The Encouraging Word - 12/19/10

Can we really be sure that Jesus is God's Messiah?  Thank God that the Bible answers that question.  Check out the answer here.  Have a very Merry Christmas as you celebrate the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The World That John Lennon Imagined

On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was killed outside his home in New York.  Naturally, yesterday marked 30 years since the singer's death.  By all popular accounts, John Lennon was perhaps the brightest light in a supergroup that changed the course of modern history.  That being said, I'll have to confess I'm not much of a Beatles fan.  Their music has never really appealed to me, but I certainly acknowledge the fact that the Beatles are adored by many others.  For that reason, I know I run the risk of angering a few folks with what I'm going to write, but it's a risk I'm willing to take.

On October 11, 1971, John Lennon released what may be his most popular song of all-time.  The song Imagine soared to #1 in both Canada and Australia, and it would go on to reach #3 on the US Billboard charts.  Even Lennon himself hailed the song as being just as good as anything he'd ever written with the Beatles.  I just want to ask a simple question:  What exactly did John Lennon imagine?  Read the lyrics for yourself:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

John Lennon imagined a world of "no religion" - a world devoid of any concept of heaven or hell.  Since heaven and hell are both biblical doctrines, I don't think it's a stretch to say that John Lennon would've eagerly invited a world without the Bible.  And of course, in a world with no religion it appears that all references to God would no longer be necessary because apparently no God exists.  It's no wonder then that Lennon envisioned a world where all the people were "living for today."


With that being said, it's strange to me that some Christians are attracted to the music of John Lennon.  Do we share John Lennon's worldview?  If so, then there's no way we can call ourselves followers of Christ.  In regard to heaven, Jesus said it was a very real place where He was going to prepare a place for all those who believe in Him (John 14:2).  And as for hell, Jesus also said it was a very real place of fire and brimstone - a place where "their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44, 46, 48).  And while Lennon may have longed for a world without religion, James (the brother of Jesus) called all Christians to demonstrate pure and undefiled religion:  "To visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).


I don't know what kind of world you imagine, but I hope you'll join me in rejecting the world that Lennon envisioned.  While peace and sharing are both qualities that we should desire in the world today, we are naive and just dead wrong if we think lasting peace and sharing are going to come apart from Christ Jesus.  Everywhere the socialist/communist overtones of Lennon's imaginary world have been tried, they have failed miserably (Nazi Germany, Red China, USSR, etc.).  But where the grace of God has been offered through the preaching of the Gospel, souls have been saved, lives have been changed, and the entire world has been transformed.


Lennon once opined:  "Christianity will go.  It will vanish and shrink.  I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right."  30 years after his death, Lennon is gone but our Lord Jesus remains.  His Gospel continues to ring out all over the world.  And someday soon, Jesus will come back to rapture all those that belong to Him.  "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20).  The coming Kingdom of Christ - that's the world I'm imagining.

Is Jesus Coming Back on May 21, 2011?

According to Harold Camping, President of Family Radio, that is precisely the date that Jesus is going to come back to rapture His church.  He also opines that God will destroy the world on October 21, 2011.  You can check out all his predictions and pronouncements by clicking here.

Mr. Camping now stands in a long line of others who have predicted the time of Christ's return.  To see just one list of failed predictions, check out this website.  What's amazing to me is that people are still trying to predict the date of Christ's return, even after so many failed attempts.  What's even more amazing to me is that people are still listening to those that would attempt to predict the time of Christ's return.

What does the Bible say about the time of Christ's coming?  Here are just a few samples from Scripture:

"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Matt. 24:24).

"Therefore, if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or "look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.  For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matt. 24:26-27).

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matt. 24:36, emphasis mine).

"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming" (Matt. 24:42).

"Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matt. 24:44).

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matt. 25:13).

All of these passages can be found in what is commonly referred to as "the Olivet Discourse" - an extending teaching by Christ in which He spoke specifically to believers concerning the end of time.  Clearly, if Christ wanted us to know the date of His coming, He would've surely given it to us somewhere within these verses.  Not only did Jesus refrain from providing us with a date, but He said time and again that no man would know the time of His coming. I could've also written out a number of other passages that indicate the very same thing:  Mark 13:32, Acts 1:7, 1 Thess. 5:2, 2 Pet. 3:10, and a host of others.

Probably the most often used illustration of Christ's coming employed by Jesus and the other writers of Scripture is "a thief in the night."  Has your home, car, etc. ever been broken into?  If you had known when the interloper was going to break in, you probably would've been there waiting on him - guns locked and loaded.  That is precisely the point that Jesus made in Matt. 24:43.  Just as you didn't know when the thief was going to come and steal your things, so we don't know when Christ will come and rapture His church.

So, if you ever hear anyone offer a prediction about the coming of Christ (other than the fact that He is coming), be sure to turn him off as quickly as possible.  He is a false teacher and you will be misled if you continue to ingest his false teachings.  While we don't know the day or hour of Christ's coming, we praise God that He will return:  "This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).  When the Day of Judgment comes, I earnestly hope you are counted among those who "have loved His appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8).

The Encouraging Word - 12/5/10

All of us will probably finish life in one of two ways - with integrity or in disgrace.  Would you like to know what will keep you from finishing in disgrace?  If so, click here.

The Encouraging Word - 11/28/10

Have you ever listened to the testimony of a person who has no home, no family, and no transportation?  If not, here's your chance.  Meet John Ford.  God is doing an awesome work in his life and our church has been blessed just to get to know him.  Listen to his powerful testimony here.  God has literally taken this man off the streets and is using him for His glory.  Hallelujah - what a Savior!

The Encouraging Word - 11/21/10

This week's Encouraging Word asks the following question:  How do you respond to the truth?  Few people seem to want to tell the truth, far fewer seem to want to hear it, and even fewer respond to truth in the appropriate way.  I hope we'll all learn a lesson from King Jeroboam and receive the truth with all humility.  Have a great week.

Are People Born Gay? (Part 4)

It's hard to bring this discussion to an end.  There is so much more I'd like to say, but it's time to bring these posts to a conclusion.  In doing so, I'd like to share with you three things the church needs to realize concerning this issue of homosexuality.

First, the world (and even some churches) are going to continue to promote the lie that people are born gay, despite the fact that Scripture, good science, and even philosophy teaches us otherwise.  For that reason, we can expect the media (TV, internet, music, etc.), retailers, and even our government to continue to push the homosexual agenda.  For the past two years, the current administration has declared June to be "Gay Pride Month" in the United States.  And as I mentioned, some churches have even gotten in on the act.  Entire denominations are now proclaiming the merits of the homosexual lifestyle.  Where those denominations once denounced homosexuality as sin, they are now celebrating it as an alternate lifestyle.  These types of things will only grow worse if our Lord continues to tarry in His coming.  It's for good reason we say, "Even so, come Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20).

Second, if you faithfully teach and share what the Bible has to say about homosexuality, you will be despised by many.  You will be called narrow-minded, mean-spirited, and just plain ignorant.  You will be marginalized as a mind-numbing neanderthal who hasn't made his way out of the caves and into the light quite yet.  But didn't Jesus tell us to expect such things:  "If you were of the world, the world would love its own.  Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you...if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:19, 20).  Paul echoed the words of our Savior in his second letter to Timothy:  "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (2 Tim. 4:3-4).  We must decide if we are going to cave in to political correctness, or if we're going to stand with the Savior and "preach the Word" (2 Tim. 4:2).

Finally, as the Body of Christ we've got to do much more to share the truth with homosexuals and love them to the Savior.  This is where I have to take a long look in the mirror.  I have to confess that I've made fun of homosexuals and said some very hurtful things about them.  But how much time have I spent trying to reach them for Christ?  Didn't Jesus die for homosexuals too?  I hope we'll all remember that Christ spent a great deal of His ministry around those whom the religious right had excommunicated - the lepers, the harlots, the tax collectors, the demon-possessed, etc.  It's time to ask ourselves some hard questions.  Would homosexuals feel welcome in our churches?  Do our houses of worship feel more like hotels for saints or hospitals for sinners?  God help us to reach reach men, women, boys, and girls of every status and lifestyle with the life-changing Gospel of our Savior (Rom. 1:16).

Are People Born Gay? (Part 3)

Having considered the biblical and theological references to homosexuality, I'd like to turn some attention to the scientific and philosophical aspects of this issue.  Let's consider science first.  A friend of mine called my attention to a recent article that appeared in the Knoxville News-Sentinel.  It can be accessed by clicking here.  The writer of the guest column, Lucille Griffo, shares the story of the time when her son told her that he was gay.  In the midst of telling her story, Ms. Griffo sets forth this statement as an undeniable scientific fact:  "(Homosexuality) is a biological reality."

Is Ms. Griffo right?  Do the findings of science back up her claim?  Consider this:  In 2003, Dr. Francis Collins worked with many others in completing what is now known as the Human Genome Project.  Afterwards, Collins wrote a book about the project entitled "The Language of God."  Here's what he had to say about the possibility of homosexuality being an unavoidable, predetermined condition:  "An area of particularly strong interest is the genetic basis of homosexuality.  Evidence from twin studies does in fact support the conclusion that heritable factors play a role in male homosexuality.  However, the likelihood that the identical twin of a homosexual male will also be gay is about 20% (compared with 2-4 percent of males in the general population), indicating that sexual orientation is genetically influenced but not hardwired by DNA, and that whatever genes are involved represent predispositions, not predeterminations" (p. 260, "The Language of God").

In other words, one of the world's most renowned scientists does NOT believe that homosexuality is a predetermined condition someone is born with.  He chooses to say rather that a person might be born with a predisposition to homosexuality, just as some people are born with a predisposition towards alcoholism or drug abuse - most likely due to exposure to those substances prior to birth.  But notice the key difference though - a predisposition is NOT a predetermination.  In other words, just because someone might be born with a predisposition towards alcohol or drugs doesn't mean that the person is completely incapable of avoiding the life of an alcoholic or a drug abuser.  A person with a predisposition towards alcohol or drugs must still choose to be an alcoholic or a drug user.  Likewise, while a person might have some sort of predisposition to homosexuality (and the jury is still out on that), that person still must choose to be a homosexual.  So then, Ms. Griffo's statement of "biological fact" is really no fact at all.  No wonder she didn't bother backing up her claim with any sort of credible scientific evidence.

Now I'd like to consider some of the philosophical issues surrounding God, humans, and homosexuality.  Many people (such as Bishop Swiley) have said, "God made me this way.  He made me homosexual."  Just think about this:  Would God create a person homosexual and then deny him/her the opportunity to enjoy the lifestyle He created them for?  And yet, that's what some would have us to believe.  If God created some people homosexual, then why would he go to such great pains to prohibit the homosexual lifestyle in His Word?  What kind of god would do such a thing?  Clearly not the righteous, holy, and loving God of the Bible.  That's almost like saying God created some people simply so He could damn them into an eternity in hell, apart from any volitional act on their part.  Again I ask, what kind of god would do that?  Not any kind of God I would desire to serve, and clearly not the God of Scripture who says that He "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4).

One final thought for you and I to consider:  Did you know that the average life expectancy of a homosexual is typically many years shorter than that of a heterosexual?  Not convinced?  Read this article.  It will provide you with links to several studies that have produced similar findings.  That begs the question:  If God does indeed create homosexuals and celebrates their lifestyle, then why are their life expectancies substantially shorter than that of their heterosexual counterparts?  Just food for thought.

At this point, I trust you will join me in concluding that Scripture, science, and philosophy all stand in clear opposition to homosexuality.  Having resolved that, I'd like to share some practical considerations we should all be thinking about as part of the Body of Christ.  Stay tuned for Part 4 - the final post in this series.

Are People Born Gay? (Part 2)

In my last post, I considered most of what Bishop Swiley had to say about homosexuality in the OT.  The only other OT figures he mentioned in his statements were David and Jonathan (about the 31:00 mark). With no biblical justification, the Bishop simply states that while David probably wasn't gay, "I'm sure Jonathan was gay."  No explanation of how he arrived at that conclusion, but apparently no explanation is required.  It should be enough for us to accept it just because the Bishop believes it.  Forgive me if I'm not so apt to accept everything the Bishop believes.

I have a pastor friend who has said on many occasions, "It's not just what false teachers say that gets them in trouble - often it's what they fail to tell you that really derails them."  The same is true in this case.  I wonder why the Bishop didn't deal with other OT texts such as Deut. 23:17, 1 Kings 14:24, 22:46, and 2 Kings 23:7.  My guess would be one of two reasons:  Either he doesn't know those passages exist, or he has no acceptable interpretation of them.  I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he doesn't know that texts are in God's Word.

Moving now to the Bishop's thoughts on the New Testament.  For starters, he doesn't even mention what Christ had to say about Sodom and Gomorrah (S & G).  Our Lord actually mentions S & G five times in the Gospels (Matt. 10:15, 11:23-24, Mark 6:11, Luke 10:12, 17:29).  While some of those may be parallel passages, it doesn't change the fact Christ used S & G as an example of God's wrath against human sin.  Again, I found it interesting that the Bishop couldn't bring himself to mention these passages.

I will give the Bishop some credit though.  At least he did mention Romans 1 in his discussion of the issue.  His statements concerning this text are among the most eye-opening of all (about the 32:00 mark).  In essence, he says that while Paul may have been "dead on" concerning the doctrine of Christ, he was dead wrong about relationships and human sexuality.  After butchering what Paul taught about Christian marriage, he then says that if a person follows Paul's teaching to its conclusion then he'll be led to believe that "if you don't worship you turn gay."  In passing, he also surmises that "most worship leaders are gay."  I didn't know the Apostle Paul was talking about music ministers in Romans 1.

Then comes his most telling admission of all:  "While the Bible may be inspired, it is not infallible."  In other words, we simply can't trust everything the Bible teaches.  This is the heart of the issue.  Either we believe the Bible is God's Word or we don't.  Listening to the Bishop, it's clear that he can't successfully explain away what the Bible has to say about homosexuality.  So then, when he can't win his argument on the grounds of sound biblical interpretation, he is left with one final resort - charge the Bible with being a book of errors.  I'd like to say that I've had this discussion/debate with many liberal thinkers, but this is the first time someone has actually come out and said that the Bible simply can't be trusted.  This is by far the most telling revelation of all the Bishop's remarks.  The statement really speaks for itself.

Before I conclude this second post, allow me to briefly mention two NT passages that the Bishop must've overlooked (and who can blame him if he believes the Bible is really a book of errors).  1 Timothy 1:10 clearly condemns the practice of sodomy.  And 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 couldn't be any more plain:  "Do not be deceived.  Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites...will inherit the kingdom of God."  So the Bible is very clear that homosexuality is sin.  Either we can receive what God has said as being truth, or we can explain it away by putting it in the category of error.  I choose to receive Scripture as the divinely inspired and inerrant truth of Almighty God (2 Tim. 3:16).

Up to now, I've simply dealt with the question of this post from a biblical/theological perspective.  In the upcoming posts, I'll be dealing with the issue from a philosophical and scientific perspective.  I hope you'll "stay tuned" and share these thoughts with others.

Are People Born Gay? (Part 1)

This is a huge question that many people are asking today.  It's a question I was confronted with once again the other day as I read the recent story of an Atlanta-area megachurch pastor.  The pastor's name is Bishop Jim Swiley and he leads The Church in the Now.  You can read the full NPR story by clicking here.

I strongly encourage you to visit the NPR website and read the story for yourself.  Not only can you read a brief story about Biship Swiley, but they've actually included the church service video in which the Bishop affirms his homosexuality.  I also encourage you to watch the video.  I've taken many statements and included them for discussion within this post.

I'll have to admit, this is one of the most fascinating things I've ever watched.  After a few preliminary remarks, the Bishop states that there are two things in his life that are absolute:  his call to ministry and his sexual orientation (about 6:15 mark).  If you were to watch the Bishop's entire statement, you would find that he says over and over that his homosexuality was not something that he chose.  He states emphatically that God made him that way.  To prove his point he uses a number of comparisons, such as:  race, pregnancy, a woman's menstrual cycle, eye color, and even heterosexuality.  The idea is that just as he didn't choose to be white, neither did he choose to be homosexual - it was unavoidable.

As if all this were not eye-opening enough, things really get interesting when he shares what he believes the Bible to teach concerning homosexuality (roughly the 28:00 mark).  He takes the Bible passages (that he cares to mention) in chronological order.  First among them is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (S & G) found in Genesis 18:16-19:29.  The Bishop argues that S & G had nothing to do with homosexuality.  It is really a story that teaches the evils of "gang rape" and thus S & G can't be used as a standard when speaking to the issue of homosexuality.  For that reason he suggests that the biblical story of S & G should be "taken out of the mix" when addressing the subject.

The Bishop's interpretation of S & G lacks a knowledge of the Scriptures, though it is the charge of biblical ignorance that the Bishop later goes on to lay at the feet of any who would challenge his position.  Had the Bishop read Ezekiel 16:49-50, perhaps he would've recognized that his interpretation of the S & G situation is just plain wrong:  "Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom:  She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me: therefore I took them away as a I saw fit."  I'll be the first to agree that Sodom's sin was not just homosexuality, but to act as though homosexuality wasn't a part of it is just flat dishonest with the text.  The "abomination" Ezekiel speaks of is clearly that of homosexuality because Jude would go on to say that S & G had "given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh" (Jude 7).  So, while the Bishop may want to take Gen. 18-19 out of the mix, the whole of Scripture won't allow him to do so.

The Bishop then goes on to mention the passages dealing with homosexuality in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13.  The former passage clearly says:  "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman.  It is an abomination."  Once again, the Bishop says we can't bring those passages into the mix.  He tells his listeners that they "don't want to play the Leviticus card" (roughly 30:20).  Basically, he argues that since the rest of the Levitical laws don't all apply to New Testament believers, neither should these.  Is he right?  Clearly the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament no longer apply to New Testament believers.  Christ perfectly fulfilled every requirement of the Law (Matt. 5:17), so that now through faith in Him we can be fully justified (Rom. 5:1).  So while Christ may have removed the necessity of keeping the OT ceremonial laws, in no way did he remove the moral precepts of the OT.  If that were so, why not discard the Ten Commandments?  Is the Bishop suggesting that we scrap the whole of the OT?  The ceremonial laws of the OT were grounded in the moral precepts of God, and in this case that includes the fact that homosexuality has always been and will always be sin.

That's enough for now.  I'll address more of the Bishop's theology later and speak to the heart of the issue at that time.

The Encouraging Word - 11/14/10

We live in a world filled with many modern conveniences.  The days of carrying water are over thanks to indoor plumbing.  No more need of lighting kerosene lamps as we have electricity in our homes.  And aren't you thankful for disposable diapers?  Yet, amid the world of conveniences we enjoy, I wonder if we've allowed our worship to become convenient as well.  Check out this week's encouraging word by clicking here.  Let's pray that our worship NEVER becomes convenient.

The Encouraging Word - 11/7/10

This week's Encouraging Word is taken from Luke 16:19-31.  It can be accessed here.  Do you believe hell is a literal place of fire and brimstone?  Do you think unbelievers will have to suffer forever in a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth?  What about heaven?  Do you think there is a place of golden streets and crystal seas where people can spend their eternity when they die?  The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus answers these questions for us.  I hope you'll take the time to check it out.  Have a great week!

The Encouraging Word - 10/31/10

What a great day to be alive.  We have more opportunities to share the Gospel of our Lord than ever before.  As we think about the possibilities of today and tomorrow, we should never forget about the legacy passed on to  us by those of yester-year.  This week's Encouraging Word takes a look back to the men of the Reformation.  After all, October 31st is not just "All Hallows' Eve," it is Reformation Day.  Check out the three battle cries of the Reformation by clicking here.  Be sure to fast forward to 13:30 to hear the message.  Have a great day in the Lord!

Tanner's first time to play for the Lord

What Does the Church Stand On?

I had to be in Knoxville this morning to officiate the graveside service of a deceased loved one.  On the way back to Morristown, I decided to take a short trip down a country road just to take in some of the fall foliage that graces this season.  In doing so, I drove by a church sign.  I love church signs because they often have some pretty creative messages.  I know that many churches use their signs as a means of expressing their identity to the community.

The sign I passed this afternoon bore the following message:  "We Stand on the KJV Bible."   I thought about that for a minute.  If the church sign is typically used to express an identity to the community, then what was this church trying to say about itself?  Let me be quick to say that I'm not interested in getting into a debate about what translation someone uses.  I'm certainly not interested in getting into the KJV-only debate.  Personally, I study and preach from the NKJV, but I also use the KJV, NIV, NASB, and a number of other translations in sermon preparation.  I also attempt to study the original language of the Scriptures - Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

Here's the question I want to ask:  What does the church stand on?  Does the church stand on a commitment to a Bible translation?  Does it stand on a commitment to a particular denomination or convention?  Does the church stand on what might be its long-standing traditions?  While all those things might influence the ministry and operation of a church, I would think that the church might want to make an even greater public declaration of its identity.  How about this - "We Stand on the Rock of Ages.  His Name is Jesus Christ."

If you want people to know what translation of God's Word you prefer, that's fine - tell 'em.  If you want people to know your denomination, traditions, etc., then tell them all that as well.  But before all those, why not tell them about Jesus.  After all, He alone is the Cornerstone of the church (1 Pet. 2:7).

The Encouraging Word - 10/24/10

I hope you'll take the time to consider this week's Encouraging Word.  This week's Word has to do with what happens When God Ceases to Be Your Greatest Love.  You can listen to it here.  God bless you as you seek to serve Him this week.

The Encouraging Word - 10/17/10

This week's Encouraging Word comes from 1 Kings 9-10.  Upon hearing the message, I hope you'll be persuaded that the world can't help but take notice when God decides to bless someone or something.  Just click here to hear the sermon.  I pray you'll be encouraged and challenged in your faith.

Get Out and Vote!

As I understand it, early voting has already begun in several of the counties throughout Tennessee.  I intend to get out and vote very soon.  Why?  Well, there are several reasons.  One good reason to vote is that many men and women have died defending our right to do so.  When we fail to vote, I think it's a slap in the face to those who have paid the ultimate price to insure that we will continue to be a nation governed of the people, by the people, and for the people.  Furthermore, voting is the way of democracy - it is what ultimately separates us from being like the socialists, Marxists, and communists of the world.

But of course the most important reason we should vote is because it is good stewardship in the eyes of our God.  He has given us this privilege of voting, and with it we can put in office those individuals who will stand up and support biblical values.  In these hard economic times, some would have us to believe that the most important issues of the day are job creation, the economy, and so forth.  While those are certainly issues of vital importance, the moral issues of the day will always be #1 in the sight of our God.

Not convinced?  Consider what the Bible says about evil King Ahaz and his reign over Judah:  "The Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the Lord" (2 Chron. 28:19).  Jobs come and go.  The economy is prone to periods of fluctuation.  But evil and moral decline in the land is something that our holy God will not tolerate.

When we vote, we have the opportunity to put in office those folks who will stand up for God and the truth of His Word.  I sincerely hope you'll take the time to consider where each of the political candidates stands on the moral issues of the day.  Pray that God will show you who to vote for.  Then go and cast your vote for those men and women who will unashamedly stand with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The future of our wonderful republic depends upon your prayers, your witness, and your votes.

Why Do You Do the Right Thing?

Have you ever thought about that question?  Do you do the right thing because "it's just the right thing to do?"  Perhaps you do the right thing because that's the way you were raised.  Maybe your tendency to do good things is motivated by your desire to be liked.  Consider this verse written about King Amaziah in 2 Chron. 25:2 - "He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a loyal heart."

It's commendable that Amaziah did a multitude of things that pleased the Lord.  After all, there were a good number of the kings of Judah who came before him that did great evil in the sight of the Lord.  For that reason, Amaziah was certainly an "upgrade" from some of what Judah had known in her past.  But was it enough for Amaziah to "do what was right in the sight of the Lord?"  Apparently not, because the writer was sure to add the final clause of the verse:  "but not with a loyal heart."

Here's my take on Amaziah.  As you read the rest of chapter 25, you'll find that Amaziah did seek the face of the Lord and that he did heed the advice of God's man for a while.  But just as soon as he defeated the Edomites, he must've felt that he didn't need God's help anymore.  For that reason, he brought the idols of the Edomites back home to Judah and started worshiping them.  Consequently, God's prophet came to him and asked, "Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?"  (v. 15)  Good question.

Here's the bottom line:  Amaziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord until he got what he wanted.  After that, he sensed no loyalty to God, but instead he turned aside to idols.  So then, he did what was right not because he loved God, but because he loved what God could do for him.  That sounds like much of what we hear in the "prosperity preaching" that floods the airwaves these days.  For that matter, it sounds like the way we too often approach our relationship with God.

Is that the reason you pray?  Is that the reason you read God's Word?  Is that the reason you show kindness to others?  Do you do those things because you desire Him above all others, or do you do them because you desire what He might do for you?  I think the words of the Apostle Paul would be appropriate here:  "Whether you eat or whether you drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).  Let's live each moment for the glory of God, not because we're looking for something in return, but because we're in love with Him and we want to see His Name lifted far above all others.

Does It Really Matter How Old the Universe Is?

Throughout the annals of human history, our forefathers overwhelming accepted the idea that the universe is only thousands of years old.  That all began to change about 150 years ago when Charles Darwin released his On the Origin of Species.  Since then, multitudes of well-meaning Christians have attempted to defend the Scriptures against the attacks of the scientific community.  In doing so, a number of creation theories have emerged within the Christian community.  The most popular among them is the day-age theory - the idea that the "days" of the creation account were not 24-hour periods, but that they were much longer, overlapping epochs of time.  Such theories have made the acceptance of evolutionary worldviews not only permissible but even expected within many Christian communities.  In other words, Christians no longer have to be bound to the archaic notion that the earth is only thousands of years old.

Does the age of the universe really matter?  Clearly a multitude of Christians have answered that question with a resounding "no."  What do you think?  More importantly, how does the Bible answer that question?  I challenge you to spend a few minutes reading this article.  If, after reading the article, you think the age of the universe doesn't matter, I'd be shocked.  As the author clearly demonstrates, there are certain "theological costs" associated with evolutionary old-earth thinking.  Feel free to share your thoughts.

The Encouraging Word - 10/10/10

Happy Columbus Day everyone!  Hope you'll take the time to consider this week's Encouraging Word.  You can check it out here.  I wonder if you and I are attempting to give God "gifts UNfit for a king."

How Will Everyone Feel When You're Gone?

Have you ever thought about that question?  I was reminded of it again this morning as I read through a portion of God's Word.  There was a young man named Jehoram who just happened to be the oldest son of good King Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 21).  Jehoshaphat wasn't a perfect man, but clearly he loved the Lord and did a great deal to turn the hearts of Judah back toward the Lord.  When Jehoshaphat died, Jehoram became king in his place.  Not only did he fail to share his father's passion for God, but he did all he could to direct Judah's worship away from the Lord and toward the gods of the nations.

After several years of King Jeroham's ungodliness, the Lord's prophet (Elijah) sent a letter to his palace.  It basically told the king that his wife, children, and possessions would all be carried away and that he himself would die a miserable death.  Literally, that his intestines would "come out by reason of the sickness, day by day" (2 Chron. 21:15).  Awful to say the least.

Here's the point I really want to make.  When Jeroham died, the Bible says that "his people made no burning for him, like the burning for his father" (v. 19).  In other words, nobody mourned or grieved over his death.  In fact, the Bible plainly says that "he reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one's sorrow, departed" (v. 20).  They didn't even bury him in the tombs of the kings.  He was forty years old, he was dead, and no one cared.  Frankly, they were glad he was gone.

The story of Jeroham is tragic, but thankfully his is not the only one contained in Scripture.  For a moment longer, consider the story of a lovely woman named Tabitha.  The Bible says "this woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did" (Acts 9:36).  It so happened that she became sick and died in the city of Joppa.  What I really want to emphasize is what happened when she died.  The Bible says that when Peter had come to the upper room where Tabitha's body was that "all the widows stood by him weeping, showing all the tunics and garments which she had made while she was with them" (Acts 9:39).  Consequently, God raised Tabitha from the dead through the ministry of the Apostle Peter.  I'm sure it was quite a party among the saints and widows the day that Tabitha was raised from the dead.

A king dies, and no one cares.  A sweet little lady from Joppa passes away, and scores of widows come to mourn her death.  Everyone was glad when the king died.  Everyone was heartbroken when Tabitha passed away.  I wonder how everyone will feel when I'm gone.  I wonder how they'll feel when you're gone.  I don't know about you, but I want to live my life in such a way that I will be missed when I'm gone.  I genuinely hope it is a day of sadness and mourning, not because of anything I've done, but because I want people to say "I experienced the love of God through the ministry of that man."  Let's live our lives for the glory of God, and just maybe someone will be sad when we're gone.  Let's also thank God that they won't have to "sorrow as others who have no hope" (1 Thess. 4:13).

Don't Tell Them Jesus Loves Them Until You're Ready to Love Them To

Christian artist Steve Camp released a song by that title in the late '80s.  After listening to a story of one of our church's retired pastors, I was reminded of that tune.  The man who shared the story with me is one of my dear friends in this world.  I admire him because he worked tirelessly for a number of years attempting to pastor God's flock and reach others with the Gospel of Christ.  All the while, he held down a full-time job, doing the work of a bi-vocational pastor.  I love bi-vocational pastors.  They're never invited to speak at big conferences or chair large committees, but I'm convinced that some of them are God's most devoted followers in all the earth.

The story goes like this:  My pastor friend was sitting home with his family one Sunday afternoon several years ago when there was a knock at his door.  When he opened the door he saw one of his church members and another man he didn't recognize.  The church member explained that the unknown guest was a young man who owned a local service station in town.  The young service station owner just happened to be Catholic and the church member had been witnessing to him for some time.  He brought the young man to the pastor's house in the hope that the pastor would be able to reach him with the Gospel.

Normally the young man would be working on Sunday afternoon, but he decided to close his service station on account of his friend's persistence.  The pastor welcomed both men inside.  It wasn't long until my pastor friend shared the Gospel with the young man.  It was very clear to the pastor that the young man was under conviction.  When the pastor extended an invitation to the young man to receive Christ as His Savior, he said something like this:  "I believe everything you're saying, but there is something you must know.  If I surrender my life to Christ, my family will disown me and I'll have nowhere to stay."

My pastor friend looked at the young man and asked him this question:  "Is that the only thing keeping you from surrendering your life to Jesus?"  The young man confessed that it was.  The pastor asked the young man to look down the hallway of his home and directed his attention toward one of the bedrooms.  The pastor asked him, "Do you see that bedroom at the end of the hall?"  The young man acknowledged that he could see it.  The pastor then extended this offer to the young man:  "If you'll surrender your life to Christ, you'll never have to worry about a place to stay.  That bedroom will be yours.  Furthermore, you'll always have a chair at my table."

The young man was stunned.  He looked directly into the eyes of the pastor and asked, "Do you really mean that?"  The pastor responded in the affirmative.  Just then, the young man said, "Let's pray."  Then and there, the young man gave his life to Jesus - all because one man was willing to open his home and share his food with a new believer in Christ.

I'm so glad my pastor friend came by this morning and shared that story with me.  It caused me to wonder if I would be willing to go to the same lengths to see someone saved.  Would I open my home to a complete stranger?  Would I offer him/her a place at the table?  We tell people that Jesus loves them all the time, but is it really a good idea for us to do so if we're not willing to love them to?  Those lost apart from Christ will never know that "God is love" (1 John 4:8) until they experience God's love working through us.  That reminds me of another old adage:  "They'll never care how much we know, until they know how much we care."  How much does that lost soul mean to you?  What you're willing to sacrifice to see him/her saved will provide you with the answer to that question.

The Encouraging Word - 10/3/10

Be sure to check out this week's Encouraging Word.  It comes to us from Rev. David Hawkins, Director of Missions for our Nolachucky Baptist Association.  You can access his message here.  Let's be sure to remember the works and wonders of our Almighty God.  He is worthy to be praised!

One of the Godliest Men You've Never Heard Of

Every moment spent in the presence of God is time well-spent.  This morning was no exception.  During my quiet time, the suggested reading for today involved two amazing biblical stories.  One of the stories was Paul & Silas, and their imprisonment in Philippi.  I'm sure you know the story - God amazingly delivered them from captivity and brought salvation to the very man who had imprisoned them (Acts 16).

The other story I read this morning came from 2 Chronicles 18 and had to do with one of my favorite characters in the all the Bible.  My guess is that he is one of the godliest men you've never heard of.  The man's name was Micaiah.  Micaiah was a prophet of the Lord who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel.  It's only by the providence of God that Micaiah even lived in the northern kingdom.  One would've expected to have found a prophet of the Lord in Judah (the southern kingdom) following the division of Israel.  That's because Jeroboam had kicked all the priests, Levites, and prophets of the Lord out of the northern kingdom when he took control.  I'm sure Micaiah spent many lonely days in the northern kingdom of Israel as a result.

Let me summarize Micaiah's story.  One day evil King Ahab (of the northern kingdom) decided that he wanted to go to war with one of his enemies.  He asked good King Jehoshaphat (of the southern kingdom) if he would go to war with him.  Jehoshaphat foolishly agreed to go, but at least he had enough sense to ask Ahab if there was a prophet of the Lord who could seek God's will before they went.  The only such man left was Micaiah, and Ahab knew it.  This is what he said about the prophet of the Lord:  "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he never prophecies good concerning me but always evil" (v. 7).  And rightfully so, because Ahab was a wicked man and was leading Israel to to forsake the Lord.  Micaiah was a man of God - no amount of money could persuade him to be anything less than a prophet of the Lord.

So they sent for Micaiah.  When they went to get him, the messenger told Micaiah to let his word be like that of Ahab's 400 false prophets:  "Let your word be like one of them, and speak encouragement" (v. 12).  By the way, there are a lot of false prophets preaching a message of peace and encouragement in America these days.  One of them stands in an old basketball arena each Sunday.  His "message of encouragement" is nothing new - it is an old tactic that Satan has been using for thousands of years to distract God's people from hearing "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).  Sadly, we live in a generation that is too biblically illiterate to see through it.  There's nothing wrong with encouragement - we just need to be sure the encouragement we're offering is God's encouragement and not the invention of man.

Here was Micaiah's response to the king's messenger:  "As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak" (v. 13).  I love that verse.  God so impressed that verse of my heart that I had a little plaque made and placed on our church's pulpit with those words.  If that's not the desire of my heart when I stand to preach, then I need to sit down and go find something else to do.  I have nothing to offer anyone, but the power of God's precious Word has the power to transform lives.

Well, to finish Micaiah's story, he was persecuted for preaching God's Word, but the results of the war vindicated his preaching.  Not only was Israel thoroughly beaten in war, but Ahab's life was taken and King Jehoshaphat barely escaped death, and that was only because God intervened on his behalf.  Micaiah was a man who would not be shaken.  It didn't matter that every other prophet in Israel had sold out to evil King Ahab.  Micaiah wasn't working for King Ahab - he was laboring for the King of Kings.  I hope we'll all learn from this mighty man of God.  Now that you've heard his story, I hope you'll be challenged to go and live life for an Audience of One.

The Encouraging Word - 9/26/10

This week's installment of the Encouraging Word comes from 2 Corinthians 5:17.  The message is entitled Change You Can REALLY Believe In.  You can access the message here.  I hope it will cause you to rejoice in change everyone can believe in.

Where's the Beef?

Remember those old Wendy's ads with the little lady that used to ask that question?  Maybe this video will refresh your memory.  Sometimes I wonder if that little lady's question couldn't be applied to some of the "songs of worship" that our churches offer up to God these days.  Don't misunderstand me.  I LOVE much of the praise music we sing in our worship services.  "In Christ Alone" is a perfect example of a newer praise song that has both substance and a more contemporary sound.  I think we should definitely be singing a "new song" (Ps. 96:1) unto the Lord.

But with that said, some of the newer praise music has earned the 7-11 reputation (7 words repeated 11 times). Some would say there is nothing wrong with that.  After all, some of the highest praise in Scripture makes use of repetition.  They would point to a passage such as Isaiah 6:3 as an example:  "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is filled with His glory."  I would certainly agree that repetition has its place in our praise.  And yet, I'm still prone to wonder if much of the modern praise music has become so repetitive and shallow because we've simply run out of anything to say.  I have finished singing some worship songs and thought to myself, "Where's the beef?"

Say what you will about hymns, but I don't think that much of the modern verse captures the substance of some of those great songs.  I was reminded of this recently when our minister of music, Mike Martin, led us in the singing of "Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me."  Just consider the second stanza:

Not the labors of my hands

Can fulfill Thy laws demands.

These for sin could not atone;

Thou must save, and Thou alone.

In my hand no price I bring,

Simply to thy cross I cling.

In that one stanza, man's sinfulness is confessed.  The need for an atoning sacrifice is demonstrated.  The worthless of man's works to make reconciliation with God is clearly seen.  The truth of Jonah 2:9 is plainly professed:  "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9).

I don't know about you, but when I sing a powerful hymn like that I'm not left wondering about "the beef."  The substance is there.  It all begs the question:  Where did the hymn writers of yester-year get their substance from?  From the same place the song writers of today can get theirs' - the precious, timeless, inerrant Word of God.  What a day it will be when the worship of today is met with the power of God's Word and the leadership of His Spirit.  Then we will finally have worship "in Spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24).

The Encouraging Word - 9/19/10

Each week I'm going to post a link to my most recent Sunday morning message.  You may not have time to listen to it - trust me I understand.  But if you do, I hope it encourages your heart, challenges your walk, and helps you to live more godly in Christ Jesus.  Please feel free to comment!  Check out this week's sermon here.

Have You Ever "Googled" Yourself?

Maybe you've tried this out before.  If you have a common name, consider yourself lucky.  We live in a day and time where it seems anyone can write anything about anybody without any repercussions.  Not too long ago I googled myself and found this story that had been written a few years ago:  Todd Stinnett Takes Issue.  If I believed every word of what this person wrote about me, I don't think I'd like myself too much either.  So then, a bad thing about blogs is that they give others a chance to write what they will about you - often anonymously, as was the case in the story above.


And yet, the good thing about blogs is that they give you a chance to let others know you in your own words.  On this occasion, I'd like to respond to some of the things that were said about me in the story above.  First, I do not, nor have I ever felt that Tennessee Baptists who don't agree completely with the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 (our doctrinal statement) are "second-class."  Just because two Baptists don't agree doesn't mean that they aren't still brothers/sisters in Christ.  It's quite unfortunate that someone would seek to explain how I feel about others, especially when they've never met me.  But, such is the landscape of the 21st century blog world we live in.


Second, I have no desire to "remove the word 'Baptist' from the name of the state convention."  I'm Baptist-born, Baptist-bred, and when I die I hope to be Baptist-dead.  Just because I believe that the leaders and trustees of our committees and institutions should faithfully represent the doctrinal commitments of Tennessee Baptists doesn't mean that I want us to take the word "Baptist" out of our name.  Again, that was another very unfortunate interpretation of my position.


Finally, I don't think it is fair to suggest that those of us who value doctrinal accountability throughout all spheres of TBC life are not eager to "get on with the mission of our calling."  It is entirely possible for someone to be passionate about fulfilling the Great Commission while also being passionate about the doctrines we hold dear as cooperating Baptists.  From the Schleitheim Confession of 1527 to the BF&M 2000, Baptists have always been a people that have defined fellowship along doctrinal lines.  Yet, that has not worked to deter our evangelistic spirit.  We continue to offer men, women, and children the Living Word through the power of the written Word.


Some of you will read this blog and go google yourself.  If you find something you don't like or that is not true, it's not the end of the world.  Remember, Christ said we would have to suffer much more than false accusations for His name's sake (John 16:33).  If you do find something you don't like, I would challenge you to do what I've attempted to do - respond!  Don't let others define who you are.  Let the world get to know you in your own words.  Above all else, shine bright and bear faithful witness for Christ.

My First Blog Entry

Hey everyone - this is my first attempt at blogging.  I guess I should've been here a long time ago, but when you're a husband, father, pastor, student, coach, etc., you only have so much time on your hands.  Very simply, I want this blog to be just another means of bringing glory to my Heavenly Father.  He is worthy of all praise and glory forever!  I hope this blog will encourage your spirit, challenge your thinking, and compel you to walk closer to Christ.  If you like what you find here, please share it with others.