Paper towels and mixed messages

There’s plenty of guilt to go around these days, even when it comes to what I should be using to wipe off my kitchen counters.  Within the last week, I’ve watched a TV advertisement that claimed in order to protect my family from germs, viruses, and food-born illnesses, I need to buy their paper towels.  The convenient single-use paper towel, they claimed, was superior to cleaning with a dishrag that was previously used and now sitting in my sink.  The commercial went on to warn me how a multi-use dishrag was a festering breeding ground for all sorts of nasty bugs, and it also contained bits of food and grease from whatever it was I cleaned up last time I wiped down the counters.  You wouldn’t wipe off the door of your microwave with a slice of pizza would you?  Then, obviously, any responsible adult who desires to protect their family would buy these paper towels.

And then today, when I was flipping through an online list of “Top money wasting purchases when cleaning your home”, what did I come across?  But, of course: paper towels.  This story said a roll of paper towels was too easy for a family to use up quickly and inefficiently.  They did the math, and if you used 2 rolls a week at $1/roll, then that’s over $100 for the year!  And, of course, you should feel guilty for the strain you’re putting on the environment.  Paper towels are tough to recycle, so you’re just filling up your community’s landfill by using them.  Instead, they suggested, I should buy some cheap, reusable microfiber towels.

So, no matter my choice, I am either a poor excuse for a family man or someone who hates the environment.  Talk about getting mixed messages!  You could tie yourself up in knots trying to figure out what is “the best” way to wipe down your kitchen.

We’ve been looking for a new church home, and we recently attended a church on a friend’s recommendation.  To be honest, after over a year of online services from various churches, it was refreshing to be a part of a group worshipping God.  The pastor was an engaging speaker who quoted a lot of Scripture.  His current series centered around the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 4:22-23).  He was spending one week discussing each fruit listed by Paul.  The week we attended, the topic was faithfulness.

While most of his talk was spot-on, there was one part when my ears perked up.  He made a statement to the effect that “We Christians have erroneously combined the ideas of faith and belief.  When in fact, they are two different things.”  And I thought, “Right on. They are different. I’m interested in what he has to say next.”  He then continued to say that believing something isn’t enough, that God expects us to put action to our beliefs and that’s called faith, and that’s what a Christian does.  After repeating a few more times that believing wasn’t enough, he cited a commonly misquoted passage:

James 2:17-19
In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.  Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works.  You believe that God is one.  Good!  Even the demons believe – and they shudder.”

“See?” the pastor said, “The demons believe and that’s not enough.  We have to have faithfulness and put action to our faith.”

I winced.  It’s a common misquote, but it’s still a misquote.  To find out what James meant by faith without works is dead, click here to read last week’s post.  The pastor finished his preaching and then another lady came on stage to wrap up and dismiss everyone.  What really worried me was something she said next.  She invited anyone who wasn’t a Christian to join God’s family, and all you had to do was “believe and follow Jesus”. 

If I was a non-Christian or someone who was not used to church-lingo, I would have been very confused.  The pastor just said multiple times that “belief” wasn’t enough, that I also needed some kind of actionable faith.  But then she said all I had to do was “believe and follow”, without giving any explanation as to what that meant, especially in relation to what the pastor said.  Talk about mixed messages!

Our word choices matter, and we have to take into consideration the audience we are speaking to.  I spoke with the lady afterwards and although I knew what they were trying to say, I warned her that between the two of them, there was the potential for a lot of confusion.  We talked through everything and came to a basic understanding.  There would have been a lot less confusion if either of them had clearly stated that the preacher’s message was directed towards those who already believed in Jesus for eternal life, and her invitation was for those who have not yet been convinced of Jesus’ offer.  Here’s a rundown of what else we discussed:

·       What the demons “believe” in James 2 isn’t belief in Jesus for eternal life.  Eternal life isn’t offered to fallen angels, so in context, what the demon “believes” is that there is only one God.
·       Believing in Jesus for eternal life is how a person is “saved” and joins God’s family.  There are no other conditions.  (John 11:25-27; Acts 16:31; Eph 2:8-9; 1 Tim 1:16)
·       All believers are called by God to act out our faith. See the James 2 passage the preacher quoted.
·       Choosing to “follow Jesus” is often our first action based on our new faith in Jesus, but it is not a requirement for salvation.

One last thing to note – a clarification, if you will.  In preparing for this post, I have changed my mind on the idea that belief and faith are two different things.  In Greek, they are different versions of the same word, with the only difference between them is that belief is a verb (pisteuo) and faith is a noun (pistis).  As such, if you say that either you believe in Jesus for eternal life or you have faith in Jesus for eternal life, you are saying the same thing.

I hope that clears things up.  I wouldn’t want to give you any mixed messages.

Keep Pressing,
Ken

Don't be a Jedi

I was recently watching a cartoon Star Wars episode where two sisters were describing a major event in their lives that involved the Jedi.  The Jedi were chasing a runaway fugitive, and during the chase, the fugitive damaged a ship to help his escape.  One of the Jedi used the force to redirect the ship away from the gathering of people it was about to crash down on, as you often see Jedi characters do.  When you initially saw this scene, it appeared that the Jedi had saved many people.  And while they did save the crowd of people, as the sisters continued, we found out the rest of the story.  The new crash location of the damaged ship ended up being their family’s home.  The crash killed the sisters’ parents – leaving them orphans.  After the battle, the Jedi approached the sisters and told them “I’m sorry, I had to make a choice.  But don’t worry, the force will be with you.”  And then the Jedi left, never to return.  After going through an unexpected tragedy and then being left completely alone by everyone responsible, you can imagine what the sisters thought of Jedi…

I know, I know…it’s just a cartoon.  But I was immediately struck with the thought, “How often do us Christians say something like that, and then leave people to themselves?” 

Or, more specifically, How often do we say things like that to other Christians?

When you believe in Jesus for eternal life, you are immediately adopted into God’s family.  Regardless of your biological family background, you now have a Heavenly Father who loves you perfectly.  He looks out for you and knows what is best for you.  In addition, you suddenly have more brothers and sisters then you ever thought possible…but biological age often doesn’t match a person’s spiritual maturity.  Depending on your age when you believe in Jesus, don’t be surprised if you find Christians who are physically older than you, but still acting like spiritual babies.  It is also possible to have a spiritual mother or father that is physically younger than you.

I point out these differences within God’s family so we have a little context to what we’re about to read from the book of James.  Often misunderstood as a letter describing the actions of a “true Christian”, it is, in fact, a letter pointing out what a mature Christian does in contrast to an immature Christian.  Although it is a letter from Jesus’ younger brother to the early church of believers, its structure and feel is much like the wisdom literature of the Old Testament.  James heavily focuses on practical application in a believer’s life.

James wants his readers to intentionally live out their faith in Jesus.  He desires to see them treat each other the way that Jesus treats us.  At about the halfway point of the letter, he says this:

James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?

In situations like this – from a practical standpoint – our words are useless.  Did your brother’s need change?  Do you still have the ability to help your sister?

Before James asked this question, just a few paragraphs back, he was scolding his readers about favoring the rich believers over the poor believers.  He exhorted them to follow the royal law: Love your neighbor as yourself.  Next, he poses the above question as a practical application of his teaching.  However, with the following verse, he cuts deep and to the point.  For those who only say niceties, to those who could do much more than only offer “thoughts and prayers” to their fellow believer in need, James says:

James 2:17
In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.

Ouch. 

But the truth can be painful sometimes.  When we encounter painful truth, don’t ignore it…instead, we need to learn from it.

Some have taught that “faith without works is dead” means that person wasn’t a “true Christian” to begin with.  However, acting immaturely doesn’t mean you aren’t saved from eternal condemnation.  What it does mean is that you’re a lousy sibling to a brother or sister in need.  Throughout his letter, James constantly refers to his readers as believers and family.  He’s not saying that their immature behavior means they’re not really family.  “Dead” in this passage does not equal “corpse”.  Based on the context, we find that James is emphasizing the usefulness or profitability of faith in action.  So instead of a “dead body” assumption, try this analogy:

We love our cars.  We love the freedom they give us to travel quickly, accomplish tasks, help others, or to just enjoy a drive.  However, without fuel, that car is useless.  For all intents and purposes, it’s dead.  Without fuel, it’s still a car…but it cannot fulfill its designed purpose.  However, if you add gas back to the car, it becomes “alive” again.

Similarly, our faith – in order to be useful and profitable – needs to have action.  Just like the car needs gas.  And that’s what James is really getting at here:

If you see a brother or sister in need of help and you have the capacity to help them, don’t just say Christian-sounding words that do not change their situation.  Buy them groceries.  Lend them your car.  Cut their grass.  Buy them coffee and listen to their story.  Mentor their kids.  Hire them.  Use your connections to others who can help them in ways you can’t. 

Don’t be like the Jedi from the cartoon I watched – don’t give a nice little platitude about “God will be with you” and then walk away.  These are fellow members of God’s family.  So let’s act like family and help each other.

You’ll be amazed at what God does when your faith is alive through our actions.

Keep Pressing,
Ken

I wouldn't pick me, either

When you were a kid and teams were being picked, were you ever the kid who was picked last?  Nobody wants to be in that position.  If you’re picked last, you’re essentially being told that if you weren’t there, you wouldn’t have been missed.  And if you’ve ever been picked last more than once…you start to expect it. 

When you are repeatedly at the bottom, you even begin to embrace it as “your lot in life”.  You see yourself as unworthy or even useless.  In retaliation to these feelings, you may even take on the mentality once stated by Groucho Marx: “I don’t want to belong to any club that would accept me as one of its members.”  So when someone actually chooses you…you reflexively don’t believe them, because bottom-level people don’t get picked for important jobs.

This is where Gideon’s story begins in Judges 6.  The nation of Israel was being kicked around by the neighboring land of Midian.  The Midianites stole Israel’s crops, destroyed the land, and took all the livestock.  This happened year after year, for seven long years, to the point that Israel was completely poverty-stricken.  Finally, the people of Israel called out to the Lord.

Judges 6:11-14
The angel of the Lord came, and he sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite.  His son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress in order to hide it from the Midianites.  Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.”

Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened?  And where are all His wonders that our fathers told us about?  They said, ‘Hasn’t the Lord brought us out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.”

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian.  I am sending you!”

While God doesn’t choose individuals for salvation, He does choose people, places, and things for specific service.  That’s what we’re seeing here.  At this point in the account, we might expect Gideon to get excited and finally feel validated to be chosen by God to do a great service – to be the one who rescues His people.  Instead, we see Gideon doing the opposite:

Judges 6:15
He said to Him, “Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel?  Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.”

From a society standpoint, Gideon had nothing going for him.  He didn’t have the proper linage.  The oldest son in a family was the default, next-generation leader – and Gideon was on the opposite side of that spectrum.  So when God said “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel”, you can be certain that Gideon believed that he didn’t have enough strength to deliver anyone, let alone the entire nation!  After all, God approached Gideon while he was hiding out in order to secretly prepare food.  What “valiant warrior” sneaks around just to get his next meal?

The Lord’s answer to Gideon’s protests is the key to understanding the events that happened next. 

Judges 6:16
“But I will be with you,” the Lord said to him.  “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.”

God reassured Gideon that he can do this work, because God will be with him.  Gideon wasn’t being sent off alone to figure it out along the way.  God would be there as well – to reassure and strengthen Gideon, as well as to fight against the Midianite army.  Like the Israelite’s stories of old, Gideon even saw several wonders (five of them, by my count), where God demonstrated that He was there and on Israel’s side.

God also promises to be with us believers in the church age.  Here are just two examples:

Matthew 28:20
And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought at a price.  So glorify God with your body.

There is another famous verse along these lines.  While it’s famously misquoted, when it is read in context, we realize that Paul’s all things is referring to all things God has called me to do for Him:

Philippians 4:13
I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Whatever task or responsibility God has given each of us, we can be certain that He did not abandon us after handing out the assignment.  Even if we wouldn’t have chosen ourselves for this work…we are able to succeed because the Holy Spirit is in us, while Jesus promises to be with us and strengthen us.

Keep Pressing,
Ken

For my son - The biggest threat to your eternal rewards

My youngest son has officially finished high school and is getting ready to embark on the next phase of his life.  As I am nostalgically thinking of that time in my own life, I am also thinking of the things God has taught me since then.

This is the third post in a three-part series where I am remembering lessons I have learned later in life that I would love for my son know now...

I chose this post because the world is not going to help him become more like Jesus.  In fact, he’ll find it’s just the opposite…he’ll be constantly presented with options that focus on the here and now, that he should fulfill any appetite or desire he feels in a given moment.  But that’s not the eternity-focused life God has called us to.  Nowhere is this more apparent than in the case of sexual temptation.  I pray that he makes wise choices.

The biggest threat to your eternal rewards
Originally posted on April 05, 2018

Nothing wrecks a believer’s life faster than sexual immorality.  The author of Hebrews knew that, and he gave this warning to his readers:

Hebrews 12:16-17
And make sure that there isn’t any sexually immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.  For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.

There are portions of our lives where there are no take-backs.  We can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.  Sexual purity is one of them.  The author equates sexual immorality with godlessness (i.e. – acting like there is no God).  Both of these behaviors are selfish; they can completely wreck a believer’s life and witness.  By using Esau as an example, the original recipients of this letter would have recognized the seriousness of our choices in these areas.

As a first-born, Esau was automatically entitled to a double portion of his parents’ estate and guaranteed that he would inherit the role of patriarch in the family’s lineage and decision making.  However, Esau thought so little of this inheritance that he was willing to trade all the future rights and privileges of a firstborn son…to fill his immediate, temporal appetite.  Sexual temptation is also like that.  The immediate appetite is satisfied…but the actions cannot be undone, our life’s course is altered, and the inheritance is lost…no matter how many tears we shed.

Does that mean if a Christian indulges in an affair that he or she are out of the family? 
Will God stop blessing them? 
Will they lose all inheritance?

No, they are not cast out of the family, but there will be permanent consequences – in this life, and in eternity future.  Esau is still our example for how we resolve our questions:

After trading away his future inheritance to fulfill his right-now appetite, Esau eventually returned to his father and repented of his actions, saying he would be content with any remaining blessing his father was able to grant him. 

From there, we find that Esau went on in life and was blessed by God – he even has his own chapter of family lineage and prosperity in Genesis 36.  However…Esau never regained his rights of firstborn inheritance.  Throughout the entire Bible and for all of eternity, the nation of Israel does not list Esau as one of their patriarchs.  Additionally, we consistently find God identifying Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…but we never find God describing Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Esau.

Because of his choices, Esau missed out on blessings and opportunities – both in this life and in eternity.  And the author of Hebrews is telling us that OUR sexual purity has that level of importance in God’s eyes.  However, if we blow it…all is not lost…some inheritance will be, but not all opportunity to earn more in the future.

Remember what the author taught us earlier:

Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

There is grace to help us when we are being sexually tempted and we can receive mercy when we fail.  Our relationship with God will remain intact; however, the consequences of our sexual sin will echo throughout eternity.

Keep Pressing,
Ken

For my son - The greatest reward possible

My youngest son has officially finished high school and is getting ready to embark on the next phase of his life.  As I am nostalgically thinking of that time in my own life, I am also thinking of the things God has taught me since then.

This is the second post in a three-part series where I am remembering lessons I have learned later in life that I would love for my son know now...

I chose this post because for many years as an adult Christian, I had no idea about the incredible, eternal future God has in store for those who believe in Him for eternal life and choose to spend their earthly lives intentionally and intimately connected to Jesus.  God’s eternal rewards are great, and I hope my son earns many of them.

The greatest reward possible
Originally posted on September 26, 2019  

Assuming you had the necessary skills and the opportunity, what is the biggest earthly prize you would aspire to?

Maybe it’s directing the highest grossing movie of all time…or Quarterbacking your favorite team to a Super Bowl victory…or building a business up from your garage into a global empire…or perhaps you are content to win the lottery and retire to a private island.  What would be “the ultimate prize” for you?

How does thinking about this feel?  Scary?  Overwhelming?  Unrealistic?

As those who believe in Jesus for eternal life, we know this present life will continue on with Him into Eternity Future.  While there are big dreams and opportunities to be had here and now…we should also wonder if there are eternal opportunities that God has made available to us.  In God’s revelation to John, He reveals a big one:

Revelation 22:3-5
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will worship Him.  They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.  Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever.

They will reign.

Those words carry a weight to them, and they should.  To reign means that a person has obtained or has been given the authority to rule, to lead, and to preside over the lives of others.  While we fully expect Jesus to reign in Heaven and over all creation…John tells us that in addition to Jesus, His servants will reign.

Servant Kings.

Those words don’t seem to go together, but it is exactly what Christ taught to His disciples.

At one point, Peter struggled with comparing the life he left behind with his choice to follow Jesus as a disciple.  He could have believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, continued to work the family business as a fisherman, and still gone to Heaven.  What Peter struggled with was seeing the tangible benefits to accepting Christ’s invitation to intimately follow Him in Discipleship, to living his earthly life learning how to imitate Christ.  Let’s drop into their conversation:

Matthew 19:27-28
Then Peter responded to Him, “See, we have left everything and followed You.  So what will there be for us?”  Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Notice that Jesus does not rebuke Peter for asking this kind of “What’s the reward?” question.  Jesus replies that there is a reward – a reward of authority – to those who have followed him.  Jesus didn’t say that this magnitude of a reward was available to everyone who believes…rather those who will be great at the renewal of all things are those who, after believing, have spent their earthly lives learning how to imitate Christ.

Learning to imitate Christ, the greatest example of a Servant King, is what will qualify His servants to reign forever and ever.

You and I have the necessary skills and the opportunity to do the same.  Will we follow Christ now so that we, too, can become Servant Kings in eternity future?

Keep Pressing,
Ken

For my son - The snooze button is a liar

My youngest son has officially finished high school and is getting ready to embark on the next phase of his life.  As I am nostalgically thinking of that time in my own life, I am also thinking of the things God has taught me since then.

This is the first post in a three-part series where I am remembering lessons I have learned later in life that I would love for my son know now...

I chose this post because, as an adult, he is now fully responsible for his choices in life.  The successes and failures of his time management will be his alone.  While there’s not a specifically required time of day to spend with God, first thing in the morning is often the best…provided we do not give in to repeatedly hitting the snooze button.

The snooze button is a liar
Originally posted on December 13, 2018 

A blaring alarm clock is not the thing you want to hear first thing in the morning.  The alarm tone is purposely loud and obnoxious so we are awakened from our slumber to start the day at the right time.  Even though we’re the ones who picked the time for the alarm, we still resent that the alarm is interrupting our sleep.

We’ve got a ton of things to do, and a schedule to keep if we want to do them well.  Yet, sitting deceptively close to the “Alarm Off” button is another button.  It is usually several times larger than the one to stop the alarm – the Snooze Button.

When the alarm is blaring, the main thing I care about is hitting the button to make it stop…but this other button makes an enticing offer: I could lay my groggy head back down on the pillow for an additional 9 minutes.  The Snooze Button invites me to give up “just a tiny fraction” of my morning so I can get that much more rest before starting my day.  I let it convince me that I will feel better and more active, if I could just get a few more minutes of sleep.

But let’s be honest: I rarely hit the Snooze Button only once.  And when I do eventually get up, the morning is super-rushed because I’m now pressed for time.  I barely have time to shower, dress, grab my work bag, and stuff some food in my face before running out the door, all of which could have been easily managed had I not pressed the Snooze Button.

But I’ve noticed two things – First, I am NOT more rested when I take the Snooze Button’s offer of additional sleep, broken up into 9 minute chunks.  If anything, I feel more tired and frazzled at the start of my day.  Secondly, whenever I “sleep in” the first item on my to-do list that gets dropped is my time reading God’s Word.

All throughout the Bible we see examples of God wanting to spend time with us, but what we also see is that God expects us to put in some effort and desire to be with Him.  Look at the three “IFs” Solomon gives his son, and what result will come if he actually follows through:

Proverbs 2:1-5
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding;
furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,
if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.

Why do we need to spend time in the Bible?  Paul reminded Timothy of the Scripture’s usefulness and effect on his life:

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

One last example.  Peter is reminding his readers of their main source of food for spiritual growth:

1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that you may grow up into your salvation

There are numerous other references and examples I could give, but I think you get the point.  God wants to meet with us, but we need to intentionally set aside time to do so.  Perhaps you need to take the small step I need to take: stop hitting the Snooze Button.  That button lies to us – we don’t get what it promises.  We end up starting our day rushed and feeling bad, while missing out on something much, much better.

Are you skeptical that God couldn’t use 9 minutes with Him to make a difference in your life?  I dare you to try it this next week and find out.

Keep Pressing,
Ken

You've got questions?

When we attend church – either in person or online – the typical worship service progression is a greeting, a few songs, a message from a pastor, and then perhaps a closing song.  Unless you are able to get the pastor’s attention after the worship service, there is little chance of you asking a question about the day’s message.

Many of our church-gatherings outside of a worship service are either task-focused or event-focused, and neither of which allow us much time for questions or Biblical exploration.  So what is a Christian to do when they have a question and no forum to ask?

Over the last few weeks, I have attempted to hand you tools that you can use to explore Scripture for yourself.  Instead of spoon-feeding you applications that I have found, I have given you the spoon.   Feeding yourself can be a little messy at times, but with practice and submission to what God teaches you – no matter how ‘small’ it may seem – you will grow and mature in ways that won’t happen by just listening to someone else talk about God.  If you missed any of it, here is a link to the start of the series.

You may have been introduced to your spouse by someone else, but the relationship was developed by the times it has been just the two of you.  The same is true with God: Want to be close to God?  Want to live life in a way that honors Him?  Want to know the how or why He does what He does?  Then I suggest you spend time with Him…talk with Him, look for Him in the Scriptures, and be intentionally open to His desire to be a part of your day-to-day life.

Knowing God personally and knowing Him as He presents Himself in the Scriptures will keep you from straying into theological error and will also protect you from mis-representing God to others.  You certainly don’t want to tell half-truths about your spouse to other people…if you did that, how would it affect your marriage relationship?  We need to take our relationship with God just as serious.

So when you hear a teacher say something on the radio that doesn’t sound quite right, or if your own pastor references a portion of Scripture you haven’t looked at before…if you use the process we’ve walked through in the last few weeks, you will be fully equipped to study the passage for yourself.

This process is not something that I have built or developed on my own, either.  I have said many times that the very first lesson Joe taught me was how to study the Bible for myself, and he used a book written by one of his seminary professors to do so.  In the last few weeks, we have walked through a distilled-down version of Howard Hendricks’ Living by the Book.  I highly recommend you pick up a copy…take your time and work through it, because he does a fantastic job of equipping the reader and giving lots of hands-on, practice examples.

Lastly, I want to give you the opportunity to ask questions.  Jesus was often asked questions, by all sorts of people – seekers, adversaries, and even His disciples.  Likewise, Paul made it a habit to have God-focused discussions with both Jews and Greeks.  Here are just a few examples:

In Thessalonica: As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2)

In Athens: So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshipped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. (Acts 17:17)

In Corinth: He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 18:4)

So, in the spirit of reasoning together, I’d like to make you an offer: Ask me a theological question, and I’ll do my best to answer it in an upcoming blog. 

I have a few ideas on topics to study and explore next; however, I’d also like to give you the opportunity to provide some input.  What Bible topics are you struggling with?  What have you always wondered, but didn’t know who to ask?

Come, let us reason together. 

Keep Pressing,
Ken

How to apply Scripture, every time

We’ve done all the hard work – we asked reporter-style questions, we asked detective-style questions, we’ve interpreted our observations, and we even compared what we’ve found to other teachers.  Now, we’re ready for the true pay-off of Bible study: the Application.

If you don’t apply what you’ve learned, then all you’ve really done is spent time collecting facts.  And facts are useless things unless they are put into practice.  I have 9 excellent questions for you to ask in order to find the best application from what you’ve learned…but before we get to them, we need to do a quick assessment of what we know:

If you want to apply the Bible, you need to know two things.

First off, you need to know the text.  You have to know the interpretation of the biblical text.  Your application is based on your interpretation, so if your interpretation of a passage is incorrect…then your application will likely be incorrect – even if you feel really good about it.  If your interpretation is correct, you have a good possibility that your application will be correct.

Like we said before, there is only one correct interpretation of a passage of Scripture (hint: it’s what the original author meant to say).  The text doesn’t mean one thing today and something else tomorrow.  Whatever it means, it means for eternity.  But you will never cease the process of applying that truth to your life.  Therefore: Be careful how you interpret.  You will only multiply error if you start with a faulty interpretation.

While there is only one correct interpretation, there are numerous ways to apply the truth that we find.  And how Biblical truth is applied can vary person to person, largely depending on the individual’s circumstances, stage in life, or surrounding culture.  However, to get the best application possible, there is a second thing you need to know:

You must know yourself.  Be honest with where you are in life.  What are your strengths?  What still needs work?  Where do you struggle?  In one of his last letters, Paul cautioned Timothy:

Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:16)

Notice the order listed:
First, pay attention to yourself…then communicate that truth to others.  Why?  Because if you don’t know yourself, if you’re not honest about who you are…it’s difficult to help other people apply the Bible to their lives.  (Side note: this is another one of those times in the NT that the word ‘save’ does not refer to being “saved from hell”.  You’ll have to read the context to find out what Timothy will potentially ‘save’ himself and his hearers from.)

Now that we know the text and ourselves, it’s time to put what we’ve learned into practice, because the ultimate goal of Bible study is to practice the truth.  Scripture was written not to fatten geese but to train athletes and equip soldiers for the realities of life.  “Run to win.”  “Fight to win.”  That’s the message of the Word.

To be fair, you can’t consciously apply every truth you find in your study, and you shouldn’t feel pressured to do so.  You can, however, consistently be applying something.  So you always want to ask yourself, ‘Is there some area of my life for which this truth is needed?’  After you think about this question, ask God for His opinion on the matter.  Pray that He will show you what you need to apply and where you can best utilize the truth you have discovered in His Word.

A verse we taught our boys when they were quite little (and made them repeat often) was Philippians 2:14, which reads Do everything without grumbling and arguing.  The application of the verse may seem inconsequential in and of itself, and the boys certainly became tired of reciting it…but, once the command is put within context – the unnatural (i.e. – SUPERnatural) consequence for a believer is discovered:

Philippians 2:14-16
Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life.

We stand at the crossroads of life with others every day.  When we hold on to God’s Word and do not complain our way through our day, we shine like stars and uniquely display God’s beauty in a thoroughly messed up world.  BUT, if we’re grousing about everything…then those who don’t know God won’t see God in us.  Small application, with a HUGE consequence!

That’s just one instance of one application from that one verse.  On the surface, a single command may seem like an inconsequential thing, but there’s nothing inconsequential about the changes that God wants to bring about in your life and mine.  He’s given the Word to transform your experience. 

In the end, you’ll always find two sides to Christian living: you need food, and you need exercise.  Too much food leads to obesity (spiritually obese Christians are quite unattractive – they claim to know Christ well, but look nothing like Him b/c there are no actions to back up their boasts).  Too little food develops anemia (i.e. – weak-willed, ineffective, unfocused, and cloudy-minded).  But food is transformed into energy, and energy enables you to do that which God wants you to do.  But as you do what God wants you to do, you become exhausted and tired.  You lose your perspective.  So you have to come back to the Word of God for refreshment, for nourishment, for fuel. 

So how do you bring out applications from all the data you’ve collected and understanding you’ve gained during your study?  This set of nine questions will help you identify numerous applications of the text.  As before, don’t feel like you have to come up with an answer for every question.  Due to the genre of the biblical text you are studying at the time, some questions will be more pertinent than others. 

1.       Is there an example for me to follow? 
2.      Is there a sin to avoid? 
3.      Is there a promise to claim?  Be aware: Some promises in the Bible are for specific people or groups, not for us in the present age.  If you have observed and interpreted well, then you will know if you can claim a particular promise made in the passage.  If the promise is not specifically made for you, then you may be able to glean general principles from promises that God makes to others – namely His ability to follow through with what He says He will do.
4.      Is there a prayer to repeat? 
5.      Is there a command to obey? 
6.      Is there a condition to meet?  If/then statements are cues that there is a condition to meet before a blessing from God will be given.
7.       Is there a verse to memorize?  Obviously, any verse of Scripture can be memorized, but some will carry more weight than others.  I mean, you could memorize Leviticus 11:30, but I’m not sure how helpful it will be for you.
8.      Is there an error to mark?  What kind of mistake did a character make in his or her particular circumstance?  What doctrines and truths is this passage teaching?  What theological errors is it exposing?  Is there something you thought was true that needs to be corrected, based upon what you have learned from your study?
9.      Is there a challenge to face?  Perhaps after studying a section of Scripture, God is bringing to mind a relationship needs healed, an apology needs to be made, that you need to get out of something that is keeping you from God, or you recognize a good habit that needs to be cultivated.  Whatever it is, the Spirit uses Scripture to promote changes in your life.

A true application comes down to two deep questions: Are you open to real change?  Are you prepared to take on the challenges that will be brought to your attention by the Holy Spirit?  I guarantee that if you approach God’s Word with any degree of honesty and teachability, the Spirit won’t let you go away disappointed.  Now, let’s find some ways to apply what we’ve learned in our Joshua passage:

KNOW:
You must know the text.  Go back and read though your observation and interpretation notes.  Refresh your mind with what you’ve written down.

You must know yourself.  Ask God to help you be honest and open to the applications you find.

ASK QUESTIONS:
Go through the 9 questions listed above.  If there is an answer to the question, write it down.  If not, move on to the next one.  Don’t force an answer.  After you have listed all the application options, choose one…and then put it into action within the next 24 hours. 

Joshua 1:6-9
“Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance.  Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you.  Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.

This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it.  For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.  Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous?  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Keep Pressing,
Ken

Don't use a commentary like this

One of the rallying cries from the Protestant Reformation was sola scriptura – Scripture alone is our final authority for faith and practice.  That led to a significant development in the history of Christianity: the right to private interpretation.  The combination of the Gutenberg Bible and the Reformation put Scripture into the hands of lay people.  However, with this historical development, we didn’t just gain access to Scripture, we also took on a responsibility.  As R.C. Sproul once pointed out,

“Private interpretation never meant that individuals have the right to distort the Scriptures.  With the right of private interpretation comes the sober responsibility of accurate interpretation.  Private interpretation gives us license to interpret, not to distort.”

Since we are the representatives for the Creator of the Universe, the last thing we want to do is advocate something that God did not say.  So then, how can you avoid distorting God’s message?  By taking the steps we’ve already taken.  First, we observe well – we use our reporter’s hat and our detective’s hat to make observations from the text.  Then we allow context to guide our interpretation and compare Scripture with Scripture to make sure we’re seeing the consistency in God’s message.  Only after taking these steps are we ready to ask for help from someone else.

We never want to become arrogant in our study process to think that the Holy Spirit is only talking to us, that He’s never said anything to anyone else.  If you stop and think about it, thousands of people have traveled this road ahead of us, and some have left behind some valuable helps.  There can be great value in consulting what someone else has already learned, as demonstrated by one of my favorite poems, The Bridge Builder by Will Allen Dromgoole.

When we properly use a secondary resource, we can leverage what we’ve learned thus far against the contributions of others.  However, do remember that they are called “secondary” resources for a reason…they are to be used only after you have observed and interpreted the biblical text for yourself.  Never forget that order.  To run straight to a commentary without even thinking through the text shows a lack of trust in what the Holy Spirit can teach you.  Scripture doesn’t yield its fruit to the lazy.  While it’s certainly easier to google up an interpretation of a passage, this short-cut will end up short-circuiting your growth and development.    

After we observe and interpret the text, we are ready to see what someone else has to say about the same passage.  You’ll be surprised at how many others came to the same conclusion you have.  You may find another aspect of text or a cultural influence you weren’t aware of, and that may affect your interpretation.  You may also find that you disagree with a commentator’s interpretation – if you do, put on your reporter’s hat and detective’s hat again and see which of you did a better job observing the text!

There are many types of secondary resources out there that can help you with your study of Scripture, but I want to focus on the main two: concordances and commentaries.

A concordance is a tool that enables you to look up terms – think of it like an index to the Bible.  A concordance lists all of the words of the text alphabetically, with references for where they appear, along with a few of the surrounding words to give some context.  Using a concordance is probably my favorite part during Interpretation.  I love finding out the exact meaning of an author’s choice of words.  However, using a concordance goes beyond studying terms:

Suppose you want to study the life of a particular person, and you choose Moses.  Use a concordance to look him up and you’ll see that the bulk of his life is detailed in the book of Exodus.  However, you will also see that Moses is discussed in both Acts and Hebrews – he’s been dead for 1000’s of years at this point, yet there is important information about him presented in the New Testament.  His life is discussed in Acts 7 and he occupies the largest amount of text in “God’s Hall of Fame” found in Hebrews 11.  If you hadn’t looked it up, you may have missed one or both of these passages on his life – and you would not have gotten God’s full picture of Moses’ life.

Another good use of a concordance is if you want to do a topical study.  If you wanted to look up all Scriptural references to money, you’d instantly have a listing of all verses in the 27 books that mention money.  You’d also see that there are a lot of references to money in the gospels – and that’s because Jesus talked about money A LOT.

The other secondary resource we need to discuss are commentaries. 

Have you ever listened to the teaching of someone who is masterfully explaining the Word and thought, Wow, I’d like to have them sitting beside me next time I come to the Scriptures.  Well, a commentary does essentially that.  A commentary offers you the insights of someone who has perhaps spent his or her whole life studying the text.  While a commentary cannot do your study for you, it certainly is an excellent means of evaluating and expanding your own study.

There are a seemingly infinite number of commentaries out there, with many different (and often conflicting) interpretations – so which one should you choose?  If you purchase a written commentary (as opposed to any available online), you want a good, single-volume, general commentary, one that covers both the Old Testament and the New Testament in one, or at the most, two volumes.

You’re looking for a commentary to add detail and insight into the text, but you don’t want a deep dive into the weeds about an individual topic.  Also…don’t spend a ton of money on a 24-volume set!  Lastly, be careful whom you listen to, because at least at some level, we all bring our theological systems and assumptions when we read the text.  Some commentators force their belief systems into the text…but your early work with your reporter’s hat and detective’s hat will help protect you from running off with misinterpretations.

If you are unfamiliar with the author, you need to find out his or her theological perspective – is he conservative or liberal, does she believe in the essential truths of Christianity?  So how do you discover the answer to those kinds of questions?  Two ways, really:

1.       Google them.  You can’t believe everything on the internet, but you can probably find a synopsis of who this person is and what they believe…especially if you find they have a website with a belief statement.
2.       You can turn to a passage that you have studied on your own and know that you have come to a correct interpretation, then compare the commentator’s answer to your own. 

Why is it important that you know the author’s theological perspective?  If you don’t know, then you could be setting yourself up for bad advice.  We find this warning among Solomon’s proverbs:

The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

If you still are unsure if you should use a particular commentary, then the next step is to consult a mature, studied Christian whose opinion you trust.  Ask your pastor or teacher.  Either would be ecstatic to answer that kind of question for you, because it demonstrates that you are studying your Bible and practicing discernment when you do so. 

In the end, commentaries can be both a blessing and a curse.  The downside is the tendency to start depending on them rather than familiarizing yourself with the biblical text.  There’s nothing wrong with commentaries, but remember that ultimately they are just one person’s opinion, and they are certainly not inspired Scripture.  At the same time, a scholar who has spent a lifetime investigating the biblical text can frequently get you past the barriers to understanding.  His comments can also help you evaluate your own personal study. 

REMEMBER: the use of secondary resources should NEVER be a substitute for personal Bible study, but rather a stimulus for it.  Always remember the order: First the Word of God, then the secondary resources.  Additionally…secondary resources are OPTIONAL, you are not required to look up a certain number of words or consult a minimum number of commentaries to have a successful understanding of the text.

Commentaries I recommend:
The Bible Knowledge Commentary
The Grace New Testament Commentary
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary
Tony Evans Bible Commentary

Online concordances:
http://www.studylight.org
http://www.blueletterbible.org

Online commentaries:
https://planobiblechapel.org/soniclight/
https://faithalone.org/ebooks/

Using a resource listed above or one of your own, let’s see what we can find for our Joshua passage:

Concordance – look up important nouns and verbs, those are the most impactful parts of the text.  Some words have a clear, 1:1 translation…other words will have a richer meaning in the original language.  Try looking up strong, courageous, success, and meditate.

Commentary – choose a commentary (or two) and compare the author’s observations with your own.  What did you both see?  Do you differ anywhere?  If so, which conclusion best fits the text?

Joshua 1:6-9
“Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance.  Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you.  Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.

This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it.  For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.  Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous?  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Keep Pressing,
Ken

There’s only one correct Interpretation

Interpretation can be a very sticky subject within Christianity.  Lots of people have very strong opinions about what various passages mean…and not everyone agrees on what that is.  A common phrase thrown about is, “Well, that’s YOUR interpretation.”  We often bring our own baggage, theological systems, and assumptions when we try to interpret what God has said.  However, the truth is that there is only one correct interpretation for a particular passage…it isn’t mine, and it isn’t yours…no matter what we may feel a passage says or what we may desire a verse to be about, there’s only one true interpretation: what the original author intended for the original recipients of the text. 

So after we do our observation work – after we use our reporter’s hat and our detective’s hat to observe what is going on in the text – our next step is to use what we have found in the text to determine the original author’s meaning. 

It sounds simple, but can be difficult to do.  Interpreting honestly and clearly will take practice.  However, the best way to approach these next steps is to come in with the mindset that we are students of the Bible and disciples of Jesus…not students of Calvinism and disciples of John MacArthur…not students of Arminianism and disciples of John Wesley…not students of Catholicism and disciples of the Pope.  We want to know God through the pages of the Bible, and Jesus is our best and most-relatable example of who God is and what He is like.

That said, I want to offer you three steps that will help you unlock the biblical text, the three basic principles of Interpretation.  The best part is, you’ve already taken the first step:

Interpretation Step #1: Content

The content of a passage is the raw material you will use to interpret the text.  And because of the work you’ve already put in using your reporter’s hat and your detective’s hat, you have a good amount of observations to work with. 

The first step we take when we begin interpreting the Biblical text is to go back and read over all the observations we’ve written down.  Look at the “first impression” questions you had when you initially reviewed the text…did you find your answer in your reporter/detective work?  If not, that’s ok.  We still have ways to address them – and the next step can definitely help:

Interpretation Step #2: Context

Simply stated, context refers to that which goes before and that which follows after.  Anyone who has had to face the press can appreciate the importance of context.  We’ve all been in situations where part of what we’ve said to one person was overheard and taken out of context by someone else.  When something is taken out of context, an accurate understanding of the comment or situation often goes right out the window.

We can definitely do the same thing with the Word of God.  In fact, every major cult is built on a violation of the principle of context.  A great deal of doctrinal error could be corrected by simply asking, “Would you please read the previous verses or the ones that follow?”.  So whenever you study a verse, a paragraph, a section, even an entire book – always consult the neighbors of that verse, that paragraph, that section, or that book. 

Additionally, we need to recognize that the meaning of a word is also derived from how it is used.  I can use the word run in several different ways: I run marathons.  I run for political office.  My allergies are bad, they make my nose run.  The meaning of run varies on usage.  Same thing happens in the Bible…we cannot assume that every use of “saved”, “lost”, or “hell” is always equal to “saved from eternal damnation”, “unbeliever”, or “the bad place”.  If we are going to interpret honestly, then we can’t read by default or assumption – we must look at how a word is used in the passage by the author.  Different Biblical authors can use the same word to mean different things…we just have to be aware of it.

Keeping our interpretations within the context of the Biblical passage will safeguard against us reading our own assumptions or misunderstandings into a verse. 

Another great tool to help us determine the original author’s meaning is found in the next step:

Interpretation Step #3: Comparison

The Bible is comprised of 66 separate books; however, since God is the ultimate author of them all, we can expect that they all work together to tell who God is, what He is like, and how we can partner with Him now.  As such, we can expect that – when interpreted correctly – the Biblical passages will not contradict one anothr.

Some passages are very easy to understand, others are more challenging.  That’s ok…because a great help is knowing we can use Scripture to interpret Scripture.  This is a great safety net, and the more you compare Scripture with Scripture, the more you begin to see and understand God’s larger picture.  The parts that are difficult become easier to understand as we work with Scripture as a whole.  And when comparing, we always interpret the difficult passages with what we understand from the clear passages – not the other way around.  Don’t take a difficult passage and try to force an unnatural meaning on something that is clear in and of itself.

A good illustration of this is John 3:16-17
For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so the everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Jesus is being explicitly clear here with Nicodemus.  Eternal life is a free gift to everyone who believes.  Whatever other use of the word “saved” or “salvation” you find in other passages, if they are discussing eternal life, then that gift is free.  No strings attached.  No behavior change required.  No promise to do better.  The only condition Jesus puts on anyone receiving eternal life from Him is to believe in Him for it. 

So what does this mean if you find a passage that seems to say we must work for our “salvation” or that we must persevere in order to be “saved”?  Based on John 3:16-17, we know those understandings would not be accurate.  I suggest going back to the context of your verse in question…and then determine if the author has really used “saved” to discuss obtaining eternal life, or is he talking about being “saved” from something else?  Whenever you read the word “saved”, stop and ask yourself “Saved from what?”…because about 70% of the time when “saved” is used in the New Testament, it’s not referring us to obtaining eternal life.  Shocker, I know!  But this is where context and comparison are huge steps in our interpretation process.

Now we’ll take our three Interpretation Steps with our passage from Joshua:

Content: Go back and read over your notes.  Remind yourself of everything you’ve learned up to this point.  Do you have any unanswered questions?

Context: Read all 18 verses of Joshua 1.  How does our passage fit in the larger context?  Notice who else is encouraging Joshua to be strong and courageous.  For additional context, you could also read chapters 2-11.  If you do, look specifically for Joshua’s leadership – was he always strong and courageous, did he observe carefully the whole instruction God had given the Israelites?  If he did, then was he successful, like God promised?

Comparison: Beyond reading Joshua 1-11, think about how this passage relates to what we learned in Psalm 1.  List out the similarities you find.  Can you think of any other similar passages?  How well do they match up? (and it’s ok if no others come to mind)

Joshua 1:6-9
“Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance.  Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you.  Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.

This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it.  For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.  Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous?  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Keep Pressing,
Ken