How I Caused a Riot in Children’s Church
(A skit in four scenes)
By Bud Greenberg
CAST
SCENE 1
Father (mid-30’s)
Mother (mid-30’s)
SCENE 2
Father
Mother
Milton (age 6)
David (age 3)
Dumb Puppet
SCENE 3
Father
Mother
Milton
David
SCENE 4
Sunday school teacher
Sunday school class
Sunday school class puppets
Milton
David
Author’s note
This skit is based on a true story. I wrote it as a rather light-hearted reminder that children follow the example of their parents - whether that example is good or bad.SCENE 1
Scene 1 takes place in a living room at home at a week day evening. Father and mother are tired after a long day with work and the children. It is bed time for the two boys.
Actors
FATHER
MOTHER
MOTHER
Honey, I am exhausted. Would you mind putting the boys to bed this evening?
FATHER
I’m tired too! Why don’t you do it?
MOTHER
Please?
FATHER
All right. Okay. Prefer one another. I know the lesson! Where are they now?
MOTHER
There are in their room. They have already gotten dressed and brushed their teeth. All you have to do is read them a book.
FATHER
They keep asking for me to read the same book to them night after night. How about if I do something different with them this evening?
MOTHER
You do whatever you want.
FATHER
I’m on my way.
SCENE 2
Scene 2 takes place in the boys’ bed room. Father has just entered the room. The boys are playing by themselves with toys strewn about on the floor. In the middle of the floor are two chairs, a bed sheet and a hand puppet.
Actors
FATHER
MOTHER
MILTON
DAVID
DUMB PUPPET
FATHER
It’s bedtime boys. Would you like me to read book to you or would you like a puppet show this evening?
BOYS
Puppet show! We want a puppet show!
FATHER
Then let’s put together the puppet theatre. (Dad and boys put the chairs together and drape the bed sheet over the chairs. The boys sit together Indian style on one side of the chairs. Dad finds the sock puppet and crouches behind the other side of chairs.)
DUMB PUPPET
Good evening children. I am the puppet. Would you like me to tell you a story this evening?
DAVID
Yes please!
DUMB PUPPET
Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, were two princes. Their names were Prince Milton and Prince David. All day long they went wah, wah, wah, and blah, blah, blah. They drove their parents crazy. Then the King came home and gave the princes a spanking and put them to bed. The end.
MILTON
That’s it?
DUMB PUPPET
That’s it! The end! Now go to bed!
MILTON
Well that’s a dumb story and you’re a dumb puppet.
DUMB PUPPET
That’s my name don’t wear it out! Hey little boy, you have a boo-boo on your finger. Can I see it? (David holds his finger up to the puppet’s eyes. The puppet grabs David’s finger with its mouth and pulls. David screams!)
MILTON
You leave my brother alone!
DUMB PUPPET
(Upon releasing David’s finger from its clutches) You can’t get me! I’m too fast for you!
MILTON
Yes we can! (David and Milton reach for the puppet. At first the puppet escapes, then the boys grab the puppet from Father’s hand and yank off the puppet. Then they proceed to pummel the puppet and rip out its tongue. They keep the tongue and throw the puppet back over the sheet to father. Father places the puppet back on his hand and addresses the boys over the sheet)
DUMB PUPPET
Xymphylekffft!
MILTON
What did you say puppet?
DUMB PUPPET
I said I am going to get you! (Father leaps from behind the bed sheets and grabs the boys. They wrestle on the ground. David and Milton yell and scream. After a few seconds of wrestling Mother appears at the bedroom doorway.)
MOTHER
What, in the world, are you doing?
FATHER
Just putting the boys to bed as you said.
MOTHER
Out! (Father leaves, head and shoulders slumped.)
SCENE 3
Scene 3 takes place in the boys’ bed room. It is the next evening. Mother and Father are downstairs. It is bed time. The boys are upstairs in their bedroom ready for bed.
Actors
FATHER
MOTHER
MILTON
DAVID
MOTHER
Honey, where are you going?
FATHER
I am going upstairs to put the boys to bed.
MOTHER
And have a repeat of last night? Oh, no you don’t. I will put the boys to bed. (Mother climbs the stairs. The camera stays on the father as Mother climbs the stairs and enters the boys’ room. Father smiles as the boys start yelling loudly off camera at Mother.)
MILTON and DAVID in unison
We want dumb puppet! We want dumb puppet! We want dumb puppet! (Mother descends the stairs and glares at Father.)
MOTHER
There are asking for you!
SCENE 4
Scene 4 takes place at Church of the Redeemer. David and Milton are in class, together, as part of Children’s church. They are mixed in with several other children who are all sitting in front of the teacher who is standing next to a puppet theatre.
Actors
Sunday school teacher
Sunday school class
Sunday school class puppets
Milton
David
TEACHER
Class, I have something very special for you today. We have very special guests. We have with us this evening, some puppets that are going to tell you a special story. (The camera focuses on two puppets that suddenly appear on the puppet theater stage.)
PUPPETS
Hello boys and girls!
MILTON and DAVID in unison
Puppets! (Milton and David rush the puppet stage and grab the puppets and proceed to beat on them. The other children are astonished at first, but then join in on the fun of beating on the puppets as the teacher watches in horror. A mini-riot breaks out)
TEACHER
Class! Class!! (The story ends with two numbers being flashed brightly from the church’s wall number sign in the sanctuary.)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
January 29, 2010
The Myth of the Perfect Parent
Why the best parenting techniques don't produce Christian children.
Leslie Leyland Fields | posted 1/08/2010 10:16AM
My family and I were traveling in Guatemala a few years ago. We visited
a man who had given his life to serving a poor congregation. We sat at
the kitchen table with him, a man who had been bent into humility by the
burdens of pastoring in a struggling nation while raising four children.
Still in the muddy trenches of parenthood with our five sons and one
daughter, we confessed to him our feelings of inadequacy.
"Your children are grown. What have you learned looking back on your
years of child-raising? Do you have any advice for us?" We looked at
him, needy, expectant.
He would have none of it. "I'm not one to talk to. I don't exactly have
a perfect record." One of his children was immersed in an addiction, he
told us, visibly sad. Another had a failed marriage.
He was silent for a moment, nodding slowly, and then continued. "I never
lived up to my mother's expectations either. I've been reading her
journal lately, and I see how she prayed for me, what she prayed. And
I've never lived up to what she hoped for me," he said, his voice a
near-whisper. "I think she considered me a failure."
In my mother-mind, I supplied the last words: "And considered herself a
failure as a parent." This conversation shook me profoundly, touching
one of my deepest concerns.
Prevailing Parental Panic
I'm hardly alone in my fixation. More than any other generation, today's
parents are worried sick that they will mess up their children's lives.
A massive 2006 study revealed that parents post significantly higher
rates of depression than adults without children. Judith Warner's 2005
book, Perfect Madness: Motherhood in an Age of Anxiety, captured the
national obsession with successful parenting and its overwrought
attempts to secure happiness and success for one's offspring-and, by
extension, oneself as a parent. Joan Acocella's November 2008 New Yorker
article, "The Child Trap," disdainfully chronicled the anxiety and
success-driven extremes of overparenting.
There is so much fretting that even the backlash has spawned a notable
movement and subgenre of its own, the slacker mom, visible in such books
as Confessions of a Slacker Mom, The Three-Martini Playdate: A Practical
Guide to Happy Parenting, and Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal
Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace. In these and
other popular books, women compete to claim the most artful and witty
negligence of their mothering responsibilities.
I find most Christian parents at the front of the line-the anxiety and
success line, not the slacker line. With my own offspring ranging from
first grade through college, I take turns stepping into both, perfecting
my own blend of angst and aplomb, depending on the issue. This one
question, however, sends me elbowing to the front of the anxiety queue,
where I find most of my friends and fellow believers. Our most consuming
concern is that our children "turn out"-that is, that our Christian
faith and values are successfully transmitted, and that our children
grow up to be churchgoing, God-honoring adults.
It appears that many of us are not succeeding. The exodus of young
adults from evangelical churches in the U.S. is well reported, perhaps
over-reported and hyper-hyped. The Barna Group reported in 2006 that 61
percent of young adults who had attended church as teenagers were now
spiritually disengaged, not participating in worship or spiritual
disciplines. A year later, LifeWay Research released similar findings,
that seven in ten Protestants ages 18-30 who had worshiped regularly in
high school stopped attending church by age 23. Regardless of which
studies are the most accurate, there is little doubt that many youth who
were raised in the church do not necessarily stick around.
If this isn't enough to induce parental panic, another unsettling report
came our way in a summer 2008 Newsweek article, "But I Did Everything
Right!" Sharon Begley reported that, contrary to the opinions of decades
of experts, genetics may have a more potent impact on child development
than our own parenting practices. Begley summarized findings from
studies at the Center for the Developing Child at Harvard University and
Birbeck University in London. Jay Belsky of Birbeck found that the child
most likely to adopt his parents' values is not the mellow, compliant
child, as one would expect, but the fussy, difficult child. The fussy
child is genetically wired through the presence of dna variants to be
more sensitive and attuned to her parents and surroundings. The mellow
child is more like Teflon; good parenting, and even bad parenting, tends
not to stick. These findings, among others, are part of a leading edge
of study that "promises to revolutionize our understanding of child
development."
Parents' most consuming concern is that their children 'turn out'-that
they grow up to be churchgoing, God-honoring adults.
If we decide to credit these recent findings, we are going to have a lot
of questions, maybe even some righteous indignation. "So, the game is
rigged?" we might choke out. "Our efforts to raise our children in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord may be useless on certain children
with specific dna variants? Our chances of passing the torch hang more
on their dna than on our own parenting?"
We splutter with good cause. After all, this directly contradicts the
most quoted and treasured verse in the Scriptures related to parenting:
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will
not turn from it" (Prov. 22:6). This verse has provided comfort and
direction to generations of parents, assuring them that nurture, our
nurture, is the prevailing force in our child's life, and that if we get
it right, the outcome is sure.
But the first blush of retort and defense should be reconsidered. These
scientific findings are not only ultimately hopeful and helpful for
parents; more importantly, they also support Scripture in an area that
has been plagued with presumption, behaviorism, and wrong thinking for
decades.
'As the Twig Is Bent ...'
One of the most resilient and cherished myths of parenting is that
parenting creates the child: "As the twig is bent, so grows the branch."
While the nature-nurture debate has ground on for centuries, nurture has
been the clear popular favorite among most child-rearing experts and
parents. We catch some of the zeal and heady empowerment of this belief
from one of its most vocal proponents, John B. Watson, a well-known
psychologist at Johns Hopkins University. In 1924 he famously claimed
that if he were given 12 healthy babies and complete control over their
environment, he could "guarantee to take any one at random and train him
to become any type of specialist I might select-doctor, lawyer, artist,
merchant, chef, yes, even beggar and thief, regardless of his talents,
penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors."
Though few would subscribe to Watson's extreme behaviorism, the notion
of the infant as an arriving tabula rasa on which we inscribe our design
remains deeply embedded in our culture. John Rosemond, a Christian
family psychologist and syndicated columnist, hears frequently from
parents who believe they have failed when their children have problems.
"They think this," he writes, "because they believe in psychological
determinism-specifically, that parenting produces the child."
Many Christian writers and parents have absorbed these values and
drifted into what could be called spiritual determinism. We have
absorbed the cultural belief in psychological determinism but
spiritualized it with Bible verses, and one verse in particular. The
result is a Christianized version of the cultural myth. It reads
something like this: "Christian parenting techniques produce godly
children."
Proverbs 22:6 has been widely adopted as both psychological premise and
theological promise, despite the widespread recognition that
hermeneutically, the Proverbs are not promises from God, but general
observations and maxims. (Ironically, if King Solomon did pen this
proverb, as many biblical scholars believe, he himself failed to
exemplify its truth: In his old age, he abandoned the teaching and
example of his father, as "his wives turned his heart after other gods,
and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of
David his father had been" [1 Kings 11:4].)
Despite these problems, entire formulas and programs have been created
to divine and instruct on the kind of parental training that will secure
the desired outcome. At least one of these programs, claiming to
instruct in God's ways of raising children, has sold in the millions. A
few of the more stridently conservative writers are so confident of
their parenting methods and outcomes, they describe child-training as a
risk-free venture analogous to staking out tomatoes, training dogs, and
teaching mules, only loosely veiling B. F. Skinner-like techniques with
swatches of strategically placed Bible verses.
One writer warns mothers that they must watch all they say and do,
because their child's mind, "like a videotape recorder," is "carefully
transcribing every word, right down to the tone of voice and facial
expression." To up the stakes further, he cautions that a child's mind
and "emotional patterns" may be firmly established by the time he is 2,
a "sobering realization for mothers," he intones.
Despite the impossible weight of this responsibility, it holds clear
advantages: namely, it's much easier to measure the success of our
parenting. We simply examine the evidence-how our children turn out. One
parenting writer warns, "If our parents' approach seemed close to
biblical parenting, yet bore bad fruit, we can be certain it was not
biblical." We can know this, he asserts, because God's Word gives us
exactly what we need to raise godly children, and if we correctly apply
the principles, "parents will not be disappointed."
An entire branch of Christian parenting takes this tack. "Observe and
learn from winning parents," one writer advises. Winning parents are
those whose children are "obedient" and "respectful," who "know God's
will," who "live faithful Christian lives," he writes. We should be
imitating those parents "who are successful, not those who fail."
One best-selling author takes a more numerical approach to parenting. He
begins by identifying the goal of parenting as raising "spiritual
champions." To maximize readers' ability to produce spiritual champions,
the author, a statistician, creates a model based on surveys,
statistical studies, and personal interviews. His research reveals that
a small family is better than a large family at producing a spiritual
champion, that the firstborn is the most likely to become a spiritual
giant, and that single-parent homes are seldom successful in producing
said champions.
At the end of this section, he admonishes us, before we have children,
to "... count the cost of raising them. The research suggests that the
more children you have, the more difficult it will be to facilitate the
spiritual health and depth of each child." (This, of course, is terrible
news for me and others with multiple children, though it's good for the
author, who has two.) The book ends with these motivational words:
"Between you and your spouse, have you covered the ground necessary to
produce children whose lives honor God and advance his kingdom?"
Clearly then, some parents are winners and some are losers. Many friends
immediately come to mind: God-loving couples with a child in jail, with
an agnostic child, with a prodigal daughter, with children who are
lukewarm in their faith, with children who have not yet proclaimed
faith. By these measures, they are all losers.
Bad Parents of the Bible
The Bible's examples of spiritual champions move us in another direction
entirely. The great hall of faith in Hebrews 11 provides us with a list
of men and women who through extraordinary faithfulness "conquered
kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut
the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames"-believers of such
immense faith that "the world was not worthy of them" (11:32-38).
Yet these spiritual giants were raised in anything but model homes, and
many of them were themselves highly flawed parents. Abraham sired a
child with a maidservant, then agreed to banish the son to the desert.
Isaac and Rebekah were locked in parental favoritism over Esau and
Jacob. Rebekah led her son to commit an unthinkable travesty: stealing
his brother's birthright. Jacob learned his lessons from his mother well
and continued on the path of deceit and, later, of destructive
favoritism among his ten sons. Moses was given the young, pagan,
unmarried daughter of Pharaoh as his mother. Jephthah was the son of a
prostitute, and killed his only daughter because of an impetuous vow.
Many more examples from Scripture confound our parenting expectations,
but two more must be mentioned. Jonathan, David's closest friend, was a
paragon of righteousness and purity in stark contrast with his murderous
father, King Saul. And the boy king Josiah, singularly commended as one
who served the Lord "with all his heart and with all his soul and with
all his strength" (2 Kings 23:25), was the son of Amon, a man who "did
evil in the eyes of the Lord" (2 Kings 21:20).
By contemporary standards, most of these families would be considered
dismal failures. They include polygamous families rife with division and
jealousy, prostitute mothers, heathen fa-thers, clans rampant with
favoritism and fratricide. The only discernible pattern here seems to be
one of human sin.
If our supposition-that we can measure the success of our parenting by
the outcome of our children-is scripturally based, we should be able
apply the test to God himself. After all, God is not only the author of
our Scriptures, he is also himself a parent, one who identifies himself
as our Father. The Old Testament in particular provides a long, deep
look into the Father's heart. When we look at his children, however, the
news is not good.
The descent into rebellion began with his very first children, Adam and
Eve, and continued through the days of Noah, ending in global
destruction. Then a new family was birthed, the nation of Israel, whom
God tenderly calls "my firstborn son" (Ex. 4:22). But that relationship,
too, is torturous, marked by constant rebellion and the breaking of
God's father-heart. Our own record as his children is not much better.
If God's success as a parent is to be judged by his children, what can
we conclude? That God himself does not pass our parenting test?
Who's In Control?
We must assume, then, that there is serious error in our beliefs about
parenting. We have made far too much of ourselves and far too little of
God, reflecting our sinful bent to see ourselves as more essential and
in control than we actually are. It's also our heritage as good
Americans, psychologist Harriet Lerner observed in her 1998 book, The
Mother Dance: We believe that we can fix every problem, that we are
masters over our fate. The root of much of our pain in parenting, she
writes, is "the belief that we should have control over our children
when it is hard enough to have control over ourselves."
The reflex to judge ourselves by our children, and to judge others by
their children, has further implications: It reveals a faulty view of
spiritual formation. We often expect that the children of believing
parents, whether the children claim Christ yet or not, will show the
same kind of spiritually mature attitudes and behavior we hope to see in
each other: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and obedience, as a
beginning list.
When we engage in spiritual determinism and a human view of spiritual
formation, we can easily fall into judging others. Jeanine, a friend of
mine for years, told me that her sixth-grade daughter, Julia, who was
struggling with her identity and making friends, was labeled
"demon-possessed" by another family in the church. "Some people-even in
church-have already written her off. And she's only 11 years old,"
Jeanine told me. The judgment was not only on her daughter's spiritual
condition but also on her own.
When a child does make a decision to follow Christ, we often expect
visible, even immediate transformation. The Bible demonstrates another
reality. God schooled the Israelites for 40 years to walk them from
paganism into faith in the one true God. The disciples lived in the
presence of Jesus for three long years, their faith still pitifully
small despite having constantly witnessed miracles and resurrections.
And our redemption was fully accomplished when Christ uttered "It is
finished" from the cross, but our transformation into his image
continues as long as we have breath.
The notion of the infant as an arriving tabula rasa upon which we
inscribe our design remains deeply embedded in our culture.
Ezekiel's Parenting Model
The question we ask of ourselves must be reframed. We need to quit
asking, "Am I parenting successfully?" And we most certainly need to
quit asking, "Are others parenting successfully?" Instead, we need to
ask, "Am I parenting faithfully?" Faithfulness, after all, is God's
highest requirement for us.
We see this clearly in the calling of the prophets, and particularly in
the calling of Ezekiel. Though Ezekiel was (as far as we know) not a
parent, his assignment to the people of Israel has remarkable parallels
to parenthood and the question of success.
When God commissioned Ezekiel to be a prophet, he warned him that he was
being sent to his own people, a nation set in revolt against God.
Ezekiel's job was to be a mouthpiece for God, to say, "This is what the
Sovereign Lord says" (Ezek. 2:3-4). God gives full and dismaying
disclosure before the task even begins: The people of Israel, Ezekiel's
own people, will not listen to him any more than they will listen to God
himself. The job would be hard, then-harder than the prophet could have
realized going in. But God didn't leave Ezekiel defenseless. He did not
make the task easier, but he made Ezekiel stronger, hardening his
forehead "like the hardest stone, harder than flint" (3:8-9).
Ezekiel's response to all this was so encouragingly human, so like
myself at times and like many parents I know. With the Spirit of the
Lord upon him, he returned to his people on the banks of the river for
seven days, "overwhelmed" and "in bitterness and in the anger of my
spirit" (3:14-15).
Then the prophetic work of speaking and enacting God's words began.
How successful was Ezekiel? The destruction he foretold played out in
every gruesome detail. From our vantage, Ezekiel's mission looks like an
utter failure. But God spoke a few words in this narrative that changed
everything. As God commissioned Ezekiel to speak his words to Israel,
three times he prefaced his commands with this phrase: "whether they
listen or fail to listen" (2:5, 7; 3:11). One of those three times God
completed the sentence: "Whether they listen or fail to listen ... they
will know that a prophet has been among them" (2:5).
This was Ezekiel's responsibility: to speak and embody God's words
before the people in such a way that they might know who he was, a
righteous prophet of God, and that they might know who God was. Ezekiel
wanted more than this, of course. He desperately wanted to turn the
people back to the living God and prevent the impending and appalling
judgment and death. The record does not tell us if anyone repented as a
result of his words, but Ezekiel was never accountable for the
repentance of others. He was accountable only for his steadfast
obedience.
Faith Rather Than Formula
It is likely that we are asking the wrong questions as parents. We are
so focused on ourselves-on our own need for success and the success of
our children-that we have come to view parenting as a performance or a
test. It appears we are failing the test, as large numbers of our youth
leave the church when they leave our nests. And now genetic research
tells us the test may even be rigged.
We cannot pass this test, I'm afraid, nor could we ever. If we are
graded on a curve, we will always find parents and children who are more
obedient, more joyful, and more peaceful than we are. We will find
parents whose children turned out better than ours, parents with a
higher percentage of "spiritual champions" than we can claim for our
efforts.
If we are graded instead on an absolute scale-as I believe we are-we
fail even more miserably. But this is why a Savior was provided, and
gifted to us through grace, through faith-"and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast" (Eph.
2:8-9). If even our ability to believe in God is given to us by God,
then how much of parenting can we perform on our own? We must proceed,
then, on our knees first, beggars before the throne, if we are to parent
well.
We must rethink our assumptions and our calling as well. We are
responsible to teach our children the fear of the Lord, to impress his
laws on them when we "sit at home and when [we] walk along the road,
when [we] lie down and when [we] get up"-meaning all the time (Deut.
6:7). And we are commanded to not exasperate our children, but to "bring
them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). But we
must be clear about our own limits. We are not capable of producing
perfect followers of Christ, as if we were perfect ourselves. Our work
cannot purchase anyone else's salvation or sanctification. Parents with
unbelieving children, friends with children in jail, the discoveries of
the geneticists, and the faith heroes in Hebrews 11 are all powerful
reminders of this truth: We will parent imperfectly, our children will
make their own choices, and God will mysteriously and wondrously use it
all to advance his kingdom.
Begley concludes "But I Did Everything Right!" by saying, "It is time to
acknowledge there is only so much influence parents can have." Scripture
has taught us this all along. We are not sovereign over our
children-only God is. Children are not tomatoes to stake out or mules to
train, nor are they numbers to plug into an equation. They are full
human beings wondrously and fearfully made. Parenting, like all tasks
under the sun, is intended as an endeavor of love, risk, perseverance,
and, above all, faith. It is faith rather than formula, grace rather
than guarantees, steadfastness rather than success that bridges the gap
between our own parenting efforts, and what, by God's grace, our
children grow up to become.
Leslie Leyland Fields is the author most recently of 'Parenting Is Your
Highest Calling' ... And Eight Other Myths That Traps Us in Worry and
Guilt
Why the best parenting techniques don't produce Christian children.
Leslie Leyland Fields | posted 1/08/2010 10:16AM
My family and I were traveling in Guatemala a few years ago. We visited
a man who had given his life to serving a poor congregation. We sat at
the kitchen table with him, a man who had been bent into humility by the
burdens of pastoring in a struggling nation while raising four children.
Still in the muddy trenches of parenthood with our five sons and one
daughter, we confessed to him our feelings of inadequacy.
"Your children are grown. What have you learned looking back on your
years of child-raising? Do you have any advice for us?" We looked at
him, needy, expectant.
He would have none of it. "I'm not one to talk to. I don't exactly have
a perfect record." One of his children was immersed in an addiction, he
told us, visibly sad. Another had a failed marriage.
He was silent for a moment, nodding slowly, and then continued. "I never
lived up to my mother's expectations either. I've been reading her
journal lately, and I see how she prayed for me, what she prayed. And
I've never lived up to what she hoped for me," he said, his voice a
near-whisper. "I think she considered me a failure."
In my mother-mind, I supplied the last words: "And considered herself a
failure as a parent." This conversation shook me profoundly, touching
one of my deepest concerns.
Prevailing Parental Panic
I'm hardly alone in my fixation. More than any other generation, today's
parents are worried sick that they will mess up their children's lives.
A massive 2006 study revealed that parents post significantly higher
rates of depression than adults without children. Judith Warner's 2005
book, Perfect Madness: Motherhood in an Age of Anxiety, captured the
national obsession with successful parenting and its overwrought
attempts to secure happiness and success for one's offspring-and, by
extension, oneself as a parent. Joan Acocella's November 2008 New Yorker
article, "The Child Trap," disdainfully chronicled the anxiety and
success-driven extremes of overparenting.
There is so much fretting that even the backlash has spawned a notable
movement and subgenre of its own, the slacker mom, visible in such books
as Confessions of a Slacker Mom, The Three-Martini Playdate: A Practical
Guide to Happy Parenting, and Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal
Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace. In these and
other popular books, women compete to claim the most artful and witty
negligence of their mothering responsibilities.
I find most Christian parents at the front of the line-the anxiety and
success line, not the slacker line. With my own offspring ranging from
first grade through college, I take turns stepping into both, perfecting
my own blend of angst and aplomb, depending on the issue. This one
question, however, sends me elbowing to the front of the anxiety queue,
where I find most of my friends and fellow believers. Our most consuming
concern is that our children "turn out"-that is, that our Christian
faith and values are successfully transmitted, and that our children
grow up to be churchgoing, God-honoring adults.
It appears that many of us are not succeeding. The exodus of young
adults from evangelical churches in the U.S. is well reported, perhaps
over-reported and hyper-hyped. The Barna Group reported in 2006 that 61
percent of young adults who had attended church as teenagers were now
spiritually disengaged, not participating in worship or spiritual
disciplines. A year later, LifeWay Research released similar findings,
that seven in ten Protestants ages 18-30 who had worshiped regularly in
high school stopped attending church by age 23. Regardless of which
studies are the most accurate, there is little doubt that many youth who
were raised in the church do not necessarily stick around.
If this isn't enough to induce parental panic, another unsettling report
came our way in a summer 2008 Newsweek article, "But I Did Everything
Right!" Sharon Begley reported that, contrary to the opinions of decades
of experts, genetics may have a more potent impact on child development
than our own parenting practices. Begley summarized findings from
studies at the Center for the Developing Child at Harvard University and
Birbeck University in London. Jay Belsky of Birbeck found that the child
most likely to adopt his parents' values is not the mellow, compliant
child, as one would expect, but the fussy, difficult child. The fussy
child is genetically wired through the presence of dna variants to be
more sensitive and attuned to her parents and surroundings. The mellow
child is more like Teflon; good parenting, and even bad parenting, tends
not to stick. These findings, among others, are part of a leading edge
of study that "promises to revolutionize our understanding of child
development."
Parents' most consuming concern is that their children 'turn out'-that
they grow up to be churchgoing, God-honoring adults.
If we decide to credit these recent findings, we are going to have a lot
of questions, maybe even some righteous indignation. "So, the game is
rigged?" we might choke out. "Our efforts to raise our children in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord may be useless on certain children
with specific dna variants? Our chances of passing the torch hang more
on their dna than on our own parenting?"
We splutter with good cause. After all, this directly contradicts the
most quoted and treasured verse in the Scriptures related to parenting:
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will
not turn from it" (Prov. 22:6). This verse has provided comfort and
direction to generations of parents, assuring them that nurture, our
nurture, is the prevailing force in our child's life, and that if we get
it right, the outcome is sure.
But the first blush of retort and defense should be reconsidered. These
scientific findings are not only ultimately hopeful and helpful for
parents; more importantly, they also support Scripture in an area that
has been plagued with presumption, behaviorism, and wrong thinking for
decades.
'As the Twig Is Bent ...'
One of the most resilient and cherished myths of parenting is that
parenting creates the child: "As the twig is bent, so grows the branch."
While the nature-nurture debate has ground on for centuries, nurture has
been the clear popular favorite among most child-rearing experts and
parents. We catch some of the zeal and heady empowerment of this belief
from one of its most vocal proponents, John B. Watson, a well-known
psychologist at Johns Hopkins University. In 1924 he famously claimed
that if he were given 12 healthy babies and complete control over their
environment, he could "guarantee to take any one at random and train him
to become any type of specialist I might select-doctor, lawyer, artist,
merchant, chef, yes, even beggar and thief, regardless of his talents,
penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors."
Though few would subscribe to Watson's extreme behaviorism, the notion
of the infant as an arriving tabula rasa on which we inscribe our design
remains deeply embedded in our culture. John Rosemond, a Christian
family psychologist and syndicated columnist, hears frequently from
parents who believe they have failed when their children have problems.
"They think this," he writes, "because they believe in psychological
determinism-specifically, that parenting produces the child."
Many Christian writers and parents have absorbed these values and
drifted into what could be called spiritual determinism. We have
absorbed the cultural belief in psychological determinism but
spiritualized it with Bible verses, and one verse in particular. The
result is a Christianized version of the cultural myth. It reads
something like this: "Christian parenting techniques produce godly
children."
Proverbs 22:6 has been widely adopted as both psychological premise and
theological promise, despite the widespread recognition that
hermeneutically, the Proverbs are not promises from God, but general
observations and maxims. (Ironically, if King Solomon did pen this
proverb, as many biblical scholars believe, he himself failed to
exemplify its truth: In his old age, he abandoned the teaching and
example of his father, as "his wives turned his heart after other gods,
and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of
David his father had been" [1 Kings 11:4].)
Despite these problems, entire formulas and programs have been created
to divine and instruct on the kind of parental training that will secure
the desired outcome. At least one of these programs, claiming to
instruct in God's ways of raising children, has sold in the millions. A
few of the more stridently conservative writers are so confident of
their parenting methods and outcomes, they describe child-training as a
risk-free venture analogous to staking out tomatoes, training dogs, and
teaching mules, only loosely veiling B. F. Skinner-like techniques with
swatches of strategically placed Bible verses.
One writer warns mothers that they must watch all they say and do,
because their child's mind, "like a videotape recorder," is "carefully
transcribing every word, right down to the tone of voice and facial
expression." To up the stakes further, he cautions that a child's mind
and "emotional patterns" may be firmly established by the time he is 2,
a "sobering realization for mothers," he intones.
Despite the impossible weight of this responsibility, it holds clear
advantages: namely, it's much easier to measure the success of our
parenting. We simply examine the evidence-how our children turn out. One
parenting writer warns, "If our parents' approach seemed close to
biblical parenting, yet bore bad fruit, we can be certain it was not
biblical." We can know this, he asserts, because God's Word gives us
exactly what we need to raise godly children, and if we correctly apply
the principles, "parents will not be disappointed."
An entire branch of Christian parenting takes this tack. "Observe and
learn from winning parents," one writer advises. Winning parents are
those whose children are "obedient" and "respectful," who "know God's
will," who "live faithful Christian lives," he writes. We should be
imitating those parents "who are successful, not those who fail."
One best-selling author takes a more numerical approach to parenting. He
begins by identifying the goal of parenting as raising "spiritual
champions." To maximize readers' ability to produce spiritual champions,
the author, a statistician, creates a model based on surveys,
statistical studies, and personal interviews. His research reveals that
a small family is better than a large family at producing a spiritual
champion, that the firstborn is the most likely to become a spiritual
giant, and that single-parent homes are seldom successful in producing
said champions.
At the end of this section, he admonishes us, before we have children,
to "... count the cost of raising them. The research suggests that the
more children you have, the more difficult it will be to facilitate the
spiritual health and depth of each child." (This, of course, is terrible
news for me and others with multiple children, though it's good for the
author, who has two.) The book ends with these motivational words:
"Between you and your spouse, have you covered the ground necessary to
produce children whose lives honor God and advance his kingdom?"
Clearly then, some parents are winners and some are losers. Many friends
immediately come to mind: God-loving couples with a child in jail, with
an agnostic child, with a prodigal daughter, with children who are
lukewarm in their faith, with children who have not yet proclaimed
faith. By these measures, they are all losers.
Bad Parents of the Bible
The Bible's examples of spiritual champions move us in another direction
entirely. The great hall of faith in Hebrews 11 provides us with a list
of men and women who through extraordinary faithfulness "conquered
kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut
the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames"-believers of such
immense faith that "the world was not worthy of them" (11:32-38).
Yet these spiritual giants were raised in anything but model homes, and
many of them were themselves highly flawed parents. Abraham sired a
child with a maidservant, then agreed to banish the son to the desert.
Isaac and Rebekah were locked in parental favoritism over Esau and
Jacob. Rebekah led her son to commit an unthinkable travesty: stealing
his brother's birthright. Jacob learned his lessons from his mother well
and continued on the path of deceit and, later, of destructive
favoritism among his ten sons. Moses was given the young, pagan,
unmarried daughter of Pharaoh as his mother. Jephthah was the son of a
prostitute, and killed his only daughter because of an impetuous vow.
Many more examples from Scripture confound our parenting expectations,
but two more must be mentioned. Jonathan, David's closest friend, was a
paragon of righteousness and purity in stark contrast with his murderous
father, King Saul. And the boy king Josiah, singularly commended as one
who served the Lord "with all his heart and with all his soul and with
all his strength" (2 Kings 23:25), was the son of Amon, a man who "did
evil in the eyes of the Lord" (2 Kings 21:20).
By contemporary standards, most of these families would be considered
dismal failures. They include polygamous families rife with division and
jealousy, prostitute mothers, heathen fa-thers, clans rampant with
favoritism and fratricide. The only discernible pattern here seems to be
one of human sin.
If our supposition-that we can measure the success of our parenting by
the outcome of our children-is scripturally based, we should be able
apply the test to God himself. After all, God is not only the author of
our Scriptures, he is also himself a parent, one who identifies himself
as our Father. The Old Testament in particular provides a long, deep
look into the Father's heart. When we look at his children, however, the
news is not good.
The descent into rebellion began with his very first children, Adam and
Eve, and continued through the days of Noah, ending in global
destruction. Then a new family was birthed, the nation of Israel, whom
God tenderly calls "my firstborn son" (Ex. 4:22). But that relationship,
too, is torturous, marked by constant rebellion and the breaking of
God's father-heart. Our own record as his children is not much better.
If God's success as a parent is to be judged by his children, what can
we conclude? That God himself does not pass our parenting test?
Who's In Control?
We must assume, then, that there is serious error in our beliefs about
parenting. We have made far too much of ourselves and far too little of
God, reflecting our sinful bent to see ourselves as more essential and
in control than we actually are. It's also our heritage as good
Americans, psychologist Harriet Lerner observed in her 1998 book, The
Mother Dance: We believe that we can fix every problem, that we are
masters over our fate. The root of much of our pain in parenting, she
writes, is "the belief that we should have control over our children
when it is hard enough to have control over ourselves."
The reflex to judge ourselves by our children, and to judge others by
their children, has further implications: It reveals a faulty view of
spiritual formation. We often expect that the children of believing
parents, whether the children claim Christ yet or not, will show the
same kind of spiritually mature attitudes and behavior we hope to see in
each other: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and obedience, as a
beginning list.
When we engage in spiritual determinism and a human view of spiritual
formation, we can easily fall into judging others. Jeanine, a friend of
mine for years, told me that her sixth-grade daughter, Julia, who was
struggling with her identity and making friends, was labeled
"demon-possessed" by another family in the church. "Some people-even in
church-have already written her off. And she's only 11 years old,"
Jeanine told me. The judgment was not only on her daughter's spiritual
condition but also on her own.
When a child does make a decision to follow Christ, we often expect
visible, even immediate transformation. The Bible demonstrates another
reality. God schooled the Israelites for 40 years to walk them from
paganism into faith in the one true God. The disciples lived in the
presence of Jesus for three long years, their faith still pitifully
small despite having constantly witnessed miracles and resurrections.
And our redemption was fully accomplished when Christ uttered "It is
finished" from the cross, but our transformation into his image
continues as long as we have breath.
The notion of the infant as an arriving tabula rasa upon which we
inscribe our design remains deeply embedded in our culture.
Ezekiel's Parenting Model
The question we ask of ourselves must be reframed. We need to quit
asking, "Am I parenting successfully?" And we most certainly need to
quit asking, "Are others parenting successfully?" Instead, we need to
ask, "Am I parenting faithfully?" Faithfulness, after all, is God's
highest requirement for us.
We see this clearly in the calling of the prophets, and particularly in
the calling of Ezekiel. Though Ezekiel was (as far as we know) not a
parent, his assignment to the people of Israel has remarkable parallels
to parenthood and the question of success.
When God commissioned Ezekiel to be a prophet, he warned him that he was
being sent to his own people, a nation set in revolt against God.
Ezekiel's job was to be a mouthpiece for God, to say, "This is what the
Sovereign Lord says" (Ezek. 2:3-4). God gives full and dismaying
disclosure before the task even begins: The people of Israel, Ezekiel's
own people, will not listen to him any more than they will listen to God
himself. The job would be hard, then-harder than the prophet could have
realized going in. But God didn't leave Ezekiel defenseless. He did not
make the task easier, but he made Ezekiel stronger, hardening his
forehead "like the hardest stone, harder than flint" (3:8-9).
Ezekiel's response to all this was so encouragingly human, so like
myself at times and like many parents I know. With the Spirit of the
Lord upon him, he returned to his people on the banks of the river for
seven days, "overwhelmed" and "in bitterness and in the anger of my
spirit" (3:14-15).
Then the prophetic work of speaking and enacting God's words began.
How successful was Ezekiel? The destruction he foretold played out in
every gruesome detail. From our vantage, Ezekiel's mission looks like an
utter failure. But God spoke a few words in this narrative that changed
everything. As God commissioned Ezekiel to speak his words to Israel,
three times he prefaced his commands with this phrase: "whether they
listen or fail to listen" (2:5, 7; 3:11). One of those three times God
completed the sentence: "Whether they listen or fail to listen ... they
will know that a prophet has been among them" (2:5).
This was Ezekiel's responsibility: to speak and embody God's words
before the people in such a way that they might know who he was, a
righteous prophet of God, and that they might know who God was. Ezekiel
wanted more than this, of course. He desperately wanted to turn the
people back to the living God and prevent the impending and appalling
judgment and death. The record does not tell us if anyone repented as a
result of his words, but Ezekiel was never accountable for the
repentance of others. He was accountable only for his steadfast
obedience.
Faith Rather Than Formula
It is likely that we are asking the wrong questions as parents. We are
so focused on ourselves-on our own need for success and the success of
our children-that we have come to view parenting as a performance or a
test. It appears we are failing the test, as large numbers of our youth
leave the church when they leave our nests. And now genetic research
tells us the test may even be rigged.
We cannot pass this test, I'm afraid, nor could we ever. If we are
graded on a curve, we will always find parents and children who are more
obedient, more joyful, and more peaceful than we are. We will find
parents whose children turned out better than ours, parents with a
higher percentage of "spiritual champions" than we can claim for our
efforts.
If we are graded instead on an absolute scale-as I believe we are-we
fail even more miserably. But this is why a Savior was provided, and
gifted to us through grace, through faith-"and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast" (Eph.
2:8-9). If even our ability to believe in God is given to us by God,
then how much of parenting can we perform on our own? We must proceed,
then, on our knees first, beggars before the throne, if we are to parent
well.
We must rethink our assumptions and our calling as well. We are
responsible to teach our children the fear of the Lord, to impress his
laws on them when we "sit at home and when [we] walk along the road,
when [we] lie down and when [we] get up"-meaning all the time (Deut.
6:7). And we are commanded to not exasperate our children, but to "bring
them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). But we
must be clear about our own limits. We are not capable of producing
perfect followers of Christ, as if we were perfect ourselves. Our work
cannot purchase anyone else's salvation or sanctification. Parents with
unbelieving children, friends with children in jail, the discoveries of
the geneticists, and the faith heroes in Hebrews 11 are all powerful
reminders of this truth: We will parent imperfectly, our children will
make their own choices, and God will mysteriously and wondrously use it
all to advance his kingdom.
Begley concludes "But I Did Everything Right!" by saying, "It is time to
acknowledge there is only so much influence parents can have." Scripture
has taught us this all along. We are not sovereign over our
children-only God is. Children are not tomatoes to stake out or mules to
train, nor are they numbers to plug into an equation. They are full
human beings wondrously and fearfully made. Parenting, like all tasks
under the sun, is intended as an endeavor of love, risk, perseverance,
and, above all, faith. It is faith rather than formula, grace rather
than guarantees, steadfastness rather than success that bridges the gap
between our own parenting efforts, and what, by God's grace, our
children grow up to become.
Leslie Leyland Fields is the author most recently of 'Parenting Is Your
Highest Calling' ... And Eight Other Myths That Traps Us in Worry and
Guilt
Thursday, January 28, 2010
January 28, 2010
Living In The Now. In working with people as a pastor for over 3 decades, I have discovereda number of similarities in human behavior. One of these is our failureto grasp the power of the present. All too often people live inanything but "the now." There are a lot of folks who are stuck in the past. They are alwayslooking back. Their reminiscence may be filled with regrets overfailures in their yesterdays. They are haunted by what they did or feelthey should have done in years gone by. Other people focus on the perceived glory of the past. These are thefolks who are enamored with how great they used to be, what amazingthings they once did, or how wonderful the "good old days" were! While recognizing and reconciling the mistakes, appreciating thesuccesses and learning the lessons of the past are all important andvaluable, that's where "rear view living" should end. There is another equally destructive tendency. Many people are livingin the future. They are preoccupied with what I call "one dayscenarios." The single person is tortured by the dream of "one day" whenthey will be married. Sadly, at the very sad time, a whole lot ofmarried people are dreaming about the "one day" they hope to be singleagain! Think about all the "one day" scenarios that cause people tomiss their "now" moment. What does the wisdom of Scripture teach us about "now?" While the Biblehelps us understand how to process our past and have positiveexpectation for our future, its emphasis is clear on our "today." Godcalls us to pay close attention to now - live in the present!Interestingly, the English word "now" is found 365 times in the NIVtranslation of the New Testament! Why is now important? N = You have no other time but now promised and given to you. Yesterdayis gone, and tomorrow has not arrived. O = Opportunities for growth, learning, serving, giving and lovingalways happen in the now! Opportunities always happen in a presentmoment! W = What you do with your now will determine what happens in yourtomorrows. Your choices now are determining your future destiny. Let's all make a decision to make the most of our NOW! Pastor Dale
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
January 27, 2010
Biblical truth for Couples
Growing Together in Marriage
By Brooke Keith
Contributing Writer
CBN.com – Have you ever found yourself worrying that you and your spouse were growing apart? I think everyone has this fear at some point in their marriage. Maybe you feel like you aren’t talking enough or maybe it just feels like you are becoming far too different to continue being a couple.
Sadly, this is where many people give up on their marriage. “It’s unfixable,” we tell ourselves. “We are just too different.” “We aren’t the same people we used to be.” If you’ve found yourself thinking this or even uttering it out loud, I encourage you to read on and discover the truth about “growing apart”.
Before you started changing, God saw it all – and He had a plan!
Far too many marriages end because people think that change is bad. Remember, even though you might be surprised by your new circumstances, God isn’t. The Christian walk, after all, is all about growth and change.
Christ tells us in Luke 9:22, “You must take up your cross daily and follow me.” That means our surroundings are going to be constantly changing! We are never going to wake up in the same spot every morning, but that was all part of God’s plan.
Marriage is very similar. There are going to be seasons in our marriage that are ones of great change. They are going to require us to “take up our cross daily” – and in this we need not lose our joy or let it shake our peace. We can be certain that we are walking towards something spectacular when we depend on Jesus to lead the way.
Your spouse was created to balance you out!
In my own marriage, my husband and I are very different. I am a writing, reading, Frank Sinatra nerd. My husband is far hipper than I could ever claim to be. He can quote the lyrics to any classic rock tune, his hat is usually backwards, and he air guitars around the dining room table.
Many couples let Satan talk them in to thinking that difference is a bad thing, but God knows better. Why? He picked us out one for another.
I tend to be too high strung. My husband is notoriously laid back. He encourages fun for our children, and I encourage education. But God says this, “And the two shall become one.” That was His plan. The things I lack my husband balances out. Together, being one in Christ, we create a much better, well-balanced person than we ever could alone.
The Devil is a liar!
Change is uncomfortable. It can leave us butting heads, feeling insecure, and scrambling to find reasons to believe that our marriage can't survive. But, in God, we can find perfect peace in the midst of any circumstance – no matter how bleak.
The Devil would love for you to believe that this is it for your marriage. He would love to have you think that things will never get better. That's when we have to remember that God already told us the Devil is a liar. It’s right there in His word.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. (John 8:44)
Not only does God tell us he is a liar. He tells us Satan is "the father of lies". There is no truth in him at all -- not even a little morsel.
“But, God how do I know that you aren’t putting these doubts in my head?” He has an answer for that too.
“God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)
God has a perfect plan for your life and your marriage. You were created with purpose and joined together with reason. God honors who you are as an individual, and He also honors your spouse as one . . . but together He saw that you could be more. He placed you together with a purpose. Even when it feels like you are growing apart, if you’ll keep a steady ear on the one who joined you together, you’ll find that any growing you do can be done together.
Growing Together in Marriage
By Brooke Keith
Contributing Writer
CBN.com – Have you ever found yourself worrying that you and your spouse were growing apart? I think everyone has this fear at some point in their marriage. Maybe you feel like you aren’t talking enough or maybe it just feels like you are becoming far too different to continue being a couple.
Sadly, this is where many people give up on their marriage. “It’s unfixable,” we tell ourselves. “We are just too different.” “We aren’t the same people we used to be.” If you’ve found yourself thinking this or even uttering it out loud, I encourage you to read on and discover the truth about “growing apart”.
Before you started changing, God saw it all – and He had a plan!
Far too many marriages end because people think that change is bad. Remember, even though you might be surprised by your new circumstances, God isn’t. The Christian walk, after all, is all about growth and change.
Christ tells us in Luke 9:22, “You must take up your cross daily and follow me.” That means our surroundings are going to be constantly changing! We are never going to wake up in the same spot every morning, but that was all part of God’s plan.
Marriage is very similar. There are going to be seasons in our marriage that are ones of great change. They are going to require us to “take up our cross daily” – and in this we need not lose our joy or let it shake our peace. We can be certain that we are walking towards something spectacular when we depend on Jesus to lead the way.
Your spouse was created to balance you out!
In my own marriage, my husband and I are very different. I am a writing, reading, Frank Sinatra nerd. My husband is far hipper than I could ever claim to be. He can quote the lyrics to any classic rock tune, his hat is usually backwards, and he air guitars around the dining room table.
Many couples let Satan talk them in to thinking that difference is a bad thing, but God knows better. Why? He picked us out one for another.
I tend to be too high strung. My husband is notoriously laid back. He encourages fun for our children, and I encourage education. But God says this, “And the two shall become one.” That was His plan. The things I lack my husband balances out. Together, being one in Christ, we create a much better, well-balanced person than we ever could alone.
The Devil is a liar!
Change is uncomfortable. It can leave us butting heads, feeling insecure, and scrambling to find reasons to believe that our marriage can't survive. But, in God, we can find perfect peace in the midst of any circumstance – no matter how bleak.
The Devil would love for you to believe that this is it for your marriage. He would love to have you think that things will never get better. That's when we have to remember that God already told us the Devil is a liar. It’s right there in His word.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. (John 8:44)
Not only does God tell us he is a liar. He tells us Satan is "the father of lies". There is no truth in him at all -- not even a little morsel.
“But, God how do I know that you aren’t putting these doubts in my head?” He has an answer for that too.
“God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)
God has a perfect plan for your life and your marriage. You were created with purpose and joined together with reason. God honors who you are as an individual, and He also honors your spouse as one . . . but together He saw that you could be more. He placed you together with a purpose. Even when it feels like you are growing apart, if you’ll keep a steady ear on the one who joined you together, you’ll find that any growing you do can be done together.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
January 25, 2010
When Your Husband Struggles with Depression Take heart-there's hope for him and you. Cheri Fuller posted 9/01/2003 Several years ago, my husband, Holmes, began skipping meals and losingweight, eventually 25 pounds within three months. His laid-back,somewhat pensive temperament turned irritable and moody. Although hetypically was quiet about his feelings, Holmes became increasinglywithdrawn and didn't seem to enjoy things anymore. I knew Holmes was encountering tough times as a homebuilder in aflagging economy and a tanking stock market. But I kept hoping he'd perkup if he got another construction job. In the meantime, being ever theencourager, I tried everything I could think of to cheer him up. Ipointed out all the positive things he did, such as being a great dad orhelping other people. I encouraged Holmes to look ahead to a family tripwe'd planned, but that didn't help, either. As the months rolled intoyears, neither my encouraging words nor my hard work to take up theslack in our income seemed to make a difference. In 1995, roughly seven years after I first noticed my husband's struggles, our pastor realized from a conversation with Holmes that hewas suicidal. He immediately made Holmes an appointment with a doctorwho diagnosed him as having clinical depression. The physician told usHolmes probably had been depressed for years. Situational depressioncaused by the crushing pressures of Holmes's declining building businessin the late 1980s, compounded by a genetic predisposition to clinicaldepression on both sides of his family, had pushed him to the edge.Perhaps if I'd known the clues, Holmes could have gotten help before hisdepression had become full-blown. I've discovered I'm not the only woman who's experienced life with adepressed husband. With an unstable economy and corporate meltdowns,depression in males is on the rise. That means countless wives face thechallenge of trying to help a spouse who's in emotional turmoil. Butdepression doesn't have to bring down your entire family. There is help,there is hope, and there are ways you can support your spouse-andyourself. Caring for Your Husband If the dark cloud of depression overtakes your spouse, how can you helphim? Recognize the signs. It's important to distinguish between situationaldepression triggered by something such as a job layoff or demotion, andclinical depression. Situational depression involves some of the samesymptoms of clinical depression (see below), but they're of shorterduration and lower intensity. For example, if your husband's depressionis caused by discouragement over a job loss, within six months he shouldregroup, recover his enjoyment of life, and move on. However, accordingto Michael Navarro, a licensed psychotherapist, clinical depression'ssymptoms are more pronounced and last far longer. The absence ofpleasure in the activities your husband once enjoyed is greater; hismalaise, anger, or weight loss more substantial. If your husband experiences a majority of the symptoms of depression, heneeds professional help. Your family physician can determine what'sbiological and what's psychological; he may make a diagnosis of clinicaldepression and refer your spouse to a psychologist or psychiatrist fortherapy and medication. In Holmes's case, counseling and anantidepressant were helpful short-term, but since we didn't have themoney to continue therapy, his recovery process took much longer. (I'vesince learned many good therapists provide a sliding fee scale dependingon your financial condition.) How would you know if your husband needs to be hospitalized? If he'sseeing a doctor, his physician would make that recommendation. But hereare other clues that in-patient help is needed to stabilize your spouse:when he repeatedly cancels or doesn't show up for hisoutpatient/counseling appointments or refuses help; when he digressesinto a more nonfunctional state; or if he experiences severe weight lossor sudden gain. And-most important-if he makes statements such as, "Iwish I wasn't around," or "I think it's better if you collect myinsurance. You and the kids would be better off without me," whichindicate suicidal thinking. Accept and love your spouse. One of the most important things you can dofor your struggling mate is to let him know you still love and accepthim despite how he feels about himself. "I'm not saying accepting iseasy," says psychologist Archibald Hart, author of Dark Clouds, SilverLinings. "But you have to accept the reality of the problem. It's therewhether you like it or not, and your responsibility is to communicatelove and acceptance in whatever way you possibly can." This couldinclude a loving touch or hug, or gentle encouragement through a card ormeaningful gift. During one of Holmes's darkest days, he said, "We-and I-may never behappy again; you'd be better off leaving." I went in the other room,wept, and prayed for strength and the right response. A short timelater, I sat down by Holmes, held his hand, and said, "Even if we'renever happy again, it's just not all about happiness; it's about lovingeach other and being together. I'm committed to you for the rest of ourlives. I'm not going anywhere." Although we had huge hills yet to climb,that was a turning point for us. And in that particular response, Holmesfelt unconditionally loved and accepted right where he was. Encourage exercise. While physical exercise can be an extra challenge tothose struggling with depression, the endorphins it provides create anatural mood-lifter. So gently encourage your husband to go for a walkwith you after dinner as many nights as he's willing, or to work out ata gym or do whatever activity he enjoys most when he feels up to it.When my husband and I took our evening walks, he sometimes would openup. One night as we walked, I asked Holmes to give me a word picture ofhow he felt. "I feel like a vine's wrapping itself around me; that it began at myfeet and now is almost up to my neck, choking me," he described. It washard to hear how terrible he felt, but it helped me connect with him andunderstand a little of what he was going through. Realize anger often accompanies depression. But don't allow your husbandto disrespect or abuse you or your children. Be available to listen, butavoid trying to be his therapist. "A mate's role is primarily one ofsupport. The main therapeutic work needs to be done by a professional,"says Hart. Whether your husband's anger is rooted in grief and loss issues,unresolved childhood issues, failure, or job loss, he needs someone withwhom to talk. One counselor I know has her clients list ten thingsthey're angry about when they come in for therapy because she's foundthat underneath most depression is anger over something. Encourage fellowship with other men. When Carrie's husband, Jeremy, wentthrough a depressive period after a job loss, a small group of friendsmet with him weekly over coffee to be his sounding board for hisjob-hunting. They also kept him in their prayers during the difficultmonths. Their support was invaluable to his recovery and the new careerdirection he found. Avoid using words that make him feel worse. A man in the doldrums ofdepression doesn't need to hear, "How can you be depressed with all Godhas done in our lives?" (He's probably already feeling as though no oneunderstands, and this just confirms it.) Avoid preaching: "Just readyour Bible more and get right with God, and your depression will goaway." Refrain from belittling him or comparing him to others as in, "You know,Brian took St. John's Wort and he bounced back from his depression inonly three months." Also avoid saying, "Look on the bright side. Countyourself lucky and cheer up," which makes him feel guilty. One woman Iknow purposed to praise her husband for the baby steps he took inlearning to trust God in the darkness, and didn't blurt out, "I thoughtyou already knew that!" when he shared insights with her. Caring for Yourself I became so emotionally and physically depleted during my husband'sdepression that I began suffering from severe insomnia. While workingovertime, I parented our teens and worried about our financial situationand my husband. Sometimes I felt abandoned by Holmes -emotionally, atleast. Eventually I realized I harbored some anger as well. Somesessions with a counselor and later a small support group helped metremendously. If you get support and deal with your issues, you'll be healthieremotionally and thus better able to help your husband and children. Hereare some ways: Ask for help. When Brenda's husband, Daryle, needed to be hospitalizedfor severe depression, she didn't think to ask her brother or pastor toaccompany her. She drove Daryle the three hours to the center byherself. Mile after mile he protested, "I'm going home. I'm not going to thehospital. The bank will pull the loans if I'm gone. The company will gounder. We'll lose everything." After Brenda got her husband in thehospital and almost collapsed from exhaustion, she realized she couldn'tdo everything alone. She found a student teacher to live with her familytemporarily to help with her children and take them to school. Brendalearned to ask others for help. In the same way, you may need help froma support group or prayer partners, and assistance with your children. Consider counseling with your husband's therapist, because frequentlythe wife feels responsible for her husband's depression. Find onetrusted friend with whom you can cry, be real, and pray. Flo Perkins, anelderly friend whose husband had suffered with chronic depression, wasmy lifesaver. Flo understood, listened, prayed for me, and encouraged merepeatedly. She passed on the comfort with which God had comforted her(2 Corinthians 1:3-4). From her I learned the invaluable truth that Icould give the Lord all my troubles and entrust my husband to his care. Don't keep secrets. When Liz's husband's life crashed around him due toclinical depression, they went from being pillars in their ruralcommunity to being under the lowest rock. He lost his profession, hisreputation, his earning power, and his hope as he lived for six longyears in a state of depression. One of the best things they did wasendeavor to keep open communication with each other and their kids. Theyheld family councils and talked over what was happening inage-appropriate ways, praying together during crises and ongoingstruggles. A word of caution: It's best to clear this kind of family meeting firstwith your husband, perhaps by saying, "You've always been such a lovingdad. Could you help me talk to the kids about your depression to letthem know it's not their fault, and that we're all going to be healingtogether?" Avoid saying, "Your depression's hurting our children,messing their lives up, and making life hard," which only will make himfeel worse. If he prefers, you could sit down with your children aloneand explain the nature of depression and that you'll help them cope withtheir dad's condition. Your kids may need to talk to someone such as a youth pastor orcounselor who can help them sort through their feelings. They also needto know they always can come to you to talk about the situation. Remind yourself of God's truth. When Brenda was beset by fears, timeafter time she told herself the truths that restored her stability: thatGod would never leave or forsake her (Hebrews 13:5); that he promisedher his grace when she was weak (2 Corinthians 12:10); and that Godsomehow would weave everything-even this depression-into a pattern forgood (Romans 8:28). "So often we try to force our way out of a crisis," Brenda says."Instead, I began to embrace the situation and say, 'Okay, God, what doyou want me to learn in this? How do you want me to change? And what areyou going to accomplish in my husband and family through this difficulttime?'" As she focused on God, Brenda saw him working through Daryle'shospitalization, the friends who surrounded Daryle, and the spiritualgrowth they as a couple experienced. Before, Daryle had been Brenda'srock; through this experience, Brenda learned to depend more on God. Andas Daryle recovered, he developed an effective ministry with hurtingpeople and a special sensitivity to those suffering from depression. Take "mini-vacations." During the six years her husband was depressed,Liz learned to create brief getaways from her family difficulties. Sincethey were financially challenged, Liz took long walks through thecountryside, singing hymns and praise choruses, sometimes crying bucketsof tears and other times stopping to journal her feelings. She litscented candles at home and took bubble baths to relax. She planned funactivities for her children-picnics, outings to the state park, zoo, andmovies, and occasional trips to the grandparents-and carried them outwithout her husband's participation when he couldn't even fake theenergy to be involved. These short breaks refueled Liz for thechallenges she faced. Let prayer be your lifeline. "Praying for those we love who aredepressed is our best hope," says Gerry Mensch, who not only survivedher own depression but her husband's as well. "Antidepressants can help,but some in the grip of depression refuse to seek help. When God beginsto work in their hearts, he'll accomplish more than we or medicationever can." If your husband won't go for counseling, start praying he'llwake up and ask for assistance, or that God will put a man in his lifeto steer him toward help. Throughout Holmes's depression, my lifeline was praying Scriptures forhim such as Joel 2:25, which asks God to restore the wasted years;Colossians 1:9-12, to give my husband direction; Isaiah 61:1-3, to lifthis heaviness of despair and replace it with praise and joy; and 1 Peter4:8, to fill me with the love that covers a multitude of sins. It took several years for Holmes to recover from depression, and as weprayed together, we experienced God's grace for every situation wefaced. Prayer strengthened our marriage when we were weak, and remindedus again and again of God's love. While Holmes's recovery wasn't quick,God always was faithful. Although medication and counseling helped,God's healing power and his Word kept us together. Today, when I see Holmes smile as he holds one of our fivegrandchildren, sense his sheer enjoyment of an American history coursehe recently took at a local university, or experience the fun ofstrolling on the beach together, I'm grateful for where he is now. I'mthankful for the things we learned and the comfort we received from Godand others. I'm also glad we have a chance to share what we learned withothers going through depression. Cheri Fuller, a TCW regular contributor, is a speaker and author whoselatest book is Fearless: Building a Faith That Overcomes Your Fear(Revell). Check out her website at www.cherifuller.com. Warning Signs Your spouse may be depressed if he: Sleeps too much or too little; wakes frequently throughout the night. Is persistently sad or has a flat, empty mood. Experiences increased anxiety, restlessness, difficulty concentrating,fatigue, and/or decreased energy. Exhibits physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, or otherchronic pain that doesn't respond to treatment. Experiences appetite loss, weight loss, or sudden weight gain. Has suicidal thoughts. Feels hopeless, pessimistic, worthless, a failure. Is irrational in his thinking or has difficulty making decisions. -C.F. Copyright 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today'sChristian Woman magazine.
January 26, 2010
Protecting Your Turf Everybody has "turf." Our "turf" is "our personal territory." Most folks are very protective of their "turf." Whether it be the personalterritory of our inner thoughts and emotions, relationships or workresponsibilities, hackles tend to rise quickly when other people stepinto areas of our lives when they are not invited, and where they arenot welcome. While these kind of turf battles are usually petty and juvenile, thereis a certain kind of turf battle that should be taken seriously. Wemust be prepared to protect and defend the spiritual turf of our hearts.Whether we realize it or not, there is a real spiritual enemy that notonly wants to invade our personal territory, he wants to claim it forhimself. He wants to set up his own command center in our hearts. The Apostle Paul warned us about this kind of "turf attack:" " ... do not give the devil a foothold." - Ephesians 4:27 Here Paul reminded us of our spiritual enemy and his agenda. Ouradversary is the devil, and he wants turf! He is looking for ways to gain access to our hearts and establish a beachhead of influence andcontrol. Interestingly, the word Paul used for "foothold" is sometimes translated"place." The Greek term is "topos." Sound familiar? It's the root ofour English word "topography." Topography refers to "the lay of theland." It speaks of ground - of territory. When we entertain certain attitudes and engage in certain behaviors, werun the risk of giving internal ground - spiritual topography to thedevil. And whatever ground he takes, he exploits and seeks to expand,to our destruction. What thoughts and behaviors in your life may be compromising theterritory of your heart? Where have you given ground to the devil? Ask Jesus to help you demolish the devil's footholds in your life andretake the ground that rightfully belongs to Him. Determine that youwill do everything possible to protect the turf of your heart! Pastor Dale
Friday, January 15, 2010
January 14, 2010
Theology in the NewsChrist-Centered CautionsHow do we be good, be disciplined, and be like Jesus?Collin Hansen posted 11/16/2009 09:29AM You've just heard a moving sermon about the life and teaching of Christ.The pastor concludes with three points: Be good. Be disciplined. Be likeJesus. You leave church with new resolve to love your neighbor, resisttemptation, and read your Bible every day. Then you mutter cursesagainst your neighbor who never mows his lawn. You give in totemptation. You snooze through your alarm and forget to read the Bible.Dejected, you return to church for another stirring exhortation to livelike Christ. You fail again. Your faith dwindles. The cycle repeats. Is it possible that a sermon about Christ might not be Christ-centered?That's the belief of pastors and scholars who advocate Christ-centeredbiblical interpretation and preaching. They teach that Christians sinwhen they fail to believe and apply the gospel of Christ's death andresurrection. Moral exhortations to live a more godly life fail todeliver moral transformation. Many people think Christ-centered preaching is essentially allegorical,the preferred method of many early church interpreters, who foundallusions to Christ even in the scarlet cord Rahab hung out her window(Josh. 2:18, 21). But it's really more akin to the law/gospeldistinction made by the Reformers. Law brings us under conviction ofsin, while gospel points us to the work of Christ and calls on us totrust.Consider the progression of the book of Romans, for example. Paulbegins with the problem of sin, then testifies to the work of Christ,and later works out the implications for living in the power of the HolySpirit. You'll find Christ-centered theology and application in the books andsermons of Tim Keller. For a brief primer, see the seminar he taughtwith Ed Clowney, "Preaching Christ in a Postmodern World," a populardownload at iTunesU. Or pick up The Prodigal God, where Keller treatsJesus' well-known Prodigal Son parable in surprising ways. Heunderstands Jesus to highlight the resentful older brother so that wewill long for a true one. "Think of the kind of brother we need," Keller writes. "We need one whodoes not just go to the next country to find us but who will come allthe way from heaven to earth. ... The point of the parable is thatforgiveness always involves a price-someone has to pay. There was no wayfor the younger brother to return to the family unless the older brotherbore the cost himself. Our true elder brother paid our debt, on thecross, in our place."
You'll also see Christ-centered biblical theology in works by GraemeGoldsworthy, who advocates canonical interpretation. The retiredAustralian scholar teaches that passages must be understood in light ofnot just their immediate context but the whole Bible. Since Christ isthe subject of Scripture, his person and work inform every passage.You'll even find this method in popular children's literature: The JesusStorybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones andThe Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm. And you're much more likely to hear gospel-based sermons these daysthanks to one of the most popular preaching textbooks, Bryan Chapell'sChrist-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon. The CovenantSeminary president laments pastors who undermine Scripture's work ofinforming and bolstering faith while trying to root their sermons in theBible. "Messages that strike at the heart of faith rather than support it oftenhave an identifying theme," Chapell writes. "They exhort believers to'be' something in order to be loved by God. Whether this equation isstated or implied, inadvertent or intentional, overt or subtle, theresult is the same: an undermining of biblical faith. Such damage isusually inflicted by preachers striving to be biblical and unaware ofthe harm they are causing because they see their ideas supported in thenarrow slice of Scripture they are expounding. They can point to thefive points for a better marriage in the text." Chapell identifies three common problems with sermon application:closing charges to "be like," "be good," and "be disciplined." Whilethis problem pops up in sermons about Jesus, Old Testament characterstories are also ripe for abuse. Clowney cites perhaps the most famousexample of sub-Christian moralizing from the Old Testament: "We dare notpreach David's encounter with Goliath as an example of bravery to beemulated in our conflicts with the 'giants' that assault us. Such anapproach trivializes the Old Testament revelation." Such a sermontrivializes the Old Testament because it does not understand David as a"type" pointing toward the brave Son of God who endured the Cross andconquered the giant of sin and death in his Resurrection. Though Christ-centered preaching may offer a necessary corrective tomoralism, some scholars wonder if momentum has swung too far in theopposite direction. In particular, theologians specializing in the OldTestament fear that Christ-centered preaching ignores the diversebiblical genres and applications. The Bible speaks to us in manydifferent ways, but we lose this variety if every sermon ends withChrist. Besides, even the New Testament leaders, including Christhimself, employ the Old Testament in different ways. Writing in thespring 2009 edition of the Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology,Jason Hood offers such cautions with his article, "Christ-CenteredInterpretation Only? Moral Instruction from Scripture'sSelf-Interpretation as Caveat and Guide" (summarized here by PatrickSchreiner). Hood's major concern is that the positive push to interpret Christ inall the Scripture has led pastors and scholars to sometimes overlook andeven belittle moral instruction. In response, Hood cites several NewTestament examples to make the case for moral instruction. Writing inRomans 15:4, the apostle Paul says, "For whatever was written in formerdays was written for our instruction, that through endurance and throughthe encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Similarly, hewrites in 1 Corinthians 10:6, "Now these things took place as examplesfor us, that we might not desire evil as they did." According to Hood,these passages show that Christians don't just see Jesus in the OldTestament. They also see themselves. Paul says the Old Testament offersbelievers encouragement and warning. Surveying the New Testament, Hood finds several examples of theexhortation some Christ-centered interpreters denigrate. Chastising theselfish Corinthians, Paul shows them Christ's way of self-sacrifice (1Cor. 2:2). The "hall of faith" in Hebrews 11:2-12:4 showcases OldTestament believers worthy of imitation. And who can forget Jesus'parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), which he concludes, "Goand do likewise." After amassing this evidence, Hood writes, "Claimsthat we only teach and preach Christ and that every sermon must befocused squarely on Christ are misguided." Hood acknowledges that a compelling apology for the Christ-centeredinterpretation comes from the road to Emmaus: "And beginning with Mosesand all the Prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scripturesthe things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). Still, Hood wantsinterpreters to proceed with caution. Luke notes only that many passagestestify to Christ, not that every passage leads to Christ. Hood is right that not every passage is specifically about the person ofJesus Christ. But the Emmaus story, and Luke's subsequent story aboutJesus' appearance to the disciples (Luke 24:44-47), demonstrate thepower of understanding how all Scripture somehow testifies to Christ.Between his resurrection and ascension, Jesus taught his disciples toread the Old Testament in a new, Christ-centered way. Suddenly, theybegan to understand how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies, just as he hadpromised before his death. With guidance from the Holy Spirit, theyfinally grasped the gospel, why Jesus came, died, and rose from thedead. And when they saw the unexpected beauty of God's plan ofredemption, they were transformed. Moral exhortation reminds believersof their obligations. But only the gospel empowers them to be good, bedisciplined, and be like Christ. Collin Hansen is a CT editor at large and author of Young, Restless,Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists. Copyright (c) 2009 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
You'll also see Christ-centered biblical theology in works by GraemeGoldsworthy, who advocates canonical interpretation. The retiredAustralian scholar teaches that passages must be understood in light ofnot just their immediate context but the whole Bible. Since Christ isthe subject of Scripture, his person and work inform every passage.You'll even find this method in popular children's literature: The JesusStorybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones andThe Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm. And you're much more likely to hear gospel-based sermons these daysthanks to one of the most popular preaching textbooks, Bryan Chapell'sChrist-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon. The CovenantSeminary president laments pastors who undermine Scripture's work ofinforming and bolstering faith while trying to root their sermons in theBible. "Messages that strike at the heart of faith rather than support it oftenhave an identifying theme," Chapell writes. "They exhort believers to'be' something in order to be loved by God. Whether this equation isstated or implied, inadvertent or intentional, overt or subtle, theresult is the same: an undermining of biblical faith. Such damage isusually inflicted by preachers striving to be biblical and unaware ofthe harm they are causing because they see their ideas supported in thenarrow slice of Scripture they are expounding. They can point to thefive points for a better marriage in the text." Chapell identifies three common problems with sermon application:closing charges to "be like," "be good," and "be disciplined." Whilethis problem pops up in sermons about Jesus, Old Testament characterstories are also ripe for abuse. Clowney cites perhaps the most famousexample of sub-Christian moralizing from the Old Testament: "We dare notpreach David's encounter with Goliath as an example of bravery to beemulated in our conflicts with the 'giants' that assault us. Such anapproach trivializes the Old Testament revelation." Such a sermontrivializes the Old Testament because it does not understand David as a"type" pointing toward the brave Son of God who endured the Cross andconquered the giant of sin and death in his Resurrection. Though Christ-centered preaching may offer a necessary corrective tomoralism, some scholars wonder if momentum has swung too far in theopposite direction. In particular, theologians specializing in the OldTestament fear that Christ-centered preaching ignores the diversebiblical genres and applications. The Bible speaks to us in manydifferent ways, but we lose this variety if every sermon ends withChrist. Besides, even the New Testament leaders, including Christhimself, employ the Old Testament in different ways. Writing in thespring 2009 edition of the Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology,Jason Hood offers such cautions with his article, "Christ-CenteredInterpretation Only? Moral Instruction from Scripture'sSelf-Interpretation as Caveat and Guide" (summarized here by PatrickSchreiner). Hood's major concern is that the positive push to interpret Christ inall the Scripture has led pastors and scholars to sometimes overlook andeven belittle moral instruction. In response, Hood cites several NewTestament examples to make the case for moral instruction. Writing inRomans 15:4, the apostle Paul says, "For whatever was written in formerdays was written for our instruction, that through endurance and throughthe encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Similarly, hewrites in 1 Corinthians 10:6, "Now these things took place as examplesfor us, that we might not desire evil as they did." According to Hood,these passages show that Christians don't just see Jesus in the OldTestament. They also see themselves. Paul says the Old Testament offersbelievers encouragement and warning. Surveying the New Testament, Hood finds several examples of theexhortation some Christ-centered interpreters denigrate. Chastising theselfish Corinthians, Paul shows them Christ's way of self-sacrifice (1Cor. 2:2). The "hall of faith" in Hebrews 11:2-12:4 showcases OldTestament believers worthy of imitation. And who can forget Jesus'parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), which he concludes, "Goand do likewise." After amassing this evidence, Hood writes, "Claimsthat we only teach and preach Christ and that every sermon must befocused squarely on Christ are misguided." Hood acknowledges that a compelling apology for the Christ-centeredinterpretation comes from the road to Emmaus: "And beginning with Mosesand all the Prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scripturesthe things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). Still, Hood wantsinterpreters to proceed with caution. Luke notes only that many passagestestify to Christ, not that every passage leads to Christ. Hood is right that not every passage is specifically about the person ofJesus Christ. But the Emmaus story, and Luke's subsequent story aboutJesus' appearance to the disciples (Luke 24:44-47), demonstrate thepower of understanding how all Scripture somehow testifies to Christ.Between his resurrection and ascension, Jesus taught his disciples toread the Old Testament in a new, Christ-centered way. Suddenly, theybegan to understand how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies, just as he hadpromised before his death. With guidance from the Holy Spirit, theyfinally grasped the gospel, why Jesus came, died, and rose from thedead. And when they saw the unexpected beauty of God's plan ofredemption, they were transformed. Moral exhortation reminds believersof their obligations. But only the gospel empowers them to be good, bedisciplined, and be like Christ. Collin Hansen is a CT editor at large and author of Young, Restless,Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists. Copyright (c) 2009 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
January 15, 2010
Israel: The Fifth Gospel By Eva Marie Everson Guest Writer CBN.com - Matthew. Mark. Luke. John. The four gospel writers. But did you know that there is a fifth gospel?Father Bargil Pixner (1921 - 2002), a Benedictine monk in Jerusalem'sDormition Abbey and well-noted author and archeologist, is quoted in hisbook With Jesus Through Galilee: According to the Fifth Gospel (CorazinPublishing, 1992) as saying, Five gospels record the life of Jesus. Four you will find in books andone you will find in the land they call holy. Read the fifth gospel andthe world of the four will open to you. Pilgrims to Israel have no problem understanding this statement. Thosewho walk upon her sacred soil touch with their hands and behold withtheir eyes that which their minds have previously attempted to imagine.It rises and stretches before them unexpectedly; many of the things theythought about the geography are surprisingly not as they pictured. Sites now "decorated" or "marked" by churches, and crumbling locationsnow worked by archeologists, both block and open the ability to "touch"and to "see" the Bible. An Ancient Question The book of Matthew (11: 7-8) records a question posed by Jesus. Thedisciples of John the Baptist were leaving when Jesus turned to thecrowd and (referring to John) asked, What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?If not, what did you go out to see? The pilgrim to Israel - should he ask this question of himself - willnot ask it for long. For once the fifth gospel is experienced, thepilgrim understands God's Holy Word and His beautiful story in ways hecould have never dreamed possible.
The Wilderness If you are willing, I'd like to take you on a Land of the Bible tour.Using my words and your willingness to imagine, we begin our time inGod's Holy Land in the wilderness. Like the Hebrews who joyously - ifnot with a level of trepidation - journeyed out of the desert, andChrist who willingly wandered into it both to be baptized and to betempted, we come into the midbar, or desert, for what we might "see" asJesus put it. Ein Avdat is our first stop. Rarely visited by Christian pilgrims andtour groups (or not visited enough, to be certain), Ein Avdat (TheSpring of Avdat) is a magnificent fingerprint of God upon His earth, a"breath-taking by its beauty" canyon located in the Negev of Israel.There, ibex frolic along the canyon walls, ever steady on nimble hooves.Eagles soar and glide overhead. Song birds whistle their arias.Saltbushes grow sporadically; their leaves are edible and taste a littlelike potato chips. But that which draws those who venture deep between the limestone wallsis the trickle of water that leads to a pool below a 50-foot waterfall.Water that spills from the rocks, high above where sky meets earth. Fifth Gospel Teaching So what then can we learn between the high rocky crags and cliffs of EinAvdat? 1. When we look at the word "midbar," a Hebrew word from which we getone of our definitions easily wrapped up in the word "desert," we findeven deeper meanings. MIDBAR has the root DBR, which is the same rootfor the words "speak" and "word." In the biblical use of the word "desert," we find three Hebrew words; 1)araba (the deepest and hottest areas of the world), 2) charbah (the mostdesolate), and 3) midbar. When we see the word "desert" in the Bible, ithas most frequently been translated from "midbar." But do not picture astretch of desolate sand. It can best and more accurately be understoodas "pasture ground." A place not entirely uninhabitable, but a placewhere a shepherd or shepherdess may take their flocks for water, food,and rest. By this definition we can understand David's often-penned words of beingled by his Heavenly Shepherd into the desert ... for food ... for water... for rest. Psalm 23 is filled with word pictures of this very notion. 2. It is often in the "desert places" ... these "midbars" of our livesthat we are actually able - finally stripped of all outside noises anddistractions - to hear what God is trying to say, to whisper even, toand into our hearts. Here we can rest. We can partake of God's Word anddrink from the source of Living Water. 3. When we find ourselves between the rocks and the hard places, we mustseek that Living Water. When speaking to the "woman at the well" (John4), Jesus refers to Himself by that term. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of livingwater will flow from within him" (John 7:38). But it is in Revelation 7:17 that we read a remarkable verse which tiesall this together: For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he willlead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tearfrom their eyes (emphasis, mine). In Ein (spring) Avdat, we are led by our Shepherd to a spring of livingwater (water that is moving). There, we are met by God. A Fifth Gospel Word for You We often imagine the ancient Hebrews as full-time groaners and moanersfor their near-40 years of wilderness-walking. We think that the entire40 days of Jesus' time spent in the midbar was both agonizing andoverwhelmed by temptation. But a journey into the desert of Israel-albeit brief - opens another possibility. There is beauty here. God'sfingerprints are everywhere. There is silence enough to hear your own thoughts... and God's whispers. So then, what would you come into the desert to see ... were you to comeinto the desert to see it?
The Wilderness If you are willing, I'd like to take you on a Land of the Bible tour.Using my words and your willingness to imagine, we begin our time inGod's Holy Land in the wilderness. Like the Hebrews who joyously - ifnot with a level of trepidation - journeyed out of the desert, andChrist who willingly wandered into it both to be baptized and to betempted, we come into the midbar, or desert, for what we might "see" asJesus put it. Ein Avdat is our first stop. Rarely visited by Christian pilgrims andtour groups (or not visited enough, to be certain), Ein Avdat (TheSpring of Avdat) is a magnificent fingerprint of God upon His earth, a"breath-taking by its beauty" canyon located in the Negev of Israel.There, ibex frolic along the canyon walls, ever steady on nimble hooves.Eagles soar and glide overhead. Song birds whistle their arias.Saltbushes grow sporadically; their leaves are edible and taste a littlelike potato chips. But that which draws those who venture deep between the limestone wallsis the trickle of water that leads to a pool below a 50-foot waterfall.Water that spills from the rocks, high above where sky meets earth. Fifth Gospel Teaching So what then can we learn between the high rocky crags and cliffs of EinAvdat? 1. When we look at the word "midbar," a Hebrew word from which we getone of our definitions easily wrapped up in the word "desert," we findeven deeper meanings. MIDBAR has the root DBR, which is the same rootfor the words "speak" and "word." In the biblical use of the word "desert," we find three Hebrew words; 1)araba (the deepest and hottest areas of the world), 2) charbah (the mostdesolate), and 3) midbar. When we see the word "desert" in the Bible, ithas most frequently been translated from "midbar." But do not picture astretch of desolate sand. It can best and more accurately be understoodas "pasture ground." A place not entirely uninhabitable, but a placewhere a shepherd or shepherdess may take their flocks for water, food,and rest. By this definition we can understand David's often-penned words of beingled by his Heavenly Shepherd into the desert ... for food ... for water... for rest. Psalm 23 is filled with word pictures of this very notion. 2. It is often in the "desert places" ... these "midbars" of our livesthat we are actually able - finally stripped of all outside noises anddistractions - to hear what God is trying to say, to whisper even, toand into our hearts. Here we can rest. We can partake of God's Word anddrink from the source of Living Water. 3. When we find ourselves between the rocks and the hard places, we mustseek that Living Water. When speaking to the "woman at the well" (John4), Jesus refers to Himself by that term. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of livingwater will flow from within him" (John 7:38). But it is in Revelation 7:17 that we read a remarkable verse which tiesall this together: For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he willlead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tearfrom their eyes (emphasis, mine). In Ein (spring) Avdat, we are led by our Shepherd to a spring of livingwater (water that is moving). There, we are met by God. A Fifth Gospel Word for You We often imagine the ancient Hebrews as full-time groaners and moanersfor their near-40 years of wilderness-walking. We think that the entire40 days of Jesus' time spent in the midbar was both agonizing andoverwhelmed by temptation. But a journey into the desert of Israel-albeit brief - opens another possibility. There is beauty here. God'sfingerprints are everywhere. There is silence enough to hear your own thoughts... and God's whispers. So then, what would you come into the desert to see ... were you to comeinto the desert to see it?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
January 11, 2010
Lincoln's Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day
Washington, D. C.
March 30, 1863
Senator James Harlan of Iowa, whose daughter married President Lincoln's
son Robert, introduced this Resolution in the Senate on March 2, 1863.
The Resolution asked President Lincoln to proclaim a national day of
prayer and fasting. The Resolution was adopted on March 3, and signed by
Lincoln on March 30.
By the President of the United States of America.
Abraham Lincoln
A Proclamation.
Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the
Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the
affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the
President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and
humiliation.
And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their
dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and
transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine
repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime
truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that
those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.
And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like
individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this
world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war,
which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon
us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national
reformation as a whole People? We have been the recipients of the
choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years,
in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as
no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have
forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied
and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the
deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by
some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken
success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of
redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made
us!
It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to
confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.
Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in
the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and
set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national
humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People
to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to
unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective
homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble
discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.
All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in
the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the
Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than
the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided
and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington,
this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three,
and of the Independence of the United States the eighty seventh.
--By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
Washington, D. C.
March 30, 1863
Senator James Harlan of Iowa, whose daughter married President Lincoln's
son Robert, introduced this Resolution in the Senate on March 2, 1863.
The Resolution asked President Lincoln to proclaim a national day of
prayer and fasting. The Resolution was adopted on March 3, and signed by
Lincoln on March 30.
By the President of the United States of America.
Abraham Lincoln
A Proclamation.
Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the
Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the
affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the
President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and
humiliation.
And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their
dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and
transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine
repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime
truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that
those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.
And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like
individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this
world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war,
which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon
us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national
reformation as a whole People? We have been the recipients of the
choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years,
in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as
no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have
forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied
and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the
deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by
some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken
success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of
redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made
us!
It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to
confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.
Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in
the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and
set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national
humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People
to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to
unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective
homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble
discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.
All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in
the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the
Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than
the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided
and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington,
this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three,
and of the Independence of the United States the eighty seventh.
--By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
January 12, 2010
Passionate! Passion is an interesting and versatile word. It is used to
describe crimes committed in the heat and intensity of emotion - crimes
of passion. It is also used to describe our affection or strong
feelings for anything from food to hobbies to strongly held personal
opinions and beliefs. We often hear people say "I'm passionate about
... !"
Passion is important. It determines our priorities and pursuits. It
influences our choices and actions. It generates inspiration and
investment. Its presence can be a great blessing and the lack of it, a
terrible curse. Pure and good passions are invaluable. They are a key
to a productive and fulfilled life. Polluted passions are dangerous and
destructive, to us and others.
For our passions to be pure, they must be properly checked and filtered
by God, His Word and His Holy Spirit. The right passions are those that
are in sync with the passions of God's heart.
Yes, God is a passionate God. There are certain things that are near
and dear to His heart - things He passionately cares about. One of the
best ways to determine God's passions is by looking at the life and
ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ.
When we look at the life of Jesus we discover a number of things that
were very important to Him. Throughout His ministry we find moments
when Jesus' intensity of feelings brought to light the passions of God's
heart.
One such occasion was the time Jesus overturned the moneychangers'
tables in the temple. His actions revealed the passion God has for His
house. Note how the gospel writer John recorded this event:
"It was time for the annual Passover celebration, and Jesus went to
Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep,
and doves for sacrifices; and he saw money changers behind their
counters. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of
the Temple. He drove out the sheep and oxen, scattered the money
changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then,
going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, 'Get these things
out of here. Don't turn my Father's house into a marketplace!'" - John
2:13-16 (NLT)
Also notice John's follow-up comment to this event:
"Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures:
'Passion for God's house burns within me.'" - John 2:17 (NLT)
Jesus had a passion for God's house. His passion revealed God's deep
love for His house.
What is God's house in today's world? God's house is His church. God
is passionate about building, strengthening, unifying and sanctifying
His people - the church. He cares deeply about our love for and
involvement in His church. He wants us to share His passion for His
house!
Are you passionate about connecting with and investing in building,
strengthening and unifying God's house - His church? May this become
one of the primary passions in our lives!
Pastor Dale
describe crimes committed in the heat and intensity of emotion - crimes
of passion. It is also used to describe our affection or strong
feelings for anything from food to hobbies to strongly held personal
opinions and beliefs. We often hear people say "I'm passionate about
... !"
Passion is important. It determines our priorities and pursuits. It
influences our choices and actions. It generates inspiration and
investment. Its presence can be a great blessing and the lack of it, a
terrible curse. Pure and good passions are invaluable. They are a key
to a productive and fulfilled life. Polluted passions are dangerous and
destructive, to us and others.
For our passions to be pure, they must be properly checked and filtered
by God, His Word and His Holy Spirit. The right passions are those that
are in sync with the passions of God's heart.
Yes, God is a passionate God. There are certain things that are near
and dear to His heart - things He passionately cares about. One of the
best ways to determine God's passions is by looking at the life and
ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ.
When we look at the life of Jesus we discover a number of things that
were very important to Him. Throughout His ministry we find moments
when Jesus' intensity of feelings brought to light the passions of God's
heart.
One such occasion was the time Jesus overturned the moneychangers'
tables in the temple. His actions revealed the passion God has for His
house. Note how the gospel writer John recorded this event:
"It was time for the annual Passover celebration, and Jesus went to
Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep,
and doves for sacrifices; and he saw money changers behind their
counters. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of
the Temple. He drove out the sheep and oxen, scattered the money
changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then,
going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, 'Get these things
out of here. Don't turn my Father's house into a marketplace!'" - John
2:13-16 (NLT)
Also notice John's follow-up comment to this event:
"Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures:
'Passion for God's house burns within me.'" - John 2:17 (NLT)
Jesus had a passion for God's house. His passion revealed God's deep
love for His house.
What is God's house in today's world? God's house is His church. God
is passionate about building, strengthening, unifying and sanctifying
His people - the church. He cares deeply about our love for and
involvement in His church. He wants us to share His passion for His
house!
Are you passionate about connecting with and investing in building,
strengthening and unifying God's house - His church? May this become
one of the primary passions in our lives!
Pastor Dale
January 13, 2010
Honesty: It Even Works in Business
Howard Dayton
Baptist Press
Is it possible for a Christian to be totally honest in his or her
business practices? For example, a businessman told me that when he is
negotiating for a sale, it is everyday strategy for the seller to start
with a price higher than desired, knowing that the buyer starts with a
price lower than would be acceptable. That's a very common practice, but
he wanted to know if it was honest.
Well, the question is important, and there are some guidelines that can
help anyone who might be struggling with matters such as this. We always
need to be aware of how much our value system is clearly evident in the
way we handle our money. And we need to recognize that our value system
is also very clearly reflected in the way we treat others where a profit
or loss is concerned.
There is little doubt that in the short run a deceitful person seems to
prosper. But, before too long, a devious person has to find new
prospects, because others begin to recognize the dishonest practices.
Deceitfulness may provide temporary riches, but that is not the sort of
gain a Christian should desire.
When a Christian chooses to follow the world's path and ignores the
biblical principles that the Lord has provided for our benefit, he loses
God's fullest blessings. A businessperson might argue that when
operating in the world, you have to play by the world's rules. I assure
you, that is not true. The Scriptures are God's guidebook for Christians
living in this world. And in Luke 16:11 God makes it very clear that if
we will not respond correctly with such a relatively trivial thing as
money, there's no reason for Him to entrust us with any greater
possessions.
I believe God has placed us in this world not only to witness to the
unsaved, but also to refine our relationship with Him. The way you
handle money and treat others where a profit or loss is concerned
exposes a clear reflection of your value system.
To be frank about the matter, there probably will be times when others
will gladly take advantage of your honesty. But, wouldn't you rather be
on God's side in the matter? Christ Himself told us that there's a price
to be paid for following Him, but there's also a great reward for doing
so.
As a Christian, you need to accept God's standard for doing business.
God can provide material blessings to those who really follow His
directions. You might not want to hear this, but sometimes He elects to
store your riches for distribution in eternity. Nevertheless, when you
do things God's way, he will multiply your reward multiple times.
The Lord told us that a house, or a life, built upon sand would fall
when the storms come, but one built upon the Rock would survive. We are
in the midst of a materialistic storm today, and every Christian must
decide whether to build upon the solid rock of God's Word or the
shifting sands of society.
The decision to do business by the world's normal standards of guile and
deception is a decision to deny Christ. "No household slave can be the
slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't be slaves
to both God and money" (Luke 16:13).
Every Christian needs to establish not only financial priorities, but
also time use and ethical standards as well. Realizing that God is
always watching and is always attentive to our every action and decision
should be a constant reminder that Christians must be led by God's
directive and the principles of His Word.
Although some Christian business owners have financial priorities, many
are not in line with God's Word. "The one who lives with integrity lives
securely, but whoever perverts his ways will be found out" (Proverbs
10:9).
Of course, the way you live your life and run your business is up to
you. But I'm convinced that every Christian needs to come to the place
where the approval of God is more important than the world's riches.
Only then will the full measure of God's peace and power be experienced.
"But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves"
(James 1:22). Don't be surprised to discover that honesty works in
business and in all of life -- after all, it's God's way.
Howard Dayton is CEO of Crown Financial Ministries. Dayton and the late
Larry Burkett joined forces in 2000 when Crown Ministries, led by
Dayton, merged with Christian Financial Concepts, led by Burkett. The
new organization became Crown Financial Ministries, on the web at
www.crown.org.
(c) 2005 Baptist Press. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Howard Dayton
Baptist Press
Is it possible for a Christian to be totally honest in his or her
business practices? For example, a businessman told me that when he is
negotiating for a sale, it is everyday strategy for the seller to start
with a price higher than desired, knowing that the buyer starts with a
price lower than would be acceptable. That's a very common practice, but
he wanted to know if it was honest.
Well, the question is important, and there are some guidelines that can
help anyone who might be struggling with matters such as this. We always
need to be aware of how much our value system is clearly evident in the
way we handle our money. And we need to recognize that our value system
is also very clearly reflected in the way we treat others where a profit
or loss is concerned.
There is little doubt that in the short run a deceitful person seems to
prosper. But, before too long, a devious person has to find new
prospects, because others begin to recognize the dishonest practices.
Deceitfulness may provide temporary riches, but that is not the sort of
gain a Christian should desire.
When a Christian chooses to follow the world's path and ignores the
biblical principles that the Lord has provided for our benefit, he loses
God's fullest blessings. A businessperson might argue that when
operating in the world, you have to play by the world's rules. I assure
you, that is not true. The Scriptures are God's guidebook for Christians
living in this world. And in Luke 16:11 God makes it very clear that if
we will not respond correctly with such a relatively trivial thing as
money, there's no reason for Him to entrust us with any greater
possessions.
I believe God has placed us in this world not only to witness to the
unsaved, but also to refine our relationship with Him. The way you
handle money and treat others where a profit or loss is concerned
exposes a clear reflection of your value system.
To be frank about the matter, there probably will be times when others
will gladly take advantage of your honesty. But, wouldn't you rather be
on God's side in the matter? Christ Himself told us that there's a price
to be paid for following Him, but there's also a great reward for doing
so.
As a Christian, you need to accept God's standard for doing business.
God can provide material blessings to those who really follow His
directions. You might not want to hear this, but sometimes He elects to
store your riches for distribution in eternity. Nevertheless, when you
do things God's way, he will multiply your reward multiple times.
The Lord told us that a house, or a life, built upon sand would fall
when the storms come, but one built upon the Rock would survive. We are
in the midst of a materialistic storm today, and every Christian must
decide whether to build upon the solid rock of God's Word or the
shifting sands of society.
The decision to do business by the world's normal standards of guile and
deception is a decision to deny Christ. "No household slave can be the
slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't be slaves
to both God and money" (Luke 16:13).
Every Christian needs to establish not only financial priorities, but
also time use and ethical standards as well. Realizing that God is
always watching and is always attentive to our every action and decision
should be a constant reminder that Christians must be led by God's
directive and the principles of His Word.
Although some Christian business owners have financial priorities, many
are not in line with God's Word. "The one who lives with integrity lives
securely, but whoever perverts his ways will be found out" (Proverbs
10:9).
Of course, the way you live your life and run your business is up to
you. But I'm convinced that every Christian needs to come to the place
where the approval of God is more important than the world's riches.
Only then will the full measure of God's peace and power be experienced.
"But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves"
(James 1:22). Don't be surprised to discover that honesty works in
business and in all of life -- after all, it's God's way.
Howard Dayton is CEO of Crown Financial Ministries. Dayton and the late
Larry Burkett joined forces in 2000 when Crown Ministries, led by
Dayton, merged with Christian Financial Concepts, led by Burkett. The
new organization became Crown Financial Ministries, on the web at
www.crown.org.
(c) 2005 Baptist Press. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Haiti Relief
Haiti Relief
As you know, Haiti was hit yesterday with a devastating earthquake. As I write, the death toll continues to rise, not to mention the many who were critically or seriously injured in the catastrophe. Having traveled multiple times to the nation of Haiti ministering to pastors there, and having seen the horrendous poverty that exists in the country, I cannot fathom the trauma and agony these precious people are now experiencing.
Let me encourage you to keep the Haitian people in prayer, as well as the many rescue and relief workers who are risking life and limb to help. We have been reminded from our conversations with Christian ministries and relief organizations who are a part of helping in the crisis that financial gifts are one of the best ways to be a part of assisting.
With this in mind, Church of the Redeemer has set up a special Haiti Relief Fund. We will be working with Samaritan’s Purse and other Christian relief organizations in providing needed finances for the relief efforts there. If you would like to give, you can do so online by visiting the Haiti Relief page on our website.
We are also looking at opportunities to send a team or teams to Haiti, when it is practical to do so. If you are interested in participating, please visit COR’s Missions page. I will keep you updated when such opportunities are available, should you be interested.
Pastor Dale
Sunday, January 10, 2010
January 22, 2010
A Final Word
Bill Bright, Campus Crusade For Christ
International
STEP 7: Expect Results
If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray, and seek
God's face; if you consistently meditate on His Word, you will experience a
heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21). The Lord will give you
fresh, new spiritual insights. Your confidence and faith in God will be
strengthened. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. You
will see answers to your prayers.
A single fast, however, is not a spiritual cure-all. Just as we need fresh
infillings of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need new times of fasting before
God. A 24-hour fast each week has been greatly rewarding to many
Christians.
It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles. If you fail to make it
through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too
long the first time out, or your may need to strengthen your understanding
and resolve. As soon as possible, undertake another fast until you do
succeed. God will honor you for your faithfulness.
I encourage you to join me in fasting and prayer again and again until we
truly experience revival in our homes, our churches, our beloved nation, and
throughout the world.
________________________________________________________________________
Bill Bright. “A Final Word.”
Campus Crusade for Christ International 2008
Bill Bright, Campus Crusade For Christ
International
STEP 7: Expect Results
If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray, and seek
God's face; if you consistently meditate on His Word, you will experience a
heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21). The Lord will give you
fresh, new spiritual insights. Your confidence and faith in God will be
strengthened. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. You
will see answers to your prayers.
A single fast, however, is not a spiritual cure-all. Just as we need fresh
infillings of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need new times of fasting before
God. A 24-hour fast each week has been greatly rewarding to many
Christians.
It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles. If you fail to make it
through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too
long the first time out, or your may need to strengthen your understanding
and resolve. As soon as possible, undertake another fast until you do
succeed. God will honor you for your faithfulness.
I encourage you to join me in fasting and prayer again and again until we
truly experience revival in our homes, our churches, our beloved nation, and
throughout the world.
________________________________________________________________________
Bill Bright. “A Final Word.”
Campus Crusade for Christ International 2008
January 21, 2010
Let Your Problems Prompt
You To Pray
by Pastor Dale O’Shields
What can we do about our problems? What is the right response to the problems
we experience?
The Bible is very clear with its instructions to us:
James 5:13 (NIV) “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray…”
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
One of the most marvelous privileges we have as believers is the privilege of
prayer. All through the Bible we are encouraged to talk to God about our needs, to
listen for His voice of instruction and to believe Him for answers in response to our
prayers.
Prayer is much more than a “request session” with God. It is one of the primary
ways we build our relationship with Him.
Let’s take a look at eight biblical examples of problems people solved through
prayer:
• Slavery.
Exodus 3:7-9 (NLT) “Then the Lord told him, ‘You can be sure I have seen the
misery of My people in Egypt. I have heard their cries for deliverance from
their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come
to rescue them from the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own
good and spacious land...9 The cries of the people of Israel have reached Me …’”
• Barrenness.
Genesis 25:21 (NIV) “Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because
she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became
pregnant.”
1 Samuel 1:10 (NIV) “In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to
the Lord.”
• Fear and Insecurity.
Exodus 14:10-14 (NIV) “As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and
there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried
out to the Lord…13 Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm
and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians
you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need
only to be still.’”
• Lack.
Matthew 14:17-20 (NLT) “‘Impossible!’ they exclaimed. ‘We have only five
loaves of bread and two fish!’ 18 ’Bring them here,’ He said. 19 Then He told the
people to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and two fish,
looked up toward heaven, and asked God’s blessing on the food. Breaking the
loaves into pieces, He gave some of the bread and fish to each disciple, and the
disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and
they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.”
• Broken relationships.
Genesis 32:9-11 (NIV) “Then Jacob prayed, ‘O God of my father Abraham… 10 I
am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown your servant…
11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will
come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children...’”• Stress.
1 Kings 3:7-9 (NLT) “‘O Lord my God, now You have made me king instead of
my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. 8
And here I am among Your own chosen people, a nation so great they are too
numerous to count! 9 Give me an understanding mind so that I can govern
Your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by
himself is able to govern this great nation of Yours?’”
• Sickness and disease.
Isaiah 38:1-2 (NLT) “About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the
prophet Isaiah…went to visit him. He gave the king this message: ‘This is what
the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not
recover from this illness.’ 2 When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the
wall and prayed to the Lord.”
Luke 8:41-42 (NLT) “And now a man named Jairus, a leader of the local
synagogue, came and fell down at Jesus’ feet, begging Him to come home with
him. 42 His only child was dying, a little girl twelve years old…”
• Personal limitations.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (NIV) “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His
mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ 10 Jabez
cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my
territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be
free from pain.’ And God granted his request.
These biblical stories are exciting to review, but they will never really help us unless
we learn something from them for our own lives. We have to apply the principles
we discover in such passages to our daily living, if our lives are going to be
changed.
The whole goal of this message is to help each of us understand that prayer
connects us to the living God—the God who cares about us and wants to help us
solve our problems—whatever those problems might be.This message is a call to:
• A renewed prayer life.
• New levels of confidence in God as you pray.
The New Testament emphasizes this call to confidence in God when we pray:
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
The Hebrew word for “confidence” means “free and fearless; boldly; to have a
cheerful courage and assurance.”
This is how God wants us to pray about our problems! We are to pray with
confidence! This kind of prayer enables us to “…receive mercy and find grace to
help us in our time of need.”
How can we develop this kind of confidence in prayer?
Here are several important principles to follow:
• Don’t wait until you have a problem to pray.
• Live under Christ’s Lordship.
• Understand your position and privileges in Christ.
• Fill your heart and mind with God’s promises.
• Use the promises of God when you pray.
• Focus on the Person of prayer, not the process of prayer.
• Regularly reflect on past answers to prayer.
• Partner with others in prayer.
Our prayers do make a difference — our prayers release the help of God into the
problem we experience!
You To Pray
by Pastor Dale O’Shields
What can we do about our problems? What is the right response to the problems
we experience?
The Bible is very clear with its instructions to us:
James 5:13 (NIV) “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray…”
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
One of the most marvelous privileges we have as believers is the privilege of
prayer. All through the Bible we are encouraged to talk to God about our needs, to
listen for His voice of instruction and to believe Him for answers in response to our
prayers.
Prayer is much more than a “request session” with God. It is one of the primary
ways we build our relationship with Him.
Let’s take a look at eight biblical examples of problems people solved through
prayer:
• Slavery.
Exodus 3:7-9 (NLT) “Then the Lord told him, ‘You can be sure I have seen the
misery of My people in Egypt. I have heard their cries for deliverance from
their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come
to rescue them from the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own
good and spacious land...9 The cries of the people of Israel have reached Me …’”
• Barrenness.
Genesis 25:21 (NIV) “Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because
she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became
pregnant.”
1 Samuel 1:10 (NIV) “In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to
the Lord.”
• Fear and Insecurity.
Exodus 14:10-14 (NIV) “As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and
there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried
out to the Lord…13 Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm
and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians
you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need
only to be still.’”
• Lack.
Matthew 14:17-20 (NLT) “‘Impossible!’ they exclaimed. ‘We have only five
loaves of bread and two fish!’ 18 ’Bring them here,’ He said. 19 Then He told the
people to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and two fish,
looked up toward heaven, and asked God’s blessing on the food. Breaking the
loaves into pieces, He gave some of the bread and fish to each disciple, and the
disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and
they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.”
• Broken relationships.
Genesis 32:9-11 (NIV) “Then Jacob prayed, ‘O God of my father Abraham… 10 I
am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown your servant…
11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will
come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children...’”• Stress.
1 Kings 3:7-9 (NLT) “‘O Lord my God, now You have made me king instead of
my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. 8
And here I am among Your own chosen people, a nation so great they are too
numerous to count! 9 Give me an understanding mind so that I can govern
Your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by
himself is able to govern this great nation of Yours?’”
• Sickness and disease.
Isaiah 38:1-2 (NLT) “About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the
prophet Isaiah…went to visit him. He gave the king this message: ‘This is what
the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not
recover from this illness.’ 2 When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the
wall and prayed to the Lord.”
Luke 8:41-42 (NLT) “And now a man named Jairus, a leader of the local
synagogue, came and fell down at Jesus’ feet, begging Him to come home with
him. 42 His only child was dying, a little girl twelve years old…”
• Personal limitations.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (NIV) “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His
mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ 10 Jabez
cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my
territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be
free from pain.’ And God granted his request.
These biblical stories are exciting to review, but they will never really help us unless
we learn something from them for our own lives. We have to apply the principles
we discover in such passages to our daily living, if our lives are going to be
changed.
The whole goal of this message is to help each of us understand that prayer
connects us to the living God—the God who cares about us and wants to help us
solve our problems—whatever those problems might be.This message is a call to:
• A renewed prayer life.
• New levels of confidence in God as you pray.
The New Testament emphasizes this call to confidence in God when we pray:
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
The Hebrew word for “confidence” means “free and fearless; boldly; to have a
cheerful courage and assurance.”
This is how God wants us to pray about our problems! We are to pray with
confidence! This kind of prayer enables us to “…receive mercy and find grace to
help us in our time of need.”
How can we develop this kind of confidence in prayer?
Here are several important principles to follow:
• Don’t wait until you have a problem to pray.
• Live under Christ’s Lordship.
• Understand your position and privileges in Christ.
• Fill your heart and mind with God’s promises.
• Use the promises of God when you pray.
• Focus on the Person of prayer, not the process of prayer.
• Regularly reflect on past answers to prayer.
• Partner with others in prayer.
Our prayers do make a difference — our prayers release the help of God into the
problem we experience!
January 20, 2010
The Power and Promise of Prayer
by Pastor Dale O’Shields
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and
unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3 (NLT) Ask Me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets
about what is going to happen here.
1. Prayer that is guided by God’s Word and inspired by the Holy
Spirit.
1 John 5:14, 15 (NLT) And we can be confident that He will listen to us
whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will. 15 And if we know
He is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that He will
give us what we ask for.
Romans 8:26 (NLT) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we
don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But
the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in
words.
2. Specific and focused prayer.
Luke 18:41 (NLT) Then Jesus asked the man, “What do you want Me to do
for you?” “Lord,” he pleaded, “I want to see!”
3. Pure prayer.
Psalm 66:18 (NIV) If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not
have listened.
James 4:2, 3 (NLT) You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and
kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess
it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason
you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even
when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong—
you want only what will give you pleasure.
1 Peter 3:7 (NLT) In the same way, you husbands must give honor to
your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She
may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of
new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
4. Fervent prayer.
James 5:16 (NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for
one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a
righteous man avails much.
Psalm 72:12 (NLT) He will rescue the poor when they cry to Him; He will
help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
5. Faith-filled prayer.
Mark 11:24 (NIV) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
6. Persistent prayer.
Matthew 7:7, 8 (NLT) Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask
for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door
will be opened. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks,
finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.
Luke 18:1 (NIV) Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them
that they should always pray and not give up.
7. Bold and confident prayer.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT) That is why we have a great High Priest who has
gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to Him and never stop
trusting Him. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for
He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin. 16 So let
us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive
His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.
8. Authoritative prayer.
Matthew 16:18, 19 (NIV) And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind
on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be
loosed in heaven.
James 4:7 (NLT) So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and
he will flee from you.
9. Corporate prayers of agreement.
Matthew 18:19 (NLT) I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here
on earth concerning anything you ask, My Father in heaven will do it for
you.
10. Consistent, patient prayer.
Luke 2:36-37 (NLT) Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She
was the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, and was very old. She
was a widow, for her husband had died when they had been married only
seven years. 37 She was now eighty-four years old. She never left the
Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and
prayer.
by Pastor Dale O’Shields
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and
unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3 (NLT) Ask Me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets
about what is going to happen here.
1. Prayer that is guided by God’s Word and inspired by the Holy
Spirit.
1 John 5:14, 15 (NLT) And we can be confident that He will listen to us
whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will. 15 And if we know
He is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that He will
give us what we ask for.
Romans 8:26 (NLT) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we
don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But
the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in
words.
2. Specific and focused prayer.
Luke 18:41 (NLT) Then Jesus asked the man, “What do you want Me to do
for you?” “Lord,” he pleaded, “I want to see!”
3. Pure prayer.
Psalm 66:18 (NIV) If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not
have listened.
James 4:2, 3 (NLT) You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and
kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess
it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason
you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even
when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong—
you want only what will give you pleasure.
1 Peter 3:7 (NLT) In the same way, you husbands must give honor to
your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She
may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of
new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
4. Fervent prayer.
James 5:16 (NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for
one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a
righteous man avails much.
Psalm 72:12 (NLT) He will rescue the poor when they cry to Him; He will
help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
5. Faith-filled prayer.
Mark 11:24 (NIV) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
6. Persistent prayer.
Matthew 7:7, 8 (NLT) Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask
for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door
will be opened. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks,
finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.
Luke 18:1 (NIV) Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them
that they should always pray and not give up.
7. Bold and confident prayer.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT) That is why we have a great High Priest who has
gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to Him and never stop
trusting Him. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for
He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin. 16 So let
us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive
His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.
8. Authoritative prayer.
Matthew 16:18, 19 (NIV) And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind
on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be
loosed in heaven.
James 4:7 (NLT) So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and
he will flee from you.
9. Corporate prayers of agreement.
Matthew 18:19 (NLT) I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here
on earth concerning anything you ask, My Father in heaven will do it for
you.
10. Consistent, patient prayer.
Luke 2:36-37 (NLT) Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She
was the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, and was very old. She
was a widow, for her husband had died when they had been married only
seven years. 37 She was now eighty-four years old. She never left the
Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and
prayer.
January 19, 2010
Prayer Is Essential
by Pastor Dale O’Shields
1. PRAYER IS ESSENTIAL TO OVERCOMING TEMPTATION
One of the ways the devil seeks access into our lives is through temptation.
Temptation is an enticement to commit evil—in heart, mind or body. It is an
enticement to disregard God’s Word and to disobey God’s will. This disobedience
draws us into an alliance with the forces of darkness, which opens us to a variety of
destructive consequences.
Note two passages that link prayer with overcoming temptation:
Matthew 6:13 (NIV) “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil
one.”
Matthew 26:41 (NLT) “Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower
you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!”
According to these verses, prayer:
• Sensitizes us to temptation.
We gain spiritual perception and discernment through prayer. In prayer we
are connected to the wisdom and counsel of God, and are filled with the Holy
Spirit who sensitizes us to the presence of sin and the potential of falling
prey to sin.
• Shields us from temptation.
!
Prayer can keep temptation away from us. Jesus taught us to ask Father
God to “…lead us not into temptation…”
• Strengthens us against temptation.
The devil knows what temptations we are more susceptible to. When these
come, we need supernatural strength to overcome them. Prayer is one of
the resources that gives us strength to withstand temptation’s appeals.
• Saves us from temptation.
Jesus taught us to ask Father God to “…deliver us from evil…” There are
times when evil gets a grip on us, and is about to pull us under. At these
times we can confidently pray that the Lord would save us from evil, and the
evil one.
Prayer is essential to overcoming temptation.
2. PRAYER IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE
The phrase “spiritual warfare” has been popularized in recent years in Christian
circles. For many years the term was never heard. While it is marvelous that the
concept has now re-surfaced, it is unfortunate that so many believers do not
understand what it means, and fewer still actually engage in it.
“Spiritual warfare” commonly refers to the spiritual activities believers engage in to
actively resist the works of hell that would seek to invade avenues and areas of
their lives.
“Spiritual warfare” is not a spooky thing to do, nor is it something reserved for the
“Super Saints”—the mighty men and women of God. It is something every believer
should learn to do. It is a part of growing up in our faith.
“Spiritual warfare” is best understood through the Old Testament story of the
occupation of Canaan by Israel. God gave the Israelites a promise—to have Canaan
as their land—but they had to go in, drive out the enemies, occupy the land,
establish the boundaries and defend those boundaries. Canaan was given, but it
had to be possessed through conflict.
God has promises for us to possess and defend, and this will involve spiritual
conflict. We have to pray our way into possession of God’s promises, and prayer
becomes one of the way we set up a defense against the invasions and encroachments of our spiritual enemies that seek to rob us of the fulfillment and
fruition of God’s promises and blessings.
In prayer the Lord enables us to:
• Mark boundaries.
• Patrol boundaries.
• Protect boundaries.
• Extend boundaries.
Note the words of the Lord Jesus that describe this process of spiritual warfare:
Matthew 16:18-19 (NLT) “Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I
will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give
you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked
in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be opened in heaven.”
What kind of prayer sets and protects boundaries:
• Assertive prayer.
• Aggressive prayer.
• Authoritative prayer.
• Audible prayer.
• Attentive prayer.
3. PRAYER IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOLY HABITS
One of the best ways to overcome evil in our lives is through the establishment of
holy habits. We can never come to spiritual maturity without developing a lifestyle
of prayer. Holy habits that overcome evil are developed in us as we pray.
The Apostle Paul spoke of this:
Romans 12:21 (NIV) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Prayer is like a potter’s wheel and kiln. In prayer we are fashioned and formed by
the Spirit of God. In prayer, the nature and character of God is fired into our spirit.
Godly character, righteous habits, and good works are conceived and birthed in us
as we pray.
When these things become a part of who we are, we truly are overcoming evil with
good, by the grace of God at work in us.
“Prayer is, above all, fellowship with God and being brought under the power
of His holiness…until He…stamps our entire nature with the lowliness of
Christ.” —Andrew Murray
I encourage you to join me in fasting and prayer again and again until we truly
experience revival in our homes, our churches, our beloved nation, and throughout
the world.
by Pastor Dale O’Shields
1. PRAYER IS ESSENTIAL TO OVERCOMING TEMPTATION
One of the ways the devil seeks access into our lives is through temptation.
Temptation is an enticement to commit evil—in heart, mind or body. It is an
enticement to disregard God’s Word and to disobey God’s will. This disobedience
draws us into an alliance with the forces of darkness, which opens us to a variety of
destructive consequences.
Note two passages that link prayer with overcoming temptation:
Matthew 6:13 (NIV) “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil
one.”
Matthew 26:41 (NLT) “Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower
you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!”
According to these verses, prayer:
• Sensitizes us to temptation.
We gain spiritual perception and discernment through prayer. In prayer we
are connected to the wisdom and counsel of God, and are filled with the Holy
Spirit who sensitizes us to the presence of sin and the potential of falling
prey to sin.
• Shields us from temptation.
!
Prayer can keep temptation away from us. Jesus taught us to ask Father
God to “…lead us not into temptation…”
• Strengthens us against temptation.
The devil knows what temptations we are more susceptible to. When these
come, we need supernatural strength to overcome them. Prayer is one of
the resources that gives us strength to withstand temptation’s appeals.
• Saves us from temptation.
Jesus taught us to ask Father God to “…deliver us from evil…” There are
times when evil gets a grip on us, and is about to pull us under. At these
times we can confidently pray that the Lord would save us from evil, and the
evil one.
Prayer is essential to overcoming temptation.
2. PRAYER IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE
The phrase “spiritual warfare” has been popularized in recent years in Christian
circles. For many years the term was never heard. While it is marvelous that the
concept has now re-surfaced, it is unfortunate that so many believers do not
understand what it means, and fewer still actually engage in it.
“Spiritual warfare” commonly refers to the spiritual activities believers engage in to
actively resist the works of hell that would seek to invade avenues and areas of
their lives.
“Spiritual warfare” is not a spooky thing to do, nor is it something reserved for the
“Super Saints”—the mighty men and women of God. It is something every believer
should learn to do. It is a part of growing up in our faith.
“Spiritual warfare” is best understood through the Old Testament story of the
occupation of Canaan by Israel. God gave the Israelites a promise—to have Canaan
as their land—but they had to go in, drive out the enemies, occupy the land,
establish the boundaries and defend those boundaries. Canaan was given, but it
had to be possessed through conflict.
God has promises for us to possess and defend, and this will involve spiritual
conflict. We have to pray our way into possession of God’s promises, and prayer
becomes one of the way we set up a defense against the invasions and encroachments of our spiritual enemies that seek to rob us of the fulfillment and
fruition of God’s promises and blessings.
In prayer the Lord enables us to:
• Mark boundaries.
• Patrol boundaries.
• Protect boundaries.
• Extend boundaries.
Note the words of the Lord Jesus that describe this process of spiritual warfare:
Matthew 16:18-19 (NLT) “Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I
will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give
you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked
in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be opened in heaven.”
What kind of prayer sets and protects boundaries:
• Assertive prayer.
• Aggressive prayer.
• Authoritative prayer.
• Audible prayer.
• Attentive prayer.
3. PRAYER IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOLY HABITS
One of the best ways to overcome evil in our lives is through the establishment of
holy habits. We can never come to spiritual maturity without developing a lifestyle
of prayer. Holy habits that overcome evil are developed in us as we pray.
The Apostle Paul spoke of this:
Romans 12:21 (NIV) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Prayer is like a potter’s wheel and kiln. In prayer we are fashioned and formed by
the Spirit of God. In prayer, the nature and character of God is fired into our spirit.
Godly character, righteous habits, and good works are conceived and birthed in us
as we pray.
When these things become a part of who we are, we truly are overcoming evil with
good, by the grace of God at work in us.
“Prayer is, above all, fellowship with God and being brought under the power
of His holiness…until He…stamps our entire nature with the lowliness of
Christ.” —Andrew Murray
I encourage you to join me in fasting and prayer again and again until we truly
experience revival in our homes, our churches, our beloved nation, and throughout
the world.
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