By Invitation Only

     Have you ever seen these words?  Often times we walk up to a place and see the words posted on a sign hanging on the door. Unfortunately, that is how many people view church. They decide not to go because they were not invited. They feel like they will be stared at because they do not know anyone there. They wonder how the other congregants will receive an outsider. They are looking through the eyes of the world because no one has shown them grace through a simple invitation.

     This post will be a short one because the message is very simple. Many people are missing out on salvation because no one has taken the time to invite them to church. When was the last time you invited a friend, a neighbor, a coworker? Last month? Last year? Never?For those in the 'never' column, trust me, it doesn't hurt a bit. No one is going to bite you for inviting them to church. I know some of you are not comfortable with stepping out like that. But, let me ask you one question. Do you want to get to heaven and have an unsaved friend standing outside the Pearly Gates look to you and say, "Why didn't you tell me"?

   With Easter fast approaching, do not forget that there is someone waiting for the invitation. Out of the hundreds of people you contact each week, make it a point to reach out to a few of them. Let's replace "By Invitation Only" with "Come On In". Be Jesus to someone. Invite them along with you this Sunday.

Many Blessings.

Josh

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Free Will in a Fallen World

As a seminary student, I get a lot of questions from a lot of different people regarding my faith. With all of the evil in the world and on the news, (political scandals, war, famine, school shootings, etc.) the most frequent question I get is, “Why does God allow all of this bad stuff to keep happening?” There has been a library full of books written on this very subject. However, I will address it here in a Reader’s Digest version (for all of you kids out there, that means this will be a short synopsis).

We live in a world where a gracious and loving God has bestowed upon us the greatest gift of all—free will. With that free will, people possess the freedom to do as they choose. They can choose to be responsible or irresponsible, take a shower or be dirty, paper or plastic, curly fries or potato cakes, eat the apple or run from the snake, good or evil.

"Choose this day whom you will serve. . .. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15

That being said, it is important to remember that God created us to have communion with him, to have a relationship with him. But, in his providence he allowed man to make the choice of whether to believe or not, to have that relationship or not. While he loves each and every one of us and wants that relationship, he is not a dictator who forces himself on us. He gives each individual the right to choose their path. Unfortunately, some choose the path of evil.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" Isaiah 55:8

Those who choose evil are not limited by conscience or social/cultural boundaries. We are trying to understand the mindset of individuals who have no remorse, no moral compass, and no capacity for love in their heart. There is only anger, rage, and malice. Many suffer from depression and mental illness, which can be contributing factors in their behavior. When creation was broken by The Fall, all of creation was broken, all the way down to our DNA. Cain slew his brother Abel because evil crept into his heart and corrupted him. That same evil still resides in the hearts of men today.

Side bar—Please do not mistake this to mean that non-believers are mentally ill or incapable of love. I know many non-believers who try to do right by others and genuinely want to see others succeed. One man I know even started a non-profit for veterans.

The point is that, because God gives us free will and does not want a bunch of robot followers, there is room for the evil that caused The Fall to creep into society. The possibility of people making horrible choices at the expense of others is always going to be there.

Choose love. Choose the abundant life that Jesus promises. Remember that there is a being who is infinitely more attuned to the universe than we will ever be watching over everything that occurs on our tiny little rock. Pray for the hearts and souls of others. Be Jesus to everyone you come in contact with. That little act of kindness or that uplifting word to them may make all the difference in the world. Show the world why they should choose Him.

Many blessings, 

Joshua 

For further study:

The book of Job, chapters 38-41

Adam Hamilton's work, Why?:Making Sense of  God's Will

Rein in the Tongue

Rein in the Tongue

Many people in the Church struggle with words. That is not to say that they can not speak or that they have a problem forming a coherent sentence. The issue they have is very sinister and most of them probably do not even realize they have a problem.

The issue they have is the words they use. The things they say are contrary to what being a Christian is all about. They are not loving, but hurtful. They are not encouraging but damaging. Someone, with no malicious intent, will tell a small piece of gossip about someone. What they do not realize is that sort of thing grows like wildfire. One person hears it who can not wait to tell someone else, who tells three others, who tell their friends, and so on. Suddenly, a piece of gossip (usually based on rumor and conjecture) is running rampant through the community. Problem is, the rumor is not true. But the damage is done.

Others have an issue with cursing. While the Bible does not specifically spell out a single word that is sinful, cultural and societal deviations that are perceived as sin can, and do, ruin our witness. So, while dropping an F-bomb is not a biblical sin in and of itself, it leads directly to other sins.

First, it causes others to stumble in their faith. Jesus specifically warns against being the one who causes one of his little children to sin (Matt 18:5-6). The “little ones” Jesus refers to are not just literal children, but all who come with child-like faith. Since we are all God’s children, it can, by extension, mean unbelievers. Our language, like our deeds, reflects who we are as people. So, if someone believes certain language is dirty or inappropriate, that is how they will see the one who uses that language. They will not see a devoted follower of Christ, but a hypocritical sinner who puts on a show every Sunday.

Second, the Bible clearly warns that those who gossip are not following the way of Christ. Gossip is not loving, and we are commanded to love one another as Christ has loved us. The book of Proverbs 16:28 says that, “a perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.” How many relationships, families, and careers have been ruined due to gossip and hearsay? Even one is too many, and there are far too many.

Third, God expects better of us. We are to emulate Jesus in kindness, gentleness, and a humble heart. Our language, the words we use, how we use them, and the intent behind them are all apt to cause us to stumble. In the book of Mathew, Jesus says “What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean’” (15:11).

So, what do we do, just stop speaking all together? NO! But we need to listen to the words of James, brother of Jesus.

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires” (James 1:19-20).

“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless” (James 1:26).

His religion is worthless! Did you read that? It is worthless because the man’s witness has been severely compromised if not completely obliterated. No one is going to listen to the office gossip king as he tries to tell them about Jesus. The lady who is dropping F-bombs is not going to have a good reception to a sudden God-bomb when she has a moment of righteous clarity.

Brothers and sisters, if you would be true Christians and you truly seek to advance His kingdom…shut up. Think before you speak. Ask yourself if what you are about to say is glorifying God or others, or is it damaging to God or others. Think about this; Would you say it if Jesus were sitting across from you?

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

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