Josh McDowell's Blog, page 18
June 8, 2020
WWJD During These Hard Times?
WWJD: What Would Jesus Do?
Lately I’ve been hearing people say, “2020 is turning out to be a very. bad. year.”
Agreed. And not in just one corner of the globe, but all around it. People are tired, worried, and afraid. So perhaps it’s time to revisit an acronym that peaked in popularity for Christians in the 1990s. This one: WWJD? The intent of the acronym — which appeared on loads of products, including jewelry, keychains, book covers, T-shirts, bumper stickers, school binders, and more — was to remind Jesus followers to pause and ponder before “doing.”
Asking, “WWJD?” to discern the answers to fluff questions (“Should I eat Cap’N Crunch or Cocoa Puffs?”) doesn’t work so well. But it does help us to answer big, weighty questions, including how to respond to our weariness, worry, and fears around COVID-19, and the hatred fueling racism.
What Would Jesus Do ? The Bible gives us two clear action steps Jesus took to manage fatigue and anxiety — and how to treat others.
Bridging the Gap blog #hurthealedwhole
For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.
What Would Jesus Do … to withstand life’s pressures?
If still housed in His human body, it’s possible that Jesus might endorse chilling with serenity candles, green tea smoothies, and feel-good reruns of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Touched By an Angel.
But in His low-tech life of dust and donkeys, the Bible tells us that when Jesus needed recharging, replenishing, and renewing, He didn’t turn to TV or Facebook, but to God. Don’t miss this: He got alone … in quiet solitude … with the Giver of Life. So, to be like Jesus, we also should unplug, turn off, and tune in to God without interruption or distraction.
It’s popular these days for Christians to set up “prayer closets” in their homes or offices. I’m not gonna lie; the first time I heard of a “prayer closet,” I thought it was hokey. But, really, what’s not to love about space you dedicate for God chats, whether in a corner of your bedroom or an actual closet. Especially if you post a sign on the door that warns, “God Sayeth, ‘Thou Shalt Not Interrupt!'”
June 5, 2020
Inspiration: Creatively Connect During Isolation
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For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.
God is Always Accessible to Us
In times of uncertainty and isolation, like right now during COVID-19, we can begin to feel disconnected from the Lord. As we physically distance ourselves from others, it is easy to feel a disconnection in our spiritual life, as well. So how do we reconnect? How do we draw near to God while our churches and Bible study groups aren’t meeting?
Many of us have relied on a pastor, small group, or a spiritually deep friend to bring us and keep us close to the Lord. Yet through His word and Spirit, God has given us all we need to be close to Him. We must learn to maintain and grow our spiritual depth on our own.
The first attribute of God we see in Scripture is His creativity. In the beginning He created. So we know that in times of uncertainty, we can creatively connect to the One who made us in His image. Perhaps we do so by taking time to connect with nature. Or by writing, cooking a meal, or listening to worship music while we puzzle.
Let’s think creatively and engage with God’s presence in ways that help us to deeply connect with Him. We’re all unique individuals, right? So let’s take pleasure and joy in discovering personal ways of growing our relationship with Him during this isolation period. God will meet us there!
We care!
Submit a prayer request to us here .
Do you want to have a relationship with Jesus? Start here.
We invite you to read Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter. This short apologetics classic examines the historical evidence about Jesus. We can trust that He lived, died, rose, and walks with us daily!
The post Inspiration: Creatively Connect During Isolation appeared first on Josh.org.
June 4, 2020
He Knows
John 6: The Feeding of 5,000
The miracle of Jesus feeding a crowd of more than 5,000 people has many lessons. But one currently stands out for me during these coronavirus times in which we live.
“Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed Him because they saw the signs He had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with His disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, He said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’” (John 6:1-5 NIV)
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For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.
He Knows & He Cares
Picture five thousand people on a mountainside (about the size of my hometown!). When Jesus asked His disciples, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?,” I can picture them turning to each other with raised eyebrows and saying something like, “Is He joking? Doesn’t He see how many people there are?”
They probably thought Jesus had heatstroke, because anyone could plainly see there that was no way they would have enough money, to buy enough food, in enough time.
The next verse is the kicker: “He was testing Philip, for He already knew what He was going to do.”
It doesn’t say, “Faced with a seemingly impossible situation, Jesus wrings His hands in worry, and with hopelessness in His voice asks, ‘What are we gonna do, guys?’” No. The crowd size and its physical need didn’t take Jesus by surprise. He knew. And He knew what He was going to do.
In Josh McDowell’s powerful talk titled “The Attributes of God,” Josh highlights three big words that describe some familiar attributes of God. The three words are omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. Josh simplifies them to make them easier for us to comprehend and remember:
Omnipresent = “He’s Here” |Omnipotent = “He Can Do It” | Omniscient = “He Knows”
For many of us, 2020 has been a tough year. Obviously, COVID-19 would be foremost, but each of us probably has additional issues. For my family, it’s friends who are struggling with the recent loss of loved ones, and others journeying through cancer and its treatments. We have several friends going through painful divorces, and others who have lost their source of income due to the virus.
I’m sure you, too, can list some tough circumstances that you or people you know are going through. There’s a lot of justifiable reasons to be anxious. BUT, there is a certain comfort in knowing . . . “He Knows.”
God, the Creator of the universe who placed the stars in the sky and named them, who is aware when a sparrow falls to the ground, who numbers the hairs on your head …. knows. He is aware of your situation. Nothing has taken Him by surprise. He isn’t wringing His hands in worry. He Knows.
Now, “He Knows” doesn’t answer our “Why?” questions. But when combined with what we know to be true of God — that He is good, loving, gracious, merciful, and kind — “He Knows” can bring us deep reassurance. This is especially true when we realize that through His son, Jesus, God has walked our human journey of pain, sorrow and disappointment.
Let “He Knows” bring you much comfort in these uncertain times!
NEXT STEPS:
May we pray for you? We would be honored! Please submit a prayer request here.
Christian singer Jeremy Camp has a moving song titled “He Knows.” May it encourage you!
Want to study God’s character? Please read the Attributes of God page on our website.
Do you want to know Jesus? Read Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter. We can trust that Jesus lived, died, rose, and walks with us daily!
Dave Bottorff is the U.S. Publishing & Resource Coordinator for Josh McDowell Ministry.
June 3, 2020
Does the Bible Disempower Women? (Part 2)
In my previous post I addressed the concern that the presence of women in the Bible is underrepresented. My conclusion was that the Bible tells of God’s interaction in history, and that this history took place within a male-dominated culture. I also pointed to many passages in the Bible that elevate women, despite the male-dominated culture. I sincerely hope that my previous post helps us to realize that the Bible affirms the importance of females in society — and certainly in God’s plans.
In this post I want to address three scriptural references that appear to devalue women. As God made males and females in His image (Genesis 1:27), we must start with the assumption that both are sacred in His eyes. Both, then, have extraordinary dignity, value, and worth. So how are we to view passages which seem to run counter to this?
Understanding Scripture Clearly
Genesis 2:18
“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (ESV)
Someone recently asked me what we were created for. The implied question was, “What is my purpose in life?” Creation implies purpose. In the creation story of females, it might appear to you that their purpose is to live as less valued assistants for males.
But let’s not be hasty in draw definitive conclusions about the social status of women using this verse. To take a more academically robust approach, we should look up the original Hebrew word for “helper” to see how it is used in Scripture. In doing so, we can compare how the word functions with clearer examples of social status.
The word for “helper” in Genesis 2:18 is ezer. It is used positively (“giving” help or “being” help) 15 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. In 10 cases, it is God who provides the help. (Deuteronomy 33:7 and 29, Psalm 20:2, Psalm 70:5, Psalm 89:19, twice in Psalm 121:1-2, Psalm 124:8, Psalm 146:5, and Hosea 13:9.)
I would argue that “helper” in Genesis 2:18 is not a term meant to belittle or degrade the female role. God himself proudly bears that same title for His people. (See Hosea 13:9.)
Ephesians 5:22-24
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” (ESV)
Perhaps more than anywhere else, this passage is used to challenge the value of a women in a marriage relationship. There are even certain traditions where husbands will use this passage as leverage for power and to demand submission from their wives.
Evidently, these men missed the verses of this passage which come immediately after:
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of His body. ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'” (Ephesians 5:25-31 ESV).
Notice that the passage on husbands is longer (likely because it was a much more radical statement for that culture). But even more to the point, notice how this passage is an even greater calling to a self-sacrificial position for men! Husbands are to love their wives “as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”
How did Christ give himself up for the church? He died! This powerful metaphor has strong implications. We could simply say this: “Wives: Submit. Husbands: Die.” As Paul makes clear, this model of marriage maps onto the beautiful dance between Jesus and His beloved church, the so-called “bride” of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelations 19:7).
Submission is an interesting word in our time. We struggle with it because we have seen how easily it becomes distorted into ugliness, with the lowered status of the one submitting. But Scripture presents submission in a different light. Christ Himself submits to the Father (Mark 14:36, Philippians 2:5-11) as part of His divine role in the in the life of the Trinity.
Notice that husbands also are to submit to their wives, though it in a different kind of way. Paul instructs the husband to give himself to his wife in a self-sacrificial way of love. That’s submission through and through!
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
“The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” (ESV)
This is one of the most puzzling passages in Paul’s writings. A first-impression reading seems to imply that women were instructed to remain totally silent during the entire church service. However, most interpreters would argue that the restriction is limited to a contextual situation. Not because they are trying to force the meaning into becoming more comfortable. But because earlier in this same writing, Paul gives instruction concerning proper decorum for women when they prayed or prophesied in the church (1 Corinthians 11:5).
As Paul recognized the prayers and prophecies of women in church, how should we understand Paul’s command for women to remain silent?
One suggestion is that women and men sat in separate sections of the church, and there was an issue within the Corinthian church where the women kept asking questions to their husband across the room. It created a noisy and distracting environment, and Paul is telling these wives to hold their questions until a later time.
A second suggestion is that Paul gives a prohibition for a specific kind of question-asking that was employed as a method of teaching. In Bible times, the teacher would often teach by asking questions, and Paul is instructing women to avoid that teaching role.
Another suggestion is that this prohibition relates specifically to the preceding section of Scripture regarding the evaluation of prophecies. Perhaps Paul limited this role to men?
A final, more appealing suggestion is that Paul’s statement that “women should keep silent…” was actually a quotation of what the Corinthians were saying about women, and Paul brings it up in order to rebuke the statement in verse 36. Biblical Greek did not use quotation marks, so the translator of Paul’s writing used contextual clues to determine when something is quoted.
My point in sharing these suggestions is not to solve this perplexing issue, but to show that we must be careful when we read it at surface value. We should not be hasty to use this passage as a prooftext that the Bible has an anti-woman bias.
The same must be said for other difficult passages such as 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 and 1 Timothy 2:12. My suggestion is to invest in good commentaries, to help you clearly understand these passages.
Final Thought
There are essentially two competing views that theologians have when it comes to the roles of women. One view, complementarianism, believes that men and women have equal status as human beings, but different roles designed by God to compliment each other. The other view, egalitarianism, believes that men and women have equal status as human beings and there is no differentiation between roles. Both of these views wholeheartedly affirm that men and women have equal status as human beings.
As males and females are made in the image of God, there is no difference in their right to receive the full benefit of the life offered in Christ (Galatians 3:25-28). If the value of women is denied, it is a grievous, heretical view that stands outside the boundaries of God’s global, ecumenical Church.
Matthew Tingblad is a communicator at Josh McDowell Ministry with a seminary education from Talbot School of Theology.
The post Does the Bible Disempower Women? (Part 2) appeared first on Josh.org.
May 28, 2020
It’s Okay to Not be Okay
I walked into Christian churches, concerts, and events for years with the goal of performing. As a pastor’s son, I thought I had an image to uphold, so I acted like I had my life together. I believed in performance-based acceptance. As long as I acted like I wasn’t sinning, everything was “good.” If my relationships with God and others were great, I believed that people would like and accept me.
But I didn’t have my life together. I was incredibly lonely, sinning with pornography, and feeling distant in my relationships. I was terrified that if someone found out who I was, they would reject me and expose my sin. I believed Satan’s lie that I was not enough. Thoughts flowed through my head as I labeled myself “unloveable,” “unworthy,” and a “failure.” I not only believed these false labels in the context of my human relationships, but in my relationship with God Himself.
I had hidden sin, in the place we are supposed to have the freedom to expose and confess our sin. But I felt like I needed to fake it, even in church, to be accepted. Can you relate?
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For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.
Imposter Syndrome
I think that we are subtlety told through the media that we need to be perfect. We live in constant comparison with others, believing they are better than us. Men are told they need to be strong and tough. Women are told they need to support and be perfect. We follow others we look up to, assuming they have it all together. Instead of giving us motivation to become better, this comparison tears us down. It reinforces that who we are is not good enough, and never will be.
I have even seen this in the Church, and I’m sure you have, too. No matter how much I tried to perform and be like a pastor, or influential leader, I still failed. No matter how much I read my bible and prayed, I still sinned. The lie is that if we have a good relationship with Christ, we won’t struggle or fail. If we are thriving, we won’t be failing.
Have you ever heard the expression “Fake it till you make it”? It’s the Imposter Syndrome. It says, “Don’t let anyone find out who you really are, because you won’t make it if they know who you really are.”
But here is the reality: we are not good enough on our own! This is why Jesus came.
Okay to Not be Okay
When we understand the grace we have been given, the true nature of the Gospel, it becomes okay for us to not be okay. We can understand our sin, but also understand the Savior who paid for it. Check out my friend Matt’s article on the guilt we feel, even when we are forgiven.
Sometimes it takes confession to realize that it’s okay to not be okay. Through years of porn addiction, I had built up the belief that it was not okay to not be okay. But in a moment of brokenness fueled by hope, I reached out and trusted others with my sin. When I admitted that I was not okay, I was met with love, understanding, and acceptance. I wasn’t rejected, like I thought I would be. This is when I learned that I could share my struggles, and not be looked down upon for them.
But there was a second lesson I learned: It is empathetically okay not to be okay, but when that okay hinders us from something that may better us, it’s not okay.
Christ Calls Us To More
The initial moment of confession, expressing our brokenness to another person is huge. But it should not end there. This life will throw many problems and pains at us. Maybe it’s divorced parents, a pandemic, difficult people, or sin. When we begin to open up about our pain, and process it with others, we are taking the second step to not stay that way.
To grow to become the person Christ created us to be, we must first confess, then process our sin and pain. Christ promises forgiveness in 1 John 1:9. But stopping there often does not produce the relational and emotional healing we desire. James 5:16 promises healing when we confess and pray for each other.
Our sin has consequences that we must deal with. We need to process the pain, understand the root of the issue, and take steps to remove ourselves from the problem. It is always tempting for us to isolate in fear. But we should run to others, with the hope of being met with love.
Dealing With Sin and Pain
To begin my journey of confession and repentance, I needed permission. It took following authentic people who told me that I could be real. I sat for years hidden in my shame and guilt, believing the lie that I was not good enough. I showed up to church weekly lying about my great life. But when the authentic people opened up around me, and told me that it was okay not to be okay, I gave it a shot. I confessed to God, confessed to others, and began to repent from my sin.
Practical steps of dealing with sin and pain:~ Take it to God in confession. Be real and share your true emotion.
~ Take it to others in confession and conversation. Be honest.
~ Process it. Name the fears, the sin, and talk through it with others. This is repentance.
That initial moment of opening up was terrifying for me. And it might feel terrifying to you. But don’t let your fear stop you. Confession is your first step to freedom. Here is your permission: it’s okay not to be okay, but don’t stay that way.
Jesus has paid for your sin in full, and God looks at you through Christ’s death. When you accept that good news, you become as white as snow in His eyes. So confess, repent, and experience health and freedom. Take the first step of confession!
We Care!
May we pray for you? It would be our honor to walk alongside you. Share your needs with us.
Would you like to know more about my story? Wounds, Shame, and Isolation: My Story
What does true freedom look like? Living in Freedom from Addiction
AUSTIN IS PART OF THE SPEAKING TEAM AT JOSH MCDOWELL MINISTRY.
The post It’s Okay to Not be Okay appeared first on Josh.org.
May 26, 2020
Inspiration: Trust God in Your Waiting
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For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.
Set Your Mind on God’s Faithfulness
Are you in a season of waiting? Waiting on healing, provision, change in a circumstance, or fulfillment of a promise? In the New Testament, we read of a woman who waited 12 years for healing. When Jesus came to her town, her determination to push her way through the crowd that considered her unclean was incredible. As she touched the fringe of His garment, she received instant healing. Jesus noticed, stopped, and asked who had touched his garment. Not to shame her, but to affirm her!
When the trembling woman owned up to it and fell at His feet, Jesus lovingly responded, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” If you’re uncertain of what’s coming, or weary in your waiting for God to show up, be like this woman. Set your mind on what you know is true about God’s faithfulness!
Perhaps quote a scripture, listen to a worship song, or go for a walk in His creation. Position yourself close to God and reach out, in even the tiniest gesture of faith. He will lovingly respond in His perfect timing. Believe! Trust! Sometimes our waiting is designed to get us to do just that.
We care!
Submit a prayer request to us here .
Do you want to have a relationship with Jesus? Start here.
We invite you to read Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter. This short apologetics classic examines the historical evidence about Jesus. We can trust that He lived, died, rose, and walks with us daily!
The post Inspiration: Trust God in Your Waiting appeared first on Josh.org.
May 21, 2020
Does the Bible Disempower Women? (Part 1)
This question deserves a lot of care. For the typical 21st century reader, there is a striking amount of testosterone in the Bible. Men undoubtedly played a large role in God’s story of redemption. The patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) were all male. The monarchs (David, Solomon, etc.) were all male. The twelve disciples were all male. Noah, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, Jonah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Paul, Peter… all male. Every identifiable author of Scripture is male. God self-identifies in the Bible with masculine terms.
The apparent “masculinity” in Scripture is a valid concern. But is there evidence that the Bible also speaks highly of women who played important roles in God’s grand story of redemption? Absolutely.
Did Males Matter More?
To answer this question, we must put ourselves into the mindset of Biblical times.
Back then, females were typically treated as the property of their fathers or husbands. Females generally lacked leadership roles. They were mostly confined to their homes for household chores. Their testimony was generally distrusted, and certainly carried no legal weight. Clearly, females did not hold equal societal status with males.
Yet it might surprise you to see how often a positive, empowering view of females appears in the Bible’s narrative. Women prophesied the words of God. Women played important roles in preserving God’s people. Women served alongside prominent male leaders like Jesus and Paul. Women held positions of leadership within the Church.
Specific examples:
Deborah was a female prophet and judge of Israel. In Judges 4 we learn that she successfully encouraged Barak to fight against Sisera for Israel’s freedom. Sisera fled Barak on foot and was killed by Jael, also a woman. Deborah had prophesied that the glory of the battle would not fall to Barak, because the God would give Sisera into the hand of a woman.
Other prophetesses in Scripture include Isaiah’s wife (Isaiah 8:3), Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14), and Anna (Luke 2:36-38).
God used a woman to punish Abimelech for his evil (Judges 9:53, 56).
Proverbs speaks highly of a mother’s teaching (Prov. 1:8, 6:20, 31:26).
The book of Ruth commends her exemplary faithfulness and trust in God. Ruth’s story is further honored by connecting her as a key player in the lineage of King David (Ruth 4:13-17).
The book of Esther focuses on God’s faithfulness at using a courageous woman to save His people.
A number of women traveled with Jesus alongside the disciples, and financially supported Jesus’ ministry (Luke 8:1-3).
Acts 17:4 tells us that many “leading women” were persuaded by the preaching of Paul and Silas.
Priscilla (also known as Prisca) and her husband Aquila became important companions of Paul in the formation of the early church. Interestingly, Priscilla is often mentioned first among the two, suggesting that she had a prominent role as a missionary.
In Romans 16:1-2, Paul commends Pheobe to the Roman church, instructing them to welcome her as a saint, and to help her with her requests.
In Romans 16:7, Paul compliments Junia as a woman “well known to the apostles.”
In Philippians 4:2, Paul asks for Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord. The fact that Paul called these women out by name indicates that they had a prominent position within the Church.
In 1 Corinthians 11:5, Paul gives instruction for women who were praying or prophesying in the Church.
And let’s remember that it was a woman who was the first witnesses of the resurrected Christ!
These biblical examples clearly show that females held critical positions of leadership and heroism, which God used to further His plans. Still, we can’t ignore that some passages of Scripture seem to suggest that women held a lower value than men. In part 2 of this post, we will continue our study by addressing some of those key passages.
Matthew Tingblad is a communicator at Josh McDowell Ministry with a seminary education from Talbot School of Theology.
The post Does the Bible Disempower Women? (Part 1) appeared first on Josh.org.
May 18, 2020
What Happens to People Who Die Without Hearing the Gospel?
Ephesians 2 tells us that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. When we repent of our sin and accept Jesus as our savior, He restores our broken relationship with God, that we might live with Him forever.
But what about people who die without hearing about Jesus? Will they miss out?
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This important question goes back to the Bible itself
Consider Acts 17:26-28, in which the apostle Paul preaches, “From one man He [God] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.”
Scripture appears to be saying that we are each ordained by God to be born exactly in the moment of history that gives us the opportunity to find Him. Some overlook this opportunity, some disregard it, and others eventually wholeheartedly accept Him.
Josh McDowell, for example, was brought up in an abusive family, which led to his pain … which led to his hate … which led to his quest to soundly disprove God … which backfired and led him to accept Christ as Lord. Josh had no idea he would make this about-face and step into his life’s purpose!
Because Josh chose to not cling to his wrong assumptions about God and Christ, God has used Josh over the past 50+ years to teach millions around the world about the historical and archeological evidence that supports the resurrection of Jesus and other claims of the Bible.
Effectively sharing the Good News
No human really knows how God will deal with the souls of those who die without hearing about Jesus. So not a single one of us is qualified to judge or assert who will or won’t be in Heaven. (There are bound to be surprises!) But one thing we do know is that God is good and just, and will do what is just.
Our tension with this question should only serve to motivate us to readily share the Good News of Jesus.
Remember, patience and humility should be our default when we dialogue with people about Christ. Jesus never bullied, blamed, or shamed anyone into believing in Him or following Him. He was gentle and loving — even as He suffered on the cross.
If you find yourself angry at non-Christians because they won’t “see the light,” the attitude you need to adjust is yours. In His amazing grace, God offers each of us the complete freedom to accept or deny Him as Savior. We need to offer this same grace.
Some blog posts with helpful tips on sharing your faith with others, so they don’t die without hearing about God’s amazing love and grace:
Christians: Dialogue With Skeptics Part 1
Christians: Dialogue With Skeptics Part 2
5 Reasons Apologists Get a Bad Rap
NEXT STEPS
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We invite you to read Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter. This short apologetics classic examines the historical evidence of Jesus. He died. He rose. He lives!
The post What Happens to People Who Die Without Hearing the Gospel? appeared first on Josh.org.
May 15, 2020
3 Reasons Suffering Serves a Purpose
Isn’t suffering a bad thing? Doesn’t it point to an uncaring and distant God? Let’s look at three reasons that suggest that suffering may actually benefit us.
Bridging the Gap blog #hurthealedwhole
For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.
3 Reasons We Might Suffer
1. In Genesis 3, we are told that humanity brought suffering into the world by rejecting God’s authority. As our just and good Father, God wants to protect us. But when we choose to sin, He honors the free will He graciously gives us. He may allow us to experience the consequences of our actions.
He does so not to rub our noses in our suffering, but to show us why living to His standard is good for us. And here’s the real good news: each time we repent, God is always faithful to dust us off and forgive us. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us! God doesn’t hold grudges; we get a fresh start every time. That alone should demonstrate the depth of love and grace God has for us.
2. Sometimes we experience suffering not because we have sin, but because we need to grow. Suffering is the classroom where deep growth can happen, if we buckle down and become good students. God wants us to mature, to consistently demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit: kindness, goodness, patience, love, joy, hope, self-control, etc. Learning to play nice with other messy, self-absorbed humans might require numerous trips to this classroom!
Remember that God isn’t focused on our perfection, but our improvement. He’s after committed hearts that quickly default to repentance and obedience. We can take joy in seeing our growth, knowing it pleases Him!
3. Sometimes we suffer because of the wrong choices — the free will — of others. Yet the Bible gives us this hope: that what others mean for evil, God will work out for our good. Remember what Joseph said to his brothers, after seeing them cower before him as the second-in-command of Egypt? “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Note that God was able to move Joseph from lowly slave to Pharaoh’s trusted advisor because Joesph held firm to his trust that God had a purpose for his years of suffering. Joseph’s attitude brought God glory. And the various skills and maturity that Joseph built up over the years as a slave and prisoner made him into the strong, resourceful man that the world would desperately need when the famine hit.
Friends, don’t assume that because you’re suffering that God does not care. Watch to see how He shows up. Watch to see your own growth. Watch to see how, like Joseph, you become the person God can use for big assignments! When we look at suffering in that perspective, we can view it as painful, but productive.
God loves us unconditionally. So we can trust that whatever we’re going through, He is with us. But recognize this: if you continually question God’s goodness when you experience suffering, it might be because you don’t yet fully believe that God loves you.
Friend, without that trust as your firm foundation, your faith will always wobble. You will waste a lot of time not trusting God. And you just might miss out on seeing how He orchestrates your periods of difficulty and suffering to produce good and reflect His power and glory.
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The post 3 Reasons Suffering Serves a Purpose appeared first on Josh.org.
May 11, 2020
If God Loves Us, Why Do We Face Persecution?
While we see this happening against numerous religions, perhaps the most persecuted group are Christians. Countless believers have been tortured and killed for confessing Jesus as Lord. Even in the Western world where we have the Constitutional right to freedom of religion, we experience subtle forms of persecution. With every passing year, additional pressure is being put on churches and individual believers to abandon or compromise their convictions.
Our response is telling. Some of us feel betrayed by God because things aren’t going well for us. But despite what some Christian preachers say, the bible doesn’t promise a comfortable life. Many of are walking around feeling angry, weak, and defeated. Is God failing us, or could it be that we’ve bought into wrong Christian teaching?
If God really loves us, why do we experience persecution?
I can understand where this question comes from. Our diet in the Western world has been pleasure and comfort. When we divorce this privilege from our gratitude, we turn them into demands. So even the subtlest pricks of persecution sting like hornets.
We often connect God’s love with our own comfort. So when we follow God and discover that it actually costs us something, we question God’s love and start flirting with the idea that Christianity isn’t “working out” for us.
But the real issue is not a failure on God’s part. The real issue is a theological gap in our understanding of suffering. Consider the following verses:
Acts 5:41: “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name [Jesus].”
Romans 5:3: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.”
Romans 8:17b-8:18: “We share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
2 Corinthians 1:5: “For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”
Philippians 1:29: “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,”
Philippians 3:10: “I want to know Christ — yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,”
1 Thessalonians 1:6: “You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.”
2 Timothy 1:8: “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.”
These verses are remarkable! What we learn from them is that suffering takes a whole different perspective in the Bible. As bizarre as this may sound to the Western ear, Christians don’t experience persecution in sprite of God’s love. Rather, it is because of God’s love that by suffering we are privileged to share in the life of our glorious Savior who also suffered.
Many persecuted Christians assert that their closest moments with God came during their hardest times in life.
You might not like hearing this, but it appears that our spiritual sense of God’s love is heightened when we suffer for Him. It is a grace that God gives us to endure these difficult times. But we often miss this, because we feel entitled to comfort.
To be clear, we should stand up for justice, even when it’s an issue of religious persecution. But we also must learn to expect persecution as and form of grace in our lives as we become more like Jesus.
Let’s take to heart the words of the apostle Peter in his first epistle:
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” ~ 1 Peter 4:12-14
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Matthew Tingblad is a communicator at Josh McDowell Ministry with a seminary education from Talbot School of Theology.
The post If God Loves Us, Why Do We Face Persecution? appeared first on Josh.org.
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