Clare De Graaf's Blog, page 27

Are You Prepared for Your Next “Crisis of Faith?”

Almost everyone I know became serious about following Jesus after they had a crisis of faith - cancer. Why? Because it’s easy to be a religious Christian until something “unfair” happens to you, or you have to make a choice that truly tests your faith.

“Crisis’ of faith” comes in two forms.

1. A loss that appears to be totally unfair.
I’ve sat with men whose wives have had an affair, who’ve lost a job they loved, or lost everything they owned in a bad investment, or failed business. Everything in them, including the evil one, is whispering, “you trusted God. You tried to live faithfully. But he failed you.” I addressed this type of crisis of faith in this blog, The Things You Should Never Trust God For. (http://bit.ly/Y97AUz) However, this blog deals primarily with a second type of faith-testing experience.

2. A “crisis of faith” can also be a major decision that we are reasonably certain God is calling us to make, which will cost us something we really value.
It may be a decision you’re facing regarding a simpler lifestyle; eliminating debt; your relationships with a parent who has deeply hurt you; an ethical decision that could cost you your job; the forgiveness of an unfaithful spouse; a sacrificial gift; the leadership of a ministry; or the unconditional love of a difficult child, friend, or even a stranger.

A crisis of faith decision is larger than the daily obedience or sin choices each of us make because it will usually alter the way we live!

Here’s how this type of a crisis of faith generally evolves: As we grow in spiritual maturity and in our understanding of some of the deeper truths of God, we become increasingly aware that the normal Christian life is a journey of faith steps, or decisions. Each choice we make is an indicator to God and ourselves of how much we really love and trust him.

Occasionally, we are confronted with a major decision that requires us to seriously examine what it truly means to live by faith. Sometimes it begins when a truth from scripture hits us head on and we are convicted that we have not been obedient in that area of our life. It can also begin when an opportunity or trial comes our way that forces us to evaluate what it really means to trust God and live for God.

While it’s true, there is an excitement about living on the edge for God, it’s also true that it is scary to consider the real cost or implications of obedience. This fear often causes us to initially dismiss the idea. But the Holy Spirit will usually come back repeatedly and remind us of his will in this matter and then he waits to see the strength of our convictions and character.

A Guest Post From a Jewish Journalist on Christmas, the Bible and Morality

Steven Levy is an internationally know journalist, a former editor for Wired and Newsweek and has been featured in the New York Times, Harpers and many other “liberal” publications. A friend of mine sent this transcript of his bold indictment of some moral alternatives to God’s laws, which he delivered on national television recently.

Tillie and Phoebe

Here’s a story you can read to your children, but with application for all followers of Jesus.

Tillie, an irish setter and Poebe, a basset hound were best of friends. Unfortunately, while running together in the woods of Washington State they became lost, not for a day or two, but no one saw them for a week!

They weren’t really lost. Phoebe became trapped in an old concrete cistern at the bottom of a ravine. Nobody knows how she got there. But, from the scratch marks on the walls, as hard as she tried, she couldn’t get out. Without food or water for a week, she slowly got weaker and weaker.

What Tillie did next, captured the imagination of news agencies all over the world.

8 Ways to Ruin Your Life in Your 20’s

This is the season for New Years resolutions. But, before your simply forward this blog to your irresponsible 20-something child, read it yourself and recall the foolish decisions you made in your 20’s. Then forward it and call your child and admit to them which of these poor decisions you made and how it affected your life. Trust me, you’ll have far more credibility if you have the courage to do that. The following thoughts are edited from a blog by Pastor Jonathan Pokluda of Porch Church in Dallas.

How Christians Should View the Syrian Immigration Problem?

Immigration continues to be a polarizing issue in America, first because of the Paris, and now the San Bernardino attacks. The lines are being drawn around the world. In the last few weeks, many governors have said they want to examine the immigration policies and procedures in place, before any more Syrian refugees are let in. Others have said outright, “No Syrian refugees!” So what are Christians to think?

At this time of year, it’s helpful to remember that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were themselves refugees who fled to Egypt to escape violence. But, before I give you what God says in Scriptures about aliens, and you write me off as a bleeding heart liberal, I’d like to frame my position, as follows;

I believe taking 60-90 days to make sure each state’s governor is confident that the U.S. government has a reasonably thorough process in place to sort out potential terrorists, makes a great deal of sense. Let’s be wise about potentially sloppy procedures, like the current visa waiver program.
God, in scripture never instructed his people us to take in enemy soldiers or criminals, only the hopeless, helpless and powerless.
However, no screening system is 100% effective and we, as Christians should not turn our back on the 99.9% who are likely true refugees, because we may miss a few who want to harm us.
It’s critical that we give priority to true refugees, fleeing war and religious persecution, as opposed to aliens who simply want a better life. Mercy should always trump the always present desire for a better opportunity.
We as a nation may suffer for being humane and kind, but Jesus never promised we wouldn’t. He expects his people to be willing to suffer for “the least of these.”
The U.S. is not Old Testament Israel. God’s instructions to Israel, about aliens are not binding on New Testament Christians. However, God’s heart for the poor and aliens is a theme that runs throughout the Old Testament and no serious Christian doubts that he no longer cares about these people.
This is not a “European problem.” There are literally millions of refugees living in tents, and others walking hundreds of miles to be safe. Christians everywhere should be concerned about them and be their advocates. They are our “neighbor,” regardless of their religion.
The issue of immigration reform is nuanced, and policies are often legislatively complex. But the wisdom of the Bible is both simple and timeless. Here are 12 passages that discuss how those who love God should treat immigrants, refugees and those in need of help. Please resist reading them like a legal document, looking for loopholes. Read them to hear the heart of God.

Stop! Stop!

I sat with a group of good Christian men last week and all but one had purchased a gun for protection and the last holdout other than me, was thinking about it.

Then, Liberty University’s president, Jerry Falwell Jr., stood before 10,000 of his students, urging them to get a permit and begin carrying their guns on campus. “If more good people had concealed carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in and killed.”

And students cheered!

Later, after conservative Christians expressed shock at this advice, he backed off a bit and said, “I just want students to be prepared.” But the damage was done. Christians ought to be prepared to shoot Muslims. Really?

And then Donald Trump proposes we begin torturing captured terrorists for information and “kill all their families,” and stop all Muslims from entering the country! I’ve heard high profile Christians either support these “get tough” ideas, or not speak out boldly against them, and I want to shout, STOP!

I don’t care what political party you’re affiliated with, or none at all. This blog isn’t about politics. It’s purpose is to remind us of this truth; Christians live in the kingdom of God and Jesus is not only our king, but our spokesperson on all things moral and ethical.

Do any serious Christians actually think Jesus would be in favor of these approaches to evil?

What is an Evangelical and Who Cares?

I wrote in The 10 Second Rule, that some words wear out. By that I meant, that over time certain words lose their true meaning. The term evangelical is just such a word. Today most Protestants consider themselves evangelicals unless they are theological liberals. To be an Evangelical has also become synonymous with “republicans right wing evangelical,” and therefore associated with a political party.

So what is an evangelical?

The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and Life Way Research spent the last few years trying to find a common definition to clear up the confusion.

Rather than trying to define an evangelical by behavior, they choose to define one by what they believe – their theology. However, to my way of thinking, our behavior flows from whatever it is that we truly believe and I’ll illustrate how that works in real life as we work through these ideas.

In the end, the NAE simply restated what most true evangelicals have always believed, and here they are;

Have You Been Praying for Armadillos?

Ken Davis, a Christian comedian, tells a humorous story of a Christian who gets on an empty city bus, walks to the rear, and sits down. Lord, he prays, if you want me to speak to someone about you, please give me a sign. At the next stop another passenger gets on, goes all the way to the back and sits right down next to the Christian. “Do you know anything about Jesus?” the passenger asks. The Christian excuses himself for a moment and slowly bows his head once again and prays, Lord, if you really want me to talk to this stranger, I need just one more sign. Please turn the bus driver into an armadillo.

Have you been praying for armadillos?

My wife has a very good friend, who is a fearless evangelist. She sensitively, but passionately tells taxi drivers and wait staff – everyone about Jesus, or asks how she can pray for them. In Jesus words, she sees fields “ripe for harvest” all around her.

So, here’s the question; should all Christians be like that?

Here’s my short answer – not necessarily.

Parents Behaving Badly

I’m one of the local leaders of the New Canaan Society in Grand Rapids, a mentoring ministry to men. A few weeks ago, we had a dozen young men, most of whom are still indifferent to God, over to my house for a meal and discussion on the topic of engineering a more purposeful life.

Two of the young men coach high school teams in an upscale community nearby. I asked them what the most challenging part of their job was. They looked at each other and almost simultaneously blurted out, “Kids screwed up by their parents!” I pressed them to elaborate on their assertion.

Is Your Friend’s God Yellow?

If you have a family member or friend in some kind of 12 Step Program and they’ve not yet found freedom from their addiction, you may find this story helpful.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting outdoors on a sunny, crisp fall day, having a cup of coffee with John, a young man who’s been in and out of rehab for years. John is good looking, intelligent, charming and an alcoholic. He grew up in a Christian family so he knows about God – he even says he “believes in God.” However, there’s not much evidence he’s serious about following Jesus. Nevertheless, it’s to this higher power that he prays, but apparently without much success. And he doesn’t know why. “Why doesn’t God deliver me from this addiction?” he asks.

I told him the story of a close friend of mine, who was in rehab in California years ago. Everyone in their group was asked to describe their higher power. One man said that his higher power was the color yellow!