You Might Be a Christian If . . . .

Jeff Foxworthy’s fame increased when he wrote jokes that began with “You might be a redneck if . . . .” 

By the way, my favorite was, “You might be a redneck if you ever made change from the offering plate.” 

I actually saw that happen one time!

So, on this hot Texas blogging day, this is where my thoughts took me. Who knows? Maybe these will make me famous—or not.

You Might Be a Christian If:

  • You understood, and can quote, Tim Tebow’s famous eye-black inscription. 
  • You ate at Chick-fil-A at least one time last week.
  • Your home looks like a Hobby Lobby ad.
  • You accidentally said “amen” after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance one time.
  • You stubbed your toe and said “Rats,” even if something else came to mind first.
  • You were content to sit in traffic last Sunday morning.
  • You switch the channel or mute the TV for most commercials.
  • You sometimes use the word fellowship in a sentence.
  • Your dog is named after someone in the Bible.
  • You often switch from the news to the Hallmark Channel.
  • You can sing Chris Tomlin’s version of “Amazing Grace.” 
  • You saw the movie that song is from.
  • You have studied Experiencing God at least once.
  • You know that Hezekiah is not a book of the Bible.
  • You thought Tim Tebow was the best quarterback.
  • You have at least one casserole carrier or bowl you use for “potlucks.”
  • You wistfully pictured a potluck after reading that last comment.
  • You know how to find the Book of Psalms in one easy step. (Just divide your Bible in half.)
  • You know what a 501(c)(3) is.
  • You were excited to learn that Chick-fil-A is adding macaroni and cheese to its menu.
  • You wondered how many of those mac and cheeses you’ll need to fill that potluck casserole.
  • You actually pray when you see the prayer list.
  • You feel increasingly out of touch with popular values.
  • You are made to feel unkind but know you aren’t.
  • You vote your conscience rather than your opinions.
  • You don’t just read Scripture, you experience the words.

I could probably write dozens more, but you get the picture. 

You were created for good works.

Our preachers (and this blogger) often quote Paul saying, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). 

I hope reading those comments made you smile, but I also hope they help you realize that you are living as “God’s workmanship” in our culture. 

All of the “little things” add up to this one thing: We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works in our world. We probably accomplish a lot of those good works just because we are the person Jesus has created us to become.

You know you are a Christian.

So, head out into the heat of this day with a smile on your face. 

Enjoy finding something special at Hobby Lobby to brighten your home or buy the new mac and cheese at Chick-fil-A. (Let me know how many you think it will take for my 8×12 Pyrex dish!) 

Filter some of the values in those Hallmark movies, but enjoy the fact they are mostly decent. 

Pray for the news, then turn the channel, knowing that God is still on his throne and nothing will ever change that fact. Because “if you know you are a Christian,” you know what the future holds in store for those who love the Lord. 

Be glad today that the Lord saved your soul, authors your sense of humor, and wants to bless and enrich your life with his joy. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). 

If you want to read the whole psalm, I bet you know how to find it quickly! (Just divide your Bible in half.) 

Have a great week. 


God Knew It Would Take Effort

Three of my favorite words in the Bible are found in the book of Hebrews. Whenever I see them, I breathe a sigh of relief because those words reveal God’s expectations. Those three words are found at the beginning of Hebrews 12:14.

The NIV version says, “Make every effort . . . .”

The Lord knew that living our faith was not going to come naturally. It would take effort.

Who wrote those words?

We don’t know who authored Hebrews, but I would like to meet him one day in heaven.

Theologians think it was probably Barnabas or Apollos, and that would make sense. Those men spent a lot of time with Paul, learning Christian doctrine, traveling from city to city, and teaching Christianity to people from many different backgrounds.

If you study the life of Paul, you’ll learn that he was highly respected, was loved and appreciated by many, but probably was not the easiest person to live with. He burned everyone’s candles at both ends.

Barnabas and Paul argued over John Mark and went their separate ways for a time. First Corinthians seems to reveal that some tension existed between Paul and Apollos. No one was better at Christian doctrine than Paul, but no one caused quite as much trouble as Paul either.

Is that why theologians think the author of Hebrews was Barnabas or Apollos?

God expects us to make an effort

Whoever the Holy Spirit inspired to write the book of Hebrews really understood the Christian life in a non-Christian world. God has very high standards for his children, and all of us are going to struggle to live up to his expectations. But, then again, God expects us to struggle.

What God is really asking us is to “make every effort.”

The New International Version of Hebrews 12:14–15 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Our salvation doesn’t depend on living up to God’s standards. We were saved by his grace through Christ because we couldn’t live perfectly. Our witness, however, does depend on our efforts. And a LOT of Christians are making a great effort to “live in peace” and be “holy” because they want people to see the Lord.

A different way to view the news

I decided to look at the news a bit differently and was surprised by the thoughts that followed.

There was another mass shooting, this time in Virginia Beach. I was appalled at the pain that one man’s massacre left behind. I was impressed by his coworkers and the law enforcement who risked their lives to stop him from killing more.

I also wondered if, in the aftermath, there were Christian coworkers who were wishing they had made “every effort” to lead that man to the Lord.

After those thoughts, I decided to consider the story from a different point of view. I wondered how many news stories do not exist today because of the Christians who have made every effort to make sure that “no one falls short of the grace of God.”

The unreported news

We normally hear about the failures, but, one day in heaven, we will learn of all the successes.

If I see things from a new perspective, I’ll realize that there are hundreds, thousands, and maybe tens of thousands of people who have lived full lives because somewhere, sometime, a person made every effort to live like God requested his children to live.

I know there are countless millions of people who will live eternally because Christians made that effort.

For every shooter, there are billions of people who are not evil. For every human being who falls short, there are humans who don’t. There are a lot of people making an effort to live in peace with others and be holy. As a result, there are a lot of people who will get to meet their Lord one day.

Growth that isn’t good

There is one more word from the author of Hebrews. He knew what comes naturally for Christians who make an effort to live holy lives while surrounded by people who don’t.

Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Do stories like the Virginia shooting increase your efforts to share God’s grace or do they feed the “bitter root” that grows up and causes trouble?

I know I’m guilty of the latter. I almost can’t watch the news these days without my “bitter root” growing another few inches. I need to make a greater effort not to fall short of living with the presence and power of God’s grace. I need to make every effort to help others find that blessing in their lives as well.

Praise God for the news we don’t see

It is a different way to view the news. Most of the news does not reflect holy living. Praise God for all we don’t see on the news that does. There are people who are making every effort to live with God’s standards, and people come to know God’s salvation every day.

Does your bitter root need a little tending to?

If so, make every effort to live a holy life and lead others to faith. That effort will be rewarded here on earth and in heaven. People are rarely bitter at a baptism!

Today, you will have the opportunity to be an example of God’s grace to someone. It was an effort for the author of Hebrews, and it will be an effort for us. But someday the good news will be known.

Let’s joyfully and faithfully be part of those headlines.

Even Rated R, “Unplanned” is a must-see movie

Why would I recommend that you and your sixth graders see Unplanned, an R-rated movie?

I have to admit, this is a first. But, I think anyone who is twelve years old or older should go see Unplanned.

The movie opens this weekend. And it will change the way you think and improve the way you speak about abortion.

Why is a faith-based movie rated R?

One scene caused the R rating, and the producers chose to leave that scene in the movie. Why?

Because that one scene tells the truth that Hollywood and a lot of our politicians would rather we not be aware of. It isn’t graphic truth; it is touching truth.

I saw a preview of this movie, and I can picture the moment right now. I hope I always will.

The “buzz” calls this movie controversial. I call this movie effective.

Cathy Schiffer, a Catholic blogger, put it well: “The Motion Picture Association of America gave the film an ‘R’ rating. That means that a 15-year-old girl can, without her parents’ consent, choose to have an abortion—but that same girl cannot see this film about abortion.”  

The reason I think you and your older children should see this movie is that it accurately and honestly reveals the truth about abortion, with grace for everyone involved.  

Abortion is the decision to take a child’s life. It is legal because the law assumes the mother of that baby has the right to make that decision. There are times when the decision to abort is about the life of the baby or the life of the mother. At other times, a woman becomes pregnant because of incest or rape.

Abortion is a horrible choice to have to make, but sometimes life presents us with horrible choices. But those abortion choices amount to a minuscule, almost imperceptible percentage of abortions that actually take place in this country.

Most of the time, when a mother chooses to take the life of her child, the decision to abort is about convenience or cover-up. For many, abortion is seen as another form of birth control rather than a homicide.

Why do I want you to take your kids to Unplanned?

If your kids see that one scene, they will probably never consider abortion an option for their lives. This movie may just make our kids more responsible with their dating lives and more likely to understand— and strongly consider making—a biblical choice about sex and marriage.

It will, at the very least, offer parents the chance to talk about some really important topics.  

That is why I want people, especially Christians, to see this movie.

We need to restart our conversations about abortion, and we need to present the truth to the world as this movie does. This movie slams those who shout at and shame people about abortion. This movie presents the power of the other side, who use temporary compassion to convince a desperate, scared woman that abortion is her right to choose. This movie also presents the compassionate appeal that includes forgiveness from those who stand for the sanctity of life.

Ultimately, Unplanned teaches that compassion wins and that real compassion is always grounded in truth. There is power in compassionate truth. That is the theme of this movie, and it has a powerful influence.

The big-screen power of compassionate truth

Compassionate truth should be the theme of our lives as well.  

Paul taught the early church, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). It is time for Christians to “grow up” in our conversations about abortion. Seeing Unplanned will help. I know it helped my thinking.

Those of us who write for Denison Ministries understand that our mission field is quite literally the hearts and minds of God’s people. If Christians will witness from a biblical understanding with biblical compassion, we can have the same impact on the culture that Paul’s disciples had.

The early Christians changed their world. So can we.

Of course, it wasn’t really the people who changed their culture. Only God can change people’s hearts. But God has chosen to work through us. Spirit-led Christians are God’s plan to reach the world.  

There are people reading this blog post today who’ve had an abortion. Some of the people you attend church with have had an abortion. They deserve compassionate truth. This movie will cause hurt to them—and then offer healing for that hurt.

They need to experience both.

We have to keep speaking about the topic, even knowing it will hurt and offend some people around us.

We have to keep speaking because, if we don’t, babies are going to die. They matter just as much as the people sitting next to us in the pew.

In some ways, they matter more: they don’t have a voice yet.

We do.

Plan to see Unplanned

Consider these two commitments:

  1. See this movie and encourage others to do the same. Pray before you go and ask God to speak his truth to everyone in the theatre.
  2. Be brave and speak God’s truth with love. So many in the Christian world have gone silent on the subject because it is just too controversial. Sadly, that gives the wrong voices—on both sides—greater power to influence. Women who have had an abortion only heal naturally from the procedure. Their souls get ripped up as well. They need forgiveness to heal spiritually, and so few ever receive that truth.

I hope you will choose to see Unplanned. You will have a stronger, godlier witness on abortion if you do.

Life really is about the choices we make, especially the tough choices. God knows all about tough choices. He loved us so much he chose to give us his Son. Let’s honor God with what we choose to give back.

Joy in Jordan

I just returned from a two-week trip to Israel. I have so many pictures in my mind as I remember those weeks. It is amazing to stand in the place where David fought Goliath. I climbed the steps to the place where the Herod of the Christmas story wanted his elaborate tomb to be built. I walked through Hezekiah’s tunnel that was ingeniously designed and chiseled out of solid rock so the city of Jerusalem could continue to have water, even when attacked. We saw the wilderness where Jesus walked after his baptism. We visited the Western Wall and the Temple Mount. The tension was palpable between the Jews and Muslims who both feel that “rock” should be theirs. And we crossed the border to Jordan so we could visit the amazing site of Petra.

Israel is a unique country, and it is easy to see why God chose that location for his Holy Land. The nation continues to survive and thrive amidst the ongoing struggles between the Jews and the Muslim people. They don’t agree on very much, except for the importance of owning that land. They have survived by dividing the “dirt” and building walls and armies to protect those boundaries. But, the boundaries continue to be a significant point of contention for the people.

As always, my favorite part of the two-week trip came when I opened my front door. I love to travel, but I agree with Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, “There is no place like home.” I came home with a profound appreciation for this country. The United States isn’t “better” than other countries, but it is home. And I think the United States could learn a great deal from the country of Israel.

You and I live at a crucial time in our nation’s history. We are not divided by concrete walls topped with barbed wire, but we are divided. I returned home to listen to political ads that emphasize that division. A man walked into a synagogue and slaughtered innocent people who were there to worship. A crowd of people is marching toward our border, knowing they will not be welcomed. And the media is reporting these stories to create headlines they hope will influence midterm elections.

Sometimes it is easier to focus on problems rather than solutions. But, God always has a perfect plan and a desire to bring unity. How do we, as his disciples, seek that plan for ourselves and our nation? The early church had the answer and changed the world. Paul, who lived every day of his ministry amid tension and conflict, taught the church in Colossae the answer we need in America today.

He wrote: “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:9–14).

Paul taught the early Christians:

  • Pray and ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will.
  • Pray and gain God’s wisdom and understanding
  • Walk in a manner worthy of our Lord—pleasing him.
  • Bear fruit in each of your good works.
  • Increase in your knowledge of God.
  • Be strengthened with his power and might so that you can live with patience and joy.
  • Give thanks to the Father because you are a saint who lives with, and as, the light of Christ.
  • Live as one delivered and redeemed from darkness by God’s beloved Son.
  • Live as someone who has been forgiven so that you can share God’s forgiveness with others.                                                                     

The most vivid memory I brought home is from a moment in Jordan. We had stopped in a small city to have lunch. Our group passed by on the sidewalks, our women dressed as Americans amidst a sea of women who were dressed in burkas. While we enjoyed our lunch, the conversation was loud and filled with joyful laughter. We had a great group with us and we were having a good time. During the meal, the children of the city were returning home from school. Two children came up and stood at a window, looking through the bars at our group below. They both had big grins on their faces as they watched us eat. At first, it felt a bit uncomfortable, like we were on display. I wondered why the children stayed so long at the window and decided we were simply a curiosity to them. But now, I think it was something else.

We spent two days in Jordan, and all of us were glad to return to the other side of the border. Jordan is a progressive Muslim country, about 95 percent Sunni Muslim and 3 percent Christian. As I think back to those two young faces peering into the restaurant, I think it was our laughter that drew them to the open window. We smiled and waved back at those two boys and they smiled in return. I think the sound of our laughter was the sound of joy—and those boys wanted to be part of that. They stayed until they were hurried off by someone outside.

I came home with a renewed conviction that our country’s greatest needs have little to do with politics and everything to do with God’s blessings. Our safety won’t be secured by stricter laws or stronger borders. People need to know Jesus and his power in their lives. Christians need to live in the power of God’s Holy Spirit, with great joy. There is, and should be, a huge difference in the people who know Jesus and live redeemed and those who do not.

We all need to vote, but that won’t solve the division in our nation. We all need to obey the laws, but that won’t make us safe from those who don’t. We all need a home, but none of us reading these words is truly “home” yet. America is a blessed nation, and most of us take that for granted. Israel did the same thing and broke their covenant with God. Most of Israel didn’t accept Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah. As a result, they are still waiting for a gift that has already been given. They have great strength as a nation, but little joy. Is God’s Holy Spirit the source of your strength and joy?

Those two Muslim boys are the faces I can’t forget. They saw our joy and wanted to be part of it. I wish they knew that the source of our joy was Jesus and that he died for them too. We have God’s truth: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!” (Psalm 33:12). There is great power and influence in living with the joy of the Lord. I returned home with that strong conviction. Help me, Lord, to remember those two faces in Jordan who need to know you—and the thousands of faces in this country who need that same grace.