The Word IS Beautiful

In our attempts to draw on the u saved, today's Western Church has spent a large percentage of their resources on presentation. I don't mean presentation in an evangelistic sense. I'm talking about aesthetics, promotion and other additional elements to preaching the Word.

As the years go by, the amount of money spent on such things has grown and continues to grow like crazy. I'm very alarmed by the results of these efforts. The number of Bible-believing Christians in American is plummeting. I took broadly accepted statistics on the success rate of youth ministry and applied it to the city I live in. In our town of 60,000 people, based on the number of students in youth groups at evangelical churches: we will statistically only make a lifelong change in the lives of fifty of them, at most.

What happens when this generation of young people are the parents, community leaders and the ones responsible for the religious beliefs of the following generation? Even if there are one hundred people in that generation that believe and try to pass the Gogspel on to their kids, what will this city look like in several decades. Frightening.

My point is, obiously dressing up the the Word of God doesn't work; neither does dulling it down or fluffing it up.

I will not settle for spreading less than the True Word which is as sharp as any two edged sword. I feel uncomfortable at the thought of being responsible for trying to reach a generation with lights, a rock-band worship team that sings poetic but unmeaningful words and trendy graphics. I dread the thought of telling Him at His throne, "but I attracted hundreds of kids to the church building." Only to hear His answer, "but how many of them received My grace?" When I stand before my Judge, I long to see a row of my purple-haired peeps there with me and hear, "Well done."

In the scope of eternity, I cannot help but challenge people, including myself, to drop the act. In the book of Acts, the Lord added to their numbers. Can we please, I beg you, begin to truly rely on the Spirit to guide our steps in furthering the Kingdom?

Dear disciples: please leave America.

My husband and I have recently been approached by some influential people (in our lives) about our approach to reaching the lost. The overtone of all of these conversations ended up being that maybe we're cut out for missionary work overseas somewhere. So for the past couple weeks I've tried to figure out why they think this is true and what that thought process implies for the local church and global church.

So here are as many of the attitudes and opinions (for lack of a better term) that I could think of that might have led those people to their conclusions.

-Western Christians have chosen to forget what our resources (money, time, energy, skills etc) should be spent on.

-The overtone regarding outreach has become very event based and internal (w/in church walls) and has removed a feeling of personal responsibility to share the gospel from believers.

-There is a very specific use for short term mission trips. If you are not going to establish a long term relationship in that context, you had better be edifying of assisting someone who is committed to discipleship there.

-God's Word, Grace, plan of redemption and other Truths do not need to be made attractive.

-One of the more controversial opinions I hold: church (in the Sunday Service sense) is almost completely for believers. Yes, people get saved in church services, but I think they come in knowing their void needs filled. The purpose of such a gathering is to worship God corporately and edify the Body so that believers rare equipped to GO OUT AND REACH THE LOST IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. Therefore, we shouldn't worry about pretty buildings, pretty people, offending people (as long as Truth is being spoken on Love & grace), and useless inefficient hype.

-One two-hour service a week is not enough spiritual food. On top of personal studies, some sort of group/one-on-one study and accountability is necessary for growth.

-the theology and doctrine within many sermons and musical worship is weak, if present at all.

-Everone is called to missions and everyone can do something for the global church outside in a global context. Anyone who uses the "I'm called to fill in their city" had better be doing some mega-hardcore local ministry.

-Salvation and discipleship is a personal process that is unique to each situation. It is not just a raised hand or a program or a class that people do and then they're a part of the club.

I think I've gotten most of the things that they recounted as evidence of our missional attitude. So apparently, the fact that I hold these opinions means I am a prime candidate for overseas missions. If I felt that God was asking me to do that, I would be gone ASAP. I've actually asked God if He wouldn't mind sending me somewhere else, couldn't I be of better use where people would just let me disciple people?!

Anyways, what alarms me is that the information they based their conclusions on seems to be necessary for the church wherever it's located. I feel like if this qualifies me for ministry outside of America, what does ministry look like in America? Why can't a person be passionate about discipleship and building the Body from the person up and not from the congregational meeting down? My husband sat in tears telling one person that the young people in our city are what he's passionate about. Almost like he didn't believe my husband, that person responded by saying AGAIN that we need to pray about what God really wants to do with us and where he would best use our passions. It's really hard for me to be comfortable doing what God's word demands of me when people tell me that I should do it somewhere else. Why do so many Christians feel like big church is for America and Jesus-style discipleship is for Indonesia?

One more false doctrine, thousands more deceived people.

I have been extremely hungry for God's Word lately. I, not of myself, have been digging way deep into the verses I've been reading. Not even so deep in interpretation but in the context, culture and geography. I feel super connected to what the Bible says when I can see where it took place on a map or read about the same details in a secular source. I don't need those things to believe it's true, but I do understand it better or I enjoy it more or something.

Anyways, I was tracking the Israelites exodus from Egypt when a Google ad on the side bar said this, "How Jesus REALLY Saves : Jesus saves, but not by 'washing away sins' or by 'appeasing the Father'".

I thought it was interesting so I took the bait. It leads to a website for the "New Church" which is founded on the Bible AND the writings of one Emanuel Swedenborg.

I'll get straight to the point. I have some issues with Swedenborg and his New Church. (I'm sure you didn't see that coming.) However, I'm a fan of the sandwich method; so let's start with something good.

+Swedenborg was way ahead of the trend. As I'll point out in a minute (okay maybe two), he preceded our post-modern universalist tendencies by a century or more. I know he had many predecessors, but it seems to me that people should make at least a little fuss over him considering the ruckus Rob Bell caused. So my positive peace of bread number one: trend setter.

Now for the meat, or my beef so to speak with Swedenborg. I briefly considered just copying some of the New Church doctrinal statements from the websites followed by the scripture it directly contradicts. But instead I'll just summarize and briefly address a couple of my findings:

-To begin with, they (the adherents to the New Church doctrines) believe that people become angels. In Job 38:4-7, then angels sang when God made the earth (before humans where made) and in Hebrews 2:7 Jesus was made lower than the angels when He became human. Even in Revelation, both angels and people are described worshipping God around His throne showing that in Heaven there will be both angels and humans, two separate kinds.

-They believe that everyone goes to heaven except those who choose hell, they don't think you have to believe in Jesus to have eternal life AND they don't believe God judges. Holy cow! Where do I start?! Let's go with John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life (emphasis mine) ,1 John 5:12-13 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and Psalm 7:11 God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.

+I think that's enough meat for today. I'm sure I've already lost a few peope. Positive piece of bread number two. Swedenborg and the New Church have something that sadly makes them very appealing to many people. In one of the explanations of what New Christianity is, they state that it makes sense because it's built on common sense. Congratulations folks! You've just tugged on the brain strings of many rational seekers. Unfortunately, human knowledge and reason on nothing worth putting faith in and it definitely can't save your soul. Why would you want to serve a god who is limited to the confines of you intellect?

I find many silarities between Mormonism and the followers of Swedenborg's writings. But I am deeply saddened by Swedenborgism for two reasons. One, the flesh wants to believe his bad doctrinal statements because they are so rational. And two, the heresies sound so close to the Truth that many could be easily deceived. Often it is a small phrase within a large paragraph that turns their whole position upside-down.

I'll close with this warning from God's Word, 2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

I Find God In the Mountains

I find God elsewhere, but it just doesn't feel the same as the mountains. During the business of life it takes a lot of conscious effort to sit down with my Bible to read and pray. It's an even bigger struggle to patiently wait until I feel the peace of God's presence. For me to linger even longer for His guidance in Bible study and my life's current issues almost causes over-exertion. The to-do list on my fridge calls my name.

It's hard for me to find God's joy, until I step on a trail. It's as if I scurry around and God is just an arm's length away. He's there and we converse, but we're not really intimate. As soon as I enter the refuge of the lodge-pole pines, I feel as if God has wrapped His arms around me.

Maybe it started at summer camp. I've been a Christian for about 17 years. When I was a child, my parents sent me to the mountains for at least one week every summer for kids' camp and eventually teen camp. Even when we were stationed at a military installation overseas, I managed to go to a retreat that included climbing Mt. Fuji. Much of my spiritual growth happened at these camps.

There's just something about being removed from cell phone reception, schedules and the burdens of "real life". I was forced to concentrate on the tasks at hand; hiking, floating a river and getting to know the Creator of the wonders around me. With so many distractions removed I soaked up everything each speaker said. When they set aside time for devotions, I found a place where I couldn't hear or see people. The only sounds were that of creaking trees, scurrying squirrels and the rushing river.

Jesus often retreated to the wilderness to be alone or pray. My favorite is in John 6:15 after He fed the five thousand. The people were amazed at His miracles. The verse says, "Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone." One of my biggest struggles is pride. This is often manifested in a desire to be recognized. When Jesus knew it was not time for Him to be exalted, He retreated to the mountainside.

The mountains became such a haven for me that even at a young age my parents recognized and utilized it. My parents did foster care and I connected with a few of the girls in really cool ways. Unfortunately one young lady, whom I consider a sister to this day, provoked me to my tipping point and ended up with a bloody nose. To calm me down and figure out what was going on my dad immediately got me in the truck and drove to one of my favorite spring hunting spots. We hiked around and just picked wild flowers and watched bear cubs while God slowly worked on my heart.

Did Jesus receive this same assurance from the Father while in the wilderness? I don't know. He sure went there a lot. One thing I am sure of; I am truly blessed to live here.

There Are Many Paths to Heaven

     I'm a good person and my kids are good people. Everyone takes a different road in this life. As long as you're not a bad person, God will let you in. I mean, what kind of God wouldn't?

     Well, a just one.

A fair one.

A perfect one.

     I work in a scurrying business. All professionals know that you're supposed to avoid discussing personal, political and religious topics at work. But in many places of business, even the most professional, those standards are drastically lowered. In some they have been tossed out the window. Everything is legal, even welcome. From a recent People magazine cover story to the latest local gossip, if you have to lower your voice it must be worth lending an ear. Every few months or so the conversation turns toward eternal matters. It usually starts when someone's beloved adult child has done something appalling and mom defends, "He's a good boy. He'll be over this phase in no time. We're good people." And then all of a sudden she must defend his place in heaven; game on.

     In 2009 an ABCnews poll reflected that 83% of American's considered themselves Christians. From what I see in our customers and employess, I would guess that of the 83% of the people who think they are going to heaven 60% think it's because they are good. And that's all God can ask right? In order to be perfect God has to have grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. But there must also be justice and consequences for actions. That means that God has to set a completely clear standard of what is expected, and then a set of consequences for both good and bad behavior. Every parent can understand this concept, God happens to be the only one capable of applying it perfectly.

     The standard is perfection. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  No one makes it, and in compassion God gives us a second chance. Ultimate redemption. Jesus dies in our place. It only works because He lived a perfect life. He made the cut, but suffered our consequences for us. This makes Him the only way. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the father except through me."  Not only that but the book of Romans says that anyone who does the right thing would only be earning God's duty to forgive them. But the only way grace works is if it is a free gift. So that accomplishes nothing. Those who believe in the justification through Christ are those whose faith is accounted for righteousness.

     It's not a gray area. You don't have to wonder what's going to happen when you reach the pearly gates. No one has to hope they're good enough. We're not. God has laid out the expectations from the beginning. We don't meet them. He laid out the consequences. Jesus took them for us. The only way to spend eternity with Him is to give up our selves as we know it and begin a relationship with our Creator.