Mighty to Save - Happy to Share

We have been given the great commission to preach the Gospel and make disciples of all people. The Bible tells us that we are the body of Christ here on earth, but does that make God limited without us? 

A few years ago, I had an opportunity to work overseas in China as an engineer setting up a new factory for a North American company. Before I left for China, I met a pastor who had spent a good portion of his life ministering in the Asia region. He was easy to talk to so I threw some questions out and asked him “How powerful is God’s Word when sharing the Gospel?” When I asked this question, I was wondering what it would be like to share Jesus with someone and yet have no means to provide follow-up material or a church where I could invite the individual to attend. The minister replied with the verse “God’s word is living and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12)  The minister went on to tell a story of how he shared the gospel with a man in a remote area and years later when they crossed paths again, that man from the remote region was still going steady in joy and faith. I was encouraged by what the minister said. Even though I knew God’s Word was powerful, the living part was something I tended to forget.  

While working in China, I met a young Chinese man by the name of Tim who assisted the team. Tim was very friendly, and his English ability was decent enough to hold long conversations. On one encounter, I told Tim that I would be leaving the next week and going home and spending Christmas with my family. He asked if I was a Christian, to which I replied yes. He then told me he was Christian too and that we shared a common faith. I was intrigued and wanted to know more about his relationship with Christ. The topic came up again later that week. I asked Tim how he became a Christian and he told me that his grandmother was a Christian, and before she passed on, she told him about Jesus. He didn't know exactly what she was talking about at the time but she, unbeknownst to him, had planted a seed in his life. Years later when Tim was going to university in China, some international students invited him to attend a Christian group. He remembered what his grandmother told him and was open to it. In that Christian group he received Jesus Christ.

With Tim’s story, I’m reminded that the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of people, drawing them to Christ. Sometimes we try to give the Gospel life by our own means and move it along by our own efforts. This can become stressful if we think that it is all up to us to help somebody who is in need or ‘get somebody saved’. Of course I agree that having proper follow-up material and a community of faith is important for spiritual growth. I also know that our labour of love helping and serving people changes countless lives. But I've come to realize that God is not limited by what we do and don’t do. 

As much as I like to help people in need and give my time serving, I've learned that my ability to impact lives is limited. I may only have a few moments with some individuals. I have found that if someone shares a need with me, I offer to pray and put the focus on Jesus and His finished work and prayer is rarely refused.

So if we are the body, the hands and feet of the Gospel, then the Holy Spirit must be the wings. (What? Wings? God?  Yeah – Psalm 91:4, possibly used metaphorically but still... :)  )  We can be encouraged and know that Jesus Christ is the Living Word active in this world. We take comfort in His promises and know that He loves and cares for every single person more than we can imagine and He desires everyone to be saved. God doesn't need us to minister, but gives us this wonderful privilege and blessing to be His partners. We are His messengers, but undoubtedly He is the One who touches and changes hearts.

Veritas Vos Liberabit

Veritas vos liberabit, a Latin motto popular with many schools, meaning “the truth will set you free” is taken from John 8:32. Higher institutes of learning pursue truth and knowledge, but what is truth and what is the truth that will set you free? Are we to go about openly declaring truth? Do all truths have the same significance? In the justice system, if you are innocent, then truth is something you want established, but if you are guilty of a crime, then the truth will not set you free but instead land you in prison. 

There are many Christians who believe we must take a stand for truth. So we take the passage of scripture that says “Thy word is truth” and conclude that everything in the Bible is true and therefore must be something we should assert. We extend this to our evangelism, political and social views and our relationships with those around us. Although we are mostly sincere in our desire to be obedient to God's Word, we often don’t realize what we are doing with our position. Some of us have alienated many friends, family members and strangers who would otherwise welcome the good news of the Gospel and the person of Jesus Christ.

While I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, inerrant in its original form, I have learned that not everything is truth that we should proclaim.  For instance:
1) There are lies recorded, certainly a lie can’t be true  (i.e.  In 2 Sam 1:9  an Amalekite claims to have killed King Saul).
2) Satan’s words are written down, ... probably not a good idea to preach one of those passages out of context. 
3) Men speak of their own understanding but not necessarily God’s understanding. ( In John 9:31 the man healed of blindness claims ‘We know God doesn't hear sinners', but God must hear sinners, or else nobody would be able to turn to Him and receive Him).
Also, when sharing the Gospel, certainly not everything in the Bible is appropriate for every situation. For example, if I met somebody who had never heard about Jesus, I would probably not start my conversation with the first 3 chapters of Chronicles (which I'm reading through now :S).

So it would seem there is a difference in something being true and what the Bible refers to as Truth. It is interesting to note that the truth of the law is not the same truth that came through Jesus. John makes the contrast in John 1:16:  “The Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”.  What is the distinction? While the law reveals knowledge of sin, it is powerless to help anyone. Giving sinners the truth of the law certainly does not set them free, but instead brings condemnation and kills (2 Cor 3:6).

So then what is the truth that came through Jesus?  When Jesus appeared before Pilate, there was an interrogation that took place. Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” yet we don’t see Jesus’ response and it seems to be left open-ended. Whatever was said we know right afterward Pilate found no guilt in Jesus. Thankfully within scriptures we are not left without an answer. Jesus clearly stated in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

With Jesus' words in mind, when I read the Bible I see a distinction between truth and TRUTH. Little t truth says we are sinners. Little t truth says sinners deserve punishment and death. Little t truth says we must continually offer sacrifices when we do wrong. But Big T Truth says Jesus took our punishment as a sacrifice once for all and we are set free in Him. Big T Truth says that Jesus took the world’s sin upon Himself. Big T Truth says that we are made the righteousness of God in Christ.  Or simply, Big T Truth is Jesus Himself, the Living Word. 

In the book of Acts chapter 16, there is an interesting account where Paul is about the Lord’s work and a girl with an evil spirit keeps following and proclaiming “these are messengers of the most high!” Although what she was saying was true, Paul finally put a stop to it and rebuked the Spirit. I always wondered why he stopped her in the first place and why it took so long. For one thing, I’m sure it was getting distracting; she must have been very vocal. Secondly, it seems Paul didn't stop her at first because what she was saying was true. What we do learn from this passage is that even evil spirits can proclaim the ‘little t truth’. 

If grace and truth came through Jesus and we are to follow His example, why don’t we as a church do it more often? When Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the sycamore tree He didn’t take a stand for truth and start yelling at him, “You wicked tax collector, liar and cheating thief! Don’t you know that liars and thieves go to hell?!”   Instead, Jesus embraced Zacchaeus and came to his house.

Taking a passage of scripture out of context (the context being the finished work of Christ) and telling this to someone in hopes that this ‘truth’ would impact them, probably won't.  Calling people sinners and telling them to repent even thought it may be true, rarely yields the desired results, but instead turns people off. So rather than taking a stand for what is true, let’s stand for Truth and share the Truth of the Gospel, the good news that God was in Christ reconciling the World to Himself. That God has forgiven everyone and through Jesus has given us wonderful, new, abundant life. Jesus is the Truth that sets us free.

Half Full, Half Empty, or Overflowing?

While not an American, come every year I always watch the State of the Union Address. During the President's speech, many words are shared, challenges identified and achievements proclaimed. Much of the address reminds me of some Pentecostal church services I've been to, where after each major point everyone claps and sometimes to really show appreciation... stands up and claps. I like to pay attention to the reactions from both sides of the House, seeing who is willing to support the opposition ideas. I like when I see a few Republicans stand and clap among cheering Democrats and vice versa. While at the end of the address we are left with little new information, the concept of routine evaluation is sound. But what about the state of the Gospel in this world?  Is this something we pay much attention to?  Should we as believers be concerned about how things are progressing?  

I've heard many sermons and discussed this subject with many Christians who share a variety of views on the state of the Gospel. Some will say it varies between countries. For instance, countries like China are experiencing a rapid growth of Christianity, while European nations are seeing a decline in Christian population. What can be reasons for these trends and are they reflective of God’s power at work or lack thereof? 

If Christianity in the western world is declining, the question we ask is why?  How come we don’t see such great miracles here in our backyard? Why is God seemingly more powerful overseas? Whenever I've spoken with evangelists and asked this very question, the responses differ. Some say: “God is not taught in schools! We've gotten rid of the Ten Commandments.” Others say “There is no fear of God. Nobody respects God’s Word anymore. Evolution has replaced God and the need for a Creator.” Yet others say “We (western society) are all distracted by our materialism and limit the power of God by our unbelief.” Certainly, I agree that there is an enemy at work who is trying desperately to destroy mankind and some of his methods are as described by those evangelists, but also the enemy seeks to get the church distracted trying to defend or fight a battle that should not be our concern.

So with the view that unbelief is prevalent in society, when we look at the western world we see an obstacle to God’s power. We are reminded of Jesus when He could do only a few miracles in his hometown Nazareth because of the unbelief of the people. If Jesus could do few miracles and He is our example, should we expect a different outcome? I've often thought about this passage but wonder if we should equate these situations... is the western world even Jesus’ hometown, anyway?

But the contrasting view is this:  God is at work everywhere in everything in spite of unbelief. That unbelief isn't necessarily an obstacle, but an opportunity to receive faith from Jesus (Mark 9:24). While the world may be fallen, Jesus Christ is working through the tough situations. After all, Jesus declared:
“Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” John 4:35

This world is full of lost people from all walks of life. Rather than a rejection of Christ, declining numbers indicate a rejection of Christianity as a religion. Some may be disillusioned by the church and the hypocrisy shown. At many times we as a church have come across in the opposite way we should. Instead of selfless and loving, we are self-promoting, interested in our own prosperity, while at the same time judging and condemning the world in the name of truth. In our efforts to stick up for what is ‘right’ we alienate many people. Thankfully, God's grace and goodness are greater than our ability to mess things up.

Our State-of-the-Gospel view is important as it can influence us in several ways: Firstly, how we conduct ourselves and how willing we are to share the gospel with, minister to, and love on people. Secondly, how we feel emotionally. If we are living in a world where we think that even Jesus couldn't do miracles, that is quite a bummer. What hope do we have? But when we realize that God’s Holy Spirit is at work in us and in this world, and that the Holy Spirit power is the same power that raised Christ from the dead (Rom 8:11, Eph 1:19-20), it helps put things in perspective.

So I encourage everyone to be the optimist -  the Holy-Spirit-overflowing optimist. For we have awesome good news to share and are entrusted with great love and life to shine into this broken world. 

It’s not me, it’s You

I've often heard it said that “it’s not about you, it’s about Him” or “this life we live is not about us, but about God”. But when I’m reading my Bible trying to focus on God, He goes and throws the subject back my way and starts talking about me!  

Why is there hope laid up for me in heaven?   Colossians 1:5

Why does God take delight in me?  Psalms 149:4 
Why does God supply my needs according to His riches in glory?  Philippians 4:19 
Why does God remember my work and the love which I have shown?  Hebrews 9:10 
Why did God choose me in Him before the foundation of the world?  Ephesians 1:4 
Why did Jesus take my sins and heal me?  1 Peter 2:24

Certainly, I understand that we are not to be self-focused but instead Christ focused. I realize our lives have been crucified with Christ, but to claim that this life is not about us would be missing an important part of the Gospel story.

In this world, it is easy to feel insignificant; there just are so many people. Moreover, it is hard to comprehend how God can relate and interact with everyone. I've often wondered how God’s kingdom works with all the angels and people talking at the same time. But if God’s kingdom is not about us, then our lives are significant only as much as they fit in with God’s master salvation plan. We read the passages of scripture that explain how we are all parts of the body working together and so shouldn't complain about our role. But what are we working towards?  Does the greater good outweigh the individual good? Is God even constrained by the amount of ‘good’ available? What is God’s purpose? Somehow I don’t think it is just about numbers...

It is true we are a part of God’s saving work, but our value is not based on our role or what we can do for God. God established our value apart from any act of obedience or kingdom service by redeeming us while we were sinners. To emphasize: our value before anything, even while we were dirty, stinking, rotten and plagued with sin, before we were redeemed, renewed, or made a new creation, was worth the price of His Son Jesus Christ. Knowing this wonderful truth doesn't puff us up, but it does serve to glorify God and leave us in awe. God is glorified in His creative and redemptive work. 

For many of us, it is hard to see the value that God places on us and instead we ask “Why would God save me?” and so we try desperately to perform to somehow make ourselves worthy. But I find, as we begin to grasp God’s unconditional love and grace, it takes the pressure off and we can freely be the person God made us to be. The message of the cross is that God did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Even further demonstrating His love, God adopted us as children and made us heirs with Christ.

It is clear the gospel is about God, us, and the relationship between Father and child integrally expressed in Jesus Christ. So yes, we should focus on Him, but all the while knowing He is looking right back at us.

Good Theology

Our tendency as humans is that we like everything to have an explanation, a reason and an understanding. When we don’t understand something, we study it further, we learn, we experiment. However, theology is a little different and doesn’t necessarily explain everything. Instead theology provides insight into the nature of God and the workings of His kingdom. Good theology leaves room for the topics which we do not fully comprehend.

One topic in which there are various theologies is the topic of healing. The subject of healing has had a lot of different implications. There are a lot of hard questions associated with healing. When looking at healing it is easy to speak in general broad statements. “God heals on His own time.” Also it is easy to speak of specific examples “Why did it take Suzy 5 years to get healed?  Why not after her first prayer?”   It is even easier to speak from our own experience. “I prayed and it didn’t work. :(”  With the wealth of examples it is common to develop a theology based on experience. However, is this necessarily good theology?  

The trouble with broad statements is they often make God out to be some distant cosmic force, when in reality He is very close, intimate and real. (Immanuel!) The challenge with specifics is that we do not know all the factors behind a situation to form an accurate conclusion. However, what we can agree on and look at are the healings of Christ, for we know He was perfect in His ways.  Christ’s example should be our basis for any theology. 

For starters, we find:  

1) Jesus healed all those brought to Him.  (Matt 4:23)
2) Jesus healed people who didn’t directly ask for healing. (Luke 7:11) 
3) Jesus healed people based on someone else’s request. (Luke 7:7) 
4) Jesus never discussed or stated anything about God’s timing in healing. (Matt 17:20)
5) Jesus wept over the impact of sickness on God’s children. (John 11:35)
6) No healing was too great or difficult for Jesus. (John 11:43)
7) Jesus promised greater works we would do once He goes to the Father. (John 14:12)
8) Jesus is the same always.  (Heb 13:8)

But, a fair question many will raise is: What about the New Testament church examples where people didn't get healed? There are 3 passages commonly referenced:

1) Timothy’s Stomach Troubles (1 Tim 5:23).  With this example, I wonder if Paul’s wine remedy worked? Was God using a remedy?  How long did Timothy have the problem afterward?  
2) Paul’s Thorn (2 Cor 12:7). We see an example of Paul’s thorn and ask ourselves: “If Paul couldn’t get healed and he was a mega-star of faith, what hope do I have?” But why do we quickly draw the comparison between Paul’s situation and our own? Paul had a unique role in the kingdom of God. Also, we can’t establish if Paul’s thorn was even sickness related.
3) Trophimus was left behind sick (2 Tim 4:20). Did Trophimus stay sick? There are many details surrounding Trophimus that we do not know.

Sometimes in forming theology we can get bogged down in discussions and defences. My intent in sharing this post is to encourage those who are seeking healing to look at the example of Christ. We should not establish or limit what God can do based on others' experiences. Instead, see who Jesus really is and look at His love, His compassion and His ministry to receive from Him.

First Principles

Whenever situations arise and I’m stuck, or wondering about why things are happening, or questioning God’s motives, or even if I’m caught in a misunderstanding of a scripture passage, I take a few steps back and start asking questions.  Rather than look directly at my situation, I look at what the reason is for everything!  I revert back to what started it all:  Why did God make us?  What is our purpose? What is His purpose?  Yes, I simply ask myself the most deeply profound question in all philosophy:  ‘Why?'

I like to refer to this approach as first principles, an expression I took from the field of mathematics.  Back when studying calculus, if there was ever a complicated problem that I could not solve easily I could always apply first principles and arrive at a solution.  First principles are the basic definition, the root starting point under which all the other theorems are based. 

So I ask the question ‘Why?’, not out of desperation, but as remembrance, for God has already revealed the answer.  

Some say we were created to worship God. But that leads to the topic of free will.  Why do some people choose not to worship God?  Why make man in the first place?  Why not just let the angels worship as we see in the Book of Revelation?  Others say, we were created to serve God, but the same applies. Are angels not ministering spirits?  While it is true, we are to worship and serve, this is still not the root purpose. Instead, worship and service are mere branches that express what is at the root.  What about fellowship? Were we created to be God's friends? What was wrong with God just hanging out with the angels (apart from the whole Lucifer thing)?  

More so than fellowship, God reveals that our purpose is about a love relationship. True love can exist only when there is freedom of choice. We were created out of an expression of God’s loving nature, as one with whom He can fellowship from the vantage point of love. Our fellowship with God isn’t just casual, but with One who loves us: As a parent loves a child, as a friend loves a friend, as a brother loves a brother, as a husband loves a wife.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16) This passage does not say that God started to love the world at a particular point.  Instead, He loved us from the beginning (Jeremiah 31:3). It is clear from the Gospel story that we are the object of God’s love; the subject of God’s heart.

So I encourage you , if you are ever stuck wondering about God’s will or are in a difficult place questioning if it is really God at work, revert back to first principles. God created you in His image for love, and when He couldn't love us freely as He wanted (Hosea 14:4), He gave everything in Jesus Christ to fully restore that which was broken and lost.

Sweet Emotion

I've been rethinking my views on how to treat emotions as believers. I'm the type of person who appreciates reason, study and good theological understanding, while not placing much emphasis on emotional experience; or in other words, I'm a typical guy. That's not to say that I don't have feelings, but they are something I keep in check. 

There is an emphasis I find taught in many circles that emotions are somehow inferior to understanding. This teaching sometimes is in response to over-emotional displays where everything is about 'feeling' and if we don't feel anything, well, God is not moving!  So to correct this, we say and reassure those who do not feel anything "It is not about how you feel, but what God's Word says about you" which is true and reasonable.  But I often wonder can you have an encounter with Jesus and receive His life without an emotional response (...at some point)?  In scriptures we see those who receive Jesus filled with wonderful excitement, joy and encouragement "Walking and leaping and praising God!" (Acts 3:8)

Still, a lot of time we reject emotions or place them on a lower scale of importance because we have been hurt in the past.  We could experience wonderful happiness and excitement over something new only to get our hopes up.  We have felt a strong passion and desire only to have our hearts broken.  So we guard our hearts as the Bible tells us to do.

The dangerous extension of this teaching is when emotions are something we deny if they contradict how a good Christian should be, ie. Always Rejoicing.  Back 13 years ago when my grandfather passed away, my grandmother was deeply saddened.  But believing that good Christians are always to rejoice, my grandmother tried so hard to make herself be happy.  This only worsened things and led her to guilt, condemnation and greater sadness.  She too passed away only a year later.  

So how are we to use emotions?  Emotions are often a more powerful force in our lives than reason.  The unconditional love of a parent willing to put him or herself in harm's way for a child.  The pain of a broken heart even though we know the relationship wasn't meant to be.  The mourning over the loss of a loved one even though they are with Jesus in Glory.

I find that grief and sadness are powerful emotions that draw us near to Jesus in close intimacy.  We know that Jesus can sympathize and relate for He too wept and cried for Lazarus. (John 11) Jesus full-well knew and stated that He would raise Lazarus from the dead, but still let reason and understanding subside to emotion.  Jesus' tears were an emotional response. 

My new outlook:  Don't be afraid of emotions.  When I'm open and honest with God I can allow my emotions to guide my prayer and reveal the concerns of my heart.  We have a great promise that the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and reveals Jesus. God created emotions for us to enjoy, utilize and further strengthen our relationship with Him. 

If looks could save...

 As I typed in the search bar “What did Jesus...” the question I was looking for came up first in Google’s suggestion box “What did Jesus look like?”
It wasn't “what did Jesus do?” or “what did Jesus say?” In our society we are predominantly wired and concerned about appearance and with my curiosity, I fit right in. 

Switching to an Images search, I found my computer screen soon filled with various images and pictures of Jesus’ possible appearance.

Now how was I going to determine what Jesus truly looks like?  Well first off, I was able to eliminate the joke pictures; you know the ones with over the top comedic images.

Next, I went through each picture trying to identify  what Jesus-characteristics I could judge by looking at a face.  Important to me were the eyes, because I’m quite sure my Saviour had loving, warm and friendly eyes.  That eliminated a bunch more pictures.

Now we were getting somewhere.  With the pictures I had left, I tried to see what picture made me feel most like who I know Jesus to be. But as I was going further in the images I had this foreign feeling that I could be almost bordering on idol worship with my quest. :O 

Thankfully God spoke to me. “Why look for an image when you know me more than an image can ever portray?” Just like that, it was clear. An image is limited; worth a 1000 words maybe. But Jesus Christ is so much more. No image can satisfy and inside we know every image we see isn't really Jesus because He is known to us in a way that no picture or portrait can convey.

On the road to Emmaus, although the disciples had seen Jesus with their eyes, it was only after Jesus showed himself in scriptures and broke bread that they knew Him.

“ And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.” Luke 24:31 KJV

James