Vying for the Truth

I opened my mail this morning and in a nice handwritten envelope with a letter that began with the salutation "Dear Neighbor." It was even signed by the writer with their address located in my small surburban city. At the top of the letter was a colorful picture and a quote from Psalm 37:10-11. Then the writer asked three questions: (1) Does God really care about us?, (2) Will ware (I think she meant "war") and suffering ever end?, (3) How can I find happiness in my life? I thought, "these are all legitimate questions?" Then I was invited to call the writer if I had any questions and she left her cell phone number. Wow, it was very personal and inviting.

Enclosed with the letter was a nice 4 page brochure titled "Would You Like to Know the Truth?" So I read it, and it included the three questions mentioned above plus three additonal questions: (4) What happens to us when we die?, (5) Is there any hope for the dead?, (6) How can I pray and be heard by God?

So I read the answers to all six questions. Although they quoted and referenced the Bible, there was something askew. The verses didn't really address the questions. They were taken out of context and "plugged in" to make their case. Finally, there was no mention of humanity's separation from God by sin. There was no mention of humanity's need to be reconciled to God. There was no mention of a way to be saved from our sin. There was no mention of humanity's need for a Savior who is qualified to redeem us from our sin.

I was even invited to contact the writer of the letter and she could help me get "plugged into" a home Bible study called What Does the Bible Really Teach?

Finally, I looked at the bottom of the very last page to see who published this brochure. Just as I suspected -  it read: "Scripture quotations are from the modern language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures - With References. Copyright 2008 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.

Some  of you might be asking, "so what?" Well, this is exactly what the Apostle Paul faced during his ministry. Paul would go into a city and begin teaching the gospel - first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles (non-Jews). He would face opposition and be confronted by false teachers who would try and convince the people that Paul was a heretic. Their message of "salvation" was always "works based." In other words. the person always needed to do something (i.e., keep the law, strive for perfection, follow certain rules) in order to earn their redemption. Often times, these false teachers denied either the deity or the humanity of Christ.

Jesus said, "Watch out for false prophets (teachers, italics are mine), They come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit (works, italics are mine) you will recognize them" (Matt. 7:15-16a, NIV).

If someone from the Jehovah's Wtinesses comes to your door or you receive some literature from them in the mail, please remember this brief article. You can determine whether they are "wolves" or "sheep" by asking them a few questions:

1. Who do you say that Jesus Christ is? Let them answer and then ask ...
2. Is He fully God and fully man? The Bible teaches that at His incarnation (in the flesh) Jesus was fully God and also became fully Man and forever He is the God-Man.
3. Do you believe in original sin (sin by birth inherited from the first man Adam and passed down to each succeeding generation)? Do you believe in volitional sin (sin by choice)? The Bible clearly teaches this for all humanity. However since Jesus is God He is and always will be sinless.
4. What must I do to be saved from my sin and reconciled to God? The Bible teaches that we must all confess our sin (agree with God), repent (turn from our sin), and trust in Christ as the only means for salvation (i.e., in His sinless life, shedding of His blood for our sins, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead).

The brochure concluded with this quotation from Scripture: "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). However, you must know the whole truth and nothing but the truth before you can be set free. Here is my admonition, vye for the truth and know where real truth comes from . It does not come from a cult that tries to trick people into believing a lie and masks it by having their own corrupted copy of a book that they profess to be the Bible. Vye for the truth and know what the whole of Scripture teaches and then you really "will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Press on brothers and sisters and for those who may not know Christ, I urge you to consider the truth! Your life depends on it.

The "how to the so what"

I was relaxing at home tonight flippin' between the Golf Channel and Fox News when my cell phone rang. When I answered, it was a friend who spent two years with his wife in a restricted country in North Africa. I say "restricted" because this country doesn't allow missionaries to work in their country, but of course, there are not restrictions for people who have a legitimate work or student visa to live there for a specifiic period of time. That is exactly what my friends were doing; however, they were also obeying Christ's command to "go and make disciples and to teach them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:18-19).

Anyway, he called me tonight to share about a new opportunity that God has given him through his local fellowship where he serves as the youth pastor. Recently, he took some students on their first ever out of the country mission trip to Argentina where they worked with other believers to advance the gospel. Before he left, the lead pastor of his church asked him to think about a way that their church could become more intentional in taking the gospel to another culture. While he was there, he thought and prayed about what this might look like in their local church context. Then, he had an idea. Perhaps my family (wife and two small children) and I could go to Argentina next summer and take some of our students, live among the people of a mega unreached city, and faciliate short term mission teams from our church to help us do exactly what Jesus commanded all believers to do - "go and make discipeles." Well, when he returned home and discussed the idea with his pastor the response was not what he expected. His pastor said, "Wow, William (not his real name pseudonym) that is a great idea! That is exactly what we should do." Not only was William surprised at his pastor's affirmation but he even agreed that they should allow him to hire a part time assistant pastor who would help him coordinate this project and serve as the youth pastor while he was in Argentina. Then his wife Elizabeth (pseudonym) also affirmed the idea.

You might be thinking, that's a nice story but so what? The "so what" becomes God's greatest desire for all of His children who are in Christ. When we seek to know God's heart (will) and our desires and passions align with Scripture (Bible), we should not be surprised that God will give us clear direction about "the how to the so what." Besides God's purpose for all peoples is that they may know Him (personally and intimately) and bring glory to to his Name. For all of God's people, His heart's desire is for all people to be reconciled to Him through the cross of Christ (1 Cor. 15:3b-4a). This mystery of the gospel is a historical fact that demonstrates Christ's victory over sin (our rebellion against God) and death (spritual separation from God).

Brothers and sisters in Christ - our life's purpose and task is to take "the message to all peoples cross-culturally." What are you doing to fulfill Christ's mandate?

To read a well-written blog article on reconcilation, I recomend Austin Grigg's blog posting on July 14, 2010. Here is the web link http://artofunnaming.blogspot.com/.

Why did I decide to blog?

I had a conversation with my daughter recently who has a blog site and told her how much I enjoyed reading her blog. She asked me why I enjoyed reading it and I said, "because it allows me to learn more about your heart, your desires, your passions, and besides you're a really talented and creative writer." And then she replied, "dad you ought to have a blog too! It doesn't really matter if anyone reads it, but it gives you an outlet for expressing your thoughts and your passions." I mused for a moment, thought about her words for several days and decided she's right. So I hope my blog will enable me to let my creative juices flow and share topics or should I say the Person that has the most important message for humanity. I believe that if I am faithful with a little (His message) then He will make me faithful with a lot (more of His message). Besides, The Message for All Peoples is the most important message anyone can know and that in itself is reason enough to blog so that perhaps more people may read and know His Message. That is ... the Message of the Kingdom of heaven.