FaithLife Ministries

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Romans 12:1

We are now in the season of Lent in the Church. It is 40 days in which we reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross to break the chains of our sin, make payment (atonement) for that sin, and enable us to be cleansed and made righteous before a Holy God. Lent is a time where we can consider the enormity of His mercy and grace and how we might live sacrificially for Him and what He has done for us.

The Bible speaks a great deal about sacrifice. In the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament, God had set forth sacrificial requirements for the Hebrew nation for the atonement of sin or for uncleanliness. God is a holy God and a righteous God, and His desire was for the Hebrews to reflect that righteousness by remaining clean. And when they weren’t clean, they had to make sacrifices to remove their sin and uncleanliness. But the Old Testament also speaks of the sacrifices that the pagans made to appease their gods. That included human sacrifices, something that has always been detestable to God because mankind is made in His image!

Sacrifice is also at the center of the New Testament. Jesus came to make the ultimate and final sacrifice of His own life to atone for the sins of all people for all time. As a result, sacrifice has taken on a whole new meaning for Christians today. No longer are we called to make animal sacrifices for our own sins and uncleanliness. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross did that for us. Instead, we are called to offer ourselves as “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” according to Romans 12:1 above. And in Luke 9:23, Jesus calls His followers to sacrifice when he said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take ups his cross and follow me.”

How do we do that? We do it by sacrificing our desires for His will, sacrificing ourselves through our time and talents in service to God and others, and sacrificing our resources to help those in need. I would like for us to consider these 3 key areas of sacrificial living where we can demonstrate our thankfulness to God for His great and undeserved gift to all of us.

Sacrificing our Desires

All of us are born sinful and with an attitude of self-interest. We are also given free will to make our own choices. We all want to choose where we want to live, what we want to do, and what path in life we want to take. We all have a will and desire to control our own lives and our own destinies. Unfortunately, we often choose poorly. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” God is essentially telling us to trust and follow his ways and His path and not our own. That means that we need to sacrifice our desires and choices for His purpose and plan for our lives! This requires us to be humble and willing to trust Him for our daily needs as well as our future. We all need to look at our lives and consider where we can sacrifice our desires for God’s will for us. If we submit to His will for our lives, we will not only be blessed (Luke 11:28), but we will also discover a greater purpose and plan for our lives than we could ever imagine on our own!

Sacrificing Ourselves

Our time and our talents are the means by which we can serve God and others. While God knows our time on earth, we do not. Every day and every minute is a gift from God to be used to glorify Him and to serve others. Time is also a precious thing that can never be re-used, so we must spend it carefully and wisely and not waste it frivolously on ourselves. He desires that we use (or sacrifice) our time to grow in faith and to serve God and others as Jesus served us (Matthew 20:28). We also need to invest our time in things that matter to God, such as worship, prayer, and serving & witnessing to others. If we spend all of our time on ourselves and what we like to do, we are not obeying His command to love God and love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39).

Secondly, we can serve God and others with the gifts and talents that God has given to us. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:7 that we are each given spiritual gifts and 1 Peter 4:10 says that “each one should use whatever gifts they have received to serve others.” These talents and spiritual gifts are given to us to bless others and not to satisfy ourselves. When we sacrifice our time and talents to serve others, we are obeying Jesus and giving glory to God! (Galatians 5:13)

Sacrificing our Resources

There are two main resources that we are given that we can sacrifice to help those in need. First, there is our money. Money is a resource that is uncertain (1 Timothy 6:17) and that we must be careful not to squander or waste. The Bible also warns us against greed and the pursuit of money for our own gain. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 that “you cannot serve both God and money.” The money we have or earn is a gift from God (James 2:17) and it should be used for His purposes. That includes our physical needs but also the needs of others. We are commanded to be generous and to share what we have been given to help others in need. If we are not willing to sacrifice some of our money to help others or to serve God’s purposes, we are choosing to serve money over God!

Secondly, we have also been given possessions that we can use to help others, including our homes, our vehicles, our clothes, our food, and other things. We can share our home with those in need of shelter. We can use our vehicles to give rides to those who have no transportation. We can give our old clothes to those who have little to wear. We can provide food for the hungry and we can donate our old electronics & appliances to those who don’t have them. Remember the words of John the Baptist in Luke 3:11 when he told the crowds “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”

According to the dictionary, the definition of sacrifice means the surrender of something for the sake of something else. For the Christian, that means sacrificing something of ours for the benefit of someone else, and for the sake of Jesus! As it says in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

This Lent and every day, let us live sacrificially because of Jesus and for those He loves!

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

1 Corinthians 2:9

This month many Americans have been thinking about how best to show their love for the people who are in their lives. It is an annual Valentines Day tradition here in the United States. These people are boyfriends or girlfriends, spouses, children, parents, relatives, and close or lifelong friends. We shop for the perfect greeting card, the perfect gift, and the perfect words to express our love for them. We also want it to be memorable and special so that they know we truly love them!

But there is also someone else that we often forget to include in this expression of love. For Christians, we also need to include God & Jesus among those we love and cherish in our lives. While we believe in God and confess our faith in Jesus, do we also express our love for them? What words of love do we speak to the One who gave us life and the One who gave his life for us?  And what gifts do we give them to show them how much we love them?

So, let’s explore this love a little bit and then consider some ways that we can faithfully and genuinely express our love to both God and Jesus.

To begin with, we must acknowledge that it was God who loved us first. He created us in His image out of His love for us (Genesis 1:27). The apostle John said it more clearly in 1 John 4:19 when he wrote, “We love, because He (God) first loved us.” We humans had been separated from God since the Fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. But God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we might be reconciled to God and have everlasting life with Him (John 3:16).  Paul wrote in Romans 5:8, “God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were yet still sinners, Christ died for us.” Without God and Jesus, we stand condemned to eternal death. It was His love that gave us life and His Love that saved it!

Second, there is no love without God. God is love (1 John 4:16), so without Him there can be no love. God’s love is unconditional. As Christians. when we love others, it is God’s love flowing through us, not our own love. Sure, there is a worldly love that people have for other people. But if that love does not come from God, then it is either a romantic love or a conditional love. When our love is based only on our feelings for another person or on a condition of reciprocity, then relationships and marriages typically fall apart. When God and His love is at the center of a relationship, it becomes a “chord of 3 strands that is not quickly broken”! (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

Thirdly, our first priority is to love God. We must love God above all others (Exodus 20:3). Our love for God must take priority over every other person or thing. When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees which was the greatest commandment, He said we should “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) If we love others in this world more than God, then we are not acknowledging God’s love for us first. We are in effect taking His grace for granted and not reciprocating His love for us!

So, what are some ways that we can show our love for God and His priority in our lives? Here are four ways that we can express our love for God in meaningful and practical ways.

First, we can express our love for God through worship. Worshiping God is simply showing Him that we love Him above all others. We do this in church worship by singing songs of praise and adoration, speaking prayers of gratitude and faithfulness, acknowledging His Truth and Love for us through Scripture readings, and declaring our faith in Jesus through the Apostle’s creed or other statements of our beliefs.

Second, we can express our love by speaking His Truth in our world and sharing the gospel. The Old Testament declares that “All your words are true, all your glorious laws are eternal.” (Psalm 119:160) In other words, God’s Word is Truth. And Zechariah 8:16 says, “These are the things you are to do; speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgement in your courts.” In the New Testament Jesus tells us that we are to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). Jesus also gave us the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 to “go and make disciples all nations.” When we speak the truth and share the good news, we are demonstrating our love for God and the people He created!

Third, we can express our love by being obedient to God’s Word. Our obedience to someone is a sign of our love for that person. We are obedient to our parents because we love and trust them. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” When we disobey His commands, we sin. Thankfully, Jesus came to forgive our sins and when we repent, He will “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). Our obedience to God and what Jesus taught and commanded then is a way that we express our love for Him!

Fourth, we can express our love by loving others as God loved us. God sent His love to us through Jesus, and as part of the triune God, Jesus is also Love. He came into our world to also show us how to love others the way that God loves us. Jesus taught us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), to love one another (John 13:34), to serve God only (Matthew 4:10), and to serve others (Matthew 20:26). When we love and serve others the way that God loves and serves us, we are showing our love for Him!

God’s love for us is meant to be reciprocal and not just one-way. He desperately wants us to love Him as much as He loves us. Most of us have probably experienced what’s known as unrequited love, meaning that our love for another is not returned or reciprocated. It’s very painful. Can you imagine how God feels when His love for us is not reciprocated?

For the love of God, let us express our love for him daily and without hesitation!

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:10

As we begin a new year, we often do two things. First, we look back at the past year and reflect on what went well and what didn’t go well. Second, we then set goals or make plans to improve our lives in the new year.

As I reflect on 2024, I’m reminded that life on this earth is unpredictable and sometimes random for each of us and is something we have little to no control over. I’m sure the people of Asheville, NC, New Orleans, LA, and Pacific Palisades, CA had no inkling of the disasters that would strike them all in the past year through the devastating hurricane, terrorist attack, and wildfires, respectively. Their lives are forever altered by these events. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “in this world you will have trouble.” Sometimes these troubles come through random events or by simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Perhaps your life has been changed by something bad that happened last year. Or maybe it was something good. In most cases it was not anything you did that created this change. It just happened.

As we look to the new year ahead, we all would like to have control over our lives and want our goals and plans for 2025 to come to fruition just as we planned them. But the reality is that not all of them will. John Lennon of the Beatles once famously said that “life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” I believe he meant that there are things that happen in our lives that often change our thoughts, our decisions, and our paths in life in ways we could not have foreseen, both positive and negative.

So, if we can’t truly control our lives, why do we keep trying and acting as if we can? What is life really all about anyway? Is life just a random day to day exploration of our world and an attempt to accumulate things along the way? Or is there something more to life than that?

The key to life is understanding why we are here and how we should live. The answer to these two questions is what I want to share in this month’s blog.

1. Why are we here? We are here because God put us here. He created man in Genesis 1:27 and created woman in Genesis 2:22. Through Adam and Eve, all humans were conceived and born on this earth. We were not created from amoeba or evolved from apes as some scientists claim. That was just a theory that they made up as an alternative to God as our Creator and has no scientific proof! God created us in His image, by His design, and for a purpose.  Genesis 1:28 says that we were created to be fruitful, multiply, and rule over the earth. Exodus 20:1-17 says that we were also created to worship God and obey His commandments. As God’s creation, Adam and Eve had everything until they decided they wanted more than God. Their act of disobedience brought sin and separation from God into the lives of all humans thereafter. As our Creator, God is the One who is sovereign over our lives, not us!

Despite our disobedience and sinful nature, God did not abandon us or give up on us. As Paul wrote in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God loved us so much that He wanted to be with us forever. In order to do that, God sent his own son Jesus into the world to bear our sins and disobedience on the cross and reconcile us back to God through His life, death, and resurrection. Jesus did what we could not do. It was His death on the cross that reconciled us to God and gave us an eternal life with our Creator! God not only put us here, but He also wanted us here!

2. How should we live? All humans need to understand that it was God who created and designed us and therefore knows best how we should live and function on this earth. God gave us His Word, the Bible, to show us exactly how we should do that. There is an old acronym for the Bible that says that it means Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. All of our failures and our sins are a result of our turning away from our creator, ignoring His instructions, and trying to live life our way. If we keep doing this, we will continue to struggle and never experience the fullness of life that Jesus came to bring us (John 10:10). And while we can still make plans for our lives, we must also remember that Proverbs 19:21 says that “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it’s the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Jesus was sent not only to reconcile us to God, but also to show us how obedience to God’s Word is lived out according to His purpose.

So, what is the key to living a full and rewarding life? The key to life is recognizing God as our Creator and living according to His Word. It’s about putting our faith and trust in Jesus for what He did for us and allowing God to use us for His purpose. And it’s knowing that each time we fail, God forgives us and enables us to go forward and experience the full life He has designed for us to live! It’s not about accumulating the things of this earth, such as wealth, fame, and possessions (Luke 12:15). It’s about trusting God’s design and purpose and allowing Him to use us to bless others and glorify Him!

There are 4 things that we can do to experience this kind of life. First, we must submit to God and His will (James 4:7-8). It starts with recognizing God as our Creator and that He has a purpose for our life. Second, we should pray for God’s wisdom in how we should live (Proverbs 3:5-6). We don’t know all the answers, but God does. We just need to meditate on His Word and allow Him to reveal His wisdom to us through it. Third, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us on the right path (John 16:13). We need to think and act spiritually, not physically. And fourth, we need to be more like Jesus and follow His example of obedience, humility, service to others, and compassion (Philippians 2:5-8).

When we live our lives without God and ignore His Word, we will regret our choices and what our life has produced when we reach the end of it. As King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, living life without God is “meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Living life our way goes against our Creator’s design and purpose for our life. Therefore, the key to life on this earth is living life God’s way! Give it a try. You won’t regret it!

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth“

John 4:24

It is now December and the month where Christmas starts to dominate our thoughts, activities, what we watch on television, and what we listen to on the radio. And while much of the world only recognizes Christmas through Santa Claus, a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, and magical elves, for Christians, it’s when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus! It is also a time that we worship Him! The shepherds came to worship Him at his birth, and Christians gather today around the world to celebrate His birth in a manger and to worship Him on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Our Christmas worship consists primarily of Christmas Hymns and Carols such as Angels from the Realms of Glory, where we sing “Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn King!” But is worship only about singing praise to God?

In general, worship is most often thought of as the weekly Sunday church service where Christians gather in their churches to sing songs of praise, read Scripture, hear a sermon, pray, share faith testimonies, and recite creeds about our faith in Jesus. There are many forms of worship in today’s churches as well, from traditional liturgical practices with hymns and a set format with prescribed readings to contemporary forms that use modern music and are more free-flowing and spontaneous. However, the Bible does not prescribe a specific format for worship.

So, what is worship?  According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, worship is defined as “reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power.” Reverence means to honor or respect. Worship also means “to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion.” I think the three words in the second definition – respect, honor and devotion – provide a good foundation for what it means to worship someone. When we worship someone, we must respect them, honor them, and be devoted to them. It sort of sounds like a marriage, doesn’t it? Husbands and wives should respect, honor and be devoted to their spouses. The same goes for the Church. The Church is the body of Christ and the bride of Christ. We should therefore respect, honor, and be devoted to Jesus!

Let’s look at what Scripture says about what worshipping Him means. Throughout the Bible, the worship of God is described in various ways. For example, in the Old Testament, 2 Kings 17:35 worship is described as bowing down, serving, and sacrificing. In 1 Chronicles 16:29, it says to worship by giving glory, giving an offering, and to worship His holiness. In Psalm 100:2 it says we are to worship with gladness and joyful songs.  In the New Testament, Luke 2:37 says that the people worshipped by fasting and praying. In Romans 12:1 it says that we should offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. And Hebrews 12:28 tells us to worship with reverence and awe.

We respect God when we bow down to Him, give Him glory, worship His holiness, and worship with reverence and awe. We honor God when we serve Him and others, give our offerings to Him, and offer our bodies as living sacrifices to Him. We demonstrate our devotion to God through fasting, prayer, the sacrifice of our will for His, and singing joyful songs to Him.

The Bible also does not specify where or when to worship. In fact, in many Bible passages it says that people worshipped whenever and wherever they saw God at work or when they needed God’s help. So, worship is more than just singing praises to God once a week in church. Worship is living our lives for Him in a way that respects Him, honors Him, and demonstrates our devotion to Him every day! In other words, we must worship Him daily “in spirit and in truth” as John 4:24 above says. We don’t even need a reason or a problem to worship Him, just a heart full of gratitude for who He is and what He has done!

Although worship is something we can do anytime and anywhere, we should also gather with our brothers and sisters in Christ to worship each week at our local church or other churches we visit. The writer of Hebrews tells us to “not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) I am perplexed by Christians who don’t attend church regularly, choose to participate in online services only, or don’t attend a church at all if they are able to do so. It’s hard for me to understand why a professed Christian would not want to worship the God they claim is their savior and with other fellow Christians whenever possible. The Church is the Body of Christ and is intended for us to be together to “build each other up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

I often wonder if Christians who don’t attend worship regularly truly understand salvation. A Christian is someone who recognizes and claims that Jesus is the Son of God who died for their sins so that they can be reconciled to God and live with Him and Jesus for all eternity. Yet, in the Book of Revelation, the Bible describes worship in heaven as where we will worship God all the time. So, if Christians say they want to go to heaven where they will worship God all the time, why would they not want to worship Him daily now, or at least once a week? If a Christian does not want to worship God regularly here on this earth, why would they want to be in heaven with Him where they will worship Him continuously and forever? I believe this is something that all Christians need to consider in when, where, and how we worship God..

So, this Christmas, let us not just worship Jesus on Christmas Day, Easter Day, or on Sundays. Instead, let’s be true worshippers who worship Him every day through our thoughts and actions. Let His Spirit and Truth inspire us to respect, honor, and be devoted to Him above all others every day of the year!

“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Matthew 24:10-13

There is a lot of deception taking place in our world today. Some deception is acceptable, such as in war or in sports, that are used to win battles or a game. But there is also deception that is sinister and devious, such as fake news, false advertising, misinformation, and half-truths. This type of deception is being used most often by politicians to conceal the truth or advance their agenda, and by scammers attempting to manipulate people to steal their money. This is also nothing new. History is also full of deceptions, with the most famous being the Trojan Horse used by the Greeks to win the Trojan War that became a global symbol of deception.

All people are sinful, and we live in a sinful world, so we should not be surprised that deception is used quite frequently to persuade us to think a certain way, accept a belief, or trust a particular group or leader. This has been magnified in our time through advancements in technology, such as the internet, social media, and artificial intelligence (AI). These tools make it much easier to deceive others on a much broader scale and are more difficult to detect or refute.

One of the other areas where we see a lot of deception today is in the Church. This is also nothing new and has been going on since Christianity began in the first century AD. For example, immediately after Jesus’ resurrection, the guards at the tomb reported to the chief priests what had happened. The chief priests paid the guards to say that the disciples came and stole his Body to deceive anyone as to what had really happened (Matthew 28:11-15). They did not want the true and real story to get out!

Paul’s letters to the Church in Corinth and Galatia, and to Timothy, clearly point out the presence of false prophets and teachers in the early Church. He warned the Church to avoid them and to cling to the gospel as they were first taught (Galatians 1:6-7). As a matter of fact, the early Church assembled all of its bishops at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD to establish the true foundation for the Christian faith and to combat false teaching by some of the bishops.

Yet somehow today, there are those inside and outside of the Church who continue to try to deceive Christians and pull them away from the gospel and the true faith in Jesus. As Christians, we must be on our guard in order that we not be deceived into accepting beliefs or a theology that sounds good but is not true. As it says in 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 gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” That time has certainly come today just as it has in the past!

So, how do Christians protect themselves from being deceived about their faith? I believe that there are 3 common ways that Christians are being deceived today that all Christians should be aware of. Knowing them can help us to defend and protect our faith.

1. Denial of Biblical Truth

Perhaps the biggest deception that Christians face is to doubt the Bible and deny it is the Truth. In our society today, many people believe that every person can have their own truth and that there is no absolute truth. Or they try to convince us of supposed “errors” in the Bible and that therefore it can’t be all true. These deceptions try to draw us away from God’s truth and get us to accept man’s ways instead of God’s Word (Isaiah 55:8-9). The Bible tells us that God is truth (Isaiah 45:19) and that all His words are true (Psalm 119:160). Christians must trust in the truth of God’s Word and not let man deceive us into thinking we know better than God. We cannot allow ourselves to fall into the same trap as Eve did when Satan deceived her into believing his lie that we can know what God knows. Satan continues to use this deception to this very day, and very effectively as well!

2. Scriptural Misrepresentation

Another common way that some try to deceive Christians is through the misrepresentation of Scripture. Sometimes Scripture is quoted out of context which can lead some Christians to accept a belief that the Scriptural passage does not specifically say. One common example is Matthew 7:1 which says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” This is often used to tell Christians not to judge others at all. This passage is incomplete and goes on to warn us not to condemn others but rather to help them, and us, live out our faith. Scripture can also be twisted to support a theology or belief that is not Biblical or of God. Common examples are that “God helps those who help themselves” (Proverbs 14:23) or that “God will never give you more than you can handle.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) The intent of this deception is to misuse Scripture to justify man’s efforts, desires, or beliefs rather than God’s will and purpose. This is very dangerous and will lead us to focus on our own accomplishments instead of what God has done for us through His Son Jesus on the cross!

3. False Teaching

There is also a lot of false teaching in the Church today, from beliefs such as doing good works will get us to heaven (works righteousness), that following Christ will enrich us (prosperity theology), or that God’s Word must keep up with the times (progressive theology). Most of these deceptions come from inside the Church and from a reinterpretation of God’s Word or an attempt to modify it to fit today’s society. It often stems from the desire of man to add something extra to what God’s Word says in order to meet our expectations instead of God’s purpose. The Bible says in Malachi 3:6, “I, the Lord, do not change.” And in Proverbs 30:5 it says that “Every word of God is flawless.” In other words, His Truth, His Word, and the Gospel are eternal and do not change! Man should not try to change or reinterpret God’s Word to suit our own thinking. Instead, we should always be trying to align our ways with God’s ways and submit our will to His will and His Word!

So, as Christian, we should not allow ourselves to be deceived by these deceptions and be wary of those who try to draw us away from the Lord. Instead, we must be on our guard and stand firm on God’s Word, His promises, and our faith (2 Peter 3:17). We must all remember to “trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

“But you will receive power then the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

As Christians, we are all told to be witnesses for Jesus in our world according to Acts 1:8. That means that we are called to share the gospel (salvation through Jesus) and to be witnesses for his Truth and His life as well. But increasingly in America, we are told to keep our faith to ourselves and that our Christian views have no place in our government or political discourse. As a result, many Christians today are afraid or unwilling to speak up and witness for Christ in America.

I just finished reading Letter to the American Church, a book by Eric Metaxas. In this book he compares the Church’s response to Adolf Hitler in 1930’s Germany with our present-day situation in the United States. It is a warning for the Church in America to speak out against the evil that is prevalent in our nation lest we allow that evil to result in unimaginable suffering as the Germans did. And while we recognize that the German Christians did not know what was ultimately to come, not speaking out against the wrongs taking place at the time when they had the chance to do so is a warning for us today.

In 1930, the Lutheran Church was the dominant and largest Church in Germany and an important part of the German culture at that time. The Nazis desired to integrate all of the Protestant Christian Churches into the Nazi Party. So, in 1933, they formed the German Evangelical Church that answered to the Nazi Party. This new Church supported the racist and nationalist ideology of the Nazi party, banned the Old Testament, and replaced the cross with a swastika. Many Lutheran and other Protestant pastors and leaders joined this new Church.

But there was one German Lutheran Pastor who did not. His name was Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He saw the evil of the Nazi ideology and tried to warn the Church by speaking up. He stood up to the Nazis and was arrested, imprisoned, and finally executed just weeks before the collapse of the 3^rd Reich and Germany’s surrender. The others chose not to speak up for a variety of reasons, including fear of being arrested, being sent to a concentration camp, or losing their church positions. They did not have Dietrich’s courage nor his discernment. Instead, they remained silent and protected their church status. They gave in to the Nazis.

I agree with Eric Metaxas and believe the American Church today is at a similar crossroads. Will the pastors, leaders, and Christians in the American Church today speak up about the evil that’s taking place in our nation, or will we simply give in and go along to try to protect what we have?

I admit that this is a difficult question that each Christian must answer for themselves. Scripture tells us in 2 Timothy 3:12 that “In fact, everyone who wants to lead a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Jesus also said in John 15:18 that “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” Jesus goes on to say in John 15:20-21 that “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you that way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.”  In other words, when we speak up for Christ we should expect resistance, intimidation, and persecution in some form. But that does not give us an excuse to stay silent and ignore our calling as followers of Christ to be witnesses for Him and His Truth.

We have been experiencing the decline of Christianity in America for many years. Today, about half of Americans say they have no religion. It is obvious that the Church no longer has the influence it once had in America. The reality is that America has already become a pagan nation that is against God and His Word. This is evidenced by the strong support for abortion, gender self-identification, government restrictions on parental rights for their children, the pervasive public use of profanity, and the growth of evil and violent themes in television programs and movies. America has abandoned its Christian values and principles and now prefers to rely on pagan beliefs like science, man’s intelligence, and relative truth rather than God’s Word.

I think it’s important to state up front that the upcoming election won’t change this. Our nation is drifting more towards paganism every day. Our culture is eroding and no election or change in government will reverse that. The only thing that will reverse this trend is the Word of God spoken and witnessed to by Christians who are followers of Jesus Christ! If we want to save America, we must first save each American by speaking God’s Word and the gospel into their lives. We must remember that governments and elections will come and go, but God’s Word is forever! (1 Peter 1:25)

One of the challenges we face in America today that did not exist in 1930’s Germany is a divided Church. The Church in America is not unified today because perhaps half of all churches don’t believe in God’s Word nor take it seriously when it speaks to the issues of our day. These churches have adopted cultural values instead of relying on Biblical teaching. They have given in to the pagan culture. But that doesn’t mean we should just “throw in the towel” and give in. Instead, we who truly follow Christ must summon the courage to speak God’s Word boldly and without hesitation regardless of the consequences. To do otherwise would be to deny our faith.

So, what will we American Christians do? Will we speak up or give in? Will we have the courage to stand up against the evil in our nation today and speak up despite the persecution and risk? Or will we give in and stay silent, protect what we have, and allow the evil to continue?

I have chosen to speak up as this blog indicates. But I also intend to do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:14-17) and accept the consequences. As Martin Luther once famously said, “Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God Help me.”

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

Proverbs 14:12

I was recently driving somewhere I had not been before, and I made a wrong turn and ended up on a dead end street. The only option I had to get where I wanted to go was to turn around and go back to where I made my mistake and get back on the right road to my destination. As I thought about what just happened, it occurred to me that the same thing happens on our journey in life. As Christians we know our destination is heaven. But sometimes we take a wrong turn and end up at a dead end and not on the road to eternal life.

I think that dead ends are a wonderful metaphor for all people who take the wrong path in life and end up where they do not want to be. When that happens, the best option is to turn around and get back on the right path! As Christians, we call that repentance!

But let’s first define a dead end. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a dead end is “a position, situation, or course of action that leads to nothing further.” This can be typically thought of in 3 ways. First, there is no exit, such as a dead end street. You can either stay there or turn around and go back. Second, there is no advancement, such as a dead end job. You are as far as you can go in your company hierarchy, military rank, or current vocation. There is no way to advance from where you are without changing your destination. Third, you have reached a termination point, such as the end of a railway line, a cliff, or an ocean. You must find another way to get to where you want to go.

The same is true for our journey in life. I think it’s somewhat safe to say that most people want to go to heaven when they die. That is true for Christians, but also for Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, other religions. Even those with no religion would still like to go to heaven! However, many people still think that there are many paths in life they can take to get to there. But the reality is that there is only one way to heaven according to Scripture. Jesus said in John 14:6, that “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” As God’s son, He had the authority to say that and He could not have said it any more clearly. He is the only way to God and heaven!

So, we must beware of all the other paths in life that are dead ends that lead us away from God and heaven. I would like to share 4 major dead ends in life that most people encounter.

1. The path of wealth

We live in a materialistic world. It’s a world that offers wealth to those who chase after it. While we need some level of wealth or money to live on, it was never intended to be our focus. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:19-20 not to “store up for ourselves treasures on earth” but to “store up treasures in heaven.” He was warning us about the lure of wealth and the god of money. Jesus also said in Matthew 6:24 that “we cannot serve both God and money”! Money is an idol that can draw us away from God and take us down a path of ruin as well as separation from God. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Since we also cannot take our wealth with us when we die, the path of wealth is a dead end!

2. The path of fame

Many people desire to be famous. They want to do something important or be recognized by the world. In music, it’s to be a top performer with millions of global fans. In entertainment, it’s to be an actor in high demand for movies or television shows. And for others it’s to be a top social media influencer, a top physician, a top author, or dare I say, a popular mega church pastor! Although Jesus is the most famous person in all of history, He never sought fame. Instead, he came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He came to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). And He often told those he encountered or healed not to tell others about him (Matthew 12:16, Mark 9:9) and walked away from crowds that sought to make him king (John 6:15). Seeking earthly fame means wanting our way and earthly praise instead of God’s way and His blessing, and so the path of fame is another dead end!

3. The path of glory

Another path in life that many choose is the path of glory. Usually this occurs in sports where athletes and teams compete to see who the best athlete, player, or team is. The focus is always on winning and was exemplified by legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi who said, “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing!” But athleticism doesn’t last forever, and trophies are forgotten after the next season’s champion is crowned. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24). In other words, the race we want to run is the race to get to heaven, not the race to achieve a world record or a championship that will one day be exceeded by someone else. The glory we receive on earth is always temporary. Jesus said, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1) Earthly glory is fleeting and does not last. The path of glory is also just a dead end.

4. The path of knowledge

In our world of science, technology, and education, many people pursue the path of knowledge. They think the more they learn about our world, the more they can control it and manipulate it for their good or what they believe is the good of others. But this quest for knowledge often excludes God and His Word. They believe that science holds the answers or that humans are capable of knowing everything apart from God. That sounds exactly like what Satan said to Eve in the garden of Eden: “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5) Human knowledge is insufficient without God and His wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). God created the heavens and the earth, and humans can only try to learn what God already knows! Earthly knowledge cannot save us. The path of knowledge is another dead end!

It is obvious that none of these 4 paths lead to anything that lasts. They are truly a “dead” end because they only lead to death (Prov 14:12) and not eternal life. Why? Because the focus is on self and not God! God calls all of us to submit to Him, to worship Him alone, to sacrifice for others, and to serve Him. Whatever we strive for in this earthly world must be for God’s glory and purpose and not our own.

So, beware of dead ends! If we want to go to heaven there is only one way, and that way is to put our faith and trust in Jesus alone. As Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men way by which we must be saved.” Every path other than Jesus will result in a literal “dead” end to our life!

“Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.”

Psalm 106:3

It is abundantly clear that America is more secular today and has moved further away from God and his moral law as summarized in the Ten Commandments. Our country has become more concerned with individual rights and the freedom to do as each individual chooses and is less concerned with whether they are right or wrong for society as a whole.

For example, if we look at the issue of abortion, we will notice that those who are for abortion argue from the viewpoint of the “right” to do what they want with their own body. Those who are against abortion argue that abortion is murder and “wrong” and that it is immoral to take the life of an innocent baby. It is easy to see how this has become such a divisive issue when people look at it from two different points of view. One view looks at the issue from a legal perspective (Rights) and the other from a moral perspective (Wrongs).

Other similar examples include stealing, divorce, and adultery. In some areas of the United States, a person can steal up to $950 from stores without prosecution. Prior to 1963, divorce was only allowed for acts of infidelity (based on Matthew 19:9). Today, divorces are granted for virtually any reason. And when it comes to adultery (sex outside of a marriage between a man and a woman), these actions are essentially encouraged through legalized prostitution, pornography, and homosexuality. And this is supposedly all done in the name of what’s best for society, regardless of the moral issue of right and wrong!

Is there ever a good reason for our laws to make legal what is morally wrong? Let’s look at 2 other important questions that will help us to answer that question.

One question we should first ask is, why do we need criminal or civil laws at all? Aren’t most people basically good? If that were true, which it isn’t (Romans 3:23), there would be no need for laws because no one would break them. As Paul said in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” But we know that humans are sinful and capable of evil, and so we need laws to protect us from each other. Laws are designed to discourage harming another person and to punish those who do so. Without laws and justice, every society will devolve into absolute chaos. So, we need criminal and civil laws to ensure a safe society for all citizens.

For many centuries, western nations based their criminal and civil laws on God’s moral laws, such as do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, and do not commit adultery. These all come from His Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and were the standard that was used to determine what was wrong to do. Consequently, criminal and civil laws mirrored the moral laws and appropriate punishments were set when these moral laws were broken. But over time, western nations and governments have substituted God’s moral laws with what man, or the majority or the people, think they should be. This has only served to create more harm in our society as evidenced by increases in violence, crime, and divorce.

The second question we need to ask is, who determines what is morally right or morally wrong? There needs to be a consistent standard if society is to have a fair and unbiased system of justice that treats everyone the same and holds each individual accountable for their own actions and behavior. To answer this question, consider the 3 main options that are available.

First, each individual can determine for themselves what is right or wrong. This seems to be what many people want in our culture today. As it is often said by many people today, “everyone can have their own truth!” The problem with this option is that there is no standard of conduct that can ever be applied the same to everyone. Trying to construct a legal system based on individual perspectives and arbitrary morals would be impossible! As it says in the Judges 21:25, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.

Second, right and wrong can be determined by each government.  This is what seems to be happening more and more as governments want to establish their own rules for what is considered morally wrong to do. But this is also subjective and often changes due to changing political leadership or changing views of morality by a majority in each society. In either case, there is no objective standard that is consistent over time and applies to everyone equally.

The third option is the only one that makes any sense, and that is where right and wrong are determined by God, the Creator of all human beings. He designed us and therefore only He can truly determine what is morally right or wrong for all people no matter where they live. He sets the perfect objective standard for how people should treat one another because we were all created in His image (Genesis 1:27) and He has written His Law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). And when we disregard God’s moral laws, we end up only harming ourselves (Deuteronomy 11:28). Breaking God’s Law has consequences, whether we acknowledge God or not. There will be a Judgment Day (Romans 14:10-12). As the 1966 song by Bobby Fuller says so clearly, “I Fought the Law and the Law Won!” We will ultimately lose if we continue to go against God’s moral law.

So, is there ever a good reason for our rights under the law to take precedence over God’s moral law? The answer is clearly, NO! Although our freedoms and our civil rights are important for a safe and prosperous society, they should never be used to do harm to others. Morality should always supersede legality. The Apostle Paul confirmed this when he said to the Galatians, “You my brother were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)

The freedoms and rights that Americans or citizens of any nation enjoy should never give us the legal “right” to do what is “wrong”. Our actions and behavior should always follow God’s moral principles. We should always consider our actions as to whether they might harm others, regardless of our legal right to take those actions.

So, let us do what is right, not what we have the right to do. Let’s not turn our Rights into Wrongs!

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

1 Corinthians 12:27

The Christian Church today hardly resembles the one that Jesus’ disciples started 2,000 years ago. The Church began on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given to man (Acts 2:1-4). Those early believers started meeting together and “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42) They studied the Scriptures together, they ate together, and they prayed together. Luke goes on to record that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47) And indeed His Church has continued to grow since then, so much so that there are now over 2.2 billion Christians and 3 million churches worldwide (World Outlook, 2010 edition)!

And yet despite this incredible growth, His Church today is divided and fragmented. Individual churches still meet weekly for worship but rarely meet with other churches except at denominational gatherings. The Church can be defined as the global body of believers who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their savior. Although all Christians may no longer be unified in our practices, Jesus’ words before his bodily resurrection still remain the purpose of His Church. Jesus calls all Christians, individually and collectively, to “go and make disciples of all nations… and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) We were not called to build church buildings, make church members, or teach others to memorize the Bible. We are called to share the gospel and make disciples of Jesus Christ! That is the sole purpose of the Church and the reason it was established.

So, when is a church not His Church? Let me share 6 ways that this happens.

1. When a church accepts cultural values over Biblical teaching.

The Bible is essential for every Christian and is the Word of God that should govern our beliefs and actions. It was written to inform us of God’s commands, His faithfulness, His mercy, His Truth, and most importantly, His Son Jesus. It is the sole document that we must rely on if we are to obey God and put our trust in Jesus. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) When a church deviates from God’s Word and accepts cultural values or practices that do not conform to Biblical teaching, they are no longer being His Church. These churches are man-focused instead of God-focused and are no longer able to effectively make disciples for Jesus Christ.

2. When a church is focused on outward results instead of inward transformation.

Too often churches present their accomplishments instead of Jesus or the gospel to attract non-believers to attend their church or ministries. They tout their membership size, their well-known preacher, their talented praise band, their facilities, and their plethora of programs. While that may be a good marketing strategy, it leaves out the purpose for all of that, which is to preach Christ crucified for their salvation, and to call them to submit to, and follow, Christ. Local churches can be large, well-attended, and well known, but that does not mean that their church is full of disciples – people who desire to know God more and to daily follow Christ. When churches are focused on outward results instead of inward transformation, they cease to function as His Church was designed to function.

3. When a church prefers organizational efficiency over spiritual impact.

There are many churches that strive for operational efficiency. Their services start on time and end on time, and they get people in and out of multiple worship services with ease and efficiency. Their church is equipped with the latest technology to enhance the worship experience and provide instant information and connections. Their church also communicates with its members through multiple channels (email, text, etc.) and updates their website and social media pages daily. And while the church may run like a well-oiled machine, their ministry may have little or no spiritual impact on those who slide in and out of church with no contact or engagement with anyone. When this happens, a church is not His Church as it was intended to be.

4. When a church seeks political solutions instead of discipleship.

When Jesus came to the earth, He never sought political power or a human kingship. As He told Pontius Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36) Jesus came for the hearts of mankind, to show us how to draw near to God and treat one another. His message was one of love, submission, and obedience to God, not political or government control. The Apostle Paul went even further when he said that “everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” (Romans 13:1) Therefore, the role of His Church is to influence and change the hearts of mankind and not to leverage the government to enforce Biblical obedience. While Christians are called to participate in elections and the governing process as citizens, our priority as His Church is always to disciple others to become followers of Jesus. Only when individual hearts are changed will a nation change!

5. When a church is financially stable but spiritually bankrupt.

Jesus said in Mattew 6:24 that “You cannot serve both God and Money.” He meant that money could become an idol that we worship which draws us away from God. When we rely on money instead of God, we no longer trust in God for what we need. How many congregational meetings focus on the finances of the church rather than the spiritual growth of the church? How much money is spent on keeping the church operating while cutting back on expenses for discipleship and outreach? The Church was never called to be financially solid and always in the black. The Church is called to be “Salt & Light” (Matthew 5) and to serve others in Jesus’ name while trusting in God for the financial provision needed to accomplish His purpose. To be His Church a church must remember to “Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)

6. When a church lacks a missional emphasis.

As a church grows, there is a temptation at some point to get comfortable with what it does and how it does it. When that happens, the church ceases to change and becomes inwardly focused on maintaining and serving its membership. In the process it becomes deaf and blind to the world around it and no longer attracts non-believers. To remain vibrant and relevant to the community, a church must always have a missional emphasis and be ready to adjust to meet the needs of the culture that surrounds it. It should always be looking for those who don’t know Jesus in order to bring them into their church to find Him! As Paul said, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” (1Corinthians 9:22) When a church ceases to find ways to reach the world with the good news of Jesus, it is no longer acting like His Church.

My prayer is that all churches in the world will be His Church that not only draws people to God and His Word but also leads them to become a disciple of Jesus and follow Him! But they can’t do that without a spiritual focus and reliance on the Lord and His Holy Spirit. As Zechariah 4:6 says, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord!”

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Matthew 6:9-13

This month in the USA we will celebrate Father’s Day on June16th. On this day we show our appreciation and thankfulness for our earthly fathers. But it is important to appreciate and be thankful for our heavenly Father on this day as well. It is God the father who gave us life, and He is the one who sustains and provides for us in this life. I am thankful for my earthly father who raised me, took me to church, taught me Godly values, and loved me unconditionally during his 101 years on this earth. He also had a strong influence on who I am today.

One of my favorite movies is Kindergarten Cop. In this 1990 movie, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a tough police detective who must go undercover as a kindergarten teacher in an elementary school to try and locate the ex-wife of a dangerous criminal. The only clue he has is their 5-year-old child who he believes is in his class. To find her through their child, he interviews each student and asks them, “Who is your daddy and what does he do?”

As I think about Father’s Day I am reminded of this movie and this question. Who really is our daddy and what does he do?

My earthly father grew up on a farm and after serving in the Army in WWII, he earned a college degree in dairy technology. He then went to work for Kraft Foods and spent his entire 35-year career there, working first on cheese research and development. He spent the last 15 years supervising Kraft’s global cheese production at their plants around the world. His job was partly responsible for my desire to work internationally as well.

While my earthly father took me to church, taught me Godly values, and served others inside and outside the church, he did not share his faith nor try to disciple me spiritually. He kept his faith private while actively serving in our church and community. That was typical of many people back in the 1960’s. The person who encouraged my faith more than anyone else was my wife, Kim. She had a very strong faith when we met in college and was instrumental in my journey of faith and commitment to serving the Lord in ministry. But I also had some spiritual “fathers”, men who discipled and mentored me in my life and helped me to grow spiritually.

Over the years I have come to realize that while I love and respect my earthly father and my human spiritual fathers, I love and trust my heavenly Father more. God is my true “Daddy” (Abba Father) because He loved me so much that He sent His own Son, Jesus, to die on a cross for my sins so that I might be His child forever (John 3:16)! What God has done, and still does today, is greater than what any human father or spiritual father could do. He created me (Psalm 139:13), has called me to be His child (1 John 3:1), and has made me an heir of His kingdom (Romans 8:17)! He promises to never leave or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5) and to be with me forever (Matthew 28:20).

My heavenly Father also reminds me that my true home is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and that I am only a visitor on this earth. While here on earth He commands me to honor my earthly father and mother (Exodus 20:12) and to take care of the family He has given to me (1 Timothy 5:8). But He also calls me to follow His son Jesus (Matthew 16:24) and to lead others to Him as well (Matthew 28:19). These are things I am more than willing to do because of what He has first done for me!

God has also made me an earthly father and a grandfather and has given me the responsibility to disciple my children and grandchildren (Proverbs 22:6). It can be a challenge in today’s culture, but it is something I strive for every day because my descendants need to know who their true “Daddy” is as well. When I leave this earth and go to join my heavenly Father (and my earthly and spiritual fathers), my descendants need to know where I am and where their true home is as well. They also need to put their faith in Jesus and trust Him with their lives and families so they too can return home and enjoy what our heavenly Father has prepared for them and all who believe in Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:9)!

So, this Father’s Day, when we honor our earthly fathers, let us not forget who our real “Daddy” is and remember to thank God our Heavenly Father and praise Him for His work in our life! Let us also thank God for our spiritual fathers who discipled us and encouraged our faith. And for those of us who are men, let us seek to be spiritual leaders in our family, in our churches, and in our nation, so that God our Father is honored, glorified, and made known to all people!