A reader (Jon D.) commented at the end of Part 1, [...]]]>

“Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” — Jude 3

A reader (Jon D.) commented at the end of Part 1, “I must confess that this is my “default” setting far too often.” Mine too, Jon. This is the natural tendency of every human being and Christians are no exception. Those who think they are standing should be careful. (1 Cor. 10:12 )

Toward the end of Part 2 in this series, I related some ideas for what to do if you think you might be an American Picker. But I didn’t write much about what to do when you encounter a picker in your church who is unaware of his ‘pickiness.’ The reason I omitted this is Matthew 7:3-5 which states that first you must take the log out of your own eye, and then you can pick the speck from your brother’s eye. This wisdom from Jesus is timeless and especially relevant to the American Christian.

American popular society says that one should never judge another. Some Christians even take Matthew 7:1 out of context and say nobody should ever judge anyone. This doesn’t mean that we mustn’t engage in biblical discernment, though. Jesus clearly says that we can and should show love to fellow Christians by helping them when sin is affecting their life (“…then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5 and Luke 17:3) Paul teaches the same thing in Ephesians 5:21 and adds that the reason we do this is out of reverence for Christ; knowing, of course, that we will be judged by the same standard (Matthew 7:2).

I have met and conversed with many ‘great’ pickers, and responded to them with everything from silently walking away, to citing scriptural commands, to heated verbal conflict. I have never had a positive encounter with a picker when I approached the person with the word of God and beat him over the head with it. (Figuratively speaking, of course. I haven’t tried actually beating somebody with a bible…)

Pickers want so badly not to accept certain biblical truths that they usually respond with belligerence. The best result I’ve ever experienced after confronting a picker was agreeing to disagree on what the bible means and not talk about it anymore. The worst result I’ve experienced was having objectionable epithets and implied threats hurled at me. Either way, these encounters often result in the loss of fellowship and often friendship too.

There is a simple explanation for this, the thing we need to hear most is usually the thing we want to hear least.

Take heart in knowing that it is impossible for you to change a person’s heart or argue them into the kingdom of heaven. God the Holy Spirit is the only person who can convict someone of sin. (John 16:8) He may use us to plant a seed, or water one that another planted, but it is God who gives the growth. (1 Cor. 3:6)

Confronting or correcting an American Picker in your church must be done with humility and brokenness. Removing a log from your eye should leave a scar; but Christ has healed you completely, so today you bear no scars. You see clearly when you should be blind. Tell your Christian brother or sister about the effect of sin on yourself before you repented. Let your humbling experience be an example to them of loving, obedient submission to God Almighty, the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, and the healing power of Jesus. Rejoice in God’s forgiveness and let that be the contact point of your witness to your fellow believer.

I beg you; please don’t make the same mistake I did. I once (behaved, thought, believed, denied, etc.) just like you. I wasn’t even aware of it until someone said something to me about it and showed me in the Bible that God says it is a sin. At first, I didn’t listen; I even got angry with them for daring to tell me I was wrong. But afterward, the Holy Spirit convinced me that I really was sinning. The Word of God was clear. God led me to repentance and provided the means for my forgiveness and justification; the person and work of his only begotten son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please consider what I’m saying to you. I hope it is apparent that I’m doing this because I care about you. The most hateful thing I could do would be to say nothing and let you continue in the path I was on and be hurt as much or more than I was. I beg you; turn to Christ and trust in Him. He alone can give you the power to reject this sin you love so much; and He can heal you completely.

Before I get into the first of three types of Pickers identified in the first part of this series, I want to make something perfectly clear to [...]]]>

“Scripture is like a river, broad and deep, shallow enough here for lambs to go wading, but deep enough there for an elephant to float.” –Gregory Dialogus

Before I get into the first of three types of Pickers identified in the first part of this series, I want to make something perfectly clear to the reader. I am not saying that American Pickers are not Christians. I’m not saying they are Christians either. Since the First Century, when Jesus established His church, the wheat and the tares have grown up side-by-side. Jesus knew this would be the case (Matthew 13:24-30). Even though you and I can look at the fruit produced by others, none of us can know the heart of another. Jesus is the ultimate judge and His righteous judgment at the end of time will be the only verdict that counts (Rom 14:10, 2 Cor 5:10).

Having said all that: Onward!

From Part 1: Simply defined, American Pickers are people who profess to be Christians, but pick and choose which parts of orthodox (biblical) Christianity they believe. For example, they treat the bible like a smorgasbord, taking their fill of what they like and passing on what they don’t.

Scripture Pickers are not unlike the History Channel’s American Pickers, Mike and Frank. They root around in the bible until they find something that they adore, something that they can take hold of and make their own; something that doesn’t cost them too dearly.

Scripture Pickers also overlook the things in the bible that don’t interest them; things they think are ugly or broken or for which there is no value in today’s marketplace.

But the bible is not a collection of interesting debris inside an old barn; the bible is the inspired Word of God and every single word is valuable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16)

Example 1:

Matthew 6: 9-13 is one of the two places in scripture where we find what we call The Lord’s Prayer. But can you tell me what comes right after these famous verses?  (Mat 6:14-15) “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Whoa! Hold on just a minute! Does that say that if I don’t forgive other people, then God won’t forgive me? It sure would be a lot easier to just forget about those two verses and memorize The Lord’s Prayer, wouldn’t it?

This is an example of picking the things we like and passing on what we don’t because it is too costly to us personally.

Example 2:

Romans 8:28 is a verse that American Pickers love to quote, and I am foremost among them. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,” This is a wonderfully comforting verse, and all Christians should love it. But I wonder how many love the next two verses, (Rom. 8:29-30). For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”

Now just wait a minute – what’s all this about predestination and foreknowledge? I thought I was in control of my life and that I chose to believe in God… Not so, God chooses us!

This is an example of overlooking the things we think are broken, or outdated in the Bible. Usually we think this because we revere societal values more than biblical values.

If you know a Christian, or if you are a Christian who ignores difficult portions of scripture, or focuses only on the easy parts, what should you do?

First off, recognize the problem. It is a problem of unbelief in God’s word and His promises. The scripture was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3), and we either accept it or reject it in its entirety (Revelation 22:18-19). Take something away, and the Bible is no longer God’s complete and sufficient Word. Add something to it and it is now not wholly of God.

Secondly, and most importantly, confront the problem; confess your unbelief to God in prayer and ask His help in opening your eyes to the full majesty of God’s word. Pray that God would help you see that the Bible is overflowing with truth and grace. Without God, nothing you do will help your unbelief!

Finally, spend more time in the word. Seek out the portions of scripture you have trouble with and ask a trusted Christian mentor about them. Don’t feel bad about questioning God’s word, and don’t be afraid to ask hard questions. Chances are you’re not going to come up with an issue that hasn’t been addressed before. Don’t worry; God’s word can withstand your questions.

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” John 17:17

Resources I have and use:

• The Bible Answer Book and The Bible Answer Book 2 by Hank Hanegraaff
• Now That’s a Good Question by R. C. Sproul
• Why We Believe The Bible
• Bible Q&A

If you have another three and a half minutes. Dr. John Piper has a very relevant commentary on this subject.

Who are the American Pickers?

The ones I’m referring to don’t have a show on History Channel, though their names could be Mike or Frank. The American Pickers I’m referring to are the greatest threat to Christianity [...]]]>

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, – Colossians 3:16a

Who are the American Pickers?

The ones I’m referring to don’t have a show on History Channel, though their names could be Mike or Frank. The American Pickers I’m referring to are the greatest threat to Christianity in the world today; and that’s not hyperbole. They are more dangerous than Islam, Scientology, Paganism, Mormonism, Atheism, Universalism or any other anti-Christian “ism” you can think of.

Simply defined, American Pickers are people who profess to be Christians, but pick and choose which parts of orthodox (biblical) Christianity they believe. For example, they treat the bible like a smorgasbord, taking their fill of what they like and passing on what they don’t. They dwell on the aspects of God’s character they find reasonable and deny His equally holy facets that seem distasteful. They heed Jesus’ teachings about love, acceptance and forgiveness, while disregarding His hard sayings about hell, sinfulness and judgment.

As Paul Simon famously sang, “…a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.” This is what defines the American Picker.

Those who call themselves Christians and exercise these types of unbelief openly, are a great threat to Christianity because they infiltrate our camp and work for the enemy. They wear our uniform while they secretly poison our water supply. A lone spy within the walls of a city can do more harm than a hundred soldiers at the gates.

Every Christian who reads this is a ‘picker’ to some extent, at least privately. If we are human then we are sinners and our best attempts at holiness fall far short of the standard that God requires. (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6). It is temptingly easy to apply the American Picker label to church-going folks I know, and I’m doubtless this tendency is in other Christians as well. But if you are like me, you should find a mirror and look for the picker in yourself before pointing a finger at someone else (Matthew 7:3-5).

My goal in this series is to describe the American Picker well enough that a discerning Christian can identify the threat quickly, protect himself and those for whom he is responsible, and take biblical action to neutralize the threat. Whether the threat is recognized in oneself or in another professing believer, proper identification and knowing what to do is crucial to correcting the error.

I hope you will join me in praying for this series to give God glory, to be edifying for the believer, and to be convicting for the American Picker we all know and (hopefully) love.

The average American [...]]]>

Knowing God without knowing our own wretchedness makes for pride. Knowing our own wretchedness without knowing God makes for despair. Knowing Jesus Christ strikes the balance because He shows us both God and our own wretchedness. – Blaise Pascal

Most American Christians have an unhealthy level of self-esteem – it is much too high.

The average American Christian has no concept of what John Calvin called the “Total Depravity of Man” and what R. C. Sproul calls “Mankind’s Radical Fallenness.” The average protestant preacher avoids the subject altogether, never mentioning sin, wrath, hell or repentance from the pulpit. Yet the Bible is replete with support for this teaching.

Hover over a few of these verses to get an idea for yourself: Genesis 6:5, Job 25:4-6, Psalms 51:5, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Isaiah 64:6, Jeremiah 17:9, Mark 7:21-23, Romans 3:10-11, Romans 3:23

You don’t even have to take the Bible’s word (God’s Word!) for it if you don’t want. Just open up Drudge Report or Huffington Post and read about the disgusting things that people do every day. It is enough to drive a man (or woman) to depression.

On the other side of this coin is where you will find many American Christians. They have fallen for the post-modern lie that self-esteem is the most important personal attribute that one can possess. Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer are two of the worst at perpetuating this lie under the guise of Christianity.

Knowing Jesus Christ is the only way to have a healthy level of self-esteem; high esteem for God and low esteem for ourselves. The result is neutral self-esteem – not thinking more of ourselves, or less of ourselves than we should.

The equation looks like this. On one side, I am a worm; a dead dog; a totally depraved, sinful, wretched excuse for a man. On the other side of the equation is Jesus, removing himself from heaven, taking on the flesh of a man and then suffering and dying for the likes of me. It doesn’t add up, does it?

But Jesus did that for those who call upon His name, for those who believe on Him.

Why?

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? Matthew 6:26

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba ! Father !” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:15-17

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called ; and these whom He called, He also justified ; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Romans 8:28-31

On The Offense of the Cross

My dear Brethren, do not try to make the gospel tasteful to carnal minds. Hide not the offense of the cross, lest you make it of none effect.

The angles and corners [...]]]> This entry is a blatant ripoff an homage to one of the best Christian websites on teh Intarwebz:

On The Offense of the Cross

My dear Brethren, do not try to make the gospel tasteful to carnal minds. Hide not the offense of the cross, lest you make it of none effect.

The angles and corners of the gospel are its strength: to pare them off is to deprive it of power. Toning down is not the increase of strength, but the death of it. Why, even among the sects, you must have noticed that their distinguishing points are the horns of their power; and when these are practically omitted, the sect is effete. Learn, then, that if you take Christ out of Christianity, Christianity is dead. If you remove grace out of the gospel, the gospel is gone.

If the people do not like the doctrine of grace, give them all the more of it. Whenever its enemies rail at a certain kind of gun, a wise military power will provide more of such artillery.

A great general, going in before his king, stumbled over his own sword. “I see,” said the king, “your sword in is the way.”

The warrior answered, “Your majesty’s enemies have often felt the same.”

That our gospel offends the King’s enemies is no regret to us.

My wife called the company and they promised to be there the next day to fix it. The next day it wasn’t fixed so I called the company myself. They said they [...]]]> A few months ago, on a Wednesday, a storm blew down a tree in my yard and broke my cable television and internet line.

My wife called the company and they promised to be there the next day to fix it. The next day it wasn’t fixed so I called the company myself. They said they couldn’t do it as planned, but they’d be happy to come back in three days to fix it. I told the man that was unacceptable and that they needed to get it fixed tomorrow.

He insisted that it was impossible, that they were already overbooked for Friday. I asked to speak with his supervisor. He said that she was busy. I offered to hold as long as it took. After holding for about five minutes, he informed me that the supervisor was still busy and that she couldn’t schedule anything before Sunday either. It was impossible for them to come out Thursday, Sunday was the absolute earliest they could be there. I again told him that three days was unacceptable and that I expected it to be fixed tomorrow.

I also told him that I knew they had repairmen laid off in the area and they could call them in to work, or call up the guys they have sitting in Columbus or Toledo that don’t have anything to do. I reiterated that I would hold for as long as it took to speak with his supervisor to get my service back tomorrow.

He put me back on hold for ten or fifteen more minutes. When he returned to the line, he informed me that he had spoken with his supervisor and they would have a repair crew at my house the next day.

YES!! VICTORY!!!

Amazing what can happen when you refuse to take ‘no’ for an answer. But I had to appeal to a higher authority. In any large consumer-oriented business, there are scads of people whose job is to say ‘no’ to the customer as kindly and politely as possible; but there are very few people that have real authority who can say ‘yes.’ The key for the pushy consumer, like me, is to get through to the people in authority regardless of how insulated they may be.

I have only two points to make.

Point one: God has ultimate authority over all Christians’ lives (and in everyone’s life for that matter).

Point two: God’s will can be known only through reading the Bible and praying in the spirit.(General or special revelation are not sufficient or reliable respectively).

If we claim the name of Christ, we must subject ourselves to God’s will and subjecting ourselves to God’s will means subjecting ourselves to his Word. We recognize God’s will as the highest authority in our lives and we recognize the Bible as the highest authority on God’s will. (Luke 6:46, John 14:15)

The authority of scripture and the authority of God are so closely related that they are inseparable. To question one is to question both and to doubt one is to doubt both. If you have a low view of scripture, you will have a low view of God.

Keep God’s will the highest authority in your life.

—–