Apologetic Debates

Recently our church has been going through spiritual warfare of epic dimensions.  One of the issues that has come up has been a relative of one of our people who has come back from seminary in Texas, enthusiastic about planting a new church in our area.  Being a churchplanter at heart and in practice I applaud the effort to bring people to Christ.  The big issue for us is that he and his wife have been pressuring this couple from our church to be part of his new house church.  A churchplanting principle I learned long ago was that you never ask someone to be part of your work who is already going to another church without first passing it by their pastor.  Which brings up the second point...this newly minted pastor is associated with a denomination that regards pretty much any other denomination as being non-Christian.  If you do not do things the way they do, then you are not following Christ in the right way, and your faith is without effect.

Years ago I discovered that I liked the subject of apologetics, which is the art and science of defending your faith and theology.  I had many discussion with people which helped me learn about my own faith, helped me memorize scripture and gave me lots to think about.  It also gave me lots of heartburn!  After many years of ministry I have learned a few things which are not usually taught at seminary.  One of those is that apologetics is wonderful for helping you to define your faith, but it is generally not productive in changing people's minds.  It is not a "mind" thing anyway, it has to do more with your "heart", and God the Holy Spirit is the only one who can do that.  we take on the responsibility, but it is not ours to take on.  All we get is heartburn.

Does this mean that I think apologetics is fruitless?  No.  But I do think that we have to focus on things which really make us think about the important issues, not on the fine details and niceties of theology.  Over many years I have come to recognize that if you can repeat and believe the Apostle's Creed and the Nicean Creed, then I should accept you as a Christian brother or sister.  There may be other things you believe along with those that I do not, but that is something between you and God.  Your church can be fancy or plain, you can incorporate some ritual or other, you can pray standing or sitting or prostrate, but to me you are a brother or sister.  If you negate something in the Creeds, or redefine them from what the early Christians understood...then no matter how orthodox you sound you are not a Christian, period.

Along with that comes another understanding.  I may look at a person whom I regard as a brother or sister in the faith, and they may add some detail to the Creeds which makes them regard me as an unbeliever.  This is not an easy truth, but one which I have come to accept.  The fact that I believe in free will, that I believe in entire sanctification, that I don't believe that baptism is a ritual that completes salvation (rather than being symbolic), use a different translation of the Bible than they do or that I don't do communion on some set schedule may cause someone to reject my claim to Christianity and to call me a "false teacher".    My claim is based on the historical Creeds of the faith, nothing more or less, but someone else may not have come to the same conclusion I have.

All that said, I stand with the Apostle Paul when he says, "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.  The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.  The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.  But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice." (Phil 1:15-18 NIV)  If Christ is being preached, then I am satisfied.

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Party Mouth

Last week I attended an after-work party at a co-workers home in honor of a person who is leaving our employ, and with whom I have worked very closely over the last year.  There were only two Christians there, myself included and most of the group had been working in the same office suite for several years.  We shared food and drink, laughter and conversation.  I wish it could all be positive, but it was not.  Most of the drinks were alcoholic, and though I left early enough to avoid seeing anyone drunk, people had certainly "let their hair down".  What bothered me more than anything else was the amount of "catty" behavior being displayed, the all-out gossip and the tendency to bash those who were not in attendance.  One other person who had left even before I had was also the target of some rather unkind remarks.   Frankly, it had me wondering what remarks were made about me after I left the party.

As Christians we are called to be different from the world.  Does it really take being able to gossip and verbally abuse people behind their backs in order to have a good time?  If this were a church setting I would probably be taking people aside and encouraging them to go to the altar and repent of their behavior!  As it was I was happy that I had an excuse to leave early. 

My attitude and opinion of people at work has certainly changed.  I am not as likely to be open and frank in a personal sense with these people as I was before.  It is not that I was personally attacked, but I cannot be certain that the possibility does not exist.  I cannot trust them.

Can people trust you?  Do they know that if you are friends to their face that they are friends when they are not with you?  If not, maybe you need to go to the altar and discuss the situation with God, too.


"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."     Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

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The Church and the world

As I grow older there are more and more things that I see changing.  Some are for the better, and others not so much.  This week, for instance, the Supreme Court of the United States is reviewing two cases which may change the face of America.   Those two cases have to do with the California Prop 8 ban of same-sex marriage and the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).  With a wide range of possible outcomes depending on individual rulings, there is a pretty good likelihood that the Court will strike down at least some of the restrictions put into place.  It is even possible that a ruling will strike down all state bans and make same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states.  So, what does this mean to Christians, and to the Church in particular?

• First, my personal opinion is that I do not care who, what or how many you sleep with, within limits of course...such as being of the age of consent. 

• Second, if you are a Christian, I expect you to hold to God's Word.  Period. 

These statements are going to be offensive to perhaps everyone on some level, which I consider good.  I think it is time to stand up and be offensive.  For the typical Christian, to say, "I don't care who you sleep with" is tantamount to saying "I agree with same-sex marriage".  To be perfectly frank I do NOT agree with it, but I believe our government has backed itself into a corner and has become stupid in the extreme.  Think of it as taking a laudable but flawed premise to the logical conclusion. I believe it is inevitable that same-sex marriage will become the law of the land. 

What no one seems to see is the landslide that will follow.  When marriage ceases to be based on biology and historical norms, the door is opened to define marriage any way one chooses.  Why not define marriage as encompassing unions between multiple partners (polygamy/polyandry/group marriage), between currently proscribed ages (adult-child marriages), interspecies marriages (bestiality) or between animate and inanimate (objectisexuality).  The problem lies in that the SAME arguments made for same-sex marriage can be made for each of these different 'lifestyles'.  In fact, it is already happening.  In the Netherlands one can form a cohabitation agreement called a 'samenlevingscontract' between multiple partners, and others have broken down the prohibition of bigamy through the court system using the same arguments used for same-sex marriage.  The United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand and Saskatchewan, Canada recognize polygamous marriages formed elsewhere.  On TV here in the US we have a popular television show called 'Sister Wives' in which a man showcases his life with four wives and their families.  In Paris, a woman performs a marriage ceremony with the Eiffel Tower. An organization in the USA has actively advocated relationships of adult men with underage boys.  

Even traditional psychology and biology are under attack, now.  Current gender theory points to either ONE gender, differentiated, or many gender flavors defined by physical, psychological and other factors.  Neither theory believes there are two distinct genders, male and female.

So, tell me again...why should we not allow two men, one dog and three women to marry?  On what basis do you make that decision, if not biology or Western definition?  Eventually, in the current environment, marriage itself will become meaningless in the eyes of the world.

The second assertion that will irritate people is I expect Christians to hold to the Word of God.  In effect, this means we are going to be out of step with the world...and in my opinion this is a very good thing.  We ARE different from the world.  If we were not different, then what is the point of our faith?  It also means the world is likely to become even more critical of the Church.  For one thing, although we may recognize that the world has given legal authority to same-sex marriage, the Church cannot give God's blessing to something that is outside His Word.  Despite the efforts of some theologians to legitimize so-called 'Gay Theology', the Bible is very clear that this is not a correct interpretation. In the Church of the Nazarene in particular we are forbidden from performing same-sex marriage blessings or ceremonies.  Even if this were not so, any local church which I pastor will never perform such a ceremony...I will resign first. Gays and lesbians are welcome in my church, but they must realize that our church is not, and will not ever be, 'open and affirming'.

During the Civil Union legislation passed in Vermont in the early 2000's, the legislation was narrowly modified, largely due to the efforts of one of our Vermont pastors, to exclude religious organizations from having to cater to same-sex couples.  For instance, if a local church refused to perform a wedding or host a reception on it's grounds which it felt was inappropriate, then it would not be allowed to do so for anyone at all under the guise of 'equal public accomodation'. Eventually that situation might change.  It might even become defined as 'hate speech' for a pastor to say any of this.  If so, the church might be driven underground. 

The idea behind this post is simple.  I want to point out that no matter what the world does, the Church cannot expect Christian behavior out of people who are not Christians. Our standards are not the standards of the world.  We are held to a higher standard.  Paul says all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial or constructive.   We are called to do that which builds up, that which is good for people and what God has told us is beneficial.   No matter what the issue is...abortion, same-sex marriage, pornography, theft of intellectual property, terrorism...we don't expect non-believers to act like believers and we do expect believers to act as God wants them.  Maybe we need to be less concerned with the world's outrageous behavior and more concerned with doing God's will.


“ 'I have the right to do anything,' you say—but not everything is beneficial. 'I have the right to do anything'—but not everything is constructive."  1 Cor 10:23 (NIV)

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Why do bad things happen to good people?

In 1981 a book was published which asked a hard question.  "When Bad Things Happen To Good People", by Harold Kushner, addressed the question implicit in the title and was on the New York Times Bestsellers list for quite some time.  Rabbi Kushner touched on an issue that everyone asks sometime during their life.  Events of the last few months caused people to ask this very question once again...the school shooting in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, Hurricane Sandy  and several smaller shootings have once again shaken people.  In my personal and church ministry I have faced that same question from people who have been diagnosed with various diseases, people who have dealt with accidents resulting in death and serious injury and people grieving a loss.  Why do bad things happen to good people? 

 

There is a tendency for us, as Christians, to come up with a pat answer for this hard question.  Recently a song was published by Sanctus Real whose lyrics say, in part, "Sometimes it's hard to keep believing / In what you can't see / That everything happens for a reason / Even the worst life brings / If you're reaching for an answer / And you don't know what to pray / Just open up the pages /
Let His word be your strength". 

 

We say we believe in a God who is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, so of course it seems the logical thing to tell someone who asks this question is "We may not know why this happened, but God is still in control and He must have had a reason."  The disconnect should be obvious here...when the parent of a small child who was killed in a school shooting says, "What possible reason could a good and loving God have for taking my child in a such a horrific way?  If that is what God is like, I don't want to have anything to do with Him!"  Then we wonder why the person blames God for the event.  Of course they would blame Him, after what we just told them!

 

The real answer lies in where we put ultimate responsibility.  First of all, God is the epitome of love.  He cares for us more than we will ever know.  He sent His own Son to die on a cross for us.  Second, God has by His sovereign choice given us free will.  Along with free will, though, comes responsibility and consequences for those choices we make.  That is how and why sin entered the world.  With choice came the ability to choose to NOT follow God's will. Sin entered the picture and we became morally corrupt, physically dying and spiritually dead.  

 

To make matters worse, sometimes we reap the consequences not of our own sin, but that of other people. This is where I believe the words of that song by Sanctus Real go wrong.   Everything does NOT happen to us for a reason.  God does not bring bad things down on our heads.  He does not cloak His goodness and love in events that are dark and terrible.   He did not send that shooter into the school and place our five year old in the line of fire to teach us something, at the cost of that young and innocent life.  That act was the overflow of sin and madness from a tortured person, not God.

 

Sometimes the bad things which happen are the results of accident, the nature of the fallen world or sometimes just negligence, rather than through either our sin or the sin of another person.  Regardless of the reason behind the scenes, we cannot put the blame at God's feet unless it is to say that we wish we did not have free will which is even worse than the former prospect. 

 

Let's take it one step further, though.  Our God is a God of redemption.  We know this through the sacrificial redemption of Jesus Christ for our lives.  But by the power of the Blood, He also redeems 'situations'.  Romans 8:28 says that "...in all things God works for the good of those who love him", and that we are referred to as "more than conquerors".  If we turn the bad things that happen to us over to Him, He can bring good out of something that seems as if it has no good.  He is the God of the impossible, after all. 

 

In practical terms, what that means is the worst possible situations we face, if we turn them over to God, He can and WILL bring good out of them.  We may not know what that good is, and it may take years to work it out, but he will take the broken shards of our tragedies and reshape them into something beautiful.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28 (NIV)

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Times and Seasons

I wrote the following article as a devotional for a Mission Area meeting and thought I would post it as an entry in this blog. To be clear, I am removing some names from the post, and the reader should understand that every person sitting in this meeting is a Senior Pastor of a church in Northern Vermont, so the audience is a little 'different'. With that said, on with the show...

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Times and Seasons

There is a well-known song from about 1965, written by Pete Seeger and made a hit by “The Byrds”. The title is “Turn! Turn! Turn” It was adapted almost verbatim from the book of Ecclesiastes using the KJV. There was a little moving around of the text, but it is close to the original.

The text in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 from the NIV says…

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

It seems that we go through seasons in life. There are cycles and there are cycles within cycles.

In our own lives we go through seasons where everything seems to be going well, and then there are times when life just caves in around us. I don’t know about you but for my family we have had seasons when it seemed like everyone was walking up the aisle. There are other times when people are having babies. Then comes the times when we seem to be attending one graduation party after another. Those are happy times. We rejoice with our friends and relatives and life just seems good. The sky is blue and the weather is warm, the birds are singing and laughter is in the air.

Then we have those other times when we feel like we are walking down a dark hallway with no light at the end. People are sick and in the hospital. Every time the phone rings it is another person telling us about a doctor visit that ended with bad news. Someone has cancer; someone else has illness and tests but no definitive diagnosis. Someone has been the victim of a crime. Another has just filed for divorce. The unemployment is running out. A child is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Our prayers go up, but there seems to be no answer, and we don’t know what to tell people anymore. The old saying is that ‘the skies have turned to brass’.

There is a line from Mr. Tumnus in “The Chronicles of Narnia” which always resonated with me. “Always winter, but never Christmas”. That catches the mood of the season very well.

I know that we have probably all applied these thoughts to ourselves and to those around us. Maybe we have even preached using this text at a funeral or maybe on a happier note during a baby dedication. But have you ever thought of this text in connection with your church? Churches go through ‘seasons’, too. We learn in Bible school and seminary that churches have a ‘life cycle’. But like a wheel within a wheel, they also have seasons.

Maybe your church is going through a time of decline right now and you are wondering why. You do everything you can to improve morale and reach out to people and it seems like nothing is working. You take people out for coffee, you pray with your church board, you hold revivals with special guest speakers. And yet, the darkness and gloom cannot seem to lift.

Maybe it seems as if the church is growing…you feel inept and yet the church is growing by leaps and bounds even when it seems like you couldn’t boil water without burning it. You make every mistake in the book and still the good things just keep on happening.

I think maybe we need to think about what season the church might be in. What has been happening to her recently? Has the church been through a trauma and needs a season of healing? Has the church been in an autumn, where they have been surrounded by the golden leaves of the past and gotten used to looking back at the ‘good old days’? Or is the ice starting to melt, and you see green under the snow?

Just recently I saw a note from Pastor G that his church is starting to broadcast their worship services on local TV. The funny thing is we in St. Albans have been doing that same thing for several years now, but a few months ago decided we would stop. In thinking about it we realized that the season for doing that ministry had passed. For East Charleston it may be right and in season; for us the season has passed.

In his book “The Purpose Driven Church”, Rick Warren says something very significant. He says that as pastors we are like surfers, surfing the wave of the Holy Spirit. We can do great things on that wave. But we CANNOT MAKE THE WAVE. We have to find out where the Holy Spirit is, and then we need to cooperate with Him. Otherwise we are just paddling aimlessly and ineffectively. Last year my wife and I went to Hawaii for our 25th anniversary. I took a surfing lesson at our hotel. During that lesson I learned some good things. One of them is that it is exhausting paddling a surfboard. Trying to do things without the power of the wave behind you will wear you out quickly.

Another thing I learned is that waves rarely come to shore in a straight line, they come in at an angle. The wave doesn’t hit along the shore at each point at the same time. That means that someone close to me in the water might catch a particular wave a few seconds ahead of me, or a few seconds after me. The same wave, but different timing.

The lesson for me is that while the Holy Spirit is doing one thing in St. Albans, He might be doing something different in Williston and another thing in Leicester and yet another in Johnson or East Charleston.

The key thing here, the main lesson, is to recognize the working of the Holy Spirit as He is working in your place, recognize what might be the ‘season’ for your church, and to place yourself in position so that He can use you. We do that through prayer. We do that through spiritual discernment. We do that through a spirit willing to submit to His will. Are you ready for that challenge?

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”

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Natural theology and ministry

I recently watched a movie I didn't think I would ever watch. It was "The Karate Kid". Not the original, which I really like, but the recent Jackie Chan remake. I tend to dislike remakes, even if I like the stars as much as I like Jackie Chan. This said, one quote that seemed to resonate with me from this movie was when Jackie Chan's character 'Mr. Han' said to his student 'Dre', "Kung Fu lives in everything we do. Everything is Kung Fu." Mr. Han proceeds to train Dre using such mundane methods as having him hang up his coat and take it down repeatedly. Using every day motions that come naturally, but realizing their value for Kung Fu become the basis for the teaching he is presenting. Those who are old enough (did I just say that?) may remember the "Wax on, wax off!" of Mr. Miyagi in the original movie.

In the same way I have been made aware that the simplest of things if practiced consistently and with intention can come to form the basis for what I think of as a 'natural martial art'. For example, turning the wheel in a car with one hand in either direction can form the basis for a block or a strike. Opening the swinging door of a bathroom can form the basis for a push-strike or a throw. This is building something martial artists are well acquainted with called 'muscle memory', a muscle reaction that you don't even have to consciously think about in order to use when the time comes.

The larger life-lesson is what matters, though. Over the years, I have come to realize that in order for something to truly make a difference in our lives we must make it part of ourselves. We cannot just take on life-change like a coat and put it off when we no longer feel like wearing it. In the words of a song called "Back Burner" from Greg X. Volz (formerly of Petra), "...the only change that'll ever hold up goes under the skin, clear to the bone". This applies especially to the realm of theology, ministry and holy living. You can't go to church on Sunday and forget about God every other day of the week. If you want real life change, real holiness, real Christlikeness to develop in you, it has to be something made part of your daily life. If you want to see real power in your ministry, you need to be diligent about prayer and reading your Bible. We build spiritual 'muscle memory' into our lives.

So, to paraphrase Jackie Chan, "Christ lives in everything we do. Everything is Christ."

"Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."
Colossians 3:11 (NIV)

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New Beginnings

We received our first snowfall of the season last night, or should I say...our first measurable snowfall. Half an inch measured at Burlington International Airport. We actually tied the record for latest first measurable snowfall. The world looks white and sparkly, like we have a new beginning. I like it. Of course, by the end of February I won't be in such a good mood when we get snow, and if we get snow any time past March I definitely won't be happy. But for now, it's nice.

I've had another new beginning this last week. I've been getting a bit stressed out over some conversations I've had with a couple people. My father-in-law and I had a long talk about them, and he pointed out to me that I have been taking the Lord's tasks and making them my own. They are tasks that I, in fact, cannot handle. So I have given them back to Him. I have gone so far as to limit my contact with these people...they have my phone number, my email address and my physical address so contact has not been totally removed, but I am no longer 'friends' with them on Facebook and other venues.

As I have matured in the faith I find that I have a hard time dealing with certain types of people. Specifically, I have no problem at all dealing with your typical unsaved and secular person, nor do I have a problem dealing with people who take their Christian faith seriously. But I have a huge issue with people who claim to be Christian, but put the lie to that claim by their actions during the week. As it says in Revelation 3: 15-16, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

So, a new beginning is at hand. I will not try to usurp the role of the Holy Spirit any more. I look forward to Advent and Christmas, and reclaim the joy that is mine in Him.

May the joy of His birth surround and permeate you today!

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Grace and Growth

It’s interesting that when you talk to Christians you get such a different view of life. We really look at life through a different set of lenses than the world at large does. I am becoming more convinced though, of the factor of growth in the Christian’s life, because I’ve met so many at different points in their walk. But sometimes we forget that the grace we’ve received from God needs to be transmitted to other people through our hands. I think this is what leads to the charge among many non-believers that the church is full of hypocrites, one way or the other.

First, people outside the walls of the church see a group calling themselves followers of Christ and notice there are various forms of behavior that don’t jive with the speech. In other words, they see behavior at odds with our profession of faith in Christ. Sometimes our walk does not appear to be very holy.

Second, when someone comes into the church we somehow expect that there is going to be an overnight change in behavior. Sometimes this does happen…I’ve seen alcoholics lay a bottle on the altar and never go back. But often the process is a bit slower. Someone comes into the church and people start grumbling about how they smoke or go to bars. Certainly these are not behaviors we condone. Nevertheless, what they may not see is that the person has overcome some tremendous sin in their life and the smoking and drinking, bad as they might seem, are minor in comparison. Eventually those will disappear, but for right now they need the grace of God administered through our hands. I’m reminded of my dogs at home. When they poop in the kitchen I don’t like it under any circumstances, but when they at least hit the paper I praise them! Maybe we’ve forgotten what it feels like to be a new Christian. Maybe that in itself is reason for us to go to our knees.

Third, sometimes we do have cases in the church where the grace of God is not tied to repentance. When someone is in the midst of witness-destroying behavior and claims that God’s grace covers it all, there is a problem. They do not acknowledge that repentance is needed. It is important to remember that without repentance, there is no forgiveness. You cannot be in the middle of sin and simply expect God to keep whitewashing it. We do not keep sinning to display God’s grace, Paul was clear on that in Romans 6:1-2 ( “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” ) Growth demands change, and Satan is happy if he can keep a Christian stagnant.

As a pastor I walk this line all the time. I see sin in people’s lives, but I have to consider the whole person, where they come from and how far along the journey they are. Do I say something now, or wait? How can I show this person God’s grace? How can I help them, not push them away?

The important thing to remember is to talk the talk, but walk the walk, too. Without the one, the other means nothing.

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It's a mystery!

George Carlin used to do a skit based on some of his experiences in the Catholic Church. According to him the answer to some questions was just a simple, “It’s a mystery!” in the inimitable Carlin voice. I’ve found that that actually is a good answer for a few things, especially around the church. Other times it is an answer, but a frustrating one.

As a holiness preacher I stress that theology is something that has to be applicable to real life or it is useless. It has to be something that affects you not only on Sunday morning, but every moment of everyday. But some people’s actions are a mystery to me.

Why is it that some people who call themselves Christian still align themselves in every area of life with the world so thoroughly? Without bringing politics into the equation (there is room in the church for all political parties) I know “Christians” who think it is fun to drink alcohol and get intoxicated. I know “Christians” who like recreational drugs. I know “Christians” who are not married, but are living with someone of the opposite sex with whom they are involved romantically. I know “Christians” who think being homosexual is ‘natural’ and ‘just a different lifestyle’. I know “Christians” whose favorite entertainment is R-rated. I know some “Christians” who regard the church as their own private playground. I know "Christians" who haven't opened their Bible in a long time, nor have they prayed. I know "Christians" who have a job, but think tithing is giving $5 a month in the offering plate. I know some “Christians” who display emotional animosity towards certain classes or ethnicities of people. I could go on and on. Some “Christians” I know embody several of the foregoing attitudes and characteristics.

How can a person who reads the Bible not follow the commands and principles it contains? How can a follower of Jesus Christ discount His words so blithely? There's an old saying that, "Being in a church doesn't make you a Christian, in the same way that being in a garage doesn't make you a Chevy".

In one sense, “it is a mystery”. In another, it is no mystery at all. People simply put their own attitudes and opinions above those of Scripture. And what is that called? Idolatry! They worship themselves. Their thoughts and opinions are above those of God.

Let’s be crystal clear. You may not agree with everything in Scripture, but if you are going to be a follower of Christ you MUST comply with what He tells us in the Bible. If the Bible says not to have sex before marriage, then don’t do it! If the Bible says to respect your elders, then respect your elders! If the Bible says to support your church, then contribute your tithe, pray for your church, lend your time and talents.

There is a growth curve to Christian maturity. If you’ve been a believer for awhile you should see yourself being transformed into a more and more Christ-like person. If this is not happening, then you need to find out why. There is a sin, maybe more than one, blocking your spiritual development. A person who is actively and willingly involved in sin, as defined by the Bible and not you, cannot be a spiritually healthy Christian.

And frankly, if you decide that the Bible is a bunch of fairy tales and your opinions matter more than Scripture, then don’t call yourself a Christian, because you are not. You're just giving the rest of us a bad name.

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