In love with facts or people?

God's people have been persecuted since time began. Reading today in Acts 12 Herod the king decides to win a popularity contest when he figures out that "laying violent hands on some who belonged to the church" "pleased the jews."

Why didn't the resurrection of Jesus validate all Christian's witness post-cross? Could it be that just the facts aren't enough to turn people to God? Despite the facts, despite the truth, despite the evidence, man still chooses to turn away from God and go his own way.

How do we reason with people like that? People who won't stop and examine the evidence for our faith? We don't. They won't be won over by our persuasive arguments. They won't be convinced by "Evidence that demands a Verdict" or "I don't have enough Faith to be an Athiest." Both great books by the way!

People who won't give in to reason must be touched by love. That's why Jesus spend more time talking about loving one another rather than debating the scriptures. As it is written, "...if I...understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing"

The facts of our faith will be real to people when we act out towards others in love. They may not see the reasoning, the rationale, or the evidence of our faith initially. But that's okay. Let them see our love. Unconditionally love. Loving first because He first loved us.

With a wave of my magic wand

"Amazed them with his magic" could be said about many people in our day. David Copperfield. David Blaine. Chris Angel. They are tremendous showmen, trained in the art of misdirection and mystery. Their acts of illusion baffle the common viewer making the impossible seem possible and the extraordinary appear ordinary.

However, this phrase wasn't spoken about any of them. This statement was made about Simon the Sorcerer from Acts chapter 8. Simon was a skilled showman in his day amazing the crowds with his acts of prestidigitation. It's debatable whether Simon's magic was in the vein of magicians in our day or if he practiced darker arts & magick.

What is known is that as Philip preached the Good News about the kingdom of God, Simon believed and was baptized (Acts 8:13). So whether you teach faith alone saves you or a plan of salvation including baptism saves you, Simon is a new Christian. His sins are washed away and his hope is in Jesus Christ.

Sadly, we learn that Simon's heart is not right with God (vs. 21). He is immediately told to repent. Repentance is part of God's plan for our salvaiton, and is taught as a step to new life in Christ (See II Cor. 7:10). However, just because someone is a new Christian doesn't mean they won't sin. They will. We're like new babies in our faith. We're bound to fail. In case of sinning after becoming a Christian John writes to Christians in 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins adn to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Simon is told to repent from thinking he could purchase the power to lay his hands on people and heal them. It is a free gift from God and not to be confused with some magical art.

Some believe Simon never became a Christian. I disagree. I believe we see here a process that all new Christian deal with. After accepting Christ through faith, repentance, and baptism, we must still deal with short-comings and sin. Our spiritual journey involves replacing our old, sinful habits with God's grace and forgiveness. It's a process, not a wave of the magic wand. Step by step, by confessing and repenting of sins committed after our salvation, we walk closer to Jesus our Savior.

Persecution & Worship

Stephen's speech in Acts chapter 7 is eye-opening! Stephen retells the patriarch's history emphasizing the numerous times they rejected, persecuted & murdered the prophets and men of God.

Rhetorically, Stephen says, "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?"

Not only did they persecute the prophets, but they also went after and worship other gods.

I wonder today, have we ceased? Do religious people still persecute men of God? Do religious people who confess to follow God, worship other gods instead?

A bike ride through the cemetary

My children enjoy riding their bikes in the spring and since we live close to the town cemetary, I took them there to ride. Now I don't know what the policy is in having people riding bikes in the cemetary, but we do try to stay low-key whenever someone is around.

You can't help read the tombstones while you are riding on the paths around the cemetary. I'm struck by the brevity of our lives. As I calculate birth and death dates written in stone, I realize many who have passed on are my age or younger. It's a sobering thought. One that causes at the same time joy and sadness in my heart. Joy for what I know is awaiting me; Sadness for those I would have to leave behind.

In my reading for today, I'm reading the account of Stephen in Acts 6. I stopped prior to his speech to the Sanhedrin, because I know the story. I know what happens in the end. I'm not going to read any more today. Time has frozen for Stephen in my Bible. He gets to live another day. I leave him with his face "like the face of an angel."

Stephen didn't know his future. Surely he thought he would be sharing the Gospel, feeding the widows, and working in the church for years to come. Other plans were in order for him. He wouldn't see the sun set that day.

I noticed one of the cemetary plots was marked by the obituary submitted to the local newspaper. I stooped to see who it was. To my surprise it was a man from our church who I had recently visited in the hospital. He had passed away only months earlier. I can still see his face.

"God, may I live every day to it's fullest not knowing if it might be my last. Amen"

Should I Speak Up?

Recently a man mentioned to me that his girlfriend is moving in with him. As a Christian, I have serious moral issues with this arrangement, but I didn't say anything. A preacher friend of mine asked if I told him that was wrong? I said, No, that I didn't want to pass judgment on him. We debated the issue of confronting people for their moral shortcomings. I feel it's a sensitive issue.

I recall a quote from Mother Teresa,

"The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts.
God is the One who judges.
We are only called to love."

I know some churches seriously proclaim, "No Perfect People Allowed!" I also know their byline is - "Come as you are, but don't stay that way."

The scriptures teach the leaders of the church should know how to manage their family well in order to "shepherd" the church. We discipline our children, setting up boundaries for them to grow and mature morally and spiritually. One who successfully raises their own child is qualified to speak to God's "children."

The key here is that the individual has turned his or her life over to the Lordship of Christ. Prior to that we reach out in love and compassion, as Jesus did time and time again throughout the New Testament.

As it's written in Romans 14:4 "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."

They will know we are His followers if we love one another. Once they know how much we care, they will open up to listening to us. Through prayer and love, God's spirit will permeate their hearts and new lifestyles can begin.

Invitation

I'm often saddened when I hear the invitation to follow Jesus at many churches. It usually goes something like this, "Ask Jesus into your heart by repeating this simple prayer with me." I know the Pastor means well, but that invitation is so far from what we see in scripture it makes me cringe.

I just finished reading Acts chapter 2 where Peter and the first followers of Jesus shared the very first Gospel message with a crowd of over 3000 people. It was a powerful, motivating message "cutting people to the heart." You could have told those people to drink the Kool-Aid afterwards and they would have done it!

The invitation given by Peter in response to the sermon, and note that the people actually begged for instruction of what to do next, was to "repent," "be baptized," and "save yourselves from this crooked generation." How did they respond? They were baptized, 3000 in all. Right then, at the end of the sermon.

Interesting what the invitation didn't involve. No prayer. No "asking Jesus into your heart." No "sinner's prayer." None of the traditional catch phrases we hear so often.

I appeal to Pastors everywhere to use this same invitation after your sermons. Let's get back to the Bible using the example of sharing the Gospel message including repentance and baptism.

Feeding Myself

Since I am on staff at a church, I find it difficult to relax on Sunday morning and take in the worship service. For me, it's another day of work. I believe it's important to worship the Lord and to get fed by his word, so I love the fact that churches now make their morning services available on the Internet. Here are a few that I follow on a regular basis to keep me fed!

Newspring Community Church - Perry Noble speaks from his heart to a younger generation. He is sold out for Jesus and makes no bones about it.

Granger Community Church - Great speakers with relevant, Biblical topics.

Lifechurch.tv - Craig Groschel is out front with Lifechurch paving the way to do "Church" on the Internet.