Genuine Christian Courage

Christian courage is the willingness to say and do the right thing regardless of the earthly cost, because God promises to help you and save you on account of Christ. An act takes courage if it will likely be painful. The pain may be physical, as in war and rescue operations. Or the pain may be mental as in confrontation and controversy.

Courage is indispensable for both spreading and preserving the truth of Christ. Jesus promised that spreading the gospel would meet resistance: "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name" (Matthew 24:9). And Paul warned that, even in the church, faithfulness to the truth would be embattled: "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30; see also 2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Therefore, true evangelism and true teaching will take courage. Running from resistance in evangelism or teaching dishonors Christ. There is a kind of cowardice that tells only the truths that are safe to tell. Martin Luther put it like this:

If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point. (Quoted in Parker T. Williamson, Standing Firm: Reclaiming Christian Faith in Times of Controversy [Springfield, PA: PLC Publications, 1996], p. 5)

Where then shall we get this courage? Consider these pointers.

FROM BEING FORGIVEN AND BEING RIGHTEOUS - "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1). "Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, 'Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven'" (Matthew 9:2).

FROM TRUSTING GOD AND HOPING IN HIM - "Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the LORD" (Psalm 31:24; see also 2 Corinthians 3:12).

FROM BEING FILLED WITH SPIRIT - "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31).

FROM GOD'S PROMISE TO BE WITH YOU - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).

FROM KNOWING THAT THE ONE WITH YOU IS GREATER THAN THE ADVERSARY: -"Be strong and courageous . . . for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles" (2 Chronicles 32:7).

FROM BEING SURE THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER THE BATTLES - "Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight" (2 Samuel 10:12).

THROUGH PRAYER - "On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul" (Psalm 138:3; see also Ephesians 6:19-20).

FROM THE EXAMPLE OF OTHERS - "Most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear" (Philippians 1:14).

Longing to stand firm with you,

Pastor John

(This article was written by John Piper and is acknowledged here with much appreciation - Thank You John)

Intentional Duplicity in Place of Integrity

Recently one component of the CBF (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship) hosted a Conference at First Baptist Church in Decatur GA. One of the speakers was Prof. David Foshee who teaches at Mercer University in Atlanta GA. The focus of the conference was "A Conversation on Human Sexuality. People ALWAYS perk up when the subject/topic is SEX!

What did he say and why is it important?

What he said was that the best configuration for a relationship between two persons that has historically been described as "MARRIAGE" should be labeled a 'Covenant Relationship'. Sounds great. Agree with that. In fact, marriage is recognized as a Covenant Relationship. Nothing new here.

However, that has been the case for centuries. What he did not say, and this is where the lack of Integrity is displayed, he did not identify those eligible according to the Scripture, to participate in such a Covenant. Therefore, applying his profile, two males, two females, a man and his dog, etc. may be eligible for joining together in this covenant. I am sure that this crowd would disagree with this interpretation but if language has meaning (and it does) then they have not a leg stand on.

The CBF was birthed with a fatal pathology at the heart of their assembly. They deny the ABSOLUTE authority of the Scriptures (cf. former President Jimmy Carter who simply says he must disregard the writings of the Apostle Paul on human sexuality - read the interview Dr. Al Mohler did with Mr. Carter.). What? Paul wrote a majority of the New Testament.

Mark it down folks, this issue will fragment CBF into numerous camps, BUT, those who embrace this aberrant and heretical approach to Scripture will cling to their desires - - anybody can do whatever strikes their fancy and they will call it love and compassion. SO SAD!

SOLA SCRIPTURA!!

Gratitude as Heritage

Everyone has a heritage. Those things that shape and mold us as people. Our character, virtues, world view and much more we acquire by virtue of observing those persons of significance in our lives.

One such person in my life was my Mom. She gave me life itself and also some very wise and sagacious direction on how to live that life with purpose and joy. I had a Biology teacher who once told me I would never amount to anything. (He observations may have had some merit at that point in my pilgrimage :).

When I shared her words with my Mom she told me I had three (3) choices.

1. Become angry and bitter over this accusation.

2. Do nothing and prove this teacher correct.

3. Live a life of profound effectiveness and contribution to the God we worship and the people whose lives we are privileged to touch. I chose this option.

My Mom died in 2003. She loved the LORD and prayed with persistence and passion. She wqas also very thankful for each and every day. Recently my youngest sister sent me this journal entry written by my Mom. It is well worth our collective reflection and emulation in life.

Dear LORD, we thank you for your kindness and love in providing us day by day with all that we need. Help us to see your love for us in every new sun rise, every breath of air, every drop of rain. Make us truly thankful and let your love inspire us to live every day for you. In Jesus Name, Amen!

A great Heritage indeed!

Going Postal (Humor - or Tragedy?)

I recently received the following message from a Pastor friend. Very revealing.

You might enjoy this. I had to mail out some accreditation material to a seminary in Indiana and I had to mail it with a self-addressed stamped envelope. So, I took it to the local post office and asked if they could weigh the material and put the appropriate stamps on the return envelope before I put it into another envelope to mail, and as I'm explaining this, I laid the return envelope and the material on the scales. The woman behind the counter told me that she couldn't weigh the envelope and the material unless I put the material "inside" the envelope. It wouldn't work just laying the material "on" the envelope.

So, I took the material and as I placing it inside the envelope I innocently asked, "What difference would it make?" meaning, if the material and the envelope were laying on top of each other or whether one was inside the other, to which she replied, "It weighs differently if they are together or whether one is inside of the other."

You would have been proud of me--I held it together until I got outside the building and then I couldn't stand it any longer, I laughed until my sides hurt. Doesn't this explain why the Postal Service is in the state it is? To think these people actually walk among us.

Puts a whole new meaning to the term "going postal." Where do they find these people!?