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Is Quitting Christianity Possible?

August 27, 2010 By 3 Comments

A Real Conundrum

So Anne Rice has announced that she is quitting Christianity! Can someone really do that? “Absolutely”, I suspect would be the answer that John Wesley would offer, but probably not John Calvin; I think Wesley would further add that we can give our salvation back but it cannot be stolen away. I have often wondered, is that what Judas Iscariot did for thrity shekels of silver, or was his action more of a colossal mistake without counting the costs?

Anyway, like all thickening plots there is more! Anne has declared at the same time she is quitting Christianity, that she is remaining committed to Christ… Interesting concept. Can a person quit the Body of Christ and still claim Christ as Savior and Lord and live in all the benefits of His Kingdom reign and Christ’s atonement? I think not.

Seems to me that the Bible is clear that being a part of the Body of Christ is not an optional accessory to be declared for those who claim saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Now, for the most important part. Who is it in Anne Rice’s life that can offer her the life saving gift of theological clarity? Another case of theology really does matter. Your thoughts?

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Grace As An Action Verb

August 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Grace Abounds In St. Lucia

It’s a beautiful verse: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.” (1 Cor. 15:10 NIV). The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ declares that I am not who I was, nor I am a product of all of my shortcomings and sin, but because of the active atoning grace of God in Christ I am what I am, a new creation!

Grace is at its best when it is an active verb and evidenced in our life both in the embrace and then in the reinvestment in others. I read this piece by Cindy Hess Kasper in the RBC devotional (8/16/10) and found it humorous: “you have to work hard to offend Christians. By nature, Christians are the most forgiving, understanding, and thoughtful group of people I’ve ever dealt with. They never assume the worst. They appreciate the importance of having different perspectives. They’re slow to anger, quick to forgive, and almost never make rash judgments or act in anything less than a spirit of total love…No wait – I am thinking of golden retrievers!”

Grace is a gift from God! Grace transforms us and redeems us. Grace is an inexhaustible gift that we can invest generously in others. Do your best golden retriever imitation today with family, coworkers and friends, and remind them it is all because of Jesus!  Be blessed!

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Global Shift in Christianity

August 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Arch Bishop Joesph Ajayi of Nigeria

Dr. Gary Maxey who is President of the West Africa Theological Seminary authored something so profound that I cannot get it out of my mind. Entitled, “What is God’s Agenda for Africa?”, it is a PowerPoint presentation detailing the history of the modern Christian mission movement from 1780 or so til today. Long story short Dr. Maxey presents much compelling evidence that Global Christianity which long held its anchor in Europe and America is declining in Europe, and at least plateaued (and most likely declining) in America, but yet gaining steam in China and Africa with great vigor. His presentation beautifully depicts that shifting and the results of that shift  as the epicenter of Global Christianity is now geographically centered around West Africa and specifically Nigeria!
What does this mean? Well, when I was in Africa a few months ago I saw a tremendous move of God that included the training of African Missionaries preparing for deployment to Europe! Wow! In Nigeria I saw the Methodist Church on fire literally growing from tens of thousands to almost a million members in 15 years! Consider as well that Christians in the West Bank and Palestinian territories have been on the decline largely because of persecution there by Muslims (Bethlehem was 80% Christian sixty years ago but is now only 20% Christian today [Dr. Bill Bouknight]) and we begin to sense this shifting in a more pronounced manner.

What does it mean? God is alive and well and moving mightily where men and women are willing to join God on God’s terms. The decline of Christinaity in a culture is largely tied to a change in mindset where mankind begins to make God in his own image rather than the way the Bible describes. Pray with me for the churches in America to move beyond the “mega-me’ mentality and make a move back to join God. Pray that we begin to sense again that we exist for God, not vice versa! In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Amen

Question of the Day? What do you think it will take to light a new fire of revival in America?

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Simplicity

August 12, 2010 By 2 Comments

Psalm 119:130, The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
The older I get the more I appreciate simplicity. Despite the complexities of a divine creation that the human mind understands only in miniscule portions, God embraces us with a simple invitation. Exercise a child-like faith in God through Jesus Christ.
The paradox of maturity is that choosing simplicity does not necessarily come with age and experience. It seems to choose simplicity means we have to reprogram our normal default settings which most often take the route of complexity in compounding ways.
This week my 9 year old son has reminded me of the joys of simplicity as he has discovered this joy for himself. On vacation we have sabbathed and even rested from video games and the like. Last night in a weak moment (make that a simple moment) he announced that his two favorite things in the world were fishing and playing dominos!
Lord Jesus thank you for the beauty of simplicity and the offer to lay down the complex and take up a simple yoke that doesn’t suffocate. Thank you as well O God for a simple promise in a simple tune, “He’s got the whole world in His hands…” sing it with me today and enjoy the gift!

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Location Discontent

August 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Location Discontent

When I saw this beautiful caterpillar on the steps of our villa in St Lucia I marvelled at its beauty and coloration. However, after about 15 seconds it occurred to me that this caterpillar was suffering from location discontent and really needed to get to the next lavish bush or tree and was wasting no time in doing so.
Like us, who suffer from location discontent in our worklife, or place of deployment, discontent from being on the hot steps of the villa was motivation enough for that caterpillar to get off the dime and move. But we ask, to where? Rick Warren mentions that one way to stop discontent is to stop comparing which is true in many cases, but consider another solution, to literally move away from discontent and towards contentment.

Philippians 4 is a beautiful testimony of Paul who had learned to be content in every circumstance. Wow! How can that be? The pearl of great price is a personal relationship with Christ that brings both location and relation contentment apart from location or relation circumstances. Isn’t that cool and worth investigating? Look over Philippians 4 (pay attention to the sentence that contains, “through Christ”) and let me know what you think? Why remain stuck in discontent when you could move towards contentment through Christ? Peace and Out.

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