Posts Tagged ‘Jesus’

Silly Myths

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Comments Posted on Apr 22, 2010 Last Updated Apr 22, 2010 Posted by Jeff Lash

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV)

These words from Paul to Timothy have been consistently running through my head over the past few days. Paul packs a lifetime of wisdom into two small sentences. These sentences sum up Timothy’s situation in Ephesus. Some people began teaching doctrine that was contrary to the gospel. Paul leaves Timothy in Ephesus to pastor and protect the fledgling church from “myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith” (1 Tim. 1:4). As he wraps up the letter, Paul warns Timothy not be caught up in the “silly myths” himself. Silly is a good word for some of the things we see put forth in our day. Most of the novelty items found in the average Christian bookstore is silly (cross shaped mints, “car will be unmanned in case of rapture” bumper stickers, the empty tomb paper weight, etc.). Relativism is a silly idea. Many people will argue that there is no absolute standard of truth until they have been wronged. I think it is more honest to say that there are competing claims of absolute truth. A person claiming to be both a Christian and a Muslim is silly. The two belief systems are fundamentally opposed to one another on the basis of Jesus Christ. A brief introduction to both religions will make that blatantly clear. And of course, I cannot talk about “silly myths” without touching on the health and wealth gospel.

The health and wealth “gospel” promises everyone exceedingly good health and more financial gain than a person can possibly handle for the relatively small price of greater expressions of faith found in lavish giving or showy trips down the “miraculous” aisle. Touch the screen with the freshly anointed prayer cloth that you received based on your generous donation and begin to experience healing for your (insert any and all ailments that exist in the world today that are now being called out specifically for you). Sound silly? Yes. Is there any truth to what is being said? Yes. The sliver of truth that exists throughout the prosperity teaching provides just enough connection to lull people into a position of trust. Can God heal your disease or ailment? If he can raise people from the dead then he is more than capable of healing your cancer. Is God pleased and honored by generosity and expressions of faith? Definitely. Christians are exhorted to extend hospitality liberally (Heb. 13:1) and give to all who have need (Acts 2 & 4). God is glorified and exemplified by such acts. However, Scripture does not say that greater faith and generosity will lead to greater finances and health. Paul warns about the deception that comes from the love and desire for money (1 Tim. 6:9-10). Jesus tells us to store up treasures in heaven and not on earth so that our efforts will be spent on eternal purposes that do not pass away. Furthermore, the prosperity teaching looks extremely silly in the face of centuries of Christian history where men and women lived in extreme states of poverty, ailment, and persecution despite tremendous faith in God (the Apostle Paul, Polycarp, John Huss, Jim Eliot, Joni Eareckson Tada, etc.). Did they not have enough faith to spare them death and disease as they experienced it? It is quite the opposite. Men and women who have battled through persecution, disease, and poverty tend to show greater maturity in faith as a result of such struggles. Their faith has been galvanized and refined by the fire of trials.

Trials test our faith and breed perseverance. They are a greater measuring stick for our faith than anticipated blessings of health and wealth. Earthly materials and personal health will eventually pass away but the benefits gained from the testing of our faith through trials of many kinds have benefits for this life as well as the life to come. The gospel proclaims the good news of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He paid the price for our sin by dying on the cross and defeated death by rising from the grave. No matter what happens in this life, Christians have hope in the accomplishments of Jesus. We will die sinners saved by grace through faith in Jesus and rise again to live eternally with him. Paul’s use of the word silly is appropriate for everything that takes precedence over Jesus in light of this good news. So…look to Christ and leave behind the silliness.

More to come on the latter part of the verse…

That’s My King!

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Comments Posted on Apr 03, 2010 Last Updated Apr 03, 2010 Posted by Jeff Lash

I posted this video of Dr. S.M. Lockridge’s illustrated sermon last year about this time. Lockridge’s words and preaching stirs up the hearts affections for the Savior who bore the cross for our sins. I hope that it helps you fix your hearts and minds on all that Christ accomplished for us on the cross. He died and rose again so that we might not taste true defeat. We have been redeemed by the high cost of the blood of Jesus. That’s my King!


Salvation and Billboards

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Comments Posted on Mar 22, 2010 Last Updated Mar 22, 2010 Posted by Jeff Lash

I found this prayer by Scotty Smith encouraging and challenging. Like Scotty, I often loathe Christian billboards but nevertheless hope that I never tire of answering the question Are You Saved? It is a question that should bring us to our knees in worship of the Savior who made eternal salvation possible by giving up his life on the cross.

Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:24-25

I don’t have to like highway billboards, but may I never ever tire of responding to the question, Are You Saved?, for there’s no question more humbling to me and honoring of you. So very Amen, I pray, Jesus, in your merciful and mighty-to-save name.

Dear Lord Jesus, driving into my home state recently, I came upon a billboard that pushed some buttons before it raised my palms. Just through the mountains of North Carolina, there is was, bold and in big red letters, Are You Saved? I’ll be honest, my first response was, “What an un-cool, cost-ineffective, out-of-date, impersonal way to do evangelism.” Then I ruminated, “People that put up highway signs like that are clueless about the gospel. They’re usually legalists and moralists, and have no idea about a theology of imputed righteousness. They’re culturally out-of-touch and don’t realize what a turn-off that kind of signage is.”

But after my momentary-arrogance and billboard-pontification, your Spirit gently disrupted my “cool” with this thought, “You completely avoided the question, Are You Saved?”

I continued driving, but that’s when one palm went up anyway, for indeed, I am saved, Jesus, unabashedly and unashamedly so. And there’s only one reason and there’s only one basis… I have come to God through you. You are the permanent priest who offered the perfect sacrifice for me, once and for all. You completed your work on the cross and you will complete your work in me. You live forever and you forever live to thoroughly save me, and your whole pan-national trans-generational Bride. You were my substitute by your life and your death, and now you’re my righteousness and intercessor before the Father. Am I saved? Most definitely and most delightfully!

A Deeper Devotion

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Comments Posted on Feb 10, 2010 Last Updated Feb 10, 2010 Posted by Jeff Lash

The statistics that I listed in my earlier post are telling. Put together 20,000 people who commit their time, money and efforts to making Christ known across the globe and see what can be accomplished. Even on a small scale, imagine what could be done with an entire church of individuals who banded together for such causes on a regular basis. Needs would be met, hearts would be softened, and seeds of the gospel could be planted and hopefully harvested.

Don’t get me wrong, I have no illusions of a Utopian Christian world being created by acts of kindness. The world is not made of gumdrops and unicorns. Sometimes our efforts to serve and share are rejected and even mocked. Persecution and rejection come with the territory. That should be no surprise to us since Christ himself was mocked and spat on throughout his ministry and even as he went to his death. But I do not think our biggest problem is a fear of rejection born out of many experiences. We don’t have the experiences to even begin to justify that problem. I think that the struggle to go deeper in our commitment to Christ comes from our misunderstanding of reality. Being born again, we have been given a new set eyes, a new heart, and a new mind so that we might see the world as Jesus sees it. Of course, this new vision of reality comes progressively. We will never see or understand things perfectly. We will never embody Christ perfectly. We grow into our faith over the course of our entire lives. Yet it seems that many times we are content with going through the motions of our Christian faith instead of really pushing our faith as far as it will go and asking the tough questions. What takes greatest precedence in our life? How is our time and money spent? What have we been reading and studying lately? What prayers have we offered up? What physical needs have we met? How have we made the gospel known? These are the type of questions we should be asking constantly. And we should push each other to go deeper in our commitment to Christ. We have been born again. We are his children devoted to his ways for his glory. And we should sacrifice everything we have in order to glorify God and fully devote ourselves to him in every way possible since he is deserving of such adoration and loyalty.

As I examine my own life, I realize how often my words are betrayed by my life. I want to believe that I don’t waste time or spend my money in frivolous ways. I want to believe that I’m serving in meaningful ways that are helping people in need on a regular basis. I want to believe that I am spending hours each day mining the treasures of God’s Word. In reality, I fail miserably at all of these things. I praise God that my salvation is not dependent on them. However, I realize that there is limitless room and a great need for growth in my life. I want to be more faithful than I am right now. We need others in our lives who can be used by God to push us in that direction. That is what we should find in the church. It is also what we should be as the church…a community of Jesus worshipers who challenge one another to go deeper in their devotion and affection for our Savior. So let’s challenge one another to press on closer toward Christ on a daily basis. Let’s be the church and let God take care of the rest.

The Word 11.15.09

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Comments Posted on Nov 15, 2009 Last Updated Nov 16, 2009 Posted by Jeff Lash

How can we distinguish sound teachers from false prophets? It would seem obvious but Jesus says that false prophets come like wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15-20). Their attacks are subtle. They confuse and deceive by using common phrases and words that we would associate with a godly man or woman. For these individuals, Jesus tells us that we can truly know them by the fruit of their lives. The fruit of a person’s life (actions, words, etc.) will always be consistent with the affections of his heart. Whoever or whatever has claimed control over a person’s heart (and ultimately that person’s life) will be seen in the words and actions of that person. In the end, as Jesus puts it, our words will either acquit or condemn us.

Matthew 12:33-37 (ESV)

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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