Rise Up and PRAY!!

Activities for the National Day of Prayer — as well as the concept itself — have been under attack this year. NDP was officially created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress, and signed into law by President Harry Truman. Since 1952, every president has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation.

Last week, a Wisconsin federal judge, Barbara Crabb, ruled that the event was unconstitutional because it amounts to a call for religious action. The case was brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a group of atheists and agnostics.

In a notice just filed Thursday, however, the Obama administration said it will appeal the court decision in the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago (Ill.). The notice came after about two dozen members of Congress condemned the ruling and pressed for an appeal. The Justice Department signaled it would appeal not only Crabb's decision on the merits of the case, but also her ruling last month that the defendants had the standing to bring the lawsuit in the first place.

Evangelist Franklin Graham, Honorary Chairman this year of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, was scheduled to speak at the Pentagon next month, but his visit was opposed by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, because Graham reportedly described Islam as a "very evil and wicked religion" after the 2001 terrorists attacks on the U.S. The organization had been prepared to seek a temporary restraining order against National Prayer Day if it were "polluted by someone as hideously Islamophobic as Franklin Graham," said MRFF founder and president, Mikey Weinstein.

"I regret that the Army felt it was necessary to rescind their invitation to the National Day of Prayer Task Force to participate in the Pentagon's special prayer service," Graham said in a statement on Thursday. "I want to express my strong support for the United States military and all our troops. I will continue to pray that God will give them guidance, wisdom and protection as they serve this great country."

These news items ought to frighten all of us, as well as raise some righteous ire within us. Political correctness is now the only virtue that's worth defending for many of our nation's leaders and activist judges are imposing their will through "political" rulings that seek to drive God out of all public life. During this year's National Day of Prayer we had better beg God to change our leader's hearts or soon we will be an Islamic nation. We won't need to worry about not being a Christian or even a secular nation.

STOP COMPLAINING!!!

Testimony - The Admiral (David Robinson) (NBA Basketball)

It's refreshing when you here the testimony of a superstar athlete who honors Jesus Christ. Thank God for the men and women that know the importance of a personal relationship with God through His Son and who use their celebrity to point others to Christ.

How To Become A Legalist

Legalism is such a pervasive evil in some churches that I felt this needed to be said. It comes from Dr. Chuck Swindoll and his final advice about handling legalists is right on the money. Consider his thoughts and ask God to let LMBC be a place of God's wonderful grace.

What constitutes a legalistic mindset:
1. Making rules outside the Bible.
2. Pushing yourself to try and keep your rules.
3. Castigating yourself when you don't keep your rules.
4. Becoming proud when you do keep your rules.
5. Appointing yourself as judge over other people.
6. Getting angry with people who break your rules or have different rules.
7. "Beating" the losers.

In an interview with Howard Hendricks, Chuck Swindoll defined the legalism problem as:

...when we get into areas that are not set forth in Scripture, either in precept or even in principle. These may be such things as length of hair, tattoos and other body piercings, skirts or pants for women, makeup or no makeup. Those are not scriptural issues. Sometimes these issues are cultural, and you do have to address them when you are in that particular culture. But I think legalism begins when you do or refrain from doing what I want you to do or not do because it's on my list and it's something that I am uncomfortable with.

Then, Dr. Swindoll gives his blunt advice:

The problem with legalists is that not enough people have confronted them and told them to get lost. Those are strong words, but I don't mess with legalism anymore. I'm 72 years old; what have I got to lose? Seriously, I used to kowtow to legalists, but they're dangerous. They are grace-killers. They'll drive off every new Christian you bring to church. They are enemies of the faith. Other than that, I don't have any opinion!

So, if I am trying to force my personal list of no-no's on you and make you feel guilty if you don't join me, then I'm out of line and I need to be told that.

How To Worship...NOT!!

Missing the Meaning of Easter

A new study released last week by the Barna Group reveals that a majority of Americans see Easter as a religious holiday, but fewer identify the resurrection of Christ as the underlying meaning.

From February 7-10 of this year, 1,005 adults were interviewed by telephone regarding their opinions relating to Easter and what the holiday means to them. The research discovered that:

• Two out of three Americans (67%) view Easter as a religious holiday.
• Only 42 percent linked Easter to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Two percent said that Easter was about the "birth of Jesus."
• Three percent described Easter as a celebration of spring or a pagan holiday.
• Eight percent said that Easter means nothing to them or that they do not celebrate the occasion.

The study also revealed that members of the Boomer generation (age 45-63) were more likely to describe Easter as a religious holiday than other age groups — 73 percent compared to 58 percent of Mosaics (age 18-25) and 66 percent of Busters (age 26-44). Interestingly, only 66 percent of Elders (age 64 and over) described Easter as a religious holiday.

What To Wear To Church?

Have you ever heard it said, "When you go to church you should dress up to show respect for God"? The reasoning often continues with something like, "If you wouldn't visit the President without dressing up, then why would you attend church without doing the same."

On the surface the argument seems logical, but when you look at it through the lens of scripture some real problems begin to emerge.

For instance, one of the significant shortcomings of the "dress up for church" philosophy is that it unwittingly turns otherwise sincere Christians into practical hypocrites. To consistently follow this ideal you must do so whenever you meet with God/His people and not just on Sunday mornings. What about those occasions when you're attending a small group Bible study and/or enjoying an early morning prayer breakfast? How about Sunday evening and mid-week services? Doesn't God deserve your best then, too? Shouldn't we also be showing respect in these settings?

And what does "dress up for church" really mean? The truth is that the argument is so subjective that it has the potential to lapse into cultural/generational preferences becoming legalistic standards. If you ask young adults to put on their best clothes today, many of them would not come back wearing suits/ties and Sunday dresses, though the cost of their clothes would be nearly the same (if not more) than these styles. And, if dressing up really shows a greater respect for God, then why don't we expect people who can afford "formal" dresses and tuxedos to wear them to church? This would be the most literal way to fulfill the "dress up" philosophy. In other words, relegating "dress up for church" to one style of clothing is an inflexible standard that fails to take into account different cultural and/or generational styles.

Added to these concerns is another equally cogent issue. If we define one style/look as the standard of what shows respect/reverence for God, it potentially has the consequence of excluding some people who don't have or can't afford that style. I've personally heard it said on a number of occasions, "I can't go to church because I don't have any Sunday clothes." Maybe that's just an excuse for many, but not for all. And, even if we could find people who'd be willing to purchase the items deemed "church appropriate" for those who can't afford them, in the process we only further stereotype an elitist approach to worship. Aren't we supposed to be tearing down walls that keep people away from Christ, not reinforcing the traditional ones that already exist?

I could go on like this ad nauseam, but I think you get my point. There has to be a better way to approach this issue and in the process be thoroughly biblical. It really doesn't matter how logical our arguments for "dress up for church" may seem, if they aren't supported by scripture they are only our preferences/opinions. Of course, we are all entitled to hold preferences/opinions so long as we don't force others to conform to them or judge people by them.

There's only one place in the New Testament where God specifically addressed appropriate and/or inappropriate attire for public worship. In 1 Timothy 2:9-10, Paul gave instruction about women's attire for the gathering of God's people. His concern was that women were being immodest and/or ostentatious in their public persona. Their lavish and possibly lustful styles had become a distraction to the purpose of their attendance. You might have heard a first century church member say, "Look at what she's wearing today!" or "How can she afford such expensive jewelry?" This not only affected people's focus on the Lord, but it also created a schism in the fellowship between the "haves and the have nots." This is not unlike a similar divide addressed by James when wealthy Christians were given preferential treatment at worship services (James 2:1-9). Surely we can all agree that there's no place among God's people for class warfare, since all of us are children of God only by the grace of God and He is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34-35; 1 Peter 1:17; Romans 2:11; Colossians 3:25; James 2:1-2). The family of God is suppose to be an accepting body of believers that are seeking to encourage one another toward a deeper walk with Christ.

If we follow the biblical guidelines of what to wear during worship gatherings, it could basically be stated as, "modest and appropriate, avoiding ostentation." Of course, you can distract people by going to extremes on either end of the wardrobe spectrum (formal or informal). But, Paul's argument was specifically about more formal attire. All I'm trying to say is that it is impossible to impose one style (what we personally consider "dressed up") on all people across all of time. This doesn't mean that "anything goes" for worship gatherings, but it does mean that there must be ample room for personal liberty in choosing what is "appropriate and modest" for the occasion. Our concern in this matter should be in making certain we don't do anything to diminish or distract from the preeminence of Christ in worship. Any of us could hinder a proper focus on Christ by wearing something that screams "look at me" and/or by criticizing those who dress differently than ourselves.

Actually, I don't know why some people are so fixated on having others conform to their personal standard for church attire. I would hope that most of us are discerning enough to know that reverence and respect are primarily matters of the heart, not your attire. Even people who "dress up" for church are not all doing it out of respect and reverence for God. Some actually dress up to "hide" their disrespect and irreverence for God. The fact is, you simply cannot tell who is respectful solely on the basis of what they are wearing at church. This is a matter of the heart, not your formal or informal clothing. If we wish to prioritize the importance of approaching God with the right spirit then we should be doing so on a much deeper level.

If I may add one additional caveat to this discussion, the whole "dress up for church" argument feels more suited to the Pharisees than to sincere followers of Christ. It was these first century religious elites that placed their primary focus on external conformity to man-made religious standards rather than on true heart transformation. Jesus had some epic confrontations with these traditionalists over matters that seem eerily similar to the one we've been discussing. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not calling everyone who espouses the view of "dress up for church" a Pharisee. I know some people that I highly respect that feel strongly about "dressing up for church." But, let's not forget that it is possible that even devoted Christians can argue from the wrong perspective and be doing so without considering all of the ramifications of their argument.

So, what should my approach be to appropriate church attire?

1. Wear what is comfortable, but don't draw undue attention to yourself. We're not going to church to show off the latest clothing trends (casual/formal), impress people with our bling-bling, or make a fashion statement.

2. Stop paying attention to what everybody else is wearing when you go to worship. You're there to honor God in biblical/meaningful ways, not critique other people's fashion sense.

3. Don't judge someone else's sincerity by what they wear to church on Sunday. What they have on may or may not be an intentional statement on their part, but you are not in a position to make that judgment.

4. Build bridges to people who need Christ by not elevating this issue to the level of a primary doctrine of the faith. Be willing to adjust your style of dress if it will influence someone to sit with you in church to hear the Gospel.

5. Be sure everyday to put on the most important attire, which is "good works" (1 Timothy 2:10). Somebody is watching your life and you may be the only "Jesus" they will ever see.

“...in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. (1 Timothy 2:9-10 NJKV)

“And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.” (1 Timothy 2:9-10 NLT)

Selfish or Selfless

The question that Judas asked the Chief Priests when betraying Christ  reveals to us the true character of a pseudo-disciple. "What will you give me for him..." (Matthew 26:15) are the words of someone who is selfish and self-seeking, exposing an utter contempt for the One he had followed for three years. As a simple reading of the Gospels will tell you, this attitude was the very antithesis of the spirit Christ displayed during His earthly ministry. Repeatedly, Jesus can be found helping and caring for those that were the outcasts of society and those with whom no one else even dared to associate. He was never concerned with what others could do for Him because He was always focused on what He could do for others. It is impossible to mistake Christ's life, ministry, death, or resurrection as a selfish, narcissistic existence. Consequently, it baffles the mind how Judas could have stooped so low and been filled with so much hatred that he would seek his own personal gain while betraying the One that had gone about doing nothing but good (Acts 10:38).

This Easter season we need to ask ourselves how we intend on leading our lives. Is our spirit going to reflect that of Judas more than that of Jesus? Are we going to give ourselves away to others or live for our own selfish interests? Will our money be primarily for personal pleasures or will we use it for the cause of Christ? It's hard to imagine how Judas could be so concerned with what his remuneration would be while performing the most ignoble act of betrayal in human history. But, his greed did not bring him satisfaction, nor will it ever satisfy those who follow its self-absorbed ideals. True happiness comes in giving, not receiving (Acts 20:35). 

Feeling Overwhelmed

Has someone ever told you when you were going through a tough time, “God will never put on you (trials/tribulations) more than you can bear”? It sounds right and some people even quote scripture to support their argument, but the Bible never makes such a statement nor implies it, either. Rather, God may well put you through trials that are tougher than you can humanly bear, but if He does, there is always a purpose that is involved.

Let me explain. The Scripture that supposedly supports this idea is 1 Corinthians 10:13.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (NKJV)

Notice carefully that the verse says, “no temptation...” and NOT “no trial or test.” The Greek word that is used for “temptation” can be used for “trials or tests,” but the context leaves no ambiguity about which meaning God intended. Read the entire passage from 10:1-14 and it becomes clear that God was not talking in this context about “trials, tests, or tribulation,” but rather, about “temptation to evil.” If there remains any question in your mind about it, 10:6 should clear it up for you because the indictment is that the Israelites lusted after “evil things.”

What God has promised is NOT that He will never put on us (trials/tribulations) more than we can humanly bear, but that He will not allow us to be TEMPTED above what we can bear. Whenever we are being enticed to evil, there is ALWAYS a way of escape.

Now that you know this verse doesn’t support the popular opinion that gets shared as Biblical truth, what do we say to those who are enduring difficult trials in life? Paul gives us, from an incident in his own life, the reason God sometimes allows us to be overwhelmed in the midst of trying circumstances (2 Corinthians 1:8-9):

“For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead..” (NKJV)

Did you notice that God HAD allowed something in Paul’s life that was MORE than he could bear (“beyond measure, above strength”)? The reason He allowed it was so Paul would come to the end of himself and find God’s resurrection power that could sustain him. Sometimes God allows our difficult circumstances to turn us to Him so that we will trust Him and nothing else. In other words, He brings us to the end of ourselves to help us find that He is all we need. This idea is born out in other passages from Paul’s writings, as well. Take a moment and read 2 Corinthians 11:21-30 and 12:6-10.

Here are some things to consider when you are feeling overwhelmed.

1. Maybe you need to put something down. (Luke 10:41-42)

On one occasion, when Mary and Martha were at the house with Jesus, Mary chose to sit at His feet and worship, while Martha was overwhelmed in preparing the meal. What Martha needed to do was “put down” her pots, pans, etc., so she could worship, too. Sometimes we feel like we’ve been “thrown under the bus” because we haven’t prioritized what is really important in life. When you don’t know what’s most important and can’t let go of what’s less important, you get overwhelmed. Put down the things that are secondary and focus on what is primary.

2. Possibly you need to hand something off. (Exodus 18:17-22)

Moses was trying to judge all of the people of Israel and decide every case himself. When his father-in-law saw it, he recommended that Moses “hand off” some of the responsibility to others so that he could give himself to the things that ONLY he could do. When we feel overwhelmed, it might be that we need to ask ourselves, “is there something I should delegate to another person?” If you think you have to do it all or that you are the only one who can do it right, you end up hurting others, as well as yourself. Many times, it’s our pride that says, “my way is the only (or even best) way.” Maybe someone else won’t do it exactly the way you would, but by allowing them to do it, you are helping them grow and become a part of the greater purpose. In the process you are relieving yourself of responsibility God didn’t intend for you to carry.

3. Certainly, you need to give something up. (Psalm 55:22; cf. 1 Peter 5:6-7)

By this, I don’t mean that you should run up the white flag of surrender and quit living life. Rather, I mean that you need to “give up” to God (in prayer and seeking Him) the things that are overwhelming you. This is the time to ask Him for His resurrection strength to enable you to do what you humanly cannot do yourself. Actually, this is the most important thing you can do and one that should be a constant in all of our lives. This is where you are truly learning to live by faith and depend on Him for everything that you need and this is the reason God has allowed your situation to push you beyond yourself. You need God’s help, but we often won’t recognize it until we are outside our comfort zone.

Feeling overwhelmed today? God is trying to get you to stop trusting yourself and start trusting Him!

 Dying To Self

When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely ignored yet you do not sting with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy – being counted worthy to suffer for Christ…that is dying to self.

When your good is spoken evil of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed yet you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in loving, patient silence…that is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any tardiness, or any annoyance. When you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility and endure it as the Savior endured…that is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any clothing, any climate, any society, any solitude, or any interruption by God…that is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, record your own good works, or seek recognition, but truly love to be unknown…that is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy or question God while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances…that is dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly – finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within the heart…that is dying to self.