GOD DOESN'T DO THINGS MY WAY; THEREFORE, HE MUST BE WRONG!

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God doesn’t do Things My Way; Therefore, He must be Wrong!

A Letter to an Atheist:

I can appreciate your skepticism about God and His ways. In fact, if I were God, I certainly would have done things differently. However, over the years, I’ve had many occasions to reconsider assuming this weighty vocation.

For instance, we tend to think we know what’s ultimately good for us. Many think that hitting-the-Lotto equates with happiness. However, surveys have shown that, more often than not, it destroys the lives it touches.

I can also think of many examples from my own life. For decades, I had experienced the horror of severe depression and panic attacks. However, I now thankfully look back on what I endured and recognize that I needed these trainers.

Also, this lesson pertains to how many of us have regarded God’s way of salvation. You too write:

• Reward lies solely with repentance and not at all whether you led a good and decent life. I just cannot accept this idea on faith.

Nevertheless, I think that there is wisdom in this, which we can only perceive as we progress further down the road. What if none of us are really good? Instead, we merely like to think that we are good, and this causes us to arrogantly look down on others and live in denial about our true nature. Would you disagree with me that if life enabled us to continue in our arrogance and denial that these would ruin any hope of real relationships?

You don’t have to be a Christian to recognize that denial, self-delusion, and self-righteousness are the real status of humanity. A multitude of experiments and surveys have revealed this very thing, although there have been some psychologists who have tried to justify our delusions by claiming that we need them in order to be able to function proactively.

Instead, if self-delusion is our reality, then counseling should be more confrontational than indulgent. It should attempt to break through the denial. However, such psychotherapists wouldn’t last long in their practice. They would loose all of their clients, who would seek other psychotherapists - those who would make them feel better about themselves.

However, life – God’s life – will not allow us to escape with ease. Life is painful. While we can escape the confrontational therapist, we can’t escape life, and life has a way of contradicting our illusions.

I’ve come to understand that a relationship with God is like having a relationship with life and with others. If someone spreads around malicious stories about me, it will not matter how many nice things they might say to my face or even how many times they might shower me with gifts.

Instead, in order to repair the relationship, the problem must be addressed at its core. The offender would have to humble himself to confess and repent of his wrongdoing. (I would even insist that he also attempt to make reparations by openly confessing his lies about me.) Nothing can be more healing for a relationship! If the offender refuses to repent, then there is no hope for restoration.

The Pharisees had been good and righteous people, at least, that’s the way they had been perceived. They were zealous to perform the good deeds of the law, and everyone held them in high esteem. Even the Jewish people of today regard them as worthy of God. However, these same people were in denial about their true spiritual status (Luke 16:15). They were self-righteous (Matthew 23) and looked down on others (Luke 18:9). These were the very same people who hated the light of God (John 3:19-20) and sought to put to death the Source of that light.

A relationship with God must address our problem at its root – our sins and rebellion against the truth. Anything else is superficial. Meaningful relationship must start with renewal of our attitudes and heart’s desires. If I found out that my wife loved me because I reminded her of her first flame, this would seriously undermine whatever we had enjoyed together.

There are many other areas – areas that you have mentioned – where it seems that God has taken a wrong path. We think of the problems of suffering, of hell, and of the exclusivity of Christ, among others. While for some, these represents knock-out punches, for those who know and love Him, these are no more than areas that give birth to questions, albeit uncomfortable ones.

In short, I have come to find the wisdom of God in areas where, previously, I could find little rationale. However, if He is truly the Creator, then we shouldn’t be surprised by our perplexity.

THE ANSWER TO PERSECUTION: FAITHFULNESS TO SCRIPTURE

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By His Mercies Alone, Daniel

For more great blogs as this one go to Daniel’s blog site above.

The Answer to Persecution: Faithfulness to Scripture

These aren’t the best of times. However, we’ve been warned about them:

·               But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. (2 Tim. 3:1-5)

Well, what are we to do? Separate from society? Tweak our faith in order to make it more acceptable? Paul suggested neither of these two options. Instead, he counseled Timothy to:

• Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus... Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist. (2 Tim. 3:14-15, 4:2-6)

Sadly, as the prevailing culture rejects Scripture and disparages the church, Christians have also hastened to pick up stones. Emergent Church guru and, Tony Jones, approvingly posted this letter by a Wheaton graduate on his blog:

• What seems clear is that evangelicalism has come full circle, and is now being forced to come to terms with its fundamentalist roots. Those who cling to the failed religious beliefs of the past will slowly fade into irrelevance, and those who struggle to embrace a new and more meaningful faith, as [Rob] Bell seems to be doing, will carry on a tradition that is anti-establishment, radically inclusive, and deeply loving.

What the beliefs of the past “the failed religious beliefs?” Is “irrelevance” God’s criterion?  Christian moderns tend to take a limper view of Scripture. Jones himself argues that Scripture has to change with the times:

• Many supporters of the marriage amendment referred to marriage between a man and a woman as “biblical marriage,” but anyone who possesses even a passing acquaintance with the Hebrew and Christian scriptures can recognize that marriage evolves in those texts. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tonyjones/2012/12/06/marriage-changes-get-over-it/

This means that Scripture lacks unchanging, objective, and transcendent truths. It enables modernity to become the ultimate authority, and downgrades Scripture. Consequently, the modern Christian is free to construe Scripture to coincide with his own lifestyle and culture. He can now be culturally relevant and respectable. 

Paul prophesied that “They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” Seeing this happen, especially in the church, is disheartening. But our Lord still reigns and is allowing this to happen for His own good purposes. Therefore, we must not despair.

How then should we address our hostile culture? “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.” Consequently, we will “endure hardships.” However, this doesn’t mean that we have failed. Instead, faithfulness is not a matter of learning and applying modern church-growth techniques. Success in God eyes is not synonymous with numbers. Pastoring a mega-church might not constitute spiritual success. Instead, persecution might be a more accurate measure of Godly success. Paul prepared Timothy for the inevitable persecution:

• In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Tim. 3:12)

Compromise can allay persecution. If we tell people that “Christ works for me,” rather than “Christ is truth,” we can retain our popularity. One highly gifted pastor confided to me that his interfaith ministry was DOA until he added a how-to-win-friends technique:

• I affirmed the Rabbi and the Imam in their relationship with God. I would tell them, “I can see that you have a deep and vibrant faith with your God.”

After this pastor affirmed their faith, his ministry predictably boomed, and his theology changed into one that would support his new-found methodology.

Similarly, I have visited many churches that have affirmed whatever ideas, faith or lifestyle came through their door. They preached an all-inclusive “love.” Everything was acceptable to them (except Evangelical Christianity). And from appearances, this seemed to work. These churches were filled with hugs, soft-fuzzies and every form of affirmation, and people felt accepted there, at least at that time.

However, we are not called to what works but to what honors God. It is easy to be a people-pleaser, but this comes with a high price-tag:

• You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

This might seem extreme. However, His ways are not always our ways. Consequently, faithfulness will bring contempt and not the friendship of the world. However, in the minds of many, the contempt of the world means that we failed. We conclude that if people don’t like us, there is something unlikable about us. If the culture is offended by us, well, we must have been offensive.

While sometimes, we are offensive and insensitive, persecution naturally results from the offensive nature of our Gospel:

1. We are all sinners who deserve death, even the best of us. Even one sin can condemn us. (James 2:10; Matthew 5:21-22).

2. None can save themselves. (Romans 3:10-20)

3. There is only one way to be saved, and that’s through faith in Jesus. (John 3:16)

4. Therefore, some are “in” and some are “out.” Some are children of the light and some are of the darkness. (John 3:19-21)

5. Those who don’t believe face eternal condemnation (John 3:17-18).

All of these truths are offensive to humankind, especially the modern variety. Consequently, Paul prepared Timothy by using himself as an object lesson:

• For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. (2 Tim. 4:6)

Sadly, when we see a Christian “being poured out” as Paul had been, we conclude that, somehow, he had brought this fate upon himself. Surely, he could have handled himself more diplomatically or sensitively.

Instead, these difficult times require a return to the basics. Paul encouraged Timothy to “continue” in the “holy Scriptures,” the “power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16), not in the latest, most vigorously promoted techniques. Lord, cause me to be centered on You and Your Gospel!

BLESSED QUIETNESS

Today's promise: God will give you peace

Blessed Quietness

Joys are flowing like a river
Since the Comforter has come.
He abides with us forever,
Makes the trusting heart his home.

Blessed quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!

Blessed Quietness
Manie Payne Ferguson (1850-?)

But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative — and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit — he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you. I am leaving you a gift — peace of mind and heart.…

John 14:26-27 NLT

Finding peace

On the stormy sea of Galilee, Jesus commanded the winds and waves, "Peace, be still" (Mark 4:39), and immediately there was calm. And later in the upper room, as Jesus told His disciples that He would leave them, He promised them the Holy Spirit and peace.

Manie Payne, born in Carlow, Ireland, was a Christian, but she did not know peace. She struggled with her sinful nature until she began to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit. This is the "blessed quietness" that she wrote about. Once that occurred, she was so happy she could hardly contain herself. Indeed, joy was flowing like a river in her life.

Later she married T.P. Ferguson and founded Peniel Missions, with branches in Egypt, China, and the west coast of the United States.

from the The One Year® Book of Hymns by Mark Norton and Robert Brown (Tyndale) entry for May 21

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

HAVE YOU RECEIVED GOD'S MERCY?

Today's promise: God is merciful

Have You Received God's Mercy?

Praise the Lord, I tell myself; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives my sins and heals all my diseases. He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.

Psalm 103:1-4 NLT

Having chosen [His people], He called them to come to Him. And He gave them right standing with Himself, and He promised them His glory.

Romans 8:30 NLT

Pardoned

The essential act of mercy was to pardon; and pardon in its very essence involves the recognition of guilt and ill-desert in the recipient. If crime is only a disease which needs cure, not sin which deserves punishment, it cannot be pardoned. How can you pardon a man for having a gumboil or a club foot? But the Humanitarian theory wants simply to abolish Justice and substitute Mercy for it. This means that you start being "kind" to people before you have considered their rights, and then force upon them supposed kindnesses which no one but you will recognize as kindnesses and which the recipient will feel as abominable cruelties. You have overshot the mark. Mercy, detached from Justice, grows unmerciful. That is the important paradox. As there are plants which will flourish only in mountain s oil, so it appears that Mercy will flower only when it grows in the crannies of the rock of Justice: transplanted to the marshlands of mere Humanitarianism, it becomes a man-eating weed, all the more dangerous because it is still called by the same name as the mountain variety.
C. S. LEWIS in God in the Dock

Quoted in The Quotable Lewis edited by Wayne Martindale and Jerry Root (Tyndale House) p 426

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Not what thou art, nor what thou hast been, doth God regard with his merciful eyes, but what thou wouldst be.
JULIAN OF NORWICH

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

CAN YOU EVER BE BEYOND GOD'S MERCY?

Today's promise: God is merciful

Can you ever be beyond God's mercy?

Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.

Psalm 23:6 NLT

From poolroom to pulpit

By the age of thirteen, Johnny Hunt was already heavily abusing alcohol. His mother worked two jobs to provide for her family, and Johnny capitalized on the lack of adult supervision by getting into all kinds of trouble. When he was fourteen, he found a fake ID and gained entrance to the local poolroom, where he began playing pool five to eight hours a day. Johnny dropped out of school at sixteen and was hired as the manager of the poolroom.

When he married, his wife, Jan, soon began to talk about going to church, but that was not part of his plan. Then a man named Mr. Pridgen began coming into the hardware store where Johnny had taken a part-time job. As Mr. Pridgen paid for his purchases each week, he would tell Johnny how Jesus had changed yet another life and invite him to church. He finally gave in.

After a few weeks Johnny was surprised to feel the Lord working in his heart. Each week, during the invitation hymn, he began to weep. During the morning service of January 7, 1973, Jan noticed his tears. At the evening service that night, Johnny went forward and put his trust in Jesus.

From that moment on, Johnny Hunt was a changed young man. He went to all his old hangouts, sharing with his old friends what Jesus had done for him. When a skeptic asked him, "What are you going to do now that you're saved and going to heaven?" His answer came easily, "Take as many people with me as I can." To achieve that goal, Johnny decided to finish school and become a pastor.

from The One Year® Book of Christian History by E. Michael and Sharon Ruten, Tyndale House Publishers (2003) pp 14-15

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED GOD'S VICTORY?

Today's promise: God will fight for you

Have you experienced God's victory?

O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.

So many are saying, "God will never rescue him!"

…Victory comes from You, O Lord. May Your blessings rest on Your people.

Psalm 3:1-8 NLT

The Lord our shield

In the sixteenth century the Huguenots of France were known for their psalm singing. They sang when they ate, they sang when they worked, they sang when they worshiped. They even sang when they were persecuted or when they were going into battle. In battle, psalms were chanted whenever sentries took their posts. The chanting of certain psalms signified certain things. Chanting Psalm 3 signaled danger. Whenever a Huguenot heard this psalm, he knew an attack was imminent.

That must have been the way David felt when he wrote Psalm 3. His son Absalom was trying to usurp the throne, enemy armies were pursuing him, and he didn't know which friends he could count on. David and his contingent of soldiers had hastily crossed the Jordan River during the night, not knowing what would happen in the hours of darkness (see 2 Samuel 17:22). The situation seemed hopeless. Despite the anxiety, however, David continued to trust in the Lord as his shield, his glory, and the one who lifted his head.

When danger seems imminent, will you trust God as David did? Will you look to the Lord as your shield, your glory, and the one who lifts your head?

I cried and from his holy hill
He bowed a listening ear.
I called my Father and my God
And he subdued my fear.ISAAC WATTS

from The One Year® Book of Psalms by William J. Petersen and Randy Petersen, Tyndale House Publishers (1999), entry for January 4

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

BLESS THE BOUNDARIES

BLESS THE BOUNDARIES

READ:
Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who walks not in the
counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in
the path of sinners.  -Psalm 1:1

In all the years I've worked with people, I've yet to meet someone whose life was all messed up because he or she kept God's commands.  Yet, in a day when personal freedom is celebrated as an inalienable right, talk of conforming our lifestyle to God's ways is often viewed as an infringement.  And anyone who speaks out in favor of God's boundaries is ruled out of bounds.  But in this frenzy to be free, it should not go unnoticed that our society is increasingly marked with a haunting sense of meaninglessness and despair.

God's people should have distinctly different view of boundaries.  Like the psalmist, we must realize that a blessed life comes from delighting in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2 - not in living like those who "walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take" (v.1 NIV).  As believers in Jesus will recognize that God's boundaries are not meant to take the pizazz out of life.  Instead, they are divine fences constructed with God's wisdom to help us avoid the treachery and trouble of reckless living.

Next time you are tempted to break through God's boundaries, remember His loving purpose in putting up fences.  Choose to bless God for the boundaries and for the way they bless you.  - Joe Stowell

What freedom lies with all who choose
To Live for God each day!
But chains of bondage shackle those
Who choose some other way. -D. DeHaan
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God's fences keep you
within the bounds of His blessings.

INSIGHT
Psalm 1 presents two ways of living.  It contrasts the rootedness of the godly (vv.1-3) with the instability of the ungodly (vv.4-6), and is a call to live according to God's Word.  By rejecting ungodly ways but delighting and obeying God's laws, the godly person lives a joyful, fruitful, and secure life.  The life of the person who rejects God is like chaff, brief and futile, with little eternal usefulness (v.4).  The psalmist's conclusion?  Judgment and destruction await the ungodly (v.5), whereas God protects and preserves the righteous (v.6).  "Blessed," the first word of the psalm, is decisively contrasted with "perish," its last word.

Have a blessed day and week ahead.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace