An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his banker and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home.

When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled, and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything.

Both the banker and lawyer were touched and flattered that the preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments. They were also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them. They both remembered his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed covetousness, and avaricious behavior that made them squirm in their seats.

Finally, the banker said, ”Preacher, why did you ask us to come?”

The old preacher mustered up his strength and then said weakly, “Jesus died between two thieves, and that’s how I want to go.”

Here is a remarkable and undeniable biblical truth:  God has decreed whatsoever comes to pass and human beings are responsible for the actions and choices we make.  In preparation for preaching on Luke 22:19-22, I was once again reminded of this inescapable reality.  When Jesus comes to the conclusion of what is known as the Last Supper he makes the following statement:  “But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.  For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed” (Luke 20:21-22).

God had decreed that the Son of Man would be betrayed.  It was impossible for Him not to be.  Yet, a word of woe and pending destruction is spoken over the one who does the betraying.

The word determined is from the Greek word horizo.  It means to determine, to fix, to set.  It here communicates that God has determined, fixed, and set the events of the Son of Man’s life, even the crime of his betrayal.  It is used in other places of the Scriptures to communicate the same awesome and undeniable truth.

Acts 2:23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Acts 2:23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Acts 4:28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

Acts 17:31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

God does not leave history (particularly redemption) in the hands of fallen humanity, but rather fallen humanity is ever in the hands of a sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient God.  This is held out in the Scriptures not so much as a challenge to human freedom, but a comfort.  I am comforted to know that my life and times are in the hands of God and not my own, or even worse, yours.

Report from Somalia:  Almost Expunged:  Somalia’s Embattled Christians

I have some friends who are Muslim and I am sure they would detest the murder of Christians and the destruction of churches in Somalia.  They would say that such behavior is not the faithful exercise of their religion.  There has been much blood shed in this world in the name of religion, and unfortunately Christians are not guiltless.  Yet, I am wondering today if there are any places in the world where Christians are killing Muslims in fear of them proselytizing and winning converts.  Admittedly, my knowledge is limited, and there just may be such places.  I am curious to know if anyone knows of any.

In the meantime, let us pray for the faithful Christians in Somalia.  May they know the grace and mercy of God to sustain them and even outlast the devils that seek to destroy them.  May the gospel triumph even in the midst of the horror of such persecution.

This is not a commentary about Facebook as much as it is a commentary on the nature of the way people approach church today.  A while ago I stopped updating my Facebook page.  Many people have asked me why.  Well, the answer is rather simple.  I was receiving friendship request from people who were three or four relationships removed from the relationship I actually had.  I found it odd, and even a bit unsettling, to call these people friends when I knew nothing about them, except they probably know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, I know. For most people on Facebook this is not a problem and thus Facebook is a happy place.  For me, however, it demonstrates the sad condition of too many churches and thus causes me to lament, not Facebook but the way people approach their Christian faith and the church in particular.

Recently there was a study done in which it was determined that people in America are being religious without institutions (read more).  According to the findings, “While weekly attendees of religious services dropped from 32 to 26 percent of the population between 1983 and 2006, people praying daily rose from 54 to 59 percent in the same time period.”  Apparently there is still a strong belief in God and even in the afterlife, but fewer and fewer people are finding a need to attend church because they can pray and have a personal relationship with God apart from the church.  Besides, Facebook demonstrates that it is possible to have community without commitment.  It is possible to have community without depth of relationship.  While this may work on the internet communities, it often proves counterproductive when applied to the church community.

Facebook is community without depth; community without commitment.  Church is community with depth and commitment.  It is the way God has designed it.  As disciples of Christ, we are called to be in community.  There are two many “one another” passages in the Bible to deny this.  And yet, this community is also with commitment and depth.  The Christian life is not designed to be a life lived in isolation.  God saves us and calls us together.  We are to pray together.  We are to sing together.  We are to eat together.  We are to serve together.  We are to study together.  We are to raise children together.  We are to live and die together.  This togetherness creates a depth of intimacy that not only serves the cause of Christ (John 13:35), but it serves us in our times of need (2Cor. 1:3-7).

I have discontinued my Facebook page, not because Facebook is bad, but because I am not a fan of community without depth and commitment.  If you want community without depth or commitment, go to Facebook.  If you want community with depth and commitment (and if you are Christian you should) go to church.

Why does God allow sin to exist?

The quick answer is that he has ordained it for his glory.  For the skeptic or the unbeliever, this answer does not suffice.  To whom I would reply, “You are right.”  Such truths are too high for the carnal, unbelieving mind.  A mind that is lifted up in itself and even at enmity with a sovereign God would never submit to the notion that a good and loving God could ordain such seemingly evil acts and thoughts for the greater good and his glory.  Yet, this is exactly what God has done.  Convincing the carnal mind of this is futile.  Only the supernatural intervening power of God can humble a mind to see this truth as good and comforting.  Therefore, we understand this to be post-conversion truth.  It is truth that is pressed upon the heart and mind of a person after he has been changed by the Spirit of God.  It it truth that makes God all the more glorious and causes his people to worship him all the more.

1. By having lips and hearts divided.  And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men” (Isa. 29:13). Jesus quoted this verse in Matt. 15:8-9.  We must remember that while we look at each others outward appearances, God sees the heart.  While we see people raise their hands and lift their voices, God knows the motivation for raised hands and lifted voices.
2. By not acknowledging your need for repentance.  “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven – for she loved much.  But he who is forgiven little loves little”(Luke 7:47). Jesus reminds us that those who have been forgiven much worship best.  In worship we don’t just talk about sin.  In worship we don’t just talk about forgiveness.  Worship is wonderful and God glorifying when we acknowledge both the depth of our sin and magnitude of God grace in forgiveness.  Or as Jesus says, “…to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
3. By not worshiping with mind, body, and emotions. And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself ” (Luke 10:27). To worship God is to acknowledge his greatness with everything he has given to us.  Has he given you a mind?  You should love him and worship Him with it.  Has he given you hands, then you should raise them and use them to serve others (Ps. 134:2).  Has he given you emotions?  You should rejoice with and an inexpressible joy! (1Pet. 1:8).
4. By not worshiping in Spirit and truth.  “God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth” (John 4:24).   True worship is spiritual worship.  It is spiritual sacrifice.  When David sinned he declared the true sacrifices in which God delights is not bulls or goats, or even your money or your time.  Rather, “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart.”  Spiritual worship is true worship because at the center is the God who is Spirit and Truth.
5. By not singing with understanding.  “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” (1Cor. 14:15).   Paul,  told the Corinthians that ecstatic and out-of-control emotionalism in worship is useless.  In 1Cor. 14 the point is clear, praying, singing, and preaching with clarity and understanding is to be preferred to all others.
6. By not anticipating God’s presence.  Yet you are holy, enthroned (dwell in) on the praises of Israel (Psalm 22:3).  The old KJV say, “thou inhabiteth the praises of Israel.”   When we worship God, God promises to be present.  The Bible says that when we draw near to Him, God delights to draw near to us (James 4:8).   Hebrews 2:11-12 tells us that Christ is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters; in fact he delights to share our hymnbook and even sing the praises of His own name.  Do you look forward to meeting with God every week?  Do you anticipate His welcoming presence?
7. By not considering the holiness of God. Among those who draw near to me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified (Lev. 10:3). When we come to God we come to He who is holy.   Our God is a consuming fire.  In worship He is not to be toyed with, nor is His holiness to be dismissed.
8. By boasting in anything other than the cross.  “Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:10).   We must be willing to do as the puritan, Thomas Watson has said, and allow our names and gifts to be eclipsed so that God’s glory can increase.  We must be willing to allow others to see Christ, and ourselves to at times go unnoticed.   True worship makes much of cross, by which our redemption is accomplished.
9. By not relishing the communion of the saints. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! (Psalm 34:3) Worship is not just an individual endeavor.  You are not to come to worship, to sit in the corner and commune with God on your own.  No!  Now is the time for the encouragement of the saints.  Now is the time for the body of Christ to come together and with one voice, like the saints in heaven, make a joyful noise, as the sound of mighty rushing waters.  Heaven is not a lonely place, and neither should be church.  I come looking for you and you should come looking for me!
10. By not longing for heaven.  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality (1Cor. 15:53).  With the called assembly in mind, let us be reminded that true worship is a foretaste of heaven.         Corporate worship should make us long for heaven.  There is a rapture in the Spirit and a Communion with Christ that though experienced, the fullness of which is hindered because of these earthly tabernacles. We long for the day when we shall see Him and know Him face to face.
11. By not knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come unto the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  Here is the crux the matter.  All worship apart from Jesus is wasted.  All worship apart from the crucified, risen, and exalted Lord Jesus Christ is empty, useless, vanity of vanities.  To worship God properly is to worship Him in and through Jesus Christ.    The first act of worship today is to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord.  It is to acknowledge that Jesus is the glory of God unto the salvation of the world.  In other words, without the gospel there is no worship!

The most harmful and deadliest export that America is giving to Africa is the Prosperity Gospel in the hands of Neo-pentecostals.  They claim it is the gospel, but it is no gospel at all.  Taking their cues from the folly of prosperity preachers in the US, those self-proclaimed preachers in Africa (in particular Nigeria) are taking the prosperity message to its horrific and sadly inevitable ends.  Like their American examples, they are promising wealth and prestige in place of Christ.

One church as the motto:  “Poverty must catch fire!

One church promises, “Where little shots become big shots in a short time.”

Still another says, “Pray your way to riches.”

Yet if this was the only horror, it would be tragic enough.  However, such prosperity preaching is also accompanied by a rampant, unbiblical, and destructive neo-pentecostalism that is destroying lives, especially those of children.  Out of control preachers and prophets are performing exorcisms for profit on children accused of witchcraft.  Lives are being destroyed and souls are being lost. (Read the unbelievable story here).

If the church ever needed to stand against the prosperity message and it’s cousin neo-pentecostalism, it needs to stand against it now.  The Church in America must bear some of the blame for this tragedy because we have not spoken more forthrightly against this heresy and denounced the purveyors of such horrific and deadly teaching.  Might we have the courage to say “No!” to heresy.  And call the prosperity gospel what it is, “doctrines of demons.”

Besides being appalled at these demonic acts, we can help these children by praying for and supporting Stepping Stones Nigeria.

This weekend I am heading up to Tennessee to share in the fellowship and Word with Volunteers for Christ in their annual Anthem Retreat.  It promises to be an encouraging time with the folks of V4C.  Pray for me as I share with students and staff on The Holiness of God, The Sinfulness of Man, and The Gospel of Christ.

One of the more discouraging things I have noticed of late is how young people, especially young Christian couples, don’t seem to exude the happiness that God delights to give his people.  When God commands us not to be anxious or worry (Matt. 6:25ff; Phil. 4:6ff), it is also the positive command to rejoice and trust in Him.  Here are a few things God has been and is still graciously teaching me on how to be, (well for the lack of a better term), happy in Jesus.

1.  Don’t Obsess Over Children.  This is probably one of the biggest sources of worry in the Christian life.  We spend hours upon hours obsessing over the way our children behave or how they make us look in front of other people.  The sooner we realize that we are not perfect parents and therefore will not have perfect children, and we stop trying to, the more our experience will be filled with the joy of trusting God with our children.  Children should be a source of happiness, not the robbers of it.

2.  Don’t Obsess Over Money.  We must realize that not only do our possessions come from God, but so too does the ability to acquire possessions.  Money is good and useful in its place.  However, we too quickly obsess over it and our love of it is quickly exposed when we don’t have a much as our covetous hearts believe we need.  Obsessing over money is a sure destroyer of joy and happiness.

3.  Don’t Obsess Over Grades. Straight A’s can be deceiving.  Straight A’s may get the praise of others, while they receive the frown of God because humility and trust in Him were sacrificed in the process.  I am amazed at how many Christians experience depression because they did not get the grade they anticipated.  Even more, how many parents of small children obsess over the grades of pre-schoolers and elementary kids because they want to set them up for the right college.  Yet there is not the same fervency for the children being used of God.  Being used of God is far more important and the source of more joy than the college you attend – if you attend college at all.

4.  Don’t Obsess Over Work. Work is a blessing from God.  It demonstrates our being created in the image of the God who is ever working for His glory and the good of His people.  However, when we are emotionally and spiritually up and down based upon the state of our work it demonstrates that we have ceased to trust in the God who created us and are trusting in our abilities to create our own realities.   Obsessing over work is a sin that not only kills joy, but it hinders us from doing the work of the Kingdom of  God.

5.  Don’t Obsess Over Sports. Sports seem harmless enough.  However, honesty should compel us to recognize when our emotional and spiritual well-being is effected by the score of the football, basketball, baseball, or (God forbid) soccer game.  I like what Matt Chandler said recently, “If 19 year old boys are ruining your day because of what they do with a ball, that’s a problem.”  Obsessing over sports, whether it is your favorite college team or your son’s or daughter’s little league, will inevitably steal joy because win or lose the joy of Christ is not foremost.

Lastly,

6.  Do Obsess Over Grace.  Here is the source of the joy that the Bible refers to as inexpressible (1Pet. 1:8); and the peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7).  Grace is the pleasure of God experienced by His people in the forgiveness of their sin.  The more we are aware of our sin, the more pleasure we potentially experience and happiness we know because our sins have been forgiven in Christ.  Let’s take our boast off of our children, grades, money, work, and sports and put it where it needs to be in order to bring us the most joy – namely the cross of Christ (Gal. 6:10).   If we can take the passion with which we obsess over the first five and transfer it to our obsession with number six, happiness would not only mark out the people of God, but it would cause the world to stand up and ask, “What possesses you?”  To which we would reply, “I am possessed by Him who did not spare his own son but gave him up for me and now delights, along with him, to give me all things in His time” (Rom. 8:32).

Next year’s Together for the Gospel Conference will not only feature the usual suspects, but will also feature a sort of off-Broadway or underground (if Josh Harris can be considered underground) slate of breakout session leaders.  I have the privilege of being one of those leaders.  At T4G’s blog there are a series of interviews with us lesser knowns.  Here are the links to part one and part two of the interview with yours truly.

Hope to see you there!