conference, it is well worth it. You can start planning now. The next conference is in 2014 (April 8-10). If the Lord doesn't come by then, my encouragement would be that you find a way there. Husbands take your wives, take a friend, a child, just make it there. You will not be disappointed, you will be greatly blessed. For more information, or to watch the sermons and panel discussions, go to www.t4g.org.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
What about Saturday
As we have been focusing our attention to this weekend, many will hit the stores in search of that “perfect” Easter dress, load up on tons of candy and last but not least, seek out that Easter basket which will hold those cute, precious little eggs that will be hidden for the children to find. This has become the custom of modern America. It is sad that we (as a nation) focus more upon the pagan holiday instead of what it is truly about.
On our calendars, we have Good Friday, Saturday and then Easter Sunday. I, myself, prefer to stay away from the word Easter, instead, I prefer to call the day Resurrection Sunday. As we know, it was Friday that Christ, willingly, joyfully, endured the cross, took the wrath of the Father, and justified us by His blood! Then we skip over to Sunday, and that is the day we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. Again, a glorious truth, our whole faith rests upon the fact that Jesus literally rose from the dead. Though the sting of death He tasted, death had no power over Him, and because He lives, we now live! But what about Saturday? I do not want to take away from either the death or the Resurrection of Christ, but what about Saturday, is there any
truth for us about Saturday, as He was in the tomb? Now, before I proceed, let me say that these are my thoughts and not dogmatic truths of Scripture.
The accounts of Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection all include some information on the disciples, that is they all fled and we don’t read of them again until after He rose from the dead. Mark 14:49-50 says this: “Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled. And they all left Him and fled.” (ESV) We know that that night Peter denies Jesus three times. Nothing is mentioned about them on Saturday. I just couldn’t help but think of how wonderful, in a way, Saturday actually was.
Think about it. Here, the disciples walked with Jesus, listened to Him preach and teach, saw the
miracles He performed for 3 ½ years, then in one moment He was gone. He was arrested by the religious rulers, then put to death. The man they had forsaken everything for was dead. Obviously they could not see beyond the cross to Sunday. They heard Jesus speak about resurrection, but had no earthly idea what was going to happen. They were scared, confused, abandoned, and were weaker than ever before. What they didn’t know then, was He was with
them and as close to them as ever before!
How often in our lives do we have “Saturdays”? Those days were we cannot see past our circumstance and we are scared, confused, we feel abandoned and we are weaker spiritually than ever before. I believe those days in our lives become the most precious of days. Those are the days we are being refined and we are actually growing stronger by the grace of God. Though the disciples scattered and fled on Saturday, as we do often in our lives, Christ brought His bride back to Himself.
As we reflect upon this weekend, especially of the Resurrection of Christ, may we draw comfort that His Resurrection truly brings life, hope, peace and comfort , even in the midst of seasons of Saturdays!
Soli Deo Gloria
On our calendars, we have Good Friday, Saturday and then Easter Sunday. I, myself, prefer to stay away from the word Easter, instead, I prefer to call the day Resurrection Sunday. As we know, it was Friday that Christ, willingly, joyfully, endured the cross, took the wrath of the Father, and justified us by His blood! Then we skip over to Sunday, and that is the day we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. Again, a glorious truth, our whole faith rests upon the fact that Jesus literally rose from the dead. Though the sting of death He tasted, death had no power over Him, and because He lives, we now live! But what about Saturday? I do not want to take away from either the death or the Resurrection of Christ, but what about Saturday, is there any
truth for us about Saturday, as He was in the tomb? Now, before I proceed, let me say that these are my thoughts and not dogmatic truths of Scripture.
The accounts of Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection all include some information on the disciples, that is they all fled and we don’t read of them again until after He rose from the dead. Mark 14:49-50 says this: “Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled. And they all left Him and fled.” (ESV) We know that that night Peter denies Jesus three times. Nothing is mentioned about them on Saturday. I just couldn’t help but think of how wonderful, in a way, Saturday actually was.
Think about it. Here, the disciples walked with Jesus, listened to Him preach and teach, saw the
miracles He performed for 3 ½ years, then in one moment He was gone. He was arrested by the religious rulers, then put to death. The man they had forsaken everything for was dead. Obviously they could not see beyond the cross to Sunday. They heard Jesus speak about resurrection, but had no earthly idea what was going to happen. They were scared, confused, abandoned, and were weaker than ever before. What they didn’t know then, was He was with
them and as close to them as ever before!
How often in our lives do we have “Saturdays”? Those days were we cannot see past our circumstance and we are scared, confused, we feel abandoned and we are weaker spiritually than ever before. I believe those days in our lives become the most precious of days. Those are the days we are being refined and we are actually growing stronger by the grace of God. Though the disciples scattered and fled on Saturday, as we do often in our lives, Christ brought His bride back to Himself.
As we reflect upon this weekend, especially of the Resurrection of Christ, may we draw comfort that His Resurrection truly brings life, hope, peace and comfort , even in the midst of seasons of Saturdays!
Soli Deo Gloria
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