Animism Makes Sense

The spirits used to dance on his roof at night clapping their hands and shouting, keeping him awake and stirring up many concerns in his head.

While we are busy denying demons, offering intellectually satisfying alternative explanations, and snickering at those who talk about demons, the Bible speaks extensively to their reality.  The problem is that even though we are Christian, those of us in the enlightened world have believed almost equally in the “gospel” certainty of naturalism—a most foolish combination.

This is Life for Most People

One of my good Christian friends in south Asia told me his story of salvation and how the spirits, or demons, would make his life miserable.  The most memorable example was that of the dancing upon his roof many nights each week.  How awful!

At one level, demons can be simply annoying, like they were to the Apostle Paul in Acts 16:18 ESV, “Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’  And it came out that very hour.”

However, most often they affect lives at a much more serious level, bringing all sorts of evil, inciting fear, enticing to immorality, giving false teachings, and basically working all sorts of havoc.

These evil powers might curse your business enterprise, bring sickness to your family, empower and embolden your enemies, and do any number of other nasty things, unless you appease their wishes, whether worshipping idols (objects of nature) or carrying out their designs upon others.  So, of course you would do what they tell you, and by the way . . . so would your neighbor.

This is life for most people in the world today, and has been throughout history.  It is real and it makes total sense.  We should not ignore their sufferings and mock them in their plight, but sympathize and also demonstrate the power of the Gospel of Christ.

There is a Gospel of Greater Power

When my friend became a follower of Jesus Christ, who is the Lord, the demons stopped tormenting him.  Whenever he encounters them and their workings now, he simply rebukes them in the name of Jesus.  There is no need for special words or rituals, any Christian conjuring of any type.  He tells others of freedom and forgiveness in Christ.

The reality is that people are in bondage to evil and evil powers.  But, the Son of God became man “to destroy the works of the devil” and his minions, and proclaim liberty, light, life and bring blessings that cannot be taken away.

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” 

Colossians 2:13–15 ESV “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Here is hope!  Here is freedom!  Here is forgiveness, reconciliation, and power against all evil!

The One True Living God has all power over human and demonic curses, especially to bless.  He is more powerful than those demons that distress the lives of billions.  And of course, the Lord Christ is exalted and ruling from heaven now, and will return to establish His Kingdom in its fullness forevermore.

I’ll be heading back to my friend’s place soon.  May we be fearless to proclaim, in the face of the spiritual realities of life, the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord!

Customization Over Standardization

A growing number of mission trips and mission events involve training.  This is a wonderful development since quality training is greatly needed almost everywhere in the world.  

But then, how should we decide what to teach?  Generally, there are two types of approaches, the standardized and the customized. 

Standardization:  Focus on Content

When a church or mission team becomes involved in training events one of the first concerns is what content should be taught.  Attention is given to what the the pastor or mission leaders know how to teach, are good at teaching, or something about which they are passionate.  Favorite topics are theology, methods for evangelism and discipleship systems.

Once curriculum is found or developed that teaches the needed information, the next concerns are its accessibility, reproducibility and, additionally, how to perpetuate it as a program, especially if multiple trips and events are planned.  Standardized curriculum works well for this and can easily gain supporters and advocates.

If everything goes according to hopes and plans, the material becomes widely used and appreciated.  A successful program will be a tremendous help to thousands of people.  And for this we are truly thankful to the Lord!

Even so, might there be a more valuable approach to training, in certain contexts?  What would the national Christian leaders identify as their most crucial training needs?  How do desires for relationship, and expectations of resources, impact acceptance or rejection of our training materials and events?  Where does the standardized content fit well, and where does it miss the mark?

Customization:  Focus on Context

What if, instead of focusing on the content we are able to deliver, we focused on the ministry context and asked our partners what they really want, and need?  

Then we can design training that will be more valuable and more valued.  It will take more work procuring what is needed, rather than just looking at what we have to offer.  But this gives our partners more options; and it has the potential to meet more critical training needs and address their top priorities.  When this happens the national leaders will be highly motivated to use what they learned and multiply the training.

We will need to keep on asking our partners what they want in order to reach a deeper understanding and gain a more complete picture of their situation.  We must be able to continually adjust to changing needs and developing situations.  And we must allow for modifications of our material, and trust our partners in this.

Most likely our national partners will be recipients of information from a number of standardized trainings and quality conferences.  This is a good combination for them, because they will want to discuss it with us and have us help them process and apply what they learned.  Often what is wanted more than anything is relationship, friendship and ministry mentoring. 

Move To A Higher Level

Standardized trainings are valuable, but they are used too often and relied upon too much.  Making the effort to customize training will produce more helpful and effective training events, and ultimately be more satisfying and influential.

Both approaches to training are sorely needed, and sometimes even both in the same location.  However, the standardized approach to training is often favored because it is easier to explain what we are doing and teaching, requires less personal involvement, and lends itself to measurable reporting.

Consider moving toward a more customized approach.  Suits come in many different sizes when purchased off the rack, yet nothing fits as comfortably as a suit tailor-made.

Keys To Christian Growth

When looking for the key to Christian growth the Christian might find more answers than desired.

The amount of material published and number of plans promoted staggers the mind.  However, categorizing them into five general approaches will make it easier to evaluate which approach might be most helpful for yourself or your ministry, next. 

Five General Approaches

1.  Knowledge.  Many plans focus on growing in our knowledge, whether it be of the Bible, theology, or some other related area.  Greater knowledge of ourselves, one another, and our culture can also bring valuable insight for spiritual growth.  Knowledge is critical for growth, obviously.

2.  Action.  Others programs push us into action.  This might include serving in the church fellowship.  It might include serving in the community or beyond it, such as reaching out to the disadvantaged, or seeking to influence the influential.  We do need to use our spiritual gifts in a variety of ways to serve one another and bless the world in Jesus’ name.  

3.  Disciplines.  Practicing spiritual disciplines leads to deeper communion with God.  It might be as simple as spending more time with God through worship and prayer.  Or it might include more contemplative, even mystical, exercises.  Such Gospel-centered disciplines are definitely needed.

4.  Obedience.  Simply doing what the Bible teaches in regard to holy behavior is yet another approach.  Many programs focus on the basics of moral obedience in our personal lives and with our families.  Examining our our own lives and speaking into one another’s lives can often lead to big changes, or to the very important but subtle aspects of growing in Christ-likeness.

5.  Mission.  There are many people near us, and many many more around the world, who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Consequently, a number of other approaches promote evangelism and mission work.  Strategic intentionality, or being truly missional, is yet another approach to Christian growth.

Two Cautions

First, avoid super-spiritual programs that guarantee progress that sounds too good to be true, especially if a program uses only one of the approaches.  Discard those plans that promise special insight without much Bible study, community impact without using the Gospel, closeness to God without Christ at the center, holiness without the Holy Spirit at work, or multitudes of conversions without fighting spiritual battles.

Second, beware of those who motivate with a relentless focus on the negative.  Severity has its own appeal, but more often than not this cripples growth rather than assists it.  People will come to think of themselves more highly than they ought, or go to the other extreme and think too poorly of themselves—in what they know, what they do, how they live, and how they perceive their spiritual progress.

Take Advantage of All Five

We are confident that God will give His grace for our growth through all of the above five approaches.  This might mean cycling back through various approaches at different times in our lives, or in the lives of those to whom we are ministering.

There is not one best approach or even methodology (e.g., one-on-one, triads, small groups, communities, etc.); nor is there just one that is best for any one of us, or for any particular culture.  None of us are ever done with any of the approaches, or outgrow them.  We all need to use all of them to our full advantage.  If we only use one or two, we will not realize all the growth that could be gained.

Think about which one or two you have emphasized often and the one or two which you have not emphasized recently or enough.  Select an approach that might be the next best thing for yourself or your ministry.  Encourage one another.  And may God bless!

Be Fearful Because God Is Your Father

Here is a most stunning pairing of two names of God:  Father and Judge of All.

1 Peter 1:17 ESV “And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.”

Overdoing Abba Daddy Language

We often address God as our Father when we pray, and rightly so.  Jesus taught us to pray in this manner.  And our new relationship with God in Christ, being adopted into the family, is one that gives us the amazing privilege and right to call God our Father, and relate to him as little children would relate to their earthly father (Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 4:6).

All of this is very comforting, and a relationship to enjoy and find fulfillment.  But, this is not all there is to say about our fatherly relationship with God.  Some forget this and only view His fatherliness in ways that feel personally acceptable to them; and some misapply His fatherliness in presumption, take advantage of it, and learn the hard way.  

It is common today to overemphasize this kind, providing, fun-loving and cuddly aspect of God’s fatherliness almost to the exclusion of another important connection Scripture points out to us.  In fact, some authors and leaders even enjoin us to use baby-talk when conversing with God.  These over-dramatizations of God as father keep us from maturing in our faith

Another Emphasis that Needs Inclusion

Remember who it is that we are calling our Father; it is none other than the Judge of All!  He is the impartial Judge of all people of all time, of all deeds at the end of time.  Even in the here and now, the Apostle’s point is that He knows all about our lives as Christians.  

And then because He is our Father, He will be noticing our true character and bringing into our lives correction and various training experiences in order to conform us perfectly to His character, as seen in Christ Jesus.  He does this, of course, that we may “share in His holiness,” that is that we may resemble Him (Hebrews 12:3-11).

This is why our Apostle Peter precedes verse 17 mentioned above with verses 14–16, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.””

Living with Healthy Confidence and Healthy Fear

This “fear” mentioned in v.17 that is to characterize our lives lived before our God and Father should be understood as a holy and healthy fear of displeasing Him, as He is our Father truly.  However, it is not a fear of abandonment, or wrath, of course, but a fear within a secure and holy love.  It is a fear that keeps us relating properly with God as our Father.

This healthy fear is not discouraging nor immobilizing.  On the contrary it leads us to live our lives with a confident faith that we have a secure relationship with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.  This is why our Apostle Peter follows verse 17 with these words.

1 Peter 1:18–21 ESV “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

We need to learn to meditate upon and enjoy both aspects of God’s fatherliness, the encouraging traits as well as His ways that lead us toward increasing holiness.  Surely, the overemphasis can just as easily go in the opposite direction causing different problems, and has at times in recent history.  But it will be most helpful for all of us to seek to have our emphasis better mirror Scripture’s emphasis itself, in our personal lives and as we serve one another.

Themes For The Lord's Supper

In our weakness we tend toward ritualism, remaining unmoved at the greatness of what we are celebrating.  We forget rather than remember.

The Main Texts

The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of Christ’s cross and resurrection.  A great variety of Christian traditions are used in celebrating the Lord’s Supper.  There are four main Scripture texts used, three from the Gospel accounts (Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22) and one from 1 Corinthians 11.  For example:

Matthew 26:26–29 ESV “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.””

Each of us likely uses a standard form for the ritual, including its elements and procedures.  And we likely add our words of explanation and words of instruction.  Often we will emphasize certain aspects of Christ’s death and resurrection.  

These explanations can be very helpful and worthwhile for our congregations.  Further elaborations would encourage people even more, and lead them into better worship.

Expansive Themes

While articulating the basic message of the Lord’s Supper, we might want to expand upon an additional theme.  Draw out further applications of our redemption in Christ.

Here are some sample themes I have used over the years.  It is especially advantageous when the theme matches the preaching for the day.

Communion with Christ, fellowship with one another, remembrance of the Gospel, mercy, judgment, Christ our Savior, the return of Christ, remembering the cross, the blessed man, grace, good works, joyful worshippers, forgiveness of sin, missions, love of God in Christ, justifying faith, Day of the Lord, discipleship, union with Christ, the glory of it all, Passover, watchfulness, closeness to God, blood of the New Covenant, a unique people, Gentile inclusion in the history of redemption, person of Jesus, deliverance, Jesus is Lord, love of God, cross-centered spirituality, calling and commission, the Servant of God, living as Christ’s people, purposefulness, healing, called out ones, dependent faith, honoring Jesus Christ, Christ as King, resolve to serve God, wisdom of God’s plan, soul satisfaction, covenant love of Father and Son, gift of Holy Spirit, belonging to Christ, confession, life, goodness, provision for mission, sacred community, humanity of Christ, generosity, humility, wisdom for life, sufferings and glories of Christ, Christian society, defeat of the devil, sin taken away, believing Jesus, the perfect man, common salvation, boasting in Christ, triumphant in Christ, renewal, virtues of Christ, Christian virtues, privileged children of God, rebirth, Christ’s leading His faithful, bread of life, and Jesus Christ’s mission.

There are endless glories to highlight and relevancies to apply.  How much more could be expanded and expounded for the benefit of God’s people!?

Preaching That Doesn’t Spiritualize Idolatry

The majority of the world worships idols—the real kind, made of wood, stone and even plastic.

While it is also helpful to talk about the “idols” of materialism, power, relationships, and whatever replaces God and takes first place in our minds and hearts, we need to talk less about this and more about the other kind of idolatry.

An Opportunity Missed

So often when we in America preach on Bible passages that discuss idolatry we move way too quickly to application.  It is common to hear a preacher describe the background of the text in just a few sentences and then move on to talk about the “idols” of our society and the those things that usurp God’s rightful place as the object of our worship and affections.

We talk as though worshippers of physical idols are from a bygone primitive era.  Anyone who would actually worship a real idol must be ignorant or isolated from the modern world.  But this is not the case.

To move right to this application usually misses the main point, the obvious point, of the text in order to find some spiritual principle that will be immediately personally applicable, or culturally appropriate for us.  We fail to be faithful to the text when we spiritualize idolatry.

Idolatry, real idolatry, has a powerful grip on over 3 billion people in the world today.  They live in remote areas and in urban centers; they are poor and rich, and some are even highly educated.  Idolatry, with all its relics and rituals, is the fabric of many societies, being the key to blessing and safety, and even the conduit for various immoralities.

An Opportunity Reclaimed

In our hasty application we miss an opportunity to talk about the greatest application of our Gospel mission from God in the world.  These idolatry passages offer us an opportunity to understand our world better, to describe the religious nature of man, to feel the burden of the lostness of so many souls, and to burn with jealousy for God’s glory alone!

Acts 17:16–17 ESV “Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.”

And when we proclaim the Gospel, people will turn “to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)

Instead of using the idolatry sections of Scripture to address ourselves and our own needs first, we could use them to open our eyes to the greatest need of the world!  In fact, these passages viewed and preached in such a manner will become refreshingly new texts for us on world evangelization and mission!