Over the past year, many of my posts in this blog have been devoted to the Gospel. The Gospel (as given to us by Scripture) is the foundation of our faith, according to Ephesians 2:20. The problem is, it is easy to trade the Gospel that is given to us by the apostles and prophets in Scripture for a more contemporary one. We do this oftentimes without even realizing it. This is why it’s so important to keep reading the Bible. “We don’t worship the Bible; we worship Jesus.” This is true, but the Christian faith has been passed down to us from those who “saw and heard these things.” They continually warned us to not listen to others who think they know more or know better than the apostles or prophets of old. Even if they have claimed to receive something directly from Jesus. This has always been a problem, even in Old Testament times. It is easy to stray from what has already been given by God. We learn who Jesus was and is, based on those who actually knew Him and His apostles. As much as the Christian faith is about trusting Jesus and His message, it’s about trusting that those who wrote the Scriptures properly passed down Jesus’ message. As time goes on, however, the Church strays away from the original teachings of the apostles/prophets. It happens to all of us, including me. Recently, I came across an article that was written by Keith Green about thirty years ago. So much of what he said challenges me and confirms much of what I have been processing through for the past year on this blog. As you read the article, you might think, “I thought the Gospel was supposed to be easy to understand–why complicate it?” I don’t think Keith Green is complicating it. Yes, the Gospel is easy to understand, but it is also easy to twist. It is important that we continually re-examine what it is we are teaching others. Are we passing along the Good News from God? Or is it some tabloid gossip that’s coming from less credible sources? If you claim to be a Christian, but feel you cannot trust the...

“You’re either a leader or you’re a follower.” I don’t think that’s a true statement. I think it’s possible to be neither: that makes you a wanderer. Part of the frustration of leading others is trying to lead them, but they refuse to follow along. As a leader, you are always aware that you could be doing a better job leading. So when others don’t follow, it often confirms that you should be doing a better job. “If only I was a better leader, then I would see better results.” I think there’s a lot of truth to that. After all, in my “profession,” there are many pastors who I perceive to be much better leaders than myself, and in all cases, they are able to develop maturer (is that a word?) disciples of Christ than I see myself doing. I have a lot to learn about how to lead people along in their walk with Christ. But on the flip side of the coin, I don’t think it’s always the fault of the leader that others won’t follow. It doesn’t only require a great leader, but willing followers. And sometimes, a leader cannot do anything more to help followers who refuse to follow. And if followers refuse to follow, can they even claim to be followers? That is the question for those of us who call ourselves Christians–followers of Jesus. Are we following Jesus? If not, not only can we not call ourselves leaders, we can’t even call ourselves followers! We are wanderers. Churches feel obligated to have some sort of follow-up plan in place when people make decisions for Christ. Yet, I stumbled across these words from the late Keith Green a few days ago: In my studies of the life of Jesus, it has amazed me that He never had “a follow-up program.” It was usually His habit to let people “follow Him up.” He never had to go door to door, looking for that fellow who He healed last week, wanting to share another parable or two. He always seemed to have the attitude of, “If they want life, then they’ll have to come and follow Me.” What if we had more of that approach...

Thoughts on the book of 1 Thessalonians. Where is the Holy Spirit in my church? That’s a question I’ve asked myself often, for as long as I can remember understanding the purpose and power of the Spirit from Scripture. And I hear many other church people who are hungry for the Spirit in their lives and churches asking the same question. Where is the boldness that’s supposed to come from the Holy Spirit? That’s another similar question. Isn’t the Holy Spirit supposed to make a difference in our lives and in our churches? Why does it seem as though our churches are filled with people who are relatively the same as the non-believers around them? Where is that spiritual “oomph” that’s supposed to be evident in the lives of people who have received the Holy Spirit? Where is the power of the Gospel? Isn’t the Holy Spirit supposed to convict people’s hearts when the Gospel is preached, so that they are forever changed? Why so little transformation going on in our churches (even though 9 of 10 churches use that word in their mission statement)? In 1 Thessalonians 1:5, Paul writes: “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” I want to see THAT Gospel at work in our churches! Why don’t we see it that often? Ironically, I think the solution to all these questions is: OPPOSITION. We face very little opposition. Even the opposition we might face, we try very hard to avoid it. We are always asking, “Where is the moving of the Holy Spirit that we see in Acts?” But we seldom ask, “Where is the opposition that we see in Acts?” But wait, Tim…we don’t want opposition to the Gospel…we want supernatural display of and reception of the Gospel! This is our very problem, in my opinion. In our efforts to avoid opposition to the Gospel, we distort the Gospel into something more palatable for everyone to receive, so that the masses will respond favorably to it. Of course, we can...

When the tornadoes hit Alabama last month, it was surreal watching it happen live thousands of miles away. Because I had lived there the past 8 years of my life and because Audra had lived there her entire life, it was hard to believe it was really happening. It was equally hard to see the after-images. But when the tornado hit Joplin Sunday night, I saw it in a somewhat different light. Because I wasn’t familiar with the landmarks, what hit me hardest was the personal devastation, not the physical devastation. From watching videos and hearing the stories of those who have survived, I have been imagining what it is like to endure and survive an EF4-5 tornado. I can’t imagine the level of fear and chaos during those 30-40 seconds–especially with small children. The ears popping, the deafening wind, the sounds of everything being destroyed coming right at you, people screaming their heads off, the constant pull of the wind on your body–how horrific. I simply can’t believe anyone would have to go through such agony. And today, they’re predicting potentially 50 more tornadoes. And then you stop to think about the “twisters” that many of us face in the figurative sense. Those times when life really throws a curveball that completely knocks everything off-course. I’m not talking about a little tragedy here or there, but when something happens that seems to totally destroy everything in our life up to that point. It is hard to accept that God allows such horrific and devastating things to happen to humans. It is hard as a friend to know what to say in response. I think as a pastor there is even more weight as to how you should respond. What would I do if something similar happened to me? I think the only way I could cope with it is reminding myself that this is not my home. While I don’t think that would ease the pain, it would hopefully remind me that everything up to this point in my life has been focused not on making a good life for myself here on earth, but on the promise of eternity. Even though it is sometimes almost impossible to...

88 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Back in ’88 Harold Camping is just the latest in such a trend to say when Jesus is returning. And everyone is dismissing his prediction, not surprisingly. Of course, it concerns me when someone thinks they know the day or the hour when Jesus himself said He didn’t know it when He walked this earth. I guess some people interpret Jesus’ words, “You will do even greater things,” to mean they can know things that even Jesus didn’t know… But there is one thing that concerns me even more about the silliness of such a prediction: It seems to me that people, even Christians, should be cautious about what exactly we dismiss. Jesus is indeed coming back, and it could very well happen on May 21, 2011. It could happen today. It could happen several thousand years from now. When people wrongfully predict Jesus’ return, it’s like the boy crying wolf. There is a danger that people will dismiss the very notion that Jesus is coming back at all. Jesus says, “When I return, will I find faith in the world?” He is indeed coming back. People are making all sorts of jokes about how to prepare for Jesus’ return on May 21. But being prepared for His return is no joking matter. While I think it’s great to poke fun at such a silly prediction as Camping’s, we must be diligent to separate that from poking fun at merely the idea of Jesus returning on May...

(If you haven’t already, read Part 1 and Part 2 first.) Jesus promises us abundant life and promises to be with us always, even unto the end of the age. It should not be hard at all to be a disciple of Jesus. Yet there is one group that Jesus says will find it very difficult to be one of His disciples. Rich people. At one point, he alludes to it figuratively in the Parable of the Sower. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature (i.e. produce fruit). But at another point, He flat out says: Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me…How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. –Luke 18:22, 24-25 I find it interesting that Jesus doesn’t treat us all “fairly” like the government does (or ought to do) with taxes. Jesus doesn’t say, “Each of you should give me 10% of what you own.” That would make it more of an even playing field for everyone, regardless of how much they owned. If you were poor and only had $100 to your name, you’d only have to give $10. While the person who has $1,000,000 to their name would have to give $100,000. (Interestingly enough, the “tithe” doctrine has convinced too many church-goers that God asks for 10%, and let’s us keep the other 90%. Because of this and many other reasons, I’m not convinced tithing is a New Covenant principle.) Instead of asking for a certain percentage from us, Jesus makes it so difficult for rich people. He asks for everything from everyone. To the person who only has $100, this isn’t as difficult as the person who has $1,000,000…that is a tall order. To the person who has a shabby home, giving up the home is much easier than someone else who is...

(Read part 1 first, if you haven’t.) So I’m supposed to lose everything in this life in exchange for Jesus…are we saying that I must quit my job, sell my home, give away all my possessions in order to be a disciple of Jesus? Why wouldn’t you be willing to do so? Wouldn’t you rather follow Jesus than have all that stuff? No? If you wouldn’t be willing to lose it all for Him, then do you really know what a treasure it is to know Jesus? It’s very clear in Scripture that Jesus called people to give it all away in order to follow Him. Why would it be any different now? The fact is, I think Jesus is calling every one of us to give it all away. Even if God wants you to keep your present job or keep your present money for the time being, it is only for the time being. It isn’t yours anymore. Jesus has a plan in place for how to spend it all. The same is true for your very life. For example, if God asked you today to die for Him, some might say, “Could you do it? Could you die for Jesus?” But a disciple of Jesus would say, “I already died when I was baptized. It is nothing to die for Jesus today.” If God asked you today to quit your job, some might say, “Could you do it? Would you be able to trust God to provide for you and your family?” But a disciple of Jesus would say, “Since the day I confessed Jesus as Lord, I have been trusting God to provide for me and my family. This is no different. I’ve already given this job over to the Lord years ago.” Whatever things were yours before you became a Christian, they are no longer yours. Jesus now owns them, because Jesus now owns you. You have already sold everything you own to Jesus, and He has bought them. He is now free to do with them as He wishes, just as you were free to do with them as you wished before becoming a Christian. And I have a hunch that what Jesus...