Let Faith Trump Feelings

Do you ever have a week where it seems like you hear God teach the same lesson to you over and over again? That describes my experience last week. Maybe I’m just too hard-headed, and God needed to keep repeating himself. But I honestly believe that my circumstances were intended as a lesson to learn and a blog post to write.

Why do we allow our feelings to trump what we know about our faith? How have our lives suffered because we have chosen to respond to our feelings instead of our faith? It seems like an easier question to answer than it is. I’ve spent a week thinking about that idea. 

It all began with a Sunday school lesson from the book of Numbers.

When fear trumps faith

Have you noticed how many of the news stories are written and reported with the goal of creating fear? Opinions are presented as fact and phrased to evoke a fear response. Spend some time this week listening to the news with the goal of spiritual discernment. You will likely be shocked at the way you hear things in a new light. We are more likely to become passionate about an opinion when we are afraid of someone else’s. If fear trumps faith, we will miss a lot of God’s blessings. That was true for the people in the book of Numbers.

Numbers 13 and 14 are about the twelve spies who were sent into the promised land to scope out the people and places that God had led them toward. You know the story. All twelve spies returned home, affirming the land was exactly what God had promised. They had found abundant food, water, and other blessings, but, there were also a few “giants” and other perceived dangers. Ten of the spies were adamant that entering the promised land would mean certain death. Joshua and Caleb were certain that they could trust God to handle whatever came their way. The people believed the ten who were afraid instead of the two who were faithful. The people’s feelings trumped their faith, and it cost them a life in the promised land.

The twelve spies were convinced of two very different outcomes. Ten men said everyone would be captured and probably killed. Two men said, “Let’s trust God and go.” Scripture tells us, “Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night.  And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?’  And they said to one another, ‘Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt’” (Numbers 14:1–4).

Which spies would you have sided with, and why? I confess that I would probably have followed the ten. The majority often rules, even when it is wrong. Joshua and Caleb lived long enough to lead the people into the promised land. The other ten spies died before that day. The majority of the spies got it wrong, and then they, along with their families, paid a price.

How can we allow our faith to trump our fear?

What lesson was God teaching the Israelites? How is that a lesson for us today?

God asked Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?” (Numbers 14:11). Moses knew God was angry because the people lacked faith. They had witnessed the miracles in Egypt and the evidence of God’s care for them throughout their journey from Egypt. Yet, they trusted the men who feared rather than the faith of Joshua and Caleb. 

Why did Joshua’s and Caleb’s faith trump their fears? The question I have asked myself for the past week is this: Were Joshua and Caleb “younger men” than the other ten? They lived another forty years, and Joshua actually led the people into the battles after they entered the land. The Bible doesn’t tell us if Caleb and Joshua were younger, but based on the information above, it is a valid question. It’s a question worth considering for our lives today.

Faith can only trump fear when we set aside any other influence. Wisdom comes with age, but so do some of our fears. Experience is a great teacher unless God is planning to do a “new thing” in our lives. As I’ve said before, just a quick study of Scripture is a reminder that “God’s ways are not our ways.” How often do we limit God to our best thoughts instead of seeking his?

When do our feelings trump our faith?

Most of our church committees are set up to follow a majority opinion. Americans live in a democracy that requires us to accept majority decisions. We are taught to trust that the majority of people will vote for the best choice. God taught us to seek counsel and trust godly people for spiritual advice. Sometimes, godly counsel is not the majority opinion.

  • When did you last sit on a committee that voted to do what most didn’t want to do?
  • What is the last decision you made out of obedience to God, even though it seemed a reckless choice to other people?
  • When have we followed the minority opinion to be right with God?
  • Are Jacob and Caleb relevant examples for God’s children today?

The answers to the questions above are important and worth considering. Joshua and Caleb didn’t offer the majority opinion, and God wouldn’t have preserved the story in Scripture if it didn’t matter to us today. The major difference between decision-making as God’s children now, compared to those in the Old Testament, involves the gift that Jesus died to give.

Faith can trump our feelings

The people of the Old Testament saw amazing miracles. The Ark of the Covenant, then the temple, literally contained the holy Presence of God. The altar provided a way for them to be made right with God. The law was God’s covenant promise with his people. And all of that didn’t sustain the people’s faith in God.

So God gave the world Jesus and then, through faith in his Son, God gave us his Holy Spirit. Counsel is good when it is Spirit-led. A committee will lead us to a correct decision if most of its members are led by God’s Spirit. The majority opinion is valuable if the majority of the people came to their opinion through the spiritual direction of God’s Spirit. Faith can trump our fears and our feelings if we can trust God’s voice and God’s word to matter more than any other influence the world offers.

Now, the practical lesson that God kept teaching me last week is this: What feelings or influences have I put ahead of God’s word? What decisions have I made, and what opinions have I believed that were borne of media-induced fear instead of biblical faith? Which voices shout louder than God’s?

Faith should trump our feelings, especially our fears. To ignore God’s Spirit is to walk in the wilderness. What truth is God’s voice prompting you to trust today?

Your influence with a Kingdom purpose

I ran across a graphic last week as I was preparing to teach a Bible study about the prophet Daniel and the influence he had on those around him. The graphic caught my eye, and I later learned that it reflected a current model widely taught in business circles. The graphic illustrates the process by which we can focus and improve our ability to influence others.

The graphic noted three circles we should use to separate and qualify the various experiences or relationships in our lives. The first and widest circle is the circle of concern, defined as those circumstances in our lives, including other people’s choices, that we cannot control. The second circle was the circle of influence, which comprises of those circumstances and relationships we have the opportunity to influence. The final, smallest circle, is the circle of control. Those are the areas where we actually provide influence in ways that cause or control final outcomes.

Oxford University described the point of the research saying, “The Circles of Influence concept, developed by Stephen Covey, can help you recognize which things you can influence and control, and which you can’t, even though they may impact on you. ‘Proactive people….work on things they can do something about.’”

The secular study has spiritual application for Christians. If we want to be proactive with our faith, we should focus on the influence we have on the people in our lives. For example, we should care about enacting laws that support biblical truth. But realistically, how many of us will be involved in the actual legislation of those laws? Our ability to influence a law is likely limited to a few conversations on the subject and a single vote on election day. 

The Circles of Influence concept encourages us to focus more of our energy on our circles of influence and control. When was the last time you considered how you invest your time and efforts in those two most important circles of life and ministry?

All riled up with no place to go

Forbes magazine published an article about watching television news during the COVID-19 concerns of 2020. The article said, “In general, the more hours someone spent watching the news, the higher levels of fear they had.” The article went on to say that “watching negative news has been associated with sadness, worries, anxiety, and increase in negative affect. In disaster media specifically, we know that increasing exposure to media is associated with alcohol use, tobacco use, insomnia, depression, and post-traumatic symptoms, according to Dr. Joshua Morganstein, Chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s Committee.”

I’ve been told that part of my concussion protocol is to cut down on my screen time. In full confession, I haven’t been a very good patient. I work for an online ministry. Screens are difficult to avoid! I have noticed, however, that what I want to watch and listen to has been influenced by my bruised brain just a bit. I’ve turned off some of the loud conversations that the news media have used to “grab people’s attention.” The noise, the angst, and the vitriol are good for ratings but not good for our lives. We get all riled up about things we can’t control, and there is nowhere to go with our feelings. It’s actually been relaxing in some ways to have a minor concussion and need to avoid some of that!

Television news is simply another form of TV entertainment. Walter Conkrite would struggle to be successful or popular as a broadcaster in today’s ratings war. Much of the news we view on our televisions will fall into that first circle of concern. We can see what is happening, but we have very little we can do to influence or control an outcome. Stephen Covey would suggest we limit our time involvement with that circle of concern. 

Jesus told his followers, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14–16).

What would happen if Christians were to take Covey’s advice and follow Jesus’ teaching? God’s people should be aware of what and who they have been called to influence and spend more of their time and energies working in those places. We are called to focus on the people and the circumstances the Spirit guides us toward. If we are not focused on his leadership in our lives, we can be easily distracted by those things that we have no actual way to influence or change.

Who around us will observe or be impacted by the light of Christ in our personal witness? Do we spend more of our time discussing the topics and choices we cannot control or those we can and should control? Jesus said, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). Could it be that Jesus was teaching us about more than our money?

We are the light of the world. When people see our lives, they should be drawn to the greatness and glory of our God because of our words and our choices. Our influence should be focused on an eternal purpose more than on an earthly opportunity.

We can strengthen our Christian influence

G.K. Chesterton said, “The books that influence the world are those that it has not read.” I think there is a lot of wisdom in those words. The reason I am passionate about teaching the Bible is that I have found the wisdom of God’s word to be my greatest help in life. I want to encourage people to read that Book.

The world is filled with people, ideas, and values that shape our thoughts daily. Our lives are consistently bombarded with sights and sounds via screens. G.K. Chesterton’s statement made me realize that the Bible cannot fully influence people unless they read it for themselves. We can share God’s word, but there is nothing more powerful than reading Scripture and hearing God’s Spirit speak to our thoughts from the pages. How can we influence others to read the Bible for themselves?

We can strengthen our personal Christian influence if we strengthen our thoughts with the truth of God’s word. Are your words of influence authored by God’s truth or by something less? Paul was teaching this point to the early Christians when he told them, “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:7–9).

Whenever we are not fully “persuaded” by the truth of God’s Word, we are being persuaded by the lies of something less. And a little of the world’s influence can impact our entire witness.

Billy Graham said, “God will never lead contrary to His word—so get acquainted with the Word of God, the Bible. Pray. He leads through the illumination of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Use whatever you have and be faithful. We are called to serve Christ in our sphere of influence.”

Some of our most interesting conversations are centered around the things in this world that we cannot control or influence. Those topics are compelling and entertaining. It’s just important to remember that our most important influential conversations will be focused on the biblical truth that can have an eternal impact on a person’s life.

Do you need to adjust your focus and spend more energy in your circles of influence and control? I know I want to do that. Let’s pray that we will become influencers who have a Kingdom purpose. God would love to answer those prayers!

The seven churches: Smyrna

Imagine what it would be like to be a member and attend worship at the largest Christian church in Tehran. That is comparable to what it was like to be a Christian church member in Smyrna.

Smyrna was a beautiful seaport city about forty miles north of Ephesus in what is now modern-day Turkey. The city was rich and famous for its advanced learning, especially in science and medicine. Smyrna was also known for its undivided loyalty to the Roman Empire. 

It was also the first city to build a temple to honor a Roman emperor. Smyrna passed a law requiring every citizen to present a pinch of incense at the temple and speak, “Caesar is lord.” The Christian confession of faith has always been, “Jesus is Lord.” Understandably, most Christians refused to obey Smyrna’s temple law and honor Caesar. The resulting persecution was miserable, often resulting in a sentence of death for many of the Christians in the city.

The Source of their faith

Jesus’ message to the Christians of Smyrna:

Jesus was identifying his divine nature when he told John, “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life” (Revelation 2:8). Jesus wanted the people in Smyrna who were suffering great persecution to remember that they had chosen to believe in him, the One who had always existed and the One who had died and then came back to life. The Christians in Smyrna had witnessed or experienced the persecution a faithful Christian could face, and Jesus reminded them that they were followers of the Son of God. Their faith was in the truth: “Jesus is Lord.” Jesus’ resurrection was proof that he had always been Lord and always would be.

Jesus then told John to write this message to the pastor, “the angel” in Smyrna: “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)” (Revelation 2:9a). Jesus told the pastor and the people that he knew what they were enduring. 

Sometimes pain, grief, or persecution for our faith can cause us to feel isolated and different from everyone else. When Christians refuse to believe what is popular truth because we choose instead to accept the clear truth of Scripture, we can feel persecuted for our faith, too. Jesus would remind us that our faith and our future are secure. Jesus knows you have made him your Lord, and you have chosen to place your faith in him. Jesus wants you to know that whatever your circumstances are here on earth, you are rich as a child of God. You have “set your minds on things above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2).

The source of Smyrna’s suffering

It would have been normal for the people of Smyrna to blame the leaders and citizens of Rome for their suffering. Jesus had a different message for the Christians, identifying the true source of their persecution and slander as “those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9b). 

The leaders and government of Rome were persecuting the people of Smyrna, but the Jewish leaders and the Jewish people were also attacking them. Jesus didn’t blame the Romans or the Jewish people; he blamed Satan, who was their motivator. Jesus taught the Christians to look past the lost people to the one who wants them to be lost. 

Jesus taught the Christians of Smyrna and Christians today to look past the faces who slander us or treat us wrongly because of our faith. Instead, we should see the face of evil, our real enemy. Paul taught a similar lesson saying, “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). How might it change our emotions and our actions if we lived with this perspective? How would we treat people if we saw them as lost and usable by Satan to do his work against us?

The Source of our strength

Jesus wanted the Christians in Smyrna to know that he understood how difficult their lives were, but he also wanted them to understand who they should truly blame for their suffering. Then, Jesus told Christians, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

Jesus did not promise the Christians that he would end or limit their suffering on earth. Instead, Jesus taught them their suffering would end forever in heaven. This would have been difficult for the people in Smyrna to hear, and it is difficult truth for us as well. Jesus taught Christians not to fear the things of this world because suffering would only be for “ten days,” meaning a short amount of time. Jesus encouraged his children to “be faithful unto death” because the only crown worth pursuing is “the crown of life.” The word “crown” in this verse refers to the crown awarded to a person at the end of a race.

Why did God allow the Christians of Smyrna to suffer such slander and persecution? They suffered “so that” they could be “tested” or purified by their tribulation. Their eternal reward would be a crown that would mark them as victorious in their faith, for all eternity.

According to Open Doors’ World Watch List top 50, 310 million Christians face very high or extreme levels of persecution. According to Christianity Today, “Overall, more than 380 million Christians live in nations with high levels of persecution or discrimination. That’s 1 in 7 Christians worldwide, including 1 in 5 believers in Africa, 2 in 5 in Asia, and 1 in 16 in Latin America.” Those statistics don’t include nations like America. We might feel persecuted at times for our faith, but our persecution doesn’t reach the levels necessary to be considered persecuted by the world’s standards. Hundreds of millions of our Christian brothers and sisters live faithfully every day, knowing their faith could cost them or their loved ones their lives. Jesus didn’t promise them or us an easy life on earth. He promises that our faith can sustain us to live without fear because we are promised an eternity living with a victor’s crown.

Are his promises enough for your pain or suffering today?

Do his words encourage or discourage you today?

Jesus said, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:11). Will you listen to and hear the truth of Jesus’ words today?

Jesus taught that our faith is to be grounded in the truth of the Source of our faith. Christians say, “Jesus is Lord,” but we must also make him Lord of every choice and circumstance in our earthly lives. Jesus is our King, and we can’t allow anything else to occupy his throne. When Jesus is truly our Lord, we can overcome slander, persecution, suffering, and all other hardships because we know our best hope is eternal, not earthly. 

None of us will succeed all the time. Only Jesus could claim that. But we can choose what Jesus taught the Christians in Smyrna to choose. Our joy, our hope, our reward rest in things eternal. Are there earthly goals in your life? Are there people you continue to blame, or do you look past their faces and see the evil face of their motivator? Have you ever been motivated by the evil one to slander or persecute someone? 

Those are hard and humbling thoughts, but if the truth leads you to call out to Jesus not just as your Savior but as your Lord, then obedience to Jesus’ words for Smyrna can become your blessing and one day, your eternal crown. We serve a God of grace, but we are called to serve him as our King.

Will you make him your King again today and say with the people of Smyrna, “Jesus is my Lord”?

It’s common sense to pursue righteousness

The verse that caused Martin Luther to call the Book of James “an epistle of straw” was likely the verse that asks the question, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?” (James 2:14). Martin Luther was fighting the ideas that had moved the practices of his church away from the truth of the Bible. His fight would eventually lead to the beginning of the Protestant denominations.

Luther’s biggest fight was against the idea that certain “works” the church assigned people could ensure or even obligate God’s favor. The people had been taught to believe that the pope’s words were as valid as the words of Scripture. Many in Luther’s day couldn’t read, so they acted on flawed human ideas rather than the teaching of Scripture.

We face those same issues today. We all have an individual responsibility to know God’s word and will and make our choices according to what we know God has said.

When James wrote about faith and deeds, he wasn’t talking about “earning” righteousness through our works. James was teaching that a person who truly has faith will reveal their faith by their works.

How does righteousness work?

I often teach that righteousness is found in a life that is “right with God.” The most important thing we can do daily is make choices that honor God and allow him to pour his favor and blessings into our lives. 

James described righteousness using this example: “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:15–17). In other words, if our faith is only seen through what we say we believe, it’s less likely someone will believe what we say about our faith.

When a person is truly right with God, they will say and do the things that reveal a close relationship with God. People are drawn to God when they see him at work in the lives of his children.

James wrote, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2:18–19). James was teaching his people that true believers don’t simply believe there is a God; they believe in, and on, the One true God as their King. 

True believers don’t just believe the Bible has good ideas; they believe it is the foundation for all that is truth. True believers don’t just believe Jesus existed; they believe he lived and died to provide their eternal salvation. 

Righteousness works when true believers live their faith in Christ and proclaim him as their Lord.

Righteousness has always been witnessed through obedience. 

James then uses Abraham to further his point: “You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone” (James 2:20–24).

Abraham wasn’t found righteous because he knew God’s word; he was found righteous when he obeyed God’s word. All of us who have grown up in church, attended Sunday School and Bible study, and even read Christian blogs and articles like this can sometimes feel confident in the amount of Bible we have learned. According to James and Abraham, the righteous need to find confidence in the amount of God’s word that they have obeyed.

Who and what do you see as righteous?

It is humbling to realize that when Jesus began his earthly ministry, he didn’t choose the leaders of that day to be his disciples. He did, however, except for Judas, choose those who were righteous. They were fishermen who led their business with godly standards. Those men gave up a great deal to walk with Jesus. Some, like Matthew, a tax collector, were actually viewed as unrighteous by their peers. Matthew walked away from a lucrative job to know Jesus and learn from him.

Sometimes, we don’t see righteousness the same way God sees it. James said, “In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26–26). God, in his great grace, rewards righteousness even in the lives of people whose choices were unrighteous. And all of us have made sinful choices at some point. Rahab is an excellent example of why God told us not to judge the righteousness of others.

What is righteousness that works?

Paul taught Timothy to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:11-12a). Common sense tells us that none of us will luck into righteousness. Paul quoted several lessons from the Old Testament when he said, “As it is written, there is no one righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). 

To “fight the good fight” literally means to “agonize the great agony.” We can pursue many things in this life, but Paul taught us that the good pursuit, the great “agony” of our lives, should result from running hard after righteousness.

What “works” are you busy with today that will bring God honor and glory and reveal your faith? Which works will simply use up your time rather than invest it in heaven’s treasure? 

Our works don’t earn our salvation, but they sure do reveal we have been born again as a child of the King. It only makes good sense to pursue righteousness as our highest goal. If we run our best race, we will also fight the good fight. The trophy for completing that race is eternal.

Common-sense Christians live what they believe

I asked the Google AI how often the groundhog got it right. Google’s response: “Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is right about 39% of the time when predicting the length of winter. This is based on his predictions since his first recorded prediction in 1887.” 

Common sense tells us that the odds of getting it right would be greatly improved if the mayor of Punxsutawney simply tossed a coin!

I’ve enjoyed the news reports that say things like, “It’s just common sense” for Americans to think this or that or choose to do this or that. Americans enjoy hearing about the groundhog’s shadow. Still, I think most of us know not to actually believe the reports and make any choices based on a groundhog’s shadow. Who wants to plant a bunch of flowers only to see them ruined later by a heavy frost?

Common-sense Christians understand that Scripture has provided timeless teaching and wisdom for every generation of God’s people. Yet, why have so many people refused to follow God’s teaching throughout history?

I think Billy Graham answered that question when he told Christians, “We are the Bibles the world is reading; We are the creeds the world is needing; We are the sermons the world is heeding.”

In other words, if Christians don’t live what they believe, people won’t believe what is necessary to live eternally in heaven. As we continue to look at the book of James, let’s notice that James and Billy Graham taught the same lesson.  

Hearers need to be doers

I was teaching my Bible study last week using 1 Corinthians 2. In many ways, Paul, James, and every Spirit-led preacher before and after, have all taught this very important truth to their congregations: It is always going to be a spiritual challenge for God’s children to live their faith.

We are often content to know God’s word. We often measure a person’s spirituality based on the amount of Scripture they know. We are often more impressed with a preacher’s delivery than we are with the actual results of their message. We often rank faithfulness by attendance rather than obedience. We are human beings and tend to function with human judgment, even in spiritual matters. Paul taught the Corinthians to value the Holy Spirit’s leadership in their lives. Simply said, we must submit our common-sense judgment to the uncommon wisdom of God’s Spirit. Paul asked those in Corinth, “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” Then Paul reminded them of a crucial fact: “But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

It is overwhelming to consider that every Christian has been given God’s Holy Spirit, and we are, therefore, able to think, judge, and discern with the mind of Christ. So, what hinders us from utterly changing the world because we have the ability to think like Jesus?

James answered that question, saying, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:22–25). 

Common sense tells us that if we look in a mirror and see a problem, we ought to fix that problem before we head out. I liken it to someone who is at an important dinner table and excuses themselves from the table for just a few minutes. Before leaving the bathroom, a quick glance in the mirror reveals that their front tooth is covered with a piece of Brussels sprout they just enjoyed. Common sense tells them they ought to fix that before returning to the table.

All of us have heard an important truth in a sermon or Bible lesson, realized that the Holy Spirit was talking to us, and knew we needed to obey the Spirit’s leading. But an hour or two later, we just walked away from the church the same way we walked in. We heard God speak, looked in a mirror, and left the church with a big ol’ piece of Brussels sprout on our front tooth.

No wonder people can’t hear our words of witness! Our lives are distracting their thoughts. It isn’t what we know about God that will impress people with our faith; our lives preach our faith.

Pure religion is preached with a pure mouth

It isn’t just the Brussels sprout stuck to our front tooth that matters. It’s also the fact that people can’t see past it to hear our words. If our lives are a distraction to our message, common sense tells us to fix the problem.

James said, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world (James 1:26–27).

In full confession, I really hate those verses from James. I never read them, teach them, or write about them that I’m not required to throw myself, yet again, under that really big bus. Teaching is one of my spiritual gifts. Teaching is the thing I do that most allows God to use my life for his Kingdom purpose. The same mouth that teaches God’s word is the same mouth that sometimes teaches something less. 

My greatest spiritual failures usually come from words that fly out of my mouth. The only verse I like less than the verses above is James 3:1, which says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” 

The good news is this: I own a “spiritual mirror” through the Holy Spirit. I can teach with some Brussels sprout on my front tooth or clean it off ahead of time. When I live and speak through the power and wisdom of God’s Holy Spirit, he can change, encourage, and direct people’s lives. The same mouth that can distract people from my religion is the same mouth that God has been able to purify and then use to teach his word. I try to live with a spiritual mirror because I “presume to teach.” But I also know that I can teach people how to know God when I teach using “the mind of Christ” rather than my own thoughts. I consider that my highest calling, and being used by his Holy Spirit is definitely my great joy.

How can you purify your religion today?

I would ask a blunt question that requires you to look in your spiritual mirror. What in your mirror requires some clean up before you head out into the day and preach your religion to the world? None of us will ever be perfect this side of heaven. All of us can hear James remind us to keep ourselves, “unstained from the world.”

I would teach all of us, myself included, to pause before heading into our day, choosing not just to hear or read God’s word. What will you do today differently because God’s Spirit, the actual “mind of Christ,” is changing your thoughts into his and changing your actions as a result?

Common sense tells us that Christians live what they believe. Our witness to the world is changed when we live as both hearers and doers of his word. Have a blessed and fruitful day!

Common-sense Christianity: hope, joy, and help

Before I begin this week’s post, let me offer some praise to all of you who caught my “oops” in last week’s post. It flew to your inboxes with a reference to Proverbs 3:16 Christianity, and many of you caught the mistake! I use the idea of 3,5,6 Christianity OFTEN when I am teaching or speaking. I also use John 3:16 OFTEN when I’m sharing the gospel or trying to help someone else know how to share their faith. Needless to say, I combined two of my lessons into one and got it wrong. So, please forgive the “oops” and my thanks to all of you who caught it and, to my assistant, Trace, who quickly fixed my mistake on the website!

The whole process of fixing my “oops” inspired this blog post. We try to get things right at Denison Ministries, but we will never get everything perfect. Common sense and Scripture tell us that but nevertheless, we should make perfect a goal. Why? Because perfection is the promised hope of heaven.

Common-sense Christianity

The idea of “common sense” has been a subject of political news lately, which brought about an idea for this blog post I will try for the next several weeks. I’ve taught the book of James many times because it is, in many ways, a favorite book of mine in the New Testament. Not everyone shares my love for this epistle, however. The famous theologian and Protestant reformer Martin Luther called James “an epistle of straw.” Who am I to disagree with Martin Luther? But I do!

The Book of James is one of the most practical books in the Bible, filled with common-sense ideas about our faith. James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote it to the first-century Jewish Christians. Most of those early recipients had been forced to flee their homes in Jerusalem because of persecution and hardship. James wrote to tell them how to live their Christian faith well in the new cities and different cultures where they had relocated their lives. 

Why is it a favorite of mine? Because it provides that same common-sense advice to Christians today. For the next few weeks, let’s look at the book of James and allow God’s word to remind us to live with the same practical, common-sense encouragement that James gave to the people he loved.

How can we accept, even appreciate, the hard times in our lives?

I would never say that James’ advice is easy to follow. In fact, apart from the help of God’s Holy Spirit, it is downright impossible! Thankfully, when Jesus taught us about the Holy Spirit, he described him using the word paráklētos, meaning “helper” or “aid” (John 14:26). I wish James had written, “You have been filled with the power of the Holy Spirit therefore you are able. . . to”:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2–4).

If we sincerely consider the hard times of our lives, the times we ran in prayer to God’s throne for comfort, help, and direction, we can remember all that God taught us during those difficult moments. We probably wouldn’t choose to repeat those hard times, but we are truly grateful for the spiritual growth we experienced as a result. “Steadfastness” is a blessing that will help carry us through our next trial. The chance to be “perfect and complete, lacking nothing” is the promised hope of heaven that will one day become our reality.

Common sense tells us that we should never seek trials in this life, but Scripture teaches us that trials are a very real part of our Christian journey. Jesus promised that “in the world you will have tribulation,” but he also promised that we could “take heart” because he has overcome the world (John 16:33). 

How can single-minded faith be wisdom?

The world encourages people to be “open-minded” and criticizes those who appear to be “single-minded,” only open to one idea or definition of truth. Common-sense Christianity requires us to trust the word of God more than we trust the ever-changing opinions in our culture. 

Christianity doesn’t make sense to the world because it is “un-common” truth. Jesus taught his disciples, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). Non-Christians do not have the indwelling strength and guidance of God’s Holy Spirit. It’s essential for us to remember that it is our faith that makes our trust possible.

James understood that his first-century readers were surrounded by people who had been taught to worship and trust the many different gods of the Greco-Roman empire. They needed to share their faith with people who knew almost nothing about the one true Creator God. The lost people in our own culture have some of those same issues. James taught the early believers and us to be careful and live with a single-minded faith. God gives the wisdom we need for our daily lives and our witness to others. His advice:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:5–8).

It’s amazing to realize that God wants to give wisdom to all who ask for it. But that wisdom isn’t promised to those who want to consider his direction a possibility or option. God’s wisdom is given to those who ask with single-minded faith and trust in God’s perfection. When we seek God’s wisdom in the Bible, we must realize that we are seeking perfect truth that must be accepted and obeyed.

Common-sense Christianity believes in the one perfect and holy God

James began his letter with two truths that are common-sense Christianity.

  1. We can face the trials of life with hope and faith; if we do, we can trust God to redeem every trial for our spiritual good.
  2. We can ask for and trust God to give us his perfect wisdom if we will believe in the Lord with single-minded faith.

James wanted his friends to live among unbelievers as witnesses for Jesus. James knew it would be challenging and difficult. We face that same challenge today. Common-sense Christianity requires un-common faith. Our faith and our lives will not be perfect on this side of heaven but thankfully, we can live with the knowledge that we are being perfected through his word and the Spirit’s work in us.

Whatever trial you might be experiencing today, you can steadfastly choose to be faithful and trust in God. Whatever wisdom you need, you can ask for and then receive it from God as you accept and believe his word is perfect truth. 

We are richly blessed when we live as common-sense Christians who hope in the Lord, live with his joy, and trust his help for each day. 

Fortune Cookie Faith

I had finished my egg roll, egg drop soup, and cashew chicken. I poured myself another cup of hot Jasmine tea and opened my fortune cookie. Who knew a blog post would follow?

The little piece of paper hidden inside my cookie held an interesting message. Fortunes usually contain a statement that will be true if the person holding the message makes it come true. I read my fortune that day and wanted to live the message as a truth for my life.

My fortune said: “To think is easy; to act is difficult. To act as one thinks is the most difficult of all.”

To think is easy.

According to healthybrains.org, “Your brain is a three pound universe that processes 70,000 thoughts each day using 100 billion neurons that connect at more than 500 trillion points through synapses that travel 300 miles/hour.” It’s a wonder we don’t have a constant headache!

King David praised God saying, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:13–14). 

God created our brains and then caused us to think millions of thoughts each day. Our brains don’t even shut down when we sleep. Thinking is easy because that’s what God created us to do. It’s also why God knew we would need his guidance.

The apostle Paul was mentoring Timothy when he said, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (2 Timothy 2:7). One of the most helpful things we can do for our lives is to think with God’s guidance. We can gain knowledge as we think, but we gain understanding as God applies his wisdom to our thoughts.

To think is easy . . .

To act is difficult

Forbes Magazine published an article about the twenty-five biggest regrets in life. The list confirmed the message I got in my fortune cookie. All of us have millions of thoughts, but our lives are altered by the actions, or inactions, our thoughts produce in our lives.

Forbes Magazine listed these as people’s greatest regrets:

  • Working too much at the expense of family and friendships.
  • Not standing up to bullies in school or in life.
  • Not maintaining friendships.
  • Losing a true love relationship.
  • Worrying what others think too often.
  • Not having confidence.
  • Living the life a parent wants for us, rather than the life we want for ourselves.
  • Not seeking a dream job. Not pursuing joy. Taking life too seriously.
  • Not disconnecting from technology often enough.
  • Not taking fun trips with family and friends.
  • Not healing a broken marriage or friendship.
  • Not trusting the inner voice and allowing other voices to carry too much influence.

A sin occurs when we choose to do wrong. I used to tell my kids that mistakes were normal and we all make them. I didn’t punish my kids for making a mistake. I did, however, punish them if they chose to do something wrong when they knew to do what was right. That’s the difference between a mistake and a sin.

God will never let us “fall” into sin. He will, however, allow us to choose the path that leads to that fall. Our common sense and God’s Spirit will re-direct and warn us before we fall. God doesn’t want us to fall, doesn’t cause us to fall, but he also doesn’t promise to keep us from falling. God made us with a free will and then gave us a mind that would be able to know how to use our free will. 

It’s easy to think about things. Our problem is we don’t always act on the thoughts God provides.

To act as one thinks is the most difficult of all.

There are a LOT of verses that discuss the importance of our actions. The apostle John taught, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). James said, “You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). King Solomon said, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).

Our three-pound brains create about 70,000 thoughts each day. Many of those thoughts lead to our actions. Our most difficult task begins with our most difficult choice. Paul taught us to, “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

If we want to act on our best thoughts we need to remember to think with God. If we want to walk in his ways, we need to obey the voice of Christ, through his Holy Spirit. Godly actions will require us to think with biblical priorities.

None of us will do that often enough. We certainly live in an era of “arguments and lofty opinions.” We also live with constant access to God’s word. We simply have to make the difficult choice to submit every thought to Christ and then obey his direction.

Fortune Cookie Faith

I opened that fortune cookie, read it, and then passed it to my husband. I liked the message and wanted to share it with him. Normally, I would have left that little piece of paper on the table before leaving the restaurant; but that day I took it home.

Sometimes a fortune cookie gives you a message for the moment. Sometimes a fortune cookie becomes a thought, which when submitted to God becomes an action. One of my 70,000 thoughts that day was, “I want to write about this.”

I hope my fortune cookie faith was a blessing to your thoughts today. God wants us to revere his voice and obey his daily direction. It’s our whole duty and it’s our great reward.

That cashew chicken was really good, but God used a fortune cookie to provide his thought that day.

The power of joy can fix your face

Christians owe it to God to consider their face and make the necessary improvements.

I’m not talking about Botox, fillers, makeup, or using your napkin after a meal. I’m talking about the expressions on our faces that others see throughout the day.  

What does your face look like during church? Walking through the grocery store? Waiting in a line? Waiting at a stop light? Talking to a friend? Talking to someone who is definitely not a friend?  

What does your face look like when you aren’t thinking about it? That is a very real part of our daily witness so it is worth considering. If our face doesn’t indicate our faith, then we should think about fixing it.  

Consider this: the power of joy can fix your face. 

Spiritual Botox 

According to this article, people in America spent more than $2.2 billion on Botox last year. I watched the red carpet show for the Academy Awards, and I’m pretty sure half of those dollars were spent in Hollywood! I didn’t even recognize some of the older actors and actresses. They did interviews, and the only part of their face that moved was their over-plumped lips. It was kind of eerie watching them speak. 

I’m not a big fan of all the cosmetic procedures that are now available. There is a huge profit for those who administer these procedures. Meanwhile, it’s getting more difficult to find a doctor who wants to treat our important health needs. We might need to evaluate our priorities just a bit. 

It’s okay to get old and it’s okay to get wrinkled. For Christians, it just means that you likely have wisdom, experience, and a shorter walk to the gates of heaven. Why would we want to erase our smile lines that indicate we have lived a life of joy and laughter? 

James, the half-brother of Jesus, prescribed some spiritual Botox. He said, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2–4). 

People earn their wrinkles by living a life full of trials and tests. Spiritual Botox is to count it all joy knowing even the tough times help us perfect our faith. Joy has the power to fix our faces into peaceful smiles as “steadfastness” has its “full effect.” When our face carries a smile, we can tell the world we are Christians who are “lacking in nothing” because our hope is in the Lord. 

Spiritual fillers 

I must confess that I knew “fillers” were popular, but I didn’t really know much about them. I googled and was amazed at the quantity of stuff that is now being injected into people’s faces. Fillers are expensive and very popular. I’m sixty-five years old and could probably benefit from a few fillers, but frankly I’m way too frugal (or cheap) to think it worth the time and money. 

This is the face God gave me, and I’m good with that. Maybe I’ll change my mind a decade from now, but so far I’m okay with my lines, wrinkles, etc. I’d rather have that money in my bank account. 

We have a spiritual “bank account” in addition to our earthly one. Each day we invest in this world and we invest in our treasure in heaven. Our faith will determine our earthly priorities and our eternal investments. The apostle Peter said, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8–9). 

Every day there are moments when our face will reflect our faith. When are those moments for you? Is anyone else aware that your smile is sourced in the joy of your faith and the hope of your salvation? How can you help them see and know the Author of your joy? 

The glory of God is the best “filler” for our faith and for our face. When we believe in him, we “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible.” People will notice joy on your face more than they will notice a wrinkle or two! 

How do you obtain a spiritual facelift? 

The psalmist tells us how to obtain the fullness of joy for our face. He praised God, saying, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). 

If you want or need a spiritual facelift, spend time in the holy presence of God. God will put a smile on your face because he will provide his joy to your life. Christians will one day dwell in his presence, but, for now, we need to make daily, frequent visits to the throne of heaven.  

God is “the God of hope” and faith is the spiritual “filler” our faces need. People will see the beauty of Christ within us, and that is our best witness to the world. 

Are you ready to fix your face? 

I close with these words from Paul. His wish for the church in Rome is my wish for all my readers today. Paul said, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).  

I hope these words from a blog post put a smile on your face because they provided his joy to your soul. Now, carry that joy throughout your day and allow your face to reflect your faith to the world. I bet someone will comment on your smile today if you do!

Do you have faith for the future?

I watched the GOP presidential debate last week with hope. After the debate, I realized my hope for our country isn’t based on any certainties. America will always be one election away from better times, worse times, troubling times, or times of peace and satisfaction. 

The older I get, the more I realize that my trust isn’t in my government, it is in my Lord. I will always vote my conscience, and I will always try to vote for the person I think is most able to handle the job. I won’t treat the presidential election like a beauty pageant, voting for the person I think “looks” the best. The most important part of a beauty pageant should be the questions asked and answered, not the dance in the evening gowns that starts the show.  

I will watch all the debates and vote for the person I think has the best answers. But, I live in a country where the majority of people might vote for the person who was funny on a late-night talk show, or who had the best commercials on TV or social media, or who looks like the most popular person at the moment. We shouldn’t jump on a bandwagon until we know where the wagon intends to go. 

How do we have faith for the future if faithful people aren’t deciding the future? 

Stick with me on this one and read this blog post all the way to the end. 

A Forbes magazine article 

I ran across an article in Forbes written in May of 2022. The title caught my eye because it was about key predictions for 2050 (Note: You may need a Forbes subscription to read it.) It was about an interview with a man named Jacques Attali who has written over eighty books and has been involved in several financial and technology companies. He is also seen as someone whose predictions for the future are invaluable to those in business. 

To sum it up, Attali was asked to predict what he saw coming for the United States and the world in the coming decades. 

It wasn’t encouraging. 

Attali predicted the continued decline in America and doubted that the US would remain the world’s dominant superpower. He then said that the decline of this country would be similar to the decline of the Roman Empire. When Rome fell, no “successor” was ready to step in and take its place. He noted that no other nation is able to step into America’s leadership roles. 

Attali also noted that when Rome fell the “Dark Ages” followed because there was a “deceleration of human progress, declining living standards, and a bleak period in the development of art, literature, and culture.” 

Christians should note that the Dark Ages was also the period of time many in the Catholic church called the “Golden Ages.” The church became the leader in education and the preservation of cultural values. Some historians call this the “Age of Faith.” The Protestant Reformation followed in the sixteenth century.  

The thing to remember

I have to admit, I was getting pretty low as I read this article. Attali’s words made perfect sense based on the realities seen in the evening news. Then, I read these statements in the article that gave me pause. 

The article said, “It’s no longer inconceivable that we might one day transcend our mortality by overcoming the effects of aging or replacing parts of our bodies with artificial or mechanical components. But if we are heading towards an eternal life (or at least, greatly increased longevity) where we will live as mindless consumers or slaves to a corporate hierarchy, is there any point?” 

That is the moment in the article when “man’s truth” denied the truth of God’s word. Man will never be immortal or eternal here on earth. The consequences of the first sin took care of that. We should never read an article like this one in Forbes apart from the light of Scripture. Attali is a brilliant man with a lot of knowledge. His predictions have validity based on the realities in our world.  

Christians need to remember this: God is still on his throne. His word is proven truth. Our Creator is always king of his creation. 

More things to remember

Most, if not all of my readers are students of God’s word and people of faith. We know what the Bible says God can do, and we know what the Bible says God will do. We know God and we know world history. 

The knowledge we have is balanced by this biblical wisdom: God is the king of his creation but honors the free will he created in humankind. We know God is able to change the course of history, but we also know that he allows history to be impacted by the choices and consequences of man’s free will. We know we serve a God of miracles who is above the ways of this world and can intervene at any moment. We also know we serve a God who has promised to intervene at some point as the world fails and comes to its end. 

When we read predictions from a man like Attali, we do that remembering to evaluate his words by the truth of God’s word.  

What is the point? 

Referring to Attali’s predictions, the author of the article rhetorically asked, “Is there any point?” 

Attali said, “There is no simple answer to that, but if you want to avoid a life which is absurd, I would suggest it is to say simply and with humility that we don’t know the reason why mankind is here on Earth, we don’t know the reason that a million years ago an entity arose which can ask the question ‘why am I here?’” 

He then said, “The only thing we can do here in the middle of the universe is to have a better mankind and to hope one day to find the answers to these questions.” 

God gave us the answers to those questions. Christians need to make certain others know how to find the answers they need. 

Christians need to view the American culture today like Paul taught the Corinthians to view their Roman culture thousands of years ago. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, an important city in the Roman Empire, saying, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18). 

Do you have faith for the future? 

Christians need to remember to see our culture like Paul taught the Corinthians to view theirs. We don’t lose heart because we don’t lose our faith. Everything on planet Earth is transient. We are called to live our earthly lives with an eternal perspective. 

I will always vote my convictions and place my hope in a president who shares those convictions. I love this country, but my faith is in God. I will serve this country because I feel like America is called to be an example to the world. But I want to be careful not to place my faith or hope in a country instead of in God. This is a democracy and the popular vote, the vote that reflects our citizens’ free will, is going to win.  

The decline of the world is the promise of Scripture. My hope for all of us was Paul’s hope for the church in Rome: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).  

Rome did fall. The church did rise up. Eventually, the world improved. That is the pattern of world history. That pattern won’t change until Jesus returns. Until then, we have the power of God’s Holy Spirit and the hope of an eternity in heaven.  

I don’t know what will happen in America, but I have great faith for the future. The “God of hope” fills me with “all joy and peace in believing.” Let’s choose to walk in his Spirit and we will “abound in hope.” 

 

When you aren’t sure what you believe

One of my neighbors has a sign in their yard that is creating discussion among those of us who regularly walk past it. The sign represents what most of our culture now believes. Interestingly, it represents what a LOT of people in our churches also believe. 

It can be a frustration for some of us who teach biblical truth, which is “ancient” thinking. I spent some time thinking about the more current “belief” statements listed on the sign. Why are so many Christians these days struggling to fully believe the word of God? Why are so many doubting Scripture in light of popular beliefs? 

Are you sure you believe everything the Bible says is still true today?

R.C. Sproul was an American preacher who passed away in 2017. He was speaking about the struggles people have with their faith when he said, “The issue of faith is not so much whether we believe in God, but whether we believe the God we believe in.”

If you aren’t sure what you believe, consider asking yourself if you believe what your God has said. Do you still believe the Bible is pure truth? 

What did the neighborhood sign say?

The neighborhood sign identifies what most people believe in our country. The sign reflects the beliefs of the vast majority of those under forty. The sign reads:

WE BELIEVE:

BLACK LIVES MATTER

NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL

LOVE IS LOVE

WOMEN’S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS

SCIENCE IS REAL

WATER IS LIFE

INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE

 

Every one of those beliefs sounds like something all people should believe. And that is the problem.

Why should anyone, especially a Christian, take issue with a sign like that? 

I thought a lot about that as I walked. The problem with signs like these is not that they speak lies. Instead, these signs speak only partial truth, usually for a political purpose. The danger of statements like these is they only reveal one layer of thinking. Partial truth is truth minus the consequences. 

What should Christians believe?

EVERY LIFE MATTERS TO GOD.  

John 3:16 begins with the words “For God so loved the world.” Every life matters to God, but in the same breath we must say, “Not every life is acceptable to God.” God gave his Son for everyone, but only some give their lives back to God. 

ALL HUMANS BREAK LAWS BY MAKING ILLEGAL CHOICES. 

Romans 3:23 is clear truth: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Another great truth of Scripture is that human beings needed laws and ultimately needed a Savior because they couldn’t keep the laws that were given. 

GOD IS LOVE (1 John 4:8). 

God’s love is the only perfect love. Christians should believe that love is defined accurately by God because his character is love. If God’s laws label certain expressions of human love or lust as wrong, then it is the humans and their emotions that are wrong. 

WOMEN’S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT WOMEN DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO WRONG JUST BECAUSE IT’S THEIR PREFERENCE. 

Politically, this belief statement is a contradiction of the first. Do people really believe that every life matters? Do some lives matter more than others? God loves the world and all of us have rights, including the right to choose wrong. 

SCIENCE IS REAL IF THOSE WHO DEAL WITH CREATION ACKNOWLEDGE THE CREATOR. 

“In the beginning God . . . .” Nothing existed apart from what God created. Nothing exists today that God has not allowed. This world had a beginning and will have an end because God has ordained that. Science is a study of the creation but will never fully comprehend or explain the Creator. 

WATER IS ESSENTIAL TO HUMAN LIFE, BUT JESUS IS ESSENTIAL TO ETERNAL LIFE. 

He told the woman at the well, “But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). 

INJUSTICE IS A THREAT. SO IS PARTIAL TRUTH. 

Our culture feels entitled to live according to personal values and beliefs, but our evening news is a good indicator of why people need higher standards than human standards. We all know John 3:16, but John 3:17 is equally important. This world will never be just; that’s why God sent his Son (John 3:16). Verse 17 says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

How can Christians bring unity to our divided culture?

Christians, myself included, need to focus on John 3:17 with an enormous sense of humility. If Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world, we shouldn’t condemn the world either. There was a lot of “condemnation” of that rainbow-colored “belief” sign in our neighbor’s yard. Instead, maybe we should be looking at the common ground. 

Almost all people want our culture to feel kinder, more compassionate, fairer, more educated, more understanding, and a LOT LESS divided. People want to feel safe and want their children to be safe at school. Almost all people are looking for more happiness, joy, and peace with one another.  

Most people would like the values of Christianity, even if they don’t acknowledge them as the values of Christ. Christians are the minority opinion now, but we have a lot in common with most people. Let’s start there and earn the privilege to invite them toward God’s standards of truth. Common ground is a good beginning. So often, Jesus started there. 

John Henry Newman spoke words of wisdom saying, “We can believe what we choose. We are answerable for what we choose to believe.” R. C. Sproul’s words are worth considering again: “The issue of faith is not so much whether we believe in God, but whether we believe the God we believe in.” 

When you aren’t sure what you believe, believe the God you believe in. He is sovereign because he is perfect. God isn’t as trendy right now as we would wish, but his ancient truth is also eternal. Trust that God’s word is full truth and provides the additional layer of consequence to the partial truth our culture is preaching.

I’ve often said, “If it isn’t fully true, it can’t be of God.” 

We know what to believe when we know Whom to believe.