Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 103

Am I Sinning If I’m Not Happy as a Christian?

Since writing my book Happiness, one of the questions I’ve been asked is, “Am I sinning if I’m not happy as a Christian?” In answering this question, I’m assuming two things of readers:

You are familiar with what I’ve written about how happiness and joy are synonyms, and how Scripture uses a number of related words to express gladness in God.
You understand the importance of walking in God’s revealed will in Scripture, and not seeking so-called “happiness” through sin and “whatever makes me feel good.”

God Commands We Find Our Joy in Him

The question is “Am I sinning if I’m not happy in Christ?” We need to understand that God doesn’t simply suggest that we find joy in Him; He commands it:

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. (Philippians 3:1)

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. (NLT)
So now, my Christian brothers, be happy because you belong to Christ. (NLV)


Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad! (Philippians 4:4, CEB)

Delight yourselves in God, yes, find your joy in him at all times. (Phillips)

Does God mean it when He says “always”? Yes. The reasons for gladness in Christ are constant, like an ocean tide. The water doesn’t remain in the same place, always lapping over our feet. But even at low tide, it’s still there, poised to move in again.

Paul followed verse 4 with this encouragement: “The Lord is at hand,” which itself is a reason to rejoice. God is with us, never abandons us, and will deliver us soon, whether by death or by His return.

In light of such passages, I believe that a Christ-follower’s resignation to unhappiness is unbelief and disobedience. That may sound harsh, but I’m convinced it’s true, and actually hope-giving. (Since I’m not naturally chipper or bouncy, but more melancholic, this isn’t my personality speaking!) God wouldn’t command all His children to rejoice in Him always if only the naturally gleeful could obey.

A Measure of Obedience

Since God repeatedly commands His people to be happy, our happiness is a measure of our obedience. Don’t rush past that statement: our happiness is a measure of our obedience. Reread it. Ponder it. And consider that God in His grace would never command us to be happy without providing us the necessary resources to do so, including His indwelling presence.

I’m well aware that some readers of this blog may be experiencing deep suffering and sorrow, whether through the loss of a loved one, a debilitating disease, a difficult season of depression, or other painful life circumstances. My wife Nanci was diagnosed with colon cancer early last year, and went through several months of treatment and painful side effects. There were some very difficult days for her. So no, we won’t constantly be “bubbling over” with gleeful happiness every moment of every day. In a world under the curse of evil and suffering, something would be very wrong if we were!

But if we’re always focusing on life’s difficulties and trials, we won’t be happy people. Instead, if we focus on the Lord and His abundant grace, we will be happy. Paul said, “His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy” (Colossians 1:11, CEV).

Joy Through Hardship

Rejoicing always in the Lord seems unrealistic at times. But we must remember that this rejoicing is centered not in a passing circumstance but in a constant reality—Christ. Scripture doesn’t command us to rejoice in:

the condition of our nation
the direction our culture is headed
the attitude of a spouse
the struggles of our children
painful events at our church
the loss of a job
poor health

We’re to rejoice in the midst of these things, but of course they won’t be the source of our gladness.  We’re told to rejoice in the Lord. Rejoicing in Christ is superior to all other delights, but it’s not always separate from them. Rejoicing in a friend, a parent, a child, a spouse, a job well done, or a glorious walk in the forest can in fact be choosing to find happiness in Christ.

The Bible never pretends that happiness is easy or constant. It’s unrealistic to expect perpetual happiness while the Curse is in effect. But the day is coming when “there will no longer be any curse” (Revelation 22:3, HCSB). Believing this can bring us great happiness even today.

When I am grieving over what God grieves over, I am not sinning. But if I am always grieving and always unhappy, if that is the normal state of my life over the long haul, then something is wrong. God wants something better for me. He really wants me to experience gladness in Him, instead of consenting to perpetual unhappiness.

I’m not always happy, any more than I’m always holy. I’ve experienced seasons of depression, both before and since coming to faith in Christ. This is partly due to my personality type and emotional makeup (and perhaps genetics), while some is triggered by my long-term physical illness (insulin-dependent diabetes), and some is the result of adverse circumstances. So I’m not a stranger to unhappiness—I really do get it!

But by God’s grace, I’m more supernaturally happy in Christ now than I’ve ever been. And as many other believers throughout history have, I’ve also learned to make choices that increase my joy. Great pain certainly dulls—and at times even overshadows—happiness, but it can’t destroy happiness that’s grounded in our ever-faithful God.

Sometimes sorrow and joy do battle; sometimes they coexist, but when our hearts and minds are on Christ, joy is never far away: “You changed my sorrow into dancing. You took away my clothes of sadness, and clothed me in happiness” (Psalm 30:11, NCV).

The Seriousness of Failing to Seek Happiness in God

So just how serious does God take His commands for us to rejoice in Him? Consider this statement: “God threatens terrible things if we will not be happy.” I’ll bet that got your attention. I never would have put it that way myself. Standing on its own, it sounds shocking, even outrageous! But Scripture supports it.

God’s Word Translation renders Deuteronomy 28:47, “You didn’t serve the Lord your God with a joyful and happy heart when you had so much.” Whether we find joy and happiness in God and His abundant gifts dramatically affects how He views our service for Him. He is not a master who cares only that His servants do what they’re told, but a Father who cares deeply about His children’s love for Him and the heartfelt emotional gladness we find in Him as we obey.

The obedience of dutiful drudgery is better, but only marginally so, than outright disobedience. Indeed, God sometimes disciplines His people who fail to find happiness in Him by sending unfavorable circumstances. Here’s the whole verse I quoted with the jaw-dropping one that follows: “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you” (Deuteronomy 28:47-48).

This passage prompted British clergyman Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667) to write the striking words I used above: “God threatens terrible things if we will not be happy.” [1] Read this passage, and you’ll see that Taylor’s statement is true. If we refuse to serve the Creator and Redeemer of our souls in happiness, we will surely end up serving the enemy of our souls in unhappiness.

God’s severe mercy in bringing adversity when we don’t serve Him with joyfulness and gladness of heart may turn us to God, where we’ll find in Him the only heartfelt and lasting happiness available to us.

I am well aware that after reading such strong language some people will feel guilty. Some will say, “Okay, I’m already unhappy, so now you’re trying to make me feel guilty for being unhappy?” That is not my goal. My goal is to believe Scripture when it says that God who truly loves you, and Jesus who gave His life for you, has vested interests in you being happy in Him. He offers you the strength in the Holy Spirit to experience this happiness. Yes, there will be times of sorrow, but God can truly transform our default condition to one of happiness rather than sorrow. 

Now, if your normal temperament lands you on a happiness scale of 2-3 out of 10, maybe the work of God’s Spirit won’t take you to a 10 but to a 6-7. But wouldn’t that be a greater miracle, then a naturally happy person (which again, I am not) becoming another 10% happier? So you don’t have to be the happiest person at the party to still enjoy God and find greater happiness in Him than you’ve ever known.

Remember, God’s commands are not to burden us, but to free us—the truth, including the truth about Him wanting us to be happy in Him—should set us free (John 8:32). Be encouraged, because everything God commands us to do He empowers to do, and He does it not only for His glory but for our good.

His Empowerment of Our Joy

The moment after death, all who know Jesus will experience a flood of happiness greater than we’ve ever known. We might ask ourselves in Heaven, if we are called upon to evaluate our lives here, Given Christ’s finished work on my behalf, with the indwelling Son and Holy Spirit, why didn’t I experience more of this happiness in God before I died?

The permanence of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling in our lives allows us to continually access a supernatural happiness even now. So we can “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help” (Hebrews 4:16, NET). Our God of happiness has made the way for us to come before Him freely and draw deeply from His mercy, grace, and help at any and all times, including when we’re feeling drained of joy.

If the happiness in our walk with Christ is consistently gone, we’re wise to ask God and ourselves what needs to change. We should join David in praying, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12). This is a prayer God is always eager to answer.

[1] Jeremy Taylor, as quoted in C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald: An Anthology (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), xxxv.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

To the Young Adult Diagnosed with Cancer

Stephanie Anderson is 32 years old, wife of Dan and the mother of two adorable and delightful daughters. (We raised two of them ourselves so I know them when I see them!) 

Stephanie has worked for Eternal Perspective Ministries for over 12 years. Among other things, she manages my blog and Facebook and Twitter feeds, helps edit my books, assembles and designs our magazine and graphics, produces beautiful covers for some of my books, and responds very thoughtfully to questions we get on social media.

In addition to being a wholehearted follower of Jesus, Stephanie is one of the most creative, skilled, and wise people I know. Her thoughts about her experience with cancer will help young and old alike. Coming off Nanci’s and my “year of cancer” in 2018, I encourage everyone to read this article and pass it on to others! —Randy Alcorn

I vividly remember what it felt like to hear my doctor say, “Your x-ray shows a mass between your lungs.” Shock. Disbelief. Fear. Panic.

Somehow I held it together long enough to get through the rest of my appointment and drive home. But when I walked through my door, I collapsed, both physically and emotionally. What was going to happen to me? I was just 23, and a wife and the mom of a seven-month old baby. How could I possibly have cancer?

“Cancer” is a frightening word but just a theoretical one until it’s used in reference to you or someone you love. When it is, everything changes. The world shifts. Even those of us who’ve mentally acknowledged our mortality have a hard time accepting evidence of its existence. I never dreamed that my symptoms, no matter how severe, indicated I had Stage 2B Hodgkin's Lymphoma—after all, how many twenty-somethings did I know who had been diagnosed with something so serious?

Everyone’s cancer experience is different, but I wish there had been (or I had sought out) another young adult survivor who loved Jesus—someone to talk to who could have helped me through this process and told me what to expect. Recently I heard about a teenager just beginning treatments for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and it made me think about advice I might have to share with others. So looking back over the past nine years, here is what I would say to a young adult who’s been diagnosed with cancer:

Let others support and help you. Cancer treatments are hard and there will be times you aren’t feeling up to a lot physically, mentally, or emotionally. There will be days when you need to rest and not do a whole lot else. Be gracious with yourself, and don’t be afraid to share what you need with those who love you. It’s not weakness to do so. You can’t do this alone.

I’m so grateful that my husband and I had friends and family who understood what we needed even if I didn’t always. Friends brought us meals and offered childcare. Another anonymous friend dropped off a large bag of thoughtfully chosen gifts for me and our family on our front step. My mother in law watched our daughter during my chemotherapy treatments. Our church stepped in to help us with bills when treatments made it difficult for me to work and because my husband was in school. It wasn’t always easy to accept help and realize my physical limitations, but knowing that so many others cared about us and were willing to help made it easier to say “yes” to their offers and to rest when I needed to.

Take advantage of good resources, and possibly even professional counseling, to help your heart and mind. When you’re undergoing such trauma, it’s hard to think straight through the stress and anxiety—not to mention the treatment side effects. Your body is receiving medicine to fight the cancer, but your mind and spirit require daily medicine, too, to fight the cancer of fear and unbelief.

We all need a healthy dose of truth each day. Our best and most important resource is God’s Word. We need to dig deep into His Word and focus on God and His character. Nothing could be more important or perspective-giving.

There are also many excellent Christian resources specifically on suffering that can help you as you work through the “Why’s?” of your cancer. Though it was hard for me to read at the time, John Piper’s Don’t Waste Your Cancer is thought provoking and deep. I also read Randy Alcorn’s book If God Is Good? while I was undergoing chemotherapy, and it helped me solidify some important things about my suffering: God was good. He was with me. He was working all things together for my good. I could trust Him.

One thing I really wish I had done during or soon after my treatments was seek professional Christian counseling. When I was experiencing anxiety while waiting for test results after finishing my treatments, my oncologist explained to me that was to be expected. “It’s PTSD,” he said. “You’ve had bombs going off inside your body.” Before he explained it in those terms, I hadn’t connected my cancer experience with such trauma, but it made sense. It’s taken several years post-treatment and some wonderful counseling over the last two years to see how this experience, along with some other life experiences, have impacted me and how I can move forward and deal with my anxiety in more productive ways.

Stay away from searching the internet about your cancer. I remember spending hours online reading stories about other young adults who had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. When I read about survivors who were several years post-treatment and still cancer-free, I felt great hope. When I read about others who had relapsed and ultimately died, my anxiety raged.

I’ve heard doctors say, “Have you been staying away from Doctor Google?”, and there’s a good reason why. While there’s a place for healthy support groups, both online and in person, your mind is vulnerable during this time. Reading stories about others with your cancer and Googling every single symptom you’re experiencing can cause unnecessary stress. Not only is there much misinformation, but you’re also likely to misinterpret what you read. If you have concerns, talk directly to your doctor. Stay away from the internet!

Be honest with God, and others, about your fears and struggles. Don’t carry your burdens alone. I was able to share some of my journey through an online blog, and it was a great form of therapy and a good way to keep friends and family updated. But I still found it hard to speak honestly about my fears and worries with others, even my husband and close friends. I felt like if I acknowledged them, it made it more likely I would never get well and would die. In reality, this just made me feel more anxious. By sharing my fears, I wouldn’t have had to carry the burden by myself. My counselor recently told me, “You can’t fight anxiety alone.” I’ve found she’s right. We need others to pray for and intercede for us when we’re struggling.

It was also hard to be honest with God about my worries. Even though I knew that physical healing wasn’t dependent on my faith, it felt like giving voice to my fears was acknowledging that death was a real possibility. But in reality, God was and is intimately acquainted with me and already knew my struggles. He knows your struggles too, and you can be honest with Him.

Trust that God is using this—even this—in your life for your eternal good. When you’re in the middle of something so terrible, it’s hard to see how God could possibly bring good out of it. But that’s exactly what He promises about every single difficult thing we face in life: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). You may not see it at the time, but one day, even if not until eternity, you will.

I remember searching the Bible, wishing there was some assurance that I would get well and go into remission. Of course, there is no such promise. But there were, and are, plenty of promises that God would be with me and never forsake me, no matter what. This was solid ground for me to stand on when everything else was crumbling, and it will be for you too.

Yes, there are still some things that are really hard related to my cancer. Sometimes I’ll have a symptom that will remind me of that time and stir my anxiety. While I don’t need to worry about a relapse as much anymore, I have to be concerned about other types of cancer I’m more at risk for because of the chemotherapy and radiation. But mostly, I look back on my cancer experience and see God’s faithfulness. He was faithful to me during my diagnosis and treatments, and I can confidently say He will be faithful to you too.

Trustworthy with a Little, Entrusted with a Lot

Jesus says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10). He implies that all of us are being continually tested in little things. If a child can’t be trusted to spend his father’s money and return the change, neither can he be trusted to stay overnight alone at a friend’s house. But if he can be trusted to clean his room and take out the garbage, he can be trusted with a dog or a bike.

This principle invalidates all of our “if onlys,” such as, “If only I made more money, I’d help the poor,” or, “If only I had a million dollars, then I’d give it to my church or missions.” If I’m dishonest or selfish in my use of a few dollars, I would be dishonest or selfish in my use of a million dollars. The issue is not what I would do with a million dollars if I had it, but what I am doing with the hundred thousand, ten thousand, one thousand, one hundred, or ten dollars I do have. If we are not being faithful with what he has entrusted to us, why should He trust us with any more?

This thought raises a sobering question: What opportunities are we currently missing because we’ve failed to use our money and our lives wisely in light of eternity?

God pays a great deal of attention to the “little things.” He numbers the hairs on our heads, cares for the lilies of the field, and is concerned with the fall of a single sparrow (Matthew 10:29). What we do with a little time, a little talent, and a little money tells God a lot. The little things are a major factor as he considers whether to commend and promote us—or reprimand and demote us—in His kingdom corporation.

Excerpted from Randy’s book Money, Possessions, and Eternity, which is also available on audio, read by Randy.

Photo by sallyjermain on Pixabay.com

Paul David Tripp on Our Eternity Amnesia

The Bible tells us we are pilgrims, strangers, aliens, ambassadors working far from home (Hebrews 11:13; 2 Corinthians 5:20). Our citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20). But we’ve become so attached to this world that we live for the wrong kingdom. We forget our true home, built for us by our bridegroom (John 14:1-2).

This makes us prone to spiritual amnesia, or as Paul David Tripp says in the excerpt below from his devotional New Morning Mercies, it makes us “eternity amnesiacs.” That’s why Charles Spurgeon gave this advice to his congregation: “Cultivate, then, your hope, dearly beloved. Make it to shine so plainly in you that your minister may hear of your hopefulness and joy, cause observers to take note of it because you speak of heaven and act as though you really expected to go there. Make the world know that you have a hope of heaven . . . that you are a believer in eternal glory and that you hope to be where Jesus is.”

May we clearly see our need to consciously live each day in light of eternity! —Randy Alcorn

You and I don’t always live what we say we believe. There is often a disconnect between our confessional theology and our street-level functional theology. There is often a separation between, on one hand, the doctrines we say we have embraced and, on the other hand, the choices we make and the anxieties that we feel. One of the places where this disconnect exists for many of us is the biblical teaching about eternity. We say we believe in the hereafter. We say that this moment in time is not all there is. We say that we are hardwired for forever. But often we live with the compulsion, anxiety, and drivenness of eternity amnesiacs. We get so focused on the opportunities, responsibilities, needs, and desires of the here and now that we lose sight of what is to come.

The fact is that you cannot make sense out of life unless you look at it from the vantage point of eternity. If all God’s grace gives us is a little better here and now, if it doesn’t finally fix all that sin had broken, then perhaps we have believed in vain: “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:19). There has to be more to God’s plan than this world of sin, sickness, sorrow, and death. There has to be more than the temporary pleasures of this physical world. Yes, there is more, and when you live like there’s more to come, you live in a radically different way.

When you forget eternity, you tend to lose sight of what’s important. When you lose sight of what’s truly important, you live for what is temporary, and your heart seeks for satisfaction where it cannot be found. Looking for satisfaction where it cannot be found leaves you spiritually empty and potentially hopeless. Meanwhile, you are dealing with all the difficulties of this fallen world with little hope that things will ever be different. Living as an eternity amnesiac just doesn’t work. It leaves you either hoping that now will be the paradise it will never be or hopeless that what is broken will ever be fixed. So it’s important to fix your eyes on what God has promised will surely come. Let the values of eternity be the values that shape your living today, and keep telling yourself that the difficulties of today will someday completely pass away. Belief in eternity can clarify your values and renew your hope. Pray that God, by his grace, will help you remember forever right here, right now. —Paul David Tripp

Browse more resources on the topic of Heaven, and see Randy’s related books, including Heaven, Eternal Perspectives, In Light of Eternity, the graphic novel Eternity, and the novel Edge of Eternity.

Photo by Ruud Luijten on Unsplash

Thoughts on Whether the Recent Reports on Sexual Abuse Are Attempts to Slander the Church, and 15 Consequences of Sexual Immorality

Recently I shared on my blog about The Houston Chronicle’s Report on Southern Baptist Sexual Abuse, and the Lessons for All Evangelical Churches. I want to respond to a couple of the comments I received about it.

One person wrote, “If I wanted to find dirt in any organization, I could; the press thrives on slandering the church.” Another commenter said, “So you have ask, how come all of a sudden now all these accusations. It seems like part of the Mueller investigation, anything to make Christians/conservatives look bad.”

Yes, there are certainly times when the world slanders the church and Christians by sharing reports that are not true or unjust. But the fact is, the sexual sin of SOME pastors in SOME churches is a reality (and sadly, it’s more than just a few pastors who are involved). This is at epidemic proportions, and epidemics are not solved by our saying, “This is just another attempt to make the church look bad.” (In the case of the Houston Chronicle report, the reporters reviewed thousands of pages of court, prison and police records, and built a database of leaders who have been convicted of sex crimes.)

We shouldn’t be quick to become the victim and not look at reality. Our goal shouldn’t be to convince the world (or ourselves) there’s no sin in the church. The world already knows there is, and so should we. And only if we do know will we do something to deal with and prevent it in Christ-honoring way. I’ve been encouraged to see some of the responses to the Houston Chronicle report so far, and hope and pray that all of this results in real changes and better protection for vulnerable people in our churches.

I’ve had other people tell me that it’s unbiblical to write about pastors and the dangers of sexual sin. But the Bible is full of warnings alerting people, including leaders, to dangers. God told Ezekiel to be a watchman on the wall and warn the people of sin and rebellion and its consequences. He warned Ezekiel if he didn’t speak up he would be accountable. Warning pastors and churches about sexual sin is like warning families to build strong marriages to resist the tide of adultery.

So the question is, shall we say nothing about what’s happening and just hope no one notices? And just hope churches and leaders figure out on their own that they need to cultivate a watchful accountable environment for their pastors and when pastors sin inform the next church? My question is, how has that been working for us?

Obviously it hasn’t been working at all! If people don’t speak up no one is warned and no one is helped and there is no hope of preventing sin, but only letting it grow in secret, multiplying itself in the darkness. God’s people are not to deny that sin is happening, but recognize it and seek to deal with it biblically and prevent it wherever possible.

Related to the subject of leaders and sexual sin, today’s blog includes an edited version of a list of anticipated consequences of immorality. My friend and fellow pastor Alan Hlavka and I wrote the original version over 35 years ago, when we were both pastors at Good Shepherd Community Church. Our individual lists were devastating, and to us they spoke more powerfully than any sermon or article on the subject.

Periodically, especially when travelling or when in a time of temptation or weakness, we each read through our own list. In a personal and tangible way, it brought home God’s inviolate law of choice and consequence. It cut through the fog of rationalization and filled our hearts with the healthy, motivating fear of God.

While God can forgive and bring beauty out of ashes, that’s a message to those who have already sinned...not to those who are contemplating sin! On the “front side” of sin we must not give assurances of forgiveness and restoration. We must put the focus where Scripture does—on the love of God and the fear of God, both of which should act in concert to motivate us to holy obedience.

I recommend that you use the following as the basis for your own list, and include consequences that would be uniquely yours. The idea, of course, is not to focus on sin, but on the consequences of sin, thereby encourage yourself to refocus on the Lord and take steps of wisdom and purity that can keep you from falling. (Of course, this list is not just for pastors and those in church leadership, but can be adapted by anyone.)

15 Consequences of Committing Sexual Immorality

I would grieve my Lord, and displease the One whose opinion most matters.

Christ’s sacred reputation would be dragged in the mud.
I would have to one day look Jesus in the face at the judgment seat and give an account of why I did it. I would suffer loss of reward and commendation from God.
I would force God to discipline me in various ways.
I would follow in the footsteps of men I know whose immorality forfeited their ministry.
I would cause the suffering of innocent people around me who would be affected by my decisions.
I would cause untold hurt to my wife, and lose her respect and trust—and likely my entire relationship to her.
I would cause hurt to my children and grandchildren, and lose credibility with them.
I would bring shame to my family.
I would bring shame to my church family, and to my fellow pastors and elders.
I would bring shame and hurt to my friends, and to those I’ve led to Christ and discipled.
I would experience great guilt, and be haunted by my sin when it is brought up wherever I go and whatever I do.
I would disqualify myself from ministry, and forfeit certain opportunities to serve God—maybe permanently.
I would enable the laughter, rejoicing and blasphemous smugness of those who disrespect God and the church.
I would bring great pleasure to Satan, the Enemy of God.

You can read the longer version of this list here.

Browse more resources on the topic of purity, and see Randy's book The Purity Principle and his booklet Sexual Temptation.

Photo by Jeremiah Higgins on Unsplash

My Novels Lord Foulgrin’s Letters and The Ishbane Conspiracy: Putting a Wiretap in Hell’s War Room

The premise behind my novel Lord Foulgrin’s Letters is simple: Given demons’ insights into reality and their plot to deceive and destroy us—this is one conspiracy theory that’s right on target—wouldn’t it be a major coup for us to place a wiretap in hell’s war room? What if we could plant a bugging device where we could overhear our enemies assessing our weaknesses and strategizing how next to attack us?

This book took me by surprise. I have long been a fan of C.S. Lewis and have read several times his classic Screwtape Letters. But I had no intention of writing such a book myself. Then, over a period of a month in my own Bible study I kept reading the words of God and asking myself, what do demons want us to believe instead of this? By creating this contrast of truth and deception, I was amazed at how much clarity it brought to what God was actually saying. The next thing I knew I was writing out letters from one demon to another, in Screwtape style, and the book started to form.

Originally I thought it would it would be letters only, like Screwtape, but the more I considered it, the more powerful I thought it would be if the book had a full-fledged story line, with characters, setting and a sense of immediacy that would hook the reader and get him more in touch with the reality of spiritual warfare.

Certainly I didn’t want Lord Foulgrin’s Letters to encourage any sort of unhealthy preoccupation or fascination with the kingdom of darkness. Rather, in the sense that Ephesians 5:11 speaks of, my goal was to expose the darkness by shining light on it in a creative literary fashion. I wanted this book to be an instrument that conveys truth and serves as a wake-up call that makes us aware of the devil’s cunning and his strategies to destroy us and derail us.

Lord Foulgrin’s Letters isn’t necessarily dark, though it is very sobering at points. I wanted people to be challenged and contemplative, but also be able to smile because they’ve seen things in a very new way. There’s a satisfaction that comes from knowing you’ve heard the opposing coach sketch out his plays for the second half and you know what to expect, how to fight back and win.

You can read an excerpt, or listen to a sample from the audio book.

My novel The Ishbane Conspiracy, which I wrote with my daughters Karina and Angie, is a spin-off from Lord Foulgrin’s Letters focusing on four young people, aged 18-21, who face demonic strategies to take them down.

The summer of 2000, before my daughters both got married, I thought it would be great if they weren’t working jobs that pulled the family apart. The book idea seemed a good way to do it. I asked them if they wanted to spend a summer writing a book with their dad. They said yes, and I’ll always be glad they did.
 
I can’t think of two people I could have worked with who would have been more quali­fied and skilled, both spiritually and artistically. We read and discussed books on fiction writing, brainstormed characters and plots, stimulated one another’s thinking, prayed together, had lots of fun, and shared the frustrations and mind-numbing hard work of dis­ciplined writing.

For instance, Karina’s interests and expertise fit perfectly with the parts of the story line that she wrote with great insight. Angie wrote everything in hospitals, because she was studying to be a nurse. She subsequently worked for 15 years in a hospital emergency room. I wrote the letters between demons, since I find it easy to think like the devil. (Well, I’m joking, but maybe there’s truth in it too!)

Angela and Karina are true coauthors, not token ones. This is their book as much as it’s mine, and they have my deepest respect.

Over the years, our ministry has received much positive feedback from readers of Ishbane. In particular, we’ve received a remarkable number of letters from young women who’ve read the translation of the book in German. Here are a few of those responses:

“Dear Alcorns! I want to thank you for your wonderful book The Ishbane Conspiracy! …I’m so encouraged of this book. I get really aware of that there’s a sacred battle and that it’s always the best to fight for God’s truth! …Thank you for all the different and important topics you talk about in the story. I would like to have such a good influence on my friends as Jillian and Rob.”

“I’m a German Woman, and I read these books. Your books are fantastic and tell us a lot of the battle between the Lord and Satan. It’s a danger and most people don’t believe it.”

“I’m from Germany and I’ve read your book Die Akte Jillian.  I’m so impressed from your great book. …It shows the future- the future in heaven. Christ’s [people don’t have to] be concerned or hopeless, because God knows everything and he know a solution to any problem. He’s promised that we [won’t] die because Jesus died for us. This book is …so nice book for young and old people because it shows solutions for the biggest problems.”

“I’m 19 and live in Switzerland. When I read the book I was surprised, happy, sad, overwhelmed and confused at the same time. The structure is very well made with this story that continues with enough of good tense and those letters which appear in every chapter. Many of the statements of the Christianity weren’t new for me but…I’ve learned to see things with another perspective.”

“I'm 13 years old and I am in the 7th class. I read your book Die Akte Jillian. It's great! My mother wants to read it too.”

”I bought few months ago the book Die Akte Jillian. I am on page 169 now. And this book is so great! I am so happy that I found a book that I like. I searched a lot. I thank God. I believe in God since more than one year and it was good that I choose His way. I want to write stories about God and people, too. To help other people to be strong in believe. But I have to wait a little bit to know more about Jesus and God.”

“Hello Mr. Alcorn, I am a fifteen year old girl and I live in Bavaria (Germany). I’m really very thrilled by this book. And I thank you for it very much.”

You can read an excerpt, or listen to a sample from the audio book.

Flash Sale from Eternal Perspective Ministries: right now, you can purchase Lord Foulgrin’s Letters and The Ishbane Conspiracy on audiobook CDs for just $3 each (89% off $26.99 retail), plus S&H! Act fast—offer ends Monday, March 11 at 12 P.M. PT.

Why I Don’t See Tithing as the Pinnacle of Christian Virtue, OR as Something Legalistic

I first became aware of tithing as a teenager when my pastor preached on the importance of supporting the local congregation. His sermon drew on Galatians 6:6: “Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.”

As a new believer, I was already giving significantly beyond 10 percent to world missions and organizations working with suffering Christians. However, what I determined to do at that point was to give 10 percent to the church. I then sensed a vested interest in my church. By that time I understood what Jesus was saying in Matthew 6:19–21, in terms of storing up for ourselves treasures in Heaven, and when you give to something, where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Even back then I was compelled to study and research. It became clear that, as a New Testament follower of Christ, in the most affluent society in human history, there’s no way I could ever justify giving less than 10 percent when God had required that of the poorest Israelite. I knew the grace of Jesus. Why would I not give more? It seemed like a good starting place. I wouldn’t have articulated it that way, but looking back, I think that really was what I was experiencing.

I’ve had the privilege of interviewing many givers. In the great majority of cases they mention how tithing first stretched them to give more. They tithed and watched God provide and move their hearts deeper into His kingdom. Now, years later, some of them are giving away 50, 80, or even 95 percent of their incomes! But it was tithing that set them on the road to giving. So while we need not view it as mandatory, the experiences of countless believers show that good has come out of many who start by tithing, or something in that ballpark (if 10% makes you feel legalistic, why not try 11 or 12%?).

Yes, sadly, there are some Christians who see tithing as the pinnacle of stewardship, instead of the starting place. Hearing some people talk, you’d think it was this extraordinary act of sacrifice and devotion that only great saints would actually give 10 percent.

People talk about Old Testament giving versus New Testament giving, and one of the greatest misconceptions is that the Old Testament was all about the tithe and required giving, and New Testament is all about free-will giving. In fact, the Old Testament is full of not just tithes, but also free-will offerings. It refers to them again and again, including in Malachi 3:8 where those who rob God are said not just to be withholding tithes but offerings—freewill offerings! “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me” (NLT).

So to those who say all New Testament offerings are freewill, I say fine. My question is, even if we’re convinced tithing is an antiquated practice that doesn’t apply to New Testament believers, if Old Testament saints could rob God by withholding freewill offerings, can’t we do the same? If not, why not?

When I’ve heard such a large number of people testify to how tithing set them on the road to life-altering generosity, it’s hard for me to understand the extreme animosity some have toward this practice (entire websites and “ministries” are devoted to opposing tithing and accusing everyone of legalism who’s ever practiced it). Yes, tithing has sometimes been abused, and it never makes anyone acceptable to God, but let’s not throw out the baby of tithing with the bathwater of legalism!

 A remarkable number of people—and I’ve had long conversations with many of them—give absolutely nothing and view the tithe as a legalistic Old Testament thing. To give a tithe would be, to them, like offering an animal sacrifice. It would be ungodly to do it. And of course, they look around and point to people who are into tithing as legalism. And there are people, absolutely, into tithing as legalism. And I’m completely against that.

What I always say to people is that if you take the standard of 10 percent and say God required it of the poorest people in Old Testament Israel, and now that we’re under the grace of Jesus and have the indwelling Holy Spirit and live in this incredibly affluent culture, do you think He would expect less of us? Does God still have expectations of New Testament people? Clearly He does. In fact, Jesus’ message is, “You have heard that it was said…, but I say to you….” And then what does He do each time? He raises the bar! For example, consider Matthew 5:27–28, where Jesus said, “You’ve heard that it was said, ‘do not commit adultery.’ I say don’t look at a woman with lust.”

New Testament giving—Acts 2 and Acts 4 are very explicit on this—is a contagious liquidation of assets and giving to those in need. How far beyond 10 percent was that? That was taking an already existing asset, liquidating it, and giving the entire thing away. That’s giving away 100 percent of that asset, not 100 percent of your income. They gave away what many Christians today, in equivalent terms, might give away over a lifetime, and many would not even give that much.

I view tithing as a child’s first steps—not the best she’ll ever do, but simply a good beginning, one which her parents celebrate. Tithing is like the training wheels on the bicycle of giving. The point of putting on training wheels is actually to get you up and going to learn how to ride a bike. I think for many Christians tithing can be a good thing, in that it gets them going on the path of giving in a disciplined way that has some objectivity to it that is measurable.

Yes, I’m well aware that I will get many complaints from people who say I’m a legalistic for even suggesting people consider starting their giving where God started His Old Testament people, with the tithe. No matter what else I say, they will respond that I’m a legalistic and I’m calling for people to live under the law, not grace. But I will say what I’ve said nonetheless, suggesting that just because something is an Old Testament practice does not mean it has no possible value for some people today. If that value is just to get us started with giving, well, then, so be it. Better that than to never get started at all, like many who call no giving or minimal giving “grace giving.” (Odd that the average giving level of American Christians, who apparently practice “grave giving,” is one fourth of what was required under the law of not just the wealthy, but the poor.)

God’s goal is that your life would be lived by the grace of Jesus. Look at 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, the longest New Testament passage on giving, and study that passage and meditate on it. That’s separate from the tithing issue. If you actually capture the spirit of 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 and it becomes a reality in your life, you can forget about tithing. Why? Because you will surpass it in ways that make it seem like nothing but the starting point it is.

May you not be obsessed with tithing, or feel self-righteous about tithing, or be under bondage to tithing, or attack tithing as evil. May you simply be grateful that God got you started, whether at 9 or 10 or 11% or any other level, on the lifelong adventure of generous giving.

For more, see our other resources on money and giving, as well as Randy's related books.

Photo by Ben White on Christianpics.co

Thoughts About Malachi 3:10 and Luke 6:38, and Why God Made These Promises about Giving

When God’s people were robbing Him by withholding tithes and offerings, He said, “Test me in this…and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10).

It’s as if God is saying there is something very special about giving. He doesn’t say, “Don’t commit adultery. Test me in this. Give not committing adultery a try and see if I don’t bless you.” God doesn’t take His commands and reduce them to the level of “Oh, give it a try and see if it works.” It’s as if He’s making a special case out of giving, and saying, “Yes. Test me in this and see if I don’t bless you.”

There’s a New Testament equivalent—Luke 6:38 is a close parallel to Malachi 3:10, where Jesus says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap.” Anyone who says, “Oh, Malachi 3, that’s Old Covenant, and it’s restricted to that”—no. Luke 6 is very close. “Watch me abundantly provide for you.” And this is Jesus speaking, not King David or Solomon, who are living in splendor. This is Jesus, who doesn’t have a rock to lay His head on. He has the clothes on His back, and not much more. And Jesus is saying, “Just watch what happens when you give. My heavenly Father is going to overflow.”

In Malachi, why is that promise there? Is it only for Old Testament Israel, without any relevance whatsoever for New Testament followers of Jesus? I don’t think so. If we are disciples of Jesus, surely we must take seriously what Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 6:38.

I think Malachi 3 and Luke 6 are there for us because God longs for His people to live the life of grace, to live the life of free-will offering, and see how much fun it is and how God abundantly provides and blesses it. (And, by the way, shouldn’t we trust Him to choose what form those blessings should take, and not just hope for financial prosperity?)

As we faithfully give to Him, God frequently entrusts more to our care. May we continue to be generous and wise with whatever amount of His money the God of sovereign grace calls upon us to manage. When He gives back to us, may we give more back to Him and embrace not prosperity theology, but the ever-enriching and joy-drenched theology of grace.

For more, see our other resources on money and giving, as well as Randy's related books.

Photo by Ben White on Christianpics.co

Ed Stetzer on How Christians Need Discipleship to Develop Godly Technology Habits

I was a pastor for fourteen years, and still have countless conversations with pastors. Many of the challenges and issues that pastors face in discipling and teaching those in their churches have remained the same since I was pastoring over 25 years ago. But there are also many new challenges for pastors, including helping Christians navigate digital technologies and social media platforms.

Ed Stetzer, who serves as Dean of the School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership at Wheaton College and is executive director of the Billy Graham Center, makes the case that Christians desperately need discipleship in this area. Here are a few quotes from his article “The Technological Discipleship Gap”:

We have all these new technologies and online platforms by which to instantly react and to amplify the loudest, most divisive voices. We are a society where everyone has a megaphone and an increasingly smaller capacity to resist using it.

 …Christians often have the same bad habits as everyone else, practices that damage not only their well-being and relationships, but also their spiritual vitality and witness. Despite these dangers, when was the last time your church taught on social media or proper media consumption? Substantive, disciple-making teaching on how Christians can develop godly technology habits? Aside from youth pastors warning of cyberbullying, when have messages touched on the way technology is shaping our lives or how our online behavior relates to our faith? I have heard plenty of sermons that address the problem of pornography, but I can count on one hand the number of times a pastor or Sunday school teacher discussed a more comprehensive online discipleship.

...Christians have seen the emerging digital marketplace, and rather than thinking critically about its nature and effects, they have dived in. Innovation for the glory of God, we tell ourselves, even though we know that innovation for the expansion of the platform is often closer to the truth. Discipleship may not even cross our minds.

…Our new digital technologies and social media platforms have untold potential to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ. At the same time, they can utterly lay waste to people, churches, and communities.

Effective discipleship helps Christians to bend these tools in service to Christ rather than to become slaves to their destructive power.

For more, see Ed’s book Christians in the Age of Outrage: How to Bring Our Best When the World Is at Its Worst. I also highly recommend Tony Reinke’s book 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You. You might also like to check out these past blogs: 10 Questions to Help Us Analyze Our Smartphone Habits and The Growing Body of Research Says Yes, Your Smartphone Really Is Changing You and Your Family.  

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

The Biblical Opposite of Homosexuality Is Not Heterosexuality

If asked, what would you say is the opposite of homosexuality? The vast majority of us would answer that it’s heterosexuality. But as Christopher Yuan points out in the following article, the biblical answer is different: it’s holiness.

I’ve highly recommended Christopher Yuan’s new book Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, which came out last year. Christopher is a serious and careful student of God’s Word, and is that rare individual who has personally grappled with these issues in the crucible of life. What he writes here in this article is very helpful—for any of us who have sexual desires that are outside of God’s will.

May we all pursue purity, realizing that “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified [set apart, or holy]; that you should avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).  —Randy Alcorn

What Is the Opposite of Homosexuality? Why Marriage Is Not My Mission

By Christopher Yuan

At 33 years old, Bill became a Christian after pursuing same-sex relationships for eleven years. As a new believer, he was very open to marrying a woman and even starting a family. However, now thirty years later, he remains unmarried and has found godly contentment as a single man. Bill leads a full life of ministry and mentors many men with experiences similar to his own.

After years in the gay community, Mark also put his faith in Christ. His new life as a Christian did not come with any sexual or romantic interest in the opposite sex. He was ready and content to be single for the rest of his life — assuming it was his only truly Christian option.

Mark became best friends with Andrea, also a new follower of Christ. She came out of a broken past with abusive boyfriends and even a couple abortions. Because those relationships were toxic, she’d decided to hold off on dating and focus on her relationship with God. The two felt safe together. Mark knew she didn’t want to date, and Andrea knew he wasn’t attracted to girls. Their love for each other was deep but platonic.

After some time, Mark began noticing some things about her that he never noticed before. New affections blossomed — both physical and emotional. He built up enough courage and asked Andrea out on a date. After several months of dating, he asked her to marry him. And on their wedding night, he confessed to his new bride, “Honey, I can’t explain this. I’m not attracted to any other women. I’m only attracted to you.”

Two men, two pursuits, two paths. Bill wanted to marry but remains single today. Mark was single and content, but now he’s married to Andrea. Often God’s path is not what we expect or once even wanted. For some, it’s singleness; for others, it’s marriage. Yet the goal for all — single or married, same-sex or opposite-sex attracted — is holiness.

Breaking Bad Paradigms

We live in a world of countless shades of grey — not just fifty. Ambiguity is the innocuous but nefarious overture to false teaching. Thus, we must welcome every opportunity to lovingly communicate that biblical morality is unsurprisingly and beautifully black and white. As such, we cannot say that heterosexuality in all its forms is holy or God’s perfect standard.

Heterosexuality is defined as “pertaining to sexual relations between people of opposite sex.” This is exceedingly broad and would include sinful behavior — a man sleeping with several different women, a husband cheating on his wife with another lady, and even a committed monogamous relationship between a cohabitating boyfriend and girlfriend.

Yet some Christians consider these “success” stories for same-sex-attracted individuals because they’re achieving their “heterosexual potential” (Shame and Attachment Loss, 24). But the Bible doesn’t bless every indiscriminate variety of opposite-sex relationship — whether incest (Genesis 19:31–36), or rape (Genesis 34:2), or prostitution (Luke 15:30), or adultery (Matthew 14:3–4), or sex before marriage (John 4:16–18).

What the World Thinks

By simply stating that “heterosexuality is right” without qualification, others may hear a tacit endorsement of the sexual immorality listed above. Certainly, not all heterosexual behavior or relationships are sinful — the union between a husband and a wife is blessed by God — but we must also recognize that heterosexuality is not synonymous with biblical marriage and says nothing about singleness.

The terms heterosexual and homosexual originate from a secular anthropology elevating sexual desires as a legitimate way to categorize humanity. Is this really an ontological category Christians should espouse? Are we, in fact, defined by our sexual desires and behaviors?

The world embraces the terms heterosexuality and homosexuality in part because sexual desires and sexual expression are of utmost importance to unbelievers. The ideology is trumpeted in our classrooms and on our television screens that sex and sexuality are inseparable, necessary, and essential aspects of who we are.

Borrowing this secular, man-made category of heterosexuality to describe how God calls Christians to live misses his perfect standard for holiness. Also, the Bible doesn’t categorize humanity fundamentally according to our sexual desires — or any other sort of desire for that matter. Using a term which confuses and obfuscates our true identity is unwise, and embracing such a broad category which includes sinful behavior must be roundly rejected. It’s irresponsible to cling to terminology that only adds to the confusion.

What the Word Says

Instead of affirming secular categories, let’s look at what’s biblical. What we need is a completely new category to represent God’s sexual ethic: holy sexuality. We’ve pigeonholed ourselves into the wrong framework: heterosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality. It’s time to break free from this secular paradigm and embrace God’s vision for sexuality. The term holy sexuality simplifies and disentangles an otherwise complex conversation.

Holy sexuality consists of only two paths: chastity in singleness and faithfulness in marriage — as defined by God to be between a husband and his wife. Chastity is more than simply abstention from extramarital sex; it conveys purity and holiness. Faithfulness is more than merely maintaining chastity in marriage and avoiding illicit sex; it conveys covenantal commitment.

I describe these as two paths, not “choices.” Singleness, for most, is not a choice. If you think about it, no one is born married — we’re all born single! While some may choose to remain single, it’s never initially our own choice.

Holy sexuality is not anything new or monumental. From Genesis to Revelation, only two ways align with God’s standard for sexual expression: if single, be sexually abstinent while fleeing lustful desires; if married, be sexually and emotionally faithful to your spouse of the opposite sex while also fleeing lustful desires. All of us stand together in the same fight for holy sexuality. Instead of determining how we ought to live based on enduring patterns of erotic or romantic desires, God’s call for all humanity is holiness.

Good News for All

Before my conversion, I heard the “Christian” message loud and clear: homosexuality is wrong, and heterosexuality is right. If I wanted to become a Christian, so it seemed, I had to be sexually attracted to women — as if the more erotic desires I had for women, the more of a Christian man I’d be. Too many Christians have wrongly assumed that the main goal for someone like me is to stop or lessen same-sex attractions and develop opposite-sex attractions.

But what’s the harm in that? If people want to marry, wouldn’t it be good to help them be sexually attracted to the opposite sex? But this much is true: the best way to prepare others for marriage is to help them be more like Jesus. The key to a successful marriage isn’t sexual desires, but union with Christ.

God commands us to “be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44–45; 19:2; 20:7; 1 Peter 1:16). The biblical opposite of homosexuality is not heterosexuality — that’s not the ultimate goal. But the opposite of homosexuality is holiness. As a matter of fact, the opposite of every sin struggle is holiness.

Godly marriage and godly singleness are two sides of the same coin. We will do well to stop emphasizing only one without the other. Both are good. Holy sexuality — chastity in singleness and faithfulness in marriage — is really good news for all.

The article originally appeared on Desiring God , and is used by permission of the author.

Photo by Atharva Tulsi on Unsplash