The Problem With Reading The Bible

"The Problem With Reading The Bible Is That You Might Begin To Believe It."                                                                                   
                                                                                                                  Anonymous


For many years my faith life was like many Christians, maybe most Christians.  I grew up in the church, drifted away at a certain age, and decided to return after I was married and had kids of my own.  In fact, in fairness my return to church was mostly due to the urging of my wife, Pam.

While church was part of my life during those years, it was just that -- a small part of my life.  It was basically an hour on most Sundays.  Apart from Sundays, I gave little or no thought to God.  Indeed, on Sundays I gave little thought to God -- more concerned with how I would spend the rest of the day or even what kind of cookies they would have after service.

After a few years at Heartland (then Christ Temple) I began to become somewhat more involved in church, and perhaps slightly more involved with God.  Then, out of the blue, much to my shock and disbelief, I was asked to be an Elder in the church.  Frankly, at the time I had trouble imagining that there were many people at our church who were less qualified than me to take on that responsibility.  I will never forget meeting Jack DeHart for breakfast to get his view on whether this was a good idea, or whether it was a nutty as it seemed.

Ultimately, I was persuaded that this was something I should do.  However, I also decided that if this was the path I was going to take I needed to become more qualified.  And, one of the areas that made me feel unqualified was my relative lack of biblical knowledge.  And so, over the next few months I made it my mission to really study the Bible, and also to spend time studying "apologetics" -- and particularly the historicity of the Bible.          

I cannot tell you the exact time or day, but at some point I had an epiphany (at least for me).  In fact, I had a series of epiphanies.  The first was simply this -- that if this book called the Bible was true, everything in my life had to change.   It was an odd revelation for someone who was now an elder in the church.  But that is truly where I was at the time.

Of course, over time the revelation continued to come.  I came to realize, among other things, that there would be a significant cost to following this Jesus.  I came to realize that the authentic Christian life would be one of sacrifice and often would be difficult.

My point, of course, is that reading the Bible is transformational.  The Word of God has the power to change everything.  So, read it at your own risk!!  Consider yourself warned.

By the way, below is a link to an interview with Rosaria Butterfield -- an English professor who read the Bible as part of a research project and was completely transformed.  The interview, and Rosaria's conversion, is amazing.  The interview is long, but I think has some great reminders about the power of prayer and the results of real Christian love.  But, most of all, it is a powerful testimony about the power of the Word. 

Rosaria Interview  

+Rosaria Butterfield 

The Least

A couple of days ago I shared a link on Facebook that had been sent to me in response to some things I said in church a couple of weeks ago.  The link was to a story (copied below) about a pastor who disguised himself as a homeless person and was then shunned by the congregation of the large church where he had just been appointed to serve as the new head pastor.

After reading the story, my friend Josh posted an interesting question on my Facebook page:  "I wonder what the reactions would be at Heartland???" 

Well, as we all know, God works in mysterious ways.  And I have to say, this was no exception.

One of my little sayings to people, particularly to guests who comment about the love they feel at Heartland, is that there should not be a church in America, or anywhere in the world for that matter, where you cannot feel the love of Christ the minute you walk in the door.  And, I believe that with all my heart.  Love, after all, is a -- actually THE -- hallmark of who we are as Christians (or, at least who we are supposed to be)!

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

                                                                                                                                       John 13:34-35

To me, loving people and making them feel welcome is one of the best things about Heartland Church.  In fact, I have to confess that it has been a matter of pride for me.  I really think its something that we really do well -- and really must do well.  In fact, we have quite a few people at Heartland who were hurt at other churches, and I have always been determined to do my part to insure that people never leave our church because they were hurt here.

So, a couple of things happened this week after I shared that link that I need to share with you now.

The first seemed innocent enough.  Just a little breakdown.  You know.  No organization is perfect.

I was talking to a couple of people after service on Sunday in the foyer of the church and one of them commented that our church could be a little more friendly.  When I probed a little, I learned that although these folks were appropriately greeted when they arrived that morning, after service they stood in the foyer for quite a long time and not one person said anything to them -- although they were obviously visitors.

That was certainly disappointing to hear.  But, like I said, things happen.  No one is perfect but God alone.  So, I took note of that observation, apologized, and life went on.

The second thing that happened was that in response to my link to the story of the "homeless" pastor I got an email from someone who was a partner at Heartland a couple of years ago but had since moved away.  This person told me that he had experienced that "same kind of coldness" in churches he had visited, "including Heartland."

We had a brief exchange about this person's experience at HC, and this is part of what he said: "Heartland was not the worst we have been to, but welcoming strangers and people passing through could be improved. Heartland seemed to be geared, like most churches, toward extroverts. Being a stranger and just walking through the door takes great acts of courage for people like me. Heartland does a decent job of greeting people on Sundays, but could go further in getting to know people at a deeper level, which is so important for the more quiet types."

I have to say that hearing this was like taking a punch to the gut. It wouldn't really bother me for someone to say of HC that they didn't enjoy the worship, or that we dress too casually, or that the sermons could be better, or that they didn't like the coffee -- but, like I said, no one should be able to walk into any church without experiencing the love of God and the love of God's people.

Notwithstanding this email and my conversation last Sunday, I stand by my conviction that Heartland Church generally does an excellent job of making people feel welcomed and loved. It is something I hear from people all the time.

At the same time, we can do better. And I hope we do better in the future. In fact, as I think about it, maybe being a "loving" church is something that we can't or shouldn't take pride in at all. Maybe being a loving church is just one of those things that has to come from a place of humility.

Oh, and by the way, to answer Josh's question. I suppose that how Heartland Church would respond to the "homeless pastor" scenario might depend on the particular day. It might depend on who the "homeless" person came into contact with and how those people were doing on that particular day. It might depend on many things. Although, generally, I would like to think that Heartland Church would respond in a way that brought glory to God.

A couple of years ago two homeless men came into the church on an extremely cold Sunday morning. I don't remember a whole lot about it, other than ultimately it came out that the men were not really interested in attending a service, but they were living outside, could not take the cold and wanted a portable heater like you would use for camping. In fairly short order, one of our partners, armed with a church credit card, was headed to Walmart to buy the heater that the men needed. When he returned, some of our partners prayed for the men, gave them the heater and they went on their way.

On another Sunday morning, another homeless man came into the church. He had apparently walked quite a distance, as he had no means of transportation. After talking to one of our partners, it came out that the man needed money for a bicycle and also wanted some money to buy his niece (I think it was) a birthday present. So, that partner bought the man a bike and gave him some extra money to buy the gift. By "coincidence," later that day the same man was seen with his bicycle locked up in front of a "Toys R Us" buying a toy for a little girl.

I guess we do get it right sometimes!

So, here is the story that started all this.  Ironically, after doing a little digging on the internet, it appears that the story was invented.

"Pastor Jeremiah Steepek transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning.  He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service, only 3 people out of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him.  He asked people for change to buy food – no one in the church gave him change.  

He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit in the back.  He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.  As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such.  

When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation.  “We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek.” The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation.  The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle. The clapping stopped with all eyes on him.  

He walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment then he recited, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  ‘The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  

After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame.  He then said, “Today I see a gathering of people, not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples. When will YOU decide to become disciples?”  He then dismissed service until next week.

Following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ should be more than just talk. It ought to be a lifestyle that others around you can love about you and share in."  

Thanksgiving Revisited

I hope everyone is having a great week and is looking forward to next week -- and particularly to Thanksgiving.

For those of you who attend Heartland Church, I hope that you have been moved by the latest series on generosity.  I know that it is common for pastors (and others) to talk about generosity this time of year -- but I really hope that this last series of messages moves us as a church beyond seasonal generosity and toward a lifestyle of generosity.  I really think that the Bible makes it crystal clear that generosity with our time, talents, gifts and resources is a hallmark of followers of Christ.

Four years ago, I wrote a blog about Thanksgiving -- which I have reposted below.  In general, the blog is about the sad fact that Thanksgiving has increasingly become such a secular holiday, having little to do with giving thanks to God for all He has done for us.

While I still have the same feelings about Thanksgiving as I did when I wrote that blog (and Christmas for that matter), I am less focused these days on grieving about America's pull away from God, and more focused on the question of "why."  And, to me, the answer is really very simple.

The church universal will never have a lasting impact on the culture around us simply by protesting or grieving the secularization of America.  No amount of complaining about the removal of the Ten Commandments from government buildings will ultimately make a difference.  Perhaps such lobbying will slow the process -- keep "in God we trust" on our coins and currency for another year -- but it will not change the hearts and minds of the American public.

If we really want to see our nation turn back toward God we have to offer the people something far more powerful than arguments about the Christian orientation of the our Founding Fathers.  We need to offer them love.  True Christian love, birthed and nurtured by the Holy Spirit, is compelling.  True Christian love is "sincere" -- which means that its foundation is firmly rooted in the heart.  Romans 12:9.  And, true Christian love is, by definition,  generous. 


¹¹ For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ¹² Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. ¹³ Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. ¹⁵ Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
                                                                                                                                                      1 John 3:11-18


And so, while I wish things were different when it comes to Thanksgiving, if we really want people to turn their attention to God on Thanksgiving Day we need to give them a reason to do just that.  On the other 364 days a year, we need to be the body of believers that God calls us to be.  We need to be the kinds of churches that God calls us to be.  We need to show the world a crazy, incomprehensible, unconditional, out-of-this-worldly kind of love.  We need to show them the love of Christ.

From November 2009:

On November 26, 2009, millions of Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving. For most, the day will be rich in a tradition that includes friends, family, food and football.

Of course, the Thanksgiving meal will be the centerpiece of the day. It will likely feature a turkey with all the trimmings. If your Thanksgiving experiences are like mine, the meal will also no doubt include a side dish or two that no one actually likes -- or at least no one likes enough to eat any other day of the year. In my house, we will put cranberry sauce on the table. We always do. I'm not sure I have ever seen anyone actually eat that stuff. But, its tradition.

I like to think that most people also have a tradition of saying a prayer before the Thanksgiving meal. It seems like most people I know do -- even those folks who don't pray over their meals the other 362 days a year. (If your questioning my math, think Christmas and Easter). I mean, what's the point of Thanksgiving if we don't take at least a moment during the day to thank God for all He has done for us?

I do have to wonder, though, whether God figures into Thanksgiving at all for most Americans anymore. The folks at Wikipedia don't seem to think so. Not that Wikipedia is necessarily a reliable or definitive source, but here are the first few lines of the discussion of Thanksgiving in this on-line encyclopedia:

"Thanksgiving day is a harvest festival. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. ... While perhaps religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday."

I have a lot of questions about these three sentences. For example, what do they mean by "perhaps religious in origin"? Is there any doubt about that? And, when they say "express gratitude in general," express gratitude in general to who? The most troubling question I have, though, is whether there is truth to the idea that most Americans view Thanksgiving as a primarily secular holiday. Put another way, has God been kicked out of Thanksgiving too?

If most Americans truly feel that Thanksgiving has nothing to do with God, that is obviously a terribly sad thing. It has not always been that way.

George Washington issued a proclamation in 1789 setting November 26 as a day of "public thanksgiving and prayer." To save you on the math, this November 26th will mark the 220th anniversary of that first national day of Thanksgiving.

In that Thanksgiving day proclamation, the President of the United States, at the urging of both houses of Congress, asked the American people to set aside November 26 as a day to thank God Almighty for the many things He had done for the people of the United States, including for the very existence of the country itself. President Washington appropriately described God as "the Beneficent Author of all good that was, that is, and that will be." The proclamation went on to ask the people to pray for the forgiveness of our national and other transgressions, and that the government "be a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws ...."

Personally, I love Thanksgiving. I love the family getting together. I love the turkey and I love the football. I don't think there is anything wrong with all that. I have even accepted the idea that Thanksgiving is the time when we all begin to think about and look forward to Christmas.

At the same time, I am not sure I can get behind the idea of a national holiday that is simply dedicated to over-eating and football -- even if it means a couple of extra days off work. If God has really been kicked out of Thanksgiving, as Christians I think we need to make a point this November 26 to invite Him back in!

Struggling With Purpose

In 2002, Pastor Rick Warren published "A Purpose Driven Life."  The book obviously struck a chord with the Christian community (and likely with some non-Christians as well) as over 30,000,000 copies of the book were apparently sold in the first five years after its publication alone.

I have to admit that the book had a small part to play in the chain of events that brought  me to my current pursuit -- or predicament if you would rather.  Our church, like many others I am sure, took part in a spiritual campaign also created by Saddleback Church called "Forty Days of Purpose."  Like the book itself, the purpose of the campaign was to help people answer a critical question in their lives, namely: "What on earth am I here for?"

I was a bit distracted with the press of life during the period of time our church was on the "Forty Days of Purpose" journey.  So, it perhaps should have been no surprise that at the end of the forty days I had gained no greater clarity about my purpose in life than I had before the journey started.  At the same time, it did cause me to begin a discipline that continues in my life to this day -- which is regular prayer about God's will for me.

Ultimately, those prayers led me to step out in faith and become more active in our church, and before I knew it I was on staff as our Executive Pastor.  In other words, I guess you can say that Rick Warren, a man I have never met, played a small part in ruining my life!

In recent months I have had occasion to reflect on my experience with "A Purpose Driven Life," and I have to say that I am not sure I am a fan of the book anymore.  Don't get me wrong.  There is a reason that the book has been so incredibly successful.  People need to find and understand their purpose in life.

Actually, I am not sure that my issue is with the book so much as it is with the odd preoccupation that we have as Christians sometimes with finding our purpose.  I spent months or maybe even years looking for my purpose before I got an answer.  In fact, there are times now when I wonder about God's "ultimate" purpose for my life.  At times I question whether God really wants me to be a pastor.  At times I question whether He really wants me to be at Heartland Church.  And, to be honest, I have come to the conclusion that most of the time I spend dwelling on those questions is a complete waste of emotional energy and time.

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow essentially because it is pointless to do so.  Today has enough problems of its own!


²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


I think I have decided that wringing our hands about God's purpose for our lives is sort of the same thing.  The truth is that God's purpose for my life awaits me every single day from the very moment my feet hit the floor in the morning until I fall asleep at night.  The truth is that most often the problem is not discovering God's purpose for our lives -- IT IS BEING OBEDIENT and thereby fulfilling that purpose.

God's purpose is found in our willingness to stop and help someone in distress.  It is found in taking the time to speak a word of encouragement to a co-worker who is having a difficult day.  It is found in taking the time to visit the man in prison, to feed the man who is hungry, and to cloth the man who needs a coat so he can make it through a cold winter.

God's purpose is found in our willingness to share the good news of Jesus and what He did on the cross with someone who desperately needs to know Him. 

I guess I have decided that God has made His purpose for each of us unmistakable.

Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,

    for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

                                            Ecclesiastes, 12:13-14

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

                                                          Matthew 22:36-40

    

The Power of Christ

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 1:18-21

It is an awesome thought -- that as believers the same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to each of us.  But, like so many things in the Christian faith, I fear that our emphasis is often in the wrong place when it comes to the power of Christ in our lives.

For some of us, the power of Christ seems to be mostly about making it through the day.  There is no doubt that all of us find ourselves from time to time just trying to make it to tomorrow.  It might be health issues, financial concerns, broken relationships, addictions or any number of other circumstances that cause us to focus on the power of Christ simply as a means of survival.  Even for believers in Christ -- maybe particularly for believers in Christ -- life can be hard, and in those hard times we truly need the power of Christ in our lives just to make it through the day.  I get that.  Indeed, at times I live that.

At the same time, we  need to understand that the power of Christ in our lives is about so much more than mere survival.  It is fundamental to who we are as followers of Christ.

For others, the power of Christ is mostly about the miraculous.  It is about seeing things in the natural that simply make no sense.  It is about "signs and wonders," physical healings that baffle the medical community, or prophecy and speaking in tongues.

Again, I do not discount any of these things.  In fact, I too long to see the power of Christ manifest itself in such extraordinary ways.  How awesome it is when God shows the world even a glimpse of his power on earth!

At the same time, being overly focused on such things has the potential to distract us from the fundamental nature of the power of Christ in our lives.  I would even say that being overly focused on such things has the potential to cheapen what Christ did for us on the cross.  The power of Christ is neither a circus act nor a side show.  It is about so much more than that.

At the end of the day, our focus needs to be not on "signs and wonders" or survival -- but simply on "Jesus Christ and Him crucified."  1 Corinthians 2:1-4. 

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

    
1 Corinthians 1:18-25.

To begin with, we need to understand that our very faith depends on the power of Christ operating in our lives.  Ephesians 3:16-17.  Think about that for a second.  The same power that raised Christ from the dead allows us to have faith in Him, and so to raise us from the dead also to spend eternity in His presence.  He is, after all, the author and perfecter of our faith.  Hebrews 12:2.  I don't know how you think about it, but to me what is a physical healing -- or any other miracle for that matter -- compared to knowing that by the power of Christ we have faith and are saved?!

In the same way, it is the power of Christ that gives us the ability to love others as he calls us to do, and "to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" for us.  Ephesians 3:18-19.  It is the power of Christ that brings joy and hope to our lives.  Romans 15:13.  It is the power of Christ that gives us endurance and patience.  Colossians 1:1-14.  It is the power of Christ that gives us righteousness.  Philippians 3:10.  It is the power of Christ that allows us to suffer for God -- for the gospel.  2 Timothy 1:7-8.

Indeed, it is this last point that really brings us to the heart of the matter.  The power of Christ ultimately is primarily neither about the ability to survive nor about signs and wonders.  It is first about the gift of faith.  And, second, it is about the ability to accomplish God's purposes for our lives.  It is about the ability to see beyond ourselves, to put aside our rights and our feelings, so that God may use us for His greater purpose.  It is about a power that, if used correctly, allows us to become all things to all people for the sake of the gospel.  It is about the ability to love those who persecute us so that they may see the power of what Christ did for them on the cross. 

It is a power residing within us that is so great that we may endure anything -- put up with anything -- rather than hinder the gospel.  It is a power within us that is so great that we can be whatever we need to be, suffer whatever we need to suffer, so that some might be saved.

"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.  We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12.