Slow Obedience is No Obedience

Around two years ago I became a parent, and since that time I've learned more lessons than I can count. Much of what I've learned has been difficult to accept, mostly because as I attempt to raise a helpless little human, my own selfishness is brought to the surface. Ouch. 

Without question one of the biggest and most impactful lessons I've learned pertains to obedience. In trying to teach my son the importance of quick obedience I use phrases like "to delay is to disobey" or "slow obedience is no obedience," but how many times do I delay in my obedience to God? 

How many times have I prayed that God would change my heart, but then I don't take any action? I know the right thing to do yet I don't do it. The Christian life doesn't involve simply lounging in a comfy chair with a little umbrella in our drink while we wait for God to change us or to change our situation. No, as believers we are to obey God's Word. Immediately. Whether we feel like it or not. We must will to do God's will (John 7:17). We must quickly repent of our disobedience and focus our eyes upon Christ.

In her book, The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, Rosaria Butterfield says: "Repentance requires greater intimacy with God than with our sin. How much greater? About the size of a mustard seed. Repentance requires that we draw near to Jesus, no matter what. And sometimes we all have to crawl there on our hands and knees."

Oftentimes we don't understand why we are having to endure a particular trial, and wallowing in self-pity sounds a lot easier than obedience to God's Word. But our feelings will change only after we have obeyed. "Obedience comes before understanding" (Butterfield). May we never presume upon God's grace. We must rely upon His grace to carry us through life, but that doesn't mean we just wait for God to give us more grace before we take action. He has already given us everything we need in Christ. We must take action, we must deny ourselves, we must follow God's Word, and God will graciously change us into the likeness of Christ as we seek to follow and obey Him.

Love,

Kristen

Eschatology, Part 2: Does It Matter?

Ah, eschatology. Does it really matter what we believe about “the end times”? In my first blog on the topic, I defined the term eschatology as the study of the end times or the last days, and we also looked at the Bible's reference to time (This Age and The Age to Come). Today I want to continue this series on eschatology as we take a step back and answer the question: Does eschatology matter?

Some people believe that eschatology is superfluous to Christian belief and practice, and many of the people in this camp see it as a distraction from the important matters.  On the other hand, there are people who say that eschatology is one of the most important doctrines to Christian belief and practice, and some of the people in this group tend to focus all their time and energy on the study of eschatology to the neglect of the rest of the Bible’s teaching. 

So, what has the church historically believed about eschatology? 

In God’s Word we see the apostles preaching and teaching on eschatology (several examples include Acts 2:14-36, 17:1-31; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Peter 3:1-13).  And even after the apostolic era, eschatology remained an important doctrine throughout the history of the church.  Gregg Allison, a well-known author and professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary writes, “From its inception, the church has clung to and developed a hope for God’s final intervention in the world to put an end to all opposition and all ungodliness, to reward his faithful followers, and to make all things new” (For a survey of eschatological doctrine throughout church history see Gregg Allison’s Historical Theology). 

Though there is clear evidence throughout history that eschatology is an important doctrine, we are still pressed to answer the question: Does eschatology matter today?  The answer is a resounding yes! Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why eschatology matters.

1.  Eschatology matters because it’s in God’s Word.  In the Holy Bible, the God of the universe has revealed Himself to us.  And if the God of the universe speaks to us, we need to listen.  In fact, we should listen to all that God says, for ^“All Scripture is breathed out by God and it is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  In 2 Timothy we learn that all Scripture comes from God, and that all Scripture is profitable.  This includes Scriptures concerning eschatology.

2.  Eschatology matters because it provides us with a heavenly perspective that helps us make sense of the present world.  Eschatology focuses upon ultimate realities like heaven, hell, and the end (or the goal) of all things.  Eschatology includes God’s ultimate plan of judgment and redemption and the promised return of Jesus Christ.  Knowing that Jesus will one day come back to earth to make all things right reminds us that no one in this present age will save the world.  Therefore, we do not place our faith in presidents, leaders, employers, spouses, family members, pastors, or any other creature or created thing. 

3.  A right understanding of eschatology matters in order to protect us against false teaching.  False prophets will come and will bring with them destructive heresies, and in their greed they will exploit us with false words (See 2 Peter 2:1-3).  This is especially true of eschatology.  I have watched over and over again as TV preachers use scare tactics, enticing supporters to give more and more money to their so-called ministries. We must study eschatology so we can protect ourselves against these false teachings which aim to exploit rather than equip.

4.  Eschatology matters because ideas have consequences.  Let’s take, for instance, the eschatology that spurred on the Islamic crusaders.  The end goal of their fight was (and still is) to usher in the end times.  In order to bring back the Mahdi (Islamic redeemer) Jerusalem must be under Islamic rule.  It was their eschatological belief that motivated the Islamic crusaders over 1000 years ago and it is a similar eschatological belief that motivates ISIS today.  (For more on this, click here.)  On the Christian side of the theological spectrum, Christian crusaders who were fighting against Muslim crusaders believed that they had to defeat the Antichrist before Jesus would return, and they viewed the Muslim crusaders as the Antichrist.  Both of these eschatological systems justified their wars, indicating that ideas have consequences. What we think about the end times affects our lives now.    

5.  Studying eschatology reminds us of the hope we have in Jesus Christ (See Isaiah 65:17-25). Many believe the main point of eschatology is to strike fear into all the living. While it’s true that eschatology should awaken us all to God’s wrath and His ultimate judgment, more importantly eschatology should give the Christian comfort, joy, and hope, for at the heart of eschatology is the return of Jesus Christ. 

Take a look at the words of Jesus:  “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

Jesus Christ will return and when He does He will judge the world, usher in His eternal kingdom, and gather up His own to spend eternity with Him.  This is the pinnacle of eschatology.  If Christ matters to you, then eschatology should definitely matter to you, for Jesus Christ is the center of eschatology. 

~Corey

I Can't Get No Satisfaction

People from every corner of the USA are watching and waiting with anticipation to see how Donald Trump, as our president, will lead this country. Will he go down in history as a good president or as a bad one? Will he follow through on his promises? Will he bring unity to our nation? Many people who voted for Donald Trump thought Hillary Clinton would ruin the nation, while those who voted for Hillary Clinton thought Donald Trump would be the one to tear this nation down.

In the days following the presidential election, it is interesting to observe the number of people who, on social media outlets, gush and carry on about Trump as if he is the answer to all the problems in this country. It is easy for some to believe that because he is not a politician, Trump will turn America around and will fix all the problems in Washington D.C.  Now I am certainly not a political expert, but I have been around long enough to know that no president, no one person, can fix all the problems we have in this country. Sure, folks in the government can lay out good policies or pass good laws that move our country in a positive direction, but presidents (no matter what political party they are affiliated with) will always let us down. Why? Because presidents are sinners and because presidents can’t fix sinners. We are all sinful, fallen people, and the problems in this country and in the entire world are so deeply rooted within us that we can't simply "fix" them. 

And every four or eight years, when another presidential election rolls around and the current president hasn't fixed all our problems, the country shows its disapproval by electing someone with completely different ideals, strategies, and policies. Presidential elections are a back-and-forth game, a pendulum that swings one way and then the other, as we place our hope in the next guy, thinking that he'll be the one to make all things right.

The problem with putting our hope in a president is that no president will ever bring fulfillment. The president is not the answer to our problems. As with past elected officials, we will all soon see that Trump will never be able to fix our country. He will never bring satisfaction. Christ is the only one who can bring true satisfaction to our dry, thirsty souls. He is the way, the truth, and the life. So let's share the Gospel and live it out, remembering that our hope lies in Christ alone.

Love,

Kristen

The Morning After...

The election is over, the campaigns are over, some are overjoyed, some are extremely disheartened.  Many are bragging as if their team just won the World Series, while others are grieving as if their life is over.

If you voted for Trump, this is not a win for your team and a loss for the other team.  And if you voted against Trump, this is not the end of the world.  This is only the election of one man.  Yes, he is a very powerful man, but that doesn’t change who you are and what you believe. Therefore, my prayer is that no matter where you stand, politically speaking, you will see this as an opportunity for honest discussion and as a chance to learn from others, even from those with whom you disagree. 

And if you are a person who cannot possibly understand how anyone could vote for a particular candidate (on either side), find out.  Engage in meaningful conversations with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.  This is one of the beautiful realities about living in the USA: We have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and even freedom of opinion.  And while we are divided on worldview, we are not divided as image-bearers of God, so I encourage everyone everywhere to treat one another with respect as fellow image-bearers of God.

One last thing I want to point out and direct specifically to Christians is that this is not a win for the church.  In fact, this will be a loss for the church if we believe that Trump’s election is a win for God and that anyone who did not vote Republican is anti-Christ.  God’s church does not depend upon the government for her strength.  For the church is founded upon none other than Jesus Christ. Regardless of who is president, our mission as the church does not change.  Listen to the words of God to the church in Ephesians 2:19-22.

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

~Corey

(Be on the lookout for part 2 in my series on eschatology.)