Church Attendance
November 16, 2012
When we go door-to-door to evangelize (with our church evangelism team), we use a survey approach. And one of the questions that we ask is this: “Do you have a church that you attend on a regular basis?” You would be surprised at the number of people, even Christians, who answer that question, “no.”
The Bible tells us how important it is for us to come together as the “body of Christ.” One of the most famous Scriptures on this subject is: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). The writer of the book of Hebrews is telling us the necessity of worshiping together and even more so as the coming of the Lord nears.
When people tell us why they don’t attend church it is usually due to the fact that they are busy with work and other duties. But if they knew that Jesus was returning in the next week they would probably rearrange their schedules. When we get to heaven, will we wish that we had gone to church more often?
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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“The Passion of the Christ”
August 22, 2011
Seven-and-a-half years ago, a film was released that had an unprecedented spiritual impact on our world, “The Passion of the Christ.” Before its release, however, it received much criticism from many quarters. But surprisingly, the heaviest rebuff came from some in the Christian community. This puzzled me then, and it continues to baffle me now. How could the depiction of the last twelve hours of the life of Jesus, culminating with His resurrection, be offensive, especially to those who call themselves Christian?
One reason for the denouncement of this movie was due to its graphic and violent themes. But for the last forty to fifty years, the motion picture industry has “majored” in graphic, violent and brutal films (Hollywood, by the way, wanted nothing to do with this movie). Anyone hear of “The Godfather,” “Pulp Fiction” or “Kill Bill?” Where was the outcry against these productions from the portions of the Christian community who came out against “The Passion?”
Three years ago, as I was leaving a classroom setting, I asked one of my instructors if he had seen the movie. His response was, “no, it was too bloody.” And I think that this is the main “rub” for some in the Christian community: the blood of Jesus. Unfortunately, many within the ranks of the faithful have taken the blood out of their hymns, out of their sermons and out of their churches and denominations. It is offensive to them. But without the blood of Christ, there is no Christianity, no forgiveness of sin and no hope.
Thankfully, this film is still changing lives just as it did back in 2004. Just as many came to faith in Christ when the film first appeared, people continue to experience liberation from the bondage of sin when this film is shown today. The Trinity Broadcasting Network is one of the outlets for the airing of “The Passion,” and, hopefully, they will continue to show the movie for many years to come (they usually show it multiple times during Easter week).
The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians about “…..the offense of the cross…..” (Galatians 5:11). But it is only through the cross and the price that Jesus paid with His blood that humanity can truly rejoice. Yes, the crucifixion was a horrible way to die. The writer of Hebrews describes Jesus as “the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). The Lord was willing to die a shameful and offensive death, and the purpose of this movie was to show the incredibly wonderful sacrifice that was made on our behalf.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Our Great High Priest
August 9, 2011
The author of the book of Hebrews states:
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 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” (Hebrews 4:14-16).
During the time of Israel’s “wandering in the wilderness,” God instituted the role of high priest through Moses’ brother, Aaron, and his descendants. The main task of high priest was that of entering into the most holy place of the tabernacle or temple, once a year, to make atonement for the sins of the people. Although this cleansing was done with the blood of animals, it was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice that Jesus would make on our behalf with His blood.
Some Christian organizations still teach that we must confess our sins to a priest or be in the presence of a priest before we die. But that is contrary to God’s Word. In the preceding passage of Scripture from Hebrews, it shows that Jesus is our “great high priest,” and that we come directly to Him without any earthly mediator. We confess our sins expressly to Jesus, and we, also, bring our requests directly to Him.
How wonderful is the thought that we have immediate access to Jesus at anytime or at any place. We don’t require an earthly priest to help us in the hour of need. We have the ability to call on the one who is at “God’s right hand,” and who wants us to receive His “mercy and grace.”
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
“Jesus Thinking”
August 8, 2011
Hebrews 3:1-6
1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
We live in pretty uncertain times, to say the least. The world, sometimes, can change in a moment. And even though we know that God is in control, life can be scary.
That’s why I love the first verse of the third chapter of Hebrews. It is reassuring. It gives us the key on how to handle all of life’s troubles: “fix your thoughts on Jesus.”
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” As many have said before, the battleground, in the spiritual world, is in the mind. If we can keep our thoughts on the Savior, we will be victorious. We won’t be shaken when it looks like everything is falling apart.
Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:1-4). When our thoughts are on Jesus and we are trusting in him, we won’t be the victims of fear and despair.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Incarnation
August 6, 2011
Imagine yourself at a coin show. You’re a coin-collector looking for a new purchase. You walk up to a table, and you spot an unusual looking coin. After holding it in your hand for a while, you ask the vendor, “what is it made of?” The person replies, “It’s 100% gold and 100% silver.” Of course, your reply would be, “you’re joking, right?”
Now, imagine that you are a dog-breeder, and you have taken your dog to the veterinarian for a checkup. While you’re waiting to be seen by the doctor, you see another person waiting with their pet. After looking at the other dog for while, you ask the owner, “what breed of dog is that?” The owner replies, “he is 100% Irish Setter and 100% Golden Retriever.” Once again, your reply would be something like, “that’s funny.”
Finally, you’re at an antique shop searching for an antique chair for your home. You notice a unique chair, and you stroll up to the antique dealer and ask her, “what kind of wood is the chair made of?” The shop-owner says, “it’s 100% oak and 100% pine.” Your response would be, “that’s a good one.”
Jesus Christ, however, was 100% God and 100% man (God-incarnate). Our finite human brains have a “hard time” comprehending this, but the Bible says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). Jesus was, simultaneously, “Son of God” and “Son of Man.” Jesus, although fully divine, referred to himself more often as “Son of Man.” He was both at the same time.
The writer of Hebrews states, “But we see Jesus, who made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth in the form of man to die for the sins of mankind, but He did not give up His divine nature. He was the sinless Son of God. And because Jesus was willing to become man, we have hope today. And that hope consists of forgiveness of sin and escape from eternal punishment. And also, Jesus promised us, “‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’” (John 10:10). Jesus was both God and man. And because of that, we now have the hope of eternal life in the world to come and abundant life here on Earth.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
