Jesus Wants Authentic Christians

60% of young Christians, ages 16 to 29 are leaving church.  60%!  Why are young people leaving churches today more quickly than ever before?  What do you think?  I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts at the end of this blog.  Please leave a comment.  

Maybe some of you came up with people being too busy.  Maybe others guessed changes in life situations.  Maybe still others guessed hypocrisy.  Truth be told, it’s all of the above.  But there’s an underlying reason for that.  Look at the reasons people give: too busy, life change, hypocrisy.  Do you see the common denominator?  The church no longer is important to them. 

Sadly, the perception of churches in our world today is that churches are irrelevant.  Can we blame those who feel this way?  Too many times the people who are on the outside of a church see people on the inside living inconsistent lives.  We put on a good show, but don’t live what we believe.  A couple of years ago, I even had a young woman come to church and after the second time she visited she said to me, “Pastor, I just don’t feel like I belong here.”  When I asked her why, she said, “I’m too messed up to be here.  When I look around it just seems as if everybody’s life is put together but mine.”  That deeply troubled me that she felt that way.  

Then I began to evaluate the atmosphere of our church.  But you know what, that was a mistake.  I shouldn’t have started with the church.  I needed to evaluate the atmosphere of MY heart.  Do I give the impression that everything is going great in my life?  Am I willing to reach out to those who I can sense are troubled?  Do I enter other people’s worlds and offer them the godly advice they need to hear?  Or am I afraid to engage?  Those are great questions, aren’t they?  Seriously, what if we became more intentional about truly sharing our burdens and celebrating our joys?  What if we became more intentional about making this place a “hospital for the broken”?  What if we became more authentic Christians?  Brothers and sisters in Christ – that is what Jesus wants!  Jesus wants authentic Christians.

Look at Luke chapter 14, starting with verse 1, “One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.”  The Pharisees were what we would call “church-going people.”  They went to the synagogue weekly and so did Jesus.  They were hard workers.  They were very moral people.  Guys with daughters, they were the kind of people you would allow to date your daughter!

One would think that Jesus would have admired their version of holiness, but he didn’t.  He was not impressed by their external morality.  He considered it to be self-righteousness rather than Godly righteousness.  Yet, that didn’t keep him from reaching out to them.  On this particular Sabbath, Jesus had been invited by a Pharisee to come and eat with him.  It was customary in those days to invite the visiting rabbi, or teacher, to their house after the worship in the synagogue.  
Luke however tells the real reason they invited Jesus.  “He was being carefully watched.”  That’s because just weeks earlier, Jesus had offended the Pharisees with His scathing indictment against their hollow religion recorded in Luke chapter 11, starting with verse 37.  I’d encourage you to read that section of Scripture at home.  After that, they tried to catch him in something he might say (Luke 11:54).

When invited to their homes for a meal, a formal affair with many rules of etiquette, Jesus went anyway.  Knowing that he was being set up to be scrutinized and criticized, even trapped into being labeled a “heretic.”  He went anyway.  Why?  Jesus ate with his enemies because he loved them.  Now, stop and think about that for a moment.  They hated him.  He loved them.  He was unwilling to give up on them.  Because He knew that deep down inside they just couldn’t believe that they were loved without earning that love.  That’s why they tried so hard to please God.  And here’s the deception: they honestly believed that they could make themselves lovable by what they did.
Can you identify with that?  I can.  Truth be told: all of us have a very unlovable side to us.  All of us have a very selfish, loveless side.  It’s ugly.  It’s ugly in God’s sight.  And it’s down right damnable!  We are a lot like an iceberg.  There’s about 10% of us that we let everyone see.  That’s the really good stuff.  But there’s 90% beneath the surface that, if we’re honest with ourselves, makes us feel ashamed.  And it makes us feel like we have to prove our worth to God.  Can you identify with that?  I can.

Do you realize that Jesus sees all 100% of you?  He sees all the ugliness.  And He loves us anyway!  We are loved.  In fact, we are adopted by God into His family by faith in Jesus Christ.  That doesn’t just make God our heavenly Father.  That makes us His adopted sons and daughters.  And did you realize that in Jewish culture, a father could actually disown his blood children?  But if a father adopted a child, he could not disown that child, no matter what.  We are loved.

Obviously, no where do we see that more clearly than on the cross.  The whole reason why Jesus died isn’t because of our sins.  That’s only part of it.  The whole reason is because of His love.  Maybe you’ve heard this statement before: It was our sins that put Jesus on the cross.  But it was His love that kept Him there.  Do you believe that?  My friends, that’s the first step to authenticity.  When we begin to believe and realize that in spite of our brokenness and ugliness, we’re loved, then we can begin to actually share and care for one another like Jesus did.  Jesus wants authentic Christians who believe that we are loved.
  
But there’s more.  Look at verse 2, “There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy.”  It was no coincidence.  The Pharisees had brought this man in so that they could trap Jesus.  This man’s condition was very serious.  Today we would call dropsy – edema – which would also be a symptom of a more serious condition called congestive heart failure.  He was not only suffering.  He was dying.
So Jesus poses a question, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” (vs. 3) You might not realize this, but the Pharisees’ sect was made up of people who came from the two most prominent schools of rabbinic teaching, the School of Shammai and the School of Hillel. The reason Jesus asked this question was because these two schools of rabbinic teaching vastly differed on how to answer that question.  That would explain verse 4, “But they remained silent.”

Jesus didn’t care what they would say about him afterward.  He showed that loving people trumps what others think.  “So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.  Then he asked them, ‘If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?’  And they had nothing to say.” (vv. 4b-6)  Again, they had nothing to say because they differed in how to answer his question.  But the real problem was what was in their hearts.  They honestly cared very little for this man’s welfare.  They were too busy trying to earn God’s love that they couldn’t possibly love this man properly!  You see, you can’t give what you don’t have!  We can’t possibly love others, if we don’t have love ourselves.

Jesus loved authentically!  He had compassion on this man.  He healed this man, not only of his broken body, but also his broken heart.  That’s what turned people’s heads.  That’s what made people notice Jesus, because He actually cared.  He actually loved and changed people’s lives.
Jesus wants authentic Christians who are known by His love.  Jesus put it this way on a number of occasions, “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).  Are we known by Jesus’ love?  

So tell me, do you have a co-worker whose marriage is falling apart?  Do you have a teenager who is struggling with acceptance?  Do you have a friend who’s addicted?  Love them.  Get messy.  Be bold.  Ask them the searching questions about why they are struggling.  Don’t be judgmental.  Show them authentic love.  Don’t just tell them, “I’m praying for you” and then walk away.  Pray for them, but invest in them.  Talk to them, but listen to them.  That’s what Jesus did.  That’s what will make this place a “hospital for the broken,” where we are willing to share our burdens and share Jesus’ healing love.  That’s authentic Christianity!  That attracts people to Jesus!  That’s what will bring people back!  So, tell me, who are you going to invest in this week and bring to church next weekend?  It’s time to get messy. 

-Chris Johnson, Outreach and Young Adult Pastor

A Response to John MacArthur’s video “Is Infant Baptism Biblical?”

John MacArthur has a sermon on YouTube that seems to prove that baptism of infants is not biblical and should not be done. Having listened to the sermon I feel he accurately shares the reasons why some non-denominational and Baptist churches have chosen not to baptize babies. There is more history here than a post on a blog can handle. I think a Biblical response to John MacArthur’s 5 points is necessary, because after my time in Scripture I’m convinced that a person of any age can and should be baptized. 

These are John MacArthur’s 5 main arguments

1. Infant baptism is not in Scripture – not advocated or an incident recorded and therefore it is not biblical. 
2. Baptism is always used to denote a full immersion. It is a symbol of the union of a believer to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. (Romans 6, Gal 2, 3, Col 2) Baptism is something that needs to be done as an act of obedience to the holy command of God.  
3. Infant baptism is a replacement of circumcision, it is not in Scripture.  
4. Infant baptism confounds the nature of the church and destroys the idea of who is a Christian. The world is full of those who are baptized yet are not in the true church.
5. Not consistent with reformation soteriology. We are saved by grace through faith and baptism is an act of obedience. How could children have faith? Faith based on the parents or god-parents, surrogate faith. Infant baptism is nothing, has no saving efficacy, delivers no grace, confers no faith, is a symbol of nothing, it is absolutely and totally pointless.  It leads to ritualism, confusion, and false security.

Simply because something is not directly addressed in Scripture does not mean that it is forbidden. One example is the Trinity, a word that even though it is not in Scripture its idea is testified to as God reveals himself in the Bible. We can draw a reasonable conclusion or application from what God tell us. Such is the case for infant baptism. 

“In baptism God (not the parents, or pastor, or priest, or the water) offers and gives…” (Check out the list of passages on the bottom of this page to complete this sentence) Although baptism involves someone standing or being held and someone else saying, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” a person is not doing some sort of good work that earns the blessings given in those passages.  Just like we can not take credit for sitting and listening to a friend tell us the Gospel for the first time and then claim that it was earned by my act of listening. It is the Holy Spirit working together with God’s promise (ie. his Word) that gives baptism its power to create faith. baptism is in line with being saved by grace through faith. Through baptism God gives to us the same forgiveness Jesus won on the cross and faith that is grown and encouraged throughout a person’s life as God grows them through the Scripture. (Romans 10:17 – faith comes by hearing… or Luke 8 – the parable of the sower)

Babies are in deep need of the salvation their Savior won for them. Ephesians 2:4-5 explains, “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” All people are spiritually dead in sin because they are the offspring of a sinful mom and a sinful dad. Dead people don’t choose to do anything, spiritually dead people don’t do anything good either, especially believe. No one comes to faith by their power, choice, cognitive ability, etc. Our spiritual deadness is referenced in Psalm 51:5 – “sinful from conception” and Romans 3:23 – “all have sinned and fallen short”. Romans 6:23 also says “the wages of sin is death”. As tragic as it is, babies do sometimes die. According to Romans 6:23 what does their death tell us about their spiritual state? Babies are sinful and in deep need of a Savior, just like the rest of us.

Jesus died for babies too. The Holy Spirit can work faith in their heart in baptism too - faith that trusts God their Savior. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded.”  (Matt. 28:19, 20) “Nations” is an all inclusive word. It includes all races, both genders, and any age.  If you believe “nations” doesn’t refer to babies then you would also have to say it doesn’t apply to women either. God doesn’t limit baptism to only adults and neither should we.

It seems that John MacArthur found support for his understanding against infant baptism by looking at the examples of whole households being baptized in Acts and 1 Corinthians. What he did is change descriptive passages into prescriptive passages. This change of interpretation requires us to do what the people of the Bible did even though God did not command it. (Ex. Jesus wore sandals therefore we should wear sandals. OR I only see examples of adults being baptized so God only wants adults baptized.) The problem is that if we wanted to be baptized entirely as it was described in the circumstances of those in Acts and 1 Corinthians, then we would have to go and be baptized in the same rivers for it to be true obedience. But of course John MacArthur and others are selective in which part of the descriptive passage they want to follow. Because the Bible does not exactly describe the manner in which baptism was performed, it is not even possible to do it exactly the way they did it. (Ex. Should we immerse, dip, do I let you go under on your own, do I hold your hand, what temperature should the water be, etc…) 

It is amazing to me how much ink has been spilled to convince everyone they must be immersed for a baptism to be biblical. The word for baptism in the Greek is used in contexts beyond immersion such as that of ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and tables (Mark 7:4). The effectiveness of baptism does not rely on our ability to duplicate the original circumstances. The picture of Jesus death and resurrection can be shared regardless of how much water is used. If immersion was the only way to baptize I think the Lord would have told us clear as day, “you must immerse everyone for baptism to be effective.” To baptize you need water and God’s Word. Period.  

MacArthur stated that examples of baptism throughout Acts and 1 Corinthians show that people hear the Word, believe, and then are baptized and babies can’t do that and therefore babies shouldn't be baptized. In reality small children could have been in those families described and because of Matthew 18:5-6 babies could have been among those who believed and were baptized. 

In Matthew 18:5-6 we hear Jesus say, “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin...” The Greek word for “little ones” is micros, which denotes an extremely small child or an infant. Even these little ones can believe because the work of faith in our heart is an act of God and doesn’t depend on our ability to reason. (Eph 2:8, 9 - The case for infants or severely disabled believing) If anyone, including babies, has faith it is because of the Work of God making them alive.

MacArthur says that those who baptize babies make a case for baptism as a New Testament replacement for circumcision. But I don’t see Scripture making that connection of baptism as a replacement of circumcision.

MacArthur’s highlights the sad state of physical churches and that many who were baptized as infants are no longer believers as evidenced by their life. Sadly this is the case. It does not mean that infant baptism is ineffective but rather that the faith which began at baptism was not nourished as they grew up. They abandoned the faith given them. As in the parable of the farmer scattering seed, some people will come to faith and remain followers of Christ all their life. Unfortunately we have the awful freedom to reject Christ even after having been brought to faith. (Luke 8). We do not stop preaching simply because people fall away. We do not stop baptizing simply because people fall away. Instead we encourage parents to continue to bring their children up in the Word of God, as they are commanded by God. 

From a rational point of view, baptism doesn’t make any sense. It is effective only because God has commanded it and stands behind it. The power in baptism does not lie with the person doing the baptism (any Christian can baptize) or the place where the baptism is performed (it doesn’t have to be in a church) or special “blessed” water (normal tap water or river water is fine). It lies in God’s promise that through this sacrament he will create and strengthen faith.

When the children of Israel, on their way from Egypt to Canaan, were bitten by poisonous snakes as punishment for their rebellious grumbling, they turned to God for help.  Through Moses, God told them to erect a bronze snake on a pole. All who looked at it would be healed. Such a command made no logical sense. Yet it worked. The power was not in the bronze serpent, but in the promise that God made in connection with it. So it is with baptism. It is God’s promise to work faith and forgiveness through this sacrament that makes baptism the wonderful gift that it is.

-Pastor Eric Hansen, Discipleship Pastor

Additional Scriptures:
Acts 2:38  Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

Acts 22:16  Be baptized and wash your sins away.

Ephesians 5:25,26  Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.

Titus 3:5  He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

John 3:3,5  In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again…..I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”

Mark 16:16   [Jesus said,] “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”

1 Peter 3:20,21  In it [Noah’s ark] only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also.

Romans 6:3,5  Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?… If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

Galatians 3:26,27  You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who

were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.

Ephesians 4:4,5  There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

Colossians 2:11,12  In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 16:15  When she [Lydia] and the members of her household were baptized…..

Acts 16:33  …then immediately he [the jailer] and all his family were baptized.

Why Should I Baptize My Child?

The subject of baptism has been an unhappy division in the Christian Church.  Something which Jesus never intended, but sadly, because we are sinful human beings, is a result of our misunderstanding of baptism.  We need to search the Scriptures to make sure that we clearly understand what Jesus meant regarding baptism.

When seeking understanding of baptism, I believe it is important to begin with what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20.  “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  A close look in the original Greek language, in which the New Testament was written, indicates a number of very important factors we need to keep in mind.  First, Jesus’ command for His disciples was not to “go”.  No, it was to “make disciples.”  Everywhere we go we are to make disciples.  Jesus then indicates the means by which He wants us to carry out that command, baptize and teach.

Second, when Jesus said, “baptizing them,” we have to ask the question, who is the “them”?  Some may think that it refers back to disciples, but it doesn’t.  “Make disciples” is one word, a verb.  A pronoun like “them” cannot refer back to a verb.  It must refer back to another noun.  The pronoun “them” refers back to all “nations”.  Clearly, since Jesus’ command is to make disciples of all nations, one of the ways that disciples of all nations are made is through baptism.  The other way is through hearing the message of Jesus.  Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”  So in other words, the Holy Spirit works through two different means to bring people to faith.  One is the Word of God.   The other is through baptism, which, lest we forget, also has the Word of God empowering it.  

The question we have to ask is: Are infants a part of “all nations”?  Clearly, the answer is “yes.”  So did Jesus command us to make disciples of infants?  Yes.  How?  Through baptism and teaching.  Children who are baptized are meant to receive the same benefits of faith as adults.  That’s why the apostle Peter in his Pentecost sermon said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children…” (Acts 2:38-39).  Faith receives forgiveness which Jesus earned.  Faith receives power to live differently which Jesus promises in connection with baptism (Romans 6:1-14).  Faith receives salvation which is promised through baptism in Titus 3:5, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” as well as 1 Peter 3:20-21, “In it, only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.  It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…”

Clearly, there is no age restriction based on what God teaches us in these Scriptures.  Do little children need the blessings of baptism?  Yes.  Little children are born sinful.  Psalm 51:5 teaches, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”  Therefore, even little children need forgiveness.  (There is more on this subject of little children and sin in the next paragraph.)  Little children need to be brought into God’s family.  Baptism makes that happen.  Galatians 3:26 teaches, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”  Little children need faith to receive the benefit of what Jesus did through his perfect life, death and resurrection from the dead.  Little children can believe.  Jesus taught that in Matthew 18:6, “But if anyone causes one of these little ones (i.e. baby) who believe in me…”

Some will argue that little children don’t need baptism because little children are not held accountable.  Those who teach an "age of accountability" do not really derive it exegetically from Scripture.  But in order to defend it, yes, they will often use Isaiah 7:15-16.

It's important to notice what this passage says and doesn't say. Isaiah's words assume that there is an age below which a child doesn't understand the moral implications of his or her actions--something that every parent knows and our criminal justice system reflects. "Age of discretion" would be a good term for this concept.

"Age of accountability" advocates, however, reason that a child who is unaware of moral implications can therefore not be held responsible or declared sinful by God. That logical step is missing from Isaiah 7:15-16, and Scripture's doctrine of original sin clearly teaches otherwise.

Original sin (also known as "inherited sin") is defined as the guilt and corruption which all people have from conception and birth (thus having to do with our "origin"). As one of our theologians has phrased it: "The sin of our first parents [Adam and Eve] was of disastrous consequence not only to them personally, but also to all their offspring, inasmuch as the guilt of their first transgression is imputed, and the corruption of their nature is transmitted, to all their children. The first is called hereditary guilt, the other hereditary depravity."

Among the various Bible sections that speak of this universal malady, the following are representative: Romans 5:12-15,18-19; Genesis 5:3, 6:5, 8:21; Psalm 51:5; John 3:6; Ephesians 2:1-4. Every child born is born sinful and spiritually lost.

As emphasized throughout Scripture, let us give thanks that Christ's righteousness is also imputed to us sinners (See the Romans 5 section listed above). The remedy has been supplied by our gracious God. "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more" (Romans 5:20).  So when it comes to children -- "Age of discretion"--yes. "Age of accountability"--no.

Some will argue that because there are no clear examples of infants being baptized in Scripture that we should not baptize them.  I firmly believe that because Jesus commands us to baptize all nations, infants, who are sinful and in need of forgiveness, are included in that command.  Even though there are no clear examples of infants being baptized there are specifically stated examples of “households” being baptized.  A “household” or “family” to an ancient Jew, Greek or Roman included the children and infants.  Among the Romans, a family was defined as all those under the authority of the head of the household.  This included children (whether by birth or adoption), unnamed daughters, and the sons’ families.  The Roman household even included the “slaves” and their children as well.

The Greek word “oikos” that was in use at the time the New Testament Scriptures was written included children and infants.  The Hebrew word for “household” also included infants and children.  By using “oikos” without any further qualification, the inspired writers show that infants were also to be baptized as members of a household.  Whether or not the households actually had infants in them or not is beside the point.  That “oikos” is used to describe the events shows that the full household was to be baptized.  That would include infants.  The language and terms used to describe these events in the Scriptures when households were baptized demands the inclusion of infants in Jesus’ command to baptize all nations.

-Pastor Chris Johnson, Outreach and Young Adult Pastor

A Christian Nation - It's Quite the Reputation!

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

During the height of the cold war of 1954 between Communist Russia and this country President Eisenhower attended a sermon that changed the pledge of allegiance forever. The Pastor speaking about the pledge of allegiance said, "Apart from the mention of the phrase 'the United States of America,' it could be the pledge of any republic. In fact, I could hear little Muscovites repeat a similar pledge to their hammer-and-sickle flag in Moscow." This preacher urged the inclusion of "under God" in the pledge to denote what he felt was special about the United States. (Especially compared to communist Russia which had no God) President Eisenhower agreed. In 1954 “under God” was added to the pledge of allegiance. As Eisenhower signed it into law he said, “This day forward, the millions of our schoolchildren will daily proclaim, in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty.” [1] Even though the word “God” or “the Almighty” could mean just about anything depending upon who is speaking at the time it was a given that the US was a Christian nation. Most surveys today will still tell you that the United States is by percentage (79%) a Christian nation. [2] 

If in fact statisticians are accurate and this nation is Christian, what are we showing the world about Christ? Because honestly, when people see a CHRISTian they see Christ. What kind of reputation has he received through us?

You can look to the religious opposition to get one view of CHRISTians. In Sam Harris’ book “Letter to a Christian Nation” he gives his atheistic view of Christians. He says, “Thousands of people have written to tell me that I am wrong not to believe in God. The most hostile of these communications have come from Christians… The truth is that many who claim to be transformed by Christ’s love are deeply, even murderously, intolerant of criticism.” This is one mans response to his interactions with Christians. It hits close to home.

The worldview from other religions is even worse. Consider a Muslim view of Christians. Joseph Mattera, a leader of a church in Brooklyn, New York, regularly interacts with Muslim families and had this to say about what they see in Christians.

“Since most Muslims view Western Europe and the United States as Christian, they equate the moral decadence of these nations with the morality of the average Christian. With the preponderance of pornography, scantily-clad women, abortion, homosexuality, the use of foul language on television, and the overall corruption of society, they believe it a reflection on Christian ethos.” [3]

I’m not sure if you’ve heard this Christian reputation before but for me it opens my eyes pretty wide. There are so many supposed Christians preaching thousands of sermons with their actions that are misrepresenting Christ. Those people out there drag Jesus’ name through the mud.

I’m glad I’m not like that. Or, do I contribute to the reputation being formed by the masses. When someone looks at me do they get an honest representation of what Christianity should be? When they look at me do they see someone that exudes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control?  We can’t pass the blame solely to those radicals out there when Christianity’s reputation starts with us. Try as we might in our own little ways we’ve added to the reputation of fakeness, empty actions, religious and biblical ignorance, and the hypocritical reputation of Christianity. It makes me wonder if it is all that bad of an idea to hide our CHRISTian affiliation as a nation.

Of course there is a better solution to foster a positive Christian reputation.  It starts with the basic rhythm of your life. With the cross in full view every day, I know that I am forgiven and empowered to live and interact differently. My sin is not my defining characteristic before God.

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Over this next week as you celebrate our nations independence live such a good life that you make Christianity look good to your neighbors. Even if they don’t get your God yet, you do. You know what he has done for you. Remember: Chosen, priest, holy nation, possession of God. When you own that there is no way people will mistake a life of honesty, hard work, respect for others, and love for one’s family for being anything but Christian. It’s the people living in a nation that make a nation what it is. CHRISTianity’s reputation starts with you.

-Pastor Eric Hansen, Discipleship Pastor

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[1] https://www.aclunc.org/news/opinions/the_values_of_the_pledge_of_allegiance.shtml

[2] http://religions.pewforum.org/reports

[3] http://www.southasianconnection.com/articles/545/1/Ten-Ways-Muslims-View-Christianity-/Page1.html

How to be a R.E.A.L. Man

There is a crisis in our culture.  Tony Evans terms it a “crisis of manhood” and he nails it when he calls it a theological crisis. That simply means we have abandoned what God says on the topic of gender, and in particular, on the meaning of maleness.  Because of that abandonment, we’re paying a huge price and we will continue to do so -- unless God’s men fulfill their calling.

The crisis of manhood began long before we were born and it influences every issue we’d name if we were to describe what it means to be a man -- what it means to be a man of God.  So today we’re going to hit four areas as we talk about what it takes to be a REAL man.  The R stands for a real man being responsible.  The E stands for a real man being evangelical.  The A stands for a real man being available.  And the L stands for a real man being a leader.

Women, what do you think about how we, as men, are doing as leaders?  Are we doing well?  Some people have different definitions of what it means to be a leader.  We need to see what God intends for biblical male leadership.  To do that, we need to go back to the beginning, back to Genesis, chapter 2, starting with verse 18.  “The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him.”  You might notice from Genesis chapter 1 that after each day in the days of creation, God said it was good.  This is the only time in all of that creating process that God said, “It’s not good” and that is when he created the man!  I’m just kidding!  Actually, it was when God knew that the man was alone.

But Adam didn’t know that.  So what did God do?  Read verses 19-20a, “Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air.  He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.  So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.”  Talk about a day’s work!  Naming every animal?!  Adam demonstrated his headship over the natural world by doing that!  But at the end of the day, Adam looked around and realized that he was the only human being!  It was then that he realized that he was all alone!   It was then that God performed the world’s first surgery and took a bone from Adam and made the world’s first woman and brought her to Adam.  I’m sure it was only after he picked his jaw up off the ground, because she was drop dead gorgeous, that he was able to say in verse 23, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man.”

The observation we need to make from all of that is this -- at creation, man received headship from God.  Let me give you a definition of headship to chew on.  In a partnership of spiritually equal human beings (man and woman) the man bears the primary responsibility to lead the partnership in a God-glorifying direction.

What evidence is there of man’s headship?  The creation record tells us man was created first.  It also records for us that it is man to whom God looks as the leader.  That was man’s assignment.  Adam failed in the assignment.  Let’s move on into Genesis, chapter 3.  Look at verse 6: “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.  She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.”  Now we can’t prove it beyond any doubt, but I tend to agree that the whole time Adam’s beloved was being addressed by Satan, Adam stood right there and he didn’t say anything!  He didn’t lead his wife with truth!

What we draw from that is simply this: As a man, as our first father, and as an influence in our lives through inherited sin, Adam abdicated and men have leaned toward abdication ever since.  But Adam’s abdication continued.  Genesis chapter 3:8-15 tells us that God finds them, confronts them and again -- zero leadership.  No ownership of sin.  No responsibility!  So what did we inherit from our first father?  Obviously, a sinful nature!  But when it comes to manhood, our sinful nature brims over with selfishness, with the urge to have my desires fulfilled!  I want what I want, when I want it.  I want to be served.  I run from responsibility.  I blame others for problems.  I ditch the truth.

Real men are Responsible!  That means that like Adam, we are responsible to God and we are responsible for our actions.  That means that we own up when we are at fault.  We confess our sins to our God whom we know took every one of them to the cross and the empty grave for our forgiveness.  But we’re not just responsible for ourselves.  We’re responsible to our families, our co-workers, our neighbors, and especially our significant others.  We’re responsible to lead them closer to Jesus.  That was God’s design for men right from the beginning!

Now that we’ve discovered what biblical male headship is all about.  Now let’s focus on the E of REAL men.  And that is Evangelical.  That’s not to be confused with a major branch of Christianity called Evangelicals.  No, an evangelical man is what that term literally means and that is gospel-centered.  In other words everything we say and everything we do is to be focused on Jesus, because He is our one and only Savior!

Listen to how Paul put it in verse 8 of 1 Thessalonians chapter 2.  He said, “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” (vs. 8)  Paul’s life revolved around Jesus.  Everything he said and everything he did was focused on Jesus and sharing Jesus with others.  Now thankfully we have many men who are like that here at St. Mark.  But I’d like to hold up one as an example.  He used to be on our Ministry Governing Board and served as our School Board chairman, but now because of cancer he is home with Jesus in heaven.  In the midst of his illness, he was an incredible example of being evangelical.  He pointed people to Jesus every chance he got!  He continued to remember and live Jesus’ love in everything he said and did!  Guys, it’s our job to be evangelical, focused on Jesus so that Jesus is evident in our lives and impacting everyone around us with His love!

Look at verse 9.  “Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.” (vs. 9) Most likely you don't know this about Greek culture in those days, but most Greek men didn't like hard labor.  In fact, they viewed it as something that only the slaves were supposed to do.  But Paul did the exact opposite.  He worked hard.  Most likely, he spent all day sharing the gospel.  And then at night he would work hard at making tents, which is what he grew up doing, so that he wouldn't be a financial burden to the mission congregations he started.

Paul served as an example to the men then and now.  Real men work hard.  But here's the difference.  Real men need to remember that we work hard not to make a great name or to make a lot of money, but real men work hard for our families and for God.  If our job becomes our god, that's no good!  If our job sacrifices our families, that's no good!  The job should always serve God and the family, not the reverse!  That’s what the A in REAL men is all about.  The A in REAL men is Available.  Guys, be available for the people around you!  Be there for the people who need you!  Don’t make your job or your hobbies an excuse not to be involved in your family’s life!  They need you!

That brings us to the L of REAL men and that is Leadership.  The most dramatic impact of our culture that leads to confusion about male leadership is what’s been called the “fatherless” generations.  Listen to this quote: The trend likely began with WW II -- first fathers went off to war -- those who returned, returned to work away from home 50 or more hours a week; they powered the engine of the economic miracle of the 1950’s.  What was the result of dads being gone?  What do you think?  Divorce became acceptable, materialism ran rampant!  Families were being sacrificed on the altar of success.  Sadly in this present generation 60-70% of children spend part of their childhood without a father present.  1/3 of live births are to unmarried women.  Over a million men with children under 18 are in prison.  Every year, thousands of children lose their fathers to accidents or illnesses.”  Where do you go to make up for the absence of a father’s love and influence? 

Now for those who are in single mom families, be thankful for the mom you have.  And don’t panic!  Obviously, you still have a heavenly Father who can and does help you in those moments when a dad would really be nice to have around.  All is not lost just because you are in a single parent family!

A few years back I had a man arrive in my office who was completely broken.  His wife threw him out of their house and out of her and their children’s lives.  He was an addict of every kind, addicted to alcohol, drugs and more.  He was broken because he had pursued only his own sinful desires, not once thinking about the consequences for himself and his family.  Instead of being responsible, he was reprehensible.  Instead of being evangelical, he was egotistical.  Instead of being available, he abdicated his role as a leader!

I had the privilege of pointing him to these verses in 1 Thessalonians 2.  Specifically verses 10 to 12.  “You are witnesses and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.  For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”  Before I could finish, he said, “How can I be that?”  You know what I said?  “You can’t!  But Jesus can!  The whole reason why Jesus came to this earth was to sacrifice himself to pay the penalty for our sins of abdicating, egotistical behavior!  That man broke down sobbing in the office.  He had failed.  Failed God, himself and his family!  But right then and there I had the privilege of pointing him to the bloody cross and the empty grave!  He had failed.  No denying that.  But Jesus didn’t.  He had screwed up big time.  But Jesus saves.  He was forgiven.  So are you.  So am I. 

His logical question of course was this: “How can I possibly put things back together again?”  You know what I told him?  “Be a REAL man!  Be a leader like Jesus!”  And then I pointed him to Ephesians chapter 5, verse 25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25) Guys, let me ask you, what does that verse mean for you and me?  It means that we are to lead, love and sacrifice for our families, just like Jesus did for us!

Do you sometimes feel like you are a failure with that?  I do!  Thank God for Jesus!  And then take his cue!  He’s the leader we should be following!  By the way, that’s exactly what Paul said in Ephesians 5, verses one and two, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up us.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Real men know how to follow Jesus so that we can lead everyone else to do the same!  Our number one responsibility as men is to lead our families closer to God and we can’t do that without following Jesus!  Real men lead by following!  Our families and our culture depend on it!  The women around us need to have REAL men who encourage them, not dominate them; who love them, not desire them; who urge them to live lives worthy of God’s calling and who train our children to become who God wants them to be!

By the way, the man I referred to before, by God’s grace, has become a REAL man!  He’s a sacrificial, loving, God following leader!  He’s back together with his wife.  They’ve had another child together.  He’s the vice president of their congregation and he has become a REAL man!  I thank God for the REAL men in my life – my dad, my father-in-law and some of my best friends.  If you are a man, it’s time to be REAL.

-Pastor Chris Johnson, Outreach and Young Adult Pastor

Back From the Dead

If you were looking for the place in the Bible that summarizes the hope of Christianity, look no further than 1 Corinthians 15. Here is Paul’s great resurrection chapter. (Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-7)

This chapter and really this whole book of 1 Corinthians addresses the issues he had heard were challenging the fledgling congregation of Corinth. After spending a year and a half with these people and then moving on to preach and teach news came to Paul that they had certain issues in their congregation. They had issues with public, persistent sin, factions among their leaders, Christians unable to resolve matters on their own- they had to take it to court, and getting drunk at the Lord’s Supper. There was a case of a man sleeping with his stepmother and the congregation was turning a blind eye to it. There were even some in the congregation who were denying the resurrection.

Disagreements happen, people can be selfish, they can get drunk, and they can get wrapped up in all sorts of sexual sins. I can understand that since we’re not perfect sins sneak in (even for Christians) but I have a difficult time trying to comprehend why some people in Corinth were denying the resurrection. I just want to ask them if they understood what it meant if the resurrection was not real. Think about it. If there is no resurrection… then Jesus just died – no different than any other criminal of the time, then there is no Easter, then all the eyewitnesses were fabricating stories, then we are not forgiven, then we are left in our sins, and we are completely guilty and are separate from God and he hates us. And if Jesus stayed in the grave and decomposed we too will go to the grave and it will be the end. A sad ending to a sad story called our life. (Read: 1 Corinthians 15:16-19)

On paper, I know and understand the reason for Jesus coming back from the dead. Paul’s reasoning is sound. In my mind I believe his resurrection is for me. However, one question makes me stop and consider again as if for the first time whether or not I really get it. Does the way I live my life in public and private take the empty tomb seriously? Does this fill my life with joy or am I overflowing with stress… papers, behavioral issues, concern over money, helicopter parents that tend to swoop down and rescue their child instead of letting them learn from the bumps in the road. Are we full of joy over the thought of where we’re going or are we stuck in the rut of where we are now. To be honest I think we get the head knowledge but so many times our lives do not present a picture of the reality of the resurrection. Here is a reminder from Paul’s resurrection chapter; to rekindle the Spirit who dwells in you:

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

Jesus has taken care of you. He has a magnificent inheritance prepared for you. Take these three words of encouragement to heart: Stand firm, be unmovable, give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You will be shaken, torn down, beat up, and emotional worn down. There is a reason it is called the labor in the Lord. Yet this labor is not in vain. He gives us the victory so make the stand. Spend some time personally listening to God’s Word for the message and not simply the information. Spend dedicated time actually talking to God, thanking him, praising him, and asking him for help and guidance. Take time with your family bringing up God at the teachable moments. Finally, when you have been fed and nourished by the river of God’s grace that flows to the deepest parts – share what has deeply impacted you with the families, the children, and the people that God has placed in your life both those inside and out of your church walls.

Do not forget about Jesus’ resurrection or your resurrection. It is not just about some moment far off in the unknown future. Your resurrection impacts your life today. Your life is his. He paid for it. Surrender yourself to his tasks. Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

What does it mean to you that Jesus physically came back from the dead?

-Pastor Eric Hansen, Discipleship Pastor