Six years ago this week, I learned that my mother’s breast cancer had metastasized to her liver. She lived for five more months.

Six years ago next week, I learned that my father had pancreatic cancer. He [...]]]> The way I’ve asked that question of the LORD has changed radically in the last six years of my life.

Six years ago this week, I learned that my mother’s breast cancer had metastasized to her liver. She lived for five more months.

Six years ago next week, I learned that my father had pancreatic cancer. He lived for four more months.

In 2005, my parents died less than a month apart. I asked God, “Why me?” dozens of times that year. Sometimes out loud (and I mean LOUD), “Why are you doing this to me!?” as I walked to my car after hearing on the phone that my dad had just died. Sometimes in silence, “Why? Just Why?” over and over to myself at my mom’s funeral. I struggled with wavering faith, self-pity and depression in the weeks and months that followed.

Up until that time, my life had been pretty much blessing upon blessing; and I assumed it was because I was such a good person. I went to church regularly, sung in the choir, taught Sunday school, coached girls’ softball, worked hard at my job and was a pretty good father. I believed that I deserved better than most people because I was better than most people.

I was a fool.

I still ask God, “Why me?” but in a very different way.

Last week I read about a 35-year-old man named Robb Williford who died suddenly two days before Christmas leaving a wife and two sons behind. (Do NOT read the link without a tissue!) On the day his children lost their father; my daughters, my wife and I were at Disney World. Why? Why me? Why him? I weep in sadness for those little boys and their mother, and I sit here wondering why it wasn’t me. He was ten years younger than me; why is he gone and I live on?

That is the only answer to the question, “Why?” that I’ve been able to grasp in the six years since my parents deaths. There is no earthly reason for things to be this way. But I’m convinced there is a heavenly reason and that we cannot know it until our own days are over.

When something bad happens to you, do you ask, “Why me?”

When something good happens to someone else, do you ask, “Why not me?”

Jesus Christ turns this around (as He does many things) and bids His followers say, “Why me?” when something good happens to them and “Why not me?” when something bad happens to someone else. (Romans 5:8 Luke 13:4-5)

“Why Me, Lord?” – Johnny Cash

I have had steady employment since I graduated college; I’ve been married for more than 20 years to the only woman I’ve ever loved; I have two beautiful, smart and healthy daughters; I’ve never been homeless or seriously ill and I can’t help but wonder, “Why me?”

When a friend’s brother commits suicide, a man at work loses his 20 year-old son in a fire, a neighbor loses her job and hasn’t worked for almost three years, a dear brother’s wife cheats on him and it ends their marriage, I can’t help but wonder, “Why not me?”

God’s blessings aren’t dependent on how good you are.

Think about how blessed you already are right now. (Stop reading right now and make a list of things you’re thankful for!) Let that understanding flow out of you in the form of prayers of thanksgiving to God. Crank up the volume on your thankfulness and you’ll find yourself more content with what you have. You’ll also find you are less receptive to the sounds of aggravation and irritation from within and you’ll begin to tune them out.

Thankfulness and contentment are the results of joy and peace which are fruits of the spirit (Gal 5:22-23) that God promises to all believers.

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.

Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) was a preacher, theologian, and a missionary to the American Indians.  The Encyclopedia Britannica called him the greatest philosopher and theologian ever produced in America. His work is often associated with the defense of Reformed theology and the Puritan heritage, though he was not a Puritan in the strict sense of [...]]]>

Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) was a preacher, theologian, and a missionary to the American Indians.  The Encyclopedia Britannica called him the greatest philosopher and theologian ever produced in America. His work is often associated with the defense of Reformed theology and the Puritan heritage, though he was not a Puritan in the strict sense of the word. Here are a few selected quotations:

Don’t talk of things of religion and matters of experience with an air of  lightness and laughter, which is too much the manner in many places. In all your course, walk with God and follow Christ as a little, poor, helpless child, taking hold of Christ’s hand, keeping your eye on the mark of the wounds on his hands and side, whence came the blood that cleanses you from sin and hides your nakedness under the skirt of the white shining robe of his righteousness.

Unless you frequently think of it [hell], you will never take any considerable care or pains to escape it

Sinner, thou art this moment standing over the mouth of hell, upon a single plank, and that plank is rotten; thou art hanging over the jaws of perdition, by a solitary rope, and the strands of that rope are creaking now.

This one is often attributed to Edwards, but I can’t find a reliable source reference. Nonetheless, it is an excellent resolution.

Resolution One: I will live for God.

Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.

When you see that saving faith is a being satisfied in all that God is for you in Jesus, then the good fight of faith (as Paul calls it in 1 Timothy 6:12) becomes a fight for JOY! A fight for Joy in Christ, not television. [...]]]> Some wonderful quotations from some Godly men:

When you see that saving faith is a being satisfied in all that God is for you in Jesus, then the good fight of faith (as Paul calls it in 1 Timothy 6:12) becomes a fight for JOY! A fight for Joy in Christ, not television. In Christ, not sex. In Christ, not money. In Christ, not fame. There’s the battle. And it is to be fought every day as we put to death what is earthly in us and all of our cravings for this world and they rise up again and again and they must be killed with this truth. Put to death what is earthly in you. (Colossians 3:2) Die every day to the things that will destroy your Joy. That changes everything. – John Piper

The only foundation and basis upon which those of us who have been called through the teaching of the bible by the enabling of the spirit to mediate the rule of Christ’s headship among his people is as we have the bible preached to ourselves. And unless it comes in power to us, it cannot come in power through us. Therefore, no man can exhort you to submit to the headship of Christ with any sense of realistic integrity unless that man himself has been so beset upon by the necessity of his bowing to the headship of Christ. So it is not some monarchy that God has established, where with Kings and popes and princes he has established some hierarchical structure, and in the midst of that you have the proletariat in Colossae or Cleveland or Corinth and they are called upon to do what the leaders say. No. It is that together we bow beneath He who is the supreme one and the all sufficient one and He who alone is the head of the Church. So who is in charge around here?  Christ!  – Alistair Begg

A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent. – John Calvin

Grant what thou commandest and then command what thou wilt. – Augustine

Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will. – Jonathan Edwards

Q. How and when should biblical discernment skills be used?

A. Let’s take the last part of the question first. When should discernment skills be used?

The most important times that they can be used is [...]]]> We now continue the Q & A on Biblical Discernment. I hope you’ve studied; there is a test at the end. Seriously!

Q. How and when should biblical discernment skills be used?

A. Let’s take the last part of the question first. When should discernment skills be used?

The most important times that they can be used is when you are listening to a sermon or reading a book or an article on religion, or when you are involved in a conversation about Christianity. When listening to a sermon even your favorite, most trusted minister can get things wrong. If you have studied your bible and have prayed fervently for wisdom you should start to trust your instincts a little more. If a minister says something that doesn’t sound quite right, something that sets off your “Spidey Sense” or that might not be supported by scripture – write it down.

Now we get into the “How?” part of the question. The first thing you should do when you have a question about a sermon is to ask your minister about it. Give him a chance to explain it better. It is possible (hopefully even probable) that you have just misunderstood him. If it is not a misunderstanding, don’t back down if the truth is at stake. Tell him that it still isn’t clear to you. Respectfully ask him to cite the scripture from which he gets his statement. (Acts 17:11) Don’t put him on the spot in front of others and be sure to give him time to research the matter and get back to you when it is convenient. In the meantime, research the matter yourself. Dig into the Bible and research what various commentators have said on the subject. The Blue Letter Bible and Crosswalk.com have excellent Bible study tools available online.

Remember, the whole point is to come to a better understanding of God’s word; for you and for your minister.

Q. Sounds like a good plan, but what about when you read something that bothers your “Scripture Sense?”

A. The same goes for when you are reading a book or an article about religion, write down the statement that strikes you as wrong and take it to your minister or a trusted elder in your church. Ask them to help you understand what is being said. Rely on godly people you trust to guide you to the scripture that explains your question. Oftentimes, researching things on your own will answer your question, but sharing it with a brother in the faith can often help strengthen the discernment skills of both of you.

Q. What about when you are involved in a conversation about Christianity? It’s not as easy when you’re on the spot and have to defend something controversial.

A. That is true. You should rely on what you are certain that you know. Again, don’t back down when the truth is at stake. In the Bible, the main things are the plain things and the plain things are the main things. You should have a solid understanding of the “main things” before you engage anyone in serious discussions relating to Christianity.

Something that should not be forgotten is that you should always be respectful and loving in your dealings with brothers in the faith. We are called to speak the truth in love. (Eph. 4:15) If the question involves an issue that is secondary to Essential Christian Doctrine, be sure to point that out and don’t argue with brothers over issues where we have the freedom to disagree without breaking fellowship.

Don’t get all worked up, this is just a practice test. Take a look at this statement from an American Mainline Protestant church.

We believe that the persistent search for God produces an authentic relationship with God, engendering love, strengthening faith, dissolving guilt, and giving life purpose and direction. We believe that all of the baptized ‘belong body and soul to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’ No matter who – no matter what – … no matter where we are on life’s journey – we all belong to God and to one worldwide community of faith. All persons baptized – past, present and future – are connected to each other and to God through the sacrament of baptism.

On the surface, this looks like a solid theological statement. Who could possibly argue with a persistent search for God or an authentic relationship with God? Who could disagree that baptized people are all part of a worldwide community of faith?

But here are some questions I had after reading it three or four times: Where in the Bible does it say that simply searching for God produces an authentic relationship with Him? Is baptism what binds believers together or is it something else?

John 3:3 states very clearly what is necessary for somebody to have a relationship with God. Searching for knowledge of God is a good thing, but the search doesn’t produce faith or a relationship. Only by repenting and believing can one be born again to new life in Christ Jesus.

And about that baptism thing… I don’t deny that all believers are part of a worldwide community of faith (aka The Invisible Church), but it isn’t a sacrament that makes it happen. Believers’ baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. (Acts 10:44-47) There are probably millions of non-believers who have been baptized. The thief on the cross can attest to the fact that baptism is not absolutely necessary for salvation. (Luke 23:42-43)

The above statement is part of the “What We Believe” statement of the United Church of Christ – or at least it was at one time. The UCC changes what they believe the way the wind changes direction in a tornado. This was taken from the UCC’s old website. This statement is not on their current website as far as I can tell. If you have time, read the whole thing. Tell me if I missed the place where it says you have to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus. The statement is also available here.

Watch this video and then read the page at the link below.

Interpretation of the above video.

What do you think? Use your discernment skills. Is this a biblical interpretation of the clouds in the video or not? Is it a message from God? Are you sure?

Nancy Bush certainly does seem to know the bible, she even quotes Latin and Greek. She is obviously not an opportunist who sees the Virgin Mary in a partially eaten grilled cheese sandwich and sells it on eBay for $28,000.

What do your discernment skills tell you? Please post a comment. I’ll try to approve comments within a few hours and once you’ve had one comment approved, your subsequent comments will post immediately.

One last thing: please remember to speak the truth in love. Thanks.

A. Discernment is the most important skill that a Christian can have. Having it is partially a gift, [...]]]> I’ve mentioned before how the attribute of discernment is sorely lacking among many Christians, and that reading the Bible is the best way to develop discernment skills. As is my habit, I’ll start this Q&A with an A.

A. Discernment is the most important skill that a Christian can have. Having it is partially a gift, but mostly the result of diligent work. Every Christian can and should develop sound biblical discernment skills.

Q. So what is discernment?

A. You know what wisdom is, right? Well, discernment is the heart of wisdom. It is simply good judgment and critical understanding derived from knowledge of the Bible. The Oxford dictionary says it is to “perceive clearly.” Our great-grandfathers might have called it “horse sense.” It is the wisdom and understanding that comes with experience.

In our secular lives, we develop social discernment skills through experience. At a fancy dinner party, belching out loud is rude and anyone who is discerning wouldn’t do it. At a ball game with your buddies however, it may be expected. This is a crude example of discernment, but it makes the point well enough.

At school, work, or home we know not to treat our teacher, boss or spouse with contempt. This also is discernment. To act otherwise would be ill advised and would result in painful repercussions.

In our Christian lives, twisting or ignoring the clear teaching of the Bible to fit our own desires is analogous to belching at a dinner party, sassing our teacher, ignoring the boss or disrespecting our spouse. It’s liable to get us thrown out or fired. The Christian equivalent is eternity outside the presence of God, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Q. Why is discernment so important?

A. 1 Kings 3: 9-10 tells us that Solomon’s request for “an understanding heart” to “discern between good and evil” was “pleasing in the sight of Lord”; so much so that God gave him “a wise and discerning heart” (1 Kings 3:12) as well as the “riches and honor” that he didn’t ask for (1 Kings 3:13). Discernment helps us to know the will of God and to glorify Him by making His will our will. This may not sound like a big deal, but consider the alternative; without discernment, we will live our lives outside of God’s will and will not bring Him glory. The alternative to Solomon’s blessing is a curse: God will be displeased with us if we willfully keep ourselves in ignorance and don’t develop the skills to discern good from evil.

As for why biblical discernment is important in our day, John MacArthur answers this question better than I ever could.  Here is his startling conclusion:

All those who truly love Christ and care about the truth have a solemn duty to defend the truth by exposing and opposing these lies that masquerade as truth. If we fail in that duty because of indifference, apathy, or a craving for the approval of men, we are no less guilty than those who actively spread the lies. – John MacArthur

Q. How do you develop discernment skills?

A. The easy answer is, “Read the Bible and pray,” and any other answer more complicated than that just confuses the issue. But what is the best way to do this? Start out by reading the book of Proverbs. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs and 31 days in January. You can do this in just five to ten minutes each day. This will give you a solid foundation for increasing your bible knowledge and understanding. Then pray for wisdom and understanding to be given to you so that you can glorify God by rightly discerning His Holy Word.

I would also recommend a book called, “Now That’s A Good Question” by R.C. Sproul. It answers many difficult questions that both long-time and short-time believers will face.

Q. Once you have discernment, what can you do with it?

A. Discernment is like a good pocket knife; you have to carry it with you all the time. You have to learn how to use it efficiently and safely. Most importantly, you have to keep it sharp. Having biblical discernment enables you to judge between lies and the truth, or between truth and half-truths as is most prevalent.

Discernment will also allow you correctly judge the claims of people who say they know the Gospel when in fact; they may be distorting it or denying it altogether. The importance of this should be apparent.

Keeping your skills sharpened is done by staying in the Word – continuing to read the bible and listening to faithful teachers preach the Gospel.

Up next: How and when to use discernment, and some sample tests.

This is from the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. What a [...]]]>

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9

This is from the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. What a wonderful thing to pray for. I can’t think of anything I could hope for in this life more than what is contained in this verse – to know God’s will. That is my prayer for you, dear one; that you may know God’s will.

That may seem like a strange thing to hope for. Usually, people hope to be happy, healthy, successful, or even rich and famous. I’ve met many rich people in my life and I’m not very impressed with them as a group. I’ve met a few famous people in my life too and they’re not any different than the rest of us.

If you are able to know the will of God and to do what you know God wants you to do, you will have the true riches of wisdom and understanding. You will live your life fearlessly and with strength. Monetary riches don’t last and fame really doesn’t matter or last. If you know the will of God, you’ll be guaranteed to be  content in all circumstances.

Read your Bible to get to know the will of God. Start with the first chapter of Colossians if you want. Give thanks to God and be content.