Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 189

Fulfilled Hope

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. —Proverbs 13:12

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. —Romans 12:11–12

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. —Romans 15:13

Hope is a much stronger word in the Bible than it is for most of us today. The hope of deliverance and resurrection is based solidly on the promise of an almighty truth-telling, covenant-keeping God who never fails and is never thwarted, who always keeps his promises. Whenever we hope for what God has promised, we don’t wish for a possibility; we anticipate a certainty.

Researchers conducted a study on stress with Israeli soldiers. They assured one group that the march would end at a certain point but kept the other group in the dark. Although both groups marched an identical distance, those who didn’t know how long they would march registered a much higher level of stress. Why? Because they had no hope, no tangible assurance that the forced march would end. They felt helpless, wondering when, or if, they could ever rest.

Hope points to the light at the end of life’s tunnel. It not only makes the tunnel endurable, it fills the heart with anticipation of what’s at the other end: a world alive, fresh, beautiful, and without pain, suffering, or war. A world without disease, without accident, without tragedy. A world without dictators or madmen. A world ruled by the only One worthy of ruling (see Revelation 5:12). Though we don’t know exactly when, we do know for sure that either by our deaths or by Christ’s return, our suffering will end. From before the beginning, God drew the line in eternity’s sand to say for his children, “This much and no more, then endless joy.”

Suffering is God’s invitation to look to Jesus and look forward to Heaven. The answer to the problem of evil is a person and a place. Jesus is the person. Heaven is the place. No one else and nowhere else will satisfy.

I spent three hours with Carol King, a godly woman in her fifties who was dying of cancer. She’d read a few of my books and wanted to talk about Heaven. What struck me that day was the gift of laughter.

“I need some new clothes,” Carol said, “but why buy them? I used to get jumbo-sized shampoo, but now it’s a waste. I don’t even buy green bananas, because by the time they ripen I’ll probably be gone!” Carol said it not morbidly but with heartfelt peace. She anticipated a better world. Carol had already suffered great pain and had no romantic notions about death. But she faced death with quiet joy and contagious laughter.

I left, encouraged by a dying woman I’ll always consider my friend. She went to her Savior soon after. I look forward to laughing with Carol in the world where Jesus promised those now weeping, “You will laugh” (Luke 6:21).

My anticipation, by the way, is not wishful thinking. Since God is the Almighty promise keeper who never lies and knows the end from the beginning, I am looking forward to a certainty.

Lord, remind us that our calling is not to wish for the best but to trust the utter faithfulness of an all-powerful, promise-keeping God who always has a purpose and a plan, who ordained from eternity past every moment of time and all the ages yet to unfold. As your magnificent story of redemption moves to culmination, thank you not only for writing the chapters yet to come but for also revealing some of their content, enough that we may know the solid certainty of a New Heaven and New Earth over which the risen Christ will reign, with your resurrected children beside you, worshiping and serving you in a world forever free of curse and suffering and death. Thank you for this promise—not merely my wish but a blood-bought certainty.

         

Related Resources

Blog: Six Eternal Truths to Remember Each Day
Article: The Gift of Hope
Book: 90 Days of God's Goodness 

photo credit: Matthew Fang via photopin cc

How do you help non-believers see their need for Jesus?

In this video interview with EPM staffer Julia Stager, we discuss how we can help people see their need for Christ:

Julia:

I’m in my 20s, and I have a lot of friends in their 20s. Sometimes I don’t know how to help my friends who are unbelievers see their need for Jesus. They’re so busy doing so many things, and think that they’re living a good life. How do you help an unbeliever see their need for Jesus?

Randy:

That’s a great question. I think there’s a couple of different strategies. Everything that we do must, at some point, reach the point of dealing with the sin issue—the separation from God. However, I think there’s a way to get to it through the perception that each person has intuitively: there is something more to life that they’re missing out on.

That emptiness is in every person. They have a sense that, like Pascal said, “All men seek happiness.” It is so true. People are seeking happiness. And most people, if they’re honest, realize the things they’ve done in life, in an attempt to fulfill themselves and be happy, have really not worked very well. Some things have worked better than others, but nothing has brought them the kind of fulfillment, peace, happiness, joy, and pleasure in life that they really want. It eludes them.

I think you can help people see that by asking them, “Has your life lived up to what you expected or what you wanted or what you dreamed of or what you hoped for?” The older someone is, the more they will realize, “No. It hasn’t.” But even a lot of young people, including teenagers and certainly people in their 20s, have already had a lot of disappointments. I think that can help them realize something is missing.

Julia:

I heard this quote the other day: “Atheists don’t believe in God, but God doesn’t believe in atheists.” That clicked with me. Basically what that person meant was that God knows the heart of the atheist and that even if somebody outwardly denies they believe in God, there is still the sense that you hear about in Romans—that God has revealed Himself in creation and through our conscience. As human beings we know there’s something more. Just like you were saying, I think if as believers we can tap into that void, then we can really get somewhere with the gospel.

Randy:

Paul says in Romans 2 that the Law is on our conscience. The conscience is a law in itself, in a sense. The standards of God are there. So, every unbeliever knows not only that there is something missing, but also they have a sense of guilt. They have a sense that, “I really have thought and done some very bad things.” Now our culture tries to minimize that in people. But God is still speaking to the heart.

Then we take can people from the “what I’m missing” to “what I’m guilty of” and look at the law of God. Look at the commandment to not commit adultery. “Have you ever committed adultery in your heart? Oh, you haven’t? Really? So you’ve never lusted after, or never thought of some person who may well be a married person? You’ve never looked at someone and mentally undressed them, and envisioned yourself going to bed with them or something like that?” That’s not being a good person. That’s evil.

What about killing somebody? Most people have not killed somebody physically. But have they had such hatred towards somebody in their hearts that they would like to see them dead? Well, that’s sin.

If we can help people first see the emptiness and the need, that’s a start. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be first. Sometimes they just need to see what they’re guilty of, not only in the sight of God, but really in their own conscience.

I think we need to help people tie into the sense of guilt inside and say to them, “You know, our culture says, ‘Never feel guilty.’ God says, ‘No. Feel guilty. There’s false guilt, of course. But feel true guilt. Then I will remove your guilt if you turn to Me in faith and repent of your sins. Then you will be guilt-free. Not guilt-free because you never did anything wrong, but because your sins have been forgiven in Christ.’”

         

Related Resources

Blog: All Men Seek Happiness
Article: Just Asking... Evangelism and Discipleship Tips
Store: Heaven booklets

photo credit: sbyellow via sxc.hu

Randy’s novel Safely Home and Opening Our Eyes to the Reality of the Persecuted Church

When Randy wrote Safely Home, no one knew how readers would respond—especially considering the topics of persecution and martyrdom that the novel deals with are anything but light and superficial. Randy’s goal, he explains, was to tell a compelling story which fueled the reader’s imagination, and also served the purpose of Proverbs 31:8-9, speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

But since the book’s publication, our ministry has been blessed by the many positive responses from readers sharing how the story has impacted their lives.  Here’s just one:

I must tell you that your book Safely Home is one of my all-time favorites. It is one of those books that seems to knock your world off kilter, then you come to the realization that it was just knocked straight. Understanding what persecution really means to the persecuted—and what kind of lives we should be living—this is huge! —W.D.L.

We believe the novel plays an important role in educating believers and Christian leaders about the reality of the persecuted church—which is often no easy task, says Tami Yeager, EPM’s bookkeeper and also an area coordinator for Voice of The Martyrs (VOM).

“I’ve noticed from my work with VOM that often people would rather hear about anything other than persecution,” Tami observed. “This is true in many churches as well. Barna Research group has some interesting information on this. Their statistics show the following—52 percent of American pastors don’t want to talk about persecution and have no plans to do so, while 74 percent of churchgoers do want to hear about the persecuted church.”

Writing in response to the new statistics, Dr. Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors USA, says, “The Barna poll found that while pastors know about Christians around the world who suffer because of their faith, a number of them believe the message of the persecuted church is not one their congregation wants to hear.”

He continues, “In my stops for Open Doors throughout the United States, however, I've found the opposite to be true. Audiences' response to the message of the persecuted church has been very positive. Christians want to know what's going on with their brothers and sisters around the world. They're hungry for more information. Far from depressing, the narratives of the persecuted hold amazing courage, boldness, strength and perseverance amid difficult, often impossible circumstances.”

Reading and hearing about persecuted believers can challenge our lukewarm faith (which is perhaps why we’re often tempted to avoid hearing them). They remind us that following Christ isn’t about what feels good and is comfortable and easy, but about being sold out to Christ no matter the cost.

Let’s seek to obey what Scripture tells us in Hebrews 13:3: “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”

Stephanie
Eternal Perspective Ministries

If you’re interested in praying for and helping the persecuted church, EPM highly recommends Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors USA. Both ministries offer email updates that can help you stay current with the latest news, ways to pray, and opportunities to give. VOM also hosts regional conferences across the U.S., offering an opportunity for individuals and groups to hear speakers share firsthand. (For those of you in the Pacific Northwest, Tami has been helping to plan the Oregon conference in McMinnville on October 5!)

Related Resources

Blog: Remember Us and Pray for Us
Article: How to Pray for the Persecuted Church
Book: Safely Home

Photo credit: Open Doors USA

Five Reflections on the Anniversary of 9/11

Today’s blog is excerpted from a lengthy article “19 Reflections on America’s Crisis,” which I wrote in the days following 9/11. (While this was originally written to Americans in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, much of it will also apply to challenges related to the present conflicts in Syria and Egypt and elsewhere around the globe. Our prayers continue for our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ in these places, and many others.)

1. God is all-powerful, fully in control.

God was not caught by surprise on September 11, 2001. He “works all things after the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11). Including those terrorist acts? Yes.

In well-meaning attempts to distance God from evil, some Christians have said things like “God didn’t want this to happen” and “God has nothing to do with terrorist acts.” True, He is not to blame for them, but if indeed He works all things after the counsel of His will, then obviously we can’t say He has “nothing to do” with them.

Scripture says, “When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?” (Amos 3:6). After losing all his children, Job doesn’t say, “God had nothing to do with it,” but “the LORD gave and the LORD has taken away” (Job 1:21).

Nations will rise and fall, terrible things may happen, but through it all, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (Psalm 46:1-2).

2. Suffering in this world is normal; Americans, like everyone else, have no promise of ease or immunity.

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

Our hope should not be the illusion that we won’t suffer. Our hope should be that one day God will end our suffering (Revelation 21:4). Our hope should be in the fact that nothing in this world or outside it—no tragedies or accidents or terrorist attacks or anything else—shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39).

3. God knows what it’s like to suffer.

God has never dished out any suffering He hasn’t taken on Himself. As a man He suffered (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15-16). Jesus Christ took upon Himself all the sins and evil of the world (2 Corinthians 5:21). On the cross, He underwent what was . qualitatively an eternity of suffering in a time span of six hours.

Why? Because He loves us. No act of terrorism can take that from us—nor can it undermine the certainty of eternal life in Christ for all who trust in Him (1 John 5:11-13).

Where was God September 11? Where He always is—exalted in the heavens, indwelling the hearts of His children, comforting the afflicted, stretching out His nail-scarred hands in the offer of a redemption that costs us nothing, but cost Him everything. Where was God? Right there in the dust and ruins of broken planes and buildings and bodies, somehow accomplishing a purpose that will bring Him glory (Isaiah 48:9-11).

4. God has brought much good out of these terrible events, and will continue to.

 “We rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3). As much as we don’t want to go through it, suffering often builds our character and strengthens our faith.

Joseph said of his brothers who sold him into slavery, “You intended it for evil, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). God is a master of turning evil on its head, and thwarting Satan’s intention by bringing about good.

If God can bring the single greatest good in human history, the redemption of mankind, out of the single most horrible event in human history, the crucifixion of Christ, then He can bring good out of everything. If God made what could be called “Horrific Friday” into what we call “Good Friday,” can’t He bring good out of other evils?

5. We should remind ourselves daily that this world, as it now is, is not our home.

That day as I sat in front of the television stunned, watching the towers fall to the ground, I prayed for the suffering people, then said aloud, “This world is not my home.”

In my church, five days later, we sang “God Bless America,” which is a good prayer. But at the end, when I sang “My home, sweet home,” there was an asterisk in my heart next to the word “home.”

The Carpenter from Nazareth, my bridegroom and a builder by trade, has gone to prepare a home for me. One day I will live on a redeemed planet Scripture calls “The New Earth.” That will be my home. My ultimate home is not America. Every day I move closer to the day I’ll leave this world. If America were my true home, then every day of my life I’d be headed away from home. But because Heaven, where Jesus is, is my home, every day I’m not moving away from home, but toward it.

People of the world don’t need our reassurance that America is unshakable, that democracy will prevail, that our economy will recover, that death and suffering will not touch them, or that America or any country is a safe place to live. What they need, while living in the wreckage of this sin-stained earth, is to realize that the world’s main problem is that it’s inhabited by people like us, sinners in need of redemption. These thirsty people need us to reach out our hands and extend to them, as cold water, Christ’s offer of citizenship in another world, a coming eternal home described this way at the Book’s end:

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Revelation 21:3-5).

         

Related Resources

Blog: Why Doesn't God Do More to Restrain Evil and Suffering?
Article: 19 Reflections on America's Crisis
Book: If God Is Good

photo 1 credit: Saucy Salad via photopin cc  |  photo 2 credit: PMillera4 via photopin cc

How Can We Encourage Christ-followers to Read?

Over the years I’ve bought and read thousands of good books. I cannot divorce God's works of grace in my life from great books. I love a good movie, but I find that for me television is incapable of having the deep and profound positive effect on my spiritual life that books do.

That's one reason I'm so concerned about the plunging literacy rates for young people, especially boys. In a day when we are drowning in popular culture and TV shows and video games, may we and our children and grandchildren break away from obsession with the trivial and become creatures of the eternal. Those who don't grow up to be readers will not be readers of God's Word. That’s why with my graphic novel Eternity one of my goals was to tell a good story with compelling art that draws in young readers who hopefully will move on to some of my other books, and many more as well.  

I’m including in today’s blog part of an article by George Thomsen, manager at the award-winning Harvest Bookstore, a non-profit Christian bookstore located on the campus of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. (Greg Laurie pastors there, and I’ve had the privilege of speaking with him twice at their church, and will do so again October 27.) This is probably my favorite bookstore in the country!

George has become a good friend of mine over the years. His depth and breadth of knowledge about books is astounding. His great passion is for the Christians to become readers, and readers of both Scripture and great books. Here’s a portion of what George wrote to his fellow bookstore owners and managers, regarding the importance of encouraging reading:

Books as Tools for Transformational Ministry

by George Thomsen

One of the most interesting business books I have ever read is The Experience Economy by B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore. …They explain that at some point all people desire commodities, products, service or experiences that will change them for the better. That is why they join a health club, take vitamin supplements, go to conferences and retreats, etc. 

…It has occurred to me how much we as Christian retailers are involved in the business of transformation. What is more transformational than the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Absolutely nothing! Not only do we sell Bibles, gospel tracts and other witnessing tools that are used in spreading the good news in the work of proclamation and salvation, but we also sell books that are useful tools in the process of our sanctification.   

In Romans 12:2 the apostle Paul writes to the church “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind….” Listening to faithful preaching, reading God’s word, engaging in Godly conversation with other believers and the reading of good books are great helps in this process of renewing our minds. Aside from the benefit of spiritual development, there are a multitude of other transformational benefits that can be derived from reading including increased intelligence, stress reduction, improved analytical thinking, better memory, increased vocabulary, better concentration and focus—just to name a few… 

So now I find myself asking…why do we not do more as retailers, publishers, pastors or trade associations to promote reading? After all, reading requires time, effort and commitment.  Visual media like television and the internet, if not regulated, can be huge distractions that take away from valuable reading time. I know this from my own experience. And when I think about it I can honestly say that never has a television show delivered a transformational benefit, though some movies have come very close. Yet like most of you, books have made a huge difference in my life. 

So it seems in my estimation that we ought to be evangelists for the discipline and pastime of reading. It has been said, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.”  But I prefer the expanded version which includes the phrase “but you can make him thirsty.” So how can we…create a thirst for what we have to offer? It is one thing to market books to people who are already readers, but what about “evangelizing” those who aren’t?

Several years ago I had a wonderful time speaking with Bill Grieg of Gospel Light Publishing about this (he is the one who really got me thinking about this). Bill made me aware of a campaign called “Get Caught Reading” that was sponsored by the American Association of Publishers that still exists today. It is like the “Got Milk?” campaign that was launched by the dairy association. Promotional posters of celebrities who have been “caught reading” are available for download by retailers. There are celebrities like Shawn Johnson, George Foreman, Laura Bush, Abraham Lincoln and even Bob and Larry…

There is a lot an individual retailer can and should do in their local community to be sure. Yet, this in itself will not be enough. Somehow we as an industry and the church need to work collaboratively on a national campaign that makes people aware of the benefits of reading and encourages Christians to become readers.

Somehow we need to involve the church as well. Generally, pastors are readers and want a congregation that is active in transforming their minds towards godliness. Yet, how often do these influencers exhort their people to read? How can we as an industry harness the tremendous power of social media and create a community involving authors, pastors, editors, publishers, stores and churchgoers that is excited about and engaged with others about reading?

…While I don’t have the answers, I know the answers are out there among us. Authors probably already do this better than anyone. Years ago CBA (the Association for Christian Retail) had a “What goes into the mind comes out in a life” slogan. Yet I am not sure that it was direct enough and it was short-lived. I would love to see our industry (and the church) as a whole take this on as a challenge.  

Thanks George, and thanks to countless other Christian bookstore managers, for all you have done for the selling and reading of gospel-centered books!

P. S. For those in church leadership interested in more perspectives, Mike Leake shares “7 Ways to Create a Reading Culture in Your Church.”

         

Related Resources

Blog: An Alarming Trend: The Illiteracy of Boys
Article: The Power of Books and How to Use Them
Book: Eternity graphic novel

Reading photo credit: Garrett Gill via photopin cc

Get Caught Reading credit: www.getcaughtreading.org

Where do you turn to in Scripture when you are under stress?

In this video interview with EPM staffer Julia Stager, we discuss stress and finding help in Scripture:

Julia:

Stress is a part of everyone’s everyday life. I know it’s part of my life every day. It’s not a question of whether I’m stressed; it’s a question of how stressed I am. Where do you turn to in the Bible when you’re under stress?

Randy:

I think of 1 Peter 5:7 where it says, “Cast your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.” God is intimately involved in our lives. He cares for us. He’s there for us. I think about His indwelling Holy Spirit. Not only the Holy Spirit, but Christ Himself—the hope of glory, the Son of God—indwells us. His promise is, “I will be with you always.”

In terms of Scripture, I go to the last five chapters of Job. They are very much like staring into the Grand Canyon or being out under the night sky and just looking up at the stars, because of the greatness of God. For instance, in Job the Lord says, “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the Earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand. Surely you know.”

He goes on to say to Job, “I’ll ask you, for you have lived so many years.” God was being sarcastic with Job (which is a way we can justify our sarcasm with each other. This is what we’ve been looking for!).

But to me, it’s a huge reminder that God is so big. The thing I would say is, don’t think so much about yourself. Think about God.

Julia:

Absolutely. We have such an opportunity to trust God in this life. I can barely see two steps ahead of me. So if I try to see two steps ahead of me, I’m going to get distracted and become vulnerable to attacks from the enemy. But if I just focus on the present and trust in God’s provision for us (like He says He will), then my stress level usually comes down.

Randy:

Exactly. And you just hit on another characteristic of God—His omniscience. He knows everything. He knows the end from the beginning. And He promises He will work all things together for good for those who love Him. And that means, in the midst of the most stressful thing we have ever experienced or will ever experience, God is in it, and He will use it for our good.

Now that brings an eternal perspective when you’re under stress.

         

Related Resources

Blog: How has God used stress in your life?
Audio: Randy and Nanci's Q&A on Stress at Mom's Group
Book: Help for Women Under Stress

FamilyLife, Redefining Marriage, and the Most Loving Thing We Can Do

After the Supreme Court declared DOMA to be unconstitutional this past June, Dennis Rainey shared a letter about FamilyLife’s controversial radio broadcast on this issue. He wrote, “In more than four decades of ministry I’ve never seen the overwhelming amount of feedback, both positive and negative, to our special radio program two weeks ago concerning the DOMA decision.” (DOMA is the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which defined legal marriage in federal law as being only between one man and one woman). After sending out an email advertising their upcoming broadcast, FamilyLife received numerous responses taking issue with their stance:

“…I strongly disagree with this email that you sent out.  What about love and acceptance and equality for everyone?  I hope one day that people will stop being judged for who they love."

“I celebrated the Supreme Court rulings yesterday with my amazing gay Christian friends. I felt tears well up in my eyes because this represents justice to me.  The assumption that because I am a Christian, I must be upset about today, took me by surprise. These emails do not represent my heart and my convictions, so I have unsubscribed.”

“There appears to be passionate and growing support for so-called ‘same-sex marriage’ among those who profess faith in Christ,” Dennis wrote. Still, there were others who appreciated the email and broadcast:

"I pray every day for this country and our president. Things sure have changed in a short time in our country. Though I am saddened, I know God is in control and I ask God to be a lamp unto my feet each day. I pray for a grass root change. Thank you for being strong and courageous in times like this. "

Here are some quotes from Dennis’s letter, followed by my thoughts.

Who would have thought that a ministry that teaches God’s design for marriage and family could be labeled, “bigoted”?  That the idea that God created marriage as a lifelong covenant relationship between a man and a woman would now be decried as “hate speech”?  Human speculation now trumps divine decree.

The Bible makes clear that God’s very best for all of our lives involves our purity and obedience to Him. This includes forsaking all sexual sins, heterosexual and homosexual, outside of the marriage covenant between a man and a woman. If this message is “hate speech,” as it is called by some responders, then the Bible is hate speech, and no one can preach the whole Bible without being guilty of hate speech.  

As I feel sorry for someone who will never walk again, I feel very sorry for those who want to be married, but have no desire to be married to the only ones God permits them to marry, those of the opposite gender. But my sorrow and empathy do not negate the objective teaching of Scripture. It is never loving to mislead people into thinking that God permits what He does not, or that it is in our best interests to try to be happy by doing whatever we desire to do.

The Supreme Court may be the highest court in the land, but it is asserting itself above the ultimate authority of all creation.  The Supreme Court is tampering with the divine DNA of the most basic units of civilization—marriage and family.  Like every civilization that has gone before us, I’m afraid our country is on a path to learning that when we ignore God and His word, we invite His displeasure.

It concerns me when those who profess to be Christians simply redefine what it means to be a Christian to accommodate whatever the culture currently believes.  The Bible is no longer their authority, but the current and ever-changing wind of social preference. Teaching that the commandments of God are written in pencil, they buy their social popularity by passing out erasers.

Even where society legalizes homosexual marriage, this does not mean God recognizes it as a marriage. If society legalized marriage between an adult male and a six-year-old girl, God would not recognize it as marriage, or change His judgment that it’s perverse. If society legalized marriage between a man and his sister, this would not thereby change God's revealed will concerning the sin of incest. Hebrews 13:4 tells us, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”

To give special status or rights to those choosing the homosexual lifestyle is to approve and endorse that behavior, and inevitably to spread it. To do so is morally wrong. It is also the worst possible thing we can do for homosexuals, who need to hear that in Christ there is the way out of bondage to sin. They do not need to be encouraged to plunge deeper into it.

We have apparently lost some friends because we continue to uphold the definition of marriage found in Genesis.  No one likes to lose a friend.  It’s even harder when the friend is angry with you.  But there are times when your convictions may collide with the views of a friend.  And in those moments, you have to decide where you stand.

As for me and my house, we’re standing with what we believe the Bible clearly teaches.

I appreciate Dennis Rainey’s words here. Many people have been angry at me because I don’t believe I have the wisdom or power to revise the nature and commands of God. I do not trust the current beliefs of my culture more than I trust God.

It may appear to be judgmental and unloving for a Christian to believe that only a man and a woman can enjoy a true marriage as defined by God. But like Dennis and the rest of the FamilyLife staff, I really do believe the Bible, and therefore I can't hold to these positions no matter how passionately people may make a case for them.

The truth is that Jesus condemned lust, both heterosexual and homosexual (Matthew 5:28). In Matthew 19:9 Jesus condemned “porneia,” a broad word that covers all sexual sins condemned in the Old Testament, and others not addressed there. Greek scholars say this includes prostitution, bestiality, incest, child molesting, homosexual relations, and all heterosexual relations outside of marriage. So Jesus really did speak against homosexual relations without using that exact term.

Likewise, Jesus’ apostles, who wrote the God-breathed New Testament Scriptures, consistently spoke against homosexual behavior right along with other sins (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:9-10; Jude 7).

When it comes to the issue of being “judgmental”, people commonly cite Matthew 7:1-2:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Yes, Jesus is saying, “Don’t judge.” But the context is king when we’re interpreting Scripture—and in verses 3-5 He goes right on to say:

“How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

It’s clear that “Judge not” does not mean you can’t see a speck in your brother’s eye or that in seeing it you have no responsibility to help your brother remove it. On the contrary, He’s saying yes, see that speck in your brother’s eye, but take the log out of your eye first so you can help him.

We are not to go around condemning people and making ourselves seem superior to them. But at the same time, we’re to recognize what God says in His Word. If God’s Word says that adultery is a sin, and He clearly does, I am not being judgmental if I say, “If I committed adultery I would be sinning.” Likewise, without a judgmental or self-righteous spirit, I can look at a person committing adultery and conclude that they are sinning. I’m simply believing what Scripture says.

If I have a relationship with that person, I need to go to them and say, “Because I love you, for your own sake I urge you to repent and turn to Christ.” You might say, “Now that’s condemning them and judging them.” No—that’s believing what God says is true and then trying to help the person because sin is not in their best interest. It can't be. It never has been and never will be.  

The truth isn’t something we should protect people from—it’s something God gives for our protection. We owe it to each other to do what Scripture commands: "Speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).

I’d encourage you to read Dennis’s full letter, which includes four ways FamilyLife is working and reaching out in the days ahead.

         

Related Resources

Blog: Are homosexual sins worse than other sins?
Q&A: I am a Christian homosexual who has always been in a monogamous relationship. Why can’t this be as acceptable as a heterosexual married couple committed to only one person?
Book: The Grace and Truth Paradox

Rings photo credit: michaeljzealot via photopin cc

What is a father’s primary responsibility?

In this video interview with EPM staffer Julia Stager, we share some thoughts on a father’s primary responsibility to his children:

Randy:

I think a father’s primary responsibility is to show his children what God is like. Your daughters and your sons need to see what true fatherhood is, and you as a father will be the one who shows them what God is like (that is, if you are faithful to show them what God is like). When your children hear the word “Father” in relationship to God, they will draw conclusions, truly or falsely, about what He is like based on what they think of you.

Deuteronomy 6 says, “These commandments I give you today are to be upon your heart.” So first, the father has to have this knowledge of God in his own life. Then it goes on to say what he’s supposed to do in relationship to his children (keep in mind that if a father doesn’t really have it in the inside, he can’t give it to his children): “Impress them [these commandments] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, and when you lie down and when you get up.” Then it says, “tie them as symbols, put them around your house.”

So what Scripture is saying is impress them upon your children. And that word impress really means “engrave.” It’s like children are wet cement and with your finger you are writing in it. As you know if you’ve done this with wet cement (which as a child you weren’t supposed to do, but I did!) it becomes permanent. That’s how you engrave into your children.

But the great thing is, this engraving is done causally as life goes on. It’s not just during family devotions. Family devotions are great, but it’s more than that. It’s as you walk in the way.

Julia:

Absolutely. As a father, you’re living in the same household as your children, and they are observing you at all times. Just like you’re saying, it’s not that you only have a responsibility during certain times of the day, but during all times of the day.

Randy:

Exactly. One of the ways that fathers can model godliness to their children is to apologize and ask forgiveness. Yes, God never has to apologize to us and ask our forgiveness. But we need to model what that’s like in our Christian lives so that our children can look at us and see us admitting we’re wrong. That’s part of being Christlike.

         

Related Resources

Blog: The Importance of Fathers
Article: The Father as Model and Mentor
Books: Heaven for Kids, The Resolution for Men 

Background photo credit: Lost Control via photopin cc

Incredible Pictures from the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition

“The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). So too do the accomplishments of mankind whom He created in His image, and made to reflect his glory. Even people who don’t recognize God build telescopes, explore the heavens and take magnificent photos such as these. Whether or not you acknowledge God, your creativity, ingenuity, eye for beauty and technical skills are all gifts from His hand.

If you believe in Christ, look at these photos and worship Him (thanks to my good friend Diane Meyer who, knowing my love for astronomy, sent me this link). If you don’t believe in Him, consider whether these testify to a world and a universe and people created by design, or randomly occurring and evolving over billions or millions of years. I once believed the latter, because that’s what I was taught. When I heard the gospel as a teenager, everything changed.

And after forty years of knowing Him, I would never go back to the hollowness of what I once believed.

         

Related Resources

Blog: Eagerly Anticipating the New Heavens to Come
Video: When did you put your faith in Christ?
Book: The Promise of Heaven

Photo credit: European Southern Observatory

Will God take care of our children?

A lot of people have been experiencing anxiety due to shootings. Will God always take care of our children?

In this video and the following transcript, I share some thoughts:

I think when you look at what’s happening at schools and life in general, and with children being abducted, these are things that every parent is going to ask. I really wish I could give an answer that says, “Yes. God will always take care of your children and protect them from all harm.” But that’s not reality. That’s not the world we live in. We live in a world that is under the curse.

I think it is possible for people to end up blaming God when bad things happen in their own lives and to their children because they’ve had false expectations, as if God promised nothing bad will ever happen to them or their child.

What God does promise is that He’s bigger than all the bad things that can ever happen to us. He also promises that He loves children. Look at Jesus—the way He took children onto his lap and said, “Unless you become like one of these, you won’t enter the kingdom of God.” He said to His disciples, “Allow the children to come to me.”

So Scripture clearly teaches God’s love for children, His sovereignty, and His ability and commitment to cause all things to work together for good. But that’s not the same as promising nothing bad will ever happen to our children.

         

Related Resources

Blog: Why does God take some people to heaven so young?
Resource: What does Romans 8:28 really mean?
Book: 90 Days of God's Goodness

Photo credit: Ben Earwicker - Garrison Photography, Boise, ID, www.garrisonphoto.org