Answers for Today, September 1, 2011, originally written 2-9-11
A Stone’s Throw from Quitting
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Acts 14:19-23
The first missionary journey was one crazy adventure! Barnabas and Paul have been journeying from town to town in Galatia, sharing the Gospel. When they hit pagan Lystra, Paul’s impressive miracle of healing produces an unwanted response: Worship! The local populace, folklore-primed to expect Zeus and Hermes any day now, note that the gods have arrived, and prepare appropriate sacrifices. A horrified Barnabas and Paul are barely able to derail the worship. Meanwhile, who should appear but a troop of ne’er-do-well’s, who have marched a hundred miles out of their way to harass the missionaries. They are effective in transforming the formerly worshiping crowd into a rock-hurling mob.
Paul’s seemingly lifeless body is deposited outside the city gates. End of story. Ah, don’t forget God. The battered missionary arises, limps into the city, then departs the next day. For home? No, the next city! Mercifully, this one is more fruitful, plus Paul’s enemies, satisfied that he’s dead, no longer follow him around, the only benefit to being unsuccessfully stoned to death I can think of.
They complete their mission in Derbe. It’s a straight shot home. But they go to... Lystra! Where the stones were thrown. The apostles retrace their steps through each city where they’ve ministered, even adding a new one on the way.
Why do they go back? Follow-up is that important to them. At each stop, they strengthen the souls of the disciples and encourage them in the faith; tell them that tribulation is part of the deal, when it comes to serving Jesus (a pretty convincing message, coming from someone left for dead); appoint elders in every church; and pray (and fast) for them, committing them to the Lord. They know it could well cost them their lives to follow up on these converts. They go, anyway.
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: Following up is important enough to risk lives for it.
Answers for Today, September 2, 2011, originally written 2-9-09
Two for The LORD
When the first missionary journey was all over, the tired missionaries arrived back home in Antioch, confident that what they had planted would continue to grow. It’s amazing, but it just took two men, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, to launch the Church in Galatia. Courageous and thorough, Paul and Barnabas set a pattern for effective missions.
How did they do it? Powerful preaching, signs and wonders, especially miracles of healing. When questioned, they were prepared to give carefully reasoned answers concerning the faith. They didn’t back down; neither were they obnoxious. They showed tremendous courage, which was convincing proof that they were sincere in their faith. They were generous in their love. They were careful to establish leadership for each church.
The biggest key to their missionary success was mentioned at the very beginning: “Sent out by the Holy Spirit,...” (Acts 13:4) Had it not been for the Spirit’s power and direction, this whole trip would have gone nowhere! Even as it was, it was fraught with hardship and danger, but there was never a question why they were doing this: God had sent them.
What’s my mission?
We all have one; it looks like it’s up to us to find it, though. It became clear to Barnabas and Paul what they were supposed to do, while engaging in worship and fasting (Acts 13:2). Sometimes it comes when a fugitive shepherd is just out watching sheep, and God speaks from a burning bush. The once-in-a-while things like “Go save my people, Israel” or “Why don’t you crack open a new world area with the Gospel?” are few and far between, though. Even with those rare individuals charged with Bible-worthy exploits, it usually starts pretty small: “Follow me.” The mission parameters come later, and sometimes not until we’re done!
The issue gets down to this: Are we willing to go? Being sent is a given, even if it’s just being sent across the room, to minister to a grumpy loved one. The big stuff? It might come, later. Then again, that might be the big stuff.
We all have a place and a mission. It’s up to us to find it. There’s no need to point fingers at others not interested in doing anything for the Lord; we ought to just worship, pray and fast, find out what the Lord wants us to do, then do it.
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: We all have a place and a mission. It’s up to us to find it and go.
Answers for Today, September 5, 2011, originally written 2-12-09
Careful with the Yoke, Part One
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus, just as they will.” Acts 15:6-11
What was the cause of the debate? Some Jewish believers had determined that newly converted Gentiles needed to undergo circumcision in order to be Christians. Along with that came the implication that they should also be subject to the other laws of the Jewish faith, in effect needing to become Jews before they could become Christians. This was a big deal. It could have resulted in the first church split, or it could have severely damaged the Gospel, turning it from a free gift by faith into something based on works and rituals. There would have been little appeal to a Gentile audience, since if becoming a Jew was the drawing point, that option had been available for centuries.
The Early Church did a great job of approaching this question. Here are some of the things they did right:
(1) They got right on it. People’s lives had already been affected by this controversy. There wasn’t time to toss this to a blue-ribbon panel of theologians to dissertate about for a few years. They called the council right away.
(2) They didn’t pick sides, or demonize one another. They came together as the Church, all on the same team, regardless of disagreements.
(3) They listened to one another. It must have been hard to sit through some of those speeches, but they did it, respectfully.
(4) They spoke up when they needed to, and where it could do some good.
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: To resolve differences, follow the pattern of the Early Church.
Answers for Today, September 6, 2011, originally written 2-12-09
Careful with the Yoke, Part Two
(5) They maintained a spirit of humility, prayer and worship, even as they wrestled with an uncomfortable question. This was a godly discussion. That doesn’t happen by accident.
(6) Though they stated their opinions, there was a willingness to submit to one another, and most importantly, submit to God. God granted them grace.
(7) They came to agreement! That means a lot of people were willing to change their minds, compromise, or at least agree to stick with the group, even if they didn’t see it that way.
(8) They made a clear and simple decision, prayerfully, then wrote it down and communicated it clearly and consistently to everyone. They even went to the trouble of sending impartial, trusted witnesses along to confirm the accuracy of the message. The conclusion at which they arrived kept the Gospel focused on grace rather than laws and rituals, yet encouraged the new believers to abstain from particularly offensive practices. When they heard the news, they rejoiced. This decision had God’s grace upon it.
(9) They followed through on the decision. The letter they wrote wasn’t just a piece of parchment, subsequently ignored; they lived by the decision of the Jerusalem Council.
(10) They let it rest. Those who didn’t get their way didn’t bring it up every year, trying to get the ruling overturned, keeping the pot stirred. The Church came together, prayed together, listened to one another and voiced their opinions, made a prayerful, clear decision and communicated it, then moved on. The result was amazing. Maybe we could take a few lessons from the Early Church in how to resolve problems in the Church. We would also do well to remember that the Savior who promised “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” wants us to be pretty careful about what yokes we might place on someone else.
They did it right, when it came to resolving differences of opinion in the Church. Maybe we should try that way, more often, in churches, marriages...
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: This pattern really would help in resolving differences!
Answers for Today, September 7, 2011
Back to School Verses
Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
Cease to hear instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 19:20-21,27
It’s the first day back to school for our family. Advice is being offered freely and rebuffed just as quickly. The older we get, the harder it seems to be to listen, with teen years notoriously troublesome times for keeping the information highway open and cheerful, both ways. Ah, God will help us.
In fact, in this passage, it sounds like He is on the side of the parents. Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. See? Even God is telling you to listen and pay attention, kid! Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. Do you know what is going to happen to you if you quit listening? You’re going over a cliff, that’s what!
But like I said, the older we get, the harder it seems to be to listen. Teen-age discontent and rebellion may be a spike on the “You won’t listen to me!” chart, but it doesn’t automatically settle down after high school graduation. Or college. Or marriage. Or the fortieth birthday.
It’s pretty much a choice. Listening to instruction is not natural to us, like, for instance, eating. We must choose to listen, if it’s going to happen. It’s like choosing to go back to school, even if our assessment of the first day back, on a scale of 1-10, is a (quote) “negative three.” Listen to instruction long enough—gain wisdom. Cease to listen to instruction—wind up in the ditch. Cease to listen to our spouse—marriage ends up in the ditch. Ignore God’s plan and go with our own, regardless—disaster awaits us, every time.
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Choosing to listen to God guarantees us wisdom. Choosing to listen to the instructors He has placed in our lives also guarantees us wisdom, even on “negative three” days.
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: Listening to instruction and advice guarantees us wisdom.
Answers for Today, September 19, 2011, originally written 2-13-09
Full-time Christian Service
And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Acts 15:32-35
I wish I’d never heard the term: “Full-time Christian Service.” My problem with the term is not that I don’t believe in it—I do, with all my heart! The reason I wish I’d never heard it called that is because it gives the strong implication that only a few of us would have such a call, that we’ll probably have to do time in a Bible college or seminary and drum up a license for it, and that everybody else is off the hook. In other words, if God doesn’t nail you with “a call to full-time Christian service,” you’re free to engage in....what? “Part-time Christian service”? (Read: “Part-time follower of Jesus”—that’s how it plays out in daily life).
Shouldn’t “full-time Christian service” be for all “full-time Christians”? There’s nothing wrong with the concept of full-time Christian service; the problem is that the existence of the concept has led to an awful lot of “part-time Christians,” plus frustration on the part of many who have found their Christianity became a “career” and a way to make a living, rather than a lifestyle to be lived.
How was it in the Early Church? In the place they were first called “Christians” (Antioch), the assumption was that everyone was automatically called to “full-time Christian service.” Had they used that term (and fortunately they didn’t), it would have just been another name for discipleship. No one in the Early Church thought of “conversion” separate from discipleship; discipleship meant following and serving Jesus, full-time. If that included using a God-given gift of prophecy, people were given all the freedom they needed to exercise that gift. Same thing for teaching and preaching, or in the case of Dorcas, being pretty good with a needle and thread. A plurality of leadership meant everyone got to use the gifts God had given them. I’m liking this model!
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: Everyone is called to “full-time Christian service.”
Answers for Today, September 20, 2011, originally written 2-13-09
Everyone’s Call
With no special “clergy” class of spiritual professionals drawing a salary for their ministry, while others were not, there must have been less pressure in the Early Church to try to perform, or control the actions of others. Had an Early Christian testified to being called to “full-time Christian service,” I think he would have just drawn confused looks from his audience of believers: “So? Who isn’t?” But specific assignments made sense—like Barnabas and Paul saying God had called them to go to Galatia and preach the Gospel there.
In the Church at Antioch, there was an assumption that everyone was automatically called to “full-time Christian service.” The messengers from Jerusalem who happen to also be prophets get to minister. Paul and Barnabas preach and teach, but note the end of the sentence which tells of them doing that:
with many others also (Acts 15:35). It wasn’t just the apostles, the educated or the gifted who were preaching and teaching—it was all kinds of people, and I don’t think the audience was just each other. They were talking about Jesus to people who didn’t know Him, and they were teaching people about God who didn’t already know the answers. Pretty much anyone who called himself a follower of Jesus also understood serving Jesus to be a full-time pursuit, kind of like breathing. It wasn’t that everyone would excel at preaching or teaching; serving Jesus somehow was just what you did if you were a disciple, and you did it on a continuing basis.
While writing this, my wife came and handed me an email from a friend. Yesterday, her daughter’s public school experienced a lock-down, as a man who had stolen a gun from a home near the school was being pursued by police. The man was apprehended and the school did a good job with the lock-down, but it created fear among the school kids, particularly the younger ones. Four of them were hiding in a bathroom, including our friend’s daughter, about age seven. A couple of the girls started to cry, fearing they were going to be killed. They were told by their young Christian friend that even if they did die, they could all go to heaven if they had asked Jesus into their hearts. They asked her if she would lead them in prayer to do that, and there in the restroom of a public school, a seven-year-old led her two friends to Christ. Full-time Christian service. It’s everyone’s call.
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: Different assignments, but everyone’s call.
Answers for Today, September 21, 2011, originally written 2-16-09
Who’s Following Us?
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. Acts 16:1-5
Whom are we bringing along with us? Hopefully, it’s someone. History is strewn with the examples of great men who did outstanding deeds, then passed from the scene with no one to take up their mantle. That last figure of speech hails back to a time when someone did it right (at God’s direction): Elijah, prophet of God, took on an assistant, Elisha, and poured everything of himself into the younger man. When Elisha became aware that his master would be departing, his request was that he might inherit a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire, Elijah’s mantle (cloak) fluttered to the ground as Elisha watched. Elisha took up the mantle of Elijah, strode to the Jordan River, and shouted, “Where is the God of Elijah” as he struck the water with the cloak. The waters parted for Elisha as they had for Elijah, previously. The onlookers remarked, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” It wasn’t a fluke. Total up the miracles and wonders done through the younger prophet, and you’ll come up with about twice as many as his teacher. It’s worth it to invest in the younger generation. But transferring what is meaningful from one generation to another must be done with strong commitment and on purpose, otherwise it usually won’t happen. There have been lots of failures in that area through the centuries, which makes the successes stand out all the more.
Who is following us?
There are two main ingredients required on the part of a mentor, simple but vital: First, we have to have it. Then, we have to be willing to give it.
If we don’t have anything to offer, spiritually, there’s no need to pursue mentoring. We can’t give what we don’t possess. One way of putting it is like this: Would anyone want a double portion of our spirit?
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: Is anyone following us? Do they have any reason to?
Answers for Today, September 22, 2011, originally written 2-16-09
Two for Two
The way to possess an enviable relationship with God, and the life that goes with it, is to seek God with all our heart. He always makes sure we find Him. Then come the changes, as we submit to Him, body, mind and spirit. He does a makeover on every believer, some of it instant, much of it gradual. Everyone is accepted, but we have to show up and be willing. It’s like my favorite light bulb joke:
“How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?”
“Only one. But the light bulb has to want to change.”
In the game of passing the baton between generations, Paul and Timothy were a success story. Paul was about as “Type A” as you can get, personality-wise, which meant he wouldn’t be a particularly patient teacher, nor a very willing “babysitter.” If one was going to learn from Paul, he would quite probably have to do it on the run. John Mark hadn’t been able to cut it, for one reason or another, but Paul took seriously the need to raise up young disciples, and he saw in Timothy someone who might be a better fit. To his credit, the apostle was willing to give it another try. It paid off. Timothy ended up being like a son to Paul. Not only that, but Barnabas’ rescue effort involving his nephew, John Mark, also worked out, and earned Paul’s renewed respect for Mark. Paul and Barnabas were two for two!
The main thing is they both tried. They were willing to invest heavily of themselves into younger men, in the process gifting the world with new leaders who had been trained by some of the best. There are some things you can’t get in school. What Barnabas did for Mark and what Paul did for Timothy are examples.
It takes two, though. Mark had to catch the rung the second time around, with a patient uncle willing to give up being a missionary in order to nurture him, one on one. Timothy was faced with several challenges, not the least of which was undergoing circumcision, in order to not be an obstacle to ministry among the Jews. There were many sacrifices along the way, on both ends of the mentor/protege relationship. But it really paid off.
Chances are, mentoring will seem like a one-way relationship, at least for a while, with the novice supplying mostly mistakes and frustrations for the mentor. Over time, it usually changes, though sometimes people get burned. It’s messy. It doesn’t always work out. It’s what Jesus did, though, and some of His smarter followers have done the same thing. There are a lot of Mark’s and Timothy’s out there who need us. They’re worth it. If you’ve got it, give it. If you don’t have it yourself, yet, get it, then give it! Timothy, Mark and Jesus will be pleased.
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: Mentoring is worth it.
Answers for Today, September 23, 2011, originally written 9-17-08
Break-away People
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalm 1
One day the wicked and the righteous will be separated, at the Judgment. But even now, there is a definite distinction between the person who has chosen to stand for God and the one who listens to all the other voices. One path leads to eternal peace and fulfillment; the other leads to eventual disaster, every time.
So many people need to switch sides! The majority of Americans are on the side taking counsel from the wicked, following the way of sinners, scoffing at the righteous. Where do they need to move? Toward God, toward an appreciation for His law, toward a respect and a hunger for righteousness, toward a depth of character which is currently lacking. We need to meditate on God’s law day and night. Currently, we’re not. We’re a nation of biblical illiterates who own Bibles.
We should break from the pack, planting ourselves in God’s Word. Then we’ll know what it is to be a tree planted by streams of water, yielding fruit. We could be People of the Word, who have broken away from the world’s worthless ways.
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: The herd is headed for hell. Break away. Follow God.
Answers for Today, September 26, 2011, originally written 2-17-09
Eden Entertainment
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Here’s the lineup. A new string of shows is coming to television, aimed at the elusive “faith community” which likes to hear stuff on religious subjects, yet which is funny, edgy and true to real life.
First off, we have the show, “Adam and Eve,” with two of the biggest names in Hollywood in the starring roles. Set, of course, in the beautiful Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve are two people who are drop-dead gorgeous, with a wardrobe composed mostly of flora and fauna blocking the camera shot. Filming must have been interesting.
There is in the Garden a tree, the one known in the Bible as “The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,” but here shortened to just “The Tree of Knowledge.” It’s the one God doesn’t want them to touch, since God, in this show, is paranoid of His people finding out what’s really behind all this, which is not much (kind of like “Ignore that man behind the curtain,” on “The Wizard of Oz”). God is against His people getting knowledge (read: Science), so He has quarantined the Tree of Knowledge, to keep the human race in perpetual stupidity (read: Believing and trusting in God, rather than in themselves).
There is another character with a major role. Through the wonders of computer animation, there is a talking snake who interacts with Adam and Eve on a daily basis. God does, too, but it’s only on a remote, voice-from-the-sky basis, and usually what He says is dorky and inane. Example: A booming voice startles Adam and Eve, as out of the blue, God commands, “Thou shalt not eat the yellow snow!” Adam looks heavenward, and says, “What’s snow?” There is a pause, and God replies, “Oh. Yeah. Never mind.” Adam and Eve shake their heads and go about their business.
The snake, however, is cool. Cast with the voice over talent of one of the best comedians in the business, the snake is pretty much the highlight of “Adam and Eve.” He comes up with the best one-liners, he’s intelligent but not condescending, he’s pretty much the best friend Adam and Eve have. The snake consoles them in their fate of being stuck with a clueless Creator, and agrees to help them out. Using the snake’s intelligence, Adam and Eve are able to garner some of the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, chow down, and instantly become brilliant scientists, who know the answers to everything, including how to get away from God, who starts pursuing them through the Garden, plodding along like the giant in “Jack and the Beanstalk.” The snake helps them escape.
Now that they have the gift of knowledge, Adam, Eve and the snake have weekly adventures in outsmarting God, which usually isn’t that hard. The show is now set for sit-com style humor, with God as the fall guy and everyone else taking turns being the hero. “Adam and Eve” is lauded as a breakthrough success. Christians by the millions watch the show, chortle at the antics, then attempt to remind themselves that it’s not real, and that what the Bible says is what counts. It gets a little harder all the time, since they really do enjoy the show.
“Adam and Eve” looks to be such a hit that there are already spin-off’s: “Adam and Steve,” in which the growing colony of Edenites in rebellion against religion discover the wonders of same-sex relationships. “Adam and Steve” really gets in its digs at those who would dare to term such a noble lifestyle “sin,” as if humans had some control over their own behavior, in reaction to bodily urges and impulses.
There is also a crime show, “CSI Eden,” focused on the sad-but-true story of the first murder, when Cain killed his brother, Abel. The show’s emphasis is in understanding the inner pain of the perpetrator, plus showing gory shots of the crime scene in a kind of artsy fashion. The aspect of mystery keeps viewers’ attention.
Fortunately, the “Adam and Eve” show exists only in my imagination. There is no such show (I hope), nor are there spin-off’s. Satan, however, is real, and he continues to spin God’s good Word to make everything upside down, using every tool available, one of his favorites being the media. Consider most of the entertainment industry’s offerings. Is the bottom line of the programming all that different from my imaginary “Adam and Eve” show, or would “Adam and Eve” (and spin-off’s) only be a variation from what’s already out there? Does most of the programming available to us agree with Biblical reality, or is everything backwards? Who is the hero in television, movies, magazines, etc.? God? The person who believes in or follows Him? Hardly ever. God’s followers are consistently portrayed as narrow-minded, stupid, anti-intellectual, bigoted. God doesn’t exist, except in the minds of His weak-minded followers. Smart people will look within and find what it takes to save the planet. Dumb people will stick to the manmade rules of religion. If there’s a hero at all, it’s the mythical, cute, clever serpent who brings us the wisdom of the ages, and encourages us to break free from the moral restraints imposed by holier-than-thou types who insist their way is the only way. Oh, yeah. In the Bible, the roles are reversed. Christians probably should try to remember that.
It’s hard, though, when so much of our entertainment is geared to precisely the opposite of the scripture, and we tend to spend so little time occupied with the Bible. So we tell ourselves, “Enjoy the show, but forget each and every message it promoted. Enjoy the show, but don’t believe any of it. The Bible is real, this isn’t. The Bible is real, this isn’t. The Bible is real? Yeah, I’m supposed to believe that. Gets harder all the time.”
Find me a show or movie which agrees with the Bible on the subject of sin, and I’ll show you a program with an uphill battle ahead of it, and probably a very short life span.
Sin, the Key Ingredient
In the Bible, sin is the key ingredient of death. In modern-day American culture, sin is the key ingredient of entertainment. Isn’t it?
Check out what’s available in movies and television, plus the various other media avenues. Take the Bible definition of what constitutes sin (for a starting point, we’ll take the Ten Commandments), and how is sin portrayed? Once in a while, we get the Bible message that this stuff will kill you and bring you all kinds of misery, but more often this is what we see and hear:
Sin, made clever.
Sin, made funny.
Sin, made sophisticated.
Sin, made noble.
Sin, made artistic.
Sin, made interesting and exciting.
Sin, made romantic.
Only it’s never called “sin.” With the exception of a few sins like murder which are socially unacceptable even among the ungodly, there’s usually another name for the behavior, which doesn’t sound so, well,... sinful. Adultery is an “affair;” homosexual acts are a “gay” lifestyle practiced by, in real life, the unhappiest of folks, but portrayed by actors as enlightened, wise and carefree people; pre-marital sexual activity is true romance; lying is being smart; cursing is rugged, powerful and “realistic;” coveting is nothing more than the desired result of good advertising; at least murder is still “murder”—no, scratch that, I forgot about a woman’s right to choose.
Hour after hour, day after day, the serpent’s message blasts winsomely across our lives: Sin is great! Sin will get you “heaven.” Sin brings pleasure, power. Sin is the way to get what you want and deserve. You shall be like God, you’ll be as powerful as God, as smart as God, you are God, and the ever-present “There is no God, (so it doesn’t matter).”
Satan’s bottom line is, “Sin gains you Eden.” God’s bottom line is this: Sin costs you Eden, and it cost Jesus His life to get it back for you. Don’t talk to God about the romance of sin. He watched His only Son being tortured to death, in order to save you from its consequences.
Camera-angle Ethics
My reason for bringing up this subject is not to harp on anyone or cast judgment on the entertainment choices of other Christians. This is a personal journey, but I realize I’m not alone. Everyone who is trying to live a holy life, trying to be closer to God, yet continually being frustrated in the attempt by the ravages of our pervasive “culture” knows what I’m talking about. I’m wondering how many times we can imbibe the latest crud served up as “entertainment,” then shake it off and go back to loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
I’ve set limits for myself through the years, learned the hard way, as far as what my standards are to be regarding entertainment. For instance, with movies, I have refused to bring home “R” rated films, establishing the line at “PG-13.” This has kept me from seeing a lot of bad movies and a few good ones. I’ve plugged away at PG-13, and rejoiced in the rare PG or even G film made available which was also worthy of my time. “Good entertainment” vs “bad entertainment” has been determined for me according to the letters slapped on it by the MPAA ratings board. I guess it hasn’t worked that badly, but I’m rethinking some stuff. Why? Because I’m coming to see that more and more, regardless of the rating on the film, the message of so much of our media is the same: Sin is good; God and His laws are not.
Not all movies bear that underlying tone, of course, and some wonderful ones have been made over the years. But think about the message being communicated by the majority of films and television. If sin is portrayed at all, isn’t it almost always either taken for granted as being natural, or romanticized? When the message of the film is directed toward making young people think sex outside of marriage is noble and there’s nothing wrong with it, cutting out enough skin scenes to earn it PG-13 doesn’t change that message. After we watch the thing and find ourselves vicariously celebrating fornication as being romantic, we’re supposed to forget all about it, and go back to the view that the Bible standard is realistic, and the serpent’s version brings heartache and death. I’m thinking that many of us have a harder time getting all the way back to the Bible, each time we enjoy another movie where sin is glamorized.
When it’s all told, the damage is done by the repeated gospel that marginalizes God and exalts sin. The message is the same, whether the director graphically illustrated it or left it to the imagination.
Then there’s the issue of evangelism. When sin is celebrated, when it’s used as the base ingredient for nearly everything termed “entertainment,” convincing a culture that we are all sinners in need of a Savior becomes increasingly difficult. The more of the “romance of sin” we accept into our lives, the harder it is to be very disturbed over a world all around us headed for eternity without God. The more we entertain ourselves with sin made cute, clever, funny or noble, the harder it is to remember that it always leads to death in real life, which is the one that counts.
Real Life Reality
Real life. This is how it works in real life: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23). I believe that, but the more of the world’s contradictory view I willingly take in, the harder it is to have any kind of an edge to my belief. Sin is heavily romanticized in our culture, these days. It’s a struggle to maintain a lifestyle aimed at holiness when the exact opposite message is invited to occupy many hours of our time. It pretty much kills all desire for evangelism, too. When sin “isn’t that bad,” why risk embarrassment or rejection to try to free people from it by pointing them to Christ?
The wages of sin is death. This is a concept usually absent from screens, big and small! It’s the truth, though, and God wants us to know it. This is the outcome of sin, glamorized or not: Death. You get the pay-off, regardless of whether you want it or not. Even a part-time pursuit of sin pays the minimum wage, which happens to be death. “Yes, but Jesus our Savior paid the penalty for sin, so we’re not under the Law, anymore!” Righto. The only reason we’re not all toast is because of the blood of the Son of God, given for us. That’s the “free gift of eternal life” part. Some have wrongly concluded, however, that “the free gift of eternal life” constitutes a coupon for unlimited free sin without consequence, that sin somehow no longer matters to God or anyone else.
The entire New Testament contradicts that thought, and since it was written after the events on Calvary, we’re talking about the new reality, not the Old Testament perspective of sin. The sacrifice has been made, we are free, and Jesus our Lord is able to deliver us from sin and its penalty! Yet, in Ephesians 5, we are told not to even talk about the sins committed by the disobedient, that it’s shameful to mention them. We are to have no part in the various works of darkness; instead, we live as children of light. (Awkward pause) Right?
Might I add that this was written to believers whose address was Ephesus, home to the temple of Diana, goddess of sex? And they’re supposed to not even talk about all that goes on in their key local industry? Maybe sin still matters to God, even in the New Testament. Maybe it’s like listening to someone you rescued from alcoholism, who is dry now, but spends all his time moaning about how great life was back when he was a drunk. So it cost you everything you had to get him clean and sober, but he insists on hanging around his old crowd and having a Coke—at the bar. You’re thinking perhaps your sacrifice may have been for nothing.
Celebrating Sin
I’m tired of being part of celebrating sin. I feel God is leading me to adjust my entertainment choices to reflect compliance with His message, rather than tolerating the romanticization of sin, content just because it wasn’t the worst thing available. I want to pursue the things which make me closer to God and more in love with Him, rather than the entertainments which push me away from Him and make it harder to live a holy life. I also want to give a harder look at things formerly considered “neutral,” having little effect on my spiritual life. Are they really that neutral? Or is the underlying message that sin is good, God is bad or non-existent, and we’re on our own?
In addition to trying to avoid what is sinful in itself, I want to try to better avoid what promotes sin, or re-characterizes it as being normal or noble. I’m thinking if I feed my mind a diet rich on God’s values, I’ll do better than if I practice the form of entertainment bulimia to which so many of us Christians have grown accustomed (take it in, then purge and try to get rid of the effects and go back to Biblical values).
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
That’s a realistic, reasonable philosophy, right out of the Bible. If the entertainment in question agrees with that philosophy, it may be a candidate worthy of my time; if not, probably not. I’m going to try to do a lot better in selecting entertainments which reinforce that mind set, or else do without, which is also not a bad thing. It doesn’t have to be preachy or even religious; if it just doesn’t romanticize sin, it would be a step above much of what’s out there! I’m looking for the bottom-line message, not just the camera angle or the rating. Meanwhile, I’m glad that “Adam and Eve” is not a real TV show, even though they were real people. And I’m glad we have a real Savior named Jesus, who frees us from the law of sin and death and grants us eternal life. That’s the life I want to celebrate.
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: Avoid whatever glamorizes sin, because sin always ends in death.
Answers for Today, September 27, 2011, originally written 2-23-09
Spirit-led is More Fun
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10
God likes to direct His own missionary journeys! Rather than just commissioning Paul and Silas and letting them romp where they would, the Holy Spirit carefully guides them according to His own agenda. I’m trying to imagine what it would be like to be on a missionary journey, marching 400 miles across ancient “Asia,” with no other plan than following the Holy Spirit’s leading. Frustrating? No, exciting! I can say that because I’m instantly reminded of my first solo “faith field trip” to Alaska, thirty years ago. My only reason for being there was I believed God wanted me to go. My main guidance system, that first summer, was the Holy Spirit, and I had the time of my life! There’s nothing like being guided by the Holy Spirit and knowing without a doubt it’s Him!
To the early missionaries, Spirit-led was normal. When they were “forbidden” by the Holy Spirit to engage the people of the country through which they were passing, and another plan was thwarted by the Lord, they don’t seem to have rebelled or even gotten confused; they simply waited at the city of Troas. They don’t seem to have had to wait long before Paul received a clear vision, and they sailed for Europe to help out the Macedonians.
Why the wandering? Only God knows for sure, but something happened between verses eight and ten which may be at least part of the story: In Troas, “they” became “we.” The subtle change describing Paul’s missionary journey is consistent—from here on, Luke’s account of the Acts of the Apostles is in first person, not third. This seems to be where Luke got on board with the apostles. Maybe that’s why they were in Troas. Perhaps God had set up a divine appointment with the person who would write down their story, plus the story of Jesus, in the books called Acts and Luke. Either way, they knew it was God doing the guiding, not Headquarters and not they themselves. It’s a good feeling.
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: “Spirit-led” is normal, it’s good and it’s fun!
Answers for Today, September 28, 2011, originally written 2-23-09
The Thrill of Faith
I wish the Church in America was more Spirit-led, these days. When I look at the way the Church operates, “Spirit-led” is not what comes to mind. We can’t even seem to negotiate a morning worship service without a bulletin. For stuff like mission trips? Forget it! Those are planned by Headquarters years in advance. You just plug in the personnel when the time comes, and make sure they have their money, their passport and their shots.
I’ve drawn criticism for being anti-planning, a denominational sin if ever there was one; on the contrary, I love to plan—it’s implementing those ideas which is hardest for me! What God was teaching the early missionaries, and what I think He’d like to teach us, is the thrill of faith. Faith is when you don’t have blueprints, the money is not in the bank, and you don’t have a forwarding address, but you go anyway, because “God said.” When you get there and find the miracles and provision are better than you could have imagined, you know it was God. It’s a kick! And when you get to Macedonia, because that’s where God sent you, and for your efforts you are beaten, thrown in jail and placed in the stocks so you can’t even move, you still know it was God, who somehow gives you the courage to sing hymns, setting Him up to pull off an earthquake, a little prison ministry and a new Church in Philippi, then it’s on to the next faith adventure.
Some people live by faith. We should be among those people! I’m not talking about quitting your job (although, if that’s God’s direction, it’s a quick faith-builder!). I’m talking about getting our guidance from the Holy Spirit. I’m talking about believing that God has plans of His own which include us, and that we’d be a lot happier going His way than ours. Living by faith means being so committed to Jesus that we obey Him, await His orders, and are led by Him, which means there will be times when people are demanding to know what our plans are, and all we’ll be able to tell them is that we plan to serve Christ! It’s not easy living this way, but neither is it boring. Want witnessing opportunities? Live by faith!
We could be Spirit-led people, if we choose to be. He’s still doing it, and He uses whomever is willing to follow Him and listen to His direction. Did I ever tell you about my first summer in Alaska? Man, that was a blast! I didn’t know a soul in the whole state and I didn’t have a job or a place to live or transportation, but I just thought God wanted me to go there and....
I still remember telling the Lord at the end of that summer, “If this is living by faith, give me more!” That’s a prayer He’s answered.
Dave Ness
The Bottom Line: Living by faith is thrilling, fulfilling and pleasing to God.
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