by Brian Hobbs | Apr 6, 2017
I’ve heard someone say, “That peppermint mocha was so good, it changed my life.” I’ve heard another say, “You need to visit this new restaurant. It will change your life.”
These days, we are bombarded with political slogans and consumer marketing promising life-changing experiences. As someone with a marketing background myself, I understand this tactic, but I have come to believe it’s overused. When everything is life-changing, then nothing is especially life-changing.
As Christians, though, we believe the Gospel is what most changes a person’s life.
Without question, becoming a born-again Christian is what most profoundly changed my life. Nothing compares to inheriting eternal life, being reconciled to God through His Son Jesus and having the Holy Spirit living in you.
Christ changes your worldview. He changes your attitude. He changes your eternal destiny. Even though in this world we will still suffer and struggle, Jesus Christ is who and what changes us most, now and always.
For me, what is the second most life changing event was when my wife and I became parents. For starters, there was an entirely new person born into the world, one whom the hospital staff released days after her birth for us—her parents—to take home and be entirely in charge of. This little baby came with many needs, round-the-clock. Whatever plans you had for any given moment of the day, we now had a little person counting on us to be there, or to make arrangements for childcare.
Beyond this, I also discovered that my protective and provider instincts kicked in overdrive. In marriage, I also felt these instincts, but becoming a father took it to a new dimension. I now looked at movies differently. I looked at life differently. I was forever changed.
Perhaps you, too, have experienced this life change or seen its dramatic effect on another person’s life. If so, rejoice in that gift. Also reflect on the fact that God gave you life, and that someone somewhere took care of you all those years up until now. Finally, take a moment to think about the fact that, as much as becoming a parent changes your life, coming to Christ in Faith will change your life even more. And that’s a life-changing promise you can count on.
by Ryan Smith | Mar 28, 2017
I bought a book because I had seen someone tweet about it. Without investing the time to gather actual information, I saw a headline and decided to act (how modern of me). Two clicks and two days (thank you Amazon Prime!) later, I was sitting down to read my new book.
It didn’t take long to realize I was not the target audience for this book. The book’s examples were about heart-to-heart talks with girlfriends. It continually used female pronouns to refer to the reader, and it included a lot of crying…a lot of crying.
Before you string me up for being a chauvinist, allow me to elaborate. Once I realized this was a book targeted at a woman’s heart and experience, I was actually even more excited to read it. It would be good for me.
The book was highlighted as being Gospel-centered, and I certainly found it to be so. The challenges to my personal pride and worldview were greatly helped in light of God’s sovereignty, goodness and strength.
As I read this book from a female perspective intended to relate to the heart of a woman, I was encouraged by the appeal to theology, application and emotion as a three-stranded cord.
As I walked through the final chapters, however, I began to ponder a certain question: do women see the Gospel through a different lens than men; and if so, are there elements of the Gospel I may not be fully experiencing or enjoying?
Let me be clear (I know I’m walking on hot stones here), I rejoice with Paul in his inclusive exaltation of a Gospel that transcends race, social status and gender (Gal. 3:28). The fact that God created man in His image (male and female He created them – Gen. 1:27) tells us much about God Himself as well as His care for the complementary, yet equal, relationship between the two genders.
But it also makes me realize something. Painting with a broad brush, there are distinctive aspects of the male or female experience that help us absorb the world in unique ways. Just look at the marketing and discussion emphasis for any upcoming men’s or women’s conferences. There are differences. They are on purpose, and they are not bad.
I see the Gospel through a man’s eyes. There is nothing I can do about it, and I don’t believe it is a deficiency (just as I don’t believe it is a deficiency to view the Gospel from a female point of view).
There obviously are not two different Gospels, but one unified Gospel. There are, however, different aspects about me as a person (nationality, background, sex, etc.) that create a unique paradigm that may be somewhat different from another’s paradigm as we both observe objective truth.
This is one reason why we as the church need each other. We need people of different strengths and experiences to speak into our lives.
Also, men in the church need women in the church. We need to value their experiences and viewpoints.
So let me ask you a question, men. When was the last time you sat down with your wife (sister/mom/aunt) and asked her what the most precious thing about the Gospel is to her? Would you both answer that question in the same way? Why or why not?
To me as a man, a large part of my love for the Gospel stems from a responsive call to stand and fight – to defend – to hold the line – to be in awe of God the Warrior who crushes the head of the serpent and gets the girl in the end – his bride, the Church.
Men’s books and devotionals I have read bear this out. There is a fire ignited in the chest of a man of God to follow God into battle as the Scotts followed William Wallace – face paint and all (kilt optional).
To me, the Gospel is a challenge to acknowledge Kingship and Lordship. Sanctification is a fight to put to death the old man of self. Endurance in Christ is like a marathoner with blistered feet who dies falling over the finish line (insert man-grunts).
But I admit, I do struggle with some of the passages about being Jesus’ bride in Revelation, surrounded by virgins as the bridegroom returns to establish his home. The more romantic aspects of Hosea and Song of Solomon are understood on a logical level, but I perceive there is an intimacy and degree of joy that may be more fully understood and embraced by my sisters in Christ.
Obviously these are somewhat generalized observations. Individual men and women find themselves at varying degrees on these scales, and glory to God for that diversity!
But I want to ask my sisters in Christ a question – and pardon any degree of ignorance from which this stems:
What are the most compelling aspects of the Gospel to you as a woman?
I would love to hear your perspective as a comment to this post or in any other available and appropriate means. I believe we can appreciate another’s biblical viewpoint of something we hold dear even if we can’t fully understand it experientially.
I want to fully know and enjoy the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I want to stand with you and point at our great and glorious Savior. And if we can help open each other’s eyes to greater beauties (even if only nuanced aspects) of the Gospel, then glory to God for the diversity and beauty in His church!
by Christi Roselle | Feb 22, 2017
Last week, a judgment in the case Ingersoll v. Arlene’s Flowers was made that essentially declared an individual or business must be compelled to participate in an event against his or her will in the name of fairness. The state of Washington had created a law that established same-sex marriage as a legal union, and sexual orientation as a protected class, which forces any business to participate, upon request, in this marriage under threat of prosecution.
A business owner, who had a nine-year established relationship with her client, declined to participate in his same-sex marriage. She offered to provide premade flower arrangements; she offered to sell loose flowers for him to arrange on his own, she even offered to help find an alternate florist who could meet his needs. She simply did not want to participate in his event herself.
Rather than respecting her wishes of her personal right of free speech and religion, her client chose to prosecute her for her stances, bringing the full force of the law upon her which means the ruination of her business, her personal finances and her life.
When the United States was founded, there was one protected class: the individual. Previously, the different forms of governing had included protected classes either by birth into social order or financial ability. One had no ability to steer the course of his life by his choices or make his own opportunity without the threat of government punishment.
The Age of Enlightenment brought forth the recognition that individual sovereignty and religious tolerance were morally superior means for man to conduct his life than by monarchal edicts. Man had an inalienable right to self-determination ordained by his Creator. This was the essence of true liberty. The sole way to accomplish this freedom was to see that government should not restrict man, man should restrict government.
When the founders wrote the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the intention was not to control individuals in their practice of their religion. The intention was to curb government intervention in the free practice of individual expression.
In the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom Thomas Jefferson wrote, “…it is time enough for the rightful purposes of civil government, for its officers to interfere when principles break out into overt acts against peace and good order.”
Jefferson goes on to include, “No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship….nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinion or belief, but that all men shall be free to profess and maintain their opinions in matters of Religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities”.
Later, after Jefferson became U.S. President, the Danbury Baptist Association penned their concerns of the establishment of a state religion. In his return letter, Jefferson responded, ”Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature would ‘make no law respecting an establishment or religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof’ thus building a wall of separation between Church and State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.”
The natural right of the owner of Arlene’s Flowers has not been found to be in opposition to her social duties, as her business is not a social interaction but a financial one. Her decision to not participate in the wedding between two men, which for her is an activity that is against her religious belief, is not an overt act against peace and good order.
The plaintiff misused his status as a “protected class” as coercion for her to comply against her will. Sadly, the courts sided with him. This decision flies in the face of the very intent of the individual liberty our country was established upon.
Last reported, the defendant has decided to submit her appeal of the court’s decision to United
States Supreme Court. A previous case that was based upon similar circumstances was refused, and with every precedent case set in court, our ability to practice our religious beliefs in our daily lives grows increasingly restrained.
We must be active in publicly speaking out against these decisions that hinder our natural rights, before we lose them permanently.
by Ryan Smith | Feb 14, 2017
Do you remember the TV show Frasier?
If so, you will remember one of the key formulas that made this one of TV’s most endearing comedies (if you’re under 30, you probably don’t remember the show, and I just gave you something to binge on Hulu. You’re welcome). The formula for many of Frasier’s most hilarious episodes was that of a misunderstanding.
Niles would hear a bit of private conversation between Frasier and Daphne and assume they were talking about one thing while indeed the conversation was about something, or someone, else entirely. Each character would then run around trying to solve problems or skew situations that didn’t even exist in reality.
The key to those episodes was lack of proper context.
Watching the news today reminds me of those episodes of Frasier. We are a people tuned in to sound bites and headlines. Consequently, we live in a world of labels, 140 character manifestos, and ad revenue based on click bait.
Whether it’s in government, politics, religion, or even pop culture, the ability to take a phrase and turn it into a biography has become an art form – and many supposed Picassos surround us.
Imagine this scenario: you’re sitting in your local coffee shop with a copy of your favorite Christian book on the table (perhaps Not That God by Ryan Andrew Smith available at Amazon.com and other fine retailers…I apologize for that).
Someone walks up to you and noting the word “God” on your book, asks if you are an “evangelical.” If you are a follower of Christ, and a lover of the Gospel, your immediate impulse is to say yes.
After all, Merriam-Webster defines evangelical as, 1) of relating to, or being in agreement with the Christian gospel especially presented in the four Gospels. 2) Protestant. 3) Emphasizing salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ through personal conversion, the authority of Scripture, and the importance of preaching as contrasted with ritual.
Yes and amen. Sign me up. I’m an evangelical.
But if you’re like me, your enthusiasm for the conversation is quickly marked by a burning red flag.
Today, the term “evangelical” has come to mean a variety of things. In large part, the term has become a designation of extreme right-wing conservatism. The person asking the question may not at all be asking about your belief in the Gospel, but whether or not you are a homosexual-hating, Muslim-deporting, anti-woman, Trump-worshiping, Toby Keith-listening, confederate flag-waving nut job.
Personally, I am none of those. But I am an evangelical.
Questions like these are framed more by the question-asker’s understanding of a specific term and can be powder kegs if the question-receiver’s understanding of that same term differs – if they are supposing different contexts.
It is easy to feel trapped in a world without context, in a world where everything means anything and nothing at the same time.
Are we conservative, liberal, or libertarian? Are we feminist, patriarchal, egalitarian, or complementarian?
Yes and no…well…It depends.
Context often takes a back seat in the church as well.
We do it with Scripture: We can do all things (Phil. 4:13)! God wants to prosper us (Jer. 29:11)! God is going to do something amazing in our day (Hab. 1:5)!
We do it with our terminology: Are you a Calvinist? Arminian? Charismatic? Fundamentalist?
We are often more interested in hearing what we want to hear than actually understanding the ideas being spoken to us or the person speaking them. We want everything in a box – a box that we made and understand – and we want everyone and every idea to fit neatly into these boxes for storage in our worldview bin.
The difficulty is, in a world with so many different worldviews, our words and ideas are getting thrown into competing bins.
However, there is still truth. As Christians, we know truth is found only in God. He gives us truth in the Scripture. Everything is happening in the grand context of redemption history in which a world steeped in sin meets the love of a righteous and reconciling Savior.
But how are we to get that message across if the terms Christian, truth, God, Scripture and sin are being received differently than how they are sent?
Is there hope for truth in a world without context?
Yes – but it takes some work. Mainly, it takes the work of cooler heads asking a specific pivotal question.
The question is this: What do you mean by ________?
Are you a Calvinist?
What do you mean by the word Calvinist? If you mean theologically argumentative, pious and missions-hating, then no. If you mean someone who leans on the sovereignty of God, then yes. Let’s talk more about this.
Are you an evangelical?
What do you mean by the word evangelical? If your question is framed by the Gospel and Scripture, then yes. If it is framed by a political or social idea, then perhaps not. Let’s talk more about this.
The difficult part of humbly asking someone to define their terms is that it requires conversation and dialogue – two dirty words in society today.
However, conversation and dialogue are two founding stones on the path to understanding. But this path is harder. It’s messier. It’s uglier, and at the end of the day, we ourselves might discover we don’t truly understand what we mean by the words we say.
Maybe we are actually more alike than we think. Maybe we are more different.
Maybe someone hasn’t fully thought through some things. Maybe someone has indeed spent a great deal of time coming to bedrock principles and truths and has much to offer.
Maybe we will have more opportunity to explain the Gospel and show others the Word of God if we are more engaged in conversation than a bumper sticker.
Maybe a people who ask more questions show they actually have more answers.
The question is, what do I mean by that?
by Hannah Hanzel | Feb 8, 2017
Death is far away, like a distant mountain that need not be climbed until later in life. Someday I’ll die. At my age and place in life, it doesn’t feel like death is a real thing. I’ve experienced the mourning of death, but of course, never death itself.
The Lord has brought me to think about death several times recently. First, I mourned the loss of a dear friend’s little boy. Then I mourned the death of another longtime friend’s dad. Several times I stood with friends and family where death was a close miss.
I don’t say all this to be morbidly introspective but to share my burning questions and thoughts. As I asked the Lord to speak, I found myself asking three specific questions. I challenge you to have a conversation with the Father concerning these following themes.
First, when I die, to whom will I pass my ministry? I pray that when I die I have at least one ministry that the Lord can still use. Have I been training someone to take up where I leave off, or have I been hoarding the work? Hoarding the work reflects a prideful heart. 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” I pray my services and ministry will be easily passed on just as the baton is passed in a race.
Second, when I die, what shall I hear at the pearly gates? Oh Lord, may I hear the everlasting call of the Father, summoning me to His throne. I know in my heart that, without a shadow of a doubt, I will be ushered in to heaven. But I pray I am approached as one who gave my all. Matthew 25:23 reflects the words of the Father to his servant, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things… Come and share your Master’s happiness!” I heard a speaker by the name of Darla Baerg say, in response to Jesus in this verse, “Oh Lord Jesus, it was my pleasure!” What a perfect response to aspire to!
Lastly, when I die, what shall Christ gain from it? Everything done in heaven and on earth is done for the glory of God. I pray my life is a drop in the bucket of God’s ocean of glory, a single stroke in the masterpiece of his honor. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” For the glory of God, even unto death.
I’m not a martyr, and I’m not suicidal. But to be a Believer and not think on death is to deny our ultimate goal, which is beyond death and in the arms of Heaven. I pray as you think upon my offered thoughts, you are encouraged to train up disciples, live life with God’s pleasure at heart and do everything for the glory of Christ.
by Caleb Gordon | Jan 19, 2017
A word from a father to a son is so valuable. When we invest in our children, we are making a lasting investment. When we sow the seed of God’s Word in our children’s lives, it makes an eternal difference. When we point our children to the foundation of Jesus Christ, it will have a lasting effect. Men, we need to be pointing our children to the right things. Football (sports in general) is fun, but it’s not eternal. Hunting is educational and good, but it’s not lasting. All of these things are good, but they are not the best. We need to be investing in our children, investing the power of God’s Word and prayer into them. Look at what David said to his son, Solomon:
“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it” (1 Chron. 28:9-10).
You see all of that? He is investing, challenging, and encouraging his son all in one quick swoop.
A. You know the God of your father.
Your child is watching how you worship! Your child is watching what you are worshiping. Your child sees what you are putting your whole heart into. Is it your job? Is it making money? Your child sees who you say God truly is. Your children see where your heart is truly fulfilled. That matters!
If you are serving another god, your children are going to see that, and they will follow your lead. Make every effort to show your children that Jesus Christ is the main focus. He has to be the one and only that your affection is placed on.
B. Serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind.
When we as fathers point our children to a heart that is longing to serve and please Jesus, it will bring a new sense of purpose and belonging. Many times we as men don’t have a whole heart or a wiling mind that is ready to serve or invest into the things of the Kingdom of God. We are quickly distracted and pulled away by things that have far less value.
The sad thing is that we attempt to fool God, but as we see in the verse He knows! He sees everything, and He knows when we are faking it. So we as fathers need to be placing our thoughts and our hearts at the feet of Jesus. If we seek Him, we will be able to find Him.
The flip side of that is very sobering. If we forsake or ignore the offer of Christ, we will be cast off forever. That’s earth shattering. That should cause in us as men to ready our hearts and lives accordingly. The question is: Are you seeking Him with a whole heart and a willing mind?
C. Be careful, God has chosen you to do something, SO DO IT!!
Look at that first phrase: “Be careful.” It means be watchful. Other places in the Bible, it says “Stay alert.” Why is that important?
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).
The enemy knows us. He knows our weakness. He knows where to push our buttons, and he will push them. So we have to be aware and mindful and careful of where we step.
The devil is crafty, and he knows that if he can get you off course by using another person or another event your life HE WILL DO IT! He’s a master button pusher, and we need to be aware of that. We need to be careful because if we are not, we will be devoured by him.
You see, the devil knows you are important to God, and that God has chosen you to do a mighty work. If he can cause you to stumble or fall flat on your face, he’ll get you to do that.
When we understand and chase after the idea that God has given you and me a mission to accomplish, we are less likely to get distracted by the foolishness in our lives. We stay focused. When we are focused we do what we need to do, and we get things done.
JUST DO IT! That famous line made popular by Nike. A phrase that’s a statement of determination, a declaration of confidence and boldness. In Jesus Christ, we have the power to do what we need to do for HIM! “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him” (Eph. 3:12).
When we have that confidence, nothing is holding us back from doing what we are called to do. When you know GOD Almighty has chosen you to accomplish something, nothing can stop you.
So as a father you’ve been called and chosen by God to speak life into your children’s lives. Speak Godly wisdom into the hearts of your family members!