The Future Global Christianity

Philip Jenkins presented a startling prediction in an interview with Ed Stetzer:

"Let me suggest to you that in 30 years, there will be two sorts of church in the world. There'll be the ones that are multi-ethnic, transnational, and multi-continental. They are constantly battling over issues of culture, lifestyle, worship, and constantly in conflict, debate and controversy. And those are the good ones. The other churches will have decided to let all these trends pass them by. They'll live just like they've always done with an average age in their congregations of 80." 

(Read the whole interview here: http://bit.ly/1q0krXI )

Which church do you want to be?

99 Reasons for Faith - #94: The Christmas Story

It's been far too long since my last post on 99 Reasons for Faith. Nevertheless, I press on to list 99 reasons knowing that there are far more...today's reason: The Christmas Story.

The Christmas story is an introduction to a fantastic epic story that is compelling in its content, unfolding and implications. Think about it - all of humanity is imprisoned by a lethal and nefarious infection that brings depravity, death and darkness. A compassionate and wise supreme being condescends from infinite perfection to take on humanity as an essential part of his identity. He subjects himself to all the tedium and hardship of human life, fulfills all the ideals expected from mankind, demonstrates his divinity through his life, miracles and teaching and  offers this common and unique life up in sacrifice, all as the final cure for the destructive plague and all its effects. And then three days later, he rises from death to eternal life as the prototype for a new humanity. Pretty epic stuff. 

And the introduction of the story, the Christmas story, is intriguing just by itself – a visit by an angel, a virgin with child, a birth in a barn, worship by an army of spiritual beings, a promise of a the Savior for all, a grand announcement to mere working class common people first not last, a visit from foreign astrologer-nobles, a murderous king, a flight to Egypt and so on… It certainly makes for good reading, countless Christmas pageants and innumerable re-tellings throughout the past two millennia.

I think the gravity of this story, both in its literary weight and its historical implications, is a legitimate reason for faith. Yes, a good story isn’t necessarily a true story. But true and epic stories are often good stories. Wouldn't it be likely that the truest and most epic story be the best story?

Something to consider this Christmas season. Merry Christmas!

Thoughts About God via AW Tozer to Start Your Day

Some gems from AW Tozer to start your day from The Knowledge of the Holy

(HT: Kjos Ministries)
 

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. ... Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God."

 

"For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like. We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church. Alwaysthe most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God, just as her most significant message is what she says about Him or leaves unsaid, for her silence is often more eloquent than her speech. ..."
 

"Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, ”What comes into your mind when you think about God?” we might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man. Were we able to know exactly what our most influential religious leaders think of God today, we might be able with some precision to foretell where the Church will stand tomorrow. ..."

"A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology but to practical Christian living as well. It is to worship what the foundation is to the temple; where it is inadequate or out of plumb the whole structure must sooner or later collapse. I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God...."

"All the problems of heaven and earth, though they were to confront us together and at once, would be nothing compared with the overwhelming problem of God: That He is; what He is like; and what we as moral beings must do about Him...."

 

"The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place. 'When they knew God,'wrote Paul, 'they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.'"

"Wrong ideas about God are not only the fountain from which the polluted waters of idolatry flow; they are themselves idolatrous. The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true."
 

"Perverted notions about God soon rot the religion in which they appear. The long career of Israel demonstrates."

"The first step down for any church is taken when it surrenders its high opinion of God."

"Before the Christian Church goes into eclipse anywhere there must first be a corrupting of her simple basic theology. She simply gets a wrong answer to the question, 'What is God like?' and goes on from there. Though she may continue to cling to a sound nominal creed, her practical working creed has become false. The masses of her adherents come to believe that God is different from what He actually is; and that is heresy of the most insidious and deadly kind."

 

"The heaviest obligation lying upon the Christian Church today is to purify and elevate her concept of God until it is once more worthy of Him - and of her. In all her prayers and labors this should have first place. We do the greatest service to the next generation of Christians by passing on to them undimmed and undiminished that noble concept of God which we received from our Hebrew and Christian fathers of generations past. This will prove of greater value to them than anything that art or science can ."

99 Reasons for Faith - #95: My Experience of Church

The apostle Paul, in speaking about a Sunday church gathering, says this: "But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you." 

1 Corinthians 14: 24-25 (ESV)

One of the reasons for faith is the experience of God speaking directly to us through what we hear on Sunday. It could be the sermon, it could be a prophetic message someone shares, thinking it might be from God, or it could be just someone's own story, but time and time again I see God speak to people in such a profound and personal way that they feel that someone must have been spying on them or something. 

When you have that experience in church  it makes you feel very vulnerable but also very loved by God. That is when we say, "surely God is in this place!" That is when we experience another reason for faith.

I hope this experience is yours this Sunday!

99 Reasons for Faith - #96: The Stories of Jesus

There is something very compelling in the stories about Jesus. He is so wise, so compassionate, so insightful and so life changing in what we read about him in the gospels.

Our church has been going through the Gospel of Mark and in Mark 4:35-5:43 we are seeing all these qualities as he demonstrates his mastery over disaster, demons, disease and death. You can read for yourself here: http://biblia.com/books/esv/Mk4.35-5.43

There is no heroic figure quite like Jesus and I find the gospel stories compelling reasons for faith. How about you?

99 Reasons for Faith - #97: Our dog, Daisy

Yep, that's what I said, our dog, Daisy. 

We had to put Daisy to sleep this past Saturday. On Sunday, Peg and I and our four adult children gathered around her grave to give thanks to God for our beloved friend.

She had been getting progressively worse from an abdominal tumor and then suffered a serious stroke on Saturday. She basked in all the attention she received as we consoled her in her suffering. She went peacefully while we petted her, kissed her and told her she was the best dog ever.

She had been with us since a puppy. After moving four times in two years we had prayed for a dog to enjoy and mark the start of a new season of finally settling down in one place we could call home. We couldn't afford much but we received a gift from a friend and met someone who had a litter of champion Golden pups for sale. We met Daisy and immediately fell in love with our new family member. We believe God arranged to give us Daisy as a gift. 

I have to believe God arranged to give mankind dogs as a gift. Who would think an otherwise wild animal could ever be such a part of the family? How good for our hearts to have a furry friend that is always happy to see us, always eager to spend time with us, always there to console, ever loyal and protective. Dogs are a gift from God and evidence of His existence and goodness.

And Daisy was the best dog we ever had. We thanked God for this as we stood around her grave on Sunday. We will miss her much but always remember her as God's good gift to us.

So, reason #97: Our dog, Daisy.

99 Reasons for Faith - #98: Because I need an answer for the problem ofdeath.

Death just doesn't sit well with me, probably not with you either. It is just clearly wrong, contrary to the miracle of life and the beauty of those made in God's image. There simply has to be something more than our 70 year span. Death just doesn't fit. 

Faith in something bigger than the material world starts to give an explanation for the perplexing problem of death. Faith in Jesus who said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live," completes the explanation.

So, reason #98: Because I need an answer for the problem of death.

99 Reasons for Faith - #99: Because I find life very empty without God.

I have been thinking for a while to post on the various reasons for faith. This has been prompted by realizing that many people think that faith is unreasonable or that their reasoning process is not about faith. While I believe that faith is more then mere reason it is very tied to reason.  Faith in something that is true should demonstrate many reasonable evidences and foundations. Reason itself must begin with faith because it is based on numerous presuppositions that are ultimately taken on faith because they can not be proven beyond any possible doubt. I hope that all makes sense. As we go I will have more opportunity to talk about this very important topic of reasons for faith.

I will go from number 99 down to 1 generally increasing in importance of the reason. For today, reason #99, Because I find life very empty without God.

This may seem like an entirely subjective reason for faith in God, but it isn't. Certainly it is very subjective, but it is also very reasonable and logical. The reasons I feel life is empty without God have to to with the emptiness of pretty much every thought process and experience without some solid ground to stand upon. Everything from astrophysics to eating ice cream is much more reasonable and enjoyable when there is an infinite, perfect and glorious eternal being surrounding it and adding meaning and purpose, relationship and reason to it. Without such a being I find everything ultimately meaningless, fleeting and empty.

So, reason #99: Because I find life very empty without God.

Is self-examination good for me?

"Periodic self-examination is needed and wise and biblical. But for the most part mental health is the use of the mind to focus on worthy reality outside ourselves."

John Piper via Justin Taylor, (http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/)

Do you ever feel, "homesick at home?"

“I had often called myself an optimist, to avoid the too evident blasphemy of pessimism. But all the optimism of the age had been false and disheartening for this reason, that it had always been trying to prove that we fit in to the world. The Christian optimism is based on the fact that we do not fit in to the world…The modern philosopher had told me again and again that I was in the right place, and I had still felt depressed even in acquiescence. But I had heard that I was in the wrong place, and my soul sang for joy, like a bird in spring…I knew now..why I could feel homesick at home.” 

G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

Do You Know God's Design in Distress?

"There is always design in our distress. God so values our trust in him alone that he will graciously take away everything else in the world that we might be tempted to rely on: even life itself if necessary."
Sam Storms

Have you learned the secret of counting your blessings and downplaying your struggles?

The Spirit of God extenuates (downplays) evils and crosses, and magnifies and amplifies all mercies; and makes all mercies seem to be great, and all afflictions seem to be little. But the devil goes quite contrary,..he lessens God's mercies, and amplifies evil things. Thus, a godly man wonders at his cross that it is not more, a wicked man wonders his cross is so much.."
Jeremiah Burroughs,
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

Are you living for heaven?

"I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after my death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others do the same."
C.S. Lewis

As quoted in "Heaven," by Randy Alcorn, p. 455

Enjoying studying the idea of finding our "refuge" in God and how this ultimately relates to heaven. Thank God for this summer "sabbatical".

Sent from my mobile phone

Are you aware of Satan's devices?

Very helpful reading from Charles Spurgeon for today:

"Satan hindered us."—1 Thessalonians 2:18.

Since the first hour in which goodness came into conflict with evil, it has never ceased to be true in spiritual experience, that Satan hinders us. From all points of the compass, all along the line of battle, in the vanguard and in the rear, at the dawn of day and in the midnight hour, Satan hinders us. If we toil in the field, he seeks to break the ploughshare; if we build the wall, he labours to cast down the stones; if we would serve God in suffering or in conflict—everywhere Satan hinders us. He hinders us when we are first coming to Jesus Christ. Fierce conflicts we had with Satan when we first looked to the cross and lived. Now that we are saved, he endeavours to hinder the completeness of our personal character. You may be congratulating yourself, "I have hitherto walked consistently; no man can challenge my integrity." Beware of boasting, for your virtue will yet be tried; Satan will direct his engines against that very virtue for which you are the most famous. If you have been hitherto a firm believer, your faith will ere long be attacked; if you have been meek as Moses, expect to be tempted to speak unadvisedly with your lips. The birds will peck at your ripest fruit, and the wild boar will dash his tusks at your choicest vines. Satan is sure to hinder us when we are earnest in prayer. He checks our importunity, and weakens our faith in order that, if possible, we may miss the blessing. Nor is Satan less vigilant in obstructing Christian effort. There was never a revival of religion without a revival of his opposition. As soon as Ezra and Nehemiah begin to labour, Sanballat and Tobiah are stirred up to hinder them. What then? We are not alarmed because Satan hindereth us, for it is a proof that we are on the Lord's side, and are doing the Lord's work, and in His strength we shall win the victory, and triumph over our adversary."

Morning & Evening, Aug 7th

Are you in troubled waters?

"Oh, the temptations that men of discontented spirits are subject to! The Devil loves to fish in troubled waters."
Jeremiah Burroughs
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment,
BTT, p. 126

Have you seen the power of grace in the midst of afflictions?

"When a Christian can walk in the midst of fiery trials..and has comfort and joy in the midst of everything, it will convince men, when they see the power of grace in the midst of afflictions."
Jeremiah Burroughs
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, BTT, p 123.

Are you skilled in being content?

"That to be skilled in the mystery of Christian contentment Is the duty, glory and excellence of a Christian."

Jeremiah Burroughs,
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

Be careful what you ask for....

"Many times those who are employed in the ministry, or the magistracy [government], who sit at the stern to order the great affairs of the commonwealth and state, though you think they have a fine life, they lie awake when you are asleep."

Jeremiah Burroughs,
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, BTT 1998, p. 106

How Many Commands in the New Testament?

Do you know how many commands there are in the Old Testament? That’s right, there are 613. Well, that makes sense, because it seems that the Old Testament is full of rules, lots of “shalls” and the “shall nots”. But what about the New Testament? The Old Testament contains about 602,585 words in the English translation; the New Testament contains about 180,552 words ¹. So, if that proportion holds true for commands, you’d expect about 185 commands in the New Testament. 

Do you know how many commands are in the New Testament? The number is actually 1,050. That’s right, it’s 1,050 ². God is very interested in what we do.

Indeed, apart from him and his grace, we can do nothing. But nothing isn't the goal. Instead of thinking we can obey these commands in our own strength, we are to depend on Christ and the forgiveness and power we have in him to live a new life and thus begin to obey these wonderful commands. Christ turns the commands from condemnation-filled warnings to promise-filled invitations.

So, by his amazing grace, with great hope for his eternal blessings, start trusting and obeying!

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV)

1. See http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_words_in_the_King_James_Bible
2. See http://adrianwarnock.com/2006/02/preaching-800-commands-of-new/ et al,

Do You Know the 100 Names of Jesus?

I came across this list of the names of Jesus and was pretty amazed. I hope you are amazed too!

• Advocate (1 John 2:1)
• Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18)
• Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13)
• Amen (Rev. 3:14)
• Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1)
• Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2)
• Author of Life (Acts 3:15)
• Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)
• Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10)
• Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13)
• Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15)
• Bread of God (John 6:33)
• Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48)
• Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7)
• Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)
• Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4)
• Christ (1 John 2:22)
• Creator (John 1:3)
• Deliverer (Rom. 11:26)
• Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20)
• Everlasting Father (Isa. 9:6)
• Gate (John 10:9)
• Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11)
• Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5)
• Faith and True Witness (Rev. 3:14)
• First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13)
• Firstborn From the Dead (Rev. 1:5)
• God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5; 2 Pet. 1:1;1 John 5:20; etc.)
• Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
• Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20)
• Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14)
• Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23)
• Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2)
• High Priest (Heb. 2:17)
• Holy and True (Rev. 3:7)
• Holy One (Acts 3:14)
• Hope (1 Tim. 1:1)
• Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27)
• Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69)
• I Am (John 8:58)
• Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4)
• King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17)
• King of Israel (John 1:49)
• King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11)
• King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16)
• King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3)
• Lamb (Rev. 13:8)
• Lamb of God (John 1:29)
• Lamb Without Blemish (1 Pet. 1:19)
• Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45)
• Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4)
• Light of the World (John 8:12)
• Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)
• Living One (Rev. 1:18)
• Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4)
• Lord (2 Pet. 2:20)
• Lord of All (Acts 10:36)
• Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8)
• Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16)
• LORD [YHWH] our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6)
• Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48)
• Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15)
• Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)
• Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)
• Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16)
• Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9)
• Our Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13)
• Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30)
• Our Husband (2 Cor. 11:2)
• Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3)
• Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)
• Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30)
• Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7)
• Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
• Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6)
• Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6)
• Prophet (Acts 3:22)
• Resurrection and Life (John 11:25)
• Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5)
• Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1)
• Rock (1 Cor. 10:4)
• Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16)
• Ruler of God’s Creation (Rev. 3:14)
• Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5)
• Savior (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20)
• Son of David (Lk. 18:39)
• Son of God (John 1:49; Heb. 4:14)
• Son of Man (Mt. 8:20)
• Son of the Most High God (Lk. 1:32)
• Source of Eternal Salvation for all who obey him (Heb. 5:9)
• The One Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5)
• The Stone the builders rejected (Acts 4:11)
• True Bread (John 6:32)
• True Light (John 1:9)
• True Vine (John 15:1)
• Truth (John 1:14; 14:6)
• Way (John 14:6)
• Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
• Wonderful Counselor (Isa. 9:6)
• Word (John 1:1)
• Word of God (Rev. 19:13)

Taken from "100 Names of Jesus," by Eric von Atzigen, Pastor of Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Sweetwater, Texas