FaithLife Ministries

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

1 Timothy 6:17

The Bible contains several paradoxes that our secular world just cannot accept. These paradoxes are like the following: To be considered great in the Kingdom of God we must be the least here on earth (Luke 9:48). Not many in our culture would ever agree with allowing themselves to be servants of others. Or how about loving our enemies (Matthew 5:44)? How many people treat their enemies kindly, let alone go near them? Or what about turning the other cheek when someone strikes us (Matthew 5:39)? Our human reaction is to strike back, not allow them to hit us again!

But perhaps the greatest paradox of all is that we get more when we give away. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” This just goes against all logic! When we give away what we have, we end up with less, right? At least, that’s the reasoning. But God uses a different kind of math. He says that when we give to others, we receive much more in return!

I believe that these paradoxes are given to us to understand the cost of being a disciple of Jesus. Jesus is letting us know that following Him has a cost, and that cost is in exact opposition to our secular world. We can either follow the ways of the world, or God’s way! As the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8, “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” Like Paul, we must desire Christ more than any earthly treasure. To truly follow Christ, we must let go of the things of this earthly life and put our complete faith and trust in Him for all that we need. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things we be given to you as well.” Having faith in Christ and being His disciple means trusting in Him to deliver on His promises!

So, the question is, when we choose to follow Jesus, what have we got to lose? When we follow Christ, we often must give up (lose) our wealth, our status, some of our relationships, our possessions, our comfort, and our desires. That is often very difficult for us to do and is what keeps many people from following Jesus. It is like the rich young man who asked Jesus what he needed to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to give all his possessions to the poor, but he could not do it because he had great wealth (Matthew 9:22). But to be truly blessed in this life, we need to let go of the earthly things that we are holding onto so that we might receive the abundant and truly valuable gifts of God. To the world this would seem ridiculous because they only see things from a worldly perspective.

But when we know Christ and trust in Him, we see things spiritually. When we follow Christ, what we actually lose is greed, worry, impatience, anger, fear, envy, and selfishness. And what do we receive in return? According to Galatians 5:22, we receive the fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control!” And we also receive God’s blessings in our earthly lives, whether they be financial, material, or emotional, according to His purposes. These are not gifts given to us to use as we want, but are gifts given to us to bless others and give glory to God!

The key for us is to trust in Jesus and know that God is always faithful, and that He will provide for us, care for us, and walk with us through whatever we face in this life! This allows us to live lives free from the worries of this world, and to live abundantly (John 10:10) and give generously (Proverbs 22:9)!

So, it’s not about what we lose, it’s about what we gain in Christ! Can I get an Amen!

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14

The secular world condemns people who are narrow minded. It is because they equate being narrow minded with clinging to values and traditions of the past, being closed to new ways of thinking, and not being willing to go along with those who have more progressive ideas. It’s the belief that new is better, old is outdated, and we must continually evolve as a society to meet the challenges of our times. And while new ideas, products and technologies can improve lives in the future, the reality is that not all of them do.

What we are witnessing today is the jettison of values that have provided a firm foundation for our society for thousands of years and the adoption of new values that are destroying our society right before our eyes. The traditional values of freedom, hard work, family, faith in God, and equality are being replaced by the values of more government control, socialism, LGBTQ rights, atheism, and diversity. And the truly sad part is that many people just don’t see it! They believe we are on the right path. But in reality, they are on the wide path to their own destruction!

Jesus said in his famous sermon on the mount that if we follow the wide path it will lead to our destruction (Matthew 7:13). Instead, He said we must take the narrow path which will lead us to life (Matthew 7:14)! He also said that only a few would find it. Why? Because most people tend to follow the crowd and are influenced to go along with whatever is popular at the time. It is often much harder to go against the tide and to stick to one’s convictions and beliefs when the world is going another way. And that’s why only a few follow the narrow road to true life. It takes conviction and courage to follow the right path!

When I was a senior in high school, I took my first computer programming class. It was taught by one of our math teachers, Mr. Wagner. One of the exercises we did in class was to run a program that simulated landing on the moon (this was 1971 by the way). Our task was to select the speed, pitch and direction to land the lunar module on the moon safely. As hard as I tried, I crashed every time because the speed, pitch and direction inputs had to be exactly right for it to work. In other words, there was only one way to land safely but an unlimited number of ways to crash and burn!

This was also demonstrated dramatically in the movie Apollo 13 when our astronauts had a crippled spaceship due to an explosion and had to return to earth. Their ship had many problems and they had to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere in a very narrow window or they would never return. One of my favorite quotes from that movie was when a reporter asked a NASA Director about all the problems and the possibility of success, he said that “this could be NASA’s worst disaster”. At that moment, the Apollo flight controller stepped in and said, “I believe this will be NASA’s greatest hour!” He knew the odds, but still had faith and trusted that they were on the right path, the narrow path, that was necessary to bring the astronauts home safely!

So, the question we must all ask ourselves is this: Are we on the right path in our life? Is it the wide path that leads to destruction or the narrow path that leads to life?

The wide path is what most people choose because it is easier and appears to offer more flexibility and options in our choices. Following a narrow path is much more difficult because it requires conviction to know that it’s the right path and the courage to trust and believe it is the right path no matter what the world tells us. We must take the narrow path if we want to end up where we truly want to be.

So, what did Jesus mean when He said that only a few find it? I think that many people falsely believe Jesus meant that only a few are chosen to receive eternal life and that the vast majority of people won’t be good enough to get to heaven. They are the people who think that they need to earn their way to heaven. But Jesus clearly indicated that He came to save all people. The only requirement is that they put their faith and trust in Him alone for salvation (John 3:16)!

I believe that Jesus was really saying that many people would rather choose the easy way and the wide path. For them the narrow path is too restricting and confining and requires them to follow certain principles that could result in their suffering, ridicule, or discomfort despite the potential gain. The few are those who follow Christ and who know that only Jesus is the way to true life (John 14:6). We cannot find the solution on our own, just like I could not find the exact inputs to land safely on the moon in my computer class. I needed someone to show me the correct inputs.

To find true life, we must put our trust and faith in Jesus alone, and He will lead us through the narrow gate. Sadly, out of pride, many people think they can get to heaven on their own instead of turning to Jesus. That’s why only a few will find it. Jesus does not exclude anyone from eternal life. People exclude themselves when they fail to put their faith and trust in Jesus to lead them there!

Being narrow minded spiritually means that we put our trust in Jesus alone and do not choose the wide path of the world and its corruption and sinfulness. Jesus is the gate to eternal life and only those who follow Him will pass through it. In John 10:9 Jesus says, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.”

I, for one, am happy to be called narrow minded! I believe in God, I follow Jesus, and I put my faith and trust in Him alone! I want to be on the narrow path that leads to life. What about you?

“We live by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:7

The Christian faith has come under attack in our increasingly secular world. We are living in the age of enlightenment where many people feel that science and reason should rule over faith and belief in God. Most of the attacks tend to focus on the Bible as an old and out of date book that is not in keeping with today’s world that we live in. For that reason, many people reject the Bible and its teachings and as a result are unable to believe in Jesus or have faith in Him.

But the world, and some Christians, have it backwards. As followers of Christ, we do not put our faith in the Bible, though we do claim is it God’s authoritative word. Instead, we put our faith in Jesus Christ alone. The Christian faith is based on what Jesus did on the cross for every human being. As Acts 4:12 states about Jesus Christ, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” When we try to base our faith only on the Bible, we end up dissecting Scripture and analyzing every single word so that we miss the obvious – it’s all about Jesus! In other words, having faith is simple, but understanding theology is hard! Let me explain why.

The Simplicity of Faith

To have faith in Jesus Christ, there are only 3 simple things we need to know and believe.

First, we need to recognize that we are sinful by nature. If we think we are basically good and rarely make mistakes, hurt others, or do evil things, we are not being honest (1 John 1:8). Throughout history humans have proven how evil and sinful we really are and can be. Those who think they are good believe they are just fine and don’t need saving. They think they are good enough to get into heaven on their own merit. That belief is contrary to Scripture.

Second, we need to acknowledge that Jesus died for our sins to reconcile us with God. We cannot save ourselves by keeping God’s commands (Romans 3:20), because we are utterly incapable of doing so. The only hope that we have rests in Jesus and His willingness to suffer death on the cross as the punishment for our sins. He took God’s holy judgment upon himself to pay the debt for our sins that we could not pay. In doing so, He made a way for all humans to be forgiven and reconciled to God. That happens when we put our faith in Jesus alone!

Third, the purpose of the Bible is to show us our true nature and to teach us how to live according to God’s design as forgiven people in gratefulness for what Jesus has done. The Bible contains the history of God’s love for His creation, His commands for how we should treat one another, His sending His Son Jesus to show us His love for us and to save us, and His wisdom for how to live a fruitful and abundant life. God’s Word was not written to argue with, but to submit our lives to and lead us to faith in Jesus (Romans 10:17), repentance of our sins (Acts 17:30), and love for others (John 15:12).

So, putting one’s faith in Jesus is simple. It’s about understanding who we are, who He is, and what He did for us. That’s it! It’s called faith because it can’t be proven with our earthly minds. We can only believe it through the power of His Holy Spirit and by submitting our lives to Him.

The Difficulty of Theology

Theology can be generally defined as the study of religion or a religious practice. Many people like to discuss theology to try and get a better understanding of a religion’s beliefs and doctrine. But very often those discussions descend into arguments about what this word or that passage really means, and in the process, people lose sight of the bigger picture. There are three main reasons why this theological approach is difficult.

The first reason that a theological approach is difficult is the issue of interpretation. There are frequent debates among theologians as to what the Bible says and what certain passages mean for mankind today. But often they are simply differences in our own individual interpretation and not necessarily God’s intent. They also generally do not affect its truth or the basic issue of faith and salvation through Christ. The Bible is God’s revelation to us and communicates His message to us as His creation. As such, it is meant for us to understand His love for us, to help us gain wisdom for living our lives, and enable us to know His character and draw us closer to Him.

The second reason that a theological approach is difficult is the proper understanding of both Law and Gospel. The Old Testament (the Law) contains the history of the Hebrew people, God’s laws for them under the covenant of circumcision, and the writings of the prophets warning the Hebrews of God’s judgment on them for abandoning Him and worshipping other idols and false gods. God wanted to bless them but couldn’t because of their unfaithfulness to Him. As a result, the Old Testament also contains the prophecy of a coming Messiah, who was Jesus, God’s own Son (Micah 5:2). His story is found in the New Testament (the Gospel) and creates a new covenant for all people through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. It is not about Law or Gospel, it’s about both! Knowing how Law and Gospel work together is necessary to understanding God’s message and His actions.

The third reason that a theological approach is difficult is the desire by many to make Scripture fit our ways rather than see it as a set of instructions for understanding and following God’s ways. Many people argue that the Bible is outdated and needs to be more relevant to our day and age. In other words, they want to change God’s Word, or re-interpret it, to fit their way of thinking rather than submit to it and God’s way of thinking. But if we begin tampering with God’s Word, then it no longer becomes God’s Word but man’s word. Given that man is sinful and corrupt, this would be unwise and lead us down a dangerous path to our own destruction (Proverbs 14:12).

When we try to base our faith strictly on a theological basis, believing in Jesus becomes more difficult because we end up arguing and debating theology and completely miss the salvation work of Christ on the cross!

Balancing Faith with Theology in the Christian Life

So, how do we balance faith and theology in our lives? To believe and live the Christian life, we must submit our lives to the Holy Spirit. When we do that, He gives us the ability to have faith and to put our trust in Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). He also gives us the ability to live lives worthy of Christ (Philippians 2:13) and enables us to understand Scripture and what God desires of us (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The Christian faith begins with that simple belief of who Jesus is, what He did for us, and why. That is all that we need to share with others to introduce them to Christ. But we also need to know and understand God’s Word so that we can stand on, and proclaim, His truth in our culture. We can then stand firm in our faith (1 Peter 5:9) and counter the secular arguments against it in hopes that it will lead others to put their faith in Jesus as well.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.”

Philippians 1:10

We live in a time where the need for discernment has not only become essential, but critically important as well. Whether it is economic statistics, climate data, news reports, medical information, or political claims, we all need to know what is true, real or good in order to be able to make informed decisions that affect our lives. While this has always been necessary, it is even more so today with the advent of social media and the plethora of news outlets that provide a never-ending stream of information and perspectives on our world.

Consequently, I believe that there are three main areas where we need discernment today: lies vs. truth, perception vs. reality, and good vs. evil.

Lies vs. Truth

In our culture today, many people base their opinions and beliefs on what they read and hear and not necessarily about whether it is true or not. We’ve seen how public opinion can be shaped by exaggeration or exploitation of an event so that the public is made to believe a lie, or a distortion of it, rather than the truth.  People will often rush to judgment and act first and ask questions later, which can lead to people being hurt physically or emotionally.

Let’s look at 2 examples. First, in the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, MO in 2014, the initial media reports said that Michael Brown was shot while having his hands up in the air and saying don’t shoot. When the truth came out, the police officer was exonerated because the victim tried to take the officer’s gun away from him while he was in his police car and was shot in the process. He never put his hands up or said don’t shoot. But many people today still believe that’s what happened. Second, there is the case of Ryan Braun, the Milwaukee Brewer outfielder who was accused of using PED’s (performance enhancing drugs) in 2013. He strongly denied it and even tried to put the blame on the person who tested him. He was believed initially, but eventually the truth came out that he had taken PED’s, and his career and reputation never recovered.

All of us hold strong beliefs based upon our own experiences and what we’ve been taught or read. We are also quick to believe or trust people we know well. Those attitudes are hard to change, even in the face of the facts or the truth. We often try to make the facts fit our beliefs, rather than let the facts inform our beliefs. But if we are to have discernment between lies and truth, we must look for the truth and let our actions reflect what is actually true, not what we are led to believe is true.

Perception vs. Reality

Everyone has biases and previous experiences that affect the way that we see or interpret events around us. That often causes us to not be able to see the truth or the facts clearly. Sometimes we only see what we want to see. For example, in many sports games when a judgment call is made, we immediately think our team got a bad call because we want our team to win. Only when we see the video replay can we verify whether the call was correct or not.

Another common example is in news video clips and social media posts where only a portion of an event is shown which can lead to wrong conclusions. It is a technique that is used in just about every political ad to denounce or attack an opponent. Words are taken out of context and video clips don’t show the entire dialog or event in question. As a result, the reader or viewer is given misleading information in order to sway or influence their opinion or vote.

If we are not discerning about everyday things like this, we will often fall victim to the content provider’s bias and end up either being misled or worse, believing a lie. The video clips and news reports we should be most concerned about are the ones that appear to validate what we already believe to be true. They are the most dangerous because we immediately accept them without question and often do not check their accuracy. On-line fact checkers are also of questionable value because they too have been proven to be inaccurate or biased as well. We must do our own research to verify that what we see or what we are being told is true. If we don’t, we could end up spreading misinformation ourselves and mislead others along with us. As the old saying goes, “when in doubt, check it out!”

Good vs. Evil

Perhaps the most concerning lack of discernment today is that of good versus evil. We live in a culture that promotes sexual perversion in all its forms, that accepts the killing of innocent babies in a mother’s womb as a “right” and completely legitimate for any reason, that justifies racism against some people and not others, that endorses the silencing of voices from only certain viewpoints, and that allows theft of property (e.g.- under $950 in CA). All these evils are now determined to either be acceptable or even good for society. It’s almost incomprehensible that our nation has gone this far in accepting, and in some cases, endorsing these evils.

The only reliable way to discern between good and evil is through the lens of Scripture, which is God’s Word. If we use human wisdom or secular thinking, we will end up doing what we reason is good rather than what God says is good. God alone is good, and everything He does is good (Psalm 119:68). Whatever is not of God is evil. But for many people, God’s Word is not where they look to define good and evil. Instead, the look to their own reason or that of the secular world, which are both sinful and corrupt. In effect, people determine for themselves what is good and what is evil. When we make that determination ourselves, we proclaim that we are the authority over what is good or evil, or what is true or false, or even what is fake or real. That kind of thinking is absurd and has no legitimacy. It will also lead to chaos and the destruction of any society. If everyone can determine these things by themselves then there is no law and no order, and as a result, no true justice!

How do we become more discerning? There are two ways.

First, we need to turn to God’s Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “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.” We get wisdom from God’s Word that enables us to discern what is of God and what is not of God. By reading and knowing God’s Word, we can more easily make that distinction in the events in our lives and world.

Second, we need to let the Holy Spirit guide our hearts and minds. Proverbs 3:4-5 says to “Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” By submitting our thoughts and will to the Holy Spirit, we allow him to discern for us and lead us in God’s way and not our own.

Finally, discernment goes hand in hand with patience. We need to wait for all the facts to become known before forming an opinion. Therefore, let us also be patient and use that extra time to go to God’s Word and His Holy Spirit for wisdom to discern the truth!

“For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the Lord; the hungry they leave empty and from the thirsty they withhold water.”

Isaiah 32:6

Introduction

America is a different country today than even 20 years ago. It has become more secular than at any other time in our history, and we have witnessed the decline in the respect of the Bible and Judeo-Christian values. America as a nation continues to distance itself from God and has descended into ungodliness. What is ungodliness? It is anything that is not of God. Since God is good (Proverbs 34:8), then anything that is not of God is evil. We are witnessing a culture in America that calls evil, good, and good, evil. Evil is not only accepted, but also promoted! The Bible warns us that, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20)

The Current Reality

America’s descent into ungodliness did not just suddenly appear the past two years. It has been slowly occurring over the past 60 years. I documented this decline in my book, About Face: A Call to Turn America Back to God, that I wrote and published in 2015.  In that book I document the decline in morality since 1963 across several statistics, including abortion, divorce, violent crime, drug use and church attendance. I also wrote about the rise in sexual idolatry, devaluation of life, greed, dishonesty, and lack of personal responsibility. This clearly shows that America has been descending into ungodliness for a long time. And we are now at a point where we have seen the emergence of gender self-identity, critical race theory, socialist policies, open borders, and attacks on police officers. These are all against God’s order and design and threaten the stability of our nation. Furthermore, this is also resulting in the coercion of Americans to accept these evils as if they were good!

It is obvious that America is becoming less Christian. Recent polls by Pew Research show that only 63% of Americans now identify as Christian and 30% of Americans now say they have no religious affiliation at all. This compares to 75% and 16% just 10 years ago! Furthermore, according to a 2020 survey by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, only 41% of Americans believe the Bible to be the Word of God and without error, and only 14% of Americans have a Biblical worldview! In other words, America has become more pagan as well!

It is also clear that many Americans have abandoned our Judeo-Christian foundation and have turned to the god of self and man’s wisdom instead of the one true God. As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “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. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”  

Not only that, but persecution against Christians in America has risen as well. Christian bakers are being sued, Christian professors and other employees are being fired, pro-life centers are being attacked, and mass shooters are now targeting churches. And while I have yet to personally experience this persecution, I know that the possibility exists that I could be targeted one day for a simple FaceBook post, attending a Christian event, or simply standing up for my beliefs. And if this continues, things could get a lot tougher for Christians in America.

Our nation is divided and headed down a self-destructive path. But let’s not forget that while ungodly forces may be currently running the media, corporate boardrooms, education, and many government positions, there are still a great number of Americans who trust in God, value our freedoms, believe in the free market economy, and respect our fellow citizens. All is not lost – at least not yet. There is still hope and time for America Christians to respond. But it will take courage, perseverance, patience, and prayer to bring this about.

It won’t be easy either because the Church in America is not unified around God’s Word and its truth. The true Church is who God will use to bring this about. Unfortunately, many churches and denominations have turned away from God’s Word as well and are following the same ungodly myths and beliefs Paul spoke about in his 2^nd letter to Timothy. So, the situation in America today is really not that different than when Paul wrote those words!

The Solution

First, to turn America away from its current path, we must start with the truth. God’s truth. The ungodly believe that each person can have their own truth, which is absolutely absurd on its surface. There has to be one standard of truth that applies to all people. And the only truth that will do that is God’s truth. So, we must ignore the media, academics, and government officials who make up their own truth and look to the Bible to find it! (Isaiah 45:19)

Second, we need to share Jesus! The only remedy for an ungodly person is to put their faith in Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their life. It is Jesus who makes us Godly and righteous and enables us to do good. He calls us to live like Him and love others as He has loved us. When we do that, we help and bless other people, and we are blessed in return. As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:12, we are to “live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.”

Our task is to do these two things and leave the rest up to God!

Two Final Thoughts

First, many people think that Christianity is doomed in America. But we know from Scripture that is impossible. Remember Jesus’ words to Peter in Matthew 16:18? Jesus said, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” Christ’s Church in America, and on earth, will continue, and it will ultimately prevail when He returns!

Second, many people doubt that Christianity can grow again in America. But we don’t have to look too far back in history to see that when the Church is persecuted, it grows! Christian missionaries were driven out of China by Chairman Mao in 1948, and the Church in China grew from 4 million Christians to an estimated 100 million today! More recently there is growth in the number of Christians in Iran and North Korea as well. Even in Europe, where Christianity has declined greatly, it is not extinct and is still very active in places like England, Germany, and Sweden.

So, let us not lose hope, but instead cling to it, knowing that our God is greater than anything or anyone!! To God alone be the glory, and may He use you and I to witness to the gospel and His truth to help save our nation from itself!

“The angel said to the woman, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He is risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.'”

Matthew 28:5-6

I was recently reflecting on our church’s Easter service, and it caused me to wonder how people who are not Christians might respond to the gospel message of Easter Sunday. In particular, how do they receive or understand the Easter message if Easter Sunday is likely the only time they visit a church, in person or on-line? As a lifelong Christian, I understand the Easter message very well because I have been brought up in the Christian faith. But do these non-Christians have the basic foundation to understand it?

The Christian faith can be summarized into the following set of belief statements:

1. God created the heavens, the earth, and man (in His image) and they were perfect

2. Because of Adam & Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, man was corrupted by sin

3. Man cannot escape his sinful condition by his own efforts

4. Jesus, as God’s Son, sacrificed His perfect life on a cross to pay the price for our sin

5. The resurrection of Jesus defeated death for us so we would not die but have eternal life

6. We can receive this eternal life by simply putting our faith in Jesus and what He did for us

These are the essentials of the Christian faith. However, the Easter message often only contains the last three statements about his crucifixion, death and resurrection. The first three statements are usually left out and perhaps assumed to be generally understood. But for those who have not been exposed to Christianity that is probably not true.  Without the foundation of the first three statements the last three might not make sense. So the significance and the enormity of what happened on that first Easter 2,000 years ago may be lost on those who do not know or accept the first three statements.

Consequently, if the Easter message is heard without an understanding of why Jesus did what He did, it is not as likely to gain acceptance. It’s like the story of Philip and the Eunuch from Acts 8:26-40. The Eunuch needed Philip to explain to him the passage from Isaiah that he was reading. He needed the context and the foundation of it in order to understand it. Philip gave that to him so that he could believe the good news!

I think there are basically four reasons why non-Christians find it hard to believe or accept the Easter message if that’s all they hear.

First, they do not accept it because they reject the idea of a sovereign God. Some Americans don’t believe God exists. Many others believe that even if God exists, they don’t think He is sovereign or relevant to their lives. Most of them choose to believe in science and in the big bang theory of creation over the Biblical account. Still others will argue that if God is so good, why is there suffering and pain caused by the world He created? If these issues aren’t addressed then people won’t, or can’t, believe in a sovereign God. And if they don’t believe God exists, is sovereign, or is relevant, then they are unlikely to believe in Jesus or His resurrection.  

Second, some people reject Christianity because they don’t believe that they are corrupted by sin. Many people believe that they are good people at heart. There’s even a country song out now by Luke Bryan that says he believes “most people are good.” If you or I asked a group of people if they thought people were basically good, most of them would say yes, including many Christians. But this is in direct contradiction with Scripture that says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 8:23) and “If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1^st John 1:9) It is difficult for some people to accept the fact that they might not be a good person. As a result, many people won’t accept that they are sinful by nature and thus they do not need to be made good, or righteous.

Third, some people reject Christianity because they think that they can fix their faults and shortcomings themselves. So, even if they accept that God exists and that they are sinful, they don’t think they need God or Jesus to help them overcome their sins and failures. They believe that if they just try harder and put forth greater effort they can change their behavior. But the truth is, we cannot fix ourselves by our own power (Ephesians 2:8-9). The only way to resolve our sinful nature is to take on the spiritual nature (Galatians 5:16), which means to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us to change.  Many people can’t accept that they need help from somewhere else to solve their sin problem, and so they reject the need for a savior.

But there is also a fourth and more rational reason why non-Christians reject the Easter message. Even if they manage to get past these first three hurdles, some of them reject the idea that Jesus’ death on the cross somehow took away their sin and made a way for them to live eternally. To me, this is the most reasoned objection, because it is so utterly fantastic to believe! How is it possible that one man’s death could take away the sin of everyone who has ever lived, died or has yet to be born? And yet, Jesus did just that! God’s Word tells us that “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” (Colossians 1:21-22)  Why do I know and believe this to be true? Because I also believe and accept that God is sovereign, I am a sinner and I need a savior!

For me, the bottom line of the Easter message means that if I put my faith in Jesus I will not die. This life of mine is not all there is. It is my present reality and I do enjoy it. But my faith in Christ is predicated on my belief in a sovereign God, my acceptance that I am sinful by nature, and my trust in Christ as my Savior from sin and death. I do not want to spend one day, in this world or the next, without my God or my Savior Jesus! His promise to never leave me or forsake me sustains me in this life (Hebrews 13:5). But the promise of eternal life, given to me through Jesus’ death and resurrection, gives me the hope of spending eternity with Him (John 3:16)! Being separated from God after our earthly death is called hell. And indeed that’s where those who reject God or fail to believe or put their faith in Jesus will end up (John 3:18).

It is hard to understand why people would choose hell by rejecting God and Jesus. But perhaps they wouldn’t if they knew and accepted that God is sovereign, they have a sinful nature, and they need a savior. And that’s where you and I come in. We are God’s chosen instruments to share God’s Truth as well as this good news of Easter. We can’t just tell them the end of the story and expect people to believe it without knowing why it was necessary. We must build a foundation on the truth of God, our sin condition, and our need for a savior. That creates the fertile ground for the seed of faith in Jesus to be planted in others. This not only produces hope in the life to come but also a changed life in the world they live in now.

May our sovereign God give us the words and wisdom to bring others to Him through Jesus, the Truth, the Cross, and a new life in Christ!

“When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord’, they said, ‘you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.'”

Acts 4:24

We live in a world that is full of violence, conflict, horrendous atrocities, and unending evil. All people have been created in God’s image, and throughout history, some people have done some terrible things to other people. Just recently we saw Russia invade another independent nation, Ukraine, without just cause and resulting in the deaths of many innocent civilians. There are conflicts in many nations over covid restrictions, government policies, and political ideologies, with some of them resulting in violence and injuries to others. We also read about the murders, kidnappings, rapes, thefts, and other crimes committed against one another in our news every day. And finally, there exists the bullying, verbal attacks and silencing of people just for having a different viewpoint.

And the one question many non-Christians usually ask is, “If God is so good, why does he let these bad things happen?” It is a legitimate question with a simple answer. It’s because although God is good, He gave people a free will. And people use that freedom for evil instead of the good that God intended.

When God created the world, Genesis 1:31 says that “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” So, what went wrong? Again, Genesis provides the answer in chapter 3 that sin entered the world so that humans were corrupted and banished from the garden of Eden and God’s perfection. It resulted from Adam and Eve’s decision to listen to Satan instead of God. It was willful disobedience. They wanted to “be like God” rather than just enjoy His presence. God could have created us to be totally obedient to Him. But then He would not have enjoyed our presence with Him as much as if we freely love being with Him. That’s the same love every parent wants from their children.

In our world today, many people look to find someone to blame for all this conflict and evil. Some blame God instead of Satan, some blame society instead of the individual, and often some blame others instead of themselves. Yet, God is still sovereign over all. What, then, does that really mean?

Sovereignty is not an issue of control. Since God gave us free will, He therefore cannot control what we do. So, being sovereign is not about control but instead it’s about who’s really in charge and who sets the rules. In other words, it’s about authority. A king has authority over his subjects. A board of directors has authority over a corporation. A government has authority over its citizens. A parent has authority over their children. In each of these cases, the people with authority do not control their constituents. They simply have authority over them and can set the rules and guidelines for what they determine to be of benefit to them. But they also establish the consequences for breaking those rules.

The same is true for God because He is the author of creation. He has all authority because He created all humans, the world, and everything we see and know (Genesis 1). In fact, He sent Jesus into the world to save us from our sin and evil behavior that we willfully engage in. Ultimately, God gave Jesus authority over heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18) because of His obedience to the Father and His authority. God (and Jesus) do not control us, but they do have authority over us and what happens when we “break the rules” that He has set for us. If God truly controlled us, we would never disobey Him and therefore never do evil, endure suffering, or need punishment.

So, God is not controlling, but He is still “in control”, or sovereign, and has authority over us!

Because God is good (Luke 18:19), every evil act in the world results from our disobedience to God’s Word, His will, and His commands. Since He is also a just God, we will suffer the consequences of our actions (Deuteronomy 32:4). And ultimately, we will be held accountable for them at the day of judgement. As Romans 14:12 says, “So, then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”  So, while people can certainly ignore God, or worship other gods, God is still sovereign over the earth and the affairs of man!

Fortunately, however, God is also a loving and merciful God. His desire is always for our good (Romans 8:28). That’s why He sent His own Son Jesus into the world. It was to save us from ourselves because we were helpless and unable to obey His Word, His will, and His commands. He used His authority and sovereignty to restore us into a right relationship with Him through the atoning sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin, our evil and our wrongdoing. And all God asks of us is to just put our faith in Jesus and submit to His authority in our lives! Only a loving God would do that. Only a merciful God would do that. And only a sovereign God could do that!

If all people would simply submit to God and His sovereignty, there would be no more war, violence, conflict, or evil in the world. That sounds heavenly, doesn’t it?

Let us continue to pray for that!

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

Psalm 95:7-8

I’ve often wondered why so many people are hesitant to accept Jesus when it seems to be a simple choice to me. Many won’t accept Jesus because they do not believe there is a God at all, let alone His Son. But people who believe in Jesus do so because they believe in God, desire to know Him in this life, and want to go to heaven at the end of their earthly lives. Others believe because the alternative that there is no God is less appealing. It’s often said that if you believe in Jesus and are wrong, it costs you nothing. But if you don’t believe in Jesus and are wrong, it costs you everything! It would seem to be an easy decision to me on that basis alone.

But one’s decision to believe in God, and Jesus as His Son, is not always that simple. I was brought up in the church, so I have known Jesus all my life. But it wasn’t until my first mission trip to Kazakhstan in 1996 that I finally vowed to fully commit my life to Him. In that process, however, I discovered that it is much easier to believe in Jesus than to live for Him. Perhaps that is why some people reject Jesus – they really don’t want to change the way they live!

But let’s go back to the decision to accept Jesus, receive forgiveness and salvation, and put our faith and trust in Him. We are currently witnessing a cultural shift in our nation towards secularism and away from God. What are the reasons that more and more people reject God (and Jesus)? Is it the attraction of atheism? Is it the perception of Christians as evil and hateful people? Is it the belief in science and the rejection of religion in any format? Or is it just about Jesus?

I believe that it is just about Jesus. I think there are 3 major barriers that keep people from accepting Christ – submission, accountability, and money. I would like to share my thoughts with you on each of them in some detail.  My hope is that it may help us all to witness the Christian faith more effectively to others by understanding these barriers.

Submission

We live in a culture here in the USA where children are taught, and raised, to make their own decisions and manage their own lives. Consequently, the decision to submit one’s life to another person is a difficult one for many people to make. Our human nature is to be selfish and to try and control our lives. But James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Jesus Himself said in John 14:23, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.” So, accepting Jesus means that we must submit our lives to Him, and then obey His commands. And that is something many people find very hard to do because it means giving up control of their lives.

Submission also implies living for God’s purpose rather than one’s own goals. Followers of Jesus are called to share the gospel with others (Matthew 28:19), witness their faith to others (Acts 1:8), and to live holy lives (1 Peter 1:15). Additionally, submission to Christ means living as he did and being examples to others. Consequently, Christians are commanded to be humble (Ephesians 4:2), to serve others (Galatians 5:13), and to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). These requirements are often very difficult for people to agree to. And that’s understandable, because by ourselves, we can’t meet them! We are all sinners and incapable of doing them without the Holy Spirit. So, we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, and that means submitting to His will instead of ours.

Accountability

We live in a time when many people won’t take responsibility for their actions. Instead, they believe someone, or something else, is to blame for their circumstances, which are usually caused by their own actions or bad decisions. It has become common to see people try to justify their actions and deflect their responsibility onto someone else. We live in a culture of blame that tries to deny individual culpability and project responsibility onto society itself! They believe it’s not the individual who is bad, but it’s society as a whole! This completely goes against what the Bible clearly teaches about sin being an individual action (1 John 1:8). As a result, people who don’t see themselves as sinners who are accountable for their actions do not see a need for Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and grace!

Furthermore, people who are atheists, or who just do not believe in God, are essentially giving themselves the right to determine what is right or wrong. They have no moral standard except their own and are unwilling to be held accountable by others for what they do. However, when someone accepts Christ, they are also agreeing to accept responsibility for their sins according to God’s standards as set forth in Exodus 20:1-17. They understand that God will hold them accountable for what they themselves do (Romans 14:12). And that makes them very uncomfortable. As a result, they are unwilling to be held accountable and will not accept Christ for that reason.

Money

The final barrier to accepting Jesus is money. Money is the world’s measure of success and is highly valued in virtually every nation and culture in the world. As humans, we work to make money to provide for ourselves and our families. Without money it would be very difficult to survive. The responsibility for making money belongs to each individual since we have the freedom to work and earn income. Therefore, people learn a skill, get a degree, or start their own business to make a living for themselves. In most nations it is not society’s responsibility, or the government’s responsibility, to provide a living for people. It is each individual’s responsibility to do that. As a result, people are brought up to work and make money to support themselves. The problem is, the pursuit of money to live a better life can become entrenched in our behavior.

Money becomes a barrier to accepting Jesus when people put it above trusting in God for their needs. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 that we “cannot serve both God and money.” He was indicating that we can’t serve both at the same time. When people put their trust in money, they are basically putting trust in themselves and not God. Consequently, they prefer to not to give up control of their income to Jesus. It then becomes a major reason for not accepting Christ, so they won’t have to put their trust in Him for their living. But that’s precisely what Jesus tells us all to do! It goes against our nature and our upbringing.

But note that Jesus doesn’t say to quit working or to stop earning money. He simply says not to make money our goal or idol, or to put our trust in it. The apostle Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:17 that we should “not put our hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put our hope in God, who richly provides for us with everything for our enjoyment.” Consequently, money easily becomes a barrier to accepting Christ and having to trust in Him rather than ourselves!

When we consider these 3 barriers of submission, accountability, and money, we can see a common thread in all of them. And that is the reliance on ourselves instead of putting our trust in God. This is the essence of the 1^st commandment from Exodus 20:3, “You shall have no other Gods before me.”  People do not want to submit to someone else, do not want to be accountable to someone else, and do not want to rely on someone else. It comes back to “me versus God” as the main issue.

So, as we share the gospel with others, we should be aware of these barriers and their common link – people’s desire to do what they want rather than what God wants. And it is what God wants that is truly beneficial for all human lives (Proverbs 3:5-6). The failure of humans to grasp this key principle is what causes pain, conflict, suffering, war, disease, hatred, and every evil in our world.

But we must not give up. Instead, we should continue to share the gospel with non-believers while understanding these three barriers. We must allow God’s Holy Spirit to break them down so that they might accept, and follow, His Son!