Read It For Yourself

Two verses that have weighed heavily on my mind recently are 1 Timothy 4:16: “Watch you life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers,” and 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” These verses have stuck with me recently as there have been several strong debates occurring within the Christian community with regards to some core beliefs. Unfortunately, many people turn to authors, commentators, and religious leaders to explain to them what the Bible says, instead of reading the Bible for themselves. There is nothing wrong with going to church, listening to a preacher, or reading a book in an attempt to better understand a Christian doctrine. The danger comes when we only do those things, and not actually read God’s word for ourselves. By relying on other fallible human beings to explain the Bible to us, we open ourselves up to their interpretation of the Bible. This becomes particularly dangerous when you stumble across a “believer” who has twisted scripture to say what he wants it to say, excusing sin or purporting a more comfortable faith than what the Bible preaches. This is exactly the type of preacher or teacher that 2 Timothy 4:3 is speaking of when it warns believers to be aware of teachers who change scripture to “suit their own desires.”

Granted, there are some periphery doctrines of the Christian faith that can be confusing, but the core of what Christians believe in is plainly read in the Bible. The question I have, then, for those that try and reinterpret scripture to suit their own desires is: Why is it so important for you to accept the Bible? If you disagree so strongly with a particular teaching of the Bible, why try and make the Bible say what you want it to say? Why not just disagree with that doctrine, or disavow the Christian Bible all together? I think I know the answer, because we all want to believe that we are okay in the sight of God, and we want God to be a comfortable God for us. It is the struggle between our sinful natures and God’s truth. By calling oneself a Christian, we are accepting the fact that our faith is built upon the Bible. By rejecting a specific doctrine or portion of the Bible, we are admitting that we cannot trust at least one part of God’s Word. If we can’t trust one part, then what is to say we cannot trust the whole thing? Thus, people do interpretive gymnastics to make scripture more palatable for ourselves and non-believing friends. To be honest, I don’t always like what the Bible has to say. But my dislike does not come from the Bible being wrong or intolerant; my dislike stems from the Bible shining a light on my sin, showing me where I need to improve, and also explaining to me that Jesus is the only Savior – something that scares me because I have non-believing family and friends. The Bible also teaches forgiveness, love, and peace, but not at the expense of holiness.

My encouragement to you, then, is to sit down and read the Bible for yourself. Read Matthew chapters 5-7, Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, and see what Jesus himself said about several issues that are still prominent today. Or, take some time to read John chapter 3, and read Jesus’ teaching on salvation, heaven, and hell. It is great to have questions about the faith; I encourage them. But I also encourage you to search the Bible first for answers, then, when questions arise regarding something you’ve read, seek wise counsel, not popular counsel, to help you decipher the truth.

5 Books Your Teen Needs to Read

1. The Bible – This seems like a no-brainer, but it still amazes me how many adults “understand” that their teen’s life is too busy and hectic to stop and read the Bible every day. The Bible should be read even before homework, and parents should hold their teen accountable to reading it, daily. Have your teen start by reading two chapters a day. It will take them ten minutes and instill a lifelong habit that will only benefit your teen.

2. You’re Next by Greg Stier – This book is my all time favorite “youth book” that many adults would benefit from reading. Greg Stier is the founder of Dare 2 Share Ministries. His book tackles 30 big questions people have about the Christian faith. Greg weaves wild stories of his life together with the answers to these questions. Each chapter is short, with a Bible study built in, including questions the teen answers in written form to help the reader remember what they read. You’re Next is highly entertaining as well as educational.

3. Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris – The Harris brothers wrote this book as teenagers, making it an appealing book for a teenager to read. Alex and Brett challenge teenagers to not live up to the low expectations society has of teens, but to do something great for God now. They destroy the myth that the teenage years are meant for fun and training, but instead urge teens that the Bible teaches them that they should be presently living for Christ. The chapters are short and inspiring.

4. City on Our Knees by TobyMac – Christian music mogul TobyMac writes a very inspiring book for teens, again, with short chapters and entertaining tales of Christians who set aside differences and strive to make a difference in this world for Christ. The book is a collection of amazing experiences Christians worldwide have endured or caused, that amazes the reader and inspires them step out on faith, in unity, to impact the world for their God.

5. Crazy Love by Francis Chan – Chan’s book is written for an adult audience, but the message is cross-generational: God’s love for us is so hard to fathom that it might seem crazy, and that we should feel and display such love for Him. Chan drives the point home that, when you really examine scripture, it becomes evident that there is no such thing as a “Lukewarm Christian.” Genuine Christians sell out for Christ in seemingly insane ways. The book is very convicting and motivating to truly make Christ first in our lives at great cost. The earlier we learn this truth, the better, making this book an essential for a teenager to read.

Judged by Love

I thought it fitting, since February is the “Month of Love,” to discuss how important a topic love is for Christians. The reason it is so important is because it is the standard by which our lives are measured by God. In 1 Corinthians 13:2-3, Paul writes that “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” Paul was not exactly a teddy bear, he could be brutal to both friend and foe alike, yet he understood the importance of our faith bearing the fruit of love so that others may see Christ through us.

This love is not just for those we like, or those we are attracted to, we see God’s call for us to treat our enemies well as early as Exodus 23:4, and Jesus commands us to flat out love them in Luke 6. So the big question is: How well do you love EVERYONE? You can say you love someone, but can they tell you love them by how you treat them, how you speak to them, and the time you offer to them?

Here is a test for you that I recently did, and failed miserably at: re-write 1 Corinthians 13:4-6, and instead of the word “Love,” insert your name. You’ll have to do some wordsmithing to make it flow together well, but when you do, read it to yourself out loud and ask yourself if you are really living up to what you just read. Then, ask yourself how you will improve in the areas you are not currently succeeding. It is important that we love others, as that is what Christ expects of us, for it is how people will see Christ here on earth.

Sincerely,
Pastor Adam

A Coward Free Heaven

On the recent youth retreat at Camp Bethel, we heard Francis Chan make a very interesting comment: “There will be no cowards in heaven.” I had never heard anyone say that before, and it kind of freaked me out a bit, as I have been a coward before. Francis based the comment on Revelation 21:8, which says, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” I had always focused on the rest of the verse but somehow overlooked the very first thing on the list: cowards.

Chan is right in his remarks regarding the cowardly in heaven. In Matthew 10:32-33, Jesus tells His disciples, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” We, as Christ-followers, will be put on the spot and it will take courage to not only confess that we believe in Jesus for our salvation, but also to act like Christians on a consistent basis. Paul warns Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12 that, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse.”

We often try to avoid uncomfortable situations and hardships, as that is natural for us. It is time, however, that we stand up for Christ, not by being political or arguing with a science teacher about evolution, but stand up for Christ by being “Little Christs” (that’s what “Christian” means) and love the unlovable, support the poor, defend the bullied, comfort the brokenhearted, and feed the hungry. It is surprising that such kind acts do bring persecution, but they will, and we need to be willing to stand up for Christ as He literally died for us.

In Him,
-Adam

The Lessons of Rigor

This month we are announcing our mission’s trip to Nicaragua,
from July 31st – August 6th. I am willing to bet that about half of
you might say, “Hmm, there’s nothing on the calendar that week,
but I wonder what might come up? It’s awfully early. We need to
wait and see what’ll be happening that week before we commit.” I
say this because I hear that a lot in ministry work. Many people are
afraid to commit to a church activity, or a family vacation, because
they are nervous that a coach might announce a “voluntary” camp
or a club leader may be requesting your teen’s services, so they wait
for the “just in case” scenario. I propose that, if the calendar is
blank and you are planning a family trip, or thinking of going on
the missions’ trip, you write it on the calendar and the extracurricular
activity can take second place to family time or church
activity.

I am not saying this as an outsider, but as a former athlete and
coach, and current pastor who is frustrated with how little time our
teenagers have to spend in church activities they used to enjoy, or
with their families, because we fill it with the “rigor” of school and
extra-curricular activities. What lessons do our teens learn from
having to be to school an hour early, and spend two to three hours a
night doing homework, forfeiting family vacations for basketball
camp, or a mission’s trip for a school-related, “voluntary” activity?
We teach them that responsible youths put their academic and
athletic life, as well as achievements, ahead of family and God. We
teach them that when they are married and have kids, it will be
more important to stay at the office and get the job done, or travel
away on business, rather than attend a little league game, because
achievement is the top priority. Is that the lesson we want our teens
to glean from their teenage experiences?

I am not saying this so that kids go on the mission’s trip. I believe
God will move the right kids to go on the trip. I am saying this as a
concerned adult who works with teens and sees teenager after
teenager forsake family for an AP class or an athletic schedule that
keeps a family from eating dinner together – ever. Such a schedule
does not demand too much of their abilities or energy, but it
demands too much of their allegiance. The grade, and the sport,
must come first; families and church are for graduates.

This former coach and former teacher disagrees. I think it is time
that we put Mark 12:30 to practice, and love the Lord our God with
our everything, not just our left-overs. I think we should care more
about what God and our parents think, and less what our teachers
and coaches think. You will have temporary fame and achievement
during your short four years in high school, most of which people
will forget about within four years of your departure (sorry to break
it to you). You will spend a lifetime on earth with your family and
an eternity with God; don’t you want a strong bond with those who
matter most? I use to be afraid of what my coaches thought of me
when I missed an open gym or off-season workout for a family trip.
Now, not one of my coaches even knows where I live. I received
many athletic accolades as a high school student, and not one of
them has transferred to career success as an adult. Did I learn some
great lessons as an athlete? Absolutely. The lessons, however, are
starting to gravitate from actual lessons to pride in accomplishment,
something that we are warned to be very careful about.

So next time your family is faced with a conflict of family time vs.
school or extra-curricular activity, I urge you to think long and hard
before you take these years for granted.

"Knowing" God Takes Work, Devotion

Last post we talked about how we were created by God with purpose, protection, and also a sense of belonging. This post, however, will address the crummy reality of our current lives living in the "post-fall" world. While we are are still created with a purpose by God, protected by God, and with the desire to belong with other people, we now have to work for our knowledge of God. Let me be clear from the beginning, we do not work for our salvation - we are saved by grace, but we do have to work on our relationship with God. When you look at the relationship Adam had with God prior to the eating of the fruit in the garden, you'll notice an intimate an natural relationship where God and man conversed and walked together in the Garden of Eden.

This is in stark contrast, however, of the relationship Adam and Eve had with God after disobeying the one command God gave them. In reading Genesis 3:8, the immediate response of Adam and Eve upon eating the fruit and hearing God approaching was illogical: they hid from God. Immediately upon the fall of man, Adam and Eve lost some of their knowledge of God. They knew God as creator and omnipotent. They knew that he could not be hidden from, yet they panicked and hid from God, an action that made no sense at all.

Ephesians 4:18 says of mankind, "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts." Because of our ignorance, we are darkened. We are not born with knowledge of God. Even as we grow up we lack an understanding and knowledge of the true God. We may know some things ABOUT God, but we don't know God. I know a lot ABOUT Tim Tebow, but if I walked up to him tomorrow and said "Hey Tim!" he'd look at me and ask, "Who are you?" Only until we place our faith in Christ can we truly know God, and even then, we have to work to understand Him more. It doesn't happen naturally or by osmosis.

What is my point? Too many Christians sit back and wonder why we don't understand our faith better, or we are lazy and figure salvation is enough for me so why bother trying to understand it better? Knowing God takes devotion, hence the term "devotions." We must be devoted in our study to better understand God. In order to do this, we must be "devoted" to reading our Bibles, and "devoted" to prayer. If you truly want to know God, you have to put in the work. This is a direct consequence of the fall of Adam and Eve. Before the fall, no work was necessary for man to know God. After the fall, the world in which we all live, we must work to know God better. Are you willing to put in the work?

-Pastor Adam

The "Good Stuff" We Were Created With

This past week in the high school SYMOTA group, we started a series that strives to discover who we are in Christ and what that means for our outlook and perspective on life. The first discussion we engaged in on Sunday dove into how we, as people, were created with significance, security, and with the need for belonging.

A unique feature of human beings is that we were created with a higher responsibility and purpose than the rest of creation. I know that sounds elitist, but the only thing that should be offended is a shrub or a duck. We, as homosapiens, are more significant than all the rest of earthly creation. We know this from Genesis chapter, 1 verse 28, which instructs Adam and Eve to “subdue” the earth. God goes on to tell his first children to “rule” over all of the living creatures. This is an important point because we were not created by chance, meaning we have a purpose to our lives. Every one of us has a reason for being here. God doesn’t make accidents, so when He made you; he made you for a significant reason. Plants and animals were created to offer God glory through their appearance, complexity, and beauty, but when all is said and done, their mission in life is to exist. Ours is not merely to exist. It is to accomplish great things for God.

As God’s children, we are also covered by a heavenly security blanket. We first see this in Adam and Eve as well. In Genesis 1:29, we read about how God provided for all of their needs in the garden. Even after their fall, God provided for them by fashioning clothes for them before banishing them from the Garden (Gen. 3:21). This promise of provision has not changed. Jesus reiterates this promise in Matthew 6:25-34, in which he urges his listeners to quit worrying about their physical needs, as God knows what they need and will provide for their needs. Paul reminds us as well in Philippians 4:19 that God provides according to His will. This is a significant concept that many of us fail to grasp. First of all, we need to rely more on God and less on ourselves. (This does not, however, mean to quit your job and just wait for God’s provision. His provision may be through the job he has provided for you!) Secondly, we must prioritize what a need is in our lives. Do we need cable television or a Wii? We often behave as if we do.

Finally, we also learned that God created us to live in a community with one another. Our lives, and our faiths, are not meant to be alone. Harkening back to Adam and Eve once more, we see this in God providing a wife for Adam, stating “It is not good for man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18). I will venture to say that God would also say, “It is not good for woman to be alone” either. I say this because our faith is not meant to be practiced in solitude. Not everyone is meant to be married, but everyone is meant to have relationships. The church, our Christian brothers and sisters, as well as the non-believing friends we witness to, all fill a need that God intended us to have – a need for companionship. This includes our fellowship as believers. Hebrews 10:25 warns us to not give up meeting together. Our faith, and our lives, were meant to be spent with others. We must avoid the temptation of holing up by ourselves and shutting the world out. Make an effort to find a good support system of believers whom you can trust to rejoice with, pray with, and be held accountable by.

Next week’s topic is the “bad stuff” of our nature that led to the fall of Adam and Eve, and what that means for us believers.

Till then,
Adam