Josh McDowell's Blog, page 4
January 24, 2025
Five Challenges In Culture Accelerating In 2025
Each new year presents fresh challenges that people face. It can feel overwhelming as we witness people struggle and be negatively affected in this broken world.
And at the same time, we can be part of seeing real change. By seeking to understand what those we care about are experiencing, and seeking to come alongside them, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to people.
Here are five challenges in culture to be aware of in 2025.
The Splinternet
The internet, and especially social media, now functions as the splinternet. The splinternet is the fragmentation of the internet into smaller communities of thought and interest.
Due to advanced algorithms, censorship, and other factors, individuals regularly consume and see news and content that is unique to them. This influences their worldview and opinions as they consume a constant drip of custom information. This is why two individuals can hear news of the same event and yet have very different narratives of what happened, making it hard to understand one another, find common ground, and appreciate each other’s views.
Synchertistic Spirituality
92% of Americans have a syncretistic spiritual worldview, meaning they collect spiritual ideas from a variety of avenues to form their beliefs and behaviors.1 In the West, we live in a post-Christian society where the majority of individuals hold to post-modern thoughts of relative truth, desiring to find a spirituality that works for them rather than necessarily seeking what is true.
Many aren’t concerned whether or not Christianity is true, but whether or not it is good and beautiful. As Christians, we must understand the times in which we live, and what people believe, in order to share Jesus with them.
Loneliness
It’s been said that we are more connected than ever before and yet are lonelier than ever before. How can this be? Well, loneliness is not caused by a lack of friends, it’s caused by a lack of meaningful connection.
Loneliness is an epidemic in our world. Today, 45% of young people report being moderately or extremely lonely. 2Almost 40% of young people say they have no one to talk to and feel left out, and 45% feel as if no one understands them.3 45% of young people also report being moderately or extremely lonely.4
Mental Health
The mental health crisis continues to accelerate. For example, 47% of young people report being moderately or extremely depressed and 55% of young people report being moderately or extremely anxious.5 Across the board, almost one in three adults report symptoms of anxiety and depression. And tragically, nearly one in five senior pastors contemplated self-harm or suicide within the past year.6
This is significant. People are suffering mentally like never before. As Christians, we have the opportunity to show up, care, come alongside people, and help them get connected to the help they need.
Porn Use
The number of Christians and non-Christians consuming porn continues to rise. A recent study found that over half of practicing Christians regularly view porn.7 In our ministry, we continue to come across statistics and stories, witnessing the damage porn consumption does to people’s mental health, relationships, and view of sex.
Real freedom can be found, but it starts with admitting help is needed and seeking help from God and qualified individuals and programs such as our friends at Pure Desire.
As Christians, we have a mandate but also an incredible opportunity to come alongside Christians and non-Christians alike who are experiencing brokenness in this world. We have the opportunity to love like Jesus and share the hope that we have in Him. We have the opportunity to walk with people and truly show care for them.
Think about the people in your life. Who is one person that is dealing with one of the five challenges mentioned above? Once identified, I’d encourage you to take the following steps. First, pray for them regularly. Second, learn more about what they are facing. For example, if it is anxiety, check out the resources available at resolutionmovement.org. Third, ask them questions to seek to understand them. Show genuine care for them in your responses. Be like Jesus to them and where appropriate, share how Jesus has brought hope and purpose to your life.
For more resources on the issues of loneliness, mental health, and porn use, check out our initiative Resolution Movement at resolutionmovement.org. To go deeper on understanding syncretism and different spiritual worldviews, check out this YouTube Playlist from Matthew Tingblad.
1 https://www.arizonachristian.edu/2024/04/30/crc_millions-in-u-s-embrace-syncretism-mixing-and-matching-beliefs-fuels-social-turbulence-cultural-decay/#:~:text=George%20Barna%2C%20reveals%20that%20the,contradictory%20philosophies%20known%20as%20Syncretism.2 https://springtideresearch.org/resources/mental-health-gen-z3 https://www.springtideresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/springtide-guide-for-serving-young-people.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOopYNe-k2JwinSn1NaA1uslmuH1emNu4AbMkgRVy7ysaYdqzbiou4 https://springtideresearch.org/resources/mental-health-gen-z5 https://springtideresearch.org/resources/mental-health-gen-z?srsltid=AfmBOoqAyrWtS9dThVR2Lb3fUodhOg10Dldhut96pKmcN5pWT3qkDXPi6 https://www.barna.com/research/pastors-thoughts-suicide-self-harm/7 https://www.barna.com/trends/over-half-of-practicing-christians-admit-they-use-pornography/
January 23, 2025
Three Approaches to Impacting Culture for Christ
As Christians, we are called to make disciples and impact culture by being ambassadors for Christ in a world that is in desperate need of the light of the gospel. There are many ideas and opinions surrounding how to best go about this, but there are two questions that must come before all of them.
How should we define Culture?
There are multiple definitions of culture floating around out there. This is because some hold to more of a dictionary definition while others hold to a contextualized definition they’ve come across from an author or other content creator. Regardless of preferred definitions, here’s what we can all agree upon:
Wherever there are people there is cultureCulture occurs when people interact with each other and with the world around us How a group of people interact with each other and the world informs us about their cultureThis is important to remember for a very important reason. While culture on a global scale can be vast, complex, and ever changing, we must remember that culture isn’t just on a global – or even national – scale. Culture exists even where there are only a few people ( our own families, neighborhoods, and communities). When we shrink culture down to this size, all of the sudden culture is approachable. It allows us to avoid being paralyzed by scope and to start where we are and with those who are within our area of influence. Only then can we begin to work outward in the larger concentric circles of culture. The question is, how do we approach culture to make an impact for Christ?
How should we engage with culture?
Let’s look at three approaches to culture and determine which best fits within a biblical worldview. Throughout each example, I’ll use Paul in Athens (Acts 17) as a reference point to consider since it’s such a powerful example of cultural engagement in the New Testament.
Cultural Approach One: Against culture
In this approach, there is a desire to withdrawal from nearly everything in culture that is not explicitly Christian in nature. There is a problem here though.
While the desire is well intentioned, in application the result is that the Christian withdraws not just from the products of culture but also the people within that culture; people who need to know the truth of salvation in Christ.
Imagine Paul having such an approach when he visited Athens in Acts 17. He would not have been “cut to the heart” out of concern for the people when he saw the idols in Athens. He would have just been embittered, spat on the ground and sent word to Timothy and Silas that they’ll be heading elsewhere.
We, too, must be careful not to be so “against culture” that we just determine to cast it aside, isolate ourselves from the knowledge of all cultural trends and from those who need Jesus in order to retreat to only-Christian surroundings.
Cultural Approach Two: Of Culture
In this approach, the pendulum swings entirely the opposite way. Here there is a desire to show the world that Christianity does not force one into a joyless life of brow beating and rule following. Unfortunately, in an “of culture” approach, that desire is expressed by looking so much like the surrounding culture, there is no longer anything distinctive about being a follower of Christ.
In application, the result is that the Christian sacrifices too much for the sake of culture. The Christian also ends up being blinded to the sin-stained and corrupt nature of culture. But perhaps the greatest problem with this approach is that peers, family, neighbors etc do not see an “of culture” Christian as someone who can provide wisdom, help or counsel in times of distress. Because there is no distinct and faithful presence for Christ, the only conclusion is, “that person is pretty much like me.”
If Paul would have taken this approach in Athens, he would not have been engaging with the people and showing them a more excellent way. He would have been more focused on looking as much like them as possible to fit in and then somehow “surprising” them at some point with the fact that he is a follower of Christ. And here is the conundrum for the “of culture” Christian. The longer you “blend in” so to speak, the more difficult (and hypocritical) it becomes to take a stand for Christ.
Cultural Approach Three: In and For Culture
The final approach is to be in and for culture – for its ultimate good. In this approach, there is a desire to show the world that we know God has placed in our particular cultural contexts to reach the surrounding culture for its ultimate good. That ultimate good being the essential truths of Christianity (God is real and good, The Bible is trustworthy, Jesus is Savior, our identity/significance is best found in Christ and our purpose is best fulfilled in submission to God’s authority).
The desire to be in and for Christ and in and for the surrounding culture for its ultimate good perfectly harmonizes the Christian worldview. It acknowledges that we are in a lost and corrupted culture, but it doesn’t fully withdraw from it or fully embrace it. Instead, it steps into that culture with the light of Christ. It understands that culture is made of people who are made in the image of God and therefore have intrinsic and worth. It approaches others in humility to understand them and then lovingly points them to the God of creation and salvation.
This is the approach Paul took in Athens. He clearly took time to engage with the people (in the streets and within the synagogue), learned more about their culture (writings and artifacts), and then demonstrated all of this in his discussion with the philosophers at the end of the chapter. He was quoting their writings, citing their poets, and showing a clear understanding of why they built the altar to unknown God, as well how the real God can be truly known. This is what it looks like to be in and for culture for its ultimate good.
This, too, is the approach that we should take as well in our interactions and conversations with others. We must be simultaneously in and for Christ while showing that in and for the cultures where the Lord has given us influence and share of voice.
Where can you begin to be more “in and for” in the cultural context where God has placed you? It’s a question worth prayerfully considering as you seek to live on mission for Christ and impact culture for its ultimate good.
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January 16, 2025
The Biggest Challenge for Christianity in 2025
It breaks my heart to see discouraging religious trends in the church of America. Church attendance is at an all-time low, and most of us have witnessed friends and others give up on their faith at an alarming rate.
Yet I’m convinced God isn’t finished with America, and I believe there are solutions for the church. 1 Chronicles 12:32 speaks of men from the tribe of Issachar who “understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take” (NLT). Likewise, if we understand what’s going on in Christian churches, we will have a better understanding of how we can help. Let’s take a look at one of the biggest challenges Christians face in 2025 and what we can do about it.
The State of TheologyOne very significant challenge with the evangelical church is that we have started losing our theological literacy. In other words, many self-proclaimed evangelicals don’t know how to answer basic theological questions. According to the 2022 State of Theology survey by Ligonier Ministries, 56% of U.S. Evangelicals agree that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.” 43% of evangelicals agree that Jesus was not God, and 38% agree that religious belief is a matter of personal opinion rather than objective truth.
No doubt, many of my readers will look at these numbers and not understand the problem, for they are a part of these numbers. But for those who have studied the Bible and church history, these numbers will probably startle you. It seems there is a large disconnect between what evangelical leaders think the average Christian believes and what they actually believe. Leaders may even see these numbers and think, “Not my church.” But here’s what we miss: since many people think it’s perfectly normal to cherry-pick their own theological beliefs that they like from the Bible, they won’t complain when they disagree about something they are taught. They’ll just ignore it. So we aren’t going to see the theological confusion very easily unless we ask people forthright, as the survey from Ligonier did.
Where Do We Go From Here?Is low theological literacy a reason for church decline in America? I’m certain it’s a very significant reason. Faulty theology can not hold us against the challenges of life and the pressures of this anti-Christian world. How could it? As God cried out in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
This diagnosis isn’t everything, but it’s deeply significant and thoroughly biblical. The first temptation in the Garden of Eden was an attack on the theology of God’s character and the theological purpose of humanity (Gen 3:4–5). Since then, God’s people have frequently gone astray, and the response from God’s prophets has always included the same key feature: To re-instill sound theology. We see this approach with Moses (Num. 16:5), Isaiah (28:29), Jeremiah (23:23–40), Ezekiel (18:25–29), Amos (3:3–8; 4:6–13; 5:8–9), Zechariah (9:14–17), Malachi (1:10–14; 2:13–15), and others.
Theological literacy was especially important for Paul. He opened his letter to the wayward Colossians with a beautiful theology of Christ (1:15–20). He rebuked the Galatians with a robust theology of Law and Grace (3:10–29). He addressed Corinthian conflict by expounding on the nature of God’s Spirit (1 Cor. 1:18–2:16). It’s clear that theology is deeply important for healthy churches. As Jesus said to the unbelieving Sadducees regarding the resurrection, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Mt. 22:29).
How Can We Reverse This Religious Trend?There are many ways to help bring theology back to Christian believers. Churches can play short, pithy videos explaining theological truths before the sermons, or they could order the worship set around a particular doctrine each week. Parents can equip themselves with resources to keep theology an important part of their conversation at home. Find teaching moments to ask our kids, “What do we learn about God here?” These are just a few ideas of many. We have a lot of freedom to be creative in how we teach theology to those we care for.
For many years, Christians taught theology through so-called catechisms. A catechism is a summary or manual of Christian doctrine, usually written out in a question-and-answer format. The teacher would ask the question, and the student would recite the answer by memory. For example, the teacher could open the Westminister Shorter Catechism and ask, “What is the chief end of man?” to which the student replies, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Although catechisms are still around today, they have fallen into disuse for many Christian traditions. Perhaps it’s time we bring them back.
Is there Hope for the Church?As we have seen, the evangelical church is struggling with sound theology, which has led to severe challenges in our health. Churches are declining, but if we understand the times, we can fight to reverse the discouraging religious trend of theological illiteracy.
Can we really reverse the trend? Can we save America and bring revival? No. That’s God’s prerogative, and only He can cause growth. But we can still till the soil and plant good seeds. We can be faithful to the calling as ministers for the Gospel in a time like this. And we can remember the many times in church history when God brought revival to those hungry for the truth. So go back to the valley of Ezekiel and ask yourself, can these dead bones live?
“…And I answered, ‘O Lord GOD, you know.’ Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’” (Eze. 37:3–4).
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January 9, 2025
How to Discern God’s Voice in a Loud World
Have you ever felt like you wanted – or needed – to speak to God one-on-one for guidance or help? With the fast pace of our lives, so many things demanding our attention, and the plethora of conflicting messages coming from culture every day, it’s a challenge to discern God’s voice from the others. Take heart! He has provided for us throughout history by laying the groundwork for everything that we need today – there are two main ways we can learn to discern God’s voice in a loud world.
God Wants Us to Hear Him
From the creation of humankind, God’s interaction with us has been consistent – although through history it has taken on different forms. The themes of His communications are too comprehensive to discuss here, but a few stand out: 1) God wants us to know He loves us (Eph. 3:17-19); 2) He wants a relationship with us (Rev 3:20); and 3) in the midst of the all of the conflicting ideas that pour out of culture, He wants us to be able to discern the difference between how to live according to what’s healthy and good, and the deceitful beliefs and behaviors which destroy relationships and lives (Matt 10:16).
Before eating the fruit from the forbidden tree, Adam and Eve had the privilege of speaking with God in person in the Garden of Eden. Tragically, this was lost after the fall, when, in God’s holiness, they could no longer look upon Him (Exodus 33:20). Although human sin created a barrier preventing people from having the same type of interaction with God that Adam and Eve enjoyed, God continued to pursue and guide them. We know this by the many accounts of God calling and instructing them. Early on, He spoke directly to Noah and Abraham. Over time, we see judges and prophets enter the scene like Samuel and Jeremiah.
Although we don’t know exactly what the experience of God personally talking to them was like, we gain a little insight from the description of God’s dialogue with Job in Job 38:1: “The Lord answered Job out of a whirlwind…”.
Regardless of how He did it, God spoke – and it resounded. He didn’t speak directly to everyone, but His messages were available to all who would receive them through the messengers He appointed. Throughout history, as these stories unfolded, God’s interaction with people, along with His messages, were written down and compiled to form the Bible we have today. Both the Old and New Testaments are fascinating historical accounts of God’s engagement in the lives of His people.
How to discern God’s Voice: STEP ONE
Just as God loves us and knows us better than we know ourselves, He desires for us to know Him intimately too.
Equipped with the Bible, we have ample stories and messages from God to study. Knowing and correctly interpreting them teaches us about His character, how He views the world and our personal circumstances. It helps us to develop discernment between His voice and those of the world.
Studying the Bible can seem overwhelming and complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. By dedicating time every day – consistently, over time, you’ll find that you’re stronger in your understanding of God’s character and nature; therefore, more discerning.
Related: – FINDING GOD IN SCRIPTURE
How to discern God’s Voice: STEP TWO
Along with our study of the Bible, the Holy Spirit serves as our modern-day guide (John 15:26). As we saw with God’s presence in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, God is highly relational. He wants us to spend time with him. He pursues us. He wants us to WANT to spend time with Him. He wants to bless us and give counsel and peace, which is what we find when we seek His presence in our lives.
This is where prayer comes in. Throughout the Bible we see God’s instruction for His people to seek Him, to approach Him in prayer, and to rest in Him.
Heb 4:14-16 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.Phil 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. Ps 23:1-4 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.Along with developing discernment through the study of God’s Word, when we make a regular habit of approaching God in prayer – with repentant, surrendered, thankful, and open hearts – we’re making ourselves available for the Holy Spirit to comfort and/or guide us. Just as there is no formula for what this looks or feels like, we can have confidence that when our hearts are ready and willing, we will be ready to discern God’s voice through the Holy Spirit.
Related: WHEN GOD FEELS DISTANT
The great news is, we have so much available to help us discern God’s voice in such a loud and complex world and it just takes consistency. To help you navigate understanding the Bible, check out Matthew Tingblad’s YouTube channel where he explains complex themes. This is a great source to help on your journey of learning to interpret and apply Scripture correctly.
As we embark on a new year, while you’re considering your goals for the next twelve months, how can you begin to take small, consistent steps to study the Bible and spend time with God regularly? Some days may look different with circumstances and availability – but what matters to God is our willingness – our heart. Imagine the difference five minutes a day will make over the course of a year!
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December 17, 2024
Can there be freedom without authority?
“Live your truth”, “be true to yourself”, and “follow your heart” are slogans that ring throughout our culture today. They claim freedom from authority and freedom for self-reign in all areas of life. For many, it feels liberating to unburden oneself from institutional ideas, governing leaders, or religious obligations.
Under these mantras of freedom, everyone is liberated to chart their own path. Instead of looking to institutions, religion, or family, many young people search their desires for meaning, purpose, and identity. This may work for a period of time, but I’m skeptical it is actually fulfilling. In fact, research shows it leads to the exact opposite end of the spectrum.
90% of Americans believe there is a mental health crisis, according to a study conducted at the Kaiser Family Foundation. We in the west don’t agree on much, but that’s an enormous agreement that something is wrong with our central beliefs and we need to do something about it. Few would disagree that a core belief of our society is “I am my own authority.”
True freedom requires the safeguards of authority
There is a story of a town in the west that had a pack of young kids who would journey off to catch a view of a wild mustang. There were ranchers who would ride out and try to capture it, but the mustang just wanted to be free. And in its freedom it had to hunt for food, wander for water, look for shelter, all while the ranchers tried to tame it. The kids would look out at the mustang and cry out, “let the mustang be free!” We might look out and do the same.
But one day a good rancher found the mustang in its exhaustion looking for provision, and caught him. He took him home, loved him, cared for him, and broke him. Only then was he able to guide the mustang. The rancher led him to food, led him to water, and led him to shelter. The mustang found protection from the world, fulfillment of its needs, and peace in provision. It was not till the mustang was fully submissive to his master that he truly experienced freedom for the first time.
Freedom from all authority is the great lie spoken to Adam and Eve in Genesis. That lie still persists today – and it is always revealed as a lie. Even when mantras are spoken that attempt to deny authority, they only end up affirming it. Think about the common moral standard for today: be true to yourself, as long as it does no harm to others. That’s a sense of freedom, within authoritative boundaries. Freedom is not doing whatever you want to do, it’s doing as you ought to do Freedom is always tied to what is good; a moral system. Freedom is tied to an authority. The question we have to ask is, which authority will we follow?
Only one Authority fulfills the promise of freedom
While “freedom from” leads to anxiety and disappointment, freedom within God’s good design leads to flourishing. This is what Jesus taught in Matthew chapter 6. Jesus declares in verse 24 that “no one can serve two masters.” Therefore, we should trust God, because trusting anything else will lead to anxiety. Jesus then gives an example of how we can learn to trust him, by looking at the birds. Why? Because looking at the world God created and how he cares and provides gives us evidence that God is dependable. Birds are up early working hard building their nests and finding food for their young. Many seem so small and fragile, yet God provides for them. They have no idea where the next twig or bug will come from, yet they live. And when the seasons change, birds fly south as if guided by a magical force. God cares for his creation, and he cares for us.
Jesus says to be in tune with what he has created and how he is at work in the world. God is dependable, he cares for the birds, and Jesus declares “Are you not of more value then they?” (v26) The good Shepherd provides.
Trusting anything other than God will lead to an increase in anxiety because we are building our lives on something that is fundamentally unstable.The cultural promise of “freedom from” is self sufficiency. The fruit of self sufficiency is rising anxiety and isolation – two things no one hopes to achieve when pursuing freedom.
True freedom is found in full submission to the dependable, trustable and good God of the Bible. We will follow someone, let it be the source of goodness, beauty, and truth.
One Question:
First, ask “What authority are you letting speak into your life and how are you chasing its standard of freedom?”
One Action:
Next, look at the birds and remember your good, good Father.
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December 13, 2024
Christmas and the Incarnation
Each year, we look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ on December 25th. We think of the Baby, the manger, and the wise men as we decorate our homes, sing carols, and read through Advent devotions. But how often do we think about the perspective of those who were waiting for the Messiah? We celebrate the coming of God in the flesh – The Savior of the World. However, I think it’s easy to forget what a complete and flabbergasting shock this arrival was to the people of the time. Of all the potential entrances of the Messiah into the world, no one had anticipated God Himself entering His creation in poverty as a helpless baby.
This Christmas season, let’s consider three questions: What were they expecting? What did they receive? And what are we to do?
What kind of Messiah were they expecting?
The leaders and scribes awaiting the arrival of the Messiah, weren’t expecting God incarnate (which simply means “in flesh”) at all. The religious leaders and many who followed them were waiting for a king or a warrior – someone who would tear down the current political authoritarian system and bring victory to God’s people over their enemies. They didn’t believe this without reason.
As Dr. Les Crawford has correctly stated, prophecies such as those found in Genesis 49:10, Isaiah 11:4, Jeremiah 23:5-6 and 33:15-16 “portray a powerful, all-conquering king who will defeat every enemy and restore Israel to its rightful place as God’s people dwelling in security and prosperity.” While there were numerous prophecies describing the Messiah as a suffering servant, these were given less attention by many ancient Jewish commentators in favor of the prophecies that described a militaristic warrior and king. But Jesus would defy all expectations.
What kind of Messiah did they receive?
First, it should be said that God did not just provide us with a handful of prophecies in the Old Testament that only describe the future arrival of an all-conquering king. In fact, no less than 333 prophecies were perfectly fulfilled by Jesus by the time He completed His work on the cross. These prophecies – in their totality – describe One who will come as a child (Is 7:14), a suffering servant (Is 52-53), an all-knowing prophet (Deut 18:15), a mighty king (Is 11:4), a perfect sacrifice (Is 53:7), and God over all (Is 9:6)! Jesus, the Messiah, was all this and more. The Christ Hymn in Philippians 2:6-11 lays this out with incomparable beauty. Please take a moment to go and read it for yourself. I love this description of the hymn from Enter the Bible:
The hymn or confession itself is one of the most significant depictions of Christ in the New Testament. The poetic language expresses the two natures of Christ, who was “in the form of God” and “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave” or servant. In this “human likeness” and “human form,” Christ “humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death–even death on a cross.” At its midpoint, the hymn or confession turns to the action of God’s exaltation, giving Christ “the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus” all the realms of creation are called to bow in homage and every tongue proclaim, “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
That is the Messiah who they received and who is available for all to receive today. So, what are we to do with this today?
What are we to do?
There are a couple of actions we should take with this information.
First, we should marvel at the wonder of our Savior anew this year. Take a moment to insert yourself into a culture that was expecting earthly and national promises to be fulfilled and instead met Jesus, God over all, who willingly set aside His glory to substitute Himself in our place and pay the price for our sins so that may no longer be under law, but under grace (Romans 6:14). Simply astounding.
Second, during the holiday season, and even into the New Year, take advantage of the opportunities to start conversations with others about the numerous manger scenes in stores and neighborhoods or the Christ-honoring hymns playing even in secular stores! Why not work a question or two into a conversation you’re already having? God can use a simple question like, “have you ever heard the story behind that manger scene?” to take a conversation all the way to the Gospel. As the true story of our risen Messiah reminds us, you never quite know exactly what God will do – but we can rest assured that it will be wonderful!
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November 18, 2024
The Decision Christians Must Make about Obeying Authority
Does this sound anything like the pressures you face as a Christian? We are told in the Bible to submit to human authority (1 Peter 2:13), obey our parents (Ephesians 6:1–3), and to honor the governing powers over us (Romans 13:1–7). But how can Christians be faithful to these commands of Scripture when the authorities over us demand immoral activity? Each situation is different and there are no easy answers. However, the Bible offers tremendous wisdom that seems to become more relevant every passing year as our world becomes more hostile to God’s way of living.
Moral Conflict and Creative Solutions
In much of the Old Testament, God’s people lived under a theocracy. In other words, they lived under a system of government where God was the king and the law of the land was the law of Scripture. However, everything changed when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian empire and God’s people were dragged away to a foreign land of false gods and pagan rulers. The Israelites had become exiles, and now, everything was going to be different. This is where the book of Daniel begins.
Related: The Authority of the Believer
In Daniel chapter 1, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar selected the best and brightest men he could find among the exiles of Israel to train them in the ways and culture of Babylon. Daniel was chosen among them. They were given new Babylonian names and were taught Babylonian culture. The problem, however, was that some features of Babylonian culture went against God’s law. One such feature regarded Babylonian diet. According to Daniel 1:8,
“But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods” (NLT).
The chief of staff did not want to accept Daniel’s request, so Daniel requested for him and his companions to eat a different diet for ten days, and then compare their health with those who ate the king’s food. The chief of staff agreed.
As Christians, we will experience real moral conflict with people who are placed in authority over us. For Daniel, his conflict was the desire to honor Babylonian authority, but not to violate the dietary laws of the Old Testament. Christians today face similar dilemmas. Some of us may be tempted to isolate ourselves from the non-Christian world entirely so we never experience this problem (as unrealistic as the strategy may be). Others of us may abandon all of our Christian convictions because we want to “love” our non-Christian neighbor. But notice that Daniel took neither of these options. He reasoned with the chief of staff, negotiated with him, and came up with a creative solution that they could both agree on. God was gracious to Daniel. After the 10 days, Daniel and the rest of the Israelite exiles who participated in God’s diet were healthier than those who ate the Babylonian diet. The chief of staff ended up putting everyone on God’s diet!
As Christians, we too will find ourselves in moral dilemmas, and we may need to think winsomely and creatively to find ways that both respect our authorities without compromising our moral convictions. Things worked out great for Daniel. But there is another story in the same book where they didn’t.
Stuck Between a Rock and a Hot Place
Unfortunately, finding ways to honor our leaders while remaining faithful to God is not always so easy. Later in the Book of Daniel, three other exiles from Israel—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—are commanded to bow down in worship before a golden statue of Nebuchadnezzar. Doing this would be in direct violation of the Old Testament law to worship God alone (Exod. 20:4–6). Not doing this would get them thrown into a furnace where they would, presumably, be burned to a crisp and die.
Related: Is God’s Authority Good Enough for Us?
These brave men had no choice but to choose between two moral dilemmas: Either honor their human authority and disobey God, or honor God and disobey their human authority. The choice was both painful and painfully obvious: Honor God.
After refusing to bow down before the golden statue, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are brought to the king. They are offered one last chance to comply with his commands or be thrown in the furnace. Their reply is stunning: “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:17–18). Notice that they are not being disrespectful, but they are clear that their primary allegiance is to God.
We too are Exiles
Following God in a world of non-Christian leaders will be difficult. Although we should be wise and seek creative solutions to honor our authorities whenever possible (like Daniel), we will experience times where we have no choice but to decide whose authority is greatest over our lives (Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). Choosing God can be tough, but we have a future vision that works like an anchor in the midst of difficulty. As Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Like the characters in Daniel, we Christians live as exiles in a non-Christian world. We would do well to read Daniel chapters 1–3 closely and see what life can look like honoring God under immoral authorities. Then, spend some time considering what it looks like to honor God with the authorities in your own life. Are you asked to participate in something you know does not honor God? Consider what sort of negotiation may be possible. Take your time and do it prayerfully; creative solutions don’t always come to us instantly. If nothing works out, resolve to give priority to God’s authority. In all this, we can trust that God is faithful and our reward will be far greater than anything in this world we will ever have to give up. /*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 */.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=".svg"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}
November 7, 2024
Is God’s Authority Good Enough for Us?
God made man – in His own image. “So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them…” (Genesis 1:27). Man was created with significance. Nothing else was made after the likeness of God or to have His characteristics.
Genesis 1:31 reads: “And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” There lacked no good thing. Everything was perfectly constructed – not only to provide basic necessities – but that life and culture on earth would be richly pleasant. He lavished beauty and blessing upon it. The authority of God, evidenced by all of this – is good. But is it good enough for us? I’d like to share five thoughts to consider.
Related resource: Two Easy Ways to Reveal the Wonder of God
God provided all life with sustenance.
Days one through five of creation were spent preparing the earth so that life could thrive on it. During this time, the earth was formed and supplied with water, various forms of vegetation, and oxygen – everything required to meet life’s basic needs.
God provided man with companionship – with each other – and with Himself.
A relational being, God knew that Adam would need a companion – a helper – and He obliged that through the creation of Eve. Adam and Eve had one another to relate to and navigate life with.
Not only did Adam and Eve have each other, but in the beginning, there was no barrier between them and God. What they got to experience with the fullness of His presence, uninhibited by sin, is difficult to imagine. Mere words wouldn’t be able to describe the abundant joy and fullness they must have felt as they interacted with God’s world.
God gave man the blessing of living in and amongst beauty.
The embellishment that God adorned the earth with is even spelled out in the creation account described in Genesis: “a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden” (2:10), and “the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there (2:12).
Desiring to bless Adam and Eve, God chose to place them in the garden amidst its fragrant beauty, to live. It was the beginning of culture.
He gave Adam and Eve honor, purpose, and authority.
God’s plan for mankind wasn’t just that they would exist on earth. He values us. Genesis 1:26 says: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” He gave us honor by creating us in His image and positioning us with authority over all living things on the earth. He granted us this purpose as He tasked us with dominion over it.
A great responsibility and purpose was given to us to steward and care for the earth. Even today He is our guide to do this with the same heart in which He created it.
God blessed humankind.
The provision of God up to this point was abundant and designed to meet all of our needs. However, He continued in His goodness toward Adam and Eve. He blessed them. Genesis 1:28 says: “And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”
Related resource: Attributes of God
The intelligent design, abundant provision and blessings with which God created the universe and life on earth reveals that His authority is good. He desired the best for humankind. His provision was over and above what Adam and Eve could ever ask for. It was everything they needed to live perfectly content in His presence. Their hearts fell into temptation which drew their eyes to things outside of God’s design – and away from His presence. They suffered a great loss by falling into it.
God’s heart is unchanging, which means it’s still good today. In His grace He offers us a choice to love and trust Him – to seek Him – or to seek other things that fail to bring the joy and fulfillment that we desire. God’s authority is not only good enough for us – it’s best for us. It’s the only thing that will heal our brokenness and restore our souls.
Do you feel that God is not enough to heal your brokenness or restore your soul? We were created with longings which His perfect design for relationships was intended to meet. If we seek fulfillment in things, leaders, peers, or others outside of that design, our longings go unmet. To learn more about your God given longings and how to meet them to find healing, check out our Resolution video series. /*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 */.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=".svg"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}
know someone who needs to know why they can trust God?Check out How to Know God Exists by Josh McDowell.
View NowNovember 4, 2024
The Believer’s Authority
The authority of the believer is one of the most important topics for a Christian to understand. When confused or misunderstood, avenues open to questionable theology. However, when properly understood, it can unlock amazing opportunities as you seek to live on mission for the Lord.
Understanding the authority of the believer
The key to grasping this topic is understanding that authority is not power. Authority is delegated power, and its power depends on the one who delegates it.
Consider this example. A man in flip flops and a Hawaiian shirt stands in the center of an intersection holding up his hand to stop one direction of traffic while motioning for other traffic to move along. The result? Everyone ignores him. Now, put that man in a police officer’s uniform. Now, everyone dutifully obeys. What’s the difference? Only this: he is now backed by a greater authority than himself – an authority that has delegated its power to him. That’s what happens to believers when they trust in Christ. Turning to Scripture is a helpful next step.
The source of power for believers
Ephesians 1:19-21 paints a beautiful portrait worth admiring.
…and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
What kind of power is “toward us who believe?” It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead, seated Him at the right hand of the Father, and placed Him above all rule and authority and power and dominion. This is why we can boldly repeat with John that “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)” It’s the same reason why the apostle Paul says this to the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 2:3-5):
“and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
It’s not us – it’s Him. He is the source. When we place our trust in Christ, we have power delegated to us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The kind of power that gives us boldness in the midst of fear and spiritual strength in the face of physical weakness. How this should encourage us to live for Him!
The believer’s authority in action
So what do we do with this authority – this power that has been delegated to us. The following six steps are incredibly helpful.
The first step is knowledge. Until we recognize and acknowledge this truth clearly stated in Scripture, we will rarely exercise our authority as believers. Study the Scriptures, including the ones already cited in this article.
The second step is belief. We must also believe we have access to this authority or we will make little to no use of it. Belief carries the idea of active trust. When confronted with a situation that calls for us to step out in faith and speak or act, if we believe we are our own authority, we’ll shrink away from the moment. But if we truly believe the Greatest Authority stands with us through the power of the Holy Spirit, suddenly we’re representing Him and no longer ourselves.
The third step is humility. Humility is often misdefined as believing “I’m nothing.” However, that’s actually pride (because you’ve made it all about you). Rather, humility is knowing who you are in Christ and giving God the glory for it! In humility, I can say, “I’m not all I should be, but I’m more than I used to be because of Christ!” So I can move forward in His strength and give Him all the glory.
The fourth step is boldness. Boldness can be understood as faith in its full manifestation. This boldness comes from the same place as humility: knowing who you are in Christ. When I know I am not my own but belong to the King, I can boldly act and speak truth to others because all things are under His authority.
The fifth step is awareness. We should be on the lookout for opportunities to represent Christ in humility and boldness. Be in prayer for these opportunities to cross your path! We should also be aware of something else: that we have an enemy that will not leave us alone. He will start working on you as you begin to make strides for Christ. This is what makes the armor of God so important in Ephesians 6. We cannot be unaware of his schemes as he prowls around, but at the same time, we must be fully prepared to again proclaim that He who is in us is greater than he who in the world.
The sixth and final step is patience. When we pray; when we speak, and when we act out of the authority of the believer, we must patiently wait on the Lord and His perfect timing. Our evangelism may not result in someone’s conversion. Our reasoning may not convince the skeptic. Our act of selflessness may seem to have had no effect. We must remember that God is responsible for the outcomes, we are simply called to be His faithful representatives boldly living on mission for Him.
Why not take some time today to think about how you can begin to better rest in the authority of Christ starting today? How can you begin putting these six steps into practice?
This article is partially derived from Josh McDowell’s Talk, “ The authority of the believer. ”
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October 25, 2024
Three Signs You’ve Got The Wrong God
Many Christians have an orthodox view of God, rightly believing He is all-powerful, all-knowing, self-existing, holy, and sovereign – and yet they often struggle to believe truths deep-down about who He is in relation to them.
Intellectually, you may believe He loves you and forgives you, but perhaps when you picture Him, you see an angry or disapproving face. Perhaps when you sin or experience suffering you feel He is distant and doesn’t care much about what you are experiencing. Perhaps you really struggle with the idea of Him being your Father due to your own experiences that have shaped your view of what a father is.
For better or worse, our foundational relationships with our fathers and authority figures tend to shape how we view God. And yet, God wants to heal our view of Him. He wants us to interact with Him as He truly is. But to do so, we must first identify the lies we believe so that we can start challenging them with the truth. Here are three signs that you’ve got the wrong God.
Sign #1 You Believe God is Angry and Disappointed In YouReality is, God loves you and is pleased with you.
John 17:23b says “May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as you love Me.” God the Father loves you as much as He loves Jesus.
On top of this, we see how God relates to Jesus at His baptism, before He started His public ministry. Before He accomplished amazing things for His Father. In Matthew 3:17, God says “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” If you are a Christian, you have been adopted as His son or daughter (1 John 3:1). Because of who you are now, I believe He views you as a son or daughter that He loves and is well pleased with.
Sign #2 You Believe God is Uptight and RigidTruth is, He is gracious and forgiving, and His commandments are for our good.
Psalm 145:8 says, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”
1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” There are no ifs, ands, or buts…no exceptions…no small font disclaimers. When we confess our sins to God, He forgives us. He doesn’t scorn us. He doesn’t wait for us to try to get our act together. He doesn’t demand we make it up to Him. He forgives us.
I’ve heard so many say “I could never forgive myself for ____”…but God isn’t like that. No matter what you’ve done, you can’t out-sin His forgiveness. He is the God of second chances without end.
Sign #3 You Believe God Is Distant or Disengaged The reality is that God is close, personal, and present.In Jeremiah 23:24, God said “Can anyone hide out in a corner where I can’t see Him?”…“Am I not present everywhere, whether seen or unseen?”
Many Christians have an orthodox view of God, rightly believing He is all-powerful, all-knowing, self-existing, holy, and sovereign – and yet they often struggle to believe truths deep-down about who He is in relation to them.
Watch: Can We Know God Exists?
God is omnipresent, meaning He is all places at all times. He is with you in your suffering. He is with you when you’re anxious or depressed. He is even with you when you go back to that sin you promised yourself you’d never return to. He is always with you. You can’t outrun Him. You can’t escape His goodness. And you can’t cause Him to walk away or turn His back on you.
Romans 8:15 says that “the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” He is a kind Father who invites us to address Him as “Abba,” the Aramaic equivalent of “Daddy” or “Dada”. Think about that – the God of the universe wants you to know Him so closely that you can use a word like “Daddy” or “Dada”. He wants to know you personally, and for you to know Him rightly as He truly is.
You Can See God As He Truly IsNo matter what you have experienced, believed, or been taught about the character of God, He desires to restore your view of Him. He wants you to experience Him as your true, loving, heavenly Father who is personal and engaging. I know He can do that in your life because He’s done that in mine.
In the past when I have sinned, I thought that God was upset with me. Now when I mess up, I don’t envision God as angry but as compassionate and moving toward me. He forgives me and has better for me. In the past, I believed He loved me but had a low view of me and merely tolerated me. Through the years, having spiritual fathers and great godly mentors, getting around good fathers, and reading about His character in the Bible, I’ve begun to believe deep down that God delights in me, loves me, and is present in my life.
We have a greater Father who can heal our “father wounds.” We have a greater “daddy” who can overcome our “daddy issues” or any other hurts we have from authority figures. We have a God who promises to meet all of our needs and longings.
Here are some steps to grow in seeing and experiencing God for who He truly is.
Regularly remember what God has done in your lifeThank him daily for five good things He did or gave you yesterdayRead the Bible through the lens of who God truly is as a loving and engaging Father Get to know and observe loving fathers who are gracious present with their kids.To go deeper into restoring your view of God, check out my YouVersion Bible Plan, Overcoming Lies about God, right here: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/35457
For more resources on healing and freedom, check out the Resolution Movement at resolutionmovement.org
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