Tag Archives: Culture

5 Ways to Change Your Culture

Church Bulletin, Culture,

surprised at corrupt cultureCulture is corrupt. It is not a government problem; it is a people problem. The world of the 21st century rejects the God of the Bible and despises his teachings. Culture chooses darkness over light just as Jesus said it would. If you are trying to live faithfully, you may feel helpless and hopeless. Your strong desire to live for Jesus fights against the cultural norms of unrighteous and self-centered people. Can you survive? It sure would be easier to surrender.

The good news is that you can change your immediate culture. I can do nothing about the culture of New York City or Hollywood. But, I can change the world around me. I can change what goes on around me. Here is how.

1.    Take a Stand

There comes a time when you throw down a marker; you draw a line in the sand that you will not cross. It is not easy and may even be terrifying. Don’t laugh at the nasty joke and do permit crude or offensive language in your presence. Don’t “like” or “share” trash on social media. It is your personal space, and you control what happens in it.

2.    Carry Your Sword

Scripture calls itself the sword (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16). Take your sword that is, your Bible, with you everywhere. Place it on your desk. Let it be seen poking out of your back pocket. Let people see you reading it. You will be stunned at the stopping power of a visible Bible. Add a Christ proclaiming image or article to your online accounts.

3.    Seek Allies

Everyone is not corrupt. True enough, we are all sinners (1 John 1:8), but we are not all promoting evil. Find that person on the job or in your class who seeks to know Jesus and draw closer to them. Battles are hard to fight alone. Build alliances to help change your culture.

4.    Claim the Battlefield

The company breakroom is notorious for foul talk, boasts of sin, and gossip. It does not have to be that way!  Gently, and sometimes not so gently, change the topic. Talk about good things. Highlight others who are doing good and commend them publicly. Talk about your worship, talk about involvement with good deeds. Crowd out the trash talk.

5.    Claim Victory

Jesus already won. The victory is his. You and I just fight in the little skirmishes. We are sweeping up after the win. Even in the darkest day, you are still a victor. You are a warrior with a crown of victory (1 Corinthians 15:56-58; 2 Timothy 4:6-8).

 

No combat is easy. It is not fun to be on the battlefield. You can, however, make the best of your time here by fighting to expand the borders of the Kingdom. You can choose to go along with the world. You can follow along mindlessly, or you can challenge the status quo. You can lead your immediate culture out of the darkness of sin. The choice is yours alone.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @J_Bryant_Evans.

Foolishness

Culture, Daily living, Government, Jesus, , , ,

standing aloneThe mind of the Christian is vastly different from the mind of the worldly person. In our conversion and sanctification we have been changed. We do not see life the same way as before. And, as we mature, our thinking changes more and we become more like Christ in our thinking and actions. Today, we see this clash of worldviews clearly in the way  society thinks and the government governs. But this conflict is not new. It has been a problem for centuries. Paul sees at least four ways our thinking is different from the world.

The World Thinks the Cross is Foolish

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing…but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

“But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23)

I am not sure there could be any greater disunion between Christians and the world than our views of the cross. We cherish the cross; the world scorns the cross. We weep at the cross; the world laughs. In fact, the word that is here translated folly (foolishness in some translations) is from a Greek word, moros, which comes to mean “moron” in our modern tongue. In other words, people think the crucifixion is a moronic idea.

But for the Christian, the cross is the pivotal moment in history when God’s glory shined upon the lost. The crucifixion was a required moment when God was shown as just in his actions and the moment when he justified us (Romans 3:25, 26).

Far from being a stupid idea, the cross is the power of God on display. [bctt tweet=”Far from being a stupid idea, the #Cross is the power of #God on display.”]

The World Thinks Preaching is Foolish

 “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21)

It’s not hard to imagine that the world thinks preaching is foolish too. After all, if we preach Christ crucified and if the world things the crucifixion is foolish, it is obvious they would think the preaching was foolish too.

Honestly, some preachers seem to think Biblical preaching is foolish. They have exchanged the old rugged cross for the comfort of soft, easy words. In their judgment, the preaching of sin and sanctification is too hard.

The message is not ours. That pulpit belongs to Christ. For Jeremiah, the Lord’s words were a “burning fire shut up in my bones” (Jeremiah 20:9; Lamentations 1:13). Peter and John could only “speak of what we have seen and heard” from Jesus and the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:20). Paul determined that his preaching was only about Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). [bctt tweet=”The message is not ours. That pulpit belongs to #Christ.”]

Let the world laugh at the preaching of truth. We know God’s word makes the spirit of man alive!

The World Thinks the Things of God’s Spirit are Foolish

“And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:13-14)

The Gospel message is not of human origin. It was delivered by the Holy Spirit to inspired men who then wrote it down for us (2 Peter 1:20). Paul’s message was not his own but rather that of the Spirit. By extension, the Bible is not from men as some assert, but a message from the Creator Himself. The worldly man will not understand, nor does he desire to, but the man of God will drink deeply at the well of God’s wisdom.

Spiritual discernment is a characteristic of maturity. Solomon prayed for a discerning mind as he led God’s people. He did not ask for worldly wisdom but Godly discernment (1 Kings 3:9-12). Paul called on us to be a changed people of transformed minds so that we can discern the will of God (Romans 12:2). This Godly ability is not cultivated by my own thinking or analysis. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit given to those in the body of Christ, the church.

The World’s Wisdom is Foolishness to God.

“For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile” (1 Corinthians 3:19, 20).

Inspiration now turns the tables on the world. It is not godly wisdom that is folly but the wisdom of the world! From God’s perspective – the only perspective that matters – it is the world that is foolish.

Notice the last word, futile. It means useless or empty. It is a perfect description of fleshly thinking. At the very best the world can only offer temporary happiness and fulfillment. It offers nothing beyond the here and now. Only the wisdom of God sustains for eternity.

A quick look at where society is today should confirm the view that the world is devoid of wisdom. Wickedness is growing, abortion is prevalent, drugs and alcohol are destroying lives and divorce is shattering homes everywhere.  Goodness is not possible through worldly thinking.

What is your worldview? Is it God’s or is it the world’s? Choose wisely.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

 

4 Reasons Not To Be Surprised at the World

Culture, Government, Homosexuality, Legislation, ,

standing aloneThe disappointing decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, Obergefell v. Hodges, which allows same sex marriage in all states regardless of the will of the people, prompted an outpouring of angst on social media sites. American Christians were stunned that SCOTUS delivered a ruling so at odds with Bible teaching. Suddenly Christians found themselves, again, on the losing end of a political decision. For some, it was certainly the end of the world. For others, it was an excuse to spew forth venom against a community of people with whom they disagreed.

During the social media storm, I read a blog from author Carey Nieuwofe offering a Canadian perspective on same-sex marriage. Titled Some Advice on Same-Sex Marriage for US Church Leaders From a Canadian, the post was balanced and on target. I commend it to you. The post offers 5 ideas for American Christians to consider. His article caused me to think deeper about the decision and the reaction. From the seed of his post I offer 4 reasons why Christians should not be surprised at the decision or the joyous backlash from the LGBT community. [bctt tweet=”Christians should not be surprised at the SCOTUS decision”]

1. Jesus Was a Countercultural Icon

In his own day, Jesus countered the prevailing winds of society and government. He was never satisfied with the condition of the Jewish nation and he was never afraid to say so. In Matthew chapter 5, part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus countered current teaching and expanded on what was being practiced. 6 times Jesus said “but I say to you…” He took their standard and made it better. He took their culture to a higher level.

The scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and high priests were the leaders of the day. They set the tone for religious life among the Jews. Jesus saved his most scathing comments for them. In Matthew 23, he offers strong rebukes of these cultural leaders. 6 times Jesus says, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! One other time he calls them “blind guides.” He opposed their way of life and their teachings. He sought to counter them by offering a new and better way.

2. Jesus Was Hated by the Establishment

Because he was so vocal and well received by the common man, the leaders of the day hated Jesus. These leaders were first curious about this new call to renewal from John (Matthew 3:7-10) and then later sent to Jesus to learn more about him (John 3:1-2). Soon, however, they sought to discredit Jesus before his followers (Matthew 16:1; Mark 8:11; Luke 10:25; John 8:6). At every turn Jesus bested their feeble attempts to embarrass him. It would take more than tricky questions to bring Jesus down. [bctt tweet=”Countercultural Jesus was hated by the establishment then and now.”]

A great miracle in Bethany proves the turning point for the established leadership of Judaism. Jesus called Lazarus back from the dead. The miracle could not be denied and more and more people began to follow after Jesus. The leaders were not pleased. “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (John 11:47-48). The high priest then uttered these dark words: “You know nothing at all.  Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish” (John 11:49-50). These were prophetic words concerning Jesus’ death.

The established leaders of the day despised Jesus so much that they schemed to kill him. They were successful. Their hatred had become murderous.

 

3. Don’t Be Surprised When the Establishment Hates You

It is not reasonable that the world would hate our Lord and love us. The established culture and governments of the day oppose us because they oppose our Lord.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me” (John 15:18-21).  [bctt tweet=”It is not reasonable that the world would hate our Lord and love us”]

No surprises. The world is in the hands of the evil one (1 John 5:19).

We want to be faithful servants of Jesus. We also want to be accepted by the world. The two are not compatible. It hurts deeply when the world rejects us because of our faith. But know that it is nothing new. It happened to our Lord – it will happen to us.

 

4. We Are Not Like The World And Must Never Be

Part of our trouble is that we want desperately to be like the world so that we will be accepted. The idea of isolation frightens us and threatens many of the relationships we hold dear. But to be a Christian is to place every relationship on the altar of sacrifice. Jesus said that includes our family (Matthew 10:37). Paul surrendered everything for his relationship with Jesus (Philippians 3:4-11).

As Christians, we are first of all citizens of Christ’s kingdom, placed there by the power of God (Colossians 1:13). We are God’s people; we are God’s possession (1 Peter 2:9-10). We are only “strangers and exiles” in this life (1 Peter 2:11).

Our culture is growing darker and darker (2 Timothy 3:13). They will grow to hate truth (even more than they already do) and will despise those who speak the truth. Remember we are not the world. As for our nation, Christians do not need the USA; the USA needs Christians. Only by standing firm on the rock of truth can we lead people from darkness to light. When light mixes with darkness it always grows dim. [bctt tweet=”Christians do not need the USA; the USA needs Christians”]

We must reject the temptation to bow to societal and cultural pressures to conform. We must not change. But always stand firm.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

 

Resolved: 4 Simple Steps for 2015

Bible General, Culture, Daily living, , ,

2015 Let’s do something a little different today. Let’s make 5 New Year’s resolutions that we can actually keep. I’m the worst at keep resolutions. If I make it to January 2nd it’s a big accomplishment. I want to do something different this year and commit to doing some things that I can really stick with and accomplish.

There are many great posts about the coming year. I think people are ready for a fresh start and are glad to put 2014 in the history books. For me, I want to just cut out the last 6 months and pretend they didn’t happen. The first 6 were really great but the last half really stunk things up.

Some of the posts really focus on Bible reading. I’m all for that. I’ll be reading my Bible more this year. But the idea of covering X-number of chapters per day doesn’t appeal to me. Some chapters I can read through speedily while others seem much weightier and cry out for deeper study.

Some are focusing on church attendance. That’s a good goal too and certainly Christians need to work harder on attendance, but that’s a little hollow too. Simply showing up at the appointed hour doesn’t mean much. There is a better way to approach things. [bctt tweet=”2015 will only be as good as you make it.”]

In 2015 resolve to put your heart fully into your Christian walk. Here are 4 suggestions for your consideration.

Walk Closer to Jesus

It may be that you need to read your Bible more, It may be that you need to pray more. It may be that you need to be more involved. It may be that you need all of the above. But draw near to Jesus and those things easily follow. Zero in on your relationship with him and make him the focus of your life.

[bctt tweet=”There is no better resolution than to walk with Jesus daily.”]

Walk Closer to Your Family

I’ve never met a person who was satisfied with their relationship with their family. When the world closes in the family suffers. When our business needs us we usually must take time from our family to satisfy our boss. This year, devote more time to family and less to work. You will one day retire from your wo

Walk With Your Heart

Have you ever wanted to do something but did not because it wasn’t wise or prudent? This year, follow your heart. I have a secret admiration for people who hitchhike from one place to another. They are unbound and free to go where their heart takes them. They give up a lot, more than I am willing to surrender, but they follow their hearts. This year, spend more time letting your heart dictate your days.

Walk Unplugged

One writer says becoming “unplugged” is the number 5 most popular tweet this year. People have grown tired of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, etc. They remember a simpler time when people talked to each other with voices. Here’s a thought: Spend more time looking at the faces of your loved ones that at the screen of your phone.

I’m looking forward to a better year in 2015 and I believe these simple steps will help.

Happy New Year!

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

 

Elton John and Jesus

Culture, Homosexuality, Jesus, News, , ,

EJElton John, famed musician and outspoken homosexual activist, informed us this weekend that “if Jesus Christ was alive today, I cannot see him, as the Christian person that he was and the great person  that he was, saying this could not happen.” John is speaking of legislation which would permit homosexual couples to be married in the same way as heterosexual couples. Biblically, Elton John is just wrong.

Most glaringly, he misses the point that Jesus is alive today. The resurrection of Jesus and the empty tomb are centerpieces of the Christian faith which John claims to know so well.

But as far as his claim that homosexuality should be accepted today because the “times have changed,” he is still in error. There are multiple clearly understood prohibitions against homosexuality in the Bible and there is not even a single instance of an approved homosexual relationship found anywhere in Scripture.

Elton John’s reasoning, that Scripture must change to meet modern times is an old and tired attempt to break free of Biblical commands someone does not like. Logically, if Scripture cannot stand the test of time then truth does not exist. Jesus said that God’s word is truth (John 17:17). Truth doesn’t change.

The entertainer also fails in his understanding of what God desires for mankind. In the Guardian article, John is quoted as saying, “He was all about love and compassion and forgiveness and trying to bring people together and that is what the church should be about.” Jesus is about love, compassion and forgiveness and the church should also pursue the same goals. But that love, compassion and forgiveness must be the same kind of love, compassion and forgiveness that Jesus has. Jesus’ goal was stated simply by the Lord himself, “For the son of Man came to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

First, Jesus is about redemption. He is about rejoining man to his previous relationship with God. A relationship that had been marred by sin. Jesus does desire our happiness, but our eternal happiness is the goal, not some temporary earthbound happiness. Elton John doesn’t like the idea that his sexuality is somehow restricted or contained by God’s Word. What he fails to understand is that everyone’s sexuality is constrained in some way. All of our behaviors are limited. But those restraints serve to bring us into holiness together with our Lord.

No Christian should be found “bashing” or abusing people in any sin. We are all sinners. I daily speak for God as a preacher of his word. It is an enormous responsibility which I humbly accept. So when someone else claims to speak for Jesus, as Elton John has done, he must also bear that same responsibility. We have no permission to err. We have no right to presume. When someone speaks wrongly they should be challenged.

 

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

Resistance is Futile…or Is It?

Culture, Daily living, Daniel, , , , , ,

“You will be assimilated…Resistance is futile”

– Locutus of The Borg (Star Trek)

Picard_as_LocutusAssimilation is the process of absorbing one thing into another such that there is nothing left of the original item. Star Trek aficionados understand the term from “The Next Generation” when an alien race tries to eliminate all of humanity by assimilating them into their own collective consciousness. Sounds bizarre right? Not so much. In fact it is very common and happening to you right now.

Our own culture and society work hourly to assimilate Christians. Society seeks to remove any vestige of Christianity from the public square. All we are, hope for and desire are to be melded into the godless void of our present culture.

This assault, coming from different directions and seemingly very different people is all part of an effort to change our way of viewing the world. It assaults our very understanding of right and wrong. In his book Culture Wars, author James Davison Hunter observes:

“Once again, what seems to be a myriad of self-contained cultural disputes actually amounts to a fairly comprehensive and momentous struggle to define the meaning of America—of how and on what terms will Americans live together, of what comprises the good society.”

The Battle is far greater than politics and government. Government is only a tiny part of the issue and is more of a symptom than a cause. The real issues lie in the assimilated hearts and minds of our neighbors, co-workers and family.

The world wants to change us into something different. The world wants us to be more like them and less like Christ. That is a problem.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were young nobles from Judah. They were God’s people who had been captured and taken as slaves to Nebuchadnezzar’s court in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar wanted them assimilated into Chaldean culture and society.

“Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility,  youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king” (Daniel 1:3-5).

Among  other things, the Chaldean literature would have included writings from the priests of Marduk, Nebuchadnezzar’s chosen idol. They might read them but they would not bow.

Daniel immediately stakes out his position. “Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself…” Daniel might be compelled to live in the Babylonian world, much as we must live in our culture, but Daniel would not conform to it. At the first opportunity, Daniel, speaking for the other three, refused the king’s food and wine and insisted on water and vegetables (Daniel 1:8-12). At the end of 10 days it was clear to all that Daniel’s plan was best. God had blessed his resolute actions.

 Worldly Success

There is no question Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were successful in the world of the Babylonians. They were appointed as top administrators in the province and in the palace. From our perspective, we know their success came because of their faithfulness but it also teaches us that we can be successful in our careers even when we maintain our distinctive Christian nature.

But there is a line over which these good men would not step. Certain Babylonians brought malicious charges against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Perhaps motivated by jealousy these charges were nevertheless true. The men charged that  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were refusing to worship an idolatrous image Nebuchadnezzar had erected. Their refusal could cost them their careers and even their lives. The three are summoned before the king himself and offered a chance to live. All that was necessary was to worship the idol (c.f. Daniel 3:1-6; 14, 15).

They refused.

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).

We see two important items. First, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were absolutely committed to Jehovah God. No matter the cost, they would not compromise their faith. Second, the three did not know how or if God would deliver them! But it still did not matter. They would not bow!

This should be instructive to us today. We face many challenges to our faith, rarely to death, but major challenges nonetheless. It is so easy to cave. It’s easy to assimilate. But if we learn from Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego we will remain resolute even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. We must trust God and remain wholly committed to him. No slacking. No compromise. No assimilation.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego resisted but they still were cast into an incredibly hot furnace. You probably know the rest of the story. They were delivered by God, Nebuchadnezzar was humbled and they were promoted. But this good ending is only because they remained faithful.

Likewise, Daniel refused to stop praying even when commanded to do so by the King Darius. Daniel faced a den of hungry lions for his devotion to God (Daniel 6:1 ff). In fact, as soon as the law was established, Daniel went to his bedroom, through open the windows and began praying. He was seen and brought before the king to answer for his “crime.” Although the king could not stop the execution, he hoped Daniel’s God would. And he did just that. The mouths of the lions were closed and Daniel walked out of the den. The malicious men were themselves thrown to the lions and God was glorified throughout the kingdom.

Why should we be any less fearless? Why should we hide our faith. Our strength will change others. It does matter how we live. He matters when we reject compromise. Daniel refused to meld his faith into that of the Medes. He would not assimilate and he was blessed.

The moral of this story…

Resistance is not futile!

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

Casual Sex and Culture

Culture, Sin, Web sites, Youth,

MileyCyrus_signature.svgShortly after the Miley Cyrus embarrassment students in public schools were seen twerking. That is, they were moving their bodies in way suggestive of having sex. The provocative moves soon found their way into some dance team and cheer-leading routines in public schools.  Cyrus was not finished debasing herself and culture.  Her music video featured the moderately talented Cyrus dancing nude on and around a wrecking ball. Other entertainers who appeal to the youth demographic are also pushing lewd behavior to new lows.

But now comes a report that parents have had enough. They are seeing changes among their own children who mimic the moves and words of the performers. A Brit website, Netmums, conducted a survey of parents which revealed their observations and fears. The cultural breakdown survey is brief and worth reading.

Real Problem #3 – No Discipline

Bible General, Culture, Daily living, ,

Discipline is a foul word in some quarters. In others, it suggests punishment. But others see discipline as a necessary component of a maturing, healthy life and especially of a faithful life before God. The apparent lack of discipline is the reason for so much of society’s ills. R. Kent Hughes, writing in the popular Disciplines of a Godly Man , says:

“I Learned that personal discipline is  the indispensable key for accomplishing anything in this life.  I have since come to understand even more that it is, in fact, the mother and handmaiden of what we call genius.”

Hughes continues:

“We will never get anywhere in life without discipline  be it in the arts, business, athletics, or academics. This is doubly so in spiritual matters. In other areas we may be able to claim some innate advantage. An athlete may be born with a strong body, a musician with perfect pitch, or an artist with an eye for perspective. But none of us can claim an innate spiritual advantage.”

When we look across the cultural landscape we see trouble. Moral values have vanished, integrity is lost and even the so-called work ethic that under-girded our nation is weakened and near breaking. In every case there is a lack of discipline on the part of individuals that is spreading to entire communities.

Miley Cyrus is the current poster child for vulgarity and amoral conduct. She follows a long line including Lady Gaga and Madonna before her. Yesterday, as the Cyrus antics were being covered by the media, I witnessed a teen aged girl at a local high school imitating the embarrassing dance moves of Cyrus.

A casino in Las Vegas is trying to evict a nightclub from their property because their stage show is raunchy. Specifically,  they charge that performers are imitating bestiality in the shows. Now here is the kicker. A spokesman for the niughtclub said:

“We believe we are on the leading edge of the next evolution of nightlife in Las Vegas and that The Act fills a niche for patrons looking for an alternative to the typical Las Vegas big-box club scene.”

“The next evolution?” Sadly, he is probably right. As discipline wanes, our world moves from bad to worse. It should be no surprise because Scripture has Paul telling Timothy that “evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).

Personal Discipline

All discipline is personal.Members of a group must each be disciplined else the group as a whole will falter. Discipline is developed over years of practice and does not come easily to some. It prove better to seek discipline in one area before moving on to the others. One writer says it this way: “It’s a mistake to try to push yourself too hard when trying to build self-discipline. If you try to transform your entire life overnight by setting dozens of new goals for yourself and expecting yourself to follow through consistently starting the very next day, you’re almost certain to fail. ” We would suggest the following order.

1. A Discipline of Prayer

Prayer is the foundation of Christian growth and without it, any apparent growth will soon slip away. Prayer was a frequent discipline for Jesus and should be for his followers too.

We would suggest setting a specific time for prayer. Allow at least 15 minutes in the beginning (more later) and find a place without distractions where you can pour your heart out to God. Late at night as you lay in bed is probably not a good time, neither is driving down the road. Find a time where nothing competes for your attention.

It is perfectly fine to write down prayer needs and requests. In fact a prayer journal is a great idea and will help you review the way God has dealt with you in the past.

2. A Discipline of Study

Very closely related to prayer is the study of God’s word. Inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16) is the transmission of truth from God to man, through man and for man. By inspiration we come to know for certain precisely what our needs are. But study is essential. A student could never become an engineer or medical doctor without study. The Christian cannot never reach his full potential apart from study.

Like prayer, study should be deliberate and at a set time of the day. Prepare for your study by arranging an uncluttered working space and by having a notebook and pen handy. Your goal is not to read a certain number of verses but to understand the verses that you do read. Set aside 30 minutes for study and fill those minutes by striving to fully and completely understand each verse.

3. A Discipline of Conduct

Once a foundation of prayer and study are set you are ready for the transformation that God will work in your life (Romans 12:2). At some point every Christian must determine whether he will walk worthy of his calling (Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:2), or not. The changing power of God’s word will lead into a new way of life. It will change the way you live.

It seems that in the early days a new Christian spends much time eliminating unrighteous habits. But as time progresses we spend more time adding new ways of life consonant with a walk with God. Changes in our behavior, adding or eliminating, requires discipline. It makes no sense to empty our life of  bad habits without replacing those habits with goodness. In fact, such one sided actions may be dangerous (Matthew 12:43-45).

So right now, pick a habit to attack. Bad language? Immoral conduct? Gossip? Whatever it is bring your body into subjection. You are the boss of your own life. Set your house in order!

There is no time like the present to begin to serve God with all your heart. Bring discipline to your life.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

Real Problem #2 – No Leadership

Culture, ,

Vasnetsov_Grave_diggerOur culture is dying for leadership. The once proud society which engaged in the greatest experiment in human self-governance is soon to draw its last breath. It is suffering from a disease that touches every member of society. It is not quarantined in the White House or in Congress, although they are sicked too. It is a contagion that is not restricted to Hollywood or the big cities. It is an illness that we all contribute to.

There are no leaders.

21st century America thinks of leaders in political terms. We think of Congress, Governors and the President as out leaders and indeed they are. But true leadership is far more than winning political races. Leaders are everywhere.

A Lack of Leadership in the Home

Our homes are a mess. Parents no longer lead but instead respond to the direction of their children. Youth have no one to follow in their homes so they follow television stars or some popular kid at school. Without the direction of a strong parent it is no wonder our children seem aimless.

Parents are to train their children (Proverbs 22:6) and to apply discipline when needed (Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 22:15). Yet, many fathers do not apply discipline because they are not at home. Work or even poor character keep men out the homes. Women feel beleaguered because all of the burden of raising a child is laid upon them. Children of broken home are sometimes undisciplined because parents are afraid to make the child unhappy and thus drive them closer to the ex-spouse. The result, no leadership.

Parents are God’s only way of training future parents. Sloth now produces more sloth in future generations. Only by re-establishing leadership in the home can we begin to reclaim the high ground that once marked out our society.

A Lack of Leadership in Business

This is a bit misleading. There is leadership in business but it is the wrong kind. Many in the business world have bought into the idea of “profit at all costs.” If it helps the bottom line, it must be good. Gone are the days when the primary goal was to help another. A famous wall street titan of the past once taught his employees that the best stock buy and sell transaction was one that left a little something in it for the next guy. No more.

A Christian retailer who sold decidedly un-christian products in his store once commented that church was church and business was business. Real leadership don’t you think?

At the root of much business malaise is greed and covetousness. “The righteousness of the upright will deliver them but the treacherous will be caught by their own greed” (Proverbs 11:6). “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of…greed” (1 Corinthians 5:11). We ought remember Jesus own warning that a man cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:24).

Business should be clean and honest where both the buyer and the seller walk away with value. Cheating, manipulation and slick deals have no place in the Christian economy. We need strong Christian leaders who will stand for righteousness even if it means loosing a deal.

A Lack of Leadership in School

Pure-mathematics-formulæ-blackboardI know something about public schools. I am a product of public schools as is my wife who now teaches in a public school. My eldest son will graduate from a state university and my younger sons are students in the public schools. It’s clear that there is a lack of solid leadership in our schools.

It is easy to point to the Supreme Court and argue that removing prayer from schools is the reason for our scholastic problems. But that is only a part of the problem. Teachers and school staff must display high levels of morality and righteousness. Teachers who use profanity and who have out of school activities that are unrighteous ought be removed from teaching. Such includes sports coaches who cannot coach without classless, vulgar statements and profanity.

We need more teachers who are willing to challenge the system and raise the quality of student’s lives. Instructors must not blindly follow curriculum that teaches falsely and opposes God. Courage is needed now.

Freed-Hardeman University once used the phrase, “teaching how to live and how to make a living.” That’s a fine motto for all of our educators.

A Lack of Leadership in Washington

There are problems in Washington D.C. For decades, some have used government as the means to denigrate people of faith and to remove Godly principles from the public square. Some leaders have assaulted the so-called Judeo-Christian work ethic. Honesty is rare among our leaders. There are serious leadership problems in Washington.

But before we draw and quarter our politicians, let us remember how they got there. These governmental leaders are where they are because society put them there. The system of elections in the United States is sufficiently strong to ensure that the people who win are the people chosen by the voters. IN other words, they are the fault of a society that does not want righteous leadership. Fix the society and you will fix the political system. You cannot do it the other way around.

But still, government is God’s idea. We are to honor our government and to remain obedient to it even when we don’t like what it does (Romans 13:1). When the church obsesses over government we miss the mission of the church. The church was not given to be a political force but rather a force for salvation in the world. Consider the successes of the original Christians against the backdrop of Roman persecution. What could a Peter or Paul accomplish today?

A Lack of Leadership in the Church

Verbena_United_Methodist_Church_July_2011The church is dangerously close to drifting into irrelevance from the perspective of society. It is not the the church will actually be  irrelevant but just that society thinks so. Why? I think there are two reasons.

Churches do not teach doctrine anymore.

In an effort to attract new people into their numbers, churches deliberately softened their doctrine. Churches appropriately desire to reach sinners but a subtle change has occurred. Sinners are not expected to change. Repentance is gone. The Bible teaches differently. Repentance is essential (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 2 Corinthians 7:10). Some churches ignore what the Bible teaches on homosexuality. Some ignore what the Bible teaches on adultery. The sin remains but the churches fail to teach.

Churches are social clubs.

The church is the place where God puts the saved (Acts 2:41, Acts 2:47). It is of divine origin an not a human device. Churches are community. They are made up of people and the church ought edify them all. But some use their churches as networking centers and give little regard to the spiritual basis of the body of Christ. Such social clubs do little to lead people to the mountain of God.

The church ought be the voice of Christ on the earth. The church ought lead its members and the community as we challenge the current societal ills. Without leadership in the church, the world cannot change.

We need leadership in every aspect of life. With leadership, there can be growth, great growth and we can begin to turn our culture back to Christ.

 

The Real Problem

Apologetics, Culture,

Challenges abound and problems are everywhere. But what is the root of our problems? What can we do to to address that problem? I sure don’t have all the answers but I think I have a place to start the discussion.

It seems to me that our culture has no standard of what is good or evil. We have taken the approach that “I’m OK, You’re OK” and that I must not make any judgement of your actions. We have corrupted the meaning of Matthew 7:1-5 into a prohibition against all judging. Christians, many ignorant of the actual teaching of the verse, have hung their head in shame at their assumed guilt. We have allowed every shifting human dogma to attain an equivalency with inspired teaching. Whether we intend to our not, we have allowed such systems as Islam, Humanism and even Atheism to rise to an equal level with Christianity. Such a weakness has allowed competing standards to flood the world. The result? A plethora of standards results in no standard at all.

Within the heart of every person, there are certain standards that seem to be born into each. A love for children and a need to protect them from harm, a yearning for freedom and a respect, at some level, for others, all seem to be innate. Prohibitions against murder are found across all society’s and cultures. Why? Because there is a moral standard given from an unchanging lawgiver. No Congress or Parliament is adequate to back such global laws. No King, President or Prime Minister has the power to enact unchanging worldwide foundations. Only God has such power and authority. Yet our world is fast approaching a total vacuum of  morality.

Solomon wrote that “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). This country has lost any semblance of righteousness. The very concept of right or wrong actions is anathema to most.

But we cannot have righteousness apart from a righteous standard. The only standard confirmed by astounding miracles is the Bible. Only Jesus has the words of life (John 6:68) and only Jesus can save men from a wicked world (John 14:6). There are two important implications:

  1. All other so-called holy books are mere pretenders.
  2. A personal knowledge of the Bible is critical.

I know some will argue with these and some may find additional implications but the point is that we need the Bible as our standard in society and culture.

To me, there is nothing more peaceful than an early morning walk along the beach. The salty breeze, the distant cry of a gull and the crashing of the waves settle me. But if I stand in the edge of the water and allow the tide to swirl around my feet I will soon fall. The sand is no foundation. It washes away and soon I become so unstable that I fall. Our nation is is just this sort of condition. We’ve become hypnotized by the allure of sin in our world while, unnoticed, our foundations have eroded. Collapse is certain.

Can we pull our society back from the brink? Are we to far gone? Will we soon become a distant memory? I pray for revival. Will you?

 

 Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.