Jesus, the Prince of Peace

There's a story about two families that lived side by side in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. They hated each other and for years they quarreled and fought. The feud started when Grandpa Smith's cow jumped over Grandpa Brown’s stone fence and ate his corn. Brown shot the cow. Then one of the Smith boys shot two of the Brown's boys.

'n jist like dat, day was a feudin!

Bill, the oldest of the Brown family, decided to even up matters, especially since his own daddy had been killed. But before Bill could act out his anger and revenge, he was called away to war. While he was away his mother had a hard time providing for the family.

One Christmas the head of the Smith family took his wife and children to church. Usually he stayed outside, but it was so cold he decided to go in and wait. The sermon was on Christ, the Prince of Peace. It struck Smith’s heart. On his way home he passed the home of the Browns and he began to realize what a crime he had committed in killing the breadwinner of the family. He prayed, but he also did more. He determined secretly to help them. He hired a small boy to carry a basket of food to the Browns every day.

When Bill came home, and heard of this kindness, he decided to find out who the generous helper was. He followed the little boy—to the door of Smith’s house. He could not believe his eyes. When Smith answered his knock, he smiled and declared: “Shoot me, Bill, if you want to.”

But Bill said he had come to thank him for taking care of his family while he was gone. Then Smith explained to Bill how he had come to a change of heart. He had heard the story of the first Christmas, the story of the Prince of Peace and it changed him.

Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas.

Phil

Joseph, Mary, and Hebrew Marriage Customs

When reading the Christmas story from Matthew's gospel it is helpful to have an understanding about Hebrew marriage customs.

Parents arranged the marriages of their children; contracts were negotiated and the young couple entered into the covenant of marriage. After the arrangement was accomplished, the two were considered married and were called husband and wife. They did not, however, begin to live together or engage in sexual intimacy. Instead, they both continued to live at home with their parents for one year. During this waiting period, the husband would prepare a place for he and his bride to live (usually a room attached to his father's house). The waiting period was also to demonstrate the faithfulness of the pledge of purity given concerning the bride. If she got pregnant during this waiting period, she obviously was not pure, but had been involved in an unfaithful sexual relationship. In the case of marital unfaithfulness, the marriage could be annulled. If, however, the one-year waiting period demonstrated the purity of the bride, the husband would then go to the house of the bride’s parents and, in a grand processional march, lead his bride back to his home. Then the husband and wife would consummate their marriage.

It was during this one-year waiting period when an angel told Mary she was with child. She knew she had been faithful, but Joseph did not (vv. 20, 23). Very little is known about Joseph, but one can imagine how his heart must have been broken. Although the marriage was pre-arranged, he must have genuinely loved Mary. His love for her was demonstrated by his choice not to create a public scandal by exposing her pregnancy to the elders at the city gate. According the Law of Moses, Mary could have been stoned to death (Deut. 22:23-24). Instead, Joseph decided to divorce her quietly, severing the marriage covenant.

Now, in light of this background, I encourage you to read Matthew 1:18-25.

Christ the Savior is born!

Phil

Stick to Our Mission

God has uniquely called the Church to present the Gospel in an uncomplicated and common sense way.

And all God’s people say… Amen! That’s a given isn’t it? I think we would all agree. But what if I put it this way: “I believe God has uniquely called First Christian Church of Salem to present the Gospel in an uncomplicated and common sense way.” Do you still agree? I hope so. The point I’m trying to make is that we must take the mission of the Church personally. Each and every one of us should commit to that mission. It isn’t someone else’s mission – it’s your mission and my mission. We should want First Christian to truly be a church passionately committed to Christ, His Cause, and His Community. Everything else is a distant second.

When we commit to the mission, when we give ourselves wholly to the mission, when we live and die for the mission, then nothing else can sidetrack us – Satan and the gates of Hell will not prevail. When we’re on the frontlines of this spiritual battle there’s no room for bickering and complaining because…well, we have a mission to accomplish. Will we have disagreements, yes, but we should never let our disagreements and preferences stand in the way of accomplishing our mission.

With a passion and zeal for the lost and hurting world, First Christian must look for ways to build bridges to a cynical and jaded society. We must take a different approach in reaching out and helping people along the journey. That means we must stress cultural relevancy and utilize all means, all medias, all genres, all styles, all things to communicate the gospel message.

In His Grip,

Phil

21

I don't get it. Why is it that when kids turn 21 they think they need to buy and consume alcohol? Is there some sort of rite of passage that I missed? Is there some great temptation that overcomes them, or is it just because they can? Does it magically turn them into adults? Perhaps it makes them feel better about themselves. Maybe it's just peer pressure. I wonder, did they smoke a cigarette when they turned 18? Is that the same thing? Are they going to go rent a car at the age of 25?

I find it odd that one of the first things a person does with their newfound responsibilities as an adult is to do something that is irresponsible? (I know, I know, I can hear all of the "adult beverage" drinker's protest: "I drink responsibly." "I don't drink and drive." "I can handle it. I'm always in control." "The Bible doesn't really say it's sinful. The apostle Paul told Timothy..." blah, blah, blah.)

I guess my point is not to argue about the immorality of drinking (that's for another discussion), but instead to consider the message Paul told the Corinthians. Paul wrote that just because something is lawful, does not mean it's beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23).

Hmmm. Just because you turn 21 and can legally buy and drink booze, does not mean it's beneficial. He wasn't being legalistic. He didn't say they were going to hell. He simply wanted them to move their lives toward holiness.

Am I there...holiness, that is? Nope. Do I want to get all legalistic on you? Nope. Am I going to encourage you to move your life toward holiness and purity as I am trying to do the same in my own life? Absolutely!

Just something to think about.

Counting Conversions, pt. 2

Often times the measure of success for a church or ministry is based on the number of decisions or how many people are involved in ministry. Luke recorded some growth numbers in the book of Acts (2:41; 5:14; 11:24). It isn't wrong to measure success mathematically, but how we define "decisions" can be misleading. Some count the number of hands raised while heads are bowed. Others teach that all you need to do is to pray a simple life-changing prayer. Honestly, I think these sort of things lead people to think that we can save ourselves by making a "decision." And let's not forget to point the finger at ourselves. How many have been baptized thinking that was it, and yet their life doesn't come close to resembling a disciple of Christ. Ouch!

George Whitefield, who was a leader in the 18th century Great Awakening, said "There are so many stony ground hearers, who receive the Word with joy, that I have determined to suspend my judgment till I know the tree by its fruits. I cannot believe they are converts till I see fruit brought back; it will never do a sincere soul any harm."

A century later, Charles Spurgeon said "Do not, therefore, consider that soul-winning is or can be secured by the multiplication of baptisms, and the swelling of the size of your church… Lay aside such numberings of the people, such idle pretence of certifying in half a minute that which will need the testing of a lifetime."

These two preachers of the past reflected the teachings of Jesus who said "All men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).

Do the seeds of the Gospel still fall on rocky, hard-pan soil, or among thorns? Certainly. So how do we know the composition of a person's conversion soil? FRUIT. True conversion is the supernatural work of God bringing about a changed heart (good soil), which naturally leads to a change in our behavior. Changed behavior (from ours to Christ's) bears good fruit. This is good soil conversion – and from good soil comes good fruit.

Have you made a decision for Christ? If so, praise God, but we will know that you are a truly a Christian (a follower of Christ) by your love (fruit).

Counting Conversions, pt. 1

In our church newsletter was a list of individuals who recently made a decision for Christ. That's exciting! It isn't about bragging or displaying a trophy on the mantle, but rather so you can celebrate along with them. However, this has caused me to wonder and ponder this whole idea of reporting decisions.

We see it often: A church holds a revival, or a special play or concert, and then claims hundreds or even thousands of decisions for Christ. A sports ministry claims 5,000 decisions in one year. A movie leads to 12,000 decisions in a month. A crusade reports 1,800 decisions in one weekend. I've even read where one man's ministry claims to have influenced over one million decisions for Christ. Really? I'm impressed…I think.

Maybe I'm being too pragmatic, but are preachers more persuasive today? Are we creating an environment that's more conducive for people to accept Christ? Have our methods of evangelism improved so dramatically over the past century that our success stories now dwarf the efforts of some of history's greatest missionaries? Consider this:

William Carey, who is known as the father of modern missions, was in India for seven years before he baptized his first convert.

David Livingstone, who pioneered medical mission work, served eight years in Africa before seeing anyone converted.

Adoniram Judson, who is believed to have been the first missionary sent from North America, was in Burma six years before he saw one person come to Christ.

Hudson Taylor who immersed himself in the language and culture of China, waited ten years!

With that bit of information from church history, how can we explain the fact that a group of students on a week-long mission trip, claiming hundreds of converts, end up being radically more effective in initial outreach than the most well-known missionaries in church history? Were the missionaries of the past simply not smart enough or passionate enough to come up with innovative and culturally relevant outreach techniques? Was God not moving then as He does today? Could it be that there is really some massive revival going on today, that wasn't going on during the greatest century of missions?

Or could it be (and I think it is) that Christian ministers and missionaries of past centuries looked at lasting conversions, where as today we're more concerned about counting immediate "decisions".

Next week, I'll explain. Here's a hint – it has something to do with fruit.

Who is your audience?

In Matthew 28:19-20 we are told to “make disciples of all nations.” You do understand that “all nations” means every person, everywhere, don’t you? If the United States is the extent of your vision – then you’re focused on just 5% of the world. But what about the other 95%, should we care about them? Do you think God’s cares about the 95%? You bet he does!

Before you start thinking how in the world are you going to reach the world, let me give you the answer how – technology. Right now, we live in an age where any church in North America with an internet connection can access about 650 million English-speaking web users. If you go through translators, you can access a total of 2.4 billion people who access the web worldwide. That’s 1/3 of the people on earth that you have the potential of touching for Christ.

Did you ever stop to think that perhaps, just maybe, you were placed right here, at this time and with these technologies, for just such a grand purpose? I suppose God could have saved someone like the Apostle Paul for such a time as now, but he didn’t… because God has you and me. And we understand how these technologies work. All it takes is a vision to see beyond our church, our neighborhoods, our city, even our nation. Do you want to reach the world itself? Do you want your one life to have an impact for Christ on the whole planet?

Stop limiting yourself. The world is your audience – speak to it!

Free Puppies!

Driving just on the outskirts of town, your kids shout “Stop the car!” Your foot instinctively hits the brake, hands tighten around the steering wheel, eyes check all the mirrors, mind races through a handful of scenarios. Did you hit something? Is something about to hit you? Did Johnny throw your wallet out the window? What?

“We have to go back.”

“Why?”

“Because the sign in the yard said ‘FREE PUPPIES’!”

You chuckle and say something your kids don’t fully comprehend, “The sign says they’re free, but raising a puppy is NOT free.”

When you pass through the pages of the New Testament you can’t help but see the sign: FREE SALVATION. That’s right – Salvation is FREE. The apostle Paul says it is a “free gift” (Romans 6:23). The LORD proclaims in Revelation 21:6:  “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.” You can’t earn it, work for it, or pay for it – it is F-R-E-E. Believe it, accept it, confess it, immerse yourself in it. Come one, come all. The free gift of God’s grace is yours for the taking. The road paved to heaven by the blood of Christ is freely laid out for all believers to travel. Salvation is free!

However, the journey of following Christ comes with a cost. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:38). The cost may be higher than you expected. You should expect hardships and sacrifices that will require perspiration and perseverance.

Yes, salvation is free. Yes, following Jesus comes with a cost. But it is so worth it!

The Importance of Studying God’s Word

I love, respect and cherish the Word of God. I am by no means a scholar, but I’d like to think that I can navigate my way around the general themes of scripture without getting lost. Although it never ceases to amaze me, when I hear a sermon or read a book, how much I still have to learn from the Bible.

The depth of wisdom, peace, and direction found in scripture blows my mind. For as many years as I’ve been reading the Bible, I should know far more than I do, but I lean on God’s grace and just keep studying.

The longer I study and the more I preach, the more I'm convinced that I’m not really that good of a person. (Hey, you’re not that good either!) Yes, God is kind and grants us gifts and abilities. God grants favor and blessing to you and me that is immeasurable. And I believe much of that comes from spending time in His Word and listening to what He has to say. You can’t overestimate the pure and raw value of time, and lots of it, in the Word. I hope you understand that there is huge power there.

Reading scripture requires you to slow down and put other things aside. I confess that don’t like that fact. Too often I find myself wanting to get the day going by checking my email and phone messages, starting my sermon prep work or any other task. But it’s a good thing to slow down, open His Word, study and reflect. And here’s the tough lesson to learn: This kind of slowing down allows you to run faster and live larger over the long haul.

Slowing down to inhale the depths of God’s truth is the X-Factor in exhaling a life in Christ that frankly you just can’t get any other way.

Decoration Day

Memory is a tricky thing. There are some things, however, that we should never forget. One of these is the sacrifices that others have made on our behalf.

It was a spring morning in 1866, just after the Civil War that had devastated the South. A group of Southerners did something quite extraordinary. They marched down the streets of what was left of their town to a cemetery. There they decorated the graves of the soldiers. ALL the soldiers – Union as well as Confederate. The mothers and daughters and widows had buried their dead. Now they were burying their hatred. The time for healing had come. It was the first Memorial Day.

Have you ever wondered why Memorial Day is marked in May? Its date doesn't recall some historic battle. Or the start of some war. Or the signing of an armistice. Why, then, May? For a very practical reason. Because it is a time when flowers bloom. Flowers with which to decorate graves.

There are those who remember when Memorial Day was called Decoration Day and when the cemeteries were filled with people kneeling to plant a flower or place a garland or unfurl a flag or to say a prayer. Some still do. But most people can no longer be bothered. It would take time away from the beach, the backyard, or the ball park.

Pause, take a moment, offer a prayer, remember, and never forget.

My Global Warming Skepticism

I am a skeptic when it comes to global warming. I am suspicious of the science for several reasons. One, I distrust the political arm of the United Nations. The U.N. is pushing for radical changes in the way we live, all in the name of saving the planet. They are using fabricated junk science to impose taxes and regulations on free societies in order to bring them under the control of a global government. (I realize that makes me sound like a conspiracy lunatic. However, if you've been reading anything coming from the U.N. lately you will know that the topics of "global economy" and "global initiatives" are being talked about more and more.)

Please don't misunderstand me... I'm all for taking better care of earth. I’m in favor of being better stewards of what God has graciously entrusted to us. That makes sense to me – that we should appreciate the gift of creation and not be trashing it like we often do. I'm just not reading to give Al Gore's science project a passing grade.

As in the theory of evolution, if you state a theory long enough, gullible people, who are more about inclusion and acceptance, jump on the bandwagon of popularity. The unproven theory picks up momentum and is quickly accepted among the mass media and academia elite as being true ("Oh my, look at all the smart people. It must be true."). The theory, then, is carried along by the "consensus science" of press releases, magazine articles, books, thesis, school projects, and propaganda by zealots who carry a hidden agenda. It then grows into a beast so big that no one dares stand in its way -- Warning: Naysayers will be professionally persecuted.

Lord Monckton is one who is boldly standing in front of the global warming beast, waving the cold hard truth in its face. Here is an excerpt from Lord Monckton’s written testimony (his full statement can be found here). Okay, I admit that the math is beyond my understanding, but the last three paragraphs are worth reading and heeding:

Warming at the very much reduced rate that measured (as opposed to merely modeled) results suggest would be 0.7-0.8 K (1.3-1.4 F°) at CO2 doubling. That would be harmless and beneficial -- a doubling of CO2 concentration would increase yields of some staple crops by 40%.

Therefore, one need not anticipate any significant adverse impact from CO2-induced “global warming.” “Global warming” is a non-problem, and the correct policy response to a non-problem is to have the courage to do nothing.

However, ad argumentum, let us assume that the IPCC is correct in finding that a warming of 3.26 ± 0.69 K (5.9 ± 1.2 F°: IPCC, 2007, ch.10, box 10.2) might occur at CO2 doubling. We generalize this central prediction, deriving a simple equation to tell us how much warming the IPCC would predict for any given change in CO2 concentration.

ΔTS ≈ (8.5 ± 1.8) ln(C/Co) F°

Thus, the change in surface temperature in Fahrenheit degrees, as predicted by the IPCC, would be 6.7 to 10.3 (with a central estimate of 8.5) times the logarithm of the proportionate increase in CO2 concentration. We check the equation by using it to work out the warming the IPCC would predict at CO2 doubling: 8.5 ln 2 ≈ 5.9 F°.

Using this equation, we can determine just how much “global warming” would be forestalled if the entire world were to shut down its economies and emit no carbon dioxide at all for an entire year. The atmospheric concentration of CO2 is 388 parts per million by volume. Our emissions of 30 bn tons of CO2 a year are causing this concentration to rise at 2 ppmv/year, and this ratio of 15 bn tons of emissions to each additional ppmv of CO2 concentration has remained constant for 30 years.

Then the “global warming” that we might forestall if we shut down the entire global carbon economy for a full year would be 8.5 ln[(388+2)/388] = 0.044 F°. At that rate, almost a quarter of a century of global zero-carbon activity would be needed in order to forestall just one Fahrenheit degree of “global warming.”

Two conclusions ineluctably follow. First, it would be orders of magnitude more cost-effective to adapt to any “global warming” that might occur than to try to prevent it from occurring by trying to tax or regulate emissions of carbon dioxide in any way.

Secondly, there is no hurry. Even after 23 years doing nothing to address the imagined problem, and even if the IPCC has not exaggerated CO2’s warming effect fourfold, the world will be just 1 F° warmer than it is today. If the IPCC has exaggerated fourfold, the world can do nothing for almost a century before global temperature rises by 1 F°.

There are many urgent priorities that need the attention of Congress, and it is not for me as an invited guest in your country to say what they are. Yet I can say this much: on any view, “global warming” is not one of them.

I predict that we will continue to see “global initiatives” taken in the name of “global warming” even though the data does not support the theory (or falsehood or lie or whatever you want to call it). There are simply too many people, powerful and influential people, who are unwilling to eat crow.

End Times?

When the Gulf War broke out in the 90’s, there were several doomsday prophets writing books and speaking at conferences and churches. They were telling us where we were in the timeline of Revelation. Then we had the Y2K scare. Not only were people frantic about our computer systems, but millions of people expected the Apocalypse to take place. In the past

decade we seemed to have had an unusual rash of hurricanes which caused more Christians to wonder if it was a sign of the times. Next on the list is the Mayan calendar which ends in 2012. What will happen then? Should we prepare for the end of the world?

Many people do think that somehow through catastrophe of our own doing or of God that we are approaching the end of the world. A poll in Newsweek found that two in ten Americans think the world will end in their lifetime. And honestly, the way things are headed in this world I’m beginning to think the same.

The truth is, we don’t know when Christ will return. God knows, but He’s not sharing that info with anyone. He has, however, revealed in His inerrant Word the apocalyptic nature of the end times. What I mean is that he has unfolded his plan. We debate and get hung up over the interpretation and details of his plan, but the most important part to note is this: Christ is coming, and we had better be ready when He gets here.

Protect the Unborn

This Thursday, Kim and I, along with a few others from FCC, will join supporters of our local Pregnancy Care Clinic. We will unite to support life in the womb not just with our presence, but with our checkbooks as well.

We live in a society that continues to support and promote the killing of unborn babies. How can this be? Why can’t people understand that the conditions of conceiving a child, or whether the child is wanted or unwanted, has no bearing on the fact that the unborn child is a human being created in the image of God? It blows my mind and breaks my heart.

The hypocrisy of those who support the killing of 1 in 4 of every unborn child in the name of “choice” is rampant. Abortionists oppose laws requiring expectant mothers to first view the ultrasound images of their child before they proceed with an abortion. They are opposed to informing parents of minors who are seeking an abortion. They are opposed to legislation that states our tax money should not pay for abortions.

Abortionists are opposed to free speech that champions the pro-life message. Several years ago, Harvard Law School student, Matt Evans, was disciplined and chastised by students and faculty for posting a sign on a student bulletin board that read: Smile! Your mother chose life. Anti-lifers called it hate speech! And who can forget the recent uproar from pro-abortionists over Tim Tebow’s Super Bowl ad?

Please pray for the unwanted children (born and unborn) in this world, but don’t just pray…do something!

In His Grip, Phil

Body Art and other Gray Matters

My brother, Greg, recently completed his first marathon. We're talking 26 miles and 385 yards! Truly a great accomplishment. Anyway, he posed the question via Facebook whether or not he should get a tattoo to commemorate the feat.

I thought I would attempt to offer a Biblical perspective.

A. Though Christians are not under the OT law, we must adhere to the principles of the law which reflect the personhood of God. The fact that God gave a command against tattoos (Lev 19:28) should cause us to ask why.

B. The NT does not specifically cover the topic of tattoos. When it comes to matters where the Scriptures (particularly the NT) are silent, there are two opposing views:... See More
1) Scriptural silence equals condemnation.
2) Scriptural silence equals liberty.

There are flaws with both views: On one hand, it is difficult and dangerous to condemn something without clear Biblical authority. On the other hand, it is just as dangerous to condone something if there is room for doubt whether or not it pleases God.

So where is the middle ground on this? Liberty with extreme caution.

C. Does it honor God?

First of all, if it honors you, or is an attempt to draw attention to you or your accomplishments, then it's vanity. "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord" (1 Cor 1:31).

1 Cor 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”.

Though we can't say 1 Cor 6:19-20 applies directly to tattoos, it does give us a principle: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Is the tattoo honoring God? Is it for God's own good purposes? Will it be pleasing to Him? Is it how God wants to be honored?

D. What about a tattoo that honors God?

Paul told the Corinthians that he would be willing to "become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some" (1 Cor 9:22).

1 Cor 10:23 says, “Everything is permissible – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible – but not everything is constructive.”

If we put those two verses together, we can say that a tattoo that is Christian in nature (that honors God) could be “permissible.” Would it be beneficial and constructive in honoring God and saving the lost? Perhaps, perhaps not.

Conclusion:
I think it comes down to whether it is vanity (self glorification) or God honoring. A decision that can only be decided in one's own heart (conscience).

Humbly, Phil

What Have You Taken for Granted Lately?

This past Sunday evening my LIFE group (home Bible study) discussed the second chapter of Francis Chan’s book Crazy Love. We were reminded how quickly our life could end, and with that in mind, how we should reflect on those things that really matter, especially glorifying God.

Several in our group talked about regrets, missed opportunities, second chances, and taking things for granted. The truth is, there are some things in life I don’t want to miss out on for one second – yet I do. Why, because I move through life at a pace far to fast – so much so that the things and people most important to me become a blur.

It got me to thinking of what I have taken for granted in my life.
• I take for granted being married to an amazing Christian woman.
• I take for granted being blessed with two wonderful sons and a daughter-in-law who is a blessing to us.
• I take for granted having been brought up in a Christian home...thanks dad and mom!
• I take for granted having Christian brothers and sisters who are great servants of God.
• I take for granted being a Preacher at a church that is loving and caring.
• I take for granted having an occupation I truly love every day. Even the stresses that come are totally worth it when I realize what I get to do every day.

The list literally could go on and on and on.

So what about you? What or who have you taken for granted lately? Who do you need to call right now and just say “thanks” to? What has God placed in your life that you need to stop, drop to your knees and praise Him for?

In His Grip, Phil