Just Thinking.....About Truth

Truth cannot be changed by those who are offended by it, disagree with it, hate it or hate others over it.

Truth is unmoved by presidential decree, congressional approval or judicial justification.

Truth cannot be shaped by cultural beliefs, trends, political correctness or childish intimidation.

You cannot friend or unfriend enough people to make a lie the truth. You cannot post enough on social media to justify falsehood.

Truth will not be affected by attacking the intelligence of those who stand for it. If you must insult others intelligence to try and force your opinion then your argument may not be as strong as you suppose.

Contrary to popular belief, truth is not, and cannot by definition, be relative. If something is true then something that is opposed to that truth must, again by definition, be untrue. One's experience or upbringing does not define truth. It may be a factor in shaping a point of view but it does not define truth. Culture, experience, upbringing, education and a host of other factors may be relative, but truth never is.

Therefore, those who know the truth have no need to be offended by, disrespect or hate those who choose to embrace a lie. To stand on the side of truth is its own justification. Hatred and disrespect only make you look like the one hating you. Hate will not overcome hate. The obligation of those who stand on the side of truth is to, without compromise, share that truth with anyone and everyone. Many will not believe.

It is all but guaranteed that you will be hated for sharing the truth. Do not return hate for hate. This is not the Kingdom of God.

You will be in the minority of popular opinion if you stand for the truth. (It is also important to understand truth is not determined by how many people believe it.) Remain unaffected. Keep your focus on truth.

Truth will be the only thing that still exists when cultural trends and political correctness have all passed. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me." Jesus Christ is the unchanging truth. His word is truth and it will stand forever. This will never change.

In the end, it is each ones prerogative whether to accept Christ as the truth or not. However, Christ and His Word will remain standing whether they are accepted or not. All roads do not lead to Heaven. There is only one.

Sin and unrighteousness will separate you from God. What is Sin? Sin is what God defines it to be, not what humanity wishes it to be. This cannot be changed by opinion either. It can only be known through the Word of God and it can only be remedied by accepting Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and asking him for forgiveness. Truth.

I invite anyone who would read this to accept that truth. You do not have to. It is your choice. If not, I as a believer in Christ can still have respect for you and care for you. I will pray that one day you will come to know and accept the truth. It really is a life and death decision. I would expect the same respect from you, but I am prepared for it not to be reciprocated. Speaking truth sometimes has that affect.

I will end with this. If you really seek the truth, you will find it. When you find it you will discover that it is Jesus. He Loves you. He always has. God Bless, Tom

DON'T JUDGE ME!!

It is inevitable! I am mindlessly scrolling through my facebooktwitterinstagrametc. page and I will run across a post from a Christian brother or sister or from a non-believing friend with a nice beautiful graphic of some kind saying something to the affect of "It's not my job to judge" or "It's not your job to judge" or "It's only God who is to judge me or others." It all sounds nice. It's even got a pretty picture of a flower, a beautiful little butterfly, or a person dancing on the beach to back up the sentiment.

 Just as inevitably, the "theology" of the post will be backed up with the scripture that in our day and age may now be more well known than good ole' John 3:16. "Judge not that you be not judged." "SEE! SEE! screams the brother, sister or friend, "The book says you are not to judge." My question is, is it actually true that The Bible tells us that we are not to judge anything or anybody? The answer may come as a shock.

Before we dive into that though, let's take a quick look at this whole judge not business. Matthew 7:1 says:

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

Well, there it is preacher!! I told you the Bible says not to judge me! O.K. hold on just a minute. Let's take a look at what this verse is really saying shall we?

 In order to spare you all of the theological mumbo jumbo, let me just say that the word translated in our Bibles as judge is a word that means to condemn someone. Essentially, it means to say to someone I have determined that you are worthy of condemnation to Hell and I, myself am pronouncing that judgment on you. A little word of advice to those who would feel they have this kind of power. YOU ARE NOT GOD! You have NO authority to condemn someone to Hell or to condemn someone because you deem them worthy of condemnation. Now wait a minute, you may be saying, "aren't you saying exactly what I'm saying. You are not to judge me. There it is, cut and dry!"

 Keep holding on, let's continue on for a moment.

Matthew 7:1 also tells us that we are not to judge others that we would not be judged. It goes on to say, "The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. So, what does this mean? It means that we are, first and foremost, not to judge another person for something that we ourselves are not taking care of in our own life. If I am a thief, Jesus says, it is not cool to run around condemning other thieves while I've got the same sin in my own life. Jesus teaches that we are to worry, first, about the sin that is going on in our own lives before we worry about what is going on in someone Else's life, or as Jesus also put it, get the log out of your own eye before you worry about the speck in your brothers eye. However, here is the question, are we NEVER supposed to say something about the speck in our brother's eye?

You may be surprised to learn that in the very SAME CHAPTER where Jesus says, "Judge not," he then tells those present about some of the things that they are supposed to judge. Jesus warns his disciples and all who are there that they are to identify and judge the teaching of false prophets
.
 Matthew 7:15-20(NKJV)
 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
  
Did I mention this is the SAME CHAPTER, SAME CONVERSATION as the "Judge not" verse. Jesus says "Judge not" and then turns around and tells them to judge false teachers. Is this the only place where we are exhorted to judge others? Take a look at these scriptures:

Judge Disputes between Believers: 

1 Corinthians 6:1-8(NKJV)

6 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! 7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!  Judging and addressing sin in the church:

1 Corinthians 5:9-13(NKJV)

 9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

 Judging the doctrine of teachers : 

Matt. 7:15–20(We already read)

 1 Corinthians 14:29(NKJV)

 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 

 1 John 4:1(NKJV)

 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Here is the one that may really tweak some in and out of the church world today. We are supposed to judge whether someone is a believer in Christ or not.

Judging whether others are believers or not:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18(NLT)

14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. 18 And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Do I not have to make judgments about certain things for these verses to be applied in my life? or yours? Let's continue. 

 Judging qualifications for leadership: 

 1 Timothy 3:1-13(NKJV)

 3 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Judging the unruly:  

1 Thessalonians 5:14(NKJV)

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

I could go on but I will stop right here. As you can see, the blanket statement that we are not to judge anyone or anything is completely antithetical to what scripture really says. We are to judge. We aren't to judge anyone to condemnation because we are not qualified for that job. Only one is and his name is Jesus. However, we are to judge many things, not in order to condemn, but to warn and to challenge. Whatever anyone thinks about the validity of the words of The Bible one thing is true. Every word will last forever! Every word will prove true. It is up to us as believers to warn, to challenge, to encourage believers and to also proclaim the truth of the gospel to those who do not believe.

 The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) We do not speak truth and we are not being honest when we tell others it is not our job to judge. In fact, we could very well be causing eternal damage to their lives. 

Last point for today. Just because we are told to make judgments about things does not mean that we are not to love. Love and judgment must go hand in hand or only harm can come of it.  Any judgments, rebukes, words of correction must come from a place of absolute love. It must be the love of God in us that compels us not to be silent when we see something that is going to lead someone to the eternal judgment that will come from Christ. God's love for every individual is without end and our love for them should be the same. It must be our love for others that compels us to speak when we see danger ahead. 

Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of every man's sin. What a disservice if we don't tell others they need that forgiveness. We must make judgments! However, that judgment must be for the purpose of reconciliation with God not for the condemnation of the soul.

Don't be silenced by the voice of those who would say "Don't judge me," but instead with the love of God, speak The Word of God and let The Spirit of God do the rest.

Be Blessed, Tom  

 

Where Do We Go From Here

I, like everyone else was greeted with the news this morning that The Supreme Court has decided that homosexual couples have the right to marry in The United States. As I have scrolled through my news feeds and social media pages, I have read a variety of opinions that are as wide as the Grand Canyon. Some people, whom I love and care for are rejoicing that today is a “great day.” Others are lashing out in anger. Still others are expressing grief and sadness over this ruling. Add to this the name calling, personal attacks and venomous words that are being spewed from every side and I wonder where should we go from here?

I feel like there are several things that we need to consider. I am sure that I will anger some as I share my thoughts, but please hear my heart and simply think about it.

1. Everyone is allowed to have an opinion

There is a lost principle in our culture today that needs to be found again. It IS possible to fundamentally disagree with another person’s opinion without hating or attacking them. It would seem from what I see and read that if I disagree with someone or they disagree with me, we must hate each other. This is not productive, nor helpful. I have read things today from individuals who, knowingly or unknowingly are calling me all sorts of vile names. While not saying my name directly, they have lumped together every person who believes as I do into one very vulgar and disrespectful category. The trouble is these individuals are people that I know and have relatively good relationships with. I don’t believe they would ever say those things to my face directly, but it’s not me they are speaking of. It is the “THEY” of idiotic people who disagree and who are not “enlightened” enough to know what’s really going on. This happens on all sides of the argument. I have also noticed people who agree with my opinion completely that I am disgusted by. The hatred coming from some on the “Christian” side of things is just as vile and repulsive in the eyes of God as anything else.

 Does hatred, name-calling and disrespect reflect the love that Christ has commanded us to show? I am not for one moment speaking of compromising Biblical truth. I’m speaking of simple Christ-like love and respect. It is easy to sit behind a computer screen or in our churches and lash out at nameless and faceless people. It is much different when you are engaged in a face to face relationship with someone, with whom you disagree, but who still has hopes, dreams, feelings, hurts, struggles and sin. Jesus truly loves and died for them as much as anyone else. We must reflect that to our culture. As Christians, we must refuse to become the caricature of hateful, uninformed Neanderthals that culture and media represent us to be. Don’t fuel the fire with your own hate. Don’t be overcome with negativity but overcome the negativity with the true, uncompromised love and compassion of Christ.

2. The Bible does not change based on the opinions of a court.

It really makes no difference what the court, the president, the congress or anyone else says or believes about the issue of homosexuality. In the end, we are not beholden to any man. Martin Luther said, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God.” I must confess I agree with this sentiment.

With much respect and love I must speak the truth of scripture. Homosexuality is a sin. It can’t be made to not be sin because men and woman in black robes said so. It doesn’t work that way. For thousands of years there have been attempts to eliminate the influence of God and the Bible from society. Each time this has been attempted, the society falls but the Word of God still stands firm. This will never change.

Yes, the Bible says homosexuality is a sin. However, it must be recognized that we are ALL sinners. The Bible says, “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We must ALL recognize that we are sinners and that we need to turn to Christ and ask His forgiveness for our sin. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, NO MAN comes to the Father except through me.” My response to someone who says I am a homosexual is the same as my response to anyone else who tells me about their sin. You need Jesus.

Some will say this is judgment and hatred. This is not hatred. In fact, it is the complete opposite of hatred. If I see a young child reaching their hand into a fire, I would do whatever it takes to stop them. Is that hatred? Absolutely not! It would be hatred to stand by and watch the child get burned. To say to the homosexual or anyone else for that matter that they need to turn from their sin and toward Jesus is not hatred at all. If I truly believe the Bible, then I must believe that there will be an eternal consequence for sin. It would be hate for me to stand by and say nothing.

The love of Christ is that He gave His life on the cross so that we could all find forgiveness for all of our sin. There is freedom from sin for all who hear and believe in what Christ has done. Jesus didn’t say I came to be angry and tell everyone they are going to Hell. He said I have come to give life in all of its fullness. However, this life can’t be accessed without admitting, and turning away from our sin. We can’t judge our lives based on what a court or a society says.  We can only rightly judge our lives according to what scripture says. What scripture counts as sin, we must count as sin. Anything less that this is to deny what The Bible really says.

3. We must carry on

Jesus never promised that it would be easy to follow Him. He promised the opposite. He told his disciples that there would be persecution for following him. Where does the church go from this decision by the Supreme Court? We carry on! We continue to pray.  We continue to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We continue to love each other and reflect that love in our communities. We continue to speak the words of scripture without compromise. It may very well get more difficult to carry on, but we must carry on nonetheless. It is not the time to shrink back, but to press forward. I will never purposely try to stir up anger and controversy. We should never look to stir up trouble, but if trouble finds us, then so be it. Our hearts are captive to the Word of God.

Building Your Wings

I was talking to a young man recently. He was one of the core members of my youth group back in my youth pastoring days. Since then he has gotten married, had a child and started a successful small business. We spoke of his struggles growing his business and knowing when to expand or to hold off. Where is that fine line between faith and wisdom anyway? I was sharing about some of the obstacles we have faced in building our church facility and pastoring a church in general. Obviously there are differences between business and pastoring, but there are some things that are the same no matter what you feel like your life’s career or pursuit might be. One of those things is that nothing in life is certain except for the fact that nearly everything is uncertain.

During the course of the conversation I was reminded of a plaque that usually sits on my desk, although, at this moment, it is wrapped in newspaper and safely sitting in a storage unit waiting for the completion of our church facility. (Speaking of obstacles) The plaque was actually a gift from my wife. I don’t remember now what the occasion was, but I do remember how those few simple words impacted me and have helped guide me through some big and, at times, scary decisions I have had to make. The plaque simply says, “SOMETIMES YOU’VE JUST GOT TO TAKE THE LEAP AND BUILD YOUR WINGS ON THE WAY DOWN.”

I’m not too old….at least that’s what I keep telling myself. I am, however, older than I’ve ever been, and in all of my years I’ve noticed a couple different types of people.

First, there are those people who just live to make it through the day. Sure, there was a time when they had a dream or a vision about where God would take them, but that time has seemingly past. Now it’s just the same old job, the same old routine, the same old everything. Often these same people will complain about their job, circumstances or whatever, but never seem to do anything about it. It’s like the man who opened his lunch box and said “bologna on white bread again!” When his co-worker said, “why don’t you ask your wife to make something different?” The man replied, “My wife doesn’t make my lunch I do.” If you don’t like it, why not try something different? Often these people will say things like, “It just is what it is” or “I used to have a dream but life got in the way.” Maybe they will say something like, “I’ve got it pretty good here, I should be happy.” Although while they are speaking you can palpably feel that they are not where they want to be and they are most certainly not happy or fulfilled.

On the other side of the coin, I’ve seen the faith-walking, risk takers. Last year I had the opportunity to speak at a church that was founded by a friend, who unfortunately for us, passed and went on to be with the Lord at a pretty young age. Their facility is actually an old school that was purchased and turned in to a church. This was no small undertaking, financially or practically. This is also not some big mega-church congregation. Instead, it’s a small but dedicated group of believers who were, up until his passing, led by one of the most faith-filled people I have ever met. Since his passing, his wife and other members have picked up the baton and continued to carry the vision instilled by Pastor Jeff.

One of those young men was showing me around the facility when he relayed to me a story that I didn’t know. He said, “Pastor Jeff heard about another pastor, who we all mutually know, who had a vision to buy a school and turn it in to a church. That pastor did exactly that, and has built a beautiful facility." He continued, “Pastor Jeff said, if God can do it for them, He can do it for us too.” So they set out, with mostly faith and with very little in the way of resources and managed to buy the school and convert it in to the church that it is today. This place is now being used to worship God, preach the gospel, heal the sick and set captives free. Has the journey been easy? Not so much. Was it possible? Many would probably say no, but apparently it was, because they did it. The last time I checked my Bible still says, “With God, All things are possible.”

What is the difference between the “it is what it is” folks and the risk takers? I have learned from my own journey with God that it is simply a matter of faith versus fear. Did I say simply? Yes! Did I say easy? No! There is a difference.

The battle between faith and fear is a battle that we all will face. It makes no difference what our vision, career, family situation, finances or anything else may be. Faith will always be locked in a war with fear. Whichever one you choose will determine whether you sit where you’re at or you take a leap of faith and risk it all in pursuit of a God-given vision.

I want to make something clear though. I’m not talking about some insane and unwise leap into something that is not of God. I’m talking about those times when something is pulling you to make a move and you know that it is God. The enemy will begin to jump on you with fear, doubt and discouragement like, as they say, a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew. These attacks can tempt you to back off and maintain the status quo. Don’t do it! Step out and believe God. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it.

As I’m typing this, our church has been in the midst of a fourteen month battle to renovate a building we purchased. One thing after another has come up and, at times, has seemingly created an impassable barrier between what I have felt God has said and the “reality” of our situation. Over the course of this time there has been a price to pay. Some people have left the church. It has caused financial stress, personal stress, church stress and any other kind of stress you can imagine. At times people have wondered if we made the right move. Truth be told, I’ve gone to God on more than one occasion and said, “Are you sure? Did I hear you right?” Each time there is an assurance that comes over me and a voice inside that says, “Just keep moving and trust me.”

In the last couple of months things have finally started to move. Are all the obstacles gone? Not yet. I doubt they will ever be gone, but there is a mountain that is moving. Walls are being built, platforms are being constructed and new plumbing is almost finished. I have never heard something as beautiful as the sound of a nail gun and a skill saw. The gap between the vision in my head and the building I’m looking at is getting smaller by the day. I can see the finish line. It is still a little way off in the distance, but I can see it. I can visualize the day when we walk in to a facility that is complete and ready to be used to worship the King of Kings and spread the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

None of this would have been possible if not for a decision that I made, along with my family, our leaders and our congregation to jump ship from the facility that had been our comfortable home for nearly seven years, purchase a building that needed a ridiculous amount of work and set up church in a hotel conference room while we try to get it renovated. From a strictly human point of view, we must have been out of our minds. However, fourteen months of headaches later and I can tell you with assurance that I see the end of the road, and at the end of the road, I am going to say it was all worth it.

At many points along the way, I have thrown up my arms and said, “God, I jumped in faith and I feel like I’m crashing and burning.” Gently and with a great amount of love and assurance, God keeps saying, “Just keep building your wings and you will be alright.” By faith I am taking Him at His Word.

So, what about you? Are you an “is what it is” person? Is God calling you out in to some kind of adventure that seems ridiculous? Do you know it’s him? If so, maybe it’s time to jump. From a fellow jumper who is furiously trying to build my wings, I say Go for it! It is better to try and fail than to live life without having tried at all. You just might find that, if God is in it, you won’t fail at all. Instead you just might realize that you were born to fly.