This is a follow-up to some of the discussion in my Something Old, Something New post. I posited that my position on the relationship between Israel and the Church does not lend to a pre-tribulation rapture. This brought up the common notion of the tribulation being the wrath of God poured out upon the earth. This, of course, is a main tenant of dispensational pre-tribulation theology (and the other day I even watched a rerun of Adrian Rogers preaching that tribulation is God’s wrath, talk about timing). I grew up in a church that assumed dispensationalism, and matured in a church that … [Read more...] about What is the Great Tribulation?
Something Old, Something New (a theological discussion on the relationship between Israel and the church, and why it matters)
Throughout the entire story of redemptive history, the children of Abraham were, are, and always shall be the only and singular chosen people of God. The Bible starts with a rapid succession of events spanning from creation to sometime after the flood. While in the first two chapters everything is good and very good, from chapters 3 to 11 the main event seems to be the extent of sin’s corruption. During this time God did not so much work through a people but through families—the family of Adam, the family of Noah, and the family of Terah in particular. In fact, as the story of the flood … [Read more...] about Something Old, Something New (a theological discussion on the relationship between Israel and the church, and why it matters)
Joy… a struggle, a hope, and what I learned from a piece of chocolate
Confession of the day—I tend to be a natural cynic and a pessimist. Okay, that’s really not a confession to those who know me. Once when I worked as an administrator at a private school I ate a Dove chocolate and found an “inspirational” message I actually enjoyed—“A pessimist is simply an optimist with experience.” If you ask the question, “Is the glass half empty or half full?” I respond by drinking what’s left in the glass and tell you to stop asking silly questions. And again: this is my natural tendency—my fleshly one… so that means it’s not good. It also means that I tend to have … [Read more...] about Joy… a struggle, a hope, and what I learned from a piece of chocolate
The Worth of Friends
This was originally posted on my blog on June 15, 2010: John 15:15, Jesus: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” The pastor at the church I visited this past Sunday made a good point: “It’s said that friends are people who accept you just the way you are. Well, the guy at the drive-thru accepts you just the way you are because he really doesn’t care about your life. A friend is the person who challenges you to do better in … [Read more...] about The Worth of Friends
This He Set Aside (a Good Friday meditation on Colossians 2:13-15)
Every church I’ve been a part of has them—even if it’s just a side comment now and then about being afraid to stand before God at the judgment—Christians who fear that when Jesus returns we will have to hear our long list of sins recounted by an angry Father before Jesus as our gracious lawyer interjects, “I’ve taken care of them.” It’s that fear of revisiting the past and having the secret things of our heart exposed for all creation to hear. Yet the biblical idea of the judgment seat for the Christian is anything but frightful. Colossians 2:13-15 reads: And you, who were dead in your … [Read more...] about This He Set Aside (a Good Friday meditation on Colossians 2:13-15)
Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised…
Today (Tuesday), my association had a pastor’s lunch. Several of us gathered together in the private room of a restaurant and enjoyed plates that filled our bellies. It was easy to complain in part, though, for the restaurant is not accustomed to hosting groups at that hour on Tuesday, therefore the service was slow. Half of the table finished eating before the other half even sniffed their own food. And sitting among us was this guest from Brownsville, TX (we met in Butler, MO). A man who pastors a church there and has also planted three churches across the river in a now drug-war-torn … [Read more...] about Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised…
Bringing Joy to Your Pastors
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.—Hebrews 13:17 Recently, there’s been some talk about the discouragement pastors face in their ministry. Even though discouragement is the reality of what is, it’s not what should be. But as much as God places the accountability of care and shepherding into the hands of men called pastors, he also places the accountability of bringing joy to pastors into the hands of the … [Read more...] about Bringing Joy to Your Pastors
Stop Doing That!
It seems that with almost any child, ‘no’ becomes one of the first words learned. After all, they hear it quite frequently. Most of us Christians probably have at least mild familiarity with the criticism that we are more well known for what we stand against than what we stand for. Any reading of the sacred Scripture undoubtedly shows that lists of “do not’s” and “avoid this” indeed exist. As his children, God does tell us “No!” and there are certain things we must stand against. But, generally speaking, should the path of spiritual growth in the Christian life be coated with “no” or is … [Read more...] about Stop Doing That!
The Lord’s Supper and “Rethinking” Church
Let’s admit it: as much as we Southern Baptists like to talk about the Bible being our sole guide for faith and practice, we sometimes have some strange practices. The Lord’s Supper for example—4 of the 5 Southern Baptist churches I’ve been involved in do the Lord’s Supper once a quarter (and maybe another time or two around special occasions—usually the Christmas and Easter holidays), put the little piece of something that I think is supposed to be bread and the little cups of juice in shiny containers, and then cover it all with a white sheet. And, of course, when it comes time to serve … [Read more...] about The Lord’s Supper and “Rethinking” Church
We’re Called His Brothers (and he is not ashamed)
We give the idea lip service—the church is the family of God. When we gather and sing songs and pray, we gather with our brothers and sisters. Yet, can you claim you know the people worshiping next to you as well as you know your brother? Is your house open to share your life with them and theirs to share their life with you? One of the riches we find over and over in the Bible is that by coming to Jesus and his church we come to a new family. Hopefully our physical family can come with us as believers as well, but even if they don’t—even if they reject us for our faith—we have a new … [Read more...] about We’re Called His Brothers (and he is not ashamed)