Conviction and Certainty

We live in an age of skepticism and doubt. Nothing is "off limits" to scrutiny, examination and reevaluation. Long established traditions and beliefs are now all being questioned, even in the realm of religion.

A spirit of honest inquiry is a good thing. The philosopher Socrates said, "An unexamined life in not worth living." In matters of our faith it may also well be said, "An unexamined faith is not worth having." The Bible instructs us to "examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5). We are to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (1 John 4:1ff). Examining our beliefs to determine if they are substantiated in Scripture is a good and wholesome practice.

However, the skeptical spirit of our age declares that it is impossible to ever arrive at absolute truth. It is popularly believed in our postmodern context that absolute truth is a myth. Therefore someone who displays certainty in their beliefs is viewed as arrogant and narrow-minded. Such could not be farther from reality.

It is true that some people have had arrogant, "know-it-all" attitudes in regard to their religious beliefs. Such is unfortunate and has done considerable damage to the very truth that such individuals claim to stand for. Pridefulness is not the same as being confident and certain in your beliefs. Scripture teaches us to "contend for the faith" (Jude 3) but to do so in a spirit of love and compassion for our fellow man (Eph. 4:15). The servant of Christ must always be "gentle" and "kind" when standing for the truth and must never be "quarrelsome" even with those who oppose the truth (2 Timothy 2:24-26). There is a delicate balance between being gentle and respectful of others while being firm and unwavering in your convictions (1 Peter 3:15).

Jesus teaches us that we can "know the truth" but only when we "abide in the word" (John 8:31-32). Our convictions must be firmly grounded in clear statements of Scripture. I can feel strongly about something, but if it is not clearly taught in Scripture it is a matter of my personal opinion and should not be forced upon others. I can know what is true when I "abide in the word" and discover God's clearly stated truths. Once these truths have been verified by Scripture, I can "know" them with certainty and with conviction stand by them. Once these truths have been verified there is no need to doubt them. Yet, I must always humbly admit that there may be additional information in Scripture that I may have missed that completes the picture. I must be open-minded enough to "tweak" my personal convictions based upon the total evidence discovered from Scripture. I must allow the truth of Scripture to challenge my preconceived ideas, biases, and traditions.

But when I come to "know" truth, I should never be hesitant to firmly, but lovingly, proclaim it without timidity. The young preacher Timothy was tempted (likely because of his youthfulness) to be timid in proclaiming the truth of God. Paul told him, "…I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:6-7). As Christians we should have "certitude" when it comes to the known truth of God. Certitude is a confident attitude of sureness. But we must always remember that certitude in your faith must not be confused with religious pridefulness.

Making Quiet Time with God

I want to tell you at the beginning that I am writing this article for myself. Deliberately setting aside quiet times with God is something I need to really work on. Quiet times with God are essential to true spirituality, a healthy relationship with God, and true religion. Yet in our busy world with hectic schedules and never enough time for the things that constantly call out of our attention, when can I have "quiet" time with God? (I'm asking myself more than I'm asking you). Here are a few principles and passages that I am studying that speak to the importance of what some call the "discipline of solitude" and taking quiet time to be with God.

1. I need to find a quiet place to just quietly breath with and speak to God (Matthew 6:5-6). The danger of religion is that it can easily become something that we only do in sight of other people. Jesus says that true spirituality means connecting with God in places of solitude. It is where God and I meet together privately. That place of solitude may be in an "inner room" (vs. 6), at a quiet place in the woods or a park, in the car on a long commute home, or it may be at the kitchen table long before the sun rises every morning. One brother meets God in quiet places in a cottage in the Cotswolds of England. Wherever the place, I need to make a regular time (perhaps daily) of meeting with God (cf. Luke 9:23).
2. I have to deliberately make the time to be with God (Ephesians 5:15-16). Life has a funny way of hurriedly rushing by us. Paul says that we must "make the best use of the time" that we have. I must realize that Satan's greatest tactic against me is to crowd God out of my life by filling it with lots of good (but less important) things. I must really practice the hymn I've been singing all my life, "Take time to be holy, the world rushes on; spend much time in secret with Jesus alone."
3. I have to make quiet time to experience God in my life (Psalm 46:10, ESV). The Psalmist says that in order to "know God" I have to "be still." Under the new covenant we are no longer commanded to keep the Sabbath day of rest as a communal religious observance. But was God not teaching an eternal, spiritual principle when he instructed the Jews to take time to "rest" from work? Even God took a day to rest from his labor and reflect on what he had done (Genesis 2:2-3). Surely God knew that we would be consumed with the physical world (work and recreation) and would have to be told to "be still" and "unhook" ourselves from the world and reflect upon him (Exodus 20:8-11). Maybe I can learn a lesson for my spiritual walk with Jesus from this Old Testament principle--turn off the television, put down the cell phone, disconnect the iPod, and "be still and know God."

Jesus had the most intimate connection with God that anyone could ever experience. He says, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). Yet, even Jesus needed times when he "sent the crowd away" and "departed into a mountain to pray" (Mark 6:46), sometimes spending all night in prayer (Luke 6:12). Jesus realized that to feed his connection with God he needed to go into a quiet place, not into the noisy crowds (even of the Temple).

As Christians we are commanded to assemble together as Christians. We need time together and are commanded not to forsake these gatherings (Hebrews 10:25). However, such assemblies are not enough, by themselves, to connect you to God in an intimate way. Dallas Willard has observed, "Indeed, solitude and silence are powerful means to grace. Bible study, prayer, and church attendance, among the most commonly prescribed activities in Christian circles, generally have little effect for soul transformation, as is obvious to any observer" (The Great Omission, page 153). This is what Jesus seems to be communicating when he tells us not to limit our religious activities to things within the sight of other men (Matthew 6:1ff).

Real spiritual transformation occurs when we "set our affection on things above" and allow our lives to be "hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-4). It is possible to be very busy with religious activities but not have any real personal connection with God (Matthew 15:8). We must choose "the better part" and spend quality time with Jesus (Luke 10:41-42).

What Does the Holy Spirit Do for Christians Today?

The New Testament clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit Himself dwells within the Christian (Acts 5:32; 1 Cor. 6:19). The baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit is promised to everyone who becomes a true disciple throughout the Christian age (Acts 2:38-39). The literal indwelling of the Holy Spirit inside of the true disciple is clearly taught in Scripture but this truth makes some people nervous. The Spirit's indwelling does not mean that true disciples have miraculous spiritual abilities. The miraculous measure of the Spirit came to an end (cf. 1 Cor. 13:8-13; Eph. 4:11-16).
But this begs for the question to be answered, "What does the Spirit's indwelling inside of the Christian do for us today?" There are several things that the New Testament explicitly says that the Holy Spirit does for Christians today. My Greek teacher, Clyde Woods, lists at least five things that the Holy Spirit does for the Christian today:

(1) The Holy Spirit seals us (Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit's presence inside of the Christian is God's personal signature of ownership of his true children (cf. Romans 8:16).

(2) The Holy Spirit is a down-payment of our eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:14). The presence of the Holy Spirit inside of us gives us a little taste of the joy and peace of Heaven (cf. Galatians 5:22-25).

(3) The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual strength in our inner selves (Ephesians 3:16). The Holy Spirit, combined with our own force of will, gives us spiritual assistance in fighting our personal battles over sin (cf. Romans 8:9-13).

(4) The Holy Spirit helps cleanse us of sinful desires (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Realizing that the Holy Spirit personally dwells inside of us motivates us to avoid un-holy behavior (cf. 1 Thess. 4:8).

(5) The Holy Spirit assists us in our prayers, especially in moments when grief has overwhelmed us (Romans 8:26-27). He (the Spirit) takes the groaning of our own hearts and translates them into intelligible prayers to God the Father.

It is encouraging to know that God has not left us alone as spiritual orphans, but he has sent his Spirit to help us in the Christian life!

Old and New Songs

"And Jesus said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old" (Matt 13:52).

There seems to be somewhat of a generation gap in many churches when it comes to singing songs in worship. Older people identify with the traditional songs, singing with fondness (and even nostalgia) "Precious Memories," "The Old Rugged Cross," and the curious "Church in the Wild Wood." Younger people are inspired by the relevant messages of contemporary praise songs, singing with emotion "The Greatest Command," and "There's a Stirring."

The different worship needs of both young and old have even created divisive tendencies in some churches where there is "traditional worship" (with old standard hymns) for older people and "contemporary worship" (singing contemporary praise songs) for the younger generation. Certainly it is sad to separate the church over preference of songs. The church (both young and old) should be "one body" (Eph. 4:4). Surely when it comes to our singing "I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord" (Philippians 4:2). Young people should learn to appreciate the rich songs of our past. The older generation should desire to learn new songs of praise.

In his book on Heaven, Dennis Doughty makes a great point about singing songs both old and new (102). The oldest song recorded in the Bible is the song of Moses (Exodus 15:2, 3). The Apostle John tells us that in Heaven we will sing "the song of Moses the servant of God" (Rev. 15:2-3). But we will also sing together around the throne "a new song" (Rev. 14:2-3)

Heaven will be a place of singing songs both new and old. The church should be a little taste of Heaven on earth. Congregational singing in worship is "chorus practice" for the eternal singing of Heaven. Let us bring out of the hymn and praise books songs both old and new.

"Christian" or Disciple?

Followers of Jesus Christ are only called "Christians" three times in all of the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). Far more common is the designation "disciple." This word is used more than any other term to describe Jesus' followers (used well over 200 times).

Today the term "Christian" has come to mean almost anything. People who make no attempt to mimic Jesus in their life will often claim that they are "Christians." Most all adherents to the many splintered denominational groups call themselves "Christians." Some claim that America is a "Christian" nation. In America today the term Christian has become a generic label of a general religious affiliation. Just because someone calls himself "Christian" today really says nothing about his manner of life.

Perhaps true followers of Christ should speak in terms of being a disciple. The term disciple literally means "a learner, a pupil." A disciple is one who follows the instructions of a teacher. A true disciple of Jesus Christ is one who follows the teachings of the Master Teacher. To follow the teachings as a disciple involves more than knowing facts, it means to mimic the life of Jesus and embody his teachings.

In the words of Jesus...

"If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine" (John 8:31)

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).

"My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples" (John 15:8).

Do I just claim to be a "Christian" or am I truly a "disciple of Jesus Christ?"

Christians Leap for Joy!

Jesus said that Christians are blessed when we are hated and insulted for our beliefs. In fact, Jesus makes a bold statement about the attitude we are to have toward being persecuted for our faith:

"Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven" (Luke 6:23).

Leaping for joy when we are persecuted, huh? Wow, how is that possible? It seems Jesus is going overboard...or is he?

Too many people let their happiness be dependant upon exterior circumstances. Jesus instructs that Christians are not to be this way. If I am able to detach myself from material things and physical circumstances, my happiness is no longer dependant upon those things. The Biblical teaching of self-denial is learning to find joy in God, not in situations and things.

C.S. Lewis gives a helpful analysis of how Christians can "leap for joy" even when difficult days come:

"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot image what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased" (The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses. 1965).

The inner peace and joy that God offers pales in comparison to any joy that can be found in the externals of this life. Let us look for the "holiday at sea" that God offers us and stop finding joy in "mud pies."

Praise God with a New Song

"He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God" (Psalm 40:3). The Bible often speaks of us singing a "new song" in praise to our God (Psalm 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10; Rev. 5:9; 14:3). I often tire of singing the same old songs over and over. Certainly there are some older songs that I treasure and will always love. Songs like "Abide with Me," "Nearer, Still Nearer," "Night with Ebon Pinion," and "I am a Wayfairing Stranger" will always be some of my favorites. But there is definitely something to be said about praising God with new words and new melodies. New words stimulate our minds to really sing with the "spirit and

understanding" (1 Cor. 14:15) instead of simply reciting words with little thought as to their meaning. New melodies stimulate our emotions as our hearts give way to the greatness of God and his relevance in our lives today.

Many of the older songs that we sing (let's really be honest), few of us know what we are singing. For example really listen to the words of a song we often sing in worship, "Drop thy still dews of quiteness, till all our strivings cease, take from our souls the stain and stress, and let our ordered lives confess, the beauty of thy peace." What?! We might as well sing in Latin. I'm not sure I can sing these words in good conscience, not knowing what I'm saying. Well, no wonder the song was written in 1872. When our worship services are filled with songs like this, most Christians between the ages of 18-45 become very discouraged. I can't blame them. We all desire to praise our God and let a meaningful message flow from our hearts up to God in worship. But in order to do this, we must know what we are singing, and be emotionally moved by it.

There are two great a capella CDs out called "praise and harmony" that are designed to teach new songs to congregations. You can listen to some of these songs for free from their website and purchase the CDs. I bought both of these recently at the Freed-Hardeman Lectureship and they are fantastic!

Identity Crisis in the Churches of Christ?

For the past several years many writers in our fellowship have been claiming that the churches of Christ are experiencing an "identity crisis." A recent Christian Chronicle article explored this issue. The claim is made that the average member of the church no longer has confidence in what we stand for and what makes us distinctive from denominational groups.

It seems to me that there is a degree of truth to the claim that we are facing an identity crisis, but for reasons that few have realized. There seems to be at least two major groups within our congregations struggling for identity.

The first group are those postmoderns who are embarrassed by the reputation of our past. Desiring to be more palatable to the so-called, "greater Christian community" these identity seekers desire that churches of Christ attain denominational status and join the ecumenical/evangelical community. Agreeing to disagree over doctrine is not the solution. God is displeased when we divide rather than being united upon the teaching of Scripture (cf. John 17:17; 1 Cor. 1:10). The churches of Christ are heirs of the Restoration Movement, a Biblical concept to avoid the divisions of denominationalism and be simple New Testament Christians. We must not abandon this major tenet of our identity--for our identity is that we be Christians, nothing more and nothing less.

However, the second group is comprised of traditionalists among us whose real desire seems to be to Restore the nostalgia of the 1950's Church of Christ. Some people seem to think that if it is "old" it must be right, and if it is "new" it must be wrong. God's message must never change, but we must continually be changing our methods to be effective in reaching the world. The identity of the Lord's church does not rest with what the "churches of Christ in the 1950's" looked like. The identity of the church is found in God's design and instructions for her as found in the pages of the New Testament. Unfortunately, when times change some people are so unfamiliar with Scripture that "tradition" is their safety net. "I know what we have been doing is right," one might ponder, "therefore we will just keep doing that." If our identity is determined by tradition, we may find ourselves quickly irrelevant and dying in our contemporary culture. Our identity is not based on what "the church of my grandfather" looked like; rather our identity if found in the instructions of what the New Testament church looked like.

We must return to Scripture for our identity. We must work hard to avoid looking at Scripture through 1950's glasses, or 2008 glasses. We must simply go back and let the text plainly speak. If the description of what I find in Scripture looks nothing like what the church is doing today, I must be ready to change...even if it hurts a little (for example look at 1 Timothy 2:8!) We must stop "explaining away" passages because we have not done what the text says. Let's evaluate everything we do, and everything we are, through the lens of Scripture. May we all strive to honestly read the text of Scripture and be ready to go wherever it takes us. A firm understanding of God's Word will never lead us astray, though it may lead us away from our own traditions.

"But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14).

An Emotional Faith

It is possible to be a religious person and yet not know God. Jesus warned that on the final day many religious people would boast about their pious devotion to rites and rituals but he will say to them "I never knew you" (Matt. 7:22-23). We often quote this passage to condemn the mundane, man-made traditions of denominational worship. Sometimes this passage is quoted with a sound of arrogance, "we know God" but you don't. It is true that it is essential to keep all of God's commandments to really "know him" (1 John 2:3-6). Yet, it is just as wrong to worship God in spirit with no truth as it is to worship with all truth and no spirit.

We must examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5). There is far too many lifeless, ritualistic, religious people within the church buildings of our fellowship. With a some notable exceptions, there are far too many of my brethren practicing the motions of worship with little enthusiasm or excitement about their faith. I am afraid that we have fought so many battles against falsehood that we have forgotten the truth! A constant fear of liberalism and false teaching results in a fearful faith, huddling in a corner paralyzed by inactivity. Let's not be afraid to go about doing good!

No wonder we are not more evangelistic. We have forgotten the "good-part" of the Good News! Let us pray that God will "restore unto us the joy of our salvation," and then will "sinners will be converted" (Psalm 51:12-13). Our worship and service to God is not to be just an intellectual, ritualistic exercise. We are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength--our emotions are to be involved in our faith! Dare we have the kind of enthusiastic faith in our churches today that the lame man had--"walking, leaping and praising God"? (Acts 3:8).

Talking About Grace, Living By Law?

While discussing his religious upbringing, Philip Yancey makes an eye-opening statement about his early church experience. He says, "They talked about Grace but lived by Law; they spoke of love but showed signs of hate" (Church: Why Bother page 19).

Sometimes I wonder if I have been guilty of "talking about Grace but living by Law." We have had to fight many battles against the error of Calvinism and the concept of "the impossibility of apostasy." Clearly the Bible teaches that it is possible to be a genuine Christian and then turn your back on the faith, and thus loose your salvation (Heb. 6:4-6; 2 Peter 3:20-22; et. al.). But in our constant warnings that it is possible to "fall from grace," I wonder if we have left the average person thinking they have to constantly "work" to keep themselves saved. This too is grievous error. We are not saved by works, but by grace (Eph. 2:8-10). If we attempt to return to a "works-system" of salvation, ironically, it is then that we really fall from grace (Gal. 5:3-4). In our hurry to sound a warning that Christians "not fall from grace," we may have inadvertently caused them to actually fall from grace by trying to be saved by perfect law keeping.

"They talked about Grace but lived by Law; they spoke of love but showed signs of hate." --Philip Yancey

We are saved by grace, period. But we must remain under the protection of God's grace, just as we must "keep ourselves in the love of God" (Jude 21). As long as we have a genuine relationship with Christ and are on the pathway of light, grace continually covers us (1 John 1:9). If we ever venture away from Christ and into the darkness, we do not have the protection of grace (1 John 1:6). But we are saved by being "in Christ" and "in his grace" not by our own works or attempts at perfect law keeping.

When you live by a "Law-system mindset," spirituality becomes a burden and following God feels like slavery (Rom. 8:14-15). But Christ came to set us free from such a mindset (Gal. 5:1). When we stop living by Law and start living by grace, it is liberating. Suddenly following God does not feel like a burden but a joy. Working for God is no longer a "fear of doing enough to get to heaven." Rather, serving the Lord is a celebration of thanksgiving for the gift of his grace. Keeping Christ's commandments become a simple expression of loving Him (John 14:15).

Let us all not just talk about grace, but live by it!

Faithful as the First Century Christians?

Recently, I came across a very thought provoking quotation that made me stop and examine my own Christianity. I found this quote in the writings of C.S. Lewis, but later discovered that it originally came from William Law. He asked the question:

"If you will here stop and ask yourselves why you are not as pious as the primitive Christian were, your own heart will tell you, that it is neither through ignorance nor inability, but purely because you have never thoroughly
intended it."

Have you ever asked yourself this question? Today, if the electricity goes off at the church building, worship services are cancelled. Some Christians think they are "providentially hindered" from going to worship if an unexpected rain shower comes. Compare that with the dedication of the first century saints. With the threat of being imprisoned, beaten and even killed, they continued to be dedicated to the cause "rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name" (Acts 5:41).

This quote really challenges me. If I really examine why I don't have the same level of intense faith that the first century Christians had, my heart will reveal the real reason. It is not because I don't know how to be, it is not because I am unable to be, it is simply because I have not made the decision to be.

New Again

My brother sent me this link to a song by Brad Paisley and Sara Evans. I love country music for the sheer fact that it is the only major music genre that seems to consistently be unafraid to speak to matters of faith and family. Middle Tennessee is a great place to live, a place where people both famous and unknown speak about their belief in Jesus Christ. Amen!

Real Spirituality is not a Birthright

Lessons from the Creek (Part 1)
This Thanksgiving weekend marks the 20th anniversary of the annual fall youth rally at Cathey’s Creek (the congregation where I grew up). Over the past two decades, I have learned many lessons on the banks of that Creek.

The congregation that I grew up attending was established in 1819. According to Churches of Christ in the United States, the Cathey’s Creek church of Christ is in the top 11 oldest congregations in America (several congregations being established the same year). Renowned preachers such as T.B. Larimore, A.G. Freed, H.A. Dixon, and R.L. Whiteside have preached on occasion at this church. This congregation has a rich history and a lasting heritage. I take pride in coming from this congregation, knowing that I stand on the shoulders of giants of the past.
While it is a blessing to come from such a long-standing congregation, it can also be a curse. The curse of older congregations is the tendency for members to view their faith as a birthright.
The church is extremely strong in Middle Tennessee with many congregations like Cathey’s Creek that have rich histories. There are members of churches who can trace several generations that have all attended the same congregation. Such family loyalty to a church can be a rich blessing. Unfortunately it can also be a curse.
Some people attend a certain congregation out of a sense of family loyalty, cultural expectation, or social contacts. As a result, the church becomes a glorified social club, the site for a weekly family reunion, or a penance paid in order to receive grandma’s free lunch after church.

"The curse of older congregations is the tendency for members to view their faith as a birthright."

There are some individuals who have false assurance of salvation based upon the faith of their forefathers. One man may live an immoral life using profane language, being addicted to tobacco and alcohol, and being involved in sexual immorality. Yet this same man may feel confident in his “religion” because he was born into a strong church where his father and grandfather are leaders.
True spirituality is not a birthright. One is not “born” into a right relationship with God by virtue of his physical parentage. Neither can one feel confident in his “religion” simply because he was born into the “right church.”
This point is made clear in the Bible. In Jesus’ day there were men who were born Israelites. Some of these men took pride in being automatically “born into the saved nation.” They used all the right terminology, knew all the right doctrines, and could quote Scripture. Yet Jesus says to them, “This people honors me with their lips but their hearts are far from me” (Mark 7:6).
Too many people in the church are like the Israelites. You should not think you are right with God just because you attend a church that preaches all the right doctrines, worships just the right way, and follows all the right protocols. It is possible to attend a faithful church but be personally unfaithful. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly” (Rom. 2:28-29). By the same token, a member of the Lord’s church is not a Christian who is one outwardly, but one who is a Christian inwardly.
True spirituality is not obtained by physical birthright. In order to be right with God one must be truly converted and “born again” into God’s family by being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

Vainly Repeating Prayers?

"Guide, guard and direct us..." "Help the preacher have a ready recollection..." "And in the end, if we have been found faithful, give us a home with you in heaven..." "In Jesus' name, Amen." These are all phrases that we hear continually repeated in public prayers in worship assemblies. Does continually repeating these phrasing constitute praying with "vain repetition?"

In his sermon on the mount, Jesus instructs his followers how to behave as citizens of the kingdom. Jesus said in Matthew 6:7, "But when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose they will be heard for their many words." What is Jesus specifically referring to here? In addition, how might this passage apply to Christians today?

In this context, Jesus is clearly warning against mechanical, thoughtless praying. Disciples of Christ are urged to pray prayers that are radically different from the prayers offered by the hypocritical Gentile, pagan worshippers. R.T. France comments on this verse by stating, "Prayer in the non-Jewish world was often characterized particularly by formal invocations and magical incantations, in which the correct repetition counted rather than the worshipper's attitude or intention" (TNTC 132). The word translated "vain repetitions" is the Greek battalogein which means to "heap up empty phrases; to use many idle words." This type of approach to prayer is demonstrated in the prayers of Gentile pagan worshippers in Scripture. The prophets of Baal continually repeated a "vain repetition" from morning until noon crying out "O Baal, answer us" (1 Kings 18:26). The worshippers of Artemis in Ephesus cried out repetitiously for two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" (Acts 19:34). It seems that this is the type of prayer that Jesus is warning against. Prayer should not be viewed as some magical incantation of words that are continually uttered to God.

It seems that some have been guilty of continually repeating what is often called "the Lord's prayer" in such a fashion. It is important to note, that Jesus is not giving a special formula for approved prayer, but rather he is giving a model to be used in constructing our own prayers. In Matthew's account Jesus says, "Pray, then, in this way..." (Matt. 6:9). Luke's account demonstrates that Jesus gives this model as a means to teach his followers how to construct prayers of their own (Luke 11:1-4). It was never meant to be a "official" prayer incantation that is mindlessly repeated.

Our prayers to God must be carefully and thoughtfully worded (Ecclesiastes 5:2). We must make sure that our prayers are clearly articulated, for we must be "sober" in our prayers (1 Peter 4:7). This instruction demonstrates that Christians must not be guilty of "fuzzy prayers"--prayers that mindlessly repeat trite sayings that roll off the tongue. Rather, our prayers must be purposeful and clearly stated.

That is not to say, that it is wrong to repeat oneself in prayer. Jesus clearly used repetition in his prayer in Gethsemane, praying the same words three times (Matt. 26:44). This was repetition, but it was not "vain." His repetition was for a purpose. In addition, Jesus instructs us to continually repeat our earnest prayers and be persistent in doing so (Luke 18:1-8). Therefore, we must be careful in being too critical of men who use repetitions in their public prayers.

Nevertheless, it is true that we can get into "prayer ruts" where we mindlessly repeat the same traditional sayings of prayer with little thought of their meaning. This is a great danger, and strikes at the heart of Jesus' warning in this verse. Vain repetitions in prayer keep God at a distance by repeating sleepy and tired words. Our prayers to God should be characterized by a vibrant and real spiritual relationship with our heavenly Father. Men who are guilty of continually leading prayer by using the same memorized prayers each year reveal much about their own personal prayer lives. I personally believe that only men that demonstrate a genuine spirituality should lead in public worship. "You shall know them by their fruits" (cf. Matt. 7:20). We must try and avoid "vain repetitions" not only in our prayers but also in the songs that we sing. Singing the same songs over and again can become just as vain. For this reason, Scripture continually exhorts us to "sing a new song" (Psalm 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10; Rev. 5:9; 14:3).

Ultimately the issue boils down to genuine spirituality. Our worship and communication to God should be real, not some memorized ritual.

Pilgrims in a Strange Land

This is an amazing video that illustrates the journey that Christians are making through this life. We must all realize that we are only pilgrims passing through a strange land on our way home. We must have the same faith as our father Abraham--"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:8-10).

Angels are Protecting You

Israel certainly knew all about God's protective care. God had actively guarded the nation all those years wandering through the wilderness. In a song of praise to God, Psalm 91 speaks of the care that God provides over his children:

" For you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone" (Ps 91:9-12).

This is the very passage that Satan used in his effort to tempt Jesus to sin (Matt. 4:6). Likely because Satan certainly misused this passage in his tempting of Christ, we have often missed the wonderful promise that this verse of Scripture is making to God's children. God has promised to protect us, and he uses his angelic host to do so.

God assigns his angelic messengers to the care of his children, to guard and protect us. This is not just a promise made to Old Testament peoples, it is also a promise made to Christians. The writer of Hebrews tells us that angels are "ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation" (1:14).

Although the Bible does not give specifics into the activities of angels in the lives of Christians today, it is nonetheless true that angels are watching over us. How encouraging it is to know that God is using angels to protect and guard Christians today!

Worship is an Encounter with God

Today I came across an article that appeared in the Christian Chronicle (a magazine about churches of Christ) some time ago. Although, I do not agree with everything that this author says in the article, I do think he makes some great points about what worship is really all about. Read carefully what the author says:

"True worship must be more than simply an intellectual or ceremonial exercise. Much of what passes for worship is little more than the practice of ritual obligations. Without thinking, worship can be reduced to little more than "five acts" that must be satisfied in order to appease a God who is checking off his list of rules to make sure we followed the prescription correctly. With this approach to worship, the main concern becomes, "Did we do it right?" rather than "Were our hearts in tune with the Father?"Many of us grew up with a legalistic theology that emphasized the need to "be right." I heard a lot about "doing things correctly," but until my college years I heard nothing about a relationship with Christ. Religion was a list of rules to be kept, a lifestyle to be adopted. It was primarily based on a rational approach to God; emotions were disparaged and viewed suspiciously. Even if we felt emotions welling up inside, most of us understood we needed to sit on our hands and choke down those feelings. Obviously, we need a strong theology based on truth. We must engage our minds to the fullest. Worship based primarily on emotion is both dangerous and shallow. But theologically correct worship lacking emotion is cold, lifeless, and powerless. Such worship employs the head, but cuts the heart out of it. A genuine encounter with God in worship requires both our mind and our emotions. Admittedly, we do not always feel like worship. It is at those times that worship is more a decision of our will than the desire of our heart. However, worship that is regularly void of passion is unlike the worship I read about in Scripture.There is a part of us that needs to be filled up, to be comforted, to be overwhelmed with wonder, and to be lifted up in the exhilaration of praise. It might be possible for a husband and wife to approach their relationship from a purely rational perspective, to analyze it and diagram it intellectually. However, if that is as deep as the relationship ever goes, which of us would want it? A relationship based primarily on feelings is immature and shallow. Certainly, a healthy relationship is grounded in knowledge and truth and good judgment. But it also needs some passion —- an extravagant love, a heart-felt emotion that yearns to be near that person and to enjoy the intimacy of their companionship (Ps 42:1-2; 63:1-5; Phil. 1:21-26).The worship found in many congregations is lifeless and without the kind of passion that touches our heart and soul. The clinical style of worship that reduces the assembly to "three songs and a prayer" did not come from Scripture. Biblical examples of worship run counter to the way worship is done in many of our congregations. Examples of worship in Scripture are often filled with excitement, vivacious enthusiasm and animated activity."

I'm afraid that too often our worship is merely designed to go through the same ritual week after week to fulfill our "requirement." Worship, as taught in the New Testament, is to be an encounter with God, where we fall down before Him in praise. Worship involves mind, heart and soul. It should involve all of our minds and all of our hearts (John 4:24). May God speed the day when we start organizing our worship services to be a stirring mental and emotional experience where we feel we have come into the presence of God (see 1 Cor. 14:25).

Sunday is a Comin'

Grace Will Build You Up!

I received several great comments on the first lesson in the current Sunday Night series "Amazing Grace." When you begin to understand the biblical concept of grace it is overwhelming! It is transforming! It is uplifting! It is liberating! The best material that I have read on this topic is a book by Jack Cottrell called "13 Lessons on Grace." Much of my lessons in this series will be directly adapted from this book.

One additional thought on grace that was pointed out to me while at church camp is Acts 20:32. When leaving for Jerusalem, Paul tells the Ephesian elders, "I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up...." The word of God's grace is the essence of the gospel and why it is such good news. When you understand the "word of God's grace" it will build up your spirit like nothing else!

Becoming the Jesus Next Door

I was doing a random search on the Internet when I stumbled across this video that was produced by a church in Texas. This presentation challenges us to consider whether we are simply "church-goers" or if we live everyday lives that reflect the life of Jesus. Click on the video and check it out, and let's begin an on-line discussion about the material. Leave me a comment and tell me what you think!