It’s Not About the Chicken

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Fighting the crowds and waiting in line at the drive through at Chick-fil-A last night had nothing to do with being hungry.  Like many others, it was about support for this company and their biblical beliefs about the family.

“We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that,” he (Dan Cathy, CEO) said in the interview. “We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.”

Later Cathy said, “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say ‘we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,’ and I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about.”

Today, Chick-fil-A’s all across the country are reporting yesterday’s record sales.  Christian people spoke out and they used their wallets and time to do so.  But they were not the only ones speaking out.

At our local Chick-fil-A we saw a handful of protesters there as well.  They displayed signs, talked and laughed among themselves, and smoked cigarettes.

“Honk for Equality”

“Jesus said, ‘Love Everyone!’”

“Don’t give me Hate Chicken.”

Then you had several signs that were biblical references taken out of context about “judging others”.   One sign was almost comical, had it not been so sad.  It was held up by a young girl that said, “King David had 8 wives.  I only want one.”

I am still not sure what these people were protesting.  Was it Biblical values?  Free Speech?  Christian People?  Or, did they just want to make a scene and show off?  I don’t know.  But when you look at the numbers all across the country it appears that it was the thousands of Chick-fil-A supporters that actually made the huge statements.

Of course, the homosexuals will continue to try and make a statement of their own in an attempt to justify their wicked lifestyle.  Tomorrow they are calling for a “kiss-in” at Chick-fil-A’s across the country.  It will be interesting to see if anyone actually shows up.  But if they do it would be a good opportunity for the Christian community.  Let me repeat that.  This is a good opportunity for the Christian community.  You see, there was one sign held up that I agree with.  It was the one stating, “Jesus said, ‘Love Everyone!’”

There is no place for hating others among Christians.  We are to be people of love.  We are to show God’s love to the world.  We should have compassion on others and strive to be peace makers.  But let me make it very clear.  Confronting sinners is the greatest form of love.  People are dying in their sins.  They are blind and ignorant to the truth of God’s perfect and holy wrath that will come if they do not repent.  It is not about being a homosexual.  It would be foolish to approach them from this stand point.  It is about being a sinner.  You see, the person who has told one lie is in just as much danger of eternal hell as the homosexual.

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death,” Revelation 21:8.              

Loving others is having enough compassion on them to be moved to action.  Ignoring sinners and letting them face God on judgment day without warning is equivalent to ignoring the blind man who is about to walk in front of a speeding bus. If we truly loved the blind man we would warn him and do all we could to save him from harm.  The “harm” these sinners face is eternal damnation.  I have to ask myself often, How much do I really love others?  And let me ask you, Christian, How much do you really love the sinner?

So, let’s not look at this Chick-fil-A noise as just political, hypocritical, or pungent sounding brass.  Let’s see it as an opportunity to shine light into this dark world.  Those of us who have been saved have been given a ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).   If we truly loved the sinner, we should seek to make peace between them and God.  That is what being a peace maker is about.  You see, it’s not about the chicken.  It’s about love.

Matters of the Heart

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We have been doing an interesting study through Deuteronomy on Sunday mornings during class. It is interesting to note that Jesus quoted from this book more than any other.  A few weeks ago we looked at Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in conjunction with passages from Deuteronomy.  Our lesson was about the Spirit of the Law.

There are a lot of misconceptions about God’s Law.   I have seen an attitude of indifference towards it that is often fostered by easy believism and the prosperity gospel.  Its faulty thinking goes like this: “The law does not matter, we live under grace.”  This is often followed by: “Don’t be so legalistic.  We’re not under the law.”  Or, “Jesus did away with the law.”  This thought is wrong for several reasons.  First, Jesus did not do away with the law; He fulfilled it.  Also, obedience is not the definition of legalism.  In addition, God’s moral law still exists.   It reveals our sin.  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (Rom 7:7)

In fact, the biblical definition of sin is transgression (or breaking) of the law.  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1Jn 3:4) And it only takes the breaking of one law to be guilty.  The book of James states that whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (Jas 2:10)

 Paul tells us that the unregenerate are still under the law and that by the law they become guilty before God.  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Rom 3:19)  But thanks be to God that the saved have been made free from the law of sin and death!  (Romans 8:2)

 So where does the spirit of the law come in?  Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount not only elevates the standards of the law, but it shows the spirit of the law.  In Matthew 5:17 Jesus said that He has come to fulfill the law.  In verse 20 He said that unless our righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (the law keepers and most religious of the time) that we would not enter into heaven.  Further down He quotes the law from Deuteronomy and contrasts the Old Testament interpretation of the law with the spirit of the law.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (Mat 5:21-22)

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Mat 5:27-28)

Why would Christ put the thought of murder or adultery equivalent to the act?  The answer is simple.  It is because God is concerned with our heart.  Sometimes we live as though we forget that there are internal sins as well as external.  There are sins of omission as well as sins of commission.  Our hearts are important.  Jesus said, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man…” (Mat 15:19-20)

In our prideful state we think that if we look good on the outside and don’t commit those “acts” that it doesn’t matter what’s in our heart or our thoughts.  Oh, how easy it is to fool others.   How foolish it is to think that we can fool God.  He (Jesus) answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. (Mar 7:6)

As a parent I desire nothing more than for my children to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.  My standards for my children are high, because God’s standards for His children are high.  (Matthew 5:48)  But, I have to be careful in my endeavor to raise godly children that I don’t create little Pharisees.  (Those who keep the law but whose hearts are far from God.)  In truth, it is easier to teach children to obey “laws” than to teach them to follow the “spirit of the law.”  But really it’s the heart that matters.

Several years ago I found online a list of family rules that I want to share.  (I’m not sure of the source, so if anyone knows where they came from let me know.  I will be happy to give credit due.)  These family rules have been posted on our refrigerator and referred to often.  What I love about these rules is that they are not just a list of do’s and don’ts.  The focus of each is on the heart, the spirit of the law.  I hope they can be a blessing to you and your family.

 1. We obey God.
2. We love, honor and pray for one another.
3. We tell the truth.
4. We consider one another’s interests ahead of our own.
5. We speak quietly and respectfully with one another.
6. We do not hurt one another with unkind words or deeds.
7. When someone needs correction, we correct him in love.
8. When someone is sorry, we forgive him.
9. When someone is sad, we comfort him.
10. When someone is happy, we rejoice with him.
11. When we have something nice to share, we share it.
12. When we have work to do, we do it without complaining.
13. We take good care of everything that God has given us.
14. We do not create unnecessary work for others.
15. When we open something, we close it.
16. When we take something out, we put it away.
17. When we turn something on, we turn it off.
18. When we make a mess, we clean it up.
19. When we do not know what to do, we ask.
20. When we go out, we act just as if we were in this house.
21. When we disobey or forget any of the 21 Rules of This House, we accept the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Bad things…good people?

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When a tragedy happens, like the recent one at a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie, people start asking questions.  How can a 24 year old man walk into a theater, open fire, and brutally kill 12 innocent people and injure 58 more?  What led him to do such a horrendous act?  Where was God when this happened and why did He allow it?

I have no doubt that this was an atrocious, evil attack that was probably influenced by demonic activity.  And our hearts break for the family and friends of the victims.  Like the rest of the country, these things are on our mind.  We question.  We wonder.  We seek an answer for the calamity.  Yesterday after church we were talking about the shooting.  A friend was sharing that when something like this happens, without fail people ask the age old question.  “Why do bad things happen to good people?”  It was then my 9 year old son replies, “Why do good things happen at all?”

Did you catch that?  Why do good things happen at all?  He’s right.  You see, we ask the wrong question.   The question shouldn’t be why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? The truth is that as a whole there are no “good people”.  “There is none that doeth good, no, not one,” Romans 3:12.  We truly have a misconception that mankind is “good” and deserves God’s blessings.  But Jesus clearly set the standard for goodness.  “And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God,” Luke 18:18-19.

Not only that, but bad things happen because we live in a sinful, wicked, depraved world.  To blame God for the world’s evil condition would be equivalent to blaming a car manufacturer for a wrecked vehicle due to reckless driving.  If we will be honest and look deep into the truth of God’s Word we would ask a different question all together.  Why does any good thing happen to us at all?  And the answer to that question is simply because of God’s great mercy.

“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;” Deuteronomy 7:9. 

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee,” Psalm 86:5.

God is merciful and this is why any good thing happens.  Like the Psalmist in Psalm 136, I declare “his mercy endureth for ever.”  Can you say the same thing?  Has God extended His mercy toward you?  He is merciful to those that love Him and keep His commandments.  He is merciful and good and ready to forgive those that call upon His name.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” Hebrews 4:16.

From Darkness to Light

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I asked my Christian friends to take a serious look at the upcoming election in my last post.  One of the questions I asked was whether a Mormon was truly a Christian.  I wrote this because the only talk I seem to hear in some Christian circles is that Mitt Romney, a Mormon, is the “only” hope for Christians in this upcoming election.  It concerns me that those on the Christian right are placing so much hope in a man who worships a false god.    My response is simply that “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man,” Psalm 118:8.  However, many Christians lean toward a pragmatic view, reaching after what seems to work and completely ignoring whether it is right or not.   Too many times we view our political choices and our faith as separate matters.  As the people of God, could we please get back to absolutes?  You know…right and wrong…light and darkness…truth and lies…  There is an unyielding warning to those who don’t.  “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isa 5:20-21)

I know there are still those who scoff and think that voting for a Mormon for President is no big deal.  All I ask is that you do some research and look into what the Mormons truly believe.  After my last post I was introduced to a young lady who visited my blog.  She has an incredible testimony about coming out of Mormonism.  It’s her heart’s desire to share it with others who are entangled in cults and false teaching.  I encourage each of you to take the time to read it.  You can see it here.  You also might want to read her post called, They Use Christian Words.  It is very interesting.

As I have said many times before, God in His sovereignty has already determined this election. His will is always accomplished.  I just wonder if the results will be His judgment upon us.  They, of course, don’t have to be.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2Ch 7:14)

Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.  (Jon 3:9-10)

A Christian’s Response to the Upcoming Election

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My last post talked about consequences and I am afraid that this next election will hold grave consequences.  So what should a Christian’s response be to the upcoming election?   It appears that our options for voting are between current President Obama and Mitt Romney.  I’m not even going to address the President’s policies these last 3 ½ years.  Let his actions speak for himself.  I’m also not going to address that fact that Mitt Romney is not a career politician (which I believe is a great asset) or his apparent values.  Laying all political, financial, and moral views aside, I want to address something different.  Should a Christian vote for a candidate who is not a Christian?

Regardless of how the media likes to spin the issue, the truth from God’s Word is that, “by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20).  Evaluate for yourself the “fruits” produced by our current President who strongly supports the murder of innocent babies and homosexual marriage.

So I ask the next question.  Is Mitt Romney, a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Christian?  While I cannot know his heart, I can look at the Mormon religion as a whole.

The Institute for Religious Research has a page on the Mormon religion (http://mit.irr.org/mormonism-christian-2) that explains the basic beliefs of Mormons.  Below are a few, but not all, of Mormon beliefs.

  • Many gods made the world (Abraham 4:1-31)
  • God the Father was once a man (LDS Church teaches that Jesus Christ, humans, angels, and fallen spirits including Satan are all eternal beings that were never created and that are all spirit brothers and sisters. In particular, Christ and Lucifer (Satan) were two spirit brothers; Christ supported Heavenly Father’s plan while Lucifer did not.)
  • Adam’s sin was “a necessary step in the plan of life and a great blessing to all of us” (Book of Mormon—2 Nephi 2:14-26; Book of Moses 5:10-12)
  • Mormonism teaches that a person must become worthy in order to obtain forgiveness of sins and eternal life in the presence of God the Father through obedience to all the commands of the LDS Church (Book of Mormon—2 Nephi 25:23;
  • LDS Church teaches that the Bible has been corrupted, is missing many “plain and precious parts,” and does not contain the fullness of the gospel (1 Nephi 13:26-29)
  •  LDS Church teaches that faithful Mormons who fulfill all of their spiritual, moral, and ritual obligations can eventually attain the status of gods, beings of the same essential nature as God the Father ruling over their own worlds. “As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be” (Lorenzo Snow, in Presidents of the Church: Student Manual [2004], 88, 90; Gospel Fundamentals [2001], 201; Gospel Principles [2009], 275-79; Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith [2011], 71).

The Mormonism Research Ministry has compiled this list. (http://www.mrm.org/god-of-mormonism)

  •  The god of Mormonism is one of many gods.
  • The god of Mormonism is not self-existent.
  • The god of Mormonism is not transcendent.
  • The god of Mormonism is not immutable.
  • The god of Mormonism is not eternally God.
  • The god of Mormonism is not incorporeal.
  • The god of Mormonism is not omnipresent.
  • The god of Mormonism cannot dwell in the believer.
  • The god of Mormonism is not omnipotent.
  • The god of Mormonism does not forgive completely.

In his famous “King Follett Discourse” Joseph Smith (prophet, teacher, and leader of the saints) taught,

“God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the great secret… [Y]ou have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you…”

According to www.mormon.org in addition to the Bible, Latter-day Saints accept the following books as scripture:

  • The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, a record of God’s dealings with the inhabitants of ancient America (2000  BC – 400 AD).
  • The Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of revelations and inspired declarations given for the establishment and regulation of the Church of Jesus Christ in the last days (1830 AD – 1978 AD).
  • The Pearl of Great Price, a selection of revelations, translations, and writings of Joseph Smith.

This information does not even touch on all the false beliefs of the Mormons.  Check it out for yourself.

http://www.biblebelievers.com/jmelton/Mormons.html

http://bible-truth.org/arelds.htm

http://cnview.com/on_line_resources/are_mormons_christian.htm

So, it is clear that the god the Mormons worship is not the True God of the Bible.  It is also clear that they do not worship the true Christ who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Nor do they uphold the true Word of God.

So here is the dilemma.  If we have two unbelievers running for president what do we do?  How do we vote?  Let me answer that question with this one.   Are there only two choices?  As a Christian I believe that I should not only vote in each election, but that I should pray and seek out God’s will.  So, would God give His children the choice between two unbelievers?  Would God want us voting for an unbeliever?  Would God not give His children a way to make the right decision?  We might be tempted to cast a vote for an unbeliever because it is the “lesser of two evils.”  We might be tempted to lay aside the candidates faith or our faith and focus on the politics. But as a Christian I cannot separate my faith from my vote.  My faith is not what I do; it is who I am.  My conscience tells me that I would be wrong to vote for an unbeliever, regardless of the circumstances.  You see, God always gives His children the ability to do what is right.  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1Co 10:13)

 It was John Quincy Adams that said, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”  So it looks like that over the next few months I am going to be doing some research on other 3rd party candidates, trusting that the God of the Bible is sovereign and knowing my conscience is clear.

Consequences

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The title of my husband’s sermon Sunday was “A Nation on the Edge of Heartbreak” taken from 2 Chronicles 7:12-22.  The passage deals with Solomon and the nation of Israel shortly after the completion of the Temple.  The glory of the Lord fills the Temple, Solomon prays, fire comes down from heaven, the nation offers sacrifices, and celebrates the Feasts of Tabernacles for seven days.  Then the Lord appears to Solomon by night with a warning.

“If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Ch 7:13-14)

God promises Solomon that if he will walk before Him as his father David did and obey His commands and observe His statutes and judgments that He would, “stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.” (2Ch 7:18)

But, if Solomon turns and forsakes God’s statutes and commandments and goes after other gods…

“Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house? And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers…”  (2Ch 7:20-22)

Israel was one generation away from heartbreak.  I realize that America is not Israel.  However, I could not help but see a striking correlation between Israel on the edge of heartbreak and our country on the edge of heartbreak.  Consider the news reports, read the papers, follow the state of our country online.  It is clear that we live in a very wicked and evil country, ruled by wicked and evil people.  This is not to say that there are not good, godly people in our country and government.  There is, but when we look at the sin of our land we can’t help but see that God must be grieved.  Yet, His mercy is great.  While we certainly have not deserved God’s blessings, He has given them nonetheless.

But will the blessings last?  I believe we are living on the laurels of the past and sadly the godly heritage and biblical foundation that this country was built upon is cracking.  The Psalmist states, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psa 11:3)  The examples of destroyed foundations are many, with homosexual marriage and abortion being at the top.  Another one that has chipped away at not only our freedom but the very foundation of this country is the latest ruling of the Supreme Court on the unconstitutional health care law.  Justice Roberts surprised the nation with his vote.  But what I found interesting was part of his explanation in which he said, “It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices.”  Consequences – that’s not a word we talk about a lot, but if we would read the Bible we would realize that it is filled with consequences.

Do you remember when Israel rejected God by wanting a king like the other nations?  God warned them through the prophet Samuel that a king would:

“…take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.”

“And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.” (1Sa 8:11-18)

Consequences…

People ask, “Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land…?”  The answer is, “because they forsook the Lord God…therefore hath He brought all this evil upon them.”

Again we see consequences…

There is no doubt that we are living with the consequences of the previous election.  The people wanted change and that is exactly what we got.  And now we have gotten ourselves into a mess.  “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” (Rom 13:1)  God has ordained government and He alone determines who rules.  Sometimes, like the children of Israel, God gives us not what is best but what we ask for.  Maybe, just maybe, we will learn.  The cycle of sin always goes like this – abundant blessings, sin/rebellion, God’s judgment, and repentance/forgiveness.  Then the cycle starts over again.  Time and time again we have seen it with the children of Israel.  Time and time again we see it in our own lives.  The people of God need to humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from their wicked ways.  Will we be able to bear the consequences if we don’t?

My Unbelief

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I had to call a friend a few days ago.  This particular friend is one I call when I need to hear the truth.  You know the type.  She doesn’t tell me what I want to hear; she tells me what I need to hear.  Perhaps you have a friend like this and can relate.   I am very thankful for our friendship.  It is one that could be summed up by Proverbs 27:5-6, “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend…”  I wanted to have a pity party.  She told me to get my eyes off self.  I wanted to whine.  She told me to rejoice.  I wanted to focus on the negative.  She told me to look at the positive.  I wanted to sit.   She told me to get up and serve.  We’ve had this conversation many times over the years.  Sometimes, like last week, I’m the one who needs the exhortation and sometimes she is.  Either way we have an understanding.  Regardless of our feelings or emotions, the best thing we can do is point each other to the Lord and His Word.

The circumstances are always different, but the outcome is always the same.  It usually goes something like this.  One of us has a problem or small trial in our life.  This should be no surprise.  Jesus said in this world we would have tribulations (John 16:33).  But we still act “as though some strange thing happened…” During the trial we prove that we’re human by worrying and fretting.  After a day or two of self pity one of us will finally get around to calling the other – already knowing exactly what we’re going to hear.

“Why are you worried?”

“It’s just that I don’t see how this could possibly work out.”

“So, this just gives God a chance to prove Himself strong.”

“I know….but there is no human solution.”

“Hasn’t God always provided for you?”

“Yes, but…”

“Hasn’t He always been faithful?”

“Yes, but this time….”

“Has He ever let you down?”

“No, never.”

“Then don’t you know what the Scriptures say?”

“I do.  Just yesterday I was sharing God’s Word with a lady who was having trials of her own.”

“Then it boils down to whether or not you’re going to believe.  The bottom line is this.  Are you going to have confidence in the trustworthiness of God?”

And so, this was just what I needed to hear.  I knew the truth.  I still do.  I have never had a reason to doubt God’s Word.  It says that God will provide for His children (Matthew 6:33).  We are told that He will meet all of our needs (Philippians 4:19).  It says that He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:6).  And we are promised peace if we will trust in God (Isaiah 26:3).  Not only are these things so, but time and time again – without fail – God has proven it true.

I do believe…..

But Lord, help my unbelief…….

Sometimes I feel like the father in Mark Chapter 9.  Do you know the story?  This man had a demon possessed son.  If you want to talk about trials and troubles, this man had them.  Look at how the father describes his son with this evil spirit, “And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away… ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us,” Mark 9:18a, 22.   The mother in me wants to weep for this man.  I cannot image the pain from seeing his child like this.  So in desperation, the father takes his son to Jesus’ disciples for help.  Yet, they cannot help him.

How many times do I go to everyone but the One who can and will help me?

When Jesus arrives He offers perhaps the first glimpse of hope this poor father has ever had. He says, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth,” Mark 9:23.

How many times has the Lord whispered these same words to me?  “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed…nothing shall be impossible unto you,” Matthew 17:20.  “For with God nothing shall be impossible,” Luke 1:37.  “And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God,” Luke 18:27.

So this father, as honest and transparent as he can be, with tears in his eyes cries out, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief,” Mark 9:24.

I think I understand what he was saying because I have been there many times.  In fact, I’m still there.  I have faith.  I believe.  But I know that my faith is not as strong as it should be.  My faith is weak.  It is imperfect.  It is flawed in its exercise.  So, like this father who does believe, I too add a prayer for grace, mercy, and strength.  Lord, Please help the weakness of my faith.   Help me to confidently rely upon You.  Show Yourself strong on my behalf and be glorified through my weak flesh and failures.  I believe Lord, just help me in my unbelief.

Water, Wind, and Waves

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The beach was rather refreshing.  One day a small girl, with the help of her mother, diligently worked on a sand castle.  A young couple entered the water together, laughing and enjoying life.  A group of boys played volleyball.  A few surfers ventured out to catch a wave or two.  Several people relished in the warmth of the sun and simply relaxed.  The waters announced its grandeur with each consistent roar.  You could almost hear the waves, in a near boastful tone calling out with authority, “You are here to see me.  I am the reason you have come.”

What is it about the beach that draws people?  Is it the cool breeze from the ocean?  Is it the sound of the waves rushing against the shore?  Perhaps it is simply the ability to sit and rest without great expectation.  I sat and reflected this past week with my feet buried deep into the warmth of the sand.  How can man look at the vastness of the ocean and not be drawn to our Creator?  The Psalms declare, “The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: The Lord of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters,” Psalm 29:3.  If we will open our eyes, we can see the Lord’s hand in all of creation.  If we will listen, we can hear the Lord speaking through his creation.  If we will allow it, we can be drawn closer to the Lord through His creation.

One particular morning the waves were exceptionally boisterous and the undercurrent rather strong.  The children and I enjoyed the waves but stayed close to the shore.  Dana kept a watchful eye at the edge of the water.  He never moved.  After a few minutes we would look toward the beach and notice that we have drifted far in one direction.  It took an intentional effort on our part to stay in the area in front of my husband.  Every now and then Aaron, watching out for his little sister and brother, would remind them to come closer.  If not careful, the waves would easily carry us miles away.

As we were moved about by the strength of the water, wind, and waves I could not help but think about the passage in Ephesians about being, “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.”  Oh, how easy it is to be tossed about in our spiritual life.  It takes a strong anchor of faith to not waver these days.  (“For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed,” James 1:6.)  Not only do we need a strong faith in God and His Word, but we need desperately need the church.  The church? You might ask; What does that have to do with this passage in Ephesians about being “tossed to and fro”?    Let’s look at it in context.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Eph 4:11-14)

 Notice the gifts Christ gave for the provision and edification of His church.  Are you blessed to be a part of a local, Bible teaching, New Testament church?  It is easy to see the necessity of the church in correlation to the perfecting of the saints, work of the ministry, and edifying of the body of Christ –without it we can easily be “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.”  Just as the children and I needed to look to the spot my husband stood to keep us from drifting too far, so do we need to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.  And just as we depended upon each other while we were in the waters for safety, God’s children in like manner needs the local church.   “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching,” Hebrews 10:23-25.

Exercises in Generalizations

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There is something remarkably precious about the love and fellowship shared between brothers and sisters in Christ. Last night, our family was standing in the parking lot of our church talking with one of the men on our executive leadership team and his sweet wife.  We were doing some work around the church building, visiting, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.   Then, as usual, we started talking about the church and doctrine.  In our church, doctrine is often discussed.  We love it, teach it, and hold to it.  My husband often reminds the congregation that we not only need to know what we believe, but why we believe it.  Yet, when you talk to a lot of Christian people today, doctrine seems to be irrelevant. Really, is it that important?   I will submit that of course it is; that is unless we want to be “children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,” Eph 4:14.  And yet, it seems like that is just the case.  People are carried about with every (and I mean every) wind of doctrine.

“I’ll believe this, this week.”

“That sounds good for next week.”

“Teach me something new under the sun, I’ll believe it too!”

My husband explains it like this.  Many pastors’ sermons are simply exercises in generalizations.  They do not know the Bible; therefore, they do not teach it to their flock.  Due to this, people are biblically illiterate.  Consequently, they will believe anything (or in some cases nothing at all).  So as a result, people will often shy away from sound doctrine, because it has gotten to the point of sounding foreign to the “average” church-goer.  Could it be that we have reached the time where “they will not endure sound doctrine,” 2 Timothy 4:3?

I am so thankful for all the pastors who hold fast to the faithful words that they, “may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers,” Titus 1:9.     And for the men of God that “speak thou the things which become sound doctrine,” Titus 2:1.  Keep it up!   The Lord is pleased.  There are many out there who are doing just this.  I am, of course, partial to one in particular.  I really love my husband’s preaching.  I have learned so much by the expository, verse by verse, teaching of God’s Word.  And, I’m thankful for the churches that have ears to hear and that truly want to follow God’s precious Word.  Our church is an example of one.   I love our church.  Each and every one of them!  Our people have a heart’s desire to know the Word of God and obey it.  We not only have unity, but our unity is built on the truth (sound doctrine) of God’s Word.

Homeschooling, Teens, & Formals

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Our family started the homeschooling journey when my son was just 4 years old.  Our first goal was to teach him how to read.  From there we decided that we would travel the path one step at a time and each year at a time.  Back then, my husband and I weighed all the advantages and disadvantages to homeschooling.  What would my son miss out on?  What benefits would he loose? Would he still get to participate in various programs and sports?  What about friends?  What about Prom?

Looking back I can definitely say that we made the right decision.  Our goals for our family encompassed so much more than a few opportunities.  We had discipleship in mind.  And by the grace of God, we feel as though we have been on the right path all these years.  Sure, we stumble by the wayside some days; sure we struggle to climb those high hills, but God has been with us each step of the way, guiding our family.  With that said, the advantages have far outweighed the disadvantages.  It has become clear that homeschooled children have just as many opportunities for education, programs, and sports.  As far as friends are concerned, this has never been an issue.  My children have always had friends of all ages in abundance.  From neighbors, to friends at church, to homeschooled peers, God has always provided friendships.  And when it came to things such as prom and formals, I had decided many years ago that it would not be that big of deal if my children missed them.  After all, as Christians, why do we feel like we need to do the same things the world does?

Now fast forward to today.  Who knew that I would blink my eyes and be standing here with a 15 year old young man asking if he can go to a dance?  A local homeschool group hosts a Spring Formal every year and Abigail (my 13 year old) asked if she could go.  My first thought was “absolutely not.”  But, I had someone send me the information anyway and as it turned out, she was too young.  There, problem solved….until Aaron asked to go.  This surprised me.  So, I pulled back out the information and looked at it again.  Here is what it said,

Home schooled high school students (gr. 9-12), alumni, parents and friends, join us for a Christ-honoring formal event! Don your favorite formal wear and enjoy an evening of fellowship and fun~

Did you catch that?  This would be a “Christ honoring” event.  I kept reading.

MODESTY is of ABSOLUTE importance. We are a CHRISTIAN community of worshipers of the ONE TRUE GOD OF THE BIBLE. We may not agree on everything but we can  agree on the importance of honoring God in the way we present our bodies as a  living sacrifice and the importance of not causing our “brothers to stumble”

LADIES…please do not wear plunging necklines or backless dresses.  Straps on your dress need to be thick enough to be recognizable as straps. “Spaghetti” straps are not okay.  If you have a dress that you really want to wear and are unsure if it passes the “modesty” test…wear a shawl, shrug or jacket that will remain on during the entire evening.

GENTLEMEN… .please wear belts…we DO NOT want to see ANY of your underwear. 

Okay, so I liked what I read.  Then after speaking to a mom who has attended every year, Dana and I decided that we would go with Aaron.  And he was happy to have us tag along. (I know this because I asked if it bothered him that we were going.  He said, “Oh course not, why would it?”)  We decided that if we liked what we saw we would let Abigail go with us next year.  I’ve had several other mom’s ask me to share my thoughts about the evening.  So here goes.

My Thoughts

I will admit that I went into the evening somewhat skeptical.  My first impression was that it looked like my own high school prom, from the decorations to the flash photography. But upon closer examination, I did notice a couple of significant differences.  The first was the amount of adults.  While I am not sure of the numbers, there seemed to be 100-150 people there.  And it looked to me that there were as many adults as there were youth.  I was thrilled to see all the alumni and parents.

The second thing I noticed was how the young ladies dressed.  Most of the young ladies (90%) followed the dress code.  A few did not.  But for the most part I was very pleased with how modest all these young girls looked in their beautiful formals.

 One of my favorite dresses was of this young lady who sat at our table.  She was accompanied to the dance by her father who wore a matching camouflage shirt.  It was precious.

The evening began with pictures and then a sit down meal.  I had Chicken & Shrimp sautéed in a pesto cream with plum tomatoes and fettuccine.  Aaron and Dana had sautéed chicken breast finished with a Marsala mushroom sauce served with mashed potatoes and green beans.  It was good.  There were several games afterwards and the music started at around 9 p.m.  Before the music began there was another reminder to the group that we were a Christian organization and that everything we did needed to be Christ honoring.

Let me first say that our family listens to very little secular music.  If you don’t count Veggie Tales or Tim Hawkins songs, you could say we listen to NO secular music.  Music stirs the soul.  I believe that it will either stir your soul towards God or away.  (You can read my full opinion on music here.)  So, I really wasn’t sure what my thoughts would be on the music.  The music ranged from a techno version of the Cotton Eyed Joe to Elvis Songs to the Macarena with lots in between.  My husband has an app on his phone that picks up the lyrics to any song played and we noticed that one of the songs toward the beginning of the evening had a bleeped out “F-word”.  While I was glad it was bleeped out, I really didn’t see a point in the song being played.  It might have, however, just been an oversight with those who put the playlist together.

Most all of the dancing was group dancing, like the Cha Cha Slide.  There was some Waltz (with instruction) and the Swing dance.  I would have personally liked to see a lot more ballroom dancing throughout the evening.  But, it appeared that the dancing was as innocent as dancing could be.  I didn’t see a lot of “coupling”.  There just wasn’t a big romance theme going on.  The youth were simply having fun, enjoying the fellowship.  I did see a lot of dads/daughters and moms/sons dancing together.  That was nice.  One thing about homeschooled children is that they are rarely cliquish and always friendly.  I was reminded again of this during the evening.  Everyone seemed welcome and no one really looked excluded.

(Aaron & a couple of friends)

Overall, I would equate the dance to “empty calories” – you know, potato chips, ice cream, cookies.  These things taste good, but provide no real nourishment.  I did not walk away saying, “Wow, I’m so thankful my child had this opportunity!  This has really added to his life in a very meaningful way!”  Nor did I walk away from the evening saying, “Wow, I wish we had never attended.  This was a huge mistake!”  I walked away thinking that it was okay.  Aaron enjoyed the evening.  I enjoyed seeing him dressed up.  The fellowship was nice.  He enjoyed his friends, made new ones, and was able to experience the whole formal evening in a safe environment.  I really appreciated all the work that was put into the evening to make it a nice event for the whole family.

(Father & Son)

So the bottom line is that each family needs to make their own decision based on their convictions.  Will we go next year?  Probably so, chances are Dana and I will take both Aaron and Abigail.  While this is not something we would just drop our children off at, going as a family will be an enjoyable event we will look forward to each year.