Christian Know-It-Alls Are Frightening

 

“Pride is a person having too high an opinion of himself. Pride is the first sin that ever entered into the universe, and the last sin that is rooted out. Pride is the worst sin…Pride is God’s most stubborn enemy!..There is no sin so much like the devil as pride.”  Jonathan Edwards

 

  In the third century, Cyprian, the bishop of Carthage, wrote that Christians don’t “speak great things, but we live them.” Yet, it’s easier to speak about truth than it is to live out the truth. But Christians who only talk yet fail to walk are frightening. The most frightening Christians that I encounter are those who act like they have all of the answers. They love to share their opinions and pontificate to other “mere mortals.” 

  No doubt you’ve run across them. Hopefully, you’re not one. It sometimes feels like they’re ubiquitous. They either have a blog or use their Facebook page (or post on everyone else’s) sharing their insights. They’re on Twitter slamming all the other ignoramuses out there.

  By now probably a couple of names have popped into your head. These individuals believe that it’s their calling to correct everyone else who is not as enlightened as they are. Sometimes they’re disciples of some celebrity pastor and quote them ad nauseam. They’re modern-day Pharisees. 

  I wish I could say that pride or arrogance weren’t sins I struggle with. I frequently find Benjamin Franklin’s insights very apropos for my own life.

  In his autobiography, Franklin focuses on the weakness of human pride. He observed, “In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.” Most can relate to being “proud of our humility.” Like Franklin, we must admit that we, too, struggle with pride.

  The greatest danger of being a spiritual know-it-all is that you’re stuck spiritually. If you believe that you have the answers, you are no longer growing. Your pride has become a blockage to continued spiritual growth. 

  If you believe that you have all of the answers, attending church is little more than symbolic. You don’t come as a student or a disciple. Christian know-it-alls rarely attend a study or small group, after all, they have the answers. If you read books, you read those that agree with you. Mr. or Ms. Know-it-All doesn’t really think that they have to learn anything. They’re already there. They are, in effect, unteachable. 

  When you put a word like “unteachable” next to this, it’s a major sin problem. Christians, when thinking biblically, operate out of the realization that they actually do not know everything that they need to know. As believers, we are to be learners until we get Home to glory. 

  We have things to learn both intellectually and empirically. God designed the local church to provide a context where we can grow in godliness and Christian maturity. Consider Ephesians 4:11-14: “And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” 

  Notice that from Ephesians 4 that God provides teachers and these teachers are to teach Scripture. Saints (Christians) need to be equipped to serve so the local church is built up and this must go on until we all grow into Christlikeness. Christlikeness and spiritual maturity are the goal. So what are some symptoms of being a Christian Know-it-All?

  They tend to be critical and petty. It’s almost like they thrive in finding out someone’s “wrong view” about something. Instead of seeing the church as a place to grow, they see it as a place to show what they know.

  They talk (or post) a lot but don’t listen very much. This makes sense–why not talk (if you know it all) and why listen (if they don’t)?

  They enjoy squabbling about little things. They will argue about all kinds of things that would seem to be of secondary (or even lesser) importance.

  They tend to lack compassion. Having no perceived weakness of their own, they can’t relate to others who are struggling. Often times they’re condescending or devolve into harshness or disengagement with the weak.

  They like to talk about people. This is divisive to unity in the Body. Instead of prizing unity, Christlikeness, and spiritual maturity, they delight in knocking others down, disrupting unity, and building themselves up. Their conversations with other Christians devolve into stories of how much they know and how much others do not.

  They only seem to have a lot of biblical knowledge. They drop $5 words to effectively argue their point. Often they’re involved and appear to have things together. However, the fact that they’re unteachable makes them dangerous in the local church and a detriment to their own spiritual health and the growth of the Body.

  The Lord designed for a church family and small groups to be places where we feel the liberty to be the most authentic version of ourselves and admit how little we know and how often we struggle. Those who are truly wise depend on God’s grace and work to remain humble. 

  Humility and teachability go together. Humility begins by simply realizing you’re not God and how little you know. Spiritual growth always begins with humility. We must come cognizant of how little we know and thirsting to learn, to grow, and to apply God’s truth to our lives. The goal is not to outshine other believers but to be more and more like Jesus.

  Do you have a goal of becoming wiser and growing in your faith? Get to know God. Study Scripture. Listen to teaching, even teaching you don’t necessarily agree with. Read books and determine to read those who differ from you. Apply what you learn to your life. 

  As you expose yourself to other insights and perspectives, you’ll be wiser, and know better how to walk with the Lord and serve Him. Humility reminds us of how little we know and that we can learn from anyone. All of us have so much to learn. It’s why we must remain teachable, humble, and lifelong learners until we get Home.  

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

What Would Jesus Post?

“All of us would be wiser if we would resolve never to put people down, 
except on our prayer lists.”  D.A. Carson
 

  Though his worldview leaves much to be desired, Comedian Louis CK, tells fans he meets in public that he won’t take a picture with them, but he will talk to them. Some people are satisfied, but many walk away angry and frustrated. For many it’s because they weren’t after the opportunity to meet Louis—they wanted to be able to show people they met Louis. 

  The phrase “What would Jesus do”?, often abbreviated to WWJD, became popular particularly in the United States in the late 1800s in response to the widely read book by Pastor Charles Sheldon, In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do? The phrase had a resurgence in the 1990s as a personal motto for many Christians who used the phrase as a reminder of their belief in biblical values and the moral imperative to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through actions of the adherents. In popular consciousness, the acronym signifying that question—WWJD—is associated with a type of bracelet or wristband which became a popular accessory for many believers, particularly young people.

  Maybe it’s time to blow the dust off of WWJD yet make it WWJP? – What Would Jesus Post? Matthew 12:36 reminds us that God is listening and someday we will give account for every word, which would include even words posted on social media. As Christians, we represent Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20 reminds us, “we are ambassadors for Christ.” As believers, what we say and do on social media matters.

  While many Christians carry themselves with kindness and grace at church, once they tap that social media app they transform from kind Dr. Jekyll to evil Mr. Hyde. In the cyber world of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tik-Tok, Jesus Christ can disappear from our lives. Yet, for believers, all of life should be centered around Christ, making His name great and honoring Him. Here are some things to consider:

  Be cautious about self-elevation. Pride is an evil, yet subtle sin. Glorifying and drawing attention to self is one of humanity’s oldest sins. Adam and Eve fell prey to the serpent’s lies, desiring to elevate themselves and to be “like God.” The same serpent is quietly hissing in our ears today. Avoid the temptation to use social media as an avenue to make yourself look great because only God is truly great (Jeremiah 9:23-24). Be cautious even about “spiritual bragging.” Things like how much you’re reading your Bible, praying or serving the Lord. The sin of pride is very subtle.

  Continually celebrate God’s goodness! Rejoice and celebrate a friend’s birthday. That friend is a gift from God to you. If you could jump up and down on social media, jump up and down over the birth of a baby or grandchild. And please go crazy over wedding anniversaries. In a day of rampant divorce where the typical U.S. marriage lasts only eight years and where cohabitation is accepted as “normal,” wedding anniversaries should be celebrated. It encourages others that God’s blueprint really is best!

  A healthy dose of real is a good thing. While no one wants to see a sink filled with dirty dishes, be cautious about acting like you have it all together. None of us do. We tend to only share the photo of our family smiling perfectly, but wouldn’t want the world to know that in order to get the picture we screamed at our kids or bribed them with ice cream. We share pictures of perfect families, perfect homes, and perfect lives and feel the need to continually share little snapshots of “perfect,” yet we know it’s all a sham.

  Christ didn’t die on the cross for us because we’re perfect. He died for us because we’re one big mess. So have the courage to share some reality. It’s okay to share photos of crying kids. Laugh at your own cooking failure or home maintenance fiasco that now needs to be repaired and countless other big “F’s” from your life. As ambassadors for truth, being trustworthy is more valuable than being attractive.

  Speak out for biblical truth, yet avoid being partisan. Both parties are made up of sinners and have their foibles. Wise were the words of President Abraham Lincoln: “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” Politics are a serious distraction from the gospel and the Great Commission. For example, it appears to me that neither side truly cares for the poor, the immigrant, or the disenfranchised – the very ones God’s Word continually commands us to care for. So please stay with clear biblical values and avoid blind partisan loyalty. We are to be Kingdom people, not political animals.

  Be positive and encouraging. Sadly, there’s far more bad news than good on social media and Christians can easily tap into that. To chronically be negative fails to share words that build up (Ephesians 4:29). There is a lot of good and beauty in this world and we’re to focus on it (Philippians 4:8). Too many Christians are known for what they’re against rather than what they’re for. Too many seem consumed with outrage. While some battles are worth fighting, in reality, most won’t care about these controversies after a few weeks have passed. As Christians, we’d be better off representing our Savior with dignity and charity than having a meltdown over the headline of the day. With our social media accounts, we need to share truth, beauty, and goodness, after all, this is our Father’s world!

  Commit to being Christlike. Jesus said that a lost world will know we’re His disciples by our love for one another. Being kind and gracious honors our Lord. He didn’t call us to “win” because He’s already won. He does call us to live in a way so no one questions whether we truly know Him and are Christ-followers.

  Most Christians are more concerned about social media censorship than they are about how social media is shaping our hearts and what we’re communicating about our faith. Too few Christians are concerned about social media discipleship. We’re more interested in the ways we can form the world than we are in the ways the world is forming us. That’s not to say social media/internet censorship isn’t a problem. It is. Yet, as Christians, we are too often more interested in protecting our expression than we are the condition of our own hearts. The bottom line is: Would someone want to be a Christian if they saw your social media posts? 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Just a Little Red Paperclip

 

“Sometimes it’s the little things that count most.”   Alexandra Adornetto

                                                             

  Stuck in a dead-end job and with little money, 26-year-old Kyle MacDonald, came up with a plan. Starting with one red paper clip and a dream, he would trade on the internet until he exchanged it for a house. He advertised the paperclip on craigslist.com and two women swapped a fish-shaped pen for it. Later that same day, MacDonald was able to trade the pen for a small ceramic doorknob with a smiley face on it. He traded the doorknob for a Coleman camping stove. Next, a US navy Marine swapped a generator in return for the stove. Then a guy from New York swapped “instant party package” (a beer keg and a neon Budweiser sign) for the generator. The beer package went to a DJ in Montreal, in exchange for a snowmobile. By this time Macdonald was starting to attract attention and he was invited onto Canadian TV to tell his story. 

  As a result, he was able to trade the snowmobile for an all-expenses-paid trip to an obscure little town in Canada called “Yahk.” He then traded the trip for a 1995 delivery van. He gave the van to a musician wanting to haul her gear around in exchange for a recording contract, with studio time and a promise to pitch the finished CD to music executives. He swapped the recording contract with a singer who gave him a year’s accommodation in a house in Phoenix Arizona. He exchanged the accommodations in Arizona for a day with Alice Cooper. The day with Alice Cooper he swapped for a snow globe of the band KISS! Now if you thought that was a weird swap get this. The KISS snow globe was swapped for an acting part in a movie! Apparently, actor Corbin Benson is an avid snow globe collector and was particularly interested in the KISS snow globe, so he swapped his part in the movie for the snow globe! Finally, a local municipality in Saskatchewan Canada handed over the title deeds for a house for the movie role. That’s the amazing story of how Kyle MacDonald turned one little red paper clip into a house! Macdonald says he has offers from Hollywood studios to turn his story into a film. 

  This morning we’re beginning a new series on the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, God of Reversals. Throughout this book, we’re going to observe that those who seem to be big in their day, in the forefront, the leaders, the ones in charge, the celebrities of their day – that sometimes in a moment – they are displaced and replaced. Often, God uses the little things, those that we wouldn’t consider, to put in places of priority and His blessing.

  If we’re honest, most of us feel like little people. Other than our families, our church, and to some level, in our community, we’re virtually unknown. It’s easy to feel like little more than your social security number with no real identity.

  There are 331 million people in the United States and nearly six million in Wisconsin. Then, there are nearly 200,000 people in Racine County with about 11,000 in the City of Burlington. The Village of Rochester where I live has a population of just under 4,000. If I walk a few houses down from my home, I don’t know anyone. You probably are in the same boat. Essentially, we’re a bunch of little people, just a bunch of nobodies. Even in our small worlds, we are smaller cogs.

  Little things though are important. Spark plugs are rather small, but without them your car engine won’t run and you won’t be able to get anywhere. Microchips that keep your computer running and hold billions of bits of information are usually smaller than a thumbnail. Athletes lose races by a hair, politicians lose elections by a single vote, vacuum cleaners won’t run because a tiny screw is missing. It just keeps adding up. Little things matter and they count. 

  If you look in Scripture you’ll find the same pattern developing. That’s mainly because God looks on the inside, not the outside. He doesn’t look at how big a house someone lives in, or how much money they have, or how educated they are. He looks at the heart. And God loves to do big things out of little packages.

  It’s a pattern that we find throughout the book of 1 Samuel. God used a godly woman struggling with infertility and her desperate prayer to change the destiny of a nation. He spoke and woke up a sleeping little boy and shared the future of the nation of Israel. He took a young man who was so shy, he hid out rather than be chosen as a leader. He takes another young man who when his family was asked to bring in all their sons, they completely forgot that he even existed. Then, God took a sling and a rock and took out a giant who was ridiculing His name.

  God loves to use the little things. He loves to bring about total reversals.

  The book of 1 Samuel could be pulled right from today’s headlines. There are wars, compromising religious leaders, political gamesmanship and intrigue, committed friendships, and even romance.

  It reminds us that there are no little things and no little people with God. It fleshes out that wonderful reminder found in Matthew 10 that God knows even when a sparrow falls and knows how many hairs we have on our heads. No one is a nobody with God. No one is a little person. Your life counts. You’re important to God. He’s got a place for you in His plan!

  Remember the last time that you stubbled your toe or got a splinter in a finger. All of a sudden something that previously seemed small and insignificant was very important. A match doesn’t seem important unless you’re in complete darkness.

  God designed you. He created you and He has a plan for your life. He uses those who surrender to Him, then what was small becomes huge.

  What changed? It all depends on whose hand your life is in. That’s the message repeated over and over again in 1 Samuel. Those who surrendered their lives to God, even though their lives seemed insignificant, made a difference in eternity.

  All of creation is created by God, blessed by God, loved by God. Even small, out-of-the-way communities; even unglamorous, common, run-of-the-mill places and things. Even young, scared, poor, forgotten people.

  God is the God of Reversals. He loves to use the little things and little places so that He gets all the glory! He loves to use “little people” like you and me! That’s one of the great messages of 1 Samuel. I hope that you’ll join us on this journey.

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

 

Vladimir the Terrible

 “Man…does not do evil against his will, under pressure, as though he were taken by the scruff of the neck and dragged into it, like a thief…being dragged off against his will to punishment;               but he does it spontaneously and voluntarily.”  Martin Luther

   Do you remember the 2001 Pixar hit, Monsters, Inc.? The film centers on two monsters James P. “Sulley” Sullivan and his one-eyed partner and best friend Mike Wazowski who are employed at the titular energy-producing factory Monsters, Inc., which generates power by scaring children. The more the monsters make children scream, the more energy they collect. 

  One evening after work, scarer Sulley, discovers that an active door has been left. He inspects the door and accidentally lets a small toddler girl into the factory. The monsters in Monsters, Inc. are anything but monsters. They’re not evil or dangerous or even scary. They’re just misunderstood.

  But there really are monsters. Obviously, not the type found in Monsters, Inc. Our sixth president, John Quincy Adams, said, “America…goes not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy.” Inherent in his statement is the assumption that there really are monsters in this world.

  Yet, that’s the problem with our leaders in Western Civilization – they don’t really believe that there are monsters. There is a widespread belief that terrorists, tyrants, and demagogues are just misunderstood and if we could just sit down and talk with them, we could reason with them and come to some sort of middle ground. They’re not evil, they’re just trying to get their message out. That’s how Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri described September 11^th as a “message with no words” which is “the only language understood by the West.” Terrorism then as some political scientists describe it is only a “communication strategy.”

  It was that kind of naïve reasoning that led to then British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain to claim “Peace for our time” in his September 30, 1938 remarks in London concerning the Munich Agreement with Adolph Hitler. The phrase is forever remembered for its bitter ironic value since less than a year after the agreement, Hitler invaded Poland and World War II began after France and the United Kingdom declared war on Germany following Hitler's refusal to withdraw from Polish territory.

  The leader of the independent Orthodox Christian Church, Metropolitan Epiphanius I of Ukraine, was more in line with Scripture when he recently likened Vladimir Putin to the Antichrist, “The spirit of the Antichrist operates in the leader of Russia, the signs of which the Scriptures reveal to us: pride, devotion to evil, ruthlessness, false religiosity…This was Hitler during World War II. This is what Putin has become today.”

  One of the most highly regarded books of the 20^th century was Ernest Becker’s “The Denial of Death.” It’s regarded as a classic for its analysis of how human beings deny their mortality. But there is something people deny more than mortality: evil. Yet, we are seeing evil unfold before our eyes in Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. In spite of the denial of those who also deny the truth of Scripture, the last century has seen more glaring evil than at any other time in human history. The descendants of Hitler, Stalin and Mao are Kim Jong-un, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin and the leaders of Iran, to name a few. The forces of evil in the world are now so powerful and so many and so difficult to corral.

  Iran continues to move ahead with its nuclear ambitions, which are a threat to both the United States and to Israel. North Korea has launched at least one hypersonic missile with nuclear weapons in the hands of an unstable, tyrannical, arguably insane regime.

  Consider the deceit and accusations of bigotry against any who dared to suggest that Covid-19 came from a Wuhan Lab. In spite of Communist China’s denials, the evidence seems undeniable. Yet, many Americans, especially the elite in the political class and media, immediately recoil in horror at anyone referring to China as an enemy because much of American foreign policy had been predicated for the last several generations on the opportunity of developing an unprecedented partnership with China that would basically create a new form of world stability. The United States now finds itself facing an evil world rival on an even greater scale than the Soviet Union through the entirety of the Cold War.

  It’s apparent that Putin is driven to be Vladimir the Terrible in his attempt to regain lost Russian glory. To understand Putin, one has to understand Russian history and the fact that what you have in Putin is a medieval mind with modern nuclear weapons. Putin’s understanding of Russia goes back to a ruler like Ivan the Terrible of the 16^th century.

  Historically, Russia has been led by despots, by tyrants, and there’s no national embarrassment for them in that. In fact, there is a sense of national glory tied to that kind of tyrannical leader and behavior.

  U.S. president after president, administration after administration watched Putin rebuilding Russia’s nuclear arsenal, even as the U.S. was spending less and less on defense. We’ve seen Putin not only build Russia's military but use it. Georgia, Crimea, Eastern Ukraine. No one should be surprised by what’s happening, yet most seem shocked, not just surprised.

  Understanding and knowing the Bible matters. Your worldview matters. As Christians, we must understand that. The Bible teaches, even when it allowed for kings, limited government. While the Bible does not provide support for one form of government over another, Scripture teaches a limited role of government.

  Due to our fallen human nature, God chooses to use government as a tool to uphold order, justice, and the rule of law. Thus, believers are to respect and pray for their leaders while submitting themselves to the authority provided by the government. Scripture makes clear that God has placed limits and expectations on the government. In the Old Testament, for instance, Israelite kings were expected to obey God’s laws as written in the Pentateuch. In the New Testament Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-14 teach the same with the focus primarily on justice,  law and order.

  Because of the evil of the human heart, the government is to be limited, controlled, and held accountable. That’s the foundational problem with Putin and other diabolical leaders, there is no accountability or control.

  But there is a God in heaven (Daniel 2:28). The same God who allows evil men to rise can and will take them down. While we do not know the future of Ukraine, we do know the future of this world. The King of Kings is coming back and one day there truly will be “peace on earth.” As the Apostle John said, “Even so come Lord Jesus” (Revelation 2:20, KJV). 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Close Your Window!

 

“The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.” D.L. Moody

 

  Earlier this month a Massachusetts man left the sunroof on his family’s minivan open in 63-degree weather only to return to the vehicle two days later to find it filled with about nine inches of snow. Steve Maguire of Scituate said he and his family took a ride in his wife’s minivan on a Saturday with the windows down to enjoy the record-high temperatures in New England. 

  “Saturday was so beautiful I'm like, ‘I’ve got to get some of the kids out of the house,” he told a local TV station. “It was 63 degrees here.” But Maguire said he didn’t realize until returning to the vehicle that he’d left the sunroof open, allowing about nine inches of snow to accumulate inside.

  “When I opened the van, I’m thinking it's Valentine's Day. It’s my wife’s car. This is not going to end well. I came in and said, ‘I hope you're in a good mood because there are about nine inches of snow in the van.’”

  Maguire said the situation could have been much worse. “This could only happen in New England. I’m grateful it wasn’t rain, and it was super easy to clean up because it was so light and fluffy.”

  Here’s the kicker! Maguire admitted he should have known better. “I’m a high school teacher and one of the electives I teach is meteorology. So if anyone knows the weather, I should know the weather.”

  That’s my problem. It’s probably your problem too – I know better than I do. I know that I shouldn’t say what I say, but the words are out of my mouth faster than a bass spitting out a hook. I know that I shouldn’t get irritated at that person talking on their phone at the next table in the restaurant but the heat is up in my heart faster than a microwave. I know I shouldn’t look down on that homeless person asking for handouts but “King Scott” who has it all together is ascending the throne of my soul.

  I’m so grateful that my Heavenly Father is gracious, as I come to Him again and again because even though I knew better, I didn’t do better. I’m a “spiritual loser,” yet He still loved me and gave His Son to pay for my sin…and He always forgives me (1 John 1:9).

  This is a reality of all of life in a sin-contaminated world. Knowing something, knowing the truth too often doesn’t break down into transformed behavior. As James warns us, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).

  But you must know the truth before you can apply the truth. The Bible is the source of truth. It’s the absolute standard. Maguire knew the truth of meteorology, yet failed to live up to what he knew. We do the same thing.

  There are two spiritual disciplines that are vital for a healthy, growing Christian life – reading God’s Word and prayer. When I open my Bible, God speaks to me. When I pray, I speak to God. Yet, there is no excuse for a Christian in America to not regularly spend time in the Word. We will never do the right things as believers if we’re not letting God’s Word soak through our souls.

  Please understand, I’m not suggesting some kind of spiritual Olympics. Five or ten minutes consistently in the Word is a great place to start. Start with one of the four Gospels or the Epistles. It’s much better to read some Scripture consistently than to read none and stay spiritually ignorant.

  Truth without application is foolish. James continues with, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:23-25). The purpose of looking at yourself in a mirror is to make change as necessary. That’s true of God’s Word, too.

  The purpose of reading God’s Word is not for education or information. It’s for life-change, spiritual transformation. The same is true of listening to a sermon or participating in a small group. As John Stott said, “We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.”

  Reading my Bible is a waste of time if it’s not being applied to my life if I’m not becoming more and more like Jesus. It’s spiritual work. The Holy Spirit must empower me and work in my life to bring about that change. Yet, if I don’t know God’s truth, He doesn’t have material to work with.

  In America, it’s polite to say “good sermon” to the preacher as we exit. BUT it’s not a good sermon if it’s not applied to our lives. It was just a nice talk. The purpose of God’s truth whether read or listened to is to make you and me more like the Savior (Romans 12:2).

  Faithful application begins on the inside. James 1:19, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” James’s initial focus isn’t external, it’s internal. God is much more concerned about my heart and character than He is about my behavior. The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, peace, patience, self-control, etc.) begins in my soul and will then be evidenced in my life.

  Too many Christians erroneously believe Christianity is evidenced by externalism, i.e., the way you dress, the things you do or don’t do. It’s not! That was the focus of the men who crucified Jesus, the Pharisees. It’s why a lost world is often repulsed by professing Christians.

  It’s increasingly common today to see online or in our churches “Christians” claiming to defend the gospel who fail to demonstrate attitudes and character in line with that same gospel. They’re arrogant, mean, and sometimes even hateful.

  The most wonderful thing that can be said of us was said of those early disciples, “And they recognized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). That happens as we spend time in God’s Word and sit under Bible teaching – and apply it to our lives. To know the truth but fail to apply it is as foolish as leaving your sunroof window open in the middle of January. 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Suicide: When the Unthinkable Becomes Real

 

“Some people suffer in silence, 

pain in the hearts but smiles on their faces.” Isha Barlas

 

  On January 30, 2022, Cheslie Kryst, committed suicide by jumping to her death from The Orion, the 60-story high-rise apartment building in Manhattan, where she lived. Her mother, April Simpkins released a statement, stating that Cheslie suffered from “high functioning depression.” Cheslie was 30 years old. 

  From a human perspective, Cheslie had everything going for her, everything that many long for and believe will bring them happiness and satisfaction. She was a model and a beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA in May of 2019. She went on to finish in the top 10 of the Miss Universe 2019 competition. That same year, she and three other women became the first group of Black women in pageant history to hold all four major titles in a single year. Cheslie was also an attorney and had served as a correspondent for Extra from October 2019 until her death. For her work on Extra, she was nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards. At the time of her death her net worth was estimated to be $5 million dollars.

  Following her death, the Extra correspondent’s family remembered her for inspiring others “around the world with her beauty and strength…Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice, as Miss USA and as a host on Extra. But most importantly, as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague – we know her impact will live on.”

  Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2019, there were an estimated 3.5 million people who planned a suicide, 1.4 million suicide attempts, and 47,511 suicide deaths. There were more than twice as many deaths by suicide than by homicide. Mental health problems and substance use are the most significant risk factors for suicidal behaviors. Stressful life events increase the risk of suicide.

  Suicide is the apex of hopelessness. Even in the Bible, there are at least six individuals who chose to end their own lives. Abimelech in Judges 9 asked his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword so people could not say a woman killed him. King Saul threw himself on his sword and his armor-bearer followed him in death after his sons died and he lost a battle against the Philistines. King David’s advisor, Ahithophel, chose suicide after his counsel to rebelling Absalom, David’s oldest son was rejected. The last suicide in the Old Testament was that of Zimri, a King of Israel. He’d only reigned one week before a military coup, so Zimri set himself and his palace ablaze. The only suicide in the New Testament is that of Judas.

  Many others Bible characters, including Moses, Elijah, King David, and the Apostle Paul expressed a desire to die. Many heroes in Christian History have struggled with deep depression, including Richard Baxter, Charles Spurgeon, and Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, to name a few.

  Many believers, weary of struggling, depression or dealing with the trials of life long for a premature death. Spurgeon struggled with physical pain and depression. I love his transparency and hope: “I find myself frequently depressed - perhaps more so than any other person here. And I find no better cure for that depression than to trust in the Lord with all my heart, and seek to realize afresh the power of the peace-speaking blood of Jesus, and His infinite love in dying upon the cross to put away all my transgressions.” On another occasion, observing the struggle of other Christians, Spurgeon insightfully said, “I note that some whom I greatly love and esteem, who are, in my judgment, among the very choicest of God’s people, nevertheless, travel most of the way to heaven by night.” I know that I have had my own bouts of “travelling to heaven by night.”

  While I truly appreciate those who encourage or post on social media that anyone who is having suicidal thoughts should reach out to them or call the suicide hotline, many though never will. So what can we do to help?

  As much as possible, build bridges, touch lives, be a sharer of hope. Personally, I don’t believe in accidental meetings but look at encounters as divine appointments. Wise are the words of the great Scottish preacher, John Watson, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” If anyone should be kind and known for kindness, it should be the people of God. Kindness doesn’t live in a test tube. It’s best shared in day-to-day life.

  Pray and then pray some more. When you know of a friend or acquaintance struggling, when you don’t know what else to do, pray for them. Pray for hope and healing. Ask the Lord to comfort and give your friend guidance. Invite your friend to share their heart with you and sit back and listen, and let them reveal their truth to God. Encourage them to speak about the specific things that may be hurting them. Encourage them to share a list of reasons they’re grateful. Be quiet as they answer.

  Make sure that they’re safe. If someone confides in you that they’re feeling suicidal, take it seriously. The very first step is to make sure they’re safe. Do not take what they say lightly in hopes that they won’t go through with it. Are they alone at home? Go over and sit with them. Are they threatening to harm themselves or others? Don’t hesitate to call for help from law enforcement. Call their family, roommate, or someone else you trust so that you can have extra hands on deck. While they might be angry at first, you can’t help a friend who is struggling that has ended their life.

  Help them find help. When someone is at such a low point that they’re having thoughts of death, it’s important that they get help. Some people are apprehensive to ask for help because they’re scared, feel they can handle it themselves or think they’re unworthy of assistance. Your willingness to aid them may be the only thing that nudges them to move forward. Gently ask and encourage them to get some help and have options of how they can. You might even offer to help by finding good therapists in the area. To someone with depression, these first steps can seem insurmountable.

  For the Christian, there will come a time when depression and anxiety will be fully and finally gone. When Christ returns, tears will be dried, brokenness healed, and mental illness banished, never to return. Until that day, we can rest in the simple, wonderful truths that God has declared over us: we are loved, we are held, we will be sustained until the end…and we’re all going to get Home before dark!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Character Still Matters

 

“Character may be manifested in the great moments, 

but it is made in the small ones.” Phillips Brooks

   I wonder if A. Bartlett Giamatti is spinning in his grave. Giamatti, one time Commissioner of Major League Baseball, will be forever remembered as the man who banned baseball legend, Pete Rose for life after it was discovered Rose was gambling on baseball games, including those of his own team, the Cincinnati Reds. A chapter in the book of the baseball writings of Giamatti, A Great and Glorious Game, unpacks the intense struggle Giamatti had before determining Rose should be banned for life. 

  What a contrast to another former commissioner of baseball, Faye Vincent, who recently stated that “character” should be removed as an issue for the election of individuals to the hall of fame. In other words, in an argument that we’ve heard ad nauseam in recent decades, character doesn’t matter. But in our heart we all know that it does. While Vincent was willing to give PED users a pass, at least he held the line that Rose should be permanently banned. 

  When it comes to American politics, particularly presidential politics, character issues have continually entered into the national debate, whether it was Bill Clinton in the 1990s or Donald Trump in the present. When Trump was running for president and his debauchery was well-known, even some Christians sought to rationalize it away with “I’m voting for a president, not a pastor” (not that most of the other choices were individuals of sterling character).

  In spite of our blusters we all know that character matters…and in our day to day lives, we live that way. For example, if you knew that your financial consultant had been convicted of embezzling, would character matter? If you learned that your cardiologist had lost several malpractice lawsuits, would character matter? Or, if you learned that your favorite restaurant had continual health code violations, would character matter?

  Currently, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is in the hot seat with his political future in jeopardy. Recently, Boris Johnson addressed Parliament to defend his continuation as Prime Minister because of a report with 500 pages of evidence and more than 300 photographs of Johnson and his staff flouting his own COVID lockdown rules. He required, with police power, the citizens of the U.K. to obey those rules, while he and his own staff flaunted those very same rules. Sadly, the flouting of rules by the rule makers is an all too common occurrence during this pandemic.

  Please understand, character is NOT sinlessness. The only person to live a sinless life was the Lord Jesus. Though Christians will struggle with their sin nature until they get to heaven and receive their perfected and glorified bodies, by God’s grace, we must strive to sin less. We must seek to be individuals of godly character because God is all about character.

  What is character? Evangelist D.L Moody had this to say about character: “Character is what you are in the dark” and “True character is what we are when nobody’s looking, in the secret chambers of the heart.”

  Character is more than talk. Anyone can say they have integrity but their behavior is the true indicator. James 2:18, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” One of the first places character flaws show up is in our language patterns. When we are “in integrity,” we speak from a place of honesty and wholeness. Words match actions. As Dr. Seuss put it, “We say what we mean and we mean what we say.” When we break from this pattern and say things we don’t really mean, we jettison godly character, moving out of integrity. “Your walk talks and your talk talks but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.”

  Talent is a gift, character is a choice. There are many things in our life that we have no control over. We don’t get to pick our parents, our upbringing, our talents, our IQ, but each of us can choose our character. We create character every time we make choices.

  Maybe that’s part of our attraction to superheroes. These very talented individuals are so unlike what we commonly think of as celebrities. They really are the good guys.

  It’s certainly why a Tim Tebow is loved and admired. Despite all of the mocking and Tebowing memes, no one seriously questions his character. At one point he had the world watching him, waiting for him to crack under the pressure of being a self-proclaimed role model. To his credit he never did. The only thing that Tebow has devoted his life to more than football, is helping others. He’s gone to Africa countless times as a missionary and has helped countless children through his “Tim Tebow Foundation.” He isn’t just a great athlete to look up to, Tebow is a great person of character to aspire to be. 

  A lack of character carries a high price. Other than the most avid sports fans, once an athlete’s abilities wane, if they’re not a person of character and because of it were admired outside the game, the memory of them soon drops into the dustbin of history. Even in our personal lives the teachers, neighbors or former bosses we remember were often men and women of character. Character is what made them stand out and adhere to the pages of our memory. They went the extra mile to do the right thing and often did the right thing when others did not or when it was unpopular.

  God’s intent is that each of us develop character throughout our lives as Jesus did, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). God values character and so must we. Too often in our homes and churches we focus on the passing standards of a dying world and place character on a backburner. Yet, it is godly character that pleases God and wears well when talent and other abilities are long gone.

  A man took his daughter to the carnival, and she immediately ran over to a booth and asked for cotton candy. As the attendant handed her a huge ball of it, her Dad asked, “Sweetheart, are you sure you can eat all of that?” “Don’t worry,” she answered, “I’m a lot bigger on the inside than on the outside.” That’s what real character is – being bigger on the inside. 

  As an old German Proverb says: “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.”

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.