Insecure Believers

I apologize for the delay in picking up where I left off on this topic of salvific certainty. I have enjoyed some needed time away and the opportunity to see some family I have not seen in actually years.

This topic is becoming more dominant as I travel and interract with other pastors and church attenders. The conversations usually are the same with baffled looks and expressions of "how can they believe this?" The fact of the matter is that there are those within evangelical circles that are being taught that they can lose their salvation. They can miss out on going to heaven. Where do they get this?

Now, last time I mentioned that I had spoken with a lady who felt that one could never be "kicked out of God's family, but you could choose to leave God's family." The basis of this was founded upon "logic." I am in no way trying to belittle this individual. However, the basis of such a dangerous position was not directly from Scripture, but from a feeling of logical conclusions.

To this one and many others the impression is that if I sin and make the conscious decision to abandon God, renounce my faith, and leave off following the will of God, then I am no longer a "born again" individual.

To some other individual's credit they will turn to passages of Scripture. One that really amazed me was when one used Luke 9:23 which says,

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Now I do understand that in Luke discipleship and salvation go hand in hand, but to equate this verse with a possible dropping of the cross meaning you have left the ranks and am no longer a Christian is beyond the context or the intention of what Christ is referring to.

Others use Hebrews 6; 2 Peter 2:20, 21; Romans 8:13; Revelation 22:18, 19; etc. I recently received a book entitled, The Believer's Condtional Security. It was written by David D. Corner who was unknown to me and no biographical information is on the book. The book runs close to 800 pages and tries to discredit the stance of eternal secuity. Corner's contintion amongst many is that an apostate is a believer that leaves the faith. Thus if this one is saved and is then described as Scripture does, then one can lose his or her salvation.

Now we will leave this hanging for a time and I intend to come back with some further provocation as well as some hopeful answers. Take a look at these verses and see if you see a problem with the direction these individuals take them.

Eternally Insecure

Although this is by no means a new debate or one that is fresh on the horizon of theological consternations, the issue of eternal security has been hitting me and some of my church members rather hard over the past few months.

I am amazed at the differing views this postion holds. Some would say that resident sin in one's life can lead to a "losing of one's salvation." Others would argue that God would never allow that to happen, but you can choose when to walk away from your faith. You and I have the power to renounce our faith and leave God's care, so they would argue.

Now on the other end of the spectrum are those who would say that once saved, you are always saved. Of course that is what I would agree with, but what of these statements.

Now again, I know that there are books written on this topic, but apparently those books are not being read by many well meaning believers. Just this past week at our annual "crusade to win the children of our community," or as most these days call it, VBS, a child came up to our missionary speaker and asked him what was salvation. David Flinck, missionary appointee to Chile, proceded to explain what God required for forgiveness of sin. The boy quickly responded that he asked God to forgive him every time he went to church. I was then speaking with the boy after one of the sessions and his mother came in to hear the discussion. Her affirmation was that God would never kick us out of His family, but we could leave the family. We have the choice to leave if we so choose, but God will always be there to welcome us back.

The greatest question I have for such statements is "where in Scripture do we read that?" Many run to Hebrews and into the Gospels, but many do not read these passages through with such interpretations.

Over the next few weeks, I want to "ramble" some thoughts down on this topic of eternally insecure. If you have any leading thoughts or questions I will do my best to interact. However, the greatest resource would be for comments on passages of Scripture that people (perhaps youself) use to come to such a conclusion that one can lose salvation or "fall from the faith" to such a point that eternal security is in question.

As a Good Soldier

This next week our church will begin its annual crusade to win the children of our community. What a great challenge in these days to not just capture a child's attention, but to actually know where to begin in explaining the Gospel message. Vacation Bible School has been a highlight for us as long as I can remember. It is a tremendous amount of work, but usually very rewarding at week's end.

The challenge however is growing. Usually there is a large assortment of kids present. Most have a sordid assortment of religious backgrounds from mainstream denominations to various other groups. But have you noticed the changes over the past few years? I talk with some of these kids and first they have never been to church. This week may be for a few of these kids the first time they have ever stepped into a church building, let alone into an organized event that centers around the Bible and discussion about Christ. Just two weeks ago a family in our church was working with a foster child they have currently. She had no clue what church or the Gospel meant.

Now, VBS comes. Where do you start? Making sure these kids leave with a clear and powerful presentation of the Gospel is now a thought provoking performance. No longer can we count on a framework or a reference point, we need to be certain we are getting it across to this next generation.

Our theme this year is a military theme. We will be having Boot Camp - "Biblical Outlook and Opposition Training." The theme verses are found in 2 Timothy 2:3-4, "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier." (NASB)

Pray that we will be able to first enlist new recruits this week. Then pray that these new recruits will be equipped to go out and become the next generation to take the posts and perform the duties suitable to soldiers in the Lord's Army!

I pray that each of us will be living "as a good soldier" for Christ. May we be keeping a Biblical Outlook and being alert that we face constant Opposition.

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8 NASB)

Going under the knife

Tomorrow by this time I will be without my full compliment of organs. I have been instructed that my gall bladder is giving up its reputation for being efficient and has decided to go on a permanent leave of absence. My doctor is in colusion with my gall bladder and will gladly accept my part in his pension plan. The "Gall!"

I have never been one who does well with needles and such. The anticipation of pain and surgery as "minor" as it might be is not a thought that I deeply cherish. I am of course a man and pain and sickness, along with sharp objects make me cower in fret and nervousness.

As I sat in my doctor's office and listened to him explain how my gall bladder was supposed to work and how it now wasn't, it brought to my mind the reality of a few things. (Honestly I have had this conversation with some and so it isn't a grasping at straws here.)

Sin entered. Adam and Eve fell. The bruising was not a scraping of flesh, but a scrapping of all that was right. And so sin entered. Man has been enduring the effects ever since. Noah, Abraham, Lot, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, and then came the last Adam, Christ Jesus.

The affects of sin on conduct is obvious, but the unforeseen affects on our bodies is something we are becoming more aware of. I find it somewhat interesting that when something is affecting your life how many others you come across that have or are going through the same things.

One of my brothers called me after I sent a quick email to my family and he told me that he had just had two conversations within the last 24 hours with people having just had or getting ready to have the gall bladder removed. It must be a conspiracy! In our church we have at least three people who have had theirs out. Common, routine, "minor surgery" as they call it. When did having parts of your anatomy cut out become routine? Remember sin entered and the effects of sin are abounding. Cancer, disease, disorders, and all the vast titles of procedures and medications we pop and inject.

I am reminded of the story found in John's Gospel:

John 9:2-5 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (3) Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. (4) We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. (5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

The effects of our corruption and the consequences of one man's sin still lingers and will until we are freed from this corruptible and made incorruptible by the power of our living Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. In Him was no sin (1 Peter 2:22). Thus He came free from the curse, free from the condemnation of death, and free to give to us what we could not obtain in our own flesh - LIFE!

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

And what is Paul's hope and anticipation?

Rom 7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Sin entered. Sure, but so did God. He entered our existence to offer us what we could not have - hope, peace, love--LIFE! He entered our space to make a space for us with Him for all of eternity.

So, I will be less the man I was, but one day all will be made complete and what is corruptible now will one day be free from all that is polluted and contaminated. I will be free from sin and free from its consequences. I and my body will be as God intended them to be from the very beginning. "Thanks be to God!"

Relevance or Importance

Recently a freind of mine emailed me a link to view an interview with Rick Warren, author of Purpose Driven Life and other books along that same line. He has become synonomous with the "mega-church" movement and the Purpose Driven Church movement around the country as well as other parts of the world. If you have time, here is the link to see the interview for yourself.

ABC News: Rick Warren and Purpose-Driven Strife

One of his comments made me stop and think for a moment about our view of what is "relevant" to this society. I do believe that we cannot simply do it the way we have always done it and expect this society here in America to still "get it." However, at what expense and to what lengths are we willing to go to make sure they do "get it?" At what point does the message then alter itself in our attempts to convince the world that they don't have "it."

Recently E-bay has been running some adds about what you can sell and find on its web-based auction sight. The point is that you can get "it," whatever "it" is. What you are looking for, you can find "it." Seems like we are trying to fit our churches into that same mold. Instead of us having the only thing that will change lives, we want to make that fit what the world thinks "it" should look like. But what does the world know about truth, God, the Bible, salvation, newness of life, repentance, and eternity?

Now here is my thought on this "it" that they are looking for. As the church, we need to be able to take those who come in to our facilities, into our services, and especially into our individual lives and take them from their view of what "it" looks like and show them what God says HE looks like. We need to be relevant, but never for the sake of just being able to say we are reaching people. Are we reaching them or just making them feel comfortable with their opinion of Who Jesus is, what the Gospel is, or what they think the church is?

They are the outsiders, and they stand out there looking in. Are we clear on what we are? What we are supposed to look like? Who we are trying to reach? And how are we doing that?

All the Rick Warrens of the world would claim that they are very clear on their knowledge of truth and the criteria for salvation. That's great, but is the world they are claiming to be reaching "getting it?"

Look forward to any takes on this subject. What do you think we should be doing, are doing right, and what is your view on this "purpose driven" style? Are we doing a good job at getting "it," Jesus and His plan of salvation across to the masses? Or is there something that needs to change? Where is the balance and how do we know if we are balanced? Let me hear them.

Recently my family and I had a great opportunity to travel to Grand Cayman. It was a trip mixed with relaxation and ministry opportunities. One thing that came to mind right away is that God has definitely created some wonderful visuals for us to behold. As we interacted with the people on the island it was apparent that many of those who had grown up in the region were very comfortable with their surroundings. They simply viewed their habitat as the norm and without that sparkle as my family seemed to be experiencing.

One thing that struck me somewhat funny was that some individuals on the island could not even swim! Now, here you are surrounded by water (the island is only 22 miles long and only 4-8 miles wide) and the need to learn how to swim was just not as much of a priority as the rest of their existence. Some who had been on the island for years had never been to the local hotspots that all the tourists go to see. It was not viewed as important or as intriguing as to others. Obviously this is not all encompassing of all the Residents of Cayman, but intriguing none the less.

I remember in my first pastorate in the state of Virginia beholding the mountains that surrounded us. My wife, having never grown up in that type of geography, would just continually marvel at the splendor of the views and changing hues of color as fall would approach. To me and many who were more accustomed to the terrain we found it to be normal and familiar, and even at times unnoticed.

So many times in life we grow comfortable with all the "normalcy" of life. Life just seems to happen. We go about our everyday routines and little seems to get out attention. We fail to see the handiwork of God and to behold the breathtaking scenes of His intervention. Then when God does something to interrupt our "habitat" we stumble around wondering where God is and what has He been doing.

God moved our family from Virginia to Nebraska. We went from those beautiful mountains to a state with a different type of beauty. The open fields and wide horizons offer a different take on God's handiwork. Now we reflect. Now we visualize the mountains and the handiwork of God with a sense of new appreciation. If God were to move us again, I am sure we would do the same about Nebraska.

Sometimes God has to get us moving and get us out of the comfortable regions of our life to get us to behold the real beauty of what He is doing and who He is. Perhaps that is what He is doing in your life. I know He is trying to do that in mine. Get your head up, see the terrain. Behold the hand of the Lord and know that He is God. Rest in Him, and soak up the rays of His sunshine. Do not allow your heart to feel neglected and most certainly do not neglect His so great salvation.

I need to “behold” the beauty like a tourist. I am on a new journey each and every day. My life is to be filled with the beholding of God’s “reason” for my existence. Do not get caught in normalcy. Be caught up in seeing God and what He is doing on your behalf. “Behold” the Lord and that all His works are done in faithfulness (Psalm 33:4).

Scripture Thoughts: Deuteronomy 5:24; 10:14; Psalm 119:18, 40

Your Purpose....My Purpose?

Starting in this new year I have been establishing some goals for my congregation. We have been discussing some ministry shaping aspects that I feel will help solidify and establish the type of ministry we can expect to have in the very near and even distant future. Some of the thinking has been helped along by reading a book by Aubrey Malphurs entitled Ministry Nuts & Bolts (ISBN #0-8254-3190-5). Along with that book another one that I am currently reading as well is entitled Management Essentials for Christian Ministries by editors, Michael J. Anthony and James Estep, Jr. (ISBN #080543123-3).

All of that to say that it is not at all original with me. However, the burden has been building and it is great to find resources to help me formulate or guide my desire into action.

The greatest challenge in all of this has been helping our people see that change is not necessarily about changing beliefs, but about appropriating truth to the next generation. Christ was relational in His approach to people. He met them where they were but obviously His message never waivered. Christ still spoke truth, lived truth, and demanded an acceptance of truth.

I recently had lunch with a man in our church. As we sat discussing a range of topics I brought him to this discussion we are having as a body. The way I explained it to him was that each of us comes in with our purpose for life. I have a purpose, you have a purpose, the fellow across the aisle has a purpose. Then, in walks this visitor and they now come with a purpose for their life. I explained to him that my job as a pastor is to try and help you and even that visitor in the development of his or her purpose for life.

If only we could grab hold of the reality that God has a vision for our life. God has given us purpose and as 2 Peter 1:3 declares,

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, (ESV)

We have been called to "excellence" and not "maintenance." I believe that it is not Biblical to exist without vision in your life. I do not believe that Paul got stuck in the "mid-life" rut. His goal was to be known by the One whose opinion really mattered most.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (Phi 3:7-12 ESV)

Paul exercised a mental acuteness for life. He did not "drop out" in setting goals for his life. He lived with a purpose in mind and that purpose propelled him to run!

In our churches you bring your purpose into the household of faith. Each of us brings our purpose for living. The real question then is what is your purpose? It is what motivates and pushes you. What do you see as "success" and "accomplishment" and you will learn your purpose. Now how does that purpose affect your ability to be an effective Christian? A follower of Jesus Christ? How does that effect the purpose of your church? Does your purpose in life match up to the spiritual purpose God gave you for existing?

If not, then your reward is short lived. If so, your reward is eternal. The classic verse is still true,

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(Mat 6:21 ESV)

The burden of Reality

The more I deal with people in general, the more alramed I get at the lack of integrity mankind seems to exhibit. By "integrity" I infer a lack of sincere motivation, subconcious solidarity. "Menpleasers" seems to come to mind as I think of Ephesians and how Paul warns against "eye service" and simply living for the external recognition. I even catch myself seeking aproval of some supposed superior being that exists on a very horizontal plane as myself. No integrity. I and so many like me are seeking to be found laudable and appreciated by what we do in their presence or by what is recognized and perhaps applauded.

Eph 6:6 "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;"

What a tricky phrase that one, "from the heart." I know my heart is easily hurt, easily enticed, easily overwhelmed with my passions, but the heart I am to seek is still my heart. It is a heart that all still comes "from." My heart is still the same heart that should propell me to service which is inspired by the "will of God." INTEGRITY! It is founded in something, no, Someone greater than me. It is based upon an opinion greater than yours. My heart and my activity is to be abudantly clear. It is to have integrity of thought, integrity of conduct, integrity of spirit.


Psa 26:1-2 A Psalm of David. "Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart."

The ESV says,

Psa 26:2 "Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind."

Not much difference, but the point is clear, God is looking for a heart of integrity. A heart that is sure, confident, and proven. He seeks a heart that is not seeking for confidence, but has found its security in doing what pleases the only One who truly matters.

The testing of the heart is seen in the response to His Word and how we follow that "will of God." What is the will of God? Boy, now that is a much longer discussion, but suffice it to say that His Word, the Bible, fills us with enough to keep us busy for a lifetime!

What is the status of your heart? What is the integrity of my heart like? Who will I seek to please today? Who will I strive to bring pleasure to today? May it always be Christ.

An Informal Purpose Statement

This blog is one, very insignificant minister's attempt to create a place for his thoughts and extend to some an invitation to help me and others like myself come to a better grasp on how we can be better equipped "for the work." (Ephesians 4:12) I know that there are many good and perhaps better publicized sights, but I hope that on a different level we might interact as we grow in our understanding of Scripture and its part in the changing society in which we live.