A King Born in a Manger

In the song “Sweet Little Jesus Boy,” the lyrics state, “Sweet little Jesus boy, they made you be born in a manger. Sweet little holy child; we didn’t know who you were. Didn’t know you’d come to save us Lord, to take our sins away. Our eyes were blind, we could not see. We didn’t know who you were.” The same can be said of many people today; that their eyes are blind to the little baby born in a manger who came to save us. In Luke 2:8-16, we read the story about when the Shepherds first beheld Jesus’ birth:

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger’.”

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.”

The Shepherds ran to Bethlehem to behold the newborn King; but what did they see when they arrived? They saw the baby Jesus lying in a manger, because there was no room at the inn (2:7). A manger was “the feeding-trough for animals in a stall or stable . . . In Palestine the stable or stall was attached to the owner’s house and was furnished with a manger. The stables at Megiddo [for example] . . . had hollowed-out limestone blocks for feed boxes. [One] Christian tradition holds that Jesus was born in a cave in the neighborhood of Bethlehem. In that case the manger may have been cut out of the rock walls.”

The shepherds were told ahead of time that Jesus would be found lying in a manger; nevertheless words could not prepare them for what they beheld. Can you imagine what must have run through their minds when they arrived at a dusty stable, or even a dark and muddy cave? They ran with haste in search of a King, and they found Him lying in a feeding trough. They could have turned right around and went the other way, but there was something special and majestic about this display. At that very moment, the shepherds did not see with their eyes, but with their hearts.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:28-29, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Even the fine clothing and luxurious house of Solomon could not compare to the glory displayed in the simplicity of the swaddling cloth and drafty stable that sheltered God’s one and only Son.

Many years ago, the contemporary Christian group 4-Him sang in a popular Christmas song, “To think of how it could have been if Jesus had come as He deserved. There would have been no Bethlehem; no lowly shepherds at His birth . . . This is such a strange way to save the world.” To some individuals, it appears so strange that they fail to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Some people will say, “I can’t believe that a baby born in a feeding trough was God’s Son and the King of Kings.” The reason why this story seems so unbelievable is not that someone made it up, but that God wanted the account to be unbelievable. 1 Corinthians 3:18-19 says, “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’.”

Don’t pride yourself in your own understanding. Don’t let the foolishness of a King born in a manger keep you from entering into eternal life and salvation. If you refuse to accept Jesus Christ or believe in the virgin birth then you will indeed be snared by your own wisdom; which is a deadly trap leading to condemnation and eternal separation from God. I encourage you this Christmas season to believe the unbelievable.

Christmas Decorations in the Sanctuary

Some people object to having Christmas decorations within the church sanctuary, believing it allows the traditions of the secular to invade the sacred. In our “Trimming of the Tree” service, I provided a devotional and explanation of the Christmas decorations that we typically use in the church, summarizing their symbolism. Some of you would probably appreciate having a copy of this explanation; therefore, I have included it as an article for our January newsletter:

Tonight we will have our “Trimming of the Tree” service, which in many churches is called the “Hanging of the Greens.” This night marks the beginning of our celebration of the coming Christ child: the Advent of Christmas, and the Advent of Christ. Our sanctuary is being transformed with rich symbols of the season; and tonight we share the meaning of these symbols with one another and with our children. Many decorations have their symbolic basis in a passage of prophecy found in Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7.

Our sanctuary is being decorated with many symbols, the first of which is the Advent wreath. The wreath and its candles are the visual focus of the season, and one candle is lit each week as Christmas approaches. The circle of the Advent wreath has no beginning and no end, portraying God’s timelessness and His eternal plan, and the evergreen color denotes eternal life. The shape of the wreath is round, reminding us of the fellowship of believers around the world who share with us the celebration of His coming. The four candles represent Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love.

The poinsettia is a vivid plant, full of meaning. A cluster of small flowers spring forth from among the crimson leaves, which themselves contrast sharply with the remaining green leaves of the plant. The star-shaped formation of the red leaves, suggests the guiding star of Bethlehem (Mt 2:1-2). The crown of yellow flowers reminds us of Him who was born the infant King, as prophesied by Isaiah (Is 9:6). The blood-red leaves foreshadow the cruel cross that lay ahead for the King of Glory (Is 53:5); and underneath, we find a carpet of green, which is the reflection of abundant and never-ending life, as foretold by Isaiah (Is 9:7).

Many kinds of greenery are used to adorn the church building at Christmas time. Mistletoe symbolizes peace, and the prickly leaves and red berries of the holly help us to remember the crown of thorns and the scarlet wounds of Jesus Christ. The fresh scent and color of the evergreen garlands are symbols of life.

The triangle shape of the Christmas tree is like an arrow pointing upward toward God. The color green represents the life we have obtained in Christ; and the fact that it is an “evergreen” tree, stands for our “eternal life” in Jesus. The lights symbolize the glory and splendor of heaven; and the gifts beneath the tree represent how believers have received the greatest gift of all time, which is “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rm 6:23).

Sometimes you will even see bells, or jingle bells, used as decorations. Bells signal the gathering of people for worship; they herald events of worldwide importance; they announce weddings, and they proclaim the birth of royalty. The joyful ringing of bells is undeniably associated with Christmas, reminiscent of the birth that changed the world for all time.

The sanctuary and tree are adorned with decorative lights. Of all the symbols of Christmas, the one that has come to be most meaningful and universal is light; pure, liberating light as portrayed by Isaiah (Is 9:2). Light is a perfect metaphor for Christ, the Son of God, and for His presence among us. Like the love of Christ, the light of the tiniest bulb dispels the darkness; and in this same way, the light and love of Christ shines forth through us into a sin-darkened world. Each of us is just a single glimmer, but together, we can light up the entire world with His love.

Three Christian Taboos Concerning Christmas

“Merry X-Mas”

There’s the story about a little boy who once noticed a huge red-and-green sign painted on the front of a department store, stating, “Merry X-mas.” In a hesitant voice, the child inquired of his dad, “Did they cross Christ out of Christmas, Daddy?” The father became silent for a moment; and then finally nodded, and replied, “Yes, Son. I guess they did.”

This story was created by someone wanting to make us aware of how the secular world is trying to stamp Christ out of Christmas. I agree that the world is trying to subvert the true meaning behind Christmas; however, the abbreviation X-mas originally had nothing to do with removing Christ from the picture.

Abbreviations used as Christian symbols have a long history in the church. The letters of the name “Christ” in the New Testament (koine) Greek were often used as symbols for Jesus. For example, the first two letters of the name “Christ” – which are the letters chi and rho – were used to create the chi-rho monogram that was used to represent Christ during the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine.

Dennis Bratcher states, “By the fifteenth century, X-mas emerged as a widely used symbol for Christmas. In 1436, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press with moveable type. In the early days of printing, typesetting was done by hand and was very tedious and expensive. As a result, abbreviations were common.” Bracther says that in religious publications, the church began to use the abbreviation X, or chi, for the word Christ, in order “to cut down on the cost of the books and pamphlets.”

X-mas is nothing to get upset about, because “X” has long been used as an abbreviation for Christ, even since the time of Constantine. The expression “Merry X-mas” is not the secular world’s attempt to remove Christ from Christmas; so don’t let it bother you so much! Whenever you hear someone utilize this expression, use it as an opportunity to share its history; which will, in turn, allow you to tell them about Jesus Christ.

“The Christmas Tree”

Many Christians object to allowing a Christmas tree within the sanctuary, because it supposedly represents a secular notion concerning the holiday. This objection has been around for quite some time. For example, there’s the story of a Cleveland minister who, back in 1851, nearly lost his position because he allowed a tree inside the church. Going back even further, in early New England, the Puritans banned the entire holiday of Christmas. Many believers are leery about the use of a Christmas tree; however, their fears may be all for naught.

David Robson shares the following historical insight: “Legend has it that Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. One Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of a group of small evergreens. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moonlight. When he got home, he set up a little fir tree indoors so he could share this story with his children. He decorated it with candles, which he lighted in honor of Christ’s birth.”

Did you know the Christmas tree is said to be symbolic of our faith in Jesus Christ? The triangle shape is like an arrow pointing upward toward God. The color green represents the life we have obtained in Christ; and the fact that it is an “evergreen” tree, stands for our “eternal life” in Jesus. The needles of the tree grow upward like hands reaching high to praise God, and the lights symbolize the glory and splendor of heaven. The gifts beneath the tree represent how believers have received the greatest gift of all time: “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

The Christmas tree doesn’t have to be treated as taboo and banned from our churches and homes. It can be a helpful visual aid and teaching resource, used to tell others about God’s plan of redemption in His Son, Jesus Christ.

“Santa Claus”

When I was a child, I often heard church members joke about Santa Claus, saying, “The letters in Santa can be arranged to spell Satan.” Santa is often viewed in a negative light by Christians. Some churches refuse to allow visits from Santa Claus, and some believers won’t allow gifts from Santa to be placed under the Christmas tree at home. But I must ask; is Santa really all that bad? In order to fully answer this question, we need to first ask: “Who was Santa Claus in history?”

The story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara; now located on the southern coast of Turkey. Nicholas was raised a devout Christian; however, his wealthy parents died in an epidemic while he was still young. Nicholas, determined to obey Jesus and sell all he had and give to the poor, used his entire inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his whole life to serving God, and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need and his love for children.

Nicholas later became a celebrated saint of the Catholic Church, which is where we get the name St. Nicholas. On the website SouledOut.org, it is stated that “when Luther created the Protestant church, he realized it would be necessary to wean German children off of St. Nick, so he created Krist Kindle, the winged Christ cherub, who also flew and brought gifts to good children; but which instead focused the celebration around Christ. He came on Christmas Eve at Christ’s birthday.”

When Dutch sailors came to the New World and settled in the New York area, they would not give up their patron saint. Their nickname Santer Klause became the name we know as Santa Claus. The website SouledOut.org states, “Washington Irving gave the Dutch culture prominence in his ‘Knickerbocker Tales,’ which he wrote for the New York newspaper press. He mentioned St. Nicholas over two dozen times in his chronicle, and it is from these writings that the original story ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas,’ better known as ‘The Night before Christmas,’ was conceived.”

The website SouledOut.org continues to elaborate, “The poem [The Night before Christmas] came to Clement Clark one night before Christmas when he was riding in a horse and carriage through the snowy streets of New York City, and so went home and wrote it for his children. St. Nick came to be depicted as a jolly man in the more familiar red suit and white beard, and ‘Harper’s Weekly’ publisher Thomas Nast printed drawings that brought these images to the public.”

We can see that the truth behind the Christ-like servant Nicholas was shaped into one form after another over time, until his selflessness and unconditional love became perverted into a selfish expectation of receiving gifts. The commercialized Santa we have today is something which should be opposed; but at the same time, the notion of Santa Claus presents a wonderful opportunity to teach others how it is better to give than to receive; remembering that Jesus gave the ultimate gift when He died on the cross for our sins.

Why and How Christians Should Vote

Mark Twain once said, “In religion and politics people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination.” Let this never be said God’s people; but let us resolve to become informed about those running for public office and their platforms, and make wise, Christ-honoring decisions when Election Day arrives. It has been stated that religion and politics don’t mix; but in reality, they actually go hand-in-hand. You can’t separate the two; and the place at which they meet is in the election of government officials.

Some people will say that Christians shouldn’t become involved in politics because God is the one who appoints our leaders; and they base this on Romans 13:1b: “For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (NKJV). The belief is that the Lord will take care of everything; and therefore, all we have to do is sit back, relax and watch the show. This reasoning is for those who wish to take the easy way out on Election Day. It is for those who are too apathetic to vote, or who think their vote won’t count, or who are confused about which candidate is the best choice.

The Lord certainly does appoint our leaders; however, they must be servants of God. Romans 13:6b says, “For the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing” (NIV). Before these public servants can be “appointed” as leaders, they must first be “selected.” Whose job is it to do the selecting? Deuteronomy 1:13 instructs, “Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you” (NKJV). God wants us, or His people, to “choose” godly leaders; however, He is the one who actually does the “appointing.” This tells us that we have a role to play, and a responsibility in deciding who is elected into public office.

The choice concerning our leadership is up to us, and this selection process is performed through what is called an “election.” God expects us to stand up for our Christians beliefs, and to select godly men (or women) to govern over us; therefore, we must make an effort to show up at the polls and vote on Election Day. How do we choose the candidate who will best honor the Lord, and be a true servant to both God and fellow citizens? There are two main points that we must remember when we go to the polls: 1.) choose a man of godly character; and 2.) vote the Bible before political party.

The candidate who will best honor the Lord will be a man (or woman) of godly character. The Bible says, “He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3, NKJV). In Jethro’s advice given to Moses, we read this: “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens” (Exodus 18:21, NKJV). What Jethro described was similar to an election.

As Christians, every person for whom vote should be expected to have the following four biblical prerequisites: 1.) “an able man” – he has strength, efficiency and wisdom; 2.) “fears God” – he knows the Lord, and is reverent of God; 3.) “a man of truth” – he is reliable, stable, faithful, and having true doctrine; and 4.) “hating covetousness” – he is a despiser of unjust gain, bribes and other fraud. (These same qualities can be applied in voting for female candidates as well).

In the primaries we have a choice of voting for the “best man” (or woman). The primary election is where our vote matters the most, because at that time we can select a man who most adheres to godly principles. However, Christians often fail to show up at the polls; and therefore, the “best man” is often pushed aside, leaving us with two “lesser men” from which to choose. What happens when a candidate doesn’t have all the biblical qualities that we expect to find, but has just a few of them? Should we abstain altogether from voting on Election Day? Some people don’t agree with the statement I am about to share, but it’s an idiom that makes a tremendous point: “We should vote for the lesser of two evils.”

In electing the candidate who will best honor the Lord, we must vote the Bible before political party. All too often we enter the voting booth, punch a straight ticket for one particular party, and then quickly make our exit. This happens for one of two reasons: 1.) we are zealously loyal to a certain party; or 2.) we haven’t done our research on what the candidates believe; and therefore, we feel safer in voting a straight ticket. Just as I said earlier, we need to do our homework before we show up at the polls, so that we can make Christ-honoring decisions and choose the best man (or woman), who will sincerely serve the Lord and the citizens of this great nation.

Independent Party member and pastor, Rick Warren, who leads Saddleback Church in Southern California, says there are three non-negotiables for Christians when it comes to politics: they are life, sex, and marriage. He says that while believers may disagree on the economy or health care, what they must be firm about is protecting the unborn, viewing sex as holy, and protecting traditional marriage. Warren continues to encourage, “You don’t need to apologize for voting for a Christian worldview which stands up for the sanctity of life, the sanctity of sex and the sanctity of marriage. You don’t need to apologize for that because everybody votes what they believe.”

Democratic Party member and lawyer David Kennedy, in his book You Voted for Who?, states, “I am a firm believer that your vote is often an act of your discipleship, regardless of what is worn on your sleeve. God knows what is worn on your heart. He knows your motivation for the vote; and something as mundane as casting a vote will tell Him an awful lot on whether you are on mission in discipleship as He directed you.” He continues to say, “I just encourage Christians to read their Bible and pray about the candidates they choose to vote for. We need to vote the Bible, not a party platform.”

Dr. Ken Hutcherson, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Redmond, Washington, tells Christians to look to the Word of God before they consider presidential candidates this coming election year; and he advises, “Christians should not support those who go against biblical teachings.” He shared with the Christian Post his suggestion for those who are on the fence about what to do, saying that people should not see it as a choice between two candidates; but rather, as a choice of who will best represent biblical values and what the Bible has to say. Therefore, in the upcoming presidential election in November, be certain to vote for the candidate who best upholds Christian values.

The Chick-fil-A Dan Cathy Misquote Drama

The apostle Paul admonished believers in Ephesus, “We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head” (Eph 4:14-15).

Popular media is incessantly engaged in “cunning craftiness” (Eph 4:14) by portraying Christians and conservatives as hateful and intolerant, with the sole purpose of diminishing Bible-based moral influence. Christ-followers must, therefore, become intentional people of discernment, in order to dispel the surmounting “winds of doctrine” (4:14) being proliferated by an unbelieving world.

A good example of the media’s “deceitful plotting” (Eph 4:14), can be observed in the recent Chick-fil-A brouhaha. In an article entitled “Same Sex Marriage? Dan Cathy Never Mentioned It,” by Martha M. Boltz, we learn the truth concerning the purported anti-gay statement made by Dan Cathy of Chick-fil-A (see footnote 1).

The proponents of the homosexual agenda have portrayed Cathy as a prime example of anti-gay bigotry in America, rallying people to boycott Chick-fil-A in an attempt to undermine his business; however, Cathy never said anything against homosexuals. Boltz says the Chick-fil-A drama “was ignited by a misquote, or actually a non-quote made by C.E.O. Dan Cathy several weeks ago. Supposedly reliable media folk took what they heard, extrapolated it into what they thought it meant, and the die was cast.”

Dan Cathy was attending a meeting at Colonial Baptist Church in North Carolina, when K. Allan Blume of the Baptist Press obtained an interview with him (Boltz). The original interview is entitled, “‘Guilty as Charged,’ Cathy Says of Chick-fil-A’s Stand on Biblical and Family Values” (see footnote 2). Cathy’s actual statement that was misconstrued by the media is this: “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” (Blume).

Martha M. Boltz says, “When I spoke with Rev. Blume, he was quick to explain that he and the chicken magnate were discussing family values in general, how to run a Christian-oriented business in today’s world, and other similar subjects. The subject of gay (same-sex) marriage was not on the roster, nor did Cathy ever mention it.”

Boltz explains the process of misconstrual as follows: “After the interview appeared in the Baptist Press, it was reported by the Huffington Post (owned by America Online), which was the first to insert the term ‘same-sex marriage,’ which had theretofore not been mentioned! ‘Anti-gay’ and ‘same-sex-marriage,’ made for attention-getting headlines, and the rest of the mainstream media followed.”

Boltz continues to explain how “Brian Williams talked about the appreciation day held this week [recommended by Mike Huckabee] and said that it was the result of Dan Cathy coming out ‘forcefully against same sex marriage.’ Where did NBC get that? Certainly not from the interview. This is how exaggerations, embellishments and statements designed to stir up one side or another become gospel.”

The apostle John said, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 Jn 4:1). This is excellent advice for Christ-followers. Do not believe everything you hear and read, but research the facts; and in that way, you will be able to “speak the truth in love” (Eph 4:15) and, thereby, help others weed through the hype.

1. Martha M. Boltz, “Same Sex Marriage? Dan Cathy Never Mentioned It,” The Washington Times: communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/political-potpourri/2012/aug/5/same-sex-marriage-dan-cathy-attacked/ (Accessed August 11, 2012).

2. K. Allan Blume, “‘Guilty As Charged,’ Cathy Says of Chick-fil-A’s Stand on Biblical and Family Values,” Baptist Press: www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=38271 (Accessed August 11, 2012).

Rural Ministry Is Significant

Back in 1994, when I began studying ministry, I dreamed of becoming a missionary with the North American Mission Board. I remember how I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the latest issue of On Mission magazine. This publication contained photos and articles of missionaries working in remote frontier areas of the United States, ministering to Native Americans or perhaps baptizing ranchers in a mountain stream. My heart longed for the day when I would become involved in such meaningful kingdom work.

However, a cultural shift happened over the next ten years, one in which the focus moved from the frontier to the cities. Funding and support for rural ministry was cut, and the latest trend became church planting in urban and suburban locations. The North American Mission Board subscribed to the notion that bigger is better; believing that cities contained more people, thus more opportunity for numerical growth and ultimately more return on investment, as these new churches were expected to produce more tithers who would contribute to the Cooperative Program.

Today, whenever I pick up a copy of On Mission magazine, the entire publication is devoted to church planting in populated areas. When rural pastors view this magazine, many will begin feeling insignificant; thus leading to dissatisfaction and a desire to leave one’s established ministry to start a new church. In the pursuit of having a greater impact, individuals and denominations are quickly losing sight of the fact that true significance is found anywhere that God is present; for where two or three are gathered together in His name, there He is in the midst of them (Mt 18:20).

I wish to share an insight gleaned from an article entitled, “Significance vs. Size,” found in Ministry Today magazine. This article focuses on Jim Graff, the founder of the Significant Church Network; and Graff shares the following research: “The Barna Group notes that, in 2005, forty-five percent of American adults attended church on a typical weekend, but only two percent attend a Protestant megachurch. Bottom line: The vast majority of America’s Christians are being discipled and cared for in smaller churches.”

Consider what we learn from the New Testament. We read that John the Baptist “came preaching in the wilderness of Judea” (Mt 3:1). John began his ministry in the wilderness, and we read that people “went out to him” (3:5) where he was. They journeyed to his remote preaching point, because they were hungry and he had spiritual meat that would satisfy. If we offer something to meet people’s spiritual hunger, then it doesn’t matter how remote our church may be, people are going to come.

When Jesus began His ministry, we read that “Jesus went about all Galilee” (Mt 4:23). Galilee was divided into upper and lower Galilee during Jesus’ time, and “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Is 9:1; Mt 4:15) was the upper portion (Smith’s Bible Dictionary). Professor Allan D. Callahan of Harvard Divinity School tells us, “The upper Galilee has no cities in it. It’s rural, it’s remote. It’s located in the highest hills of the land of Israel . . . [and] very isolated by reason of topography and the nature of the land itself.”

We read how “all Syria” (Mt 4:24) had heard about Jesus and His message. Syria contained “an area of about 30,000 square miles” (Smith’s Bible Dictionary), and Jesus had followings from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan (4:25). Word about Jesus and His message spread a long way, even though He was preaching in a remote area. This was the result of faithfully preaching the Word of God; and people will show up in our remote area too if we will remain faithful where the Lord has intentionally positioned us.

Jim Graff continues to say, “I would like to believe that the next ten years will be known as the beginning of the Third Great Awakening in our nation. If you are unaware of what happened in the first two Great Awakenings, it makes for fascinating reading. Cities were changed as people began attending churches and steeples from newly-constructed churches filled the skylines. The Great Awakening, according to historians, was not one continuous revival but a series of revivals in several locations. And almost without exception, these sparks of renewal started in smaller communities before spreading into larger cities and towns.”

Canton Baptist Church is located in the very region where the Second Great Awaking began in the year 1800 at the Gasper River Meeting House in Logan County near Russellville, Kentucky. Never underestimate “what” God can do, and “where” He can move in great power among His people. No ministry assignment or location is insignificant to the Lord; and if you will believe that He can do a mighty work again in this part of the nation, then “all things are possible to him who believes” (Mk 9:23). Don’t allow the hype surrounding church planting and the emphasis placed on big cities discourage you, for God wants to show forth His glory right where you are.

Lessons from a Soldier

On Sunday evening May 27, 2012 we observed a memorial service where we assembled to pay our respects to those who have faithfully served our country in the military; and to honor non-military loved ones, such as family members and friends who passed away since last Memorial Day. I wish to share some thoughts from the brief devotional message I presented during that service:

Tonight we seek to remember and honor both military and civilians; however, I wish to take a few minutes to consider those in the military. We have much to learn from our military men and women who have surrendered their lives to fight for our country’s freedom; things that can be applied to our walk with the Lord and the Christian fight:

1.) Our military men and women realize they have been called and equipped to fight. In the Christian walk, we have been called and equipped to fight spiritual battles. David said, “He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation” (Psalm 18:34-35a).

2.) Our military men and women realize that fighting is absolutely necessary to obtain freedom. Freedom isn’t really free. The same thing is true in bringing about spiritual freedom. We must fight. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).

3.) Our military men and women realize that fighting is not only necessary, but good. In the Christian walk, we must fight if we are ever going to reach the goal of leading others to find eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul encouraged young Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12).

4.) Our military men and women realize that a good soldier must be one hundred percent committed in order to win. A believer must be careful not to backslide and fall away in the faith, if he or she ever hopes to please the Father. Paul encouraged Timothy, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:3-4).

5.) Our military men and women understand that once a soldier, always a soldier unto death – semper fi. Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Each of the things I have shared demonstrate the deep character found in our military men and women; and should serve as an inspiration to grow strong in our Christian character and in our willingness to fight for the souls of men. Freedom isn’t really free; therefore, we must get over our aversion to war, and join in the spiritual fight. I wish to conclude by sharing a poem by Joyce Kilmer:

The bugle echoes shrill and sweet,
But not of war it sings to-day.
The road is rhythmic with the feet,
Of men-at-arms who come to pray.

The roses blossom white and red,
On tombs where weary soldiers lie;
Flags wave above the honored dead,
And martial music cleaves the sky.

Above their wreath-strewn graves we kneel,
They kept the faith and fought the fight.
Through flying lead and crimson steel,
They plunged for Freedom and the Right.

May we, their grateful children, learn,
Their strength, who lie beneath this sod;
Who went through fire and death to earn,
At last the accolade of God.

In shining rank on rank arrayed,
They march, the legions of the Lord;
He is their Captain unafraid,
The Prince of Peace . . . Who brought a sword.

How to Revive a Nation

Is the hope of our nation founded on the outward things we do, such as enacting government reform and new social programs? Or, is it the result of the inward man and what is happening on a spiritual level inside each citizen of this country? What must happen before our country will begin improving, and before God’s presence will come and dwell among us and prosper us again?

Read: 2 Chronicles 7:11-16: God had commanded David to build a temple for Him (2 Samuel 7:5-6), but David lost the privilege of building the temple (1 Chronicles 22:7-11), because he had shed too much blood in war; therefore, God passed the torch along to David’s son, Solomon. We read that King Solomon accomplished the task that was given to him; and after he had finished building the temple, then God’s presence came and dwelled there.

I want to ask you, was it because Solomon had constructed a new temple that God’s Spirit dwelled there? Was it the sight of the new temple that pleased God and resulted in His presence abiding there? In verse 12 we gain an understanding of why God’s presence came and dwelled in the new temple that Solomon had constructed. God said to Solomon, “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.” God came and dwelled in the temple because Solomon had been continually lifting up his voice to the Lord in “prayer.”

Was it prayer itself that pleased the Lord? No, for in verse 14 God told Solomon that if he desired for His presence to continue abiding in the temple and among the Israelites, that both he and the people also needed to “humble themselves” and “turn from their wicked ways.”

Humbling ourselves, praying, and repenting, are each combined in the expression we read about here that speaks of “seeking God’s face.” God says, “If My people . . . seek my face . . . I will hear from heaven.” Constructing a new temple did not result in God’s presence abiding among His people, but seeking His face did. With us, enacting government reform or programs is not the main thing that will result in improving the state of our county; but seeking God’s face will.

In verse 13 the Lord speaks of shutting up the heavens. I believe we can see from this verse that if we don’t seek God’s face then this will result in the Lord’s presence departing from us.

In Ezekiel 39:23 God spoke of the Israelites in captivity, and said, “Because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid my face from them.” In Isaiah 59:2, we read, “Your sins have hidden his face from you so that He will not hear.” Seeking God’s face is seeking His presence, and we learn time and again from the Scripture that we cannot stand before the presence of a holy God if we are living in sin. Our sins result in God’s presence departing from among us.

If we are not seeking God’s face, then our hearts are simply not devoted to Him. Anytime that we fail to place God in the center of our nation, then we have sin in our life, and sin results in God hiding His face until we repent and seek Him anew. If our country is suffering, then we need to get down on our knees in prayer and get serious about the Lord.

If we want God to choose and sanctify our country as a place where His heart will be perpetually (v. 16), then we must be about seeking God’s face. If we don’t seek His face then we will experience a drought of God’s presence, and a drought in prosperity; so let’s begin seeking His face!

Read: 2 Chronicles 7:19-22: We read that if we “forsake God’s commandments” and “serve other gods,” then the Lord will depart from our presence. When we stop seeking God’s face, then these are the two main things which reveal our lack of devotion.

First, we “stop heeding God’s commandments,” such as the Ten Commandments; or perhaps His top two commandments of loving God first and then loving our neighbor as ourselves. The second thing we do that will result in God’s presence departing from us is that we “serve other gods,” which is known as “idolatry.” Idolatry is an extreme obsession with any person, place, thing, or idea; and we have many idols as citizens of one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

Verses 19-22 warn us about the shame and mockery that will result when God’s Spirit departs from His people. Such things will happen as, we will become “a proverb and a byword among all peoples,” and our country “which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land’.”

If we fail to seek the Lord’s face, then our country will become a mockery to the entire world. However, if we start getting serious about God then our nation will be revived. We must lift high the name of Jesus Christ as a banner across this land; but keep in mind that both national revival and personal spiritual awakening begins with each of us.

A man once came to Gipsy Smith, the renowned English evangelist, and asked him how to have revival. Gipsy asked, “Do you have a place where you can pray?” “Yes,” was the reply. “Tell you what to do. You go to that place, and take a piece of chalk along. Kneel down there, and with the chalk draw a complete circle all around you – and pray for God to send revival on everything inside of the circle. Stay there until He answers – and you will have revival.”

Gossipers Beware: Rumors Are Destructive

In one episode of Veggie Tales, Junior Asparagus and Laura Carrot learned how easily rumors can get started when they accidentally told a whopper about Larry Boy’s butler, Alfred, being a robot! Before they knew it, their little story was spreading all over Bumblyburg like a weed! Thus, the characters had an opportunity to sing “The Rumor Weed Song.”

The lyrics of this song state, “It starts as a story. Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not; but once you repeat, it it’s hard to defeat it. Now look at the mess that you’ve got! I’m a rumor weed! I’m a rumor weed! A tiny little story is all I need to make a big mess!” A rumor, as this song implies, is like a weed that grows so fast that it gets out of control, until you are left with a big tangled mess.

Proverbs 26:20-22 says, “Without wood, a fire will go out, and without gossip, quarreling will stop. Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going, a quarrelsome person keeps an argument going. The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food; people like to gobble them up” (NLT). A rumor is like a growing fire, because the longer it circulates the bigger and more ludicrous it becomes.

A rumor is like charcoal in that it does not easily die out. Have you noticed how embers in a barbeque grill give the impression that the flame is almost gone? The charcoal, however, has heat emanating from it; and all you have to do is stir it up a little, and the charcoal will re-ignite. Proverbs 26:20 admonishes, “Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops” (NLT).

Proverbs 11:13 states, “A gossip goes around revealing secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence” (NLT). Those who go around talking are individuals you should not trust with confidential information. Proverbs 20:19 advises, “A gossip tells secrets, so don’t hang around with someone who talks too much” (NLT). If you are tired of rumors spreading, then stop associating with those who gossip.

A monk once told his leader, “I am troubled in spirit, and I want to leave this place.” The old man asked, “Why?” The monk said, “I have heard unedifying stories about one of the brothers.” The old man inquired, “Are the stories true?” He said, “Yes, Father. The brother who told me is a man of trust.” The old man answered, “The brother who told you is not a man of trust. For if he was, he would not have told you these stories.”

If you are one who tends to gossip then beware. I want to leave you with an excerpt from Prevention magazine, concerning those who gossip:

Before you talk about someone behind their back, take a minute to ponder the results of some recent research on gossip. Dr. John Skowronski, a psychology professor at Ohio State University, was the lead author of a study that assessed the effects of gossip. They discovered that people who hear your gossip will actually associate the message with you.

If you talk about someone who is dishonest, the person hearing you tell the story will associate that characteristic with you as well. Likewise, if you sing the praises of someone who is getting a degree from Harvard, you will be remembered as intellectual. Dr. Skowronski said, “It’s a memory mistake. You listen to the descriptions of others’ actions without thinking much about it. Later, when you search your thoughts about the person who told you, you subconsciously associate them with their description of someone else” (August 1998, p. 40).

Rumors can be extremely destructive to individuals, and the body of Christ; for once they ignite they will consume reputations, tear down emotional stability, stunt spiritual growth, and hinder the work of the kingdom. Therefore, let’s be careful about trusting confidential information with untrustworthy individuals; and if you happen to be a gossiper who loves to talk about negative things, then be forewarned that people will begin thinking negatively of you. Let’s put an end to the rumor weed!

Hope Found in Jesus’ Seven Last Words

What we call Good Friday was not a good day for Jesus, but a bad one. It was a day of betrayal, rejection, pain, and loneliness. Each of us experience difficult times in life. On the cross Jesus left an example on how to deal with hard times, and this is seen in “the seven last words of Christ,” which are actually seven last statements.

First Word: In Luke 23:34, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” The first point in dealing with hard times is to forgive those who hurt us. People can make choices apart from God’s commands, and we are hurt if we fall in their way. The starting block in dealing with the hurt people inflict on us is to realize people don’t always know what they are doing. Many just make bad choices. If we will forgive, we can find release from those bitter feelings that can eat us alive.

Second Word: In Luke 23:43 Jesus said to the thief beside Him on the cross, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” The second point in dealing with hard times is to help others who are experiencing our same struggle. Jesus could have focused on His own problems; but instead He reached out to help someone else in pain, and as He did He forgot about his own difficulties.

Third Word: In John 19:26-27 Jesus turned to Mary and John and said, “Woman, behold your son! . . . [and son] behold your mother!” The third point in dealing with hard times is to take care of family. When Jesus said, “Behold your son,” He was not referring to Himself, but to John. Jesus was telling His mother, “Here is the one who will look after you,” and He told John, “Here is your responsibility.” When loved ones hurt, we can feel at the end of our rope. Meeting their needs can relieve some of the burden.

Fourth Word: In Matthew 27:46 Jesus said, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” The fourth point in dealing with hard times is to bring our hard questions to God, for He is big enough to handle them. We must also come to God because no human being is adequate to answer life’s most difficult questions.

Fifth Word: In John 19:28 Jesus said, “I thirst!” The fifth point in dealing with hard times is to be humble enough to acknowledge when we have needs. Jesus requested a drink to clear his throat for his most important statement to follow. God can work in our life through other people, and asking for assistance or advice from others helps clarify the stance we are taking in trusting that God is ultimately in control.

Sixth Word: In John 19:30 Jesus said, “It is finished!” The sixth point in dealing with hard times is to keep in mind that there will be an end. “It is finished!” was not a cry of defeat, for Jesus willingly went to the cross and was in control of the situation. He allowed Himself to be sacrificed for the world’s sin. He wasn’t giving up hope and declaring His life to be over, but He was confidently proclaiming the completion and victory of the long race He had run. Be encouraged there is an end in sight!

Seventh Word: In Luke 23:46 Jesus said, “Into Your hands I commit My spirit.” The final point is to surrender our adversity to God, and let it go. Jesus surrendered His control of life into the Father’s hands, and He was unafraid to do so. Relying on oneself will not result in a solution to our problems. We have to willingly give God the control before He can and will help us.

Jesus Is Betrayed If He Is Only Called Rabbi

There exists today a number of people who are willing to acknowledge Jesus as a real figure in world history; however they conclude He was only a great teacher and not Lord. Jesus is called Lord because the Bible says He is God (John 1:1, 14). There are even some “believers” who do not have faith in Jesus’ divinity, but see Him as just a teacher or prophet, whose teachings only hold philosophical merit.

In Matthew chapter 26 we find the story of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas Iscariot. The gospel writer Luke says Satan entered Judas’ heart to betray Him (22:3, 4). Matthew describes how Judas went out and conspired with the chief priests on how to lay hold of Jesus, and agreed to hand Him over for thirty pieces of silver (vv. 14-16).

As Jesus sat down to celebrate Passover with His twelve disciples, He informed them that one of them would betray Him. The Scripture says, “Each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?’” (v. 22). There were many times that Jesus’ disciples had earlier called Him Rabbi, but in this intimate setting all of them save one called Him “Lord.” We read about Judas who “answered and said, ‘Rabbi, is it I?’” (v. 25). Eleven disciples acknowledged Jesus as Lord, and one called Him his Rabbi.

The word Rabbi means “teacher.” Jesus’ disciples followed Him for three years, and witnessed His miracles and heard His teachings. They eventually came to the place where they moved past seeing Him as teacher, and realized Him as the long awaited Messiah and Son of God, and had faith to call Him their Lord - that is, all but one. The one who failed to say, “Lord,” was the very individual who betrayed Him to be crucified.

When the crowd came to seize Jesus on order of the chief priests, Judas was leading the way (v. 47). To signify which man the crowd should take, he betrayed Jesus with a kiss (vv. 48-49); but the Scripture emphasizes how Jesus still loved Judas and called him His friend (v. 50).

Jesus’ true followers have bold faith to acknowledge Him as their Lord; however those who only see Him as a great teacher forfeit their faith to the crowd. Peer pressure and secular ideology has swayed many from signifying Jesus as Lord. “Teacher” is much easier to say. When we say “Lord” we risk ridicule from the world; therefore many people betray Jesus with the kiss of soft-spoken words of political correctness. Many Christians are even afraid to say the name of Jesus in public.

If we cannot call Jesus our Lord, we betray Him. If Jesus is Lord, then He has the authority to establish morality. His teachings on morality are found in the gospels of the New Testament. If Jesus is not Lord, we can pick and choose what we want to believe, and that is why it is easier to call Him teacher. If we say we are a “believer” but only call Jesus our teacher, who knows how many times we sell out to the world.

If you have ever sold your faith in Jesus Christ to the world to gain the approval of men, you can be forgiven. The Scripture says Judas realized his wrong and was remorseful and “brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood’” (27:4, 5). The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9).

Discipline: An Expression of Love

I was listening to the Christian radio station, and the announcer said something that I will never forget; that “children spell love as T-I-M-E.”

It appears as though some children are out of control, having little respect for their parents.  If you have ever watched the show “Super Nanny,” then you know exactly what I mean!  The reason why children act out is because they are trying to gain attention, and thus affection; and because they are not receiving one-on-one mentoring, guidance, and correction  that models the right behavior.  This is why discipline is important.  The writer of Hebrews said,

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives . . . If you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons” (12:5b-6, 8).

This passage speaks about God’s relationship with His children (believers); however, we also learn something about parenting.  Those who sincerely love their children will chasten them; and whenever they refuse, they are communicating a message that says, “You are illegitimate, and a ‘bastard’ (KJV); and worthless, needing to be tossed to the curb.” 

Hebrews uses the word “chasten,” which is defined as, “correction by punishment.”  With this understanding of chastening in mind, today’s society usually frowns on the idea of intervening in a child’s life.  Proverbs, however, states, “For whom the Lord loves He corrects” (3:12).  Chastening is simply “correction,” and the NIV uses the relevant word “discipline.”  We need to understand that there is a huge difference between discipline and punishment. 

In the book Growing Kid’s God’s Way, Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo tell us, “Today, we socially define discipline to mean spanking or punishment, but true biblical discipline refers to one thing - heart training.”  “It comes from the same word as disciple - one who is a learner.”  Discipline is not punishment, for it is defined as, “to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.” 

The key word is “control” - not inflicting control, but being in control of oneself.  Caesar Millan, on “The Dog Whisperer,” was speaking about the difference between “punishment” and “discipline” in relation to dog training.  He stated that punishment comes from frustration and anger, and there is emotion behind it.  Discipline is just reminding the dog that he broke the rules, boundaries, or limitations, and then setting him back on the right track.  It is done simply, instantly, and without emotion.

When God chastens or disciplines us, He is not lashing out in anger, but instead nudging us back on the right path.  The Lord gently guides us because, as verse 6 says, He loves us.  We discipline children because we love them and want them to succeed in life.  Proverbs 19:18 reveals this truth: “Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.”  Discipline results in life, and leads to a better way of living and fewer costly mistakes.

If you wish to see your children walk the path of godliness and success, then spend time with them, becoming a model of Christian love and just behavior; and don’t be afraid to show some tough love every now and again in order to remind them where they broke the rules or boundaries.  Be calm and collected, keeping your cool, while being unafraid to confidently set your children back on the right track.