The Lost Gospel

When the US Marines advertise for recruits, they don't apologize for the mission. Their television commercials are full of grit and dust, explosions, warriors and weapons. They climax with the image of an alert man of war- highly disciplined, precisely uniformed, at ease with a gleaming sword. Then you see their slogan: "The few. The proud. The Marines."

The USMC is just looking for a few good men. And year after year, they attract young people who can be trained and equipped according to that vision. When bad comes to worse, they are prepared to be the point of the spear.

Then there's the American Church! My buddy Charles recently commented with a wry smile, "If we advertised that Christianity is about sacrifice, suffering and dying on a cross, nobody would want to do it!" So churches advertise with images of happy, wholesome young families and with words like acceptance and community. And when happy, young families show up at the highly publicized Community Church, they are greeted with a message that encourages them, "never settle for less than the best!" Some stay, while others wander away thinking, "I missed the US Open on HDTV for this?"

When I titled this blog the Lost Gospel, I wasn't thinking of the so-called gospel of Judas or Mary Magdalene. Those documents are not lost; they are rejected. They were set aside by the Church many centuries ago as too recent, incompatible with holy Scripture, and lacking in substance.

No, what's truly been lost in our own generation are key elements of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that don't mesh with the spirit of the age or appeal to affluent consumers. Unlike the the US Marines, US Christians have not signed up for warfare, spiritual or otherwise. Apparently, we're mostly here to be motivated for Success, to meet some other chill individuals with whom we can drink a latte, and to check off the box for "faith" in our to do list for achieving a balanced life. The happy people crammed into our mega church theater seats match the stock photo faces in our advertising- attractive and very successful. So it seems we got exactly what we were looking for: cute consumers who enjoy crowds! But is that really what the Heavenly Father was looking for? The Bible begs to differ.

The Book of Ecclesiastes assures us that every human being ultimately grows weary of this seasonal, short-term world and homesick for an Eternity that has been coded into our hearts. The First Epistle of John reminds us that we must not fall in love with the Culture, because it crowds out the love of God in our hearts, and it won't last anyhow. The Gospel of Matthew urges us to deny ourselves, pick up a cross and follow Jesus. Then there's the New York Times which makes it clear that sophisticated Americans are much more interested in chic relationships than religious authority.

I've just gotta say, something tells me that churches who live by the New York Times will die with the New York Times. But visionary churches that dare to preach the Gospel boldly will continue to find there are always men and women who hunger for something bigger and more timeless than themselves. Granted, the broad interstate turnpike to New York City will always be vastly more crowded than the road to life. But we were never called to draw a crowd. We have been commissioned to be The Army of Light: The few. The powerful. The bold.

Selah.

Visit our sermon page for the new series, The Lost Gospel.
Learn more about Pastor's new book at www.TreasureintheSand.org.

What do you Say to an Angry Muslim?

The culture is abuzz with conversations about angry Muslims. I live just outside Washington, DC and I've traveled to other nations, but I've never met one of those guys. Sure, I realize that the hijackers who brought down our planes on 9-11 were Muslims, like many other terrorists who have made headlines in this decade. I've watched news broadcasts from Turkey and Afghanistan that featured mobs of raging people calling out to Allah. And I am confident that US troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq have seen their share of angry admirers of Mohammed.

But I think it's useful for us in the Church to draw a distinction between what is happening at large and what's happening at home. I live and work in a region of the country where I frequently encounter men and women who look like they might be from the Middle East. Some of them are actually from parts of Africa, as it turns out. Some of them are Muslims who were born right here in America. And quite a few of the people I meet are former Muslims who are now followers of Jesus Christ. Some of those guys are among my best friends: loyal, supportive people who would give their lives for me.

Even when I meet Muslims from the Middle East who are now living in America, I find that many of them are not devout. Quite a few of them are searching, in transition, watching from a safe distance and trying to make their way in America. They often speak English with a distinct accent, but if you make the effort to listen and reach across the language barrier, they are deeply appreciative. (I refuse to smirk about their accents since English is the only language I have mastered, and the Brits find my accent strange as well.)

Here's what I have observed about people from the Middle East who live in America: they respond to kindness. Maybe it's because Muslim cultures tend to be harsh and intolerant of individuals, particularly women. Or maybe it's because they have been assured that Americans are arrogant and self-centered. Or perhaps it is simply because they've heard sensationalized tales of bloodbaths inflicted by Christians during the Crusades. But I have found that whenever I encounter people from Iran or Iraq, for example, they are deeply appreciative when they are treated with kindness and respect.

I often have the opportunity to intervene in the lives of people and families from Middle Eastern nations. Every time, I have observed profound, undying gratitude and- more often that not- a willingness to consider a meaningful alternative to Islam. I have baptized former Muslims into the Kingdom of God in our church. They are the real thing!

So when I am asked how Christians should combat the Muslim assault on American values, I have mixed emotions. Certainly our government should be strong and straightforward in dealing with the tyrants who rule many Islamic nations. And there is good reason for paying the price to ensure that our borders are secure. But when it finally comes down to the individual level where most of us live, the people of Christ should recall that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty."

It happened again today. I received an note from a young woman whose family emigrated here from Iran more than a decade ago. Our church had recently intervened in a personal issue to offer assistance. I had hoped for an opportunity to share my faith in Christ with the family. But it all happened during an unusually hectic time, and before I knew it, the window of opportunity had closed. In her note, she expressed her gratitude not only for our assistance, but for the kindness and respect she received from everyone she encountered here. She said she hoped to see us again. I thought, "I wish I had done more."

Then she called later in the day to ask if she could visit our worship service on Sunday. She'll be bringing her mom. I look forward to meeting her mother.

Overseas the war on terror is fought with tanks and rifles and mortars and counter insurgency strategies. But in my hometown, the spiritual warfare is waged with love, kindness, and amazing grace and Good News. So I pray for our soldiers abroad and keep trying to love my neighbors as myself.

Selah!

Learn more about Tim's new book Treasure in the Sand

at www.TreasureintheSand.org

The Bonfire of False Religion

Well, it's over! The angry little church in Jacksonville, Florida will not burn copies of the Koran on Saturday as they had promised. Yes, they have enjoyed free worldwide publicity. But they were denounced by nearly everyone on the globe from one of our most respected US generals to former presidents to the Pope! The FBI paid a personal visit to the pastor. The church website was dropped by the web provider. Their hometown threatened to bill them for additional hours by the police force. The Associated Press vowed not to cover the book burning in print or images! Death threats came in from all around the world. Perhaps this shocking assault on world peace is behind us once and for all.

Of course, I'm pleased this misguided little church in Florida has changed their plans. In a nation where burning the US flag is a civil right protected by the US Constitution, this was never a question of civil rights. As controversial columnist Ann Coulter explained, it's a question of kindness. It's not kind to burn a book that is sacred to some of your neighbors. So I always objected to this hostile publicity stunt, and always considered it not very Christ-like.

But did anyone notice the universal outrage? Generals were appalled! Religious leaders were horrified! Politicians rushed to go on the record! In fact, if the truth be told, most Christians across the land were deeply offended by the idea of a Christian Church burning the Koran- even though most of us agree the book is demonic. (All false religions are, of course.)

Truth is, just about everyone realized this was not what followers of Christ should be doing. We all instinctively acknowledged that Christians stand for love, kindness and compassion- not burning books treasured by our neighbors. Even irreligious Americans know this about the church of Jesus Christ. We don't respect the Koran, but if we disrespect people of the Islamic religion, we will never be able to build bridges of relationship to bring some of them to Christ. So we don't burn their misguided holy books. We wouldn't want them to burn copies of the Bible, so let's abide by the Golden Rule.

Meanwhile, around the globe, Muslims demonstrated violently. Signs called for death to all Americans. Political and military leaders here and abroad insisted that burning the Koran would lead to attacks on US troops, bombings of US properties, and the execution of American citizens around the world. Muslims around the world would be so outraged that the level of death and destruction would be incalculable! Muslims who have not been involved in terrorism before would be driven to jihad by one insignificant little congregation in the USA burning copies of the Koran which they had purchased with their own money.

This has been the most shocking act of violence threatened by a US Church in more than a decade- burning a few copies of the Koran. We have been assured it would prompt Muslims to go rioting and killing and burning all around the world. Okay, let's accept that as a fact. So why are Christians in the US called fanatics and narrow minded zealots? And why is Islam constantly heralded as a "religion of peace?" Why are US Christians most commonly labeled as "angry people who cling to guns and religion" by American intellectuals, while followers of Mohammed are protected as a noble religion with a history of enlightenment?

Don't miss the point here! I am not suggesting that Muslims are evil and that we should despise them or burn their sacred books. To the contrary, I urge you to love your Muslim neighbors, build compassionate relationships with them and pray for Christ to reveal Himself to them. I am simply reminding you that the World is two-faced and hypocritical. Unbelievers in the US and around the world know they have absolutely nothing to fear from Christians. They simply resent us because we remind them of something they would rather forget: one day they will die and stand before God.

Never be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Islam has never been a religion of peace, but Jesus Christ continues to reign as the Prince of Peace. Let's stop cowering in the corner.

Selah.

Learn more about Tim's new book Treasure in the Sand
at www.TreasureintheSand.org

Praying with Your Eyes Wide Open

Paul didn't close his eyes when he prayed. I have a hunch he didn't kneel all the time either. Perhaps you're wondering how I know this. If you'd assumed the New Testament never describes Paul's body language in prayer, you'd be right. But in his own letters, Paul writes that he prayed all the time, night and day, at all times and on all occasions, endlessly, continually, etc. What's more, he instructed you and me to pray without ceasing. Yet Acts makes it clear that Paul was on the road or out and about ministering most of the time. When he wasn't on the road, he was writing half the New Testament. So it stands to reason that many of Paul's prayers were offered while walking, riding, standing amid crowds in the temple, or locked hand and foot in stocks at one prison or another.

I suspect one reason prayer is difficult for many Christians is because our definition is so restrictive. We assume one must kneel, bow his head, and work through a lengthy written list of requests. In fact, the Bible mentions godly people who pray while standing, kneeling, prostrate on the ground, waiting by a highway, lying on their beds, under water, and hanging from a cross. Apparently, you can talk to God the way you talk to other people you love and respect- while walking, riding, standing in line, or wandering around in a wilderness area. In fact, if we don't learn to pray in all those ways plus others as well, we will never fulfill Paul's directive to pray without ceasing, will we?

I find that my prayer life cycles through four distinct phases:

• The Dynamic phase is when my spiritual life is clicking on all six cylinders, my prayers come easy and often, and I find myself constantly thanking God for all his blessings.
• Then comes the Difficult phase. I still make time to pray throughout the day, but it's more challenging. Life has become hectic and over scheduled, so that I feel like I'm on a treadmill just trying to keep up and manage God's blessings.
• Before long it's clear that I am Distracted. My schedule is so crammed and irregular that I find I'm interceding less and less. In every part of my life, things appear to be out of sync and winding down.
• One day I wake up and realize I'm Defeated. Whole days have gone by without a single meaningful conversation with God. Obstacles loom on every side and life begins to feel depressing. Minor problems feel more serious than they really are because I am spiritually drained. Sooner or later I repent, fall on my knees in desperation, cry out to God and feel his hand on my shoulder. My heavenly Father graciously ushers me back to the dynamic mode.

We can safely assume that most of us can't remain in the Dynamic Phase for fifty-two weeks a year. Life changes, situations beckon, emergencies arise. Sooner or later, most of us will find we've become distracted. And for many of us things will get worse. One day the alarm bells will ring and the Holy Spirit will alert us that we are distracted. That unpleasant season will probably come again for many of us.

But here's my question: Who really wants to be defeated? I certainly don't! That means the first time I notice one of the warning signs that my prayer life is heading south, I need to take it seriously. I will treat it like one of the warning signs for cancer. I should respond with the same urgency I would give to a fire alarm or a storm warning. I want to drop everything and take stock of my spiritual life. I must stop, drop and pray. (If ever there was a great time for kneeling, this would be it. I need to get my mind in the right attitude.)

How frequently church people confess, "I know my prayer life is not what it should be." That's even sadder than it sounds! If you're saying that just to be modest, you're encouraging less mature believers to be slackers, too. And if you really know your prayer life is insufficient and disrespectful to the Father, what are you doing about it? Don't wait until you're beaten.

Selah.

Learn more about Tim's new book, Treasure in the Sand,
at www.TreasureintheSand.org