Where is the Guarantee?

I have never been one to get “stressed out”. Sure I have had times when I worried about a new job or had anxiety about a paper due in college, but for the most part I have always been able to keep it in check.

Recently, however, this hasn’t been the case. Maybe its too much evening news or the constant barrage of the media but I have found myself becoming concerned, almost worried, about the state of our world and my survival in it. With the economy in the craphole, the cost of gas and food rising, and the ever present cloud of fear that seems to be engulfing our culture, I have found myself asking questions such as: What will I do if I can’t afford gas? What will happen if I can no longer pay rent? What if I lose all the comfort and safety I have grown so accustomed to?

What if?

The question alone causes an avalanche of fear and insecurity. I want to have control so badly but when I realize I can’t, I look for comfort in blaming politics, parents, society, culture, or any other entity I can think of. Is this pleasing to God? After all, didn’t Jesus tell his disciples,“…do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34) Perhaps, instead of asking the question “What If”, I should be asking myself the question “Since When”

Since when did God promise me a nice comfortable life?
Since when was I assured protection from persecution or suffering?
Since when is the USA God’s chosen nation?
Since when am I guaranteed to even finish this blog post?

The Bible does give promises about this life, but they look more like this:

“You will be hated by all for my name's sake.” Like 21:17 (ESV)

“...If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:20 (ESV)

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” 2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

My reward is not in the comforts of this life. It is not in money, hobbies, work, pleasure, success, power, freedom, safety, status quo, sports or swimming pools. My reward is only in the resurrection that is to come through faith in Christ.

New Blog

Hey Everyone! I have collaborated with some friends to create a new blog. Everyday we present a fun question for people to ponder. Check it out! DeepQuestions.net

Biblical Manhood and Biblical Womanhood

I have had a lot of conversations lately regarding Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Because of this, I thought I would post the Danvers statement, which I firmly stand behind. I realize some of you will agree, some will disagree and some just won’t care, but I believe this topic plays a major role in the future of the Church. You can find more information here. www.cbmw.org

Affirmations

Based on our understanding of Biblical teachings, we affirm the following:

1. Both Adam and Eve were created in God's image, equal before God as persons and distinct in their manhood and womanhood (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18).

2. Distinctions in masculine and feminine roles are ordained by God as part of the created order, and should find an echo in every human heart (Gen 2:18, 21-24; 1 Cor 11:7-9; 1 Tim 2:12-14).

3. Adam's headship in marriage was established by God before the Fall, and was not a result of sin (Gen 2:16-18, 21-24, 3:1-13; 1 Cor 11:7-9).

4. The Fall introduced distortions into the relationships between men and women (Gen 3:1-7, 12, 16).

In the home, the husband's loving, humble headship tends to be replaced by domination or passivity; the wife's intelligent,
willing submission tends to be replaced by usurpation or servility.

In the church, sin inclines men toward a worldly love of power or an abdication of spiritual responsibility, and inclines
women to resist limitations on their roles or to neglect the use of their gifts in appropriate ministries.

5. The Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, manifests the equally high value and dignity which God attached to the
roles of both men and women (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18; Gal 3:28). Both Old and New Testaments also affirm the principle of
male headship in the family and in the covenant community (Gen 2:18; Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; 1 Tim 2:11-15).

6. Redemption in Christ aims at removing the distortions introduced by the curse.

In the family, husbands should forsake harsh or selfish leadership and grow in love and care for their wives; wives should
forsake resistance to their husbands' authority and grow in willing, joyful submission to their husbands' leadership (Eph
5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; Tit 2:3-5; 1 Pet 3:1-7).

In the church, redemption in Christ gives men and women an equal share in the blessings of salvation; nevertheless, some
governing and teaching roles within the church are restricted to men (Gal 3:28; 1 Cor 11:2-16; 1 Tim 2:11-15).

7. In all of life Christ is the supreme authority and guide for men and women, so that no earthly submission-domestic, religious, or civil-ever implies a mandate to follow a human authority into sin (Dan 3:10-18; Acts 4:19-20, 5:27-29; 1 Pet 3:1-2).

8. In both men and women a heartfelt sense of call to ministry should never be used to set aside Biblical criteria for particular ministries (1 Tim 2:11-15, 3:1-13; Tit 1:5-9). Rather, Biblical teaching should remain the authority for testing our subjective discernment of God's will.

9. With half the world's population outside the reach of indigenous evangelism; with countless other lost people in those societies that have heard the gospel; with the stresses and miseries of sickness, malnutrition, homelessness, illiteracy, ignorance, aging, addiction, crime, incarceration, neuroses, and loneliness, no man or woman who feels a passion from God to make His grace known in word and deed need ever live without a fulfilling ministry for the glory of Christ and the good of this fallen world (1 Cor 12:7-21).

10. We are convinced that a denial or neglect of these principles will lead to increasingly destructive consequences in our families, our churches, and the culture at large.

What is Truth?

Here is something that caught my attention last week that I hope stimulates thought and conversation.  It comes from the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate. 

"What is Truth?"