Treasuring Good News Amidst the Bad

America’s moral, cultural and societal trajectory is disturbing to many Christians. These changes are particularly worrying when they impact our children. Among other things, parents are forced to have conversations about sexuality, pornography, and identity in a manner and on a timetable we likely would not have chosen. News headlines once reflecting realities “out there” are now openly discussed in elementary school classrooms. In the midst of anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed, its good to reflect on what is true. When we treasure Gods’ Word—the definitive proclamation about reality—we can be at peace in the storm and give our children the gift of an unshakable and certain hope.

To begin, here are five pieces of Good News:

1. John 10:14-15 The Good Shepherd knows his sheep, and they recognize his voice. They will come when he calls. Lost family members, friends, even those who seem hostile to the kingdom of God may find themselves listening to the call of love; a strong, kind voice above the din of lies and deception that permeate our modern lives.
2. Hebrews 7:23-24 Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who come to him. As John Wesley wrote, “all the guilt, power, root, and consequence of sin” are destroyed by the work of Jesus. He is in the business of transforming lives.
3. John 3:8, John 16:8-11 Nothing can prevent the Spirit’s ongoing role in calling people to trust in the Wounded Son of God who rescues the lost sons and daughters of Adam & Eve.
4. 2 Timothy 3:12-15 Jesus told us in advance how this world’s pattern plays out and what we are to do in the meantime as we wait for the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior.
5. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 Resting in the love of Christ, he always leads us in triumphant procession and the aroma of our lives is breathed in by those who will respond to God’s gift of life.

AVOIDING THE TRAP OF A BLURRY GOSPEL
Without being immersed in the renewing Gospel of Peace, we fall into fear and anxiety and end up sharing a blurry gospel, obscured with side issues.

In a recent conversation regarding morality in America,  I found I had accidentally drifted into a political “fencing match”. Undoubtedly, there are important political, cultural, and social implications of the Gospel. Loving your neighbor as yourself in a multi-cultural, global economy must have public expression. But without the initial gift of grace, any external shift is a surface change.

SPIRITUAL TRAINING: GROWING IN GRACE
The best training we can commit to, for ourselves and our children, is to uncover the depths of the riches of the God’s love so that we who have been forgiven much can love much. Just as Paul, set aside the lofty speech and human wisdom of the Greek philosophers of his day (1 Corinthians 2:1-2), we should “resolve to know nothing but Christ, and him crucified”.

Training our minds with the knowledge of God informs our actions in the world. Remembering  we are a people in possession of a certain, living and unshakable hope, we don’t lose heart or give in to despair. Acknowledging we are more than conquerors through him who loved us, we endure evil without bitterness and personal indignation. Recalling Christ came for sinners of whom we are the worst, we have great love and grace toward each other and the lost:  the calling card of those who follow Jesus (John 13:35).

SHARING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
My house is often disorderly and cluttered; “creative chaos” is how I like to think of it. The point is, the state of my house would likely raise the eyebrows of the immaculately neat. If we are honest, sometimes we wish others in our society would simply conform to our personal moral standards instead of making our lives more challenging and our television-watching options more narrow. We might not particularly care if they were still dead in their sin as long as it didn’t splash on us. This is not the gospel. The gospel targets something much deeper than individual sins: righteousness.

When we think of the Good News about Jesus the King, repentance from sin is front-and-center. A Kingdom mindset requires us to understand the morally perfect nature of  God, a standard of righteousness required for all who would live with Him in His Kingdom. John the Baptist proclaimed that the reason for repentance from rebellion to God was because “the Kingdom of God is at hand”. John’s was a general call based on the general reality of the rebellious treason against God’s rule at the center of the human heart that had existed since the Fall in Genesis 3. But was this a call to “clean up your act” in order to merit a place in God’s Kingdom? That seems like a righteousness based on human effort. What about “through grace alone by faith alone”?

After describing the ineffectiveness of the Law to generate inner righteousness. Paul gives a shout of joy:

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. … It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.  — Romans 3:20-26

To stand in God’s righteous presence, in God’s righteous Kingdom, we are GIVEN God’s righteousness through trust in the saving work of Jesus who died on the cross to rescue us from sin and death and lives to give us life.

Here’s where repentance comes in. Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount that “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” will have their hunger completely satisfied. Those who hunger for the righteousness only God can give, cast away all rebellion and self-righteousness, eagerly anticipating the appearing of the “bread of heaven” that alone gives life and, when He appears, put their trust in Him alone, the only Way to Truly know the Life-giver. (1 John 4:9-10)

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
To bring this airplane in for a landing, here’s what we can “teach” ourselves and pass on to our children:

1. We ourselves were once prevented, by our own inadequate self-righteousness, from enjoying the life-giving presence of God, the author and source of all that is good, beautiful and enjoyable. (Titus 3:3).
2. Because of His great love, God temporarily overlooked our sins (Romans 3:25-26) until He provided us with His own righteousness through His beloved Son by means of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-6) and not because of any good thing we could do.
3. As a result, we now have the righteousness of God, an equal inheritance of eternal life and are being renewed so that we now live and think like our Father in Heaven (Titus 3:7, Romans 12:2). Everyone who has put on the righteousness of God, is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
4.  As a result of this new creation reality, we find ourselves increasingly in conflict with the righteous standards of imperfect, humanity (John 3:20). In fact, we are guaranteed two things: 1) if we want to live in this new, righteous life of our adoptive Father, we will face persecution, and 2) people who reject Jesus will continue down a slope of unrighteous living ( 2 Timothy 3:12-13). But we don’t let those things bother us or stop us from sharing this live-saving Good News, because Jesus, God in the Flesh, willingly suffered rejection so we could have his righteousness (Hebrews 12:1-3).
5. Now, we are ambassadors of reconciliation—we can meet God’s demands of perfect righteousness offered in Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:20). Since our future is assured and we have fellowship with God that can’t be taken away (Romans 8:38-39), we aren’t silent in sharing that God’s Kingdom has drawn near and is open to all who turn from their own self-righteousness and receive the perfect righteousness of the Risen Son. No sin is too ugly, no sinner too distasteful for Jesus, who came to our rescue in full agreement with the Father’s love (1 Timothy 1:15) .
6. Everyone who hears and trusts in the righteousness of Jesus is a full participant in the story (2 Peter 1:1) and receives the full, rich, quality of life and unshakable future hope that Jesus came to give (John 10:10).

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:
Imagine a conversation with someone who holds onto their own righteousness (e.g. “My lifestyle is OK.” “I can do what I want with my body/money/time” “I can define myself anyway I choose” “As long as I don’t hurt anyone else…”. “The government agrees with me”, “I’m basically a good person, I never killed anyone.” etc.) 

1. How would you share the good news about the Kingdom of God and the way through Christ to enter into friendship with God?
   • What potential pitfalls would you need to be aware of to prevent slipping into a political or sociological discussion?
2. Do news headlines cause anxiety and fear? Does it help to know that we are promised a degree of suffering? Does it help to remember what Christ endured to rescue you?
3. Is it helpful to think about self-righteousness vs. God’s righteousness rather than the sins of others vs. Christian morality?
   • How can you communicate this in a discussion with someone who has not turned from their self-righteousness to receive God’s righteousness?
4. How will this understanding change your conversations with your children about the issues they face in the media, in school, and with their peers?
   • How might you differentiate between good moral behavior and the righteousness of God?
   • How do you differentiate between the good works that grow out of the new life in Christ and the morality that is common to most people from every nation and culture?

DOUBT IS NOT THE ENEMY OF FAITH

In popular imagination, faith and doubt are pitted against each other, especially in the realm of religion. Were you to ask the average person what ‘faith’ and ‘doubt’ bring to mind, you’d probably get a religion-centric response; not scientific progress, marriage, political concerns, or their own economic future although all those things also involve faith and doubt. Doubt is no stranger in the life of a Christian, often generating deep internal conflict. Having a clearer, Bible-informed understanding of doubt and its relationship to our Christian hope can ease our internal conflict and help us to navigate through times of doubt.

WHAT IS DOUBT, ANYWAY?
Like faith, doubt is not a tangible thing but is a state of being. Doubt is part of our reasoning faculties and is necessary due to the limits of human knowledge. Doubt indicates that what you know about reality has come into conflict with information that seems to contradict that knowledge. Your mental picture of what you ‘know’ to be true has to be updated to include or account for the confusion.

CONFLICT OF THE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN
For example, if you had to swing across a rocky pit on an old rope hanging from an old tree limb, your limited knowledge of the rope’s ability to hold you and the sturdiness of the branch stand in opposition to the sure knowledge that a plunge into a rocky pit will likely inflict bodily harm results in doubt regarding your survival. Until you were in that specific situation, you never had the opportunity to doubt: it is conflict of known and unknown that produce doubt.

DOUBT IN THE BIBLE
As discussed in a previous post, YHWH highly values trusting, relational cooperation: faith. Contrary to  claims by skeptics, this relational trust is reasonable. In the Old Testament faith is never required without sufficient evidence given of YHWH’s identity, character, nature, and power. This is as true of Jesus, (God with us) in the New Testament as it is in the Old Testament.

John 10:25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me

 

John 10:38 “even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

 

John 14:11 “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”

Jesus repeatedly states that ample evidence has been provided to support his claims; trust at this point is more than reasonable.

To return to the analogy of the rope and rocky pit, if you took time to test the rope and branch and determined that it would hold you, or if you saw a larger person swing over first, the unknown factors causing your doubts would be sufficiently addressed to make the rope swing option reasonable. In the same way, the God of the Bible has provided ample evidence throughout history to support his claims of faithfulness, kindness, goodness, and love toward His people, notably in Christ’s death on the cross (Rom. 5:8).

DOUBTING THOMAS
The Christian life is a life of interpersonal faith: reasonable, trusting cooperation in YHWH, the three-in-one God of scripture, what He has done and what He has promised. Repeatedly in the gospels, Jesus explains his nature and purpose, provides signs to authenticate his claims, then calls people into a trusting relationship with the Father through himself, the Son. Having been Jesus’ constant companion for three years would have given Thomas adequate proof to trust that Jesus had risen from the dead. But in light of our understanding of doubt as conflict of known and unknown, I think Thomas’s response was completely reasonable.

Thomas knew about the brutality and professionalism of Roman soldiers regarding crucified prisoners. Besides Jesus, no one he knew could raise the dead back to life, and now Jesus was certainly dead. This new knowledge came in direct conflict with his previous ‘knowledge’ about Jesus. In his understanding, death was the ultimate unknown, the unsolvable, untestable end of all trust. Yet Thomas offered a criteria for overcoming his doubt, a way to “test the rope” and solve the doubt conflict: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25). Jesus did not disappoint:

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” (John 20:27)

Jesus respected Thomas’s need without judgement, offering him the very evidence he required to overcome his doubt. Only after supplying the necessary proof does he call Thomas to renewed trust: Do not disbelieve, but believe.

DOUBT AS AN OPPORTUNITY
The nature of loving relationship requires active trust (faith). Inter-relational trust is dynamic, not static. Episodes of doubt can serve to increase trust, love and enjoyment in another person. Doubt is therefore not an enemy of faith (or love) but an opportunity to reaffirm the inter-relational connection with the Personal God of history.

AN ILLUSTRATION FROM MARRIAGE
A couple considering marriage provides an excellent example of how doubt is opportunity. One or both parties in an engagement can have ‘cold feet’; doubt about whether or not to go ahead with the marriage. Most often nothing has changed with the other person: the doubts are not (usually) due to a complete misunderstanding of the future spouse’s character or intentions. Instead, the unknown future of a married life, its challenges, demands and dependence on another person, creates a conflict. Reviewing the proven qualities and character of one’s spouse-to-be and considering the wise counsel and example of older married couples can overcome the future doubts, not by guaranteeing certainty, but by providing reasonable grounds to step forward into the adventure of marriage.

BAD DOUBT
In closing, I should note that there is a wicked kind of doubt. Doubting someone who has always been faithful to you, or who has provided ample evidence of  their trustworthiness or ability without cause is unjust. When the one being doubted is the Triune God of Everything, this kind of doubt is literally inexcusable.

In the garden of Eden, Eve was deceived by the serpent who slandered YHWH’s credibility. Taking the word of a lesser being over the word of God, Eve’s previous knowledge of God’s goodness was tarnished by alternate ‘facts’ resulting in tragedy for all of humanity.

In the New Testament, Paul animatedly denounces the Judaizers who had added circumcision to the gospel:

Foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith (Galatians 3:1-5)

Paul indicates that the Galatians had ample evidence of the truth of the gospel through the Miracle-producing presence of the holy Spirit. Doubt in the face of overwhelming proof can not be rationally explained; it is either the result of deceptive “bewitchment” or will-full ingratitude and rejection (Romans 1:18-23).

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Have you viewed doubt as something to be avoided and feared?
2. Do you avoid books, speeches, films, etc. because you think they will shake your faith?
3. Does your working definition of doubt see it as an opportunity to know and trust the Savior more?
4. Can you think of anytime in the Bible in which God provided no proof of his power or authority prior to asking for an exercise of relational trust?
5. Is absolute certainty a requirement for the relationships you have? Does absolute certainty or reasonable certain better characterize human activity?
6. How can the definitions of Faith and Doubt in this article give you greater confidence in how you live and share your Christian hope?

Love The Lord With All Your Mind

Assumptions are like leeches: they easily attach themselves to you and can severely impact your health. As Christians who live in a particular culture and time, we wade through a constant flood of messages that contain hidden assumptions, many of which are false. Left unchallenged, these “belief-lets” can deeply affect our lives and diminish the freedom, joy and confidence we have in the New Life Christ has purchased for us.

Currently, a prevailing assumption in our cultural conversation concerns the definition of faith. Of course those who reject God and religion view faith as “belief  despite lack of evidence”. Even among people who identify as spiritual along with members of religious groups (including many Christians), faith is articulated in mystical terms not unlike the Force in Star Wars: it does something for you but it’s terribly mysterious. Some even agree with Obi Wan Kenobi that the best way to understand faith is to “use your feelings”. Left unchallenged, this assumption about faith, (subjective, mystical, unverifiable), has real and negative effects:

• Gospel conversation with unbelievers becomes difficult because subjective feeling isn’t transferable.
• The Christian life becomes a more passive endeavor rather than a victorious one.
• Faith is viewed as a commodity that some have more of and some have less. Guilt over not having “enough faith” can become oppressive.
• It becomes a challenge to strengthen young people in the Christian life because the “concrete” answers they receive from other corners of their life are matched with a hazy inarticulation when it comes to faith.
• Even historical evidence that supports our faith seems more relevant to moment of initial faith and less than useful in day to day living. How does the empty tomb help me with my skeptic in-laws or co-workers.
• We might become attempted to chase after feelings to verify our New Life.

How does the Bible depict faith?

Even a quick examination shows that faith is closely, even inseparably,  connected with knowledge. The  the mind, not feelings is the primary domain of faith.

A Biblical Pattern of Evidence-founded Trust
There is no instance I am aware of in either the Old or New Testament in which God requires trusting obedience without evidence. In every circumstance, God provides evidence of himself and/or his trust-worthiness prior to asking for obedient cooperation (Deuteronomy 29:2-9). From Noah, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to Moses and beyond, God provides ample proof of His unique credentials and that trust in Him is a reasonable. The authentication God provides is exhaustively extensive and included:

• person encounters (Genesis 7, Genesis 12:1, Genesis 16, Genesis 18, 26:2, Genesis 32:22, Exodus 3, to name a very few.)
• group encounters (pillar of cloud/ fire, Moses’s glowing face)
• legally binding covenants (Genesis 9:9-11,17, Genesis 12:1, Genesis 15, Exodus 24, Jeremiah 31:31/ Hebrews 8:8)
• displays of power (miraculous birth of Isaac, burning bush, 12 plagues, parting the Red Sea)
• miraculous provision (manna from heaven, quail, water from rock)
• miraculous victories ( defeat of the Egyptian army, the outward collapse of Jericho’s walls, Gideon defeating thousands of Midianites with a couple hundred soldiers)
• future telling (captivity and release of Israel by Egypt, division of Isreal and the Babylonian captivity, the fall of Babylon and the rise of 4 other great kingdoms, the return to Jerusalem and rebuilding of the temple, the appearance, rejection, suffering, death, resurrection and exaltation of the Messiah, the sending of the Holy Spirit, the inclusion of non-Jews into God’s family, destruction of Jerusalem and the 2nd Temple).
• the incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God.

Outside of the Bible:

• the unlikely persistence, expansion and longevity of the Christian church.
• countless personal stories of people throughout history who have been transformed through a personal encounter with the living Christ. (for spirit-enriching binge-watching, view the testimonial accounts on the “Sacred Groves” and “One For Israel” YouTube channels.)

Knowledge of the Real
In addition to the pre-trust authentication God gave,  the terminology of trusting-loyalty used in scripture is the language of ‘knowing’ and the mind, rather than feeling. The consistent assumption ( a rational assumption given the evidence), is that people in God’s family can really know things about Him and about reality. This comes as a shock in our era of subjective, experiential, my-truth-your-truth relativism. Here are just a few examples of this kind of language:

Old Testament

• Genesis 15:3  Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.
• Exodus 6:7  I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
• Exodus 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.” And they did so. (Notice even for defeated enemies, certain knowledge of who defeated them is the point, not a vague belief)
• Deuteronomy 4:39 know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
  
• Deuteronomy 18:21-22 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

New Testament

• Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures
• Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
• Romans 14:5 Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind
• 1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
• 1 Corinthians 14:15,19 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also… Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
• Ephesians 4:23 … be renewed in the spirit of your minds
• Colossians 3:9-10  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
• 1 Peter 3:15 in your hearts [center of your being, not feelings] honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
• 1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

Hopefully the picture is clear: the righteous, God-honoring faith depicted and commended in scripture is a trust that involves the entire person, including our reasoning faculties. As Jesus said in Mark 12:30 (quoting Deuteronomy 6:5)  “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Any faith that denies or ignores the importance of the mind is not the faith of Christianity.

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PERSONAL  APPLICATION:

1. Can you think of a time when the assumption of “faith as a feeling” or “faith as irrational belief” was communicated to you by another person or through a form of media?
2. What words would you use to describe Christian faith?
3. When you think about the Christian life do you strongly associate the mind with faith?
4. In John 8:31-32 Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” In the Christian life, freedom comes from an encounter with, and personal assimilation of, God’s revealed truth, especially in the person of Jesus. Where in scripture do you recognize the relationship between ‘truth’, knowing/knowledge/wisdom/certainty/conviction on the one hand and faith/trust/belief/obedience on the other?
5. Do you value facts and data or  relational knowledge more? Which have been more helpful or powerful in your life? Do you draw a distinction between “knowing facts” and “knowing a person”? Could this distinction in modern minds explain why Biblical faith is so misdefined and misunderstood?
6. Practice explaining the biblical understanding of faith as if to a young child. What questions might come up? How would you address them from scripture?

 

Can Small Children be Christians?

How do you answer this question? Ever given it thought or looked to scripture to form a bible-based understanding? Whether explicitly stated or not, your answer to the above question determine a whole list of attitudes and actions. Your answer also reveal your fundamental thoughts on what the gospel is and what it means to be a Christian. Without hyperbole, your answer to this question has far-reaching consequences for every child you interact with.

Various Christian traditions hold views relating to children on a host of topics ranging from infant baptism to the mysterious “age of accountability”. These various ideas shape doctrine and practice of devout believers. Rather than addressing any of these ideas however, I devote this article to accomplishing three tasks: [1] note the likely outcomes for answering the questions positively or negatively,  [2] identify a theological issue that shapes how we think about this question in the first place, and [3] use this understanding to define an answer formed by God’s word.

Jesus said that “where your treasure is , there will your heart be also”. We spend time, energy and money on the things we value. Congregations or individuals who do not believe children can be Christians will not devote resources to making disciples of children. At best, people with this mindset will want to surround children with gospel-tinged songs, activities, and content so that they have a Christian foundation in hopes that these children will some day come to faith when they are older, perhaps in Middle or High school. Any overtures to faith expressed by children may only be imitation of adults without complete knowledge of Christian doctrine; cute and endearing, but ultimately of little value. It is difficult to feel enthusiasm or feel impelled to participate in an activity where no immediate fruit is expected or believed to be possible.

At the center of the discussion is a confusion over the nature of salvation. This confusion shows up generally in how we evangelize, but it creates a interesting problem where children are concerned. Often times, we cannot escape the idea that becoming a Christian boils down to intellectually grasping a list of theological doctrines. We know from experience that children think largely in concrete terms. Since a five year old may not be able to grasp the doctrines of the Trinity or Salvation or Biblical Inspiration, we can’t feel sure they really know enough to be saved. This train of thought is a big mistake.

Jesus is crystal clear: a life-giving connection with the Father is only possible through personal trust in Jesus himself. In chapter 6 of John’s gospel, Jesus says that eternal life comes from doing the “works of God” which he identifies as “believing in the one he has sent.”(v.29)

Just a few verses later Jesus states:

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me… For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (vv. 37-40)

Are children capable of having trusting relationships with others? Clearly. Children don’t need to intellectually understand their parents thought process, history or agenda in order to trust and obey them. It is the same thing for trusting in Jesus.

Apart from the ability of children to know and trust apart, another reality makes the saving faith of children credible; unlike a list of doctrines the Persons of the Trinity are active not passive. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. As noted above, Verse 37 states that the Father acts to give people to the Son. This is also true of the Holy Spirit (John 15:26, 16:8-11) who roams the world testifying about Jesus and convicting of truth.

At the heart of Christianity is Jesus Christ, the God-Man who came to save sinners by taking our place on the cross and bringing us to the Father as co-heirs of eternal life. Anyone can relate to him by trust, person to person. Of course continued discipleship is needed with children, just as with adults. Children too need to bask in the amazing story of what God has done through Christ. They need to know about the power of the Holy Spirit to transform them and to empower them to live holy lives. But any child, woman or man can enter into a trusting relationship with the Savior and once begun we can have confidence “in this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” (Philippians 1:6)

QUESTIONS:

1. Do you believe children can become legitimate followers of Christ, obtaining “a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ”? (2 Peter 1:1)
2. Do your attitudes towards children reflect this conviction?
3. What are concrete ways you can encourage the children in our church family in their discipleship?
4. If you assume that particular children’s personal connection with Jesus is genuine, how will that change your conversations with them?

The Economics of Eternity

In only four short years our son will turn 18; I will be the father of my first adult child. Early parenthood is largely occupied with keeping our kids alive and healthy. We switch gears in the school years, focusing on preparing our children with knowledge, skills and experiences to help ensure future prosperity. Jesus posed a provocative business-minded question: What’s the profit in gaining everything the world offers only to lose your soul? How confident can we be that we are imparting “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” to our children? 

As people of the Kingdom of God, we live in the present confidence of what Jesus has accomplished in the past (1 Corinthians 6:11), yet with the expectation of a future renewal of all things(2 Timothy 4:1). It is in this in-between time that we are nurturing and training our children. And times are tough. I will resist the urge to delineate the issues that we, let alone our children, face on a daily basis. The pressure is strong to be silent, to conform, to approve evil, to be “private” in our beliefs. Without constant power to live transformed lives we (and our children) will slowly coast to a stop.

At the same time, times have always been tough and we have an opportunity in our place and time in history to reveal the beauty in the face of Christ by our commitment to living, speaking, and thinking in partnership with the rescuing love of God in Christ Jesus.

Attempting to shield our children from the temptations and dangers of a world pattern contrary to God’s kingdom and is continually mutating (1 John 2:15-17) are naive and impossible. Be we can be wise. We can continually impart spiritual power to help our children have a dynamic understanding of the grand story of the God of Everything who entered into human history to rescue his rebellious creatures at great cost. We can daily demonstrate that this rescuing King has won our total allegiance; he is more important than a job, a 401K, retirement, a doctorate or public acclaim.

We can do these things, but not on our own power. We can do these things, but only when, with the help of the indwelling Spirit of Christ, we humbly let God evaluate our value system and accept his gentle correction. There is no more powerful evidence of the truth of the gospel than a transformed life.

Action Step: Evaluation
Self evaluation is an important component of the Christian life (1 Corinthians 11:28, 2 Corinthians 13:5). Empowered by God’s word our heart can be laid bare, our true intentions revealed (Hebrews 4:12). Below are some areas that you and your spouse may want to pray through and discuss together.  Whether you feel encouragement or conviction from your responses, thank God for revealing this to you and ask for grace in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

• Time Compare personal and family bible study, prayer, gospel conversation and service to time spent on school, work, sports, and entertainment.
• Heart Based on your expenditure of time and money, what things do you and your family value? How do these square with the values of Jesus’ Kingdom?
• Community Do you value caring for the church family as a family?
• Hospitality As a family do you welcome others into your life, seeking to serve them with all the gifts your family has been equipped to share?
• Joy Are you and your spouse joyful people? Do you enjoy one another and invite your children and others into that joy?
• Future plans When you think about your desires for your children’s future and your own future do your plans sound like things Jesus would smile on? Do you have expectations of your children that are not gospel issues?
• Maturity Are you and your spouse maturing in faith? Do you see more spiritual fruit today than last year? Do you feel competent to teach the truths of God’s word?(Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 2 Peter 1:5-8, Hebrews 5:11-12).

 

Circumstantial Riches

Recently, my wife and I were invited to share marriage principles with several married couples whom we had never met before. We weren’t sure what was going to happen, only that we wanted to centrally display the love of God in Christ in our lives and words knowing that most of those who would be coming have not yet placed their trust in Jesus. We prepared as best as we could… and then the day came to meet.

As things turned out, we had a wonderful time getting to know these new friends. As we shared the story of our marriage we were delighted at the openness and sharing of the group. As I reflected on the experience, I was aware of how God uniquely fitted and prepared us to serve these couples; how the details of our marriage and parenting experiences (challenges included) have formed us to connect with people that I would not be able to engage with on my own.

In his letter to the Philippian church, Paul writes,

 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Contrary to human expectations, Paul recognized that his imprisonment had a greater power and eternal significance that would have been served by his liberty. His individual efforts were exponentially increased.

When we learn to see ourselves as ambassadors for Christ, part of the divine plan to establish the kingdom of Heaven and rescue fallen, sin-cursed humanity, we are freed to see our past circumstances, our personal history and characteristics, our choices and setbacks, our pain and grief as being within God’s purposes for us and useful to God. The challenge of parenting a rebellious child, the loss of a family member, the struggle with depression, every circumstance becomes God’s grace to us and more importantly, to others.

Who you are is important: God formed you for a purpose. You are uniquely positioned to effectively care for certain people.

Your spouse and marriage is important: your ministry together can be exponentially more dynamic and eternally significant because of your differences and hard-won victories of mutual love.

Your circumstances are important: God is shaping you for present and future ministry.

You pain and grief are important: Jesus did not avoid pain and grief but willingly accepted it as the means of saving us. So we too don’t seek out suffering, but recognize that we have mastery over pain when we submit it to God’s kingdom purposes.

Just as Paul wanted to encourage the Philippians by drawing their attention to the counterintuitive effects of his imprisonment, we should cultivate an awareness of God’s purposes in our lives for his glory and the good of others. A growing desiring to enrich others through our unique life experience, even rejoicing in the adversity that gives life to others, is evidence of Christian maturity. In thinking this way we step into the life of Christ who, “for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame.”

Apologetics, Relationship-style

“Dad? My friend is Hindu and she worships lots of different gods. How do we know that Christianity is true?”

“Mom? Ross’s grandma died last week. Will she go to heaven even if she wasn’t a Christian?”

“If God is good, why do bad things happen? Please pass the potatoes.”

These type of questions should be welcomed by every parent who trusts in the Good News about Jesus the King. They are indications that our children are engaging with serious matters of eternal significance. The question is, when your kids ask are you “ready to give a reason for the hope you have”.

Here’s what Peter says in his first letter:

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. – 1 Peter 3:14-16

This is the passage from which we get the word ‘apologetics’, a reasoned defense of the one in whom we have placed our hope. In the passage, Peter is addressing the possibility of persecution and the proper, Christ-honoring response to the hostile skeptic. Typically, focus is placed on the “reason”, the intellectual rationale behind the defense. Yet, the reasoned defense is the fourth, not the first.

THE CONTEXT FOR OUR REASONED DEFENSE

Before getting to the “reasoned defense”, take a moment to consider the context of that defense which is centered on “the hope that in [us]”. In addressing anyone who has complaints or questions against what they perceive in the Christian message we focus first on internal realities.

1. “if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. 
   We serve a resurrected king who defeated death and was himself mistreated for his perfect righteousness. Therefore the conflicts we or our children experience for our gospel-motivated living are to be expected and embraced, not avoided. Our hope is secured by Jesus.
2. “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled”
   The negative responses we experience have no ultimate power to destroy us. We trust ourselves to the promises and loving care of our Father who did not spare his own Son on our behalf. Nor should we get agitated. Again this is not unexpected, it is exactly what Jesus said about himself:  he is a spiritual watershed that divides public opinion. Jesus resisted public outrage and public opinion, forgiving his enemies and suffering for a brief moment in order to obtain the “joy set before him”. Our hope is secured by Jesus. 
3. “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy”
   Who Christ is and what he has accomplished are unique in all of history. There is no one like him in any other spiritual or historical book. As author G.K. Chesterton explains in The Everlasting Man, ‘founder of a major world religion’ is an artificial category. All actual comparisons between Christ, Mohamed, the Buddha, etc. are superficial at best. In our hearts, the center of our being, we have crowned Jesus King. Any contenders must compete with his deity, his incarnation, his self-offered sacrifice on behalf of his rebellious creatures and his resurrection. He is set apart; there is no close second.  Our hope is secured by Jesus.
   

When we stand in these internal realities, we are more than able to give a reasoned defense for our Hope. Our hope is not a set of doctrinal statements, we have a living Hope, Jesus Christ, “he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

ANSWERING QUESTIONS WITH OUR HOPE

Remember that at the time of Peter’s writing, eyewitnesses to the resurrection were still alive. Miracles were able to be attested to. Greek was a commonly used language. The Old Testament was the primary scriptural evidence for the claims of Jesus. There was no need for ‘archaeological evidence’. Our situation differs from the first century Christians in many ways, but  it is important to note that Peter was not urging his readers to present a scientifically air-tight case, but to explain the interpersonal reality, the “hope that is in you“. Jesus really rose from the dead so he is really alive and his Spirit gives us real power and real, certain hope.

A RELATIONAL ANSWER TO RELATION-BASED QUESTIONS

When we hear questions from our kids like the examples above, it is important to look beyond the theology of the question to the motivation of the question. The examples I gave all have a personal, relational connection in mind. The question isn’t ‘What does the bible say about Hell?’, but something closer to ‘Why would my friend go there? We eat lunch together.’ A relational question needs a relational answer.

Thankfully, the gospel is relational.

Since we have a treasured Friend and Savior, one who is not like anyone else and has done more for us than anyone else ever can or will, we “preach Christ and him crucified” as the reasoned response. We explain our situation as rebels before a holy God. We explain His great love for us in sending his unique Son who came willingly to die in our place. We share the good news that because He has risen again Jesus reigns as King of kings and will adopt anyone into his family who will turn from our rebellion and trust in His free gift of grace. Then the question changes from ‘Why would God send my dodge ball friend Bridgette to Hell?’ to “Why would Bridgette reject the free gift of life secured by the willing sacrifice of Jesus the Son, who was sent by a loving Father in order to rescue us from our self-inflicted curse of death and adopt us as His own beloved children?”

QUESTIONS FOR YOU

Someone once told me, “You cannot impart what you do not possess”. Any gospel-transformed parent is up to the task of answering these deep questions. The hope we have is a life connecting to the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit. It is not a prize we get for being good. It is not a payment we receive for believing the right facts or belonging to the right group. It is an interpersonal connection to the Living God who, because we have been immersed into Christ’s death burial and resurrection (Romans 6), has become our Father.

1. Do you receive the possibility (or reality) of persecution for righteousness as a gift?
2. Are you full of fear and anxiety at the thought of conflict over spiritual matters?
3. Have you set apart Christ as Holy in your own heart or do other things compete?
4. Do the reasons you give for your hope sound like you know some things or like you know some one?
5. Do you listen for the personal or relational heart of questions asked, whether in curiosity by children on hostility by adults?
6. When you hear questions or attacks on Christian faith, do you think of theological rebuttals first, or do you consider the living Hope, the Love of God in Christ Jesus, shown toward you in this, “that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. (Romans 5:8)
7. Do you look at the Good News like a jewel, allowing the story’s facets to address questions that come?

 

Family Scripture Memorization

Words are powerful.The things we say can wound or heal; they can bring an idea to life or change a point of view. Some words are so powerful we memorize them to continually refresh and invigorate our thoughts or to more powerfully express the things we want to say. If this is true for our finite and imperfect words, the perfect and unchanging words of God in scripture are a precious treasury that we and our families take permanent hold of by committing them to memory. But maybe you’re not convinced…

You’re busy. Your memory isn’t great. You struggle to get time with your family. Why should the practice of committing parts of the Bible to memory be a priority? Here are just a few of the many reasons.

1. Jesus memorized scripture. Not to pull rank, but if the incarnate Son of God thinks it is important to memorize the things that God spoke in the past, we shouldn’t feel that it is a waste of our time. Three times in Matthew 4 alone, Jesus rebuffs the deception of Satan by saying “It is written…”.
2. The Apostles & disciples regularly quoted scripture. Not only do the new testament writings drip with scriptural references, but in the book of Acts, Peter and others regularly quote from scripture (e.g. Acts 2:16, 25, 34, Acts 4:25, Acts 7, Acts 11:15)
3. Jesus commanded us to teach everything he commanded. The great commission (Matthew 28:18) involves making disciples by teaching everything he taught. These words were not initially written down, they were memorized and then spoken. This is the pattern of the disciple in Jesus’ day. As parent disciple-makers we should have Jesus’ words deeply in our hearts and minds so we can effectively live as Christ did towards our children and be confident that we are sharing God’s word.
4. The Word of God is our only offensive weapon against spiritual forces. In explaining to the Ephesians the nature of the spiritual war they are fighting (Ephesians 6), Paul lists “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (v.18) as the only offensive weapon (used in tandem with prayer). We are called to take ground, not merely maintain our position.
5. The Word of God is a surgical multi-tool for the soul. The Word of God is living and active… capable of revealing the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) It is both a diagnostic tool revealing our sin, a scalpel of truth to direct us to Jesus, and a soothing balm to recall the promises of God’s grace; for ourselves and for our children.
6. Scripture is given to us by God for our hope and encouragement.  Paul explains”Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” (Romans 15:4) If you are living in despair at the cultural or political climate. If you are worried about the future of your family, God does not leave us without hope; we need only grab hold of His word.
7. No other book contains the “Words of Eternal Life”. When many people were deserting him, Jesus asked his disciples if they too would leave. Peter answered for the group: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” In memorizing Jesus’ words, your family takes firm hold of the words of eternal life.
8. Your children can have no stronger foundation that God’s word. There is no education, no college degree, no job, no lifestyle that can give your children the rock-solid foundation for life offered in the unchanging word of God. Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24) Don’t store up funds for a college education or a wedding but fail to give your kids a treasury of biblical truth  they can draw from throughout the rest of their lives.

GET THE BALL ROLLING
If you are ready to make this part of your family culture, here are a few ideas on how to get started.

1. Set a time and place and be consistent. After or during dinner. Before homework. Before a family movie. After church on Sunday.
2. Start small and build up. Shorter passages from Proverbs or excerpts from the Psalms are great. If you have an age span with your children, have the older kids help select additional verses or longer passages in addition to the shorter ones.
3. Be vulnerable. If you struggle, don’t hide that fact. Let your kids help you.
4. Discuss the verses meaning or context. Make sure the passage is understood in the way it is intended. Everyone knows Jeremiah 29:11, but did Jeremiah intend this passage for everyone at all times and places or was it written for the Jews in relation to the Babylonian captivity. If the verse has a story connected to it, share the story first in order to help younger children remember.
5. Use family skills. Do your kids like to draw? Give the verse a visual trigger with a picture. Do you sing as a family? Put the words to a song. Enjoy sports? Make a game out of memorizing. Do you have dinner guests? Involve them in what your family does.
6. Memorize and Review. Frequently revisit formerly memorized passages.

 

Love & Submission…Enjoy!

Few phrases in English are as likely to create tension as this quote from Ephesians 5:22:

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”

Your Maturing Romance

When it comes to love and relationship, we live in a confused culture. There is a desperate desire to connect, be loved, and find lasting happiness; yet media culture presents images, attitudes and “strategies” that focus more on the self and personal fulfillment than on the other-centered love revealed in the gospel. Recently, my wife and I had the opportunity to share a pre-Valentine message with a group of mom’s as an encouragement to move beyond the view of love in marriage as an initial spark that has long-since faded, to understand the dynamic love possible when a man and woman value each other in marriage as God intended.

The Initial Spark
At the start of your romance with your spouse, three dimensions came into play, the three parts of your personality: your mind, your will and your emotions. You saw an “other” and were fascinated by them (mind), you desired to interact with them, sharing yourself and knowing them more (will), and you were delighted by this feast of knowing and being known (emotions). These three things happened in quick cycles, moving the relationship along until… BAM!, you’re married.

Because they provide the experiential “reward” of the relationship, it is often the feelings we remember most. Sadly, many married men and women fail to engage their minds and wills toward their spouse as they did at the beginning, the very stance toward their partner that would result in the positive emotions of enjoyment and delight. Why do we stop being fascinated by our “other” and why do we stop desiring to know them as they are?

Bad News/Good News
“50 First Dates” is a film about a woman with short-term memory loss who forgets everything that happened the previous day. Out of his love for this woman, the main character helps her rediscover him and their relationship each day. That might sound romantic, but though the woman in the story is continually fascinated by her suitor, I don’t envy him. It is the newness of first love that fuels our minds and wills in a new relationship. But, just like you can never make a first impression twice (unless someone has short term memory loss), you can never fully “unknow” your spouse…nor should you want to.

The good news is that the pattern of discovering and appreciating resulting in enjoyment is the shape of the relational adventure that marriage is designed to be over the course of a couple’s life together.

Discovering: an intentional, persistent gaze for the purpose of seeing the unique image of God in your spouse.

Genesis 1:26-27 records that men and women are equally image-bearers of God. Your spouse can therefore be an inexhaustible source of wonder and discover. Additionally, as human creatures we are always changing which means there is always more to discover.

• Resist the belief that you adequately know your spouse and determine to be the world’s leading expert on your husband or wife.
• Resist “business” talk on dates and times when you are alone together. Kids and work can wait. Talk about each other.
• Be a “knowledge miner” by think of what you know or think about your spouse and dig deeper to learn more.
• Use conflict as an opportunity to learn more about how your “other” thinks differently than you
• Talk about eternal things

Appreciating : choosing to value and benefit from your spouse’s unique God-imaging personality

The love and respect Paul prescribes in Ephesians 5:33 result from an act of will resulting from an awareness of God’s love for us in Christ, not a rush of emotion. Recall that part of God’s specific care for you is found in the person of your spouse. This appreciation is demonstrated in word and action regardless of performance since it is the person whom God has gifted you with. Your spouse’s differences are purposeful and are for your benefit. Without this act of will, to continually receive your spouse as a gift, deep emotional enjoyment is not possible.

• Pray for your spouse, thanking the Father for His good and perfect gift.
• Publically praise your spouse (especially in front of your children). Never belittle or demean.

Enjoying: Experiencing delight that you know and are known by this specific man/woman who is  God’s gift to you.

Matthew 19:4-6 indicates that men are literally God’s gift to women… and vice versa. If your love has grown cold remember that God is a giver of good gifts (James 1:17). He sees you and knows you and has provided for your good through your marriage to your husband or wife. Especially if your life is busy, make space mentally and in your schedule to experience enjoyment of your spouse. Enjoyment reaches its peak when it is shared so don’t keep it to yourself. Express your delight and enjoyment to your spouse (this is where “Love Languages” comes in). And then, let that enjoyment fuel more discovery and deeper appreciating so that your joy may be an overflowing river of blessing to your marriage, your children and your community. That gives great joy to your Heavenly Father.