The Time Is Short

One of the simplest and at the same time, one of the most profound songs we can sing is “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so”

The love of God is this, God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish but will have everlasting life.  The truth of this statement, found in John 3:16 is well known.   However, many do not understand that the time is short.  The Bible makes it clear that today is the day of salvation, however there will be a time when judgement will begin. 

Judgement begins at what is described by the prophets as the ‘Last Days’, or “the time of Jacobs Trouble” and also “The Tribulation.”  The Apostle Peter, wrote that there would be scoffers even within the church that denied that this day would come.  “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,  and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3&4)

People have been hoping that the Lord would be returning soon for almost 2,000 years.   Likely the reason for the hope is the feeling that we are close, but have not yet arrived at the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God.  The Jews had trouble understanding that Jesus was the Messiah because he didn’t fit their mold.  They were looking for a political leader, someone that could overthrow the tyranny of the Romans.  The Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes were looking for someone like them, someone that would use the law as a measuring rod rather than Jesus who demonstrated the love and mercy of God. 

It is very similar today even in the church.   For many, the love of God has grown cold.  Many that consider themselves to be Christians no longer hope in the second coming but scoff at those who believe that all of the prophecies will be fulfilled, Jesus will return and will reign for 1,000 years. 

I believe the Apostle Peter mentions this time as well, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”  (1 Peter 4:17) 

There will be a time when judgement will come.  For some, it will be too late.  The Bible tells us that we who are His are not appointed to His wrath.  When the wrath of God is manifest, there will be many that will literally be left behind.   We are in a period today called the “Age of Grace” when the grace of God is readily available, and the coming judgment is still at some point in the future.  When Jesus was handed the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah, he found where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

to proclaim the year of the favor of the Lord (Luke 4:18-19)

 That year started when Jesus announced it, and that year continues to this day. The year of the favor of the Lord however will soon come to an end.   Judgement will begin in the house of the Lord with true believers being raptured, taken up into heaven and ‘Kept from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth’ (Revelation 3:10)

 Finally, we know that God’s favor is still here because it is still ‘today’ “For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)

The Ultimate and Final Evil

We hear every week of Christians killed in Muslim majority countries.  Often the police in these countries will stand by as Christians are dragged out of their houses, churches are burned and property destroyed.  According to Open Doors, a worldwide ministry that serves the persecuted church, each month more than 300 Christians are killed because of their faith and over 200 churches are destroyed.  While there have been times when persecution has strengthened the church, persecution has also at times completely wiped out Christianity in large areas and left completely absent any witness for Jesus Christ.  

We should be concerned because these are our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are reminded that the human rights to life and liberty are inalienable and need to be safeguarded regardless of the political divide.  We also care about persecution because we are told that we are one body.  In 1 Corinthians 12:26, the Apostle Paul said, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

For the first five centuries, Christianity flourished in the Middle East. Modern day Iraq, Iran, Syria, Egypt and Turkey were known as the cradle of Christianity.  Three of the five Patriarchs (ruling Bishops) were those Bishops of Alexandria, Jerusalem and Antioch which were major centers and Christian philosophy and teaching.  However, by 641, followers of Muhammad conquered much of Egypt and destroyed the Library of Alexandria dating back to Alexander the Great.   Syria had fallen to the same Muslim armies a few years before and all the Middle East and North Africa were controlled by Muslim armies within 60 years.

Most non-Muslims don’t understand that Islam is not a religion, but as Dr. Peter Hammond, author of “Slavery, Terrorism and Islam,” noted in his book, “Islam has religious, legal, political, economic, social, and military components. The religious component is a beard for all of the other components.”

While Christianity has always and will always face persecution, the threat to Christianity and much of Western Civilization from Islamic religious, political and cultural demands is by far the greatest evil we have ever faced.   It is likely the Islam is the ultimate and final evil that will be brought to a conclusion by nothing less than the return of the King of Kings.

What is the Gospel

The gospel is the Good News that Jesus Christ, the son of God, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and was crucified for our sins.  He was raised from the dead on the third day and will come again.

The Bible tells us that if we believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord and confess with our mouth that God raised him from the dead we will be saved.

The early church believed this gospel.   All of our rich traditions and theology are great but they add nothing to this simple Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The body of Christ is comprised of everyone who believes this essential Gospel and has embraced Jesus Christ at their savior, their messiah. 

It is the gospel the brings us together, it is the essential gospel that brings unity of the faith and revival in the hearts of all in the boy of Christ.

The Apostle Paul was passionate about unity in the church. Listen to his prayer in the book of Romans, chapter 15

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of UNITY among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ 

Changing Church Culture

Over the past 2,000 years the world has certainly been changed by the presence of the Church.  From the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended and Peter stood up with the eleven Apostles, preached the first sermon and three thousand in Israel believed, the Church has been on the move and literally has gone into all of the world.

Over the same time the Church has also changed.  While the teachings of Jesus remain the cornerstone, the culture has changed.   While many of us hope that our local church looks something like the early church, a reading of the Book of Acts in chapter 4 beginning with verse 32 tells us what the early church culture was like:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs 

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. 

With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

Some of the words in these five verses should give us pause: teaching, fellowship, break-bread, prayer, selling possessions, meeting daily, house-to-house, sincerity-of-heart, Lord-added-daily-those-being saved.

I embrace the local church.  Like Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, I believe that the local church is hope of the world.   Together, we cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit to bring people to the cross, to share the gospel of reconciliation and to wait for the coming restoration when the Lord returns for His Bride. 

We are more successful in this mission when we return to that early church culture of a devotion to teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer.   When we do, truly a sense of awe will come over everyone.

Make your first Church hire the Volunteer Coordinator

As organizations grow, they begin to hire employees.   

Churches are often started with a minimum of employees and rely heavily on volunteers to handle most of the assignments and responsibilities.

As churches begin to grow, the pastor looks forward to the time that he or she may begin to hire staff to help in the ministry.  Worship leaders, youth leaders, an office assistant or Children’s coordinator are often likely first hires.   While this has often worked well in many of our churches, I think we have missed a great opportunity.

Make your first hire, a volunteer coordinator.

Churches have an amazing source of talent in the pews.  Most of us know that getting the people that are simply attending church to being the church is one huge and clear illustration of discipleship in action.  People grow in their faith walk as they exercise their gifts by serving. 

Active involvement in church ministry in various volunteer capacities is not only healthy for church members, it also fulfills one of the primary missions of the church, to make disciples.  What could be better than to also learn to be a servant, like Jesus? 

While church leaders intuitively realize they need volunteers, they often begin to dream of the time that they will be able to get 'real' staff.  Church leaders also dream about become one of those growing, healthy churches that have conferences and have pastors that write books about how to do “it.”

Growing, healthy churches that have conferences also have figured out how to create and maintain a healthy culture of volunteerism.   They recognize the importance of having a staff person that is 100% focused on volunteers.  

Churches have found amazing volunteer teachers, leaders, worship leaders, children's ministry coordinators, business administrators, computer experts and gardeners.  Getting new people engaged in some volunteer activity, coordinating schedules so that volunteers know where and when they are to serve, ensuring adequate depth in volunteer roles so that volunteers get vacations and regular opportunities for respite, and creating a culture where volunteers are regularly recognized, trained, and thanked are great bullet points on a volunteer coordinators job description. 

Hire the Volunteer Coordinator and empower the people to be the church, utilize their God-given talents and grow in their faith.  

Putting down roots: Membership or Partnership

One of the megatrends in churches has been to rethink the concept of Membership.   

Some of the largest churches in the country no longer offer memberships and instead encourage their regular attenders to consider a partnership with the church.    These partnerships are similar to membership in many respects however it does allow the church to identify some unique differences:

1. Partnerships are commitments made by regular attenders to voluntarily align with the mission of the local church.  They are an agreement to become active participants rather than passive attenders. However, unlike membership, they don’t usually come with ‘voting’ or any other rights.
2.  In this age of non-denominationalism, becoming a partner in a local church is akin to partnering in a nonprofit organization or ministry.   It’s an opportunity for involvement, it’s a financial decision to provide support.
3. Partnerships are also easier 'hurdles'   As membership comes with voting rights including the right to hire or even fire a pastor, the membership steps involved a 'vetting process' making sure that members were true Christians or even 'sanctified' for lack of a better term.   Partnerships in contrast, simply means they want to belong and become involved in the work of the church. 

Church membership still has many advantages.  In Tom Rainer’s book “I Am a Church Member” he gives seven reasons why church membership is not only relevant, it is also biblical.  For example, in 1 Corinthians 12: 27, it says: “Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.”   People also understand being invited to a "Church Membership Class."   Partnership still doesn't have the same familiarity. 

While I prefer the term “Partnership” or even better “Covenant Partners”, I’m a fan of any membership program or name that encourages active participation in the life of the church. The Church after all is not a building nor organization but the Body of Christ. 

Five Evangelical Preachers Highlight ‘Solas’ of Reformation

From Proclaim 17 ORLANDO, Fla. (NRB) 

Five evangelical preachers highlighted the five “solas” of the Protestant Reformation to mark the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses at Proclaim 17, the NRB International Christian Media Convention in Orlando.

Dr. Tony Evans, Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, preached on “Sola Gratia” (by grace alone); Dr. Erwin Lutzer, Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church in Chicago, addressed “Sola Fide” (by faith alone); Dr. Mac Brunson, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, preached on “Solus Christus” (through Christ alone); Dr. R.C. Sproul, Founder and Chairman of Ligonier Ministries, spoke on “Sola Scriptura” (by Scripture alone); and Dr. Barry Creamer, President of Criswell College, addressed “Soli Deo Gloria” (glory to God alone).

By Grace Alone

Evans preached from Ephesians 2:1-10, noting that the Roman Catholic Church had been trying for centuries to get people to atone for their sins through indulgences and other means, but Luther proclaimed that biblical acceptance with God was by grace alone.

“At the heart of grace is unmerited favor,” Evans said. “Grace can be defined as the goodness of God to people who do not deserve it, could never earn it, and could never pay it back. For it is the God of grace that offers His goodness to undeserving mankind.”

Knowing that man would sin, God “had to come up with a plan for His attributes to get along,” Evans said, meaning justice and wrath would have to be at peace with the expression of love and mercy.

“Since He could not look to His creation in order to resolve the problem because the creation was the problem, He had to come up with an answer to address the conflict within the attributes given the sinfulness of man combined with the desire of God expressing His love, and so He came up with a plan to resolve the problem in Himself, by Himself, for Himself to benefit mankind who could not help themselves because they were stuck in a graveyard,” Evans said.

By grace, Jesus says to believers, “‘You’re with me, and the rights and privileges of grace get transferred to you, not because of who you are but because of who I am,’” Evans said.

By Faith Alone

Luther, Lutzer said, struggled with a sense of alienation from God. “Imagine the freedom that Luther was finally able to have when he said, ‘My sin doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to Jesus,’” Lutzer said.

“What Luther discovered was the Gospel itself buried under centuries of traditions and prayers and candles and all of those things,” Lutzer said.

“The truth was there,” he later added. “The Catholic Church believed in Jesus Christ as God, they believed in the Scripture, though tradition usually trumped the Scripture. But the fact was it was all there and the reformers came along and weeded the garden.”

Lutzer noted five characteristics of saving faith: It involves the acknowledgement of personal sin; it involves the understanding that Jesus died to take our penalty; it involves a transfer of trust to Jesus Christ alone; it involves a growth in faith; and it results in good works.

“The Jesus who saved you is just as strong and just as trustworthy as the Jesus who saved me or anyone else,” Lutzer said.

Through Christ Alone 

Brunson noted that Hebrews 1:3 says Jesus is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact representation of his nature,” and, as Brunson said, “That doesn’t happen with anyone else.”

He pointed to the exclusivity of Christ’s redemptive activity recorded in Hebrews 10:4, which states, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

“All of that sacrifice for all of those years never dealt with a single sin of the Jews,” Brunson  said.

“Christ came in not only as High Priest to offer up the sacrifice,” he added. “He offered Himself up as the sacrifice because Christ and Christ alone can die for sins. Nobody else has ever tried.

“You don’t read that in the Koran,” Brunson said. “Allah doesn’t give that a shot. Neither does Mohammad, Krishna, Buddha, Shiva, any of the Hindu gods. Not even Shirley MacLaine. Nobody can die for sins but Jesus Christ, and He makes purification of them, and to show how complete that is, He sits down.”

By Scripture Alone

It’s customary, Sproul said, for historians to indicate two chief causes of the Protestant Reformation: the material cause and the formal cause.

“We know that the material cause of the Reformation, or the question of what was the matter at the time, focused on the issue of the Gospel and the answer to the question, ‘How are we as unjust people justified in the presence of a holy God,’” Sproul said. “So the central material aspect was the debate over the issue of justification by faith alone.

“But throughout that discussion of the material principle of the Reformation, there was always just beneath the surface – and quite frequently bubbled to the surface – of the controversy the issue of the formal cause of the Reformation and that issue was the question of authority,” Sproul said. “By what authority did Luther declare his doctrine of justification by faith alone?”

Luther said he had been captured by the Word of God. “My conscience is bound by sacred Scripture, and to act against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me,” Sproul said, noting the great reformer’s famous assertion.

“What Luther said in the 16th Century and what we say today is – as important as the instruction that we received from the great theologians of the past, from the commentaries, from the creeds, from the confessions – there’s only one source that has the authority absolutely to bind our consciences. It’s sacred Scripture,” Sproul said.

If believers want to realize an awakening or a sort of new reformation in this day, Sproul said, “what we’re going to have to see are Christians whose consciences have been captured by sacred Scripture and can say, ‘Here we stand. We can do no other.’”

Glory to God Alone

The five solas, Creamer said, declare that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, revealed through Scripture alone to God’s glory alone.

The fifth sola “is actually unique for a couple of reasons,” Creamer said. “The other four are all means to salvation itself. This one is different. The glory of God is not the means of salvation. It is the purpose of salvation, and to that extent, it applies to all the others together.”

Creamer cited “an objective sense of God’s glory that is in Him. That is, the attributes of God that lend to His gravity are His glory. They just belong to Him. But then there is a sense in which we use the word ‘glory’ to talk about the appropriate response we have to that truth about God. … Our praise is of His glory.”

The glory of God is independent of man and is eternal, universal, objective, and absolute, Creamer said, “but it’s not fully realized until we participate in it.”

Referring to Psalm 8:5, which says God crowned man with glory and honor, Creamer said God “bestows it on us, but He expects it to come back to Him. The fruit of our lives is only when we are consumed by Him.”

By Erin Roach (here's a link to the NRB and Proclaim 17

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