Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 59

Providing Clean, Safe Drinking Water Opens the Door to Sharing about Living Water

Note from Randy: I love Water Mission, and it’s an organization that Eternal Perspective Ministries is thrilled to support. I asked Scott Linebrink, a Major League baseball pitcher for twelve years who now serves as Partnerships Director for Water Mission, if he would share about why he believes so much in their work to provide communities with clean drinking water. I really appreciate what Scott wrote.

Scott is also the host of an outstanding podcast called Get in the Game. Among others, he interviews Christians in professional sports, including present and future Hall of Famers. If you want to learn more about Scott, see this excellent article or listen to a 45-minute conversation with Scott on the Sports Spectrum podcast.

Traveling to a foreign land will likely change your perspective. When my wife Kelly and I chose to go on a vision trip with Water Mission to Haiti in the winter of 2013, that’s exactly what happened. I had been to other Latin American countries and thought I had seen poverty. But I was not at all prepared for what would confront me when I stepped off the plane in Cap-Haitien.

The poverty we saw was on another level. I surveyed trash piled high in the streets; witnessed the disorganized movement of people, wagons, and cars; and met eyes with those who just seemed lost in their sadness. Over the next several days, my experiences with people reinforced the shocking truths of what life in Haiti really looks like. I asked myself one question:

What compels someone living in a seemingly hopeless situation to wake up each morning?

The question may seem harsh. But this was my honest reaction as I processed. I was trying to connect what I was seeing in front of me to the world view that I had operated under my entire life. Looking back on the experience, I think it was part of an essential evolution in my mind and heart that God used to drive me to a place of deep compassion—and ultimately, towards action.

Before that trip, I dabbled in the knowledge of what it means to serve the poor. My interactions with others outside my socioeconomic standing were brief. I had never walked, talked, ate, and lived with the poor and therefore, could not claim to understand them at a most basic level. Even more, I had no idea what it took to solve fundamental problems brought on by poverty.

What I have learned is that poverty is a result of broken relationships. It has less to do with a lack of material goods and more with an individual’s perception of who they are.

As Christians, we know that Jesus came to Earth and died so that we could experience reconciliation with the Father. He restored the broken, gave the nameless a name, and prepared a place for us in Heaven. Because of God’s love for me, I can enter each day with the assurance of His presence. That is why we as children of God can wake up each morning knowing His grace is sufficient for our day. I wanted the people I met and saw in Haiti to have that same hope.

After returning home, I thought deeply about God’s role for me in impacting His Kingdom. Seeing those water projects in Haiti impressed upon me the value of meeting people’s most basic needs—just like Jesus did. He touched them, healed them, gave them something to eat, and pointed them towards eternal life. He got their attention in each situation by first meeting that physical need.

We can’t live more than three days without water. This precious resource is vital to our existence. Where I live, we don’t often question where our next drink of water will come. And yet, nearly one-third of the global population lives without access to safe, clean drinking water. Could it be that God has chosen to take one of the biggest problems on the planet and use it as a way of drawing people to Him?

Water Mission has shown me that providing a community with safe, clean water opens a door for sharing the gospel. It demonstrates love at a level that anyone, regardless of age, race, gender, language, or religion, can understand. And it is that love that builds trust and earns the right to share the reason for the hope that rests within us.

It’s a beautiful application of the gospel, bringing hope to people every single day. If you would like to learn more about Water Mission and how you can be part of delivering hope to people through water and the word of God, please visit watermission.org.

Water Mission is a Christian, engineering nonprofit that designs and builds safe water and sanitation solutions. Over their 20-year history, the organization has impacted over 7 million people in Latin America, Africa, and Indonesia.

Rediscovering Your God-Given Identity after Loss

Last fall I had the privilege of being on a Zoom call talking about Heaven and the New Earth with a dozen or so moms who had lost children to the same kind of brain cancer. It was an unforgettable 2 1/2 hours, looking into the faces of all these dear women, most of them close to the camera where the tears and the pain were clearly visible. One of their children had died 14 days before we talked, one a month before, numbers of them a few months to a year ago. 

It might sound strange for me to say that I could see most of them as close or closer than I would have if we were in the same room together. In this case Zoom worked incredibly well, and now, my memories keep tricking me into thinking we were all together. The spiritual connection was such that we really were. It’s true there is no substitute for face to face contact, but love and human connection abounded. The same technology that can sometimes be a curse is a great blessing when doing something like this. The Spirit of God ministering to and through each other was so powerful even though I think we live in a half dozen states.

I had several wonderful follow up text exchanges with the leader of the group. She shared this question from one of the moms:

I don’t know who I am without my daughter. And I am having a hard time figuring that out. She was my world, my best friend, my shadow. I am completely lost without her.

Here is a lightly edited version of my answer:

One of the most important ways to reestablish a sense of identity is by having friends like you are experiencing in your support group. We need to go to and hear from and reach out to people who understand—people who have been there and are there, some of whom are further down the road, some of whom are not as far.

A vitally important part of our identity is in discovering the ministry God has called us to—which as 2 Corinthians 1 says, involves comforting others:

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

We are to receive comfort from God and His people, and then we are to give that comfort to others. People who pour themselves into helping others are the healthiest people, and their identity becomes clear. They rest in the fact that God has a purpose and plan for their lives, and they are here as God’s ambassadors and ministers to meet the needs of others. This is critical to our sense of identity. Grieving is healthy, but if you become lost in your grief, and you always sit alone and only focus on your loss and pain, you can get stuck. God, not grief, should define who we are.

That doesn’t mean we should make ourselves so busy that we push grief away. There are certainly times when we need to step back, rest, lower our expectations of ourselves, work through our God-given emotions, and recognize we need comfort and help from others. That’s all part of it, and we should also remember while there are common elements in all grief, people still can grieve very differently. There’s no formula that prescribes how grief always works; we are individuals with different personality types, temperaments, and histories. But it does mean that with His strength and guidance, we all can and should look for ways to help others in Jesus’ name, as He directs us and brings us opportunities.

Resources

These two articles are not specifically Christian, but I think most of what they say is good (it’s just not complete on the spiritual level):

I Don’t Know Who I Am Anymore: Grief and Loss of Identity

Grief and Depression from Loss of Identity

This is written by a pastor and counselor and contains some good insights: The big question of grief: Who am I now?

This one deals with maintaining and cultivating our identity in Christ. This isn’t the whole answer to the question of identity after loss, but it’s important part of it, remembering that the relationship that should most define us it not our a relationship with a spouse or parent or child or friend, but our relationship with God: Signs You May Be Losing Your Identity in Christ

Of course, God is our Father, and Jesus is our brother and friend, as well as our Lord. We need to remind ourselves that when we lose someone we dearly love that we still have the God who created us in His image and promises He is with us always even into the end of the present age, and with us forever in Heaven. Hence, while we may feel we have lost our identity we have not lost it. We need to renew our minds from God’s Word by reminding ourselves who we really are.

This article covers a lot of ground and does it well, and while it’s not a direct answer to this question, it contains much that pertains to it: Living with Healthy Grief.

This isn’t about identity per se; it’s about was grieving and rejoicing for our loved ones at death, which are simultaneous realities that are sometimes hard to keep in balance: Christian Death: Mourn or Celebrate?

This doesn’t deal directly with the loss of a loved one, but it does deal with our sense of identity in Christ and could be helpful: Who Am I? A New Way to Define Identity

Finally, and in one sense most importantly, here are some passages of Scripture that deal with who we are as God’s creations and His children.

See Randy’s book  Heaven . You can also browse our additional resources on Heaven.

Photo by Sandra Frey on Unsplash

What Happens When a Believer Dies?

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A reader recently wrote us to ask, “In your book you state that when a Christian dies part goes to the grave and part goes to the feet of Jesus Christ. Where can I find that in the Bible?”

Jesus told the dying thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The apostle Paul said that to die was to be with Christ (Philippians 1:23), and to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). After their deaths, martyrs are pictured in Heaven, crying out to God to bring justice on Earth (Revelation 6:9-11).

I share more in this video:

I mentioned the analogy of someone stepping outside a room, and how they’ve simply changed locations, not ceased to exist. In my book Heaven, I share a story about five-year-old Emily Kimball, which over the years, readers have told me has helped them and their loved ones:

When Emily was hospitalized and heard she was going to die, she started to cry. Even though she loved Jesus and wanted to be with him, she didn’t want to leave her family behind. Then her mother had an inspired idea. She asked Emily to step through a doorway into another room, and she closed the door behind her. One at a time, the entire family started coming through the door to join her. Her mother explained that this was how it would be. Emily would go ahead to Heaven and then the rest of the family would follow. Emily understood. She would be the first to go through death’s door. Eventually, the rest of the family would follow, probably one by one, joining her on the other side.

The analogy would have been even more complete if the room that Emily entered had had someone representing Jesus to greet her—along with departed loved ones and Bible characters and angels. Also, it would’ve helped if the room she walked into was breathtakingly beautiful, and contained pictures of a New Earth, vast and unexplored, where Emily and her family and friends would one day go to live with Jesus forever.

Every person reading this article is dying. Perhaps you have reason to believe that death will come very soon. You may be troubled, feeling uncertain, or unready to leave. Make sure of your relationship with Jesus Christ. Be certain that you’re trusting Him alone to save you—not anyone or anything else, and certainly not any good works you’ve done. And then allow yourself to get excited about what’s on the other side of death’s door.

I’ve often read at memorial services this depiction of a believer’s death:

I’m standing on the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She’s an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come down to mingle with each other. And then I hear someone at my side saying, “There, she’s gone.”

Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says, “There, she’s gone,” there are other eyes watching her coming, and there are other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”

And that is dying.

The place of our arrival will be a beautiful, though temporary, place where we’ll await the culmination of history: the return of the risen Jesus, who will resurrect us. When His millennial reign is accomplished (whether that’s a nonliteral present reign or a literal thousand-year future reign), we’ll join Him in ruling the New Earth, free of sin and the Curse.

Five months before he died, C. S. Lewis wrote to a woman who feared that her own death was imminent. Lewis said, “Can you not see death as a friend and deliverer? . . . What is there to be afraid of? . . .Your sins are confessed. . . . Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind. . . . Our Lord says to you, ‘Peace, child, peace. Relax. Let go. I will catch you. Do you trust me so little?’ . . . Of course, this may not be the end. Then make it a good rehearsal.”

Lewis signed the letter, “Yours (and like you, a tired traveler, near the journey’s end).”

We see life differently when we realize that death isn’t a wall but a turnstile; a small obstacle that marks a great beginning.

Photo by Harrison Haines from Pexels

How to Find Peace in an Anxious, Out-of-Control World

Note from Randy: Sam has worked for EPM as one of my staff editors for many years and does an excellent job. She also serves with Life Impact Ministries, an outstanding organization that offers hosted places of rest, retreat, and renewal for ministry leaders, and she is a certified biblical counselor with r3stored.com.

The topic of anxiety, and the advice Sam gives in her article, are timely. The Lord does not call us merely to release our anxiety to Him, but to willingly cast it upon Him—all of it. God wants us to trust Him in both the big things and the little things. I hope this article will encourage you to do so.

2020 was a year that anyone might label as out of control. These ensuing years haven’t shown much improvement. We like to have things under control. Our problems begin when we both desire and expect circumstances to be under our control.

When we try to clutch the reins of this out-of-control ride we call life, we will get thrown from our mount and it will hurt.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults.” That’s more than 18 percent of the population 18 years and older. That percentage would likely skyrocket if it included those of us who struggle with worry, anxiety, and depression without ever telling anyone.

The stress of a pandemic and its aftermath—both economic (job loss, business loss) and psychological (isolation, fear, grief)—has left many of us reeling.

Over the last year, I often wondered, what’s next?

Fires. The entire Left Coast seemed to be in flames.

Massive storms. Hurricanes, ice, and political upheaval pummeled this nation. And woven throughout these events were notifications no one wants to get—news that another friend or relative had died. Even small losses like not being able to have dinner at a favorite restaurant or finding out a trip was postponed felt like a big deal—not unlike standing in a boxing ring waiting for the next punch to land and wondering if any of us would remain standing.

The Peace We Long for

So what do we do with these uncomfortable feelings? Some of us get depressed. Some ignore them or bury them under recreational drugs or more socially acceptable addictions like exercise, social media, and entertainment. (My personal favorite is a super-sized scoop of cookie dough ice cream—but that started before the pandemic gave me an excuse.)

None of these idols can ever satisfy. They keep demanding more sacrifices from us and delivering less satisfaction to us. Obviously they provide no lasting rest.

Each person who claims Jesus as The Way will say they believe that:

God is good
God is all powerful
Jesus loves me
Jesus lived, died, and lives again
The Spirit lives in me
The Spirit always speaks truth

If God truly is good, powerful, alive, and in us, and if He created us and knows how He designed us to live, and if Jesus “came that we might have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10), then following His lead will give us the peace we so desperately long for and that our idols cannot provide. “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22, NIV).

Find a New Focus

Max Lucado writes, “Think about what you think about.” And 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us, “Take every thought captive.” Psalm 131 says, “I have calmed and quieted my soul.” And Psalm 46:10 commands us to “Be still” or “Cease striving.” While seeking professional help for anxiety and depression is sometimes necessary, there’s much we can do on behalf of our own sanity. If God considers us capable of settling ourselves by remembering truth and trusting His Spirit, shouldn’t we at least try?

But how do we “still” ourselves? How do we “cease striving” and get off that debilitating hamster wheel that spins inside our brains? We will never have God’s perfect sovereign perspective, but we can stop and refocus our attention on the bigger picture when we begin to feel anxious:

Where is God at work in this situation?
If Romans 8:28 is true (and it is) how might the things you are most anxious about be “working together for the good of those who love God”?

Hint: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation” (Romans 5:3-4, NLT).

Once I caught myself “what-if-ing” about the next possible catastrophe. I decided to turn the tables by asking, “What if God has suddenly fallen off His throne and no longer runs the universe?” That thought was so laughable I stopped worrying!

Stop, Drop, and Breathe

When you find yourself spinning in the anxiety cycle and can’t seem to find the exit, stop whatever you’re doing. Breathe…deeply…slowly…in…out…several times. And when your brain begins to quiet enough that you can slip in an idea edgewise, name—out loud if possible—what you’re anxious about. Keep breathing. As you relax, get curious. Ask questions about your anxiety without any judgment. Is it about sin? Is it about fear? Is it about an injustice? Is it about loss (of a relationship or of control)?

Again, without judgment, put each of your reasons into its own separate mental drawer. As soon as you are able, open those drawers one at a time and look hard at the contents. Are they worth keeping? Do you need help (from a professional or a wise friend) sorting out what to keep and what to toss? Do you need to forgive or ask for forgiveness?

Often, simply bringing these anxious thoughts out into the daylight shrinks them to their proper size and sometimes they disappear entirely! Like a troll in daylight an anxious thought becomes impotent.

Fight Like Jesus

Proactively allow the following scriptures to percolate deep into your soul. Pick one or two that resonate and post them in prominent places or schedule a phone reminder to pop up several times a day, putting these words of life in front of you. Better yet, memorize them (no, you’re not really too old or too busy) so the Holy Spirit can bring them to mind when you need them most.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself…Refrain from anger and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. (Psalm 37:7-9, ESV)

“Peace I [Jesus] leave with you; my peace I give to you….Let not your hearts be troubled.” (John 14:27, ESV)

[Jesus said,] “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:33-34, ESV)

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5-7, NIV)

“Come to me [Jesus], all who labor and are heavy laden…Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-30, ESV)

My first panic attack was a nasty surprise. Never before had I felt like suicide was the only way to end the horror. The next time I felt one lurking I began to recite the following Psalm. I had to fight harder than I thought possible to get each word out but by the time I got through “the valley of the shadow” the words became easier and by the end I knew Jesus had led me to the other side. The third time, soon after I began speaking the words the attack stopped and has not returned:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not lack. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23 NKJV)

Let the Joy of the Lord Be Your Strength

Finally, fall in love with Jesus. “Take delight in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4, NLT). Marinate in God’s words and surround yourself with others who radiate His love. Take regular Sabbath breaks to spend truly quiet times—just you and Him (not you, Him and your smartphone)—listening and sharing your heart and “you will find rest for your soul.”

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NLT). Jesus promises that for now, this seemingly out-of-control world is here to stay. So is Jesus. “Never, no never will I leave you. Never, not ever will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Since “the Lord IS near” you really can choose to “not be anxious about anything.”  

Photo by Guillaume de Germain on Unsplash

Is It True Pro-life Proponents Only Care about Fetuses and Do Nothing to Help Children Who Are Already Born?

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Countless myths have been attached to the pro-life movement. One example is the oft-repeated statement, “Pro-lifers don’t really care about pregnant women, or about children once they’re born.”

A television reporter, with cameras rolling, once approached me at a pro-life event and asked for my response to that accusation. I said, “Well, my wife and I opened our home to a pregnant girl and paid her expenses while she lived with us. We supported her when she decided to give up the child for adoption. And, since you asked, we give a substantial amount of our income to help poor women and children.”

Then I introduced her to a pastor friend standing next to me who, with his wife, had adopted nineteen children, a number of them with Down syndrome and other special needs. The reporter signaled the cameraman to stop filming. I asked if she wanted to interview my friend. She shook her head and moved on, looking for someone who matched her stereotype.

A Word about the Word “Pro-Life”

First, let me say emphatically: pro-life people should be concerned not only for the unborn, but for the weak and needy, for the orphans and widows, for the hungry, for the abandoned and abused of all ages. We should fight against sex trafficking and racial injustice and the mistreatment of the elderly. We should obey God when He says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9). When believers have been sitting on the sidelines and are not actively seeking ways to obey God’s calling to help the needy, they do need to be called to action.

Being pro-life does not end with advocating for the protection of unborn children. However, because they are the smallest and weakest and most vulnerable human beings, and because they are killed at the highest rates and in the greatest numbers, and because countless people and even the law of the land argue for the right to destroy them, being pro-life certainly begins with defending the unborn.

Ironically, there are those who now use the term pro-life when it comes to the already born, but do little or nothing on behalf of the unborn. They have co-opted the term while abandoning its historic meaning. It would be like people in the mid-nineteenth century adopting the term “emancipation” to advocate for children working long hours in mines, while turning around and defending people’s right to buy and sell slaves.

To be pro-life should certainly mean more than being concerned for unborn babies, but it should never mean less than that.

A Gigantic Grassroots Volunteer Movement

I do agree that people who point out injustice should seek to be part of the solution. Truthfully, that’s already been happening for years in the pro-life cause. Thousands of pro-life organizations around the country and throughout the world provide free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, support groups, childcare classes, financial management education, babysitting, diapers, children’s clothes, and housing. To these, add tens of thousands of churches donating time, money, food, house repairs, and every other kind of help to needy pregnant women, single mothers, and low-income families. Countless pro-life families adopt children, open their homes, and volunteer to help children after they’re born. Together, I am convinced these efforts actually comprise the single largest grassroots volunteer movement in history.

While those who offer abortions charge women for them, those who offer abortion alternatives give their assistance freely, lovingly, and almost entirely behind the scenes. Contrary to some caricatures, these people are not just pro-birth—they are truly pro-life. They care about a child and her mother, and help them both before birth and after.

Government Programs and Pro-Life Convictions

Pro-choice advocates sometimes say the proof that pro-life activists don’t actually care about already-born children is found in how they vote and what government programs they do or don’t support.

But a child’s right to life is the foundational right from which all other rights flow, and that’s why we have to start there. Nathan Apodaca writes, “The pro-life argument is that it’s wrong to intentionally kill innocent human beings. Abortion does that. Therefore, abortion is wrong. How does my alleged rejection of big government programs and progressive political ideas refute that essential pro-life argument? It doesn’t.”

Many pro-life advocates help women and children through charitable non-government means. Just because this help isn’t directly connected to the government doesn’t meant it isn’t real and effective. (And in many cases, because non-government organizations are able to work more personally with individuals, they can be far more effective.)

Kyle Blanchette writes:

…yes, there is something objectionable and inconsistent about someone whose pro-life activism amounts to nothing more than casting a vote for the candidate who opposes abortion, all the while refusing to lift a finger to help mothers and babies in difficult circumstances.

But we must take care not to conflate help with government programs. Those opposed to abortion can both agree that mothers and babies deserve our help, and disagree that whatever government program is under discussion is the best way to provide that help. Pro-lifers who care about mothers and babies, but who are also are skeptical of the efficiency and efficacy of some or all government programs, can be found giving to charities designed to help mothers and babies.

Furthermore, regardless of who anyone votes for, all U.S. citizens pay taxes that support current government programs. As Ardee Coolidge points out, “Since we are all subject to the same tax laws regardless of our stance on abortion or our faith in the efficacy of the programs that our taxes fund, all people (pro-life and pro-choice) support those programs to the same degree.” The vast amount given to pro-life causes is over and above, not in place of, the support to government programs inherent in paying taxes.

Some people believe we should make abortion “safe and rare” by supporting big-government programs that seek to address poverty and help women and families.  They see this as a comprehensive pro-life solution, believing that if we can address the root of what causes women to choose abortion, we’ll reduce its frequency. While it’s certainly important for society to identify and work to address those root issues, and to help people in poverty, it’s also fair to ask, “What kind of policy or program can address the plight of women facing unsupported pregnancy without supporting abortion?” Unfortunately, any support of the abortion industry, which has no financial interest in keeping abortion rare—in fact, quite the opposite—only bolsters it. (And if abortion really is the killing of an innocent child, then we wouldn’t say, for example, “Let’s work to make murder or child abuse safe and rare.”)

There is room for legitimate debate and disagreement about various government programs, and how we can best help women and children in need. By all means, let’s seek just and wise ways to do so. But the idea that the pro-life cause is hypocritical for not aligning with a specific list of political ideas and government programs is flawed. It can be either an ad hominem argument that unfairly attacks their character, or a straw man argument that falsely claims their lack of confidence in certain government programs proves they don’t care about people.

The truth is, many pro-life people I know give generously not only to provide abortion alternatives but also to support organizations which effectively and efficiently feed the hungry and help the poor and needy in their communities and beyond.

This article is excerpted from Randy's book  Pro-Choice or Pro-Life: Examining 15 Pro-Choice Claims—What Do Facts & Common Sense Tell Us?  Browse more prolife articles and resources, 

Photo by Omar Lopez on Unsplash

No “Just” About It: Why Ordinary Work Has Value

Note from Randy: This article about work by Dan Doriani, the founder and executive director of the Center for Faith and Work St. Louis, and the author of Work That Makes a Difference, is excellent.

And I loved the following comments from Megan Hill, editor at The Gospel Coalition, that serve as an intro to Dan’s article. May all of us be aware of the value of the work we do, to God’s glory, no matter how seemingly ordinary or mundane it seems:

In his address at one of TGC’s conferences, Tim Keller said, “The way to do work as a Christian is to do it well. If you are a Christian airline pilot, what does it mean to be a truly Christian airline pilot? Land the plane. Smoothly.” Keller went on to explain: “Even if you don’t have a job that’s really exciting, even though you might tend to be bored with it, [if you have] the right theology, you know [that] what I’m doing matters.”

I don’t pilot a daily commuter flight, but my own work as an editor can seem just as repetitive. In conversations with others, I’m often tempted to qualify my job so they don’t think it’s more glamorous than it is. “I fix people’s commas for a living,” I shrug. But, as Keller’s words reminded me, even fixing commas is not insignificant. I serve a God who speaks with clarity and precision, and he is glorified by human sentences that do the same.

Whatever work you do, I hope you’ll take a moment to read Dan Doriani’s helpful article: “I ‘Just’ Do Ordinary Work.” In it, Doriani elevates ordinary work to an act of glorifying God and loving our neighbors. His essay is an encouragement to everyone who sweeps floors, makes widgets, or corrects misplaced modifiers, nudging us to “move from ‘I just’ to ‘I make a difference—at least in my corner of the world.’”

I ‘Just’ Do Ordinary Work

By Dan Doriani

Over the years, I’ve interviewed hundreds of people about their work. I generally begin with a simple question: “Do you enjoy your job? Why or why not?”

I’ve been amazed at the number of people who began with two words: “I just.” Educators say, “I just teach math”; doctors say, “I just write prescriptions”; entertainers say, “I just help people smile.” The founder and CEO of a successful transportation company said, “I just move things from one place to another.” A senior vice president for a big bank began, “I just try to get people into jobs that match their training and interests.”

‘I Just’ Is Accurate

There are good reasons to say “I just.” First, we want to be humble. Second, we know that we excel at “just” a few things. Third, some say “I just” because they never hear “well done” at work, and the lack of respect degrades their self-perception. Fourth, we sometimes say it because we are so immersed in the toil that we lose sight of our work’s value.

And in some cases, alas, “I just” can be accurate. The desperate and the greedy may just work for money. Workers who lack ambition may have no direction, so they just do as they are told. People even say “I just” because their work has scant value and they know it.

Beyond ‘I Just’

But “I just” can be dead wrong. Drivers can think I just because they don’t make anything, they just deliver things. But it is honorable to deliver anything that meets basic human needs (Matthew 25:35, 1 Timothy 6:8). People who produce dog food can say “I just,” but they forget that a dog can be a widow’s loyal companion—and studies find that loneliness is almost as deleterious to health as smoking and obesity. In all honest, productive work, we please God by loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Ideally, believers can eventually move from “I just” to “I make a difference—at least in my corner of the world.” To say (humbly) “I make a difference,” we must see the value of ordinary work. Scripture helps us here.

Value of Ordinary Work

We make a difference when we do ordinary work well. Workers change their corner of the world when they correctly mount tires on wheels, drive rivets into planes, and put ketchup into bottles. When tires wobble, ketchup sprays wildly, and wings fall off planes, it’s a problem. Notice that in Matthew 25:34–37, the believers Jesus commends are surprised to hear of his pleasure in their ordinary work: “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?’”

Even professionals do ordinary work most of the time. Before a speaker gives a talk, it can take months to complete the research, hone and correct the theme, then write everything out properly. Jerry Seinfeld said he would spend an hour to cut one word from a joke. With his team’s help, Thomas Edison held over 1,000 patents, including the telegraph, light bulb, phonograph, movie camera, and alkaline battery. Yet Edison said, “Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.”

Biblical Fulfillment

Since we give the bulk of our energy to ordinary work, almost anyone can become dissatisfied and say “I just.” Popular ideologies accentuate the problem. Since we lionize fulfillment and self-expression, people think something is wrong if they aren’t discovering themselves at work. We are also told to “follow our heart” or “put a ding in the universe.”

The Bible doesn’t oppose fulfillment, but it sees work differently. It focuses on love and service to God and neighbor. It seems to see happiness or satisfaction as an unplanned result of honest labor. Ecclesiastes blesses the laborer who can “find enjoyment” in his toil (Ecclesiastes 2:23; 5:18). It also knows that those who tire themselves in noble tasks tend to sleep well: “Sweet is the sleep of a laborer” (Ecclesiastes 5:12). This suggests that fulfillment at work is like friendship. We find it indirectly, by giving ourselves to other things.

Good work may not offer much room for creativity. When we work on assembly lines, we perform tasks that might go to a robot after technology advances sufficiently. That thought seems dehumanizing, as does the repetition. And yet we need to remember that assembly lines make things that meet needs. Paper clips, cars, and computers all come off assembly lines and we need all three. Tasks like unloading trucks and cleaning floors don’t require great skill or extensive training, but the work makes a difference when laborers finish their tasks well.

So let us lay down the deflating rhetoric of “I just” and affirm the value of ordinary work. Let us also look to change our corner of the world, even if our corner is modest and only a few notice what we do. If our Lord sees it, that should be enough.

This article originally appeared on The Gospel Coalition , and is used with the author’s permission.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

7 Questions You Can Ask God about Giving

What if you could ask God any question you wanted about money and get an answer? The truth is, you won’t know until you try. Start with these seven questions, and see where God leads you from there.

The Bible is full of teachings about money, because money tends to wrestle for first place in our hearts. But God knows our hearts, and if we ask Him, He will guide us. Consider all you’ve been given by praying through the questions below.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. – Psalm 143:8

7 questions to ask

What am I holding onto that’s robbing me of present joy and future reward? Am I clinging to something that makes me feel like I don’t have to depend on you as my provider—like I used to before I had so much? Please show me what you want me to release that could restore or strengthen my faith.
Am I being held in orbit around the mass of treasures I’ve stored up? Have I over-accumulated, and is this stuff the source of my stress? Is it possible you’ve multiplied my assets like the five loaves and two fish, and I’ve stockpiled them instead of distributing them to those who need them?
How can I be sure that the assets you’ve entrusted to me will serve you after my death? Will those I leave them to—or those they leave them to—use it all for your glory? I want it all to go to your kingdom. Please show me what I need to give now and how to use giving later as a tool for teaching my heirs.
Once they’ve finished college or are working on their own, how would inheriting wealth (beyond items of special sentimental and heritage value) help my children’s eternal perspective and walk with God? Would it have a corrupting influence on their character, lifestyle, work ethic, or marriage? Help me to discern what is good for them too.
Am I living to hear others say of me “he’s a great success” or to have you say to me, “Well done, my good and faithful servant?”
Is there something I should give now because I might not have it to give later?
I have no choice but to leave money behind when I die, so is it really giving to designate money in my will? Is it wise for me to leave money or assets in my estate? Or is this a form of giving that involves no sacrifice or need for faith? Please help me to avoid robbing you or your kingdom of resources, or myself of joy and reward, by holding until death significant assets I could have given while still alive.
See more resources on money and giving, as well as Randy's related books, including The Treasure Principle .

Photo by Daniel Pérez from Pexels

Whose Purpose in Your Suffering Will Prevail?

If we recognize God’s sovereignty even over Satan’s work, it changes our perspective about our lives and suffering. Satan and God intend the same suffering for entirely different purposes, but God’s purpose triumphs. Satan sought Job’s ruin and loss of faith; God sought Job’s refining and faith-building. The very thing Satan intended for Job’s destruction, God intended for his betterment and ultimate reward (though certainly at a terrible cost).

Second Corinthians 12:7 gives us a striking picture. We see God sending a physical disability for His purposes and Satan sending the same disability for his. Paul says, “To keep me from being conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given to me a thorn in my flesh.” If the text stopped here, it would be obvious who gave the thorn in the flesh—God, who wanted to keep Paul from becoming conceited. Certainly the devil would not lift a finger to prevent Paul from becoming conceited.

But Paul continues to describe the thorn in the flesh as “a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” Two supernatural beings, adamantly opposed to each other, are said in a single verse to have distinct purposes in sending Paul a thorn in the flesh. God’s purpose is not to torment him, but to keep him from becoming conceited; Satan’s purpose is to torment him, likely in the hope of turning him from God. Whose purpose will be accomplished? Who will win?

Paul says, in the next verses, he asked God three times to remove the “thorn,” but God refused. He did, however, reveal the purpose behind Paul’s unanswered prayer: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

How did Paul respond? He said he rejoiced in his afflictions. Why? Because he knew God had a sovereign and loving purpose.

Joseph’s brothers intended his suffering for evil; God intended it for good. Satan intended Job’s suffering for evil; God intended it for good. Satan intended Jesus’ suffering for evil; God intended it for good. Satan intended Paul’s suffering for evil; God intended it for good. In each case, God’s purpose prevailed.

Satan intends your suffering for evil; God intends it for good.

Whose purpose in your suffering will prevail? Whose purpose are you furthering?

Satan attempts to destroy your faith, while God invites you to draw near to Him and draw upon His sovereign grace to sustain you.

Some Christians constantly assign this mishap to Satan, that one to evil people, another to themselves, still others to God. Sometimes they are right, but how can they be sure which is which? Second Corinthians 12 makes clear that God works through everything that comes our way, no matter whom it comes from. If God can use for good “a messenger of Satan,” then surely He can use for good a car accident or your employer’s unreasonable expectations.

You might not know whether demons, or human genetics under the Fall, or a doctor’s poor decision, or God’s direct hand have brought about your disease, but you know as much as you need to—that God is sovereign, and whether He heals your body now or waits until the resurrection to heal you, He desires to achieve His own good purpose in you.

For more related to the subject of suffering, see Randy’s book  If God Is Good , as well as the devotional  90 Days of God’s Goodness  and book  The Goodness of God . 

Photo by Raimond Klavins on Unsplash

Along with Solid Doctrine, the Body of Christ Needs Gracious Culture and Lasting Friendships

Note from Randy Alcorn: Some churches today talk about grace, but cry out for a heavy dose of truth. Other churches embrace truth, but need a heavy dose of grace. (The Pharisees, God’s self-appointed gatekeepers, never emphasized grace. They were the Bible-believing conservatives of their day, but they drained the joy out of belief in God.)

But the gospel flies with the wings of grace and truth. Not one, but both. We should never approach truth except in a spirit of grace, or grace except in a spirit of truth. Jesus wasn’t 50% grace, 50% truth, but 100% grace, 100% truth.

Ray Ortlund’s directness and humility in this article are refreshing. I SO loved what he had to say here about the importance of orthodox doctrine (truth), and also gracious culture and lasting friendships (grace). Here’s what one of our EPM board members, Robin Green, wrote after reading it:

“This article really touched me. It brings me to my knees, asking God to show me (although I am not a pastor and he is addressing pastors) how to love orthodox doctrine... but not to the exclusion of gracious culture and lasting friendships. People are lonely! They long to be known and noticed and liked. But there are many obstacles and social anxieties involved in church culture. Only the grace of Jesus will help us find a way to open our hearts to others in the church. We are busy and want to leave immediately after the service ends. We want to be with people we already know and like because that’s easy, and we want to catch up and hear what they’re doing. That’s not bad but it can make it seem cold to some people. I confess that it’s difficult for me to overcome the feeling that I’m broken and don’t know how to be at church. I often feel anxious instead of relaxed, concerned that someone will be left out. Ray Ortlund is very frank and to the point. That’s refreshing. He gives readers something solid to think about.”

Should or Can in 2022?

By Ray Ortlund

At the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in 1974, I heard Francis Schaeffer deliver the address which later became his essay, “Two Contents, Two Realities.” His overall point was this. If we hope to see profound gospel advance in our generation — and we do — then our churches must be marked by two contents and two realities.

The two contents are (1) strong doctrine and (2) honest answers to honest questions. The two realities are (1) true spirituality and (2) the beauty of human relationships. That second reality, and even the way Schaeffer put it — “the beauty of human relationships” — has captivated me ever since.

I will venture my own proposal for preconditions of profound gospel advance today. I see three threads woven together wonderfully in authentic Christianity:

1. Orthodox doctrine;

2. Gracious culture;

3. Lasting friendships.

Orthodox doctrine is clear enough. We all want to align closely with the Bible.

Gracious culture is harder to define. This dimension of a church is more atmospheric, intangible. It’s a matter of relational tone and vibe and feel. Hopefully, every church’s culture embodies its orthodox doctrine. But that isn’t automatic or easy. We nurture it. For example, “Therefore welcome one another, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). So, where can the glory of God be clearly seen in the world today? At your church, at my church, when we welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. Christ has not just tolerated us but welcomed us — sincerely, wholeheartedly, cheerfully. And when that gospel doctrine in the Bible translates into gospel culture in a church, the glory of God can be seen in the world today. That’s gracious culture, and it is as authoritative, robust, serious and obligatory as orthodox doctrine.

Lasting friendships matter too, because faithful solidarity over the long haul proves the depth of our authenticity. It demonstrates our willingness to sacrifice for one another, when we feel like walking away. It’s also how we invest in the rising generation. With our track record of lasting friendships, our children can inherit the momentum and inspiration of partnerships that didn’t fragment but lasted through thick and thin.

I believe that orthodox doctrine, gracious culture and lasting friendships, if widely shared among our churches — by God’s grace, for his glory alone — can accomplish something profound in our generation. Much more could be said, of course. But I don’t see us making progress without these threads wonderfully woven together by us, among us.

So, at present, how are we doing? In my opinion, we — people who are drawn to this kind of website — we are strong on orthodox doctrine, but we’re weak in both gracious culture and lasting friendships. It seems to me that our Reformed tribe is less united and cohesive, more fragmented and aloof, than we were, say, ten years ago. Back then, I was wondering if our broad movement of gospel rediscovery might accelerate into historic revival. But by now, I wonder if we have squandered our historic opportunity.

Which leads me to wonder about the underlying quality of our commitment to orthodox doctrine. Our beliefs are of two kinds. We have opinions, on the conscious surface of our minds. We also have convictions, in the hidden depths of our hearts. If we are weak in gracious culture and lasting friendships, I wonder if our orthodox doctrine might be of the nature of opinion rather than of the nature of conviction. Strong opinion, to be sure! But not convictions that have settled deep into our hearts, changing us way down at the controlling center of our beings, sweetening us, drawing us together.

I think of myself as Exhibit A of how this can go wrong. The orthodox doctrine of justification by faith alone meant so such to me for so many years, even as I preached messages that counteracted the freeing impact of that very doctrine. I exhorted people too much, or in the wrong way. Exhortation is a biblical thing for a pastor to do. But the energy driving me deep within was not the happiness that flows from justification by faith alone. Something else was driving me. I felt responsible to preach expositional sermons, marked by orthodox doctrine, to help all those sorry Christians get it together!

As proof of the disconnect between my good theological opinions and my bad ministry convictions, I found a box of hard copy sermons of mine from the 1980s. They were horrible. I was sincerely orthodox. But there wasn’t enough grace in my wretched sermons, not enough encouragement, not enough tenderness, not enough Jesus.

I am so thankful for God’s patience! He didn’t give up on me. He helped me. Now my sermons are less horrible. Hopefully, the beautiful orthodoxy of gospel doctrine is flowing into the pastoral gentleness and comfort and guidance and encouragement inherent in that beautiful orthodoxy. Hopefully, there is more gracious culture in the pulpit, and hopefully, more lasting friendships outside the pulpit. Maybe the Lord can use even me, if not for a profound movement of his power in this generation, then for you younger pastors to enter into that Promised Land through my labors, along with the labors of so many other older pastors.

Which leads me to make a suggestion. Let me ask you younger pastors to think about experimenting with your ministry in 2022. What if, in your preaching, you risk one year of deliberately restraining exhortation and deliberately emphasizing encouragement? Less “challenge,” more assurance. Less “you should,” more “we can.” Less of how your people fall short of God’s standards, more of how God has opened up his treasures in Christ to the undeserving, the stragglers, the exhausted.

If, by the end of 2022, nothing at your church improves, you can always go back. But for just one year, rather than tell people to obey God’s holy law, why not help them obey God’s holy law and live for Christ and walk in the Spirit, as you trust in the power of God’s all-sufficient grace?

Maybe we haven’t lost our historic opportunity, after all. Maybe, for you at your church, it’s only a year away. One short year of reaching out to your dear people, through your preaching, with the gentle powers for good embedded in the very orthodoxy you rightly revere. With some tears. And some confession. And rejoicing to affirm, “In Christ our Savior, we — all of us together — can get traction for the better life we long for!” So, for just one year, maybe move all your chips over onto the square of God’s heart-melting grace in Christ crucified and risen again?

I believe Francis Schaeffer, and others of our spiritual forebears, would rejoice.

The article originally appeared on The Gospel Coalition , and is used with permission of the author.

Photo by Yuri Figueiredo on Unsplash

“I’m Very Happy to Read It in My Own Language”: A Message from a Reader in Nepal

Forty-five years ago when I was in Bible college, we used to pray for Nepal, a country that was synonymous with the most closed and unreached and unlikely place for Christians to be. Someone who had lived there for many years came and spoke to us about how very few people were followers of Jesus. He urged us to pray for believers there. The very small number of Christians made it seem incredible that a Christian book would ever be published in their language.

As the years went on, I heard stories of many people coming to faith in Christ in Nepal and many churches starting. Almost nine years ago, I mentioned in a blog that my book Heaven had been translated into the Nepali language. So it meant the world to me to receive the following Facebook message last week. While we get letters from many different countries from people who have read my books, to get one from Nepal is a very special pleasure:

Greetings to the author of the book Heaven, in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. I am writing this message to you from Nepal. I had the pleasure of reading the book "HEAVEN" that you wrote some time ago. This book helped me to understand a lot about heaven. I am very happy to read it in my own language and thank you very much for your pen.

I have a great desire to read other books too, if they were in Nepali language it would be better. Your brother, who respects and loves you, from Nepal.

Stephanie on our staff responded:

It's wonderful to hear that you were able to read Randy's Heaven book in your own language! We have two more books available in Nepali: his graphic novel The Apostle and his book Why ProLife? You can download them here. God bless you!

Counting each of my books in each language as one book, I now have five times more books in other languages than in English. When I look at my books in other languages on the shelf, I sometimes marvel at how far God has taken them and what lasting impact there may be even in books which have gone out of print but will fall into someone’s hands at the right time and place in the providence of God.

Photo by Kalle Kortelainen on Unsplash