The Eradication Of Sin

We long for the day when sin will be finally and fully eradicated. At that time we will live in perfection in all our relationships—with God, ourselves, one another and the world. This Day is the Day when Our Lord Jesus Christ Returns. This will be the Day when God will triumph over sin in His People and in His Creation.

Romans 8:18–25 ESV “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Our Glorification in the Resurrection

Glorification is the final step in the application of our redemption, including the redemption of our bodies as well as our souls.

Romans 8:29–30 ESV “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

The Old Testament promises our resurrection and generates hope. It prepares us for the full revelation of its reality in the New Testament with Our Lord Jesus Christ. Such passages as these: Job 19:25-26; Psalm 16:11; 49:15; 73:24-25; and others.

Isaiah 26:19 ESV “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.” 

Daniel 12:2 ESV “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

The New Testament brings clarity to this long standing testimony of hope from the Old Testament. Jesus Christ’s teachings on this topic are abundant in the Gospel accounts. His own Resurrection of course being the greatest testimony and hope ever! As a result, the New Testament is filed with encouragement to look to this hope at the final Day. Such passages as these: John 11:23-24; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; Hebrews 11:16-19; and others.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 ESV “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

This teaching of the reality of the resurrection is one of great hope and comfort, and for encouragement to persevere and please God. We will be like Christ in glory, fully renewed in strength, beauty and spirituality. We will be recognizable, being same person in body and soul. All of this is a celebration of God’s triumph over sin

Colossians 1:19–20 ESV “For in him [Christ Jesus] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

We are not fully capable of explaining how this will work with our limited scientific minds. This will be a different type of existence, in full righteousness. There will be a renewal of the creation in perfect harmony. We will be embodied, enjoy society and work, all in an endless perfection of God-centeredness.

Jonathan Edward’s Meditations

Heaven, as Jonathan Edward’s taught, is God’s “fixed abode of manifestation” along with His angels and His saints. We cannot exaggerate its glory, and there we will “swim in an ocean of love and be swallowed up by the bright light of infinity.” 

In 1740, Edwards preached a famous sermon on heaven entitled “The Portion of the Righteous.” It is a captivating sermon. John Gerstner referred to Edwards as “the rhapsodic seer” of this beatific vision and summarizes the sermon in this way:

In his sermon, Edwards describes how Christians will behold God with their souls’ eyes, as an experience of their whole being, in the beatific vision of pure love. They will continually grow in perfection with ever new discoveries of God and one another as His saints, like lovers. And they will enjoy blessed fellowship in perfect love together in perfection and perpetual youth.  

Even now, those glorified in heaven are interested in the saints still on earth, for there is One Church of God. But in glory, all the saints of God will be rewarded for their works in Christ according to their capacities, each being full, and yet our blessedness will increase forevermore as we delight in one another’s blessedness. As the stars vary in degrees of brightness we will differ in glory but each being satisfied, according to 1 Corinthians 15:41.

Five Applications

Here are five ways we can apply the coming reality of our glorification and the eradication of sin that will impact our lives today.

1. Actively anticipating heaven and glorification will build up our hope. John Calvin said, “Meditation on the future life is a primary mark of a Christian.”
2. Reflect on the deaths of Christians, especially those you know. Consider their present existence and experience, and let joy of glory fill your soul!
3. Truly hoping for the Day of Christ will have observable effects in our lives. It will actually work to change us and make us more like Christ! (1 John 3:2-3)
4. We are to live out the future we know is secure. We need to keep renewing our minds in thinking this way so that we live this way. (Colossians 3:1-3)
5. Read Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “The Portion of the Righteous.” It will thrill your soul like nothing else you have probably ever read about heaven! It will take you to new heights of praise, delight, and worship!

The Seven Deadly Sins Get More Deadly

There are many lists and many sins.  But one of the earliest and famous is that of the seven deadly sins. Pride. Envy. Gluttony. Lust. Wrath. Greed. Sloth.

Their prevalence in all societies and people (though to varying degrees) testifies to the depravity of humanity and its need of Christ our Savior.  These seven sins are certainly dangerous paths to follow, and can lead to places that are difficult from which to escape.  

Stories of Great Failure and Sometimes Recovery

We all have the stories or know those who can tell them. We have read about them. They are lived out in our churches year after year, even if they never make the evangelical news sources. They are the stories of great failure and sometimes recovery.

Recently, I was reading a book entitled Sanctification: Explorations in Theology and Practice.  Oliver O’Donovan opened his essay on “Sanctification and Ethics” with this fascinating statement, “The doctrine that the elect commit no post-baptismal sin is generally known as heresy; why, one wonders, has indulgence been accorded to the doctrine that the elect commit only venial [lesser forgivable] sins after age fifty?”

Sometimes we think that older Christians have less of a struggle with sin. I am not quite fifty, but I can see from here that this is not true. I have made many observations from my own life and others’ lives. And I have many friends who have told me many stories about how life’s changes bring new and often intensified temptations.

Seven Sins in Stages

Let’s take a quick look at the seven deadly sins, contrasting our experience as younger believers and older believers.

Pride for the young man or woman is obvious to all while often not to themselves. This is the time of life to learn to deal with pride. However, pride for those further along often takes the form of pride in their experience and expertise, learning when sharing it is relevant and when it is not.

Envy for those who don’t yet have much in material possessions seems like a simple problem to avoid, but it is in fact real, although on a smaller scale. Those who are older look around at their contemporaries’ possessions and can wonder why they don’t have more by this point in their lives, and realize they may not be able to do much about it.

Gluttony is a matter of self-control. Youthful over indulgence in eating, drinking and frivolity can be handled situation by situation. But later on in life the typical reasons to avoid such behavior can become less motivating because of boredom, giving up on our image not caring what others think.

Lust early on is based upon what you see and anticipate, often driven by emerging passions. Later on in life, past lusts can become a haunt, lustful habits have solidified and we are involved in many more relationships that offer many more opportunities.

Wrath in youth centers primarily on controlling angry outbursts, and making sure our expression of emotion properly fits the situation. As experience builds we can see deeper into systems and patterns of behavior and likewise anger can run deeper.

Greed starts out as acquiring things upon things, and maybe hoarding our resources. But, when the worries of life increase with time it can be even easier to deny others our practical generosity.

Sloth hides under the name of relaxation quite often, but it also can be seen early in our adult lives by failing to be diligent in the basics of life and work. As years go by, the appeal to give up shows up and we may find it hard to stay focused on our purpose and calling.

These comments were brief one sentence incomplete observations. Certainly there is a lot more to add, explore and even research.

Real Danger that Gets More Dangerous

This real and growing danger requires real perseverance in real faith, great faith, deeper faith and just plain more faith in Christ.

Our lives are not lived in a straight line, and our sanctification is not experienced as a straight line either. There is no guarantee that spiritual maturity will develop as rapidly as we age. In fact, our lives often become harder in new and surprising ways, demanding from us a much greater faith in Christ and the Gospel.  

On the other hand, we have been strengthened by God’s grace in the past, and as a result we are often stronger than we think. We most likely have become even more sanctified than we realize or feel. 

The classic virtues contrasting with the seven deadly sins are these:  humility, kindness, temperance, chastity, patience, generosity, diligence. The Scriptures teach us to pursue them by faith in Christ and prayerful reliance upon the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 3:1–4,17 ESV “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. . . . [The Apostle Paul next lists vices to “put off” and virtues to “put on” and then concludes with verse 17.] . . . And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” 

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control . . .” 

Romans 8:1–6 ESV “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

My guess is that O’Donovan’s statement about the age of fifty applies at each of the following decades, as well. Our lives in this world and our journeys of faith in Christ are fascinating! I’ll have to revisit this topic in another 25 years.

My Worst Enemy Became My Best Friend

He probably wasn’t my worst enemy, but it sure felt like it at the time.  

He really didn’t become my best friend either, though after being so strongly against me, by comparison it felt like he had become my best friend.

The Worst Enemy

He was always the loudmouth contrarian at every business meeting, so it was only a matter of time before my ministry was his next project, and me.

Most of the trash talk was behind my back. He would put questions into people’s minds about my effectiveness. He would come up with ministry suggestions that he knew I wouldn’t support and were outside our mission as a church.  

He knew what he was doing and I knew what he was doing and he knew that I knew what he was doing. The worst part was that he would question my motives, slandering me before others in the church.  

It wasn’t long before I couldn’t do anything right. I suspect that he was even part of group, probably the leader or instigator, that anonymously tried to stop my ministerial credentialing and get me fired or get me to quit.

The Best Friend

I have no idea what I ever did to get on his bad side. At first it was frustrating and I tried in vain to answer all the questions people and my supervisor would ask. But after a number of months it turned into a church politics game that I learned to enjoy and became fairly good at myself!

Actually, I learned a lot during this time about how to pray for my enemies! I have attempted to put my thoughts together on this subject here: O Lord Smite My Enemies, But In A Loving Sort Of Way!

Nevertheless, humanly speakng, I have no idea what I ever did to get on his good side. One day he snapped. All of a sudden he supported me in everything I did.  He praised me and my work publicly. He would speak encouragingly to me and tell me how much he was praying for me. It was a weird relief.

We started connecting and enjoying one another. I suspect that the Lord used my prayers (and maybe his), that the senior leader got through to him, that his wife got through to him or that he finally saw that we were on the same side for the spiritual health and growth of the church. People are oh so interesting! And God is oh so powerful!

We started working on ministry plans together, and he started to love on my family and children.  My new “best friend” would move on to glory about 20 years after this. Someday I hope to get the full story of how God healed our relationship.

Here is both a prayer list and a to do list in these situations.

Romans 12:9–21 ESV “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Do not give up on those who oppose you, for you never know if God might turn your worst enemy into your best friend.

Encouragement Is Underrated

Leaders are lonely. Some leaders are more lonely than others. This is more true in more isolated and unreached areas of the world.

Travel to Encourage a Fellow Leader

As soon as you show up, encouragement begins. Simply start by spending time together. Talk about family, life and the struggles and joys that are attached. Take time to talk about deeper matters of the heart and share together about your walks with God in Christ.

See their places of ministry. Watch what is going well with excitement. Observe what is not going well and share in the concerns and humbly offer your ideas. Ask good questions. Stay long enough to discuss many times over each of your visions and dreams for ministry.

Gather your friend’s colleagues together for an informal leadership forum. Learn from one another. Talk leaders to leaders about what God might have next for everyone and pray.

In doing these things we experience more of what our Apostle Paul was discussing in Romans 1:9–12 ESV “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”

Encouragement Changes Everything

“Is that all you did?!” People might say this to you. Or, you might fear people are thinking it, or you are thinking it yourself.

But you did more than show you care. Encouragement is severely underrated. This is because of our overly pragmatic approach to ministry, and our out-of-control desire for immediate and reportable results. In reality, planning for a profound future took place.

Encouragement changes everything because it changes perspective and builds long term relationships. The lives of leaders and the future of ministries change simply by spending time together thinking bigger and thinking about it out loud together. There is no need to worry about action, because leaders by definition will take action.

The Apostle’s letter to the Romans ends like it began with anticipation of the blessings that come from mutual encouragement. Romans 15:29 ESV “I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.”

Leadership can be a lonely calling. So, just get on a plane and get over there and see how the Lord Christ brings about the fullness of His blessing to them and to you!

Good Guys Always Win

In American folklore the good guys always win.  Although this makes for great books and movies, we know that it doesn’t always work out this way in real life.

Maybe Not Today

However, often times it does!  As the book of Proverbs teaches, God very frequently demonstrates His moral order in our lives and our lifetime.  And yet, we also learn from the Bible that the story is not over.  There are many scenes still to be played out in history.

God has fixed a day for His final justice to be perfectly established and His full blessings to be distributed with honor and glory.  Ultimately, the bad guys will get what they deserve, and the good guys will win.

Romans 2:6–8 ESV “He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”

Ready for Tomorrow

We must also understand that “seeking for glory and honor and immortality” in the above passage from the book of Romans is not built upon a trust in one’s own “well-doing” and power behind it.  Much of Romans is dedicated to debunking this false sense of security and self-righteousness, especially when people trust in their religion to save them.

The seeking for glory, honor and immortality is later revealed in the book of Romans to begin with seeking it by faith in Christ, His Cross and Resurrection.  Then, our continuing seeking for them is by this same faith in Christ, persevering by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Salvation and the life transformation that accompanies it come from God Himself through the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

John 3:20–21 ESV “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.””

The Tremendous Win

Eventually, the degrees of recompense are justly measured out for good and bad deeds.  But also, those who are rewarded have nothing of which to boast except the power of Christ working righteousness through them.

Revelation 2:26–27 ESV “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.”

In the end, and for all eternity, the good guys do win and win big.

Proverbs 4:18 ESV “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”

Pray That Other People’s Prayers Get Answered First

Your friends might pray better prayers than you do.

The Praying Prayer Team

I have many friends who regularly pray for me, my family and my ministry.  Sometimes, I wish I could listen in while they are praying.  This is because I know them and how spiritually-minded they are.  I am confident they are praying for my best and for the advance of the Gospel of the Kingdom through me.

One reason I would like to listen is to hear how the Holy Spirit might be leading them to pray for God’s will for my ministry.  But, I don’t need to hear their prayers because I will see the results of their prayers soon enough!

Borrowing Their Prayers

Sometimes I have a hard time praying for myself.  The same is true for my ministry.  I might just be tired, or tired of praying the same things over and over.  And I am sure I don’t see all the things for which I should be praying.

Every so often I start by praying, “Lord answer the prayers of Dave & Beth, Bala & Carol, Tim & Lisa, Tim & Michelle, Raymy & Jennifer, Brian & Pearl, Bob & Pam, John & Debbie on my behalf.”  These dear friends form my core prayer team.  Other days, the Lord will bring to mind other prayerful friends.  Whatever these people have prayed is surely good.

A Really Good Solution

This kind of praying opens my mind to the broader purposes and workings of God in the world and our lives.  I end up praying for those who are praying for me, and our partnership in the Gospel is strengthened!

Have you ever noticed how the Apostle Paul truly valued the prayers of his mission partners?  He understood prayer to be a powerful means of support, encouragement and actually making a difference in his ministry.

2 Corinthians 1:11 ESV “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” 

Colossians 4:3 ESV “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ . . ." 

Ephesians 6:18–19 ESV “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel," 

Romans 15:30 ESV “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,”

It is wonderful to know that we are co-workers through our prayers.  Pray for those who are praying for you, that God answer their prayers for your ministry even before He answers your own.

Don’t Think About How Far They Must Come

Sometimes we give up on sharing the Gospel before we even start. 

We can discourage ourselves when we mull over how much people need to know in order to come to Christ.  We overwhelm ourselves when we contemplate all their beliefs that have to change and how they need to completely reorient their lives.

Why would they even listen?!  Why would they ever want to believe?!

Give People the Opportunity to Hear

This type of reasoning is one of our problems in sharing the Gospel.  We think through it too much.  We come up with a whole bunch of scenarios that includes their religious backgrounds, lifestyle and objections.  In fact, we might find ourselves coming up with more reasons not to believe than others have probably ever thought of themselves!

I remember some of my early experiences with evangelism walking onto a beach full of fun or entering a crowded cafeteria and thinking to myself “I don’t think anyone is going to be interested.”  But every time the Lord led me to people who were interested, often very interested.  They didn’t all come to Christ, but many wanted to talk, argue or share their opinions, and were thankful for the opportunity.

Even last year I was sitting in an airport in south Asia next to a Muslim man.  We both had about six hours before our next flight and we were both exhausted.  I didn’t want to talk about the Gospel, thinking I am too tired for this and he doesn’t look like the type who would be interested anyway.  Then, only two minutes into our polite greetings he asked me directly about Jesus Christ.  So we joined our tables and discussed Bible passages he was troubled about for the next four hours.

I still need to remind myself to just share the message.  Stop overthinking it and be prayerful.  Follow where the Holy Spirit takes the conversation.  This is basic faithfulness in evangelism.  

Give People the Opportunity to Believe

Whether it seems people are ready or not, ask them to put their trust in Christ.  And then wait for their response.  If we don’t think they are ready we don’t ask.  But, just ask.  The worst they can say is “no” and this only means, “not now.”  So, that means that the day might be coming when they will say “yes.”

Asking outright impresses upon people the urgency of Gospel consideration.  Let’s them know it is not a nebulous concept to trust in Christ.  Explain it.  Always issue a general call, for you never know when God will issue His irresistible internal special call for salvation.

Sharing the Gospel does not have to be time consuming either, which is often another concern of ours.  It is okay to only cover what you have time for.  You can talk more later, or connect them with others, with resources or nearby churches.

Romans 10:13–14 ESV “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”

There is More than One Goal

It helps to remember that the ultimate goal is not the only goal.  Perhaps it would be better to think about what might be the next reasonable step for the people with whom you are sharing.

Evangelism becomes relaxing when you can simply enjoy people for who they are as people created in God’s image and share in their lives.  Maybe they want help overcoming a certain objection that has been bothering them.  Maybe they need to meet and enjoy conversation with a genuine Christian.  Maybe they have to unburden themselves with hurt or pain.  Maybe it is time for them to open up about sin struggles in their lives.

There are likely many smaller goals along the way to salvation that must be met.  And what we often consider the goal—“being saved”—is really not the ultimate goal anyway.  Instead, it is entrance into an eternal life with the ultimate goal of knowing and enjoying God.   As Jesus said in John 17:3 ESV “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Encouragement in evangelism comes when we enjoy the process and our assigned roles in it.

1 Corinthians 3:5–9 ESV “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”

The Post-Suicidal Hitchhiker

About seven years ago our team chartered a mini-bus for a remote mission in a southeast Asian country.

Shortly after we got on the road that morning our driver stopped to pick up a man.  When the man found out that this vehicle was not for hire, he asked to ride with us anyway to a certain town.  We agreed to the hitchhiker’s request, but informed him that we had a couple of stops to make first.

A Discarded but Well-Placed Tract

We continued eagerly planning our mission strategy for the day.  The hitchhiker heard us talking and could sense that we were Christians.  He pulled out of his jacket a well-worn Gospel tract and excitedly told us his story.

He was a hopeless alcoholic, his life was full of tragedies and pain, he was estranged from his family and snubbed by his small community.  A few months ago he was going to commit suicide because of his shame and pain.  But, on that particularly day he saw a booklet on the side of the road and picked it up to read it, and it changed his life!

That booklet was filled with Bible passages explaining how to have a personal relationship with the One True God who created the universe.  He grew up in an atheistic society, yet a society that still held on to ancestor worship and animistic practices.  This was part of his story of despair.  But this small booklet gave him hope and told him what he knew deep down was the truth—that there was a God.

It carefully and clearly explained the holy character of God the Father of All, and how through Adam’s sin all mankind is in rebellion and estranged from God.  Likewise it compassionately explained how the Lord Jesus Christ, being the Son of God who became man, was the perfect mediator for reconciliation with God.  He died upon the Cross as the propitiation for our sins and was raised from the dead for our justification and peace with God.  And that He would come again in glory.

Our new friend had put his trust in Jesus Christ for salvation from his sin, his shameful past, and for hope of eternal life.  His life was under a radical transformation these past few months.  That discarded tract ended up being a well-placed tract, Divinely placed.

More Mission than Planned

He didn’t have a Bible, so he had just been reading his treasured pamphlet and the Bible verses in it, over and over, many times a day.  That is why the paper was so worn and hardly legible any longer.  The Holy Spirit used these dozen passages of Scripture to sustain and renew this man daily, to give him hope and to direct his prayers.

He didn’t know any Christians either.  He was rejected by his friends and family earlier because of his anti-social behavior, and now he was further rejected because of his faith in Christ.  Although, he was now a radically different person, and filled with joy in the midst of it all!

And so, he was praying that God would introduce him to some other Christians if there were any near him.  And here we were on the bus!  A handful of foreigners and a handful of Asian mission partners.

We had him ride with us the whole day.  We told him some of our stories of salvation and redemption from life’s trials, personal struggles and temptations.  We prayed with him and encouraged him that the Lord would continue to bring healing to him and his relationships.

We spent time reviewing the Gospel in greater detail than he knew up to that point.  We sang worship songs together.  We gave him a Bible, showed him how to use it and studied Scripture together.  We had him observe as we shared the Gospel at a few different mission points throughout the day.

The Day Had to Come to an End

We circled back at the end of the day and dropped him at his originally desired destination.  He was bursting with encouragement, amazed at what God had done in his life that day on the bus!  So were we.  And we still are.

The next day, we were headed in a different direction, and for other reasons, we couldn’t take our friend with us any of the following days.  But, we obtained his contact information, and our friends who knew the area were able to follow up with him and find him a local group of believers for worship and fellowship.

This passage of Scripture forever holds new meaning for our team and for our brother we met on the bus that day:

Romans 5:6–11 ESV “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

Plead With God For Men, Plead With Men For God

Is the controlling passion and vision of our lives to fulfill Jesus’ plan of reaching the world with the Gospel?

If it is, we will not hold grandiose dreams of future service to the Lord without a present reality.  We will never become great soldiers of the faith somewhere down the road unless we actively evangelize and disciple now.  If we cannot do it now, then we will not do it later.  

Charles H. Spurgeon once described the Christian life as “pleading with God for men, and pleading with men for God.”

Our Daily Prayers

First, this means that our day should begin with prayer, entreating God for the salvation of people through us, the Lord’s humble servants.  The Apostle Paul expressed his intense concern for the salvation of his fellow Jews in his letter to the Romans 10:1 ESV, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.”

Paul asked God for their salvation because salvation is only God’s to grant, just as our Lord Christ taught in John 6:44 ESV, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.  And I will raise him up on the last day.”  And so, a desire for people’s salvation should lead us to fervent prayer, knowing that only God can cause people to be born again.

Growing in our desire and concern for people’s salvation is interactive with praying for their salvation.  Paul’s prayer intensified according to his concern for people, and the concern grew during, and as a result of, his prayers.  Without both prayer and personal concern in our hearts and lives, we will not plead for men.

Our Daily Conversations

Second, as the spiritual battle rages during the day, this desire and concern for people’s salvation should continue to be our inward prayer as we assault, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the work of the evil one who blinds the eyes of the unbelieving, by begging people to be reconciled to God.  We will plead with men for God.

The Apostle Paul entreats men and women everywhere, along with all our fellow ambassadors in 2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”.  The Lord will accept all those who come to Him, for He Himself declared in John 6:37 ESV “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”  God’s success is guaranteed!

If God’s success is guaranteed, then why do we at times seem to resign from our ambassadorship?  It seems to be some fear that overtakes us:  fear of looking, feeling and being thought of as foolish; fear of not knowing what to say or how to answer questions; fear of losing friendships; fear of personal injury or loss of earthly security; fear or confrontation and discomfort; fear of personal involvement; fear of ridicule; or fear or whatever.  

But, it is in going forth with the results entrusted to God that God’s glory is put on display.  Observe Paul relying on the Spirit:

2 Corinthians 2:1–5 ESV “For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you.”

If we do not speak can we truly say that we are convinced that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation?  How can we then assure ourselves that we are truly concerned for people’s needs and faithfully loving them?  Without first pleading with God for men, we will not be able to trust the Lord when we plead with men for God.

Our Life’s Labors

The work does not end with fruits of evangelism, rather the process of perfection just begins.  Disciples must be established, equipped and built up to continue the work of Christ in saving and perfecting the saints.  This is the mission of the church and the final goal is nothing less than perfection in Christ.  

Our Apostle Paul defined his ministry in this manner, in Colossians 1:28–29 ESV “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”

May our lives be lived for Christ, and not for ourselves, by pleading with God for men, then pleading with men for God!

Acts 20:24–27 ESV “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. . . . Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”

Govern Your Heart

Life comes forth from the heart.  Our whole experience of life derives from what is in our hearts.  Our perspectives, meaning-making, significance-finding, even simple joy, they all come from the heart.

Proverbs 4:23 ESV “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

The Hebrew word translated as “keep,” more specifically means either protect or govern.  If the meaning is to protect, it is about keeping watch as against an enemy, that nothing bad influences the integrity of one’s heart.  If the meaning is to govern, it is about keeping watch as in restraining a prisoner, that nothing bad comes out of one’s heart.

Obviously, we want to be doing both, protecting and governing, but the second option here seems to be more likely, that of governing.  We are strongly advised to restrain our hearts from wrongdoing.

The concept of the “heart” in the ancient near east involved the whole person:  mind, emotions, will, and affections.  We tend to think of the heart as the place of intentions or emotions only.  The idea here is to use one faculty of the heart, the mind, to keep the rest of the person in check.  We must do so because the tendency of our hearts is to lead us astray.

Disney Has it Backwards

This can be hard to accept because it is contrary to the ever-present and popular Gospel according to Disney, which teaches relentlessly to just follow your heart.  Perhaps, this explains the common saying of Christians these days, “you don’t know my heart.”  They may just be defending their sincerity, but most often something more is going on here.  

Some use this phrase trying to escape an impending spiritual assessment.  For others it is a quick defensive move.  In more severe cases it functions as a way of putting oneself above the Holy Spirit and the Church.  Regardless, those who use the phrase often are in great danger of self-deception on purity of motive and clarity of thinking.  This is because the phrase is used to assert that they themselves know their own heart.

Again, we tend to think of the heart as the place of intentions or emotions only, and that they are good.  This is very dangerous way to think and live, to trust one’s own heart; Proverbs calls it foolish.  Don’t let others, or yourself, get away with this, rather guide them into the truth of Scripture and their souls.

The Truth of the Matter

On the one hand, no one really knows their own heart; yet, on the other hand, we do know how everyone’s heart works.  Here is wisdom worth pondering when handling ourselves and dealing with others, from Proverbs 20:5 ESV “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.”

Ultimately, only God really knows what is going on in there, not even the person himself or herself really very much.

Jeremiah 17:9–10 ESV “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”” 

Proverbs 21:2 ESV “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.”

This is why we pray like David in Psalm 139:23–24 ESV “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Practically speaking, simply look at the four verses following Proverbs 4:23.

Proverbs 4:24–27 ESV “Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”

Living the Proverbs

The fullness of life promised in v.23, “Govern your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life,” would be fulfilled in all that comes in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 4:14 ESV “. . . whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”” 

John 7:38 ESV “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’””

Sometimes, we can forget the connections between the Old and New Testaments, but they really speak to the one and same final hope.  Jesus Christ grants us the Holy Spirit and His power and ability to perform the Proverbs at a whole new level as the New Covenant People of God.

Ezekiel 36:26–27 ESV “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” 

Romans 8:2 ESV “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

In Christ Jesus, we get to re-experience Proverbs from a greater perspective and with a greater purpose! 

The Slaughter Of Innocents In Fulfillment

King Herod was a paranoid and ruthless leader.  So it is no surprise that he slaughtered all the male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under at the time, about 15-20 of them in total.  

Matthew 2:16–18 ESV “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.””

This horrible event is part of the history of God’s people, and it fulfilled Jeremiah 31:15.  The original context of this prophecy in Jeremiah is from the Exile period.  We need to apply the redemptive-historical interpretive method in order to grasp Matthew’s meaning and purpose.  This approach was discussed in a previous blog about understanding the Exodus reference used in Matthew 2:13-15, “The Egyptian Flight In Fulfillment.”

The Interpretive Framework

The Exile, like the Exodus, is another significant signpost in the history of redemption.  Matthew is showing us another link by connecting the Patriarchs, the Exodus, and the Exile to the Christ.  Jesus as the Messiah would fulfill the hope of the return from the Exile by establishing the promised New Covenant.

The historical incident about Rachel is less well known, so here is a brief review.  Rachel was one of Jacob’s wives and a mother of the Hebrew people.  In Genesis, we read that Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin while traveling from Bethel to Bethlehem.  She was buried in a tomb in Zelzah, in the region of Ramah.  

In Jeremiah, Rachel is personified as crying out from her grave, weeping over the loss of Israel’s children.  It was in Ramah where the exiles were gathered in 586 BC for their long march to Babylon.  Those gathered at Ramah for Exile were considered as good as dead.  

What Matthew is Saying to the World

In Matthew, Rachel is personified again as crying out from her grave, weeping over the children.  This time the children are in Bethlehem.  But this is not really the point.  Matthew is not simply matching up Biblical references to crying and mourning.  

Matthew is declaring that the weeping of Rachel in Jeremiah’s day, in the time of the Exile, has now been fulfilled.  Look at what is promised in the two verses following that Jeremiah quotation.

Jeremiah 31:16–17 ESV “Thus says the LORD: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the LORD, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children shall come back to their own country.”

The weeping is soon to be over.  Her bereavement now would be replaced with blessing.  Matthew’s point, what he is saying to the world, is that the tears of the Exile are now over and the promised hope has finally come!

Keeping Context and Hope in View

We need to observe the context of Jeremiah’s prophecy.  This is the interpretive key to unlock the meaning and the hope.  Matthew quoted Jeremiah with reference to its wider context.  The passage is located just prior to the promise of the New Covenant, and it rests within an even broader context of Messianic joy.  The ultimate hope of the Exile was not just a return to the land but a New Covenant!

And this New Covenant would be established by the Messiah, namely Jesus.  He has brought the hope promised after the Exile.  Jesus Christ has brought the New Covenant with its promises of full forgiveness, the indwelling of the Spirit of God, and life in true obedience.  

The Exile was the result of the Israelites’ continual disobedience.  The Exile’s fulfillment then is the solution to this problem—the Spirit of obedience.  And so, the Child Messiah under Divine Fatherly protection would eventually grant forgiveness of sin and obedience in the Spirit.

Romans 8:3–4 ESV “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Have you experienced the joy of returning from the exile of sin by Jesus Christ?  Share your experience with others that they too might walk in a new life in the Spirit of God.

Four Lackluster Church People

Romans 6 is one of the most common passages of Scripture used in teaching about Christian baptism.  These verses reach far beyond baptism and teach about our new life in Christ.

Romans 6:4–7 ESV “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.”

Our union with Christ is a mysterious and powerful personal relationship.  And it is through this union that we receive all the benefits of our salvation and new life.  

Difficult Spiritual Counseling

After reading Romans 6 it is puzzling to find church people lacking in spiritual vitality.  How would you counsel each of the following friends of yours?  What questions might you ask to lead them to consider their relationship with Jesus Christ?

1. A professing believer for 30 years, who is a pleasant and morally good person, but one without much visible Christian growth.  What is going on here?
2. A professing believer who continues to live in certain sins, and appears unconcerned about this, or only mildly bothered.  Why should they be concerned?
3. A person who wants to believe in Jesus Christ, but doesn't want too much of a changed life.  What are they missing?
4. A person who wants a changed life, but does not want to believe in Jesus Christ.  How much change can they expect?

Don’t Inspire Them, Rather Instruct Them

It is a mistake to attempt to inspire these people to perform like better Christians.  But this is often the approach taken in preaching at them and counseling with them.  They themselves often expect to hear this, and may even comply in hope that something good may happen.

We can’t counsel or convince people into union with Christ.  God alone does this.  And this teaching is exactly what we need to make known to them.  1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV “And because of him you are in [have a relationship with, united with] Christ Jesus.”

We don’t want to frustrate and confuse people about their relationship with Christ.  We want them to make their own comparison of their lives with the experience Scripture describes for a true Christian.  Let them think and wrestle with their souls before God.

While we wait, and probably have many more Gospel conversations with them, we pray for God to give His grace.  As it has been our experience described in 2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

On To Better Boasting

Do mission reports ever seem too impressive?  

This is because it is hard to understand what is going on in a place one has never been or never lived.  Then it becomes even harder to comprehend what roles various people and ministries play in those Gospel accomplishments.

Boasting and Ministry Overlap

One of our problems is we think too individualistically about our own and each others’ contributions, and the accomplishments of our church’s missionaries.  Maybe if we recognized that teamwork is the way God designed His mission to advance, we could relax about ourselves, others’ claims, the assigning of credit, and more readily glorify God for what He is doing.

Recently I rediscovered this passage of Scripture which speaks to us about this matter.

2 Corinthians 10:13–18 ESV “But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”

There is plenty of affirmation to go around to all who labor in the forward movement of the Gospel.  God gives us areas of influence as He determines, and would have us rejoice greatly both in our work and in the work of others.  We should speak plainly and clearly about this, and appreciate the synergy of combined efforts that God empowers. 

Boasting about Our Work

Many times missionaries, ministries, and other Gospel workers, wrestle with reporting.  What is honest, and not overstatement?  How can this story of success be told with humility?  On the other hand, will people be able to handle hearing about what is not going well?  

They yearn to tell the larger story of what God is truly doing on a much larger scale, even beyond their own ministries, and yet through their ministries, as they envision and describe the future God might create.

Sometimes there is too much pride, but other times there is too much humility.  Both are unhelpful.  The report and the vision we all need to hear contains reasonable judgment with a strong emphasis upon the power of Christ.

Romans 15:17–18a ESV “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me . . .”

It is good to boast, and to boast well.  This is done by claiming one’s own work and not the work of others as one’s own.  Be honest and clear and give recognition to the significant work of others.  This better boasting exalts the power and glory of Jesus Christ before all the Church.

Reading Well and Rejoicing Well

We should expect impressive reports.  But we should also expect these reports will include stories of many servants of Christ working together.  

There will be overlap because God has called us to partnership in the Gospel.  So don’t think too small or be too skeptical of those impressive reports.  Instead, pay closer attention to them.

May we become better at reading and listening more carefully, reporting more carefully and more exuberantly giving glory to God for His work through all of us individually and together as His team!

The Other Man Who Never Sinned

Who is this man?  He is the 22 year old I met on a community college campus.

Sinlessness is Not Common

I was training a friend in evangelism and we sat down to talk with this guy in the cafeteria.  He was friendly enough, but fairly cool toward religion.  This would be a good tough case most likely.

After the typical college small talk we presented the Gospel and asked him what he thought.  Surprisingly, he said it didn’t really apply to him since he never sinned.  Ok, that was a response I hadn’t heard before.  Was he joking?  Being obnoxious?  Or for real?

Maybe we weren’t clear about our need for a savior from our sins, forgiveness before God, and the rest of it.  Perhaps we should return to the topic of sin and lay out the universal human condition again, and in greater detail.

No, he understood perfectly what we were stating about humanity and about Jesus Christ, the Lord.  He was serious in his protest that he was not a sinner, and not just not a heinous sinner like Hitler and his kind, but not a sinner in the least--wild!

I am thinking this guy is an idiot, so I congratulated him, “Wow, sinlessness is just not that common.  The only other guy I know who is sinless is Jesus Christ.”  He smiled in self-satisfaction.

Sometimes it Takes a Mother

It wasn’t Mother Theresa that did it, but his own mother.  He likely would have thought he was as good as Mother Theresa since he was so close to being as good as Jesus, so we skipped over her example.  

We asked him the obvious questions about the Ten Commandments and such, including Jesus’ incisive application of them in His Sermon on the Mount and other places in the Gospel accounts.  

The guy was good, and didn’t flinch but maintained his position of angelic purity, though surely he knew he was lying to us, and guilty and ashamed, perhaps that he was even enslaved to sin.

Time to go for it.  How would we break him?  His mother!  We didn’t know his family situation in the least, but bringing in one’s mother almost never fails.  

So, we asked him, “What would your mother say?  Would she testify that you never ever lied, cheated, stole, or committed anything deserving of punishment?  This time, tell us the truth.”

Cracked and Wandering

The short version is that he cracked without too much mental torture.  But, that was as far as we got with him that day.  God is gracious with us all, often bringing us to Himself in stages.  Truly, we enjoyed our 30 minute conversation with this young man.

Maybe it was a good day for him, with some new realizations about himself and what we told him about God’s righteousness and His graciousness.  It was certainly a challenging day for me and my friend trying to share the good news of eternal hope!

We spent a lot of time that afternoon discussing Romans 5:1–2 ESV “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  

But such things only finally make sense when sin recognition takes place first.  So take all the time necessary to thoroughly discuss this with people, and then make them own it!

Top Ten Values For My Boys

I recently returned from a four day trip to the Sierra Nevada.  This was a planned manhood experience for my boys, 12 and 13 years old.  We spent quality time together, did tough things together, and had the types of conversations and fun men can only have when women are not around.  

Our Definition

I presented to them a framed copy of our definition of manhood and the top ten values that will get us there and keep us growing as men for a lifetime.  Theirs now hang in their bedrooms and mine in my office.  Our definition of being a man is a definition of action:  

“A man takes responsibility for those around him, and courageously leads them toward a better future, with God’s truth and in His love, all for the glory of Jesus Christ.”

Each of us has memorized this definition, and we even quiz one another to keep it fresh in our minds.

Our Top Ten Values

We have been discussing this definition and the following ten values for a few months.  Certainly there are many more values, but ten is a good number, and from these we are able to touch on many other associated values and issues.

1.  Spiritual Wisdom


Romans 8:5b–6 “Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

2.  Loyalty


Hosea 6:6 “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

3.  Integrity


Proverbs 10:9 “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”

4.  Generosity


Proverbs 19:6 “Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.”

5.  Purity


1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

6.  Perseverance


Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

7.  Self-Discipline


1 Timothy 4:7b–8 “Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

8.  Honor


1 Peter 2:17 “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

9.  Humility


Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

10.  Sacrificial Leadership


Matthew 20:26b–27 “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Discipleship is Our Work

One of the best lessons I have learned from other men about raising sons is that we as fathers need to commit ourselves both to times of teaching and to living life together.  Neither is sufficient in itself, and both require intentionality.

We can’t just rely on our occasional instruction, or the instruction our sons may get from pastors and teachers, even mothers and others.  Fathers need to do it themselves.  We can’t just rely on our sons observing our lives and hoping they make the right conclusions by themselves.  Fathers need to guide their understanding.

Our discussions take place over breakfast on Fridays.  These are not intense scary times, but intentional honest times, and usually kept brief.  These days we use three simple questions:  

• What is the value and why is it important?  
• How does it help in navigating life for success before God and in the world?  
• What might it look like for us?  


Then, we share stories of examples we have witnessed or experienced, both positive and negative.  That’s it.  Done.  We can encourage and challenge one another from the definition and the values list during the week.

An Enormous Mission Force

When a definition of manhood and a top ten values list is set within the larger context of God’s Mission then they become even more powerful in the lives of men and boys.

It is a huge mistake to think that the goal in all of this is to raise sons with Christian character who love Jesus and will love their families someday.  This is good but far from good enough.  That goal is too quaint, too small, too simple, and just plain short-sighted.  

Many Christian parents believe that raising good moral children who can quote Bible verses will result in great Christian leaders.  However, it is naive to think that a strong personal vision for life and community, and strategic involvement for the Kingdom of God will automatically emerge.  

Many stop at character, but boys need more.  They need a grand vision, a cause with clarity to live and die for!  This would be Christ’s Mission for the world.  They need a leader to follow who will take them places and give them experiences.  They need a man to affirm God’s calling on their lives and their unique gifting from Him.  They need godly mission-minded men to lead them into purpose-filled manhood.  And they need God’s grace to see God’s glory, for which we pray constantly.

The church should take a close look at the mission field and realize that one of the greatest needs is for more, many more, godly but also successful and effective men who are the type of men who can get the mission done!  

How might we raise up an enormous mission force even from our boys?  How might we lead them forward on the path from boyhood to manhood with a mission?


(The ideas of creating a manhood definition and a list of values come from Robert Lewis’ book, “Raising a Modern Day Knight.”)

Why I Love Hate Mail

I started getting hate mail as soon as I entered the ministry.  

At first it concerned me a lot because I desired to keep good relationships with everyone.  After a few years I realized that not only was it not possible to please everyone, but that some opposition would always be there.

What To Do With The Letters

I didn’t know what most people did with nasty letters, so early on in ministry I decided to keep them all in a file rather than throw them away.  This way I could review them, and pray through them so that the criticism would not demoralize me.

Surely there was some truth in some of the letters that I needed to hear (although this wasn’t the ideal way to hear it).  But, to say there was some truth in all of the letters, though it sounds spiritual, would not be true.  A large number of them were worthless in content and clearly written with evil intentions.  

What To Do With The Authors

Some are mild; some are severe; and they all sting.  Replying in writing is almost never the right response.  Pursuing the relationship to clear up misunderstandings is the right course of action, if it is possible.  Sometimes it works.

Romans 12:17–18 ESV “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

It is a cowardly act by those who write vitriolic letters instead of just getting together in person to talk, listen and seek understanding with self-control.  But, it is not helpful to think too much on this, because there is often little that can be done with such types of people. 

What To Do With Yourself

Opposition and suffering are part of the calling.  Hate mail is a good reminder of this. Have a plan to deal with your hate mail so it doesn’t destroy you, make you bitter or handicap with your work for the Kingdom.  Figure out how to take advantage of these opportunities given to you.

By God’s grace through much prayer, we will come to understand our weaknesses more fully, and as a result grow into a better Christian and servant of the Gospel and the Church.  

More importantly, we will be amazed at how God strengthens us in each situation to keep pressing ahead; and how all the while He is making us even more useful for His future purposes.  

Eventually Throw Them Away

I held on to the letters for a number of years for three reasons:

• To pray for those controlled by anger and refusing healthy godly relationships;
• To remind myself how many people are full of fear and taken advantage of by the evil one to oppose to the Mission of God; and
• For sheer amusement in re-reading the ludicrous things people will put on paper!  

This is why I truly love hate mail!

Recently I threw away the file.  It served its purpose.  Now, I can read these types of letters more quickly, analyze them more easily, pray more clearly and laugh more appropriately. . . . And just for the record, I have received far more letters of encouragement over the years than criticism. 

The Scary, The Draining, The Needy

What to do with difficult people?

Who is responsible for dealing with the difficult people in a church?  The Apostle Paul instructs the new congregation in Thessalonica that everyone has a responsibility toward everyone else.  He urges all of them to deal with the “difficult people” together; it is not just the responsibility of the leaders.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”

The Scary

They all are to “admonish the idle.”  Other translations include the ideas of being undisciplined in living, being disorderly or unruly, even just plain lazy.  Such people can be scary to be around because of how they live, and what challenging things they might say, especially in the church.  Our tendency is to stay away from scary people so we don’t get hurt or get in trouble with them, hoping someone in the church with more courage will confront them.

The Draining

They all are to “encourage the fainthearted.”  A number of people are given to discouragement and depression.  These are people who often are given to worrying and giving up.  Sometimes faintheartedness is limited to a particularly challenging time in one’s life.  Such people can be draining to be around because our energy gets sapped, and their pessimism rains on our happiness.  Our tendency is to look past draining people, hoping someone in the church with more insight and stamina will counsel them.

The Needy

They all are to “help the weak.”  This category of people could be quite broad, including those of lower social status, or those who yield to persecutions or temptations, or those who are weak in faith in general.  Such people often have a lot of needs that make us uncomfortable and make it hard for us to embrace them.  Our tendency is to inform others about their neediness, hoping someone in the church with more resources will help them.

The Meaning of Patience

The final urging upon everyone is to “be patient” with these three types of people, and certainly all other difficult types they will encounter.  Being patient means not being irritated or annoyed with them as difficult people.  And it means being patient with them in their typically slow progress.  It is very important that they make progress of course, but be prepared that it likely will be very slow.

Our world is impatient with one another and doesn’t care well for those who are different.  So here is an opportunity for each and every Christian community to exhibit the values of the Gospel of the Kingdom.  Churches that admonish, encourage and help difficult people move forward in Christian discipleship and for betterment in life will be blessed and overflow with blessing far beyond just a few difficult people.

Help Your Leaders

Church leaders cannot carry the load by themselves in dealing with all the difficult people.  Often the church leaders have just as hard a time as everyone else does with the scary, the draining, the needy, and all the others.  Don’t let your leaders get worn down and worn out by having to deal with the difficult people all by themselves.  

The Thessalonian letter ends with the encouragement to “greet all the brothers” whenever we gather together.  We are to greet the difficult people, as well, not leaving anyone out, avoiding them or handing them off.  We need to push ourselves past our discomfort.  We each have a responsibility and a role to play in one another’s lives.  

All churches have difficult people needing counsel tailored specifically to them.  And each congregation itself is equipped for this task in its membership, as the Apostle wrote the churches in Rome, “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14)  

Will you help?