There is no doubt that there is a humanitarian nightmare unfolding along the Southern border of the United States. Regardless of one's political views, particularly revolving around immigration, one thing is abundantly clear - we have a problem. This post will not even begin to attempt to address the larger issues regarding immigration (legal & illegal). Instead, this entry will focus on the particular humanitarian issues relating to the tens of thousands of unaccompanied juveniles flooding across the border, being housed in pretty horrible conditions, then being bussed to various locations around the country.
Let us first look at what is going on. Beginning several months ago, young people primarily from Central American countries as well as Mexico began coming across the border. While there has long been a flow of children and young adults, usually with their family entering the nation "illegally", this latest flood is a whole new situation - many of these children are unaccompanied. The story that has been laid out by the media and the current administration is that these children are just "innocent kids fleeing violence, gangs, oppression, disease, and looking for a better life. There is little doubt that conditions in those countries are often quite bad. On the other hand, while the public story has been that these children were simply fleeing conditions at home, the evidence points to a much more sinister event. Months ago, the US Government solicited bids to house and transport tens of thousands of immigrants, primarily children. This was before the current situation grew anywhere near its current scale. There is mounting evidence that this situation was engineered for political reasons, using children as pawns in that political game. But that brings us to how we, as Christians, should view the situation - and respond.
Returning to the opening paragraph - regardless of your views on the general issues of immigration, a major portion of the current flood across the border is made up of unaccompanied children - as young as toddlers. Many of those children traveled thousands of miles. Imagine a 3 or 4 year old child somehow wandering all the way across Mexico to enter the US. They were somehow helped (often by "Coyotes" - paid mercenaries who's "job" is to transport illegal immigrants to the US). Children. And they came with promises made - made of a better life.
But along with these children is another disturbing group - the young, extremely violent gang members - mostly affiliated with the infamous MS-13. They are coming across for opportunities - but none have to do with a better life, being law-abiding citizens, or even helping their "poor family at home" - but about furthering gang powers and drug distribution networks.
Yet another component of this massive inflow is the baggage of diseases long considered eradicated in this nation.
Our job, as professing Christians, is to see this first for the fundamental issue it is - a humanitarian disaster. Tens of thousands of children are being used as pawns and being put through some pretty awful conditions in the process. Regardless of their "legal status" (we can discuss that once we deal with the immediate issues), children need to see the love of Christ displayed.
The Old Testament contains the commands from God to His people to not abuse or take advantage of the "sojourner" while they are in the land. In fact it also says to leave provision for them (the remains of your harvest are to be left in the fields/vineyards for the widows, orphans, and sojourners).
Glenn Beck, the controversial media personality and political pundit has taken a great deal of grief for loading up semi trucks full of food, toys, and hope to help as many of these children that are still in detention as possible. The vitriol focuses on the need to "take care of our own first". While I would hesitate to lump Beck in with the term "Christian" (he practices Mormonism), he is indeed demonstrating the right attitude towards these children. Beck has said that these children should be returned to their families, but while they are here (the definition of "sojourner is someone who is somewhere for a time - but will be moving on or returning home), we need to treat them well, and love them.
And let us be really honest - again despite one's views on immigration - these are human beings that God created in His image. Mistreating them would be directly against what the Lord would have us do. We should "do good", we should share Christ with them, not only through our words, but through the actions of our hands. After we have made a concerted effort to care for these children, we should then take an honest look at how we got in this mess - And in the name of justice - we should seek to answer and call out those responsible for using (abusing) these children for political gain.
It is true that we have some huge issues to address in this nation regarding immigration. But we must first see these children as the human beings they are - and care for them.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Salvation Lost or Just Lost?
I recently heard of a young woman who had grown up "in church" who had made a profession of faith at a relatively young age, was baptized, and had "lived as a Christian" into her adult life. She had recently "decided" that she was now an Atheist. She insists she no longer believes in God or has any "need" for all that church "stuff".
Obviously, this has caused her family some serious pain. The question came up - "how can this be?" After all, we believe that Jesus meant what He said when he said in his exchange with some Jewish leaders:
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:22-30
The reality is - we are faced with some real challenges. Some say that they are not too concerned about her and her eternity, after all - she "was saved and baptized" years ago. On the other side of the coin, scripture clearly says that we are known by our works/fruits. And of course, we must go back to the above passage from John 10. Jesus did clearly state that NO ONE can pluck His sheep from His hand!
The Bible does picture the possibility of Christians "backsliding", as it were - engaging in sin, even returning in part to their "former selves" - but only for a short time. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is given, in part, for the purpose of steering, guiding, and convicting us. A truly born-again Christian cannot live in unrepentant sin, and there are few sins like renouncing your faith - and directly denying the existence of God!
Is the above case possibly the result of a profession of faith based on emotion, or because of pressures from family or friends? Could she have gone through the motions, yet not truly believed?
Another complicating issue revolves around her husband, an avowed Atheist who has never made a profession of faith in anything but himself. Could the situation be the result of ignoring the cautions of 2 Corinthians 6:14 to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers? Indeed, the Lord's admonition to avoid such entanglements (with a picture of marriage in sight) is a caution because unregenerate spouses can very much lead believing spouses down a backsliding path.
But the bigger picture goes back to the question: Can a born-again believer truly renounce their faith and truly believe there is no God? (see Psalm 14:1) Would that not be a demonstration of a person being "plucked" from God's hand?
I submit that one cannot renounce a genuine, born-again faith in Jesus Christ. You cannot renounce or lose what you never possessed. Sadly, the last century and a half have seen evangelistic efforts so guided and driven by emotion, and what has become "easy believism" (a soft, often ineffective version of the Gospel that essentially says to "come as you are" and leaves out repentance and the Lordship of Christ in our lives. It is a message that there is no expectation of real change, no expatiation of outward signs of faith that Christ and the Apostle Paul so clearly spoke of. It is a gospel that leaves out the Sovereignty of God, any degree of sanctification, and does not demand any change in the one making a profession. It is a dead gospel, leading to not only a dead faith, but a deceptive, faith that will lead many on that day to hear the saddest words of all "And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." Matthew 7:23
So - what spiritual advice can be given in the above case? I would suggest gentle persistence on the part of family and friends. Living the genuine gospel before her, praying for her, and watching. If her youthful profession of faith was real, the Lord will not give her peace in her latest actions. She will be unable to remain in that condition. On the other hand, if she is able to live out her life in her new, chosen "faith", then the answer is clear. She needs Jesus.
Again - you cannot lose what you never had.
Obviously, this has caused her family some serious pain. The question came up - "how can this be?" After all, we believe that Jesus meant what He said when he said in his exchange with some Jewish leaders:
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:22-30
The reality is - we are faced with some real challenges. Some say that they are not too concerned about her and her eternity, after all - she "was saved and baptized" years ago. On the other side of the coin, scripture clearly says that we are known by our works/fruits. And of course, we must go back to the above passage from John 10. Jesus did clearly state that NO ONE can pluck His sheep from His hand!
The Bible does picture the possibility of Christians "backsliding", as it were - engaging in sin, even returning in part to their "former selves" - but only for a short time. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is given, in part, for the purpose of steering, guiding, and convicting us. A truly born-again Christian cannot live in unrepentant sin, and there are few sins like renouncing your faith - and directly denying the existence of God!
Is the above case possibly the result of a profession of faith based on emotion, or because of pressures from family or friends? Could she have gone through the motions, yet not truly believed?
Another complicating issue revolves around her husband, an avowed Atheist who has never made a profession of faith in anything but himself. Could the situation be the result of ignoring the cautions of 2 Corinthians 6:14 to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers? Indeed, the Lord's admonition to avoid such entanglements (with a picture of marriage in sight) is a caution because unregenerate spouses can very much lead believing spouses down a backsliding path.
But the bigger picture goes back to the question: Can a born-again believer truly renounce their faith and truly believe there is no God? (see Psalm 14:1) Would that not be a demonstration of a person being "plucked" from God's hand?
I submit that one cannot renounce a genuine, born-again faith in Jesus Christ. You cannot renounce or lose what you never possessed. Sadly, the last century and a half have seen evangelistic efforts so guided and driven by emotion, and what has become "easy believism" (a soft, often ineffective version of the Gospel that essentially says to "come as you are" and leaves out repentance and the Lordship of Christ in our lives. It is a message that there is no expectation of real change, no expatiation of outward signs of faith that Christ and the Apostle Paul so clearly spoke of. It is a gospel that leaves out the Sovereignty of God, any degree of sanctification, and does not demand any change in the one making a profession. It is a dead gospel, leading to not only a dead faith, but a deceptive, faith that will lead many on that day to hear the saddest words of all "And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." Matthew 7:23
So - what spiritual advice can be given in the above case? I would suggest gentle persistence on the part of family and friends. Living the genuine gospel before her, praying for her, and watching. If her youthful profession of faith was real, the Lord will not give her peace in her latest actions. She will be unable to remain in that condition. On the other hand, if she is able to live out her life in her new, chosen "faith", then the answer is clear. She needs Jesus.
Again - you cannot lose what you never had.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Foolin' Yourself (with apologies to Tommy Shaw/Styx)
Heard this song for the first time in quite a while the other day. I should never be surprised at how God can use the mundane as an inspiration! This song is an example. The song, penned by Tommy Shaw, debuted on the Grand Illusion album of 1978, and was a hit for the group Styx.
But in listening again to the song this week - a few things struck me:
#1 - a whole new lyric adapted from the original (see below).
#2 - my mind was immediately turned to 1 Corinthians 3:18 - and the them of "fooling yourself" or "do not be deceived" throughout scripture. Considering that I was already in the middle of a sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, it gave me a title to that message.
How do we fool ourselves? Let me count the ways (ok - maybe not count them here - this could turn into the longest blog post in recorded history). But a few of the highlights might include:
But in listening again to the song this week - a few things struck me:
#1 - a whole new lyric adapted from the original (see below).
#2 - my mind was immediately turned to 1 Corinthians 3:18 - and the them of "fooling yourself" or "do not be deceived" throughout scripture. Considering that I was already in the middle of a sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, it gave me a title to that message.
How do we fool ourselves? Let me count the ways (ok - maybe not count them here - this could turn into the longest blog post in recorded history). But a few of the highlights might include:
- Failing to sincerely and regularly study the Word of God, but still try to speak to spiritual matters.
- Point out the sin in the lives of others, while ignoring the flood of sins in our own eyes.
- Continuing to live in sin - clinging to our "little pet sins" that we think don't hurt anything...
- When we say we don't "need" church - we can worship anywhere...
- When we put our personal preferences above what is best for the mission and ministry of the local church (think thermostats, seating, volume, music, and other comforts).
- When we substitute the smiling, sugar-dripping, propserty-teaching TV preacher for the local, God-called minister of the Word.
- When we say "I know what the Bible says, BUT...."
- Or the equally disturbing "I don't think God really meant ________"
- When we think that our children "going to church" for an hour or two a week will somehow fulfill the parental responsibility to educate our children...
- When we agonize over our families when they explode in bad decisions and choices - yet never speak up or share the Cure (Jesus Christ), or even live what we might could say.
- When one hops from church to church, seeking the "perfect church" where no-one every bickers, argues, complains, or says anything that might hurt your feelings.
- When you assume you are "a-ok" and "saved" because you walked an isle and repeated some prayer a preacher or minister had you copy... but you never really trusted Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, repenting of your sins (literally means turning FROM - rejecting).
- And for us preachers - if you have ever counted "raised hands" as salvations...
- If you think your God-rejecting, rebellious child or other relative is going to heaven because their name is on a church roll.
- You think you are a spiritually-mature Christian, yet still crave (and indeed NEED) the milk (Hebrews 5:12, 1 Corinthians 3:2)
How are so many deceived? Could it be that they simply place themselves in a voluntary position of being deceived? the Lord has given us His Holy Word - sufficient for teaching, corruption, training... (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
And now - for the cheesy re-write of the song "Foolin' Yourself":
You see the world through your sin-filled eyes
You are a troubled young soul, I can tell…
You think you have it all under control
But your heart is filled with sin and your head filled with strife.
And you’re foolin’ yourself, if you don’t believe it
Your killing yourself, if you don’t repent of it.
Why must you be such a deceived young man
With your future in Hell condemned to be?
How can you give into Satans plans
That could hide your light of your eternity young man?
And you’re foolin’ yourself, if you don’t believe it
Your killing yourself, if you don’t repent of it.
Get up! Get down on your knees!
In Christ, Satan can’t beat you, you know it
Come on, repent of the lot
Give unto Christ your heart and don’t blow it!
And you’re foolin’ yourself, if you don’t believe it
Your killing yourself, if you don’t repent of it.
Get up! Get down on your knees!
In Christ, Satan can’t beat you, you know it
Come on, repent of the lot
Give unto Christ your heart and don’t blow it!
What Do We Cling To?
In checking the church mail at the Post Office this morning, I encountered a gentleman who appeared to me to be 80+ years old and in bad health. His voice sounded like a someone with a serious case of pneumonia, and indeed he was coughing almost constantly. He also had an oxygen bottle "in-tow". He was pleasant enough when I said hello. He coughed and extended a hand to shake. In the course of the short chat that followed, I learned that he was just over 60 years old and was a lifelong smoker. He had a laundry list of reparatory troubles and I assured him that I would pray for him. While fairly friendly, his attitude changed when I brought up church and the Lord. He acted uncomfortable and it was then he decided it was time to go.
I watched as he climbed in his pickup truck with his mail and his little oxygen bottle, closed the cab door, and lit a cigarette. My mind then turned this into an object lesson...
This gentleman was being destroyed physically by holding on to cigarettes. Even at the point of constant coughing and the need to have oxygen all the time, he would not turn loose of that vice. Exactly how much different is sin in our lives?
Sin is the ultimate root cause of death. It was by the sin of one man that death entered in (Romans 5:12). It is for sin that we all deserve nothing less than both physical death and spiritual death. For far too many, the sin is more important than the sickness and death it brings. Even professed "Christians" continue to hold on to certain sins that they perceive as maybe "less bad". Particularly sad are those who, leaning on Jesus' words when He said that no-one can pluck His sheep from His hand (John 10:28), continue in glaring sin, seemingly unrepentant towards their actions and behaviors (or their inaction). They seem to want to "continue in sin that grace might abound" (Romans 6:1).
And much like this gentleman I met this morning - whether a professed Christian or not, most - when confronted with the things of God - even the mention sometimes, causes them to recoil and either get angry or flee.
God's Word does not list "denial" as a method of overcoming sin in our lives. Only is clinging to Jesus Christ with all of our hearts, minds, and souls can we have hope of defeating that which is killing us eternally. Only through the poured out blood of the Lamb of Christ can wash away our sins and cut the chains to our very slavery to sin.
It is only by genuine, redeeming faith (a gift from the Father, by His Grace) that we can, as Romans 8:37-38 tells us, be victorious overcomes. But we must give up clinging to those things that are destroying us - give up the sin that we so desperately seem to want to dwell in - and instead, draw near to the One who gave His life on the cross of Calvary for you. Cut the chains of slavery. Repent! Believe!
What are you clinging to?
I watched as he climbed in his pickup truck with his mail and his little oxygen bottle, closed the cab door, and lit a cigarette. My mind then turned this into an object lesson...
This gentleman was being destroyed physically by holding on to cigarettes. Even at the point of constant coughing and the need to have oxygen all the time, he would not turn loose of that vice. Exactly how much different is sin in our lives?
Sin is the ultimate root cause of death. It was by the sin of one man that death entered in (Romans 5:12). It is for sin that we all deserve nothing less than both physical death and spiritual death. For far too many, the sin is more important than the sickness and death it brings. Even professed "Christians" continue to hold on to certain sins that they perceive as maybe "less bad". Particularly sad are those who, leaning on Jesus' words when He said that no-one can pluck His sheep from His hand (John 10:28), continue in glaring sin, seemingly unrepentant towards their actions and behaviors (or their inaction). They seem to want to "continue in sin that grace might abound" (Romans 6:1).
And much like this gentleman I met this morning - whether a professed Christian or not, most - when confronted with the things of God - even the mention sometimes, causes them to recoil and either get angry or flee.
God's Word does not list "denial" as a method of overcoming sin in our lives. Only is clinging to Jesus Christ with all of our hearts, minds, and souls can we have hope of defeating that which is killing us eternally. Only through the poured out blood of the Lamb of Christ can wash away our sins and cut the chains to our very slavery to sin.
It is only by genuine, redeeming faith (a gift from the Father, by His Grace) that we can, as Romans 8:37-38 tells us, be victorious overcomes. But we must give up clinging to those things that are destroying us - give up the sin that we so desperately seem to want to dwell in - and instead, draw near to the One who gave His life on the cross of Calvary for you. Cut the chains of slavery. Repent! Believe!
What are you clinging to?
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