One Name

I think that I can summarize my life and my work very simply. In fact, it is one word, one name that tells the story of who I am and what I do: Jesus.

• Jesus is my message. Everything that I do, live for, teach and believe is summarized in the life and ministry of Jesus. The gospels are my text book and Jesus is my message.
• Jesus is my mission. My purpose in life is to tell as many people as I can about Jesus. My goal is to get as many people to know about Jesus- and to follow Jesus- as I can before I die. Jesus is my mission.
• Jesus is my ministry. It is very easy for us 'ministry-types' to get consumed with our ministries. We know all the needs that we have to meet and every day there are more. There is never a shortage of things to do in religious work. But I try to be careful to never lose sight of the most important thing I am to do. I am to love, worship and serve Jesus. My primary ministry is Jesus.
• Jesus is my model. The classic question, "What would Jesus do?" is very appropriate. Everything that I do should be found acceptable when compared to the work, the ministry, the teachings of Jesus. I need to pattern my life after him.
• Jesus is my method. That state may be a little misleading. It would be better to say, "Whatever gets people to consider and know Jesus is my method." Plainly stated, I try to become all things to all men so that I can win some. Jesus is my method.

How is that for simplicity? One name is the answer to all the problems and concerns in my life. You could say that Jesus is my life. Shouldn't he be yours as well.

How to Think Like a Christian About HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is the greatest health and humanitarian crisis of my lifetime. It is not just a problem in the USA. In fact, here it is much less severe than in other parts of the world, especially Africa. There are many aspects to this problem, but one of the biggest has been the failure of the Christian church to minister to, care about or love those afflicted with AIDS. Here are some thoughts.

Many of those who are infected with HIV contracted it from illegal drug use and/or illicit sexual relationships. This means that education should be a big part of any HIV program. All people, regardless of where they live, should have access to information concerning the dangers of sharing needles and unprotected sex. It is incumbent on Christians to take the lead in this process. Jesus called us to care for all people. Jesus himself was interested in every part of life. He healed dozens of people with physical problems. The obvious implication is that Jesus wants us to care about those with HIV. Share information.

But what of those already infected? What about those who have engaged in sinful behavior and are now sick? What would Jesus do? The church has too often stood back in judgement of those who have this illness. We enjoy pointing toward the sin and offering words of condemnation and judgment. Never mind that Jesus went around forgiving people of their sins. In fact, he forgave people who did not even ask to be forgiven. What a revolutionary idea. We should be offering grace and forgiveness to those who have sinned. We should be showing love and demonstrating the goodness of Jesus.

And then there are those men and women (and children) who are completely innocent. They have not used drugs. They have not had unsafe sex. They exhibit none of the so-called "risky behaviors." These victims are the ones who contracted HIV when a husband or wife brought it home to them. These are the children who were born with HIV.

We must not abandon them. We must show them the love of Jesus. We should help them to find the medical care that they need. We should follow the admonition of Jesus in Matthew 25 to visit the sick. We should be ministering to these who need our ministry the most.

Finally, we need to consider the orphans. In parts of Africa, AIDS orphans are a huge part of the population. They are a burden on extended family members. They drain the resources of their families, villages and communities. These children, through no fault of their own, are completely unwanted in their world.

Again, it is imperative that church solve this problem. It is the command of Jesus that we care for everyone. It is the commission of Jesus that we take the gospel to the whole world. That includes taking the message to those places that are hard, sad and uncomfortable. The church, you and I, must care for all people.

Prayer of the Week

"What do you want me to do for you?" Luke 18.14

I have often been asked something like the following, "If God knows everything, then he should know what I want or need. Why should I have to pray?" Here are a few answers.

• You should pray because prayer is the thing that builds your relationship with God.
• You should pray because it is good for you to realize that you have needs. You can't do it all on your own, after all.
• You should pray because your prayer demonstrates your faith in and dependence on God's ability to answer your prayers.
• You should pray because it helps you to realize what your needs are.
• Prayer is also important because prayer will help you realize the extent of God's power.

Two more things about prayer: Be definite. Do not waste your time with bland generalities. Tell God exactly what your needs are. Be persistent. Don't give up just because you did not get the answer you wanted on the first day.

Lord, you are good and your mercy endures forever. We are your children and today we claim your goodness. Keep us in your care. Build us up as your sons and daughters. Make us the men and women that you want us to be. And most of all, teach us to pray. Amen.

Is There Sanctuary in Church?

Throughout history the church has stood as place of safety and sanctuary. Those oppressed by the powerful of society have been able to turn to the church for help. In response, the church has been at the forefront of helping people who are on the margins of society. Homeless shelters, job training, orphanages and hospitals are all examples of the Christian church responding to the needs of those seeking sanctuary.

It was Jesus who encouraged those who followed him to feed the hungry, provide drinks to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit prisoners (see Matthew 25.31-46). Throughout the centuries those who follow Jesus, and attempt to live out his teachings have sought to do those things. We are trying to live out the Great Commandment, to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Recently there have been three developments that jeopardize, or at the very least, call into question the ancient tradition of sanctuary. Although these developments are unrelated, they both could have severe implications for the church and those who call themselves Christ-followers.

• Illegal immigration is an issue that is too big for me to deal with in this context. Whether or not it is appropriate for people to come into the USA without the proper permissions or documentation is beyond the scope of this blog. (Nevertheless, people should not break the law to get into the USA.) However, once people are in this country, no matter their situation or circumstance, it is incumbent upon the church to assist them. The church should be providing English language skills, job training, legal advice and citizenship assistance to these immigrants. However, too often we find that the church is leading the charge to marginalize these men and women who are already among the poorest in our country.
• Church violence has escalated to new levels. Whether it is because of domestic issues in families, communities or within the church body, many people have chosen the church as the place to take out their anger and frustration. Recent attacks in Colorado are only the latest in a series of events that leads many to question whether or not they are safe at church.
• Dishonest ministers and ministries are causing problems for many people. Whether it is the extravagant lifestyle of famous (or infamous) preachers, or a leader that cannot be trusted with the temptation of sexually abusing church members, there are men and women in every community who do not feel safe in church.

We have big problems in the church. They cannot be solved quickly, and in many cases we seem reluctant to solve them at all. But we must. If we are ever to fulfill the command of Jesus, if we are ever to provide sanctuary for those who need it, we must begin now to do God's work and to clean up our mess.

The Pro-Life Movies?

An interesting article recently appeared in Christianity Today. In it Mark Moring asks the provocative question as to whether or not Hollywood is becoming pro-life. After all, 2008 was the year of positive messages from life-affirming perspectives. Movies of every sort were dealing with unwanted pregnancies and complicated relationships. And in every instance that I can think of the answer was always, choose life. (The article can be found at http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2008/february/10.35.html.)

All of these movies that I have seen prove to be excellent films as well. (Although released in 2007, I did not see Juno or Waitress until 2008. I am sure that they will both end up on my year end favorites list.) You will probably not be wasting your time with any of them.

Juno- Juno is the wise-cracking, wise beyond- her- years, teen who finds herself with an unwanted pregnancy and a very complicated adoption situation. The main message here: honesty.

Waitress- Waitress is about the woman who gets pregnant by her unloved and unloving husband. She makes some mistakes, but ultimately learns about love. The message here: hope.

August Rush- Two young musicians from different worlds meet and become pregnant from a one night stand. The son who is born is placed in an orphanage, but believes that his parents want him still. The message here: persistence.

Bella- In Bella, a struggling single woman learns that she is pregnant and plans to abort her child. However, friends and circumstances make her reconsider. The message here: friendship.

Knocked Up- In this adolescent comedy genre-film, we get this story about a mis-matched couple who get pregnant after a drunken one-time encounter. The message here: responsibility.

It is really too soon to tell if this is a trend in Hollywood movies, but it is certainly an encouraging sign. There are more sides to any issue than the traditional Hollywood party-line.

What I Believe About the Bible

Many of you are aware of the high view I have of Scripture. I read it, study it, and meditate on it on a regular basis. I have made a commitment to read the Bible through every year for the rest of my life. I am committed to teaching others the Bible and helping to nurture in them the same love for God’s word that I have. It is with that in mind that I offer the following thoughts about the Bible.

• The Bible is inspired by God. It was written, copied, translated, carried, distributed and read by humans, but God was behind the whole thing from the very beginning.
• The Bible is encouraging to readers. If you allow yourself to spend even the shortest amount of time with the Bible, you will find that you can be inspired, challenged and comforted by its words.
• The Bible is consistent with itself. It took hundreds of years for the Bible to be written. Dozens of authors were used in its composition, and yet the Bible is consistent from front to back in doctrine, history and theology as well as lifestyle guidelines and commands.
• The Bible speaks to all who will listen. Although God still speaks to individuals, he continues to use the Bible to get his message across. If you want to hear from God, read his word.
• The Bible is a significant historical document. To get a full view of ancient history, as well as a context for modern life, be sure to read the Bible.
• The Bible shows us how to live. Rules for conduct, worship, relationships, morality and more are all contained in the Bible. It is not only an historical document, it also is a guidebook.
• The Bible has changed our world and shaped our culture. Hospitals, universities, children’s homes, governments and more were all created in response to God’s word. The Bible has had more impact than any other book, ever.
• The Bible teaches us about God. To know what God thinks, who he is, what he wants, or where he is from, read the Bible.
• The Bible is the biggest selling book of all time. New translations and versions come out every year. And every year more Bibles are sold than any other book.

I could go on, but I think that you get the gist of it. Read the Bible! Do it now!

The What? of God

There is a lot of confusion in the world about God. And confusion about God is necessarily a bad thing. I recognize that fact, and yet I am afraid that I often add to the confusion. I make pronouncements about God in writing, on line, while teaching and even in conversation, and as clear as I believe that I am in my mind, I am sure that what I communicate is not as understood.

For one thing, there is nothing confusing about God. He is completely consistent in every way. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. There is no shadow of turning in him. That means that what was true about God is true about God. What is confusing about that?

We get confused, I believe, when we begin to listen to what people say about God, rather than what God says about himself. With the end of eliminating some misconceptions and easing confusion, I propose the following thoughts.

• The will of God is to make the world a better place. Jesus came to do his Father's will and also said that he was on earth to seek and save the lost. He encouraged his followers to treat everyone fairly and the same. He emphasized the Great Commandment, also known as the Golden Rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
• The work of God is to fulfill the will of God. This means that even as Jesus was about doing 'his Father's business,' we should be participating in it as well. It would do us all well to love mercy, do justice and walk humbly before God.
• The word of God is contained in the Bible, but that does not mean that he no longer speaks. God speaks on a daily basis to those who are willing to hear him. We violate God's word when we do not listen to or for his voice at all, or when we listen only to what he has said in the past. (Please note: I do not believe that God ever speaks against what is revealed in the Bible. If you hear from God, be sure to compare that message for consistency with the Bible.)
• The way of God is a conscious lifestyle, not a once-a-week meeting. Living God's way should have an effect on everything that you do every moment of every day. The way of God is a constant, regular decision to do what Jesus would do no matter what the consequences.