A World without Christianity

 

As Christians, we're called to change the world! Believers have been changing the world for 2,000 years and will continue to do so.”

Have you ever put this together? Why is it that refugees usually flee to “Christian” countries? They flee to nations with a Christian heritage, nations whose government and worldview still have some foundation of a Christian worldview that greatly influences them.

  Frequently, Christianity is denounced as being violent, hateful, and hostile to human flourishing. Christ-followers are accused of being part of the religion of the oppressor class. We are told to shut up and “check our privilege” and “do the work” to repudiate Christianity’s toxic legacy. Yet, what would our world be like without Christianity?

  Our world would be crueler. Prior to Christianity care and compassion to the needy was regarded as foolish. At a time when many in the Greco-Roman world suffered misery and brutality, early Christians and churches offered care. Orphans were given refuge and education. Widows found aid. The destitute were given food. By the 4^th century, after Constantine became emperor, the church became the first organized institution of public welfare. The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) ordered that a hospital should be built in every town where there was a Christian cathedral. Christians pioneered the establishment of hospitals, orphanages, leprosariums, and hospices for the dying.
  Christ-followers were responsible for a wide range of social advances, including prison reform, care of the mentally ill, factory reform, rescuing women and children from sexual abuse.
  The missionary movement of the 19^th century affected healthcare and philanthropy globally. Missionaries opened the first hospitals, clinics and pioneered medical education in primitive cultures. Those endeavors resulted in longer life expectancies and lower infant mortality rates. In the poorest areas of the world where help is most desperately needed, today you’ll find missionary doctors and church-sponsored volunteers. Many of those missionaries will stay for life.
  If there is a huge famine, natural disaster or reports of genocide, most people in other cultures are unconcerned. As a Chinese proverb says, “the tears of strangers are only water.” Countries with a Christian foundation rush in to help. They do this because of the influence of Christianity.
  Injustice would be even more prevalent. The Bible teaches that God places a conscience in the heart of every human being and His moral law applies to both governors and the governed. These biblical truths have been the foundation for the “rule of law” and the regard for human dignity and freedom. They’ve inspired resistance to tyranny. They’re a defense against the excessive totalitarian claims of an all-powerful state. Throughout history you’ll find that it was Christians who were willing to challenge abuse and do the hard work for reform. Individual freedom and rights are most prevalent where Christianity has had the greatest impact.
  The world would be less free. Those of us in the West often take freedom for granted. The idea that every human is of equal dignity and should be afforded liberty isn’t part of most cultures.
  Greco-Roman society had no concept that every human life has intrinsic value and dignity. The Roman Empire was made up of around seventy million people—ten million of whom were slaves. Most societies through history have been built on slavery. Christianity is the only major religion to mount a comprehensive attack on the institution of slavery.
  The conviction that every human is made in God’s image stood in stark contradiction to the culture of the ancient world. The Bible’s teaching that “in Christ we are all one, whether slave or free” (Galatians 3:28) was revolutionary. For free people and slaves to share the Lord’s Supper as fellow church members was scandalous.
  Chrysostom (c. 347–407), who served as a pastor in Constantinople told the wealthy to buy slaves, teach them a trade, and set them free, telling them that when Christ came, He annulled slavery. Gregory of Nyssa (335–395) wrote the first comprehensive critique of slavery, attacking it for its violation of the free nature of those made in God’s image. The conviction that every human is Imago Dei was antithetical in the ancient world. By the 11^th century slavery in Christendom had, effectively, ended.
  But because of greed the transatlantic slave trade brought back the horror of slavery on a more terrible scale. It was Bible-believing Christians like William Wilberforce and so many others who worked tirelessly for its abolition. Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807 and slavery in 1833.
  Yet as the world loses more and more Christian influence, there are more slaves in the world than ever before. An estimated 27.6 million are victims of sex trafficking and forced labor. Yet, again, it is Christians who lead the way in opposing slavery and human trafficking internationally. The areas of the world where slavery is still condoned by the state also are areas opposed to Christianity. It still exists in some Islamic countries. Nearly two million Uighurs are incarcerated by the Chinese Communist party and subject to slave labor. Ongoing abuses associated with the caste system in India are one of the greatest human rights violations in history.
  Our world would be less educated. From the beginning of Christianity, education has been a priority. Christ-followers believe all human beings should learn of God’s works and ways. That means that they must be literate and should be able to read the Bible in their own languages.
  The earliest colleges and universities were founded by Christians. Harvard, Princeton and Yale all owe their origins to the gospel. It was Christians who pioneered female education in many nations. When you look at the scars of female oppression—whether child-marriage, prostitution, sex trafficking, domestic violence, genital cutting, or so-called honor killing—all are more likely when girls are denied education. Living standards are raised when people are given an education. Across the centuries and across the world, Christ-followers have devoted themselves to their neighbors’ good.
  Christianity’s various endeavors—in healthcare, philanthropy, education, and everyday work—have been driven by the biblical conviction that humans, created in God’s image, should all have opportunity to flourish.
  Does the world really want the vacating of Christianity? The outcome may be a monster that can’t be put back in the box.

Can we help you spiritually? 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. 

Changing Your Recently Played Playlist

 

“Your life today is a result of your thinking yesterday. 
Your life tomorrow will be determined by what you think today.” John Maxwell 

Do you remember listening to the radio? I hardly listen to the radio anymore but before Spotify and podcasts, I was an avid listener. I’d start my day getting ready, listening to news radio. Then, I had a couple of favorites I’d listen to on the way to the office or running errands. Usually, I had three or four I’d bounce between to avoid commercials or announcers chatting about what they had for dinner. I’m one of those, “just give me the music” types, though today I listen to a lot of podcasts.
  I’d fall between two extremes while listening to the radio. There would always be a song or two that when it came on, I’d stick to that station to listen to it. There would be a tinge of regret if I’d missed most of it. Then, other songs came on and I couldn’t change stations fast enough. The song had become so popular stations were overplaying it. For example, most of us loved Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On, even if we hadn’t seen Titanic, but it soon was overplayed and nearly annoying.
  Spotify has an option “recently played” I rarely use. If I’ve listened to a song recently, I don’t want to hear it again. Yet Spotify thought it would be a great idea (without being asked,) to develop playlists of artists or genre I tend to listen to. I don’t use it because unless a song really touches my heart, I don’t want to hear it again in a short amount of time with a few exceptions. CeCe Winan's, Believe For It, was my encouragement song during Covid. Hillsong’s Another in the Fire comforted me during a dark valley a few years ago. Other than that, I tend to be “one and done.”
  While that’s true with my listening habits, I have to work for it to be true with my thought life. I struggle with a “recently played” mental list that’s not healthy. While I love 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” Or Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” It does though take mental work to do this. As Kent Hughes says, I must sweat some “holy sweat.” Too easily anxious or negative thoughts play again on my mental playlist. It’s by God’s grace and the empowerment of His Spirit that I’m able to change the channel.
  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to wake up in the middle of the night thinking about how the Lord has blessed you and then have difficultly going back to sleep because you’re so overwhelmed by God’s goodness? Unfortunately, that’s not the playlist that I usually wake up in the middle of the night with.
  My problem is that I let my sin contaminated mind choose my playlist. If I want a healthy mental playlist, I must choose it. As Byron Katie writes, “It’s not our thoughts but the attachment to our thoughts that causes suffering.” The attachment to our thoughts is our Recently Played playlist.
  Most of us have negative rat mazes we repeatedly return to. A Christian therapist once told me that most of us have about eight that we cycle in and out of. As Rick Warren says, “God is far more interested in changing your mind than changing your circumstances.” Thinking produces behavior.
  Philippians 4:8 has a healthy Top Eight playlist to replace what Zig Ziglar dubbed “stinkin’ thinkin’.” “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
  Mentally play what’s true. The “true” is that which corresponds to reality. God and His Word are the final test for truth. But we’re prone to Satan’s lies. The only way we can think on the truth is to steep ourselves in God’s Word. Truth is the first test. We’re not to ponder that which is dishonest, untrue or unreliable. For example, we can tend to be anxious about the future, but the future isn’t “true.” We’re not to focus on the “what ifs.”
  Mentally play what’s honorable. The word means “that which inspires reverence or awe; dignified, worthy of respect.” Christ-followers are to take life seriously. We’re to live in light of eternity. This doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate clean humor. Yet too many ponder the trivial and even fight about it because we focus on it. For example, someone gave us a one finger wave and we’re mad about it for hours.
  Mentally play what’s just. Only God is completely just. “Justice” means “in conformity to God’s standards.” Not, “Is it right in my eyes?” or “in the eyes of others?” but “Is it right in God’s eyes?” The media and social media are filled with tales of injustice. If I dwell on it, it will anger or discourage me. Instead, I must focus on God’s work and justice.
  Mentally play what’s pure. The word means “undefiled, chaste, holy.” It touches the whole area of moral purity. Is your thought-life clean? It fits with “get your mind out of the gutter.” If your mind is in the gutter, it ends up covered with slime. I need to think on what’s morally right, pure thoughts, words, and deeds. This is particularly vital because a thought life produces behavior. To live a pure life, you must think about pure things.
  Mentally play what’s lovely. This is what’s pleasing, agreeable, and attractive. Jesus Christ is inherently attractive, so we should think often on our Savior. And what a lovely world He has given us from the blooming of flowers to the purity of fresh fallen snow. The innocence of a child or someone’s kindness fits “lovely.” Here’s an easy guideline: If it’s lovely, it helps make you lovely so it should be on your playlist?  
  Mentally play what’s commendable. It refers to something that “deservedly enjoys a good reputation.” It’s tempting to dwell on the mental trash of bad news. We need to open our eyes to see the positive, constructive, and what builds up. If you learn to tune in to that which is admirable and good, you’ll find it. Learn to think about those things.
  Mentally play what’s excellent. Excellent refers to virtue and praiseworthy, “those things that God would approve of.” Excellent for me is someone who has character, who is kind or works hard. It’s watching an older couple who are still sweethearts or a parent taking time with their child. It can be a worker diligent and caring about his or her work. Those things are excellent, and I must think about them more.
  Mentally play what’s worthy of praise. Every attribute and deed of God is praiseworthy. It’s why we should continually think about how great God is and on the marvelous works He has done, both in creation and in history. With those around us we must focus on their strong points. It helps us think about this more when we’re appreciative and affirming.
  Do you know why so many are negative and complainers? They have the wrong mental playlist. It all begins in the way that you think.
  The Bible commands us to fill our minds with godly, positive thoughts. Thoughts become actions, actions become behaviors, and our behaviors become our lives. A key question to ask yourself periodically is: “What’s on my Recently Played playlist?”

Can we help you spiritually? 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. 

Incite or Persuade

 

“Persuasion is often more effectual than force.”  Aesop

 
In one of Aesop’s Fables, the North Wind and the Sun had a quarrel about which of them was stronger. While they were disputing with a lot of heat and bluster, a traveler passed along the road wrapped in a cloak. "Let us agree," said the Sun, "that he is the stronger who can strip that traveler of his cloak." "Very well," growled the North Wind, and at once he sent a cold, howling blast against the traveler. With the first gust of wind the ends of the cloak whipped about the man’s body, and he immediately wrapped his cloak tighter. The harder the Wind blew, the tighter he held it. The North Wind tore angrily at the cloak, but all his efforts were in vain.
  But then the Sun began to shine. At first his beams were gentle. In the pleasant warmth after the bitter cold of the North Wind, the traveler unfastened his cloak and let it hang loosely from his shoulders. The Sun's rays grew warmer and warmer. The man took off his hat and mopped his brow. At last, he became so warm that he took off his cloak and to escape the blazing sunshine, sat down in the shade of a tree by the roadside.
  In our uncivil world too many, even too many Christians, are like the North Wind. Instead of seeking to persuade someone who disagrees with us to consider our viewpoint and change their mind, in our social media posts or verbal discussions, we only seeking to incite and further rile up those who already agree with us. That’s both foolish and unbiblical.
  It’s important as Christ-followers that we learn to interact and dialogue with those who disagree with us in a way that shows respect, yet also remain faithful to biblical truth. Ours is a society where others have deep and irreconcilable differences over the things that deeply matter. Some of these differences have always existed; others have materialized or become more apparent in recent decades.
  Pluralism is a descriptive reality, not a moral, of whether these differences are good or bad. Some differences, like your favorite ice cream flavor, are good and make life more interesting. Other differences highlight mutually exclusive truth claims. They’re often emotional yet need engagement, even with those who disagree with us.
  How are we to engage those who disagree with us and seek to persuade them of God’s truth?
 We live like Jesus. Embodying humility, patience, and tolerance are essential to our gospel witness. They’re some of the ways that we live out the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love. Our confident faith in God lets us live with humility. We acknowledge that we walk by faith and not by sight. We can acknowledge the limits of human reasoning in that we can’t always prove why we’re right and others are wrong.
  Living like Jesus means to be patient. As Christians, our hope lies in Christ and His coming kingdom, not in our immediate political moment. It’s why we can graciously listen to friends or neighbors, sympathetically looking for common ground. We’re not threatened by our differences.
  Add to that, we can tolerate each other. That simply means enduring the beliefs and practices we don’t share because of our gospel love. It doesn’t mean we accept beliefs or practices that we don’t share. Tolerance means distinguishing people from their ideas, and graciously seeking relationships with all because they’re made Imago Dei, in God’s image. Our love of God overflows into love of neighbor. It calls us to graciousness and tolerance.
  We look for common ground even when we disagree on the common good. Common ground includes the beliefs and experiences that unite us even in the midst of core disagreements. Finding patches of common ground can be difficult and uncomfortable, but it’s so worthwhile for the sake of our gospel calling to live with patience and love.
  The common good represents what’s best for a given society—its people, its laws, and its communities. It depends on ends or purposes that can be specifically named. Christians can and should name the common good for this world under the reign of Jesus. Scripture tells us the purpose of creation, but naming the common good politically is much harder. The fact of pluralism makes it unlikely that we can specify an outcome on which all members of society agree we should be directed. Yet, even when our beliefs are polar opposites on what is the common good, we must always live and speak graciously.
  A wonderful example of that is how Jesus interacted with an immoral Samaritan woman in John 4. The word “Christian” means “little Christ.” Even those who diametrically disagree with us on the common good must continually see Jesus Christ in us.
  Frequent references to conflict in the Bible lead us to conclude that God understands conflict is part of the human condition. Conflict is also a pathway to loving each other more fully. As Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). That means being a Christ-follower is recognizing that we’ll disagree, and that our work is to overcome that disagreement graciously as much as possible without sacrificing God’s truth.
  Anyone reading the Gospels sees that during His life, Jesus spoke kindly with others regardless of physical ailment, ethnicity, sex, or socio-economic status. There are no examples of Jesus being condescending or just trying to win an argument. He sat alongside people, even when He shared very difficult truths with them. Jesus—God in human flesh—told stories and asked questions. Like Him, we’re to engage those who disagree with us with kindness and respect. Jesus frequently asked questions rather than pontificating with answers. We must do the same.
  The bottom line is that we’re to love each other even when others may be disagreeable and unlovable. The Bible doesn’t describe love as an emotion. It describes it as a verb. We aren’t given the luxury of loving only the agreeable, lovable, or our “team” or “political group.” Instead, we’re told to love each other…no matter what…as we’re loved by Christ.
  Being loving isn’t “agreeing to disagree.” None of us have had spiritual experiences where God agrees to disagree with us. Loving is also not having an intense argument and giving up. To be loving is a long-term exercise in patience, listening, suggesting, questioning, looking for opportunities to uplift and affirm, guiding when it’s appropriate, meeting needs, and showing up for the other person, even those we disagree with.
  Our mission is not to win the applause of those who agree with us and it’s wrong to seek to incite anger of “our team.” Instead, we must live for an “audience of One.” We must be loving like Jesus and seek to win by love.

Can we help you spiritually? 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. 

Are you a good neighbor?

“I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor. 
Do you know your next door neighbor?”  Mother Teresa

State Farm coined the phrase in their commercials: “Like a Good Neighbor State Farm Is There.” It’s a great philosophy to have, but it didn’t originate with them. The concept of being a good neighbor is original with God and the Bible. When the Lord Jesus was asked to sum up all of God’s commands into one command, He said that we are to love God with everything we have and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). The genius of the Great Commandment is that it’s so simple yet so powerful. Unfortunately, most of us have generalized “neighbor” yet then fail to do anything specifically to love our neighbors. We’ve turned it into a nice saying with no action.

  Think about how wonderful it would be if we took the Great Commandment literally…if we started with loving our neighbors in our very own neighborhoods, where we live? When we build relationships in our neighborhoods and communities, not only are the lives and the families around us affected, but those relationships also begin to connect to God’s story of salvation. It transforms us into having more of the heart of God.

  This year we’re focusing on growing in our neighbor relationships. We want everyone in our church family to participate, even if it’s a small step. It’s simple: build relationships with those right outside your front door.

  America has a new epidemic. It can’t be treated with traditional therapies even though it has debilitating and deadly consequences. The problem seeping in at the corners of our neighborhoods is loneliness. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, hoping to generate awareness of the cost of loneliness in one media interview said: “Most of us probably think of loneliness as just a bad feeling. It turns out that loneliness has far greater implications for our health when we struggle with a sense of social disconnection, being lonely or isolated.” Loneliness is detrimental to mental and physical health and can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, dementia, or stroke. According to Dr. Jeremy Nobel, founder of The Foundation for Art and Healing: “Loneliness won’t just make you miserable, but loneliness will kill you.”

  In every worship service at Grace, we have a short time to greet each other. It’s not only because the New Testament commands believers to greet each other, it’s a small step to combat loneliness and begin to build fellowship. The DNA of Christianity is relationships. It begins with a relationship with Jesus. Once we’ve committed our life to Him and are a Christ-follower, we have a new family of brothers and sisters. In the church greeting each other serves as more than just a way to say hello, it symbolizes unity, forgiveness, and hope. It helps bring individuals and groups together. Being committed to breaking out of your personal comfort zone is crucial for believers who want to grow, honor God and demonstrate His love to others.

  We also want to connect with others who may be attending and don’t yet know our Savior. Friendliness and relationships open the door for us to share the one essential relationship. As strangers see that we care, it’s easier for them to believe that God cares about…because He does.

  It’s why for the last few weeks we’ve been encouraging you to make a special treat for your neighbors (we’re even supplying the mixes). It’s been fulfilling to receive some of the feedback of those who have done this. Yet, as your pastor it’s been discouraging how few who are part of the Grace Family have committed to partnering on this. It’s something like 10% of our church. We can do better than this. We must care about our neighbors. It’s not optional if you’re a Christ-follower. It’s a command. So, please join us and let us know the response that you receive. I know that it stretches some of us. By nature, I’m an introvert. What motivates me must motivate all of us – we care because Jesus cares. And it could be the beginning of God working in their lives. It starts by knowing our neighbors.

  So, do you know the names of your neighbors, even the ones two or three doors down or across the street? Do you know the names of their children? 

  Ron Clements said, “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” You may remember the story of then Green Bay Packers running back, Aaron Jones in May of 2018. It was all over the news. Aaron Jones was a Good Samaritan. He came off a plane and noticed an elderly woman standing there with no one to help her and without any way to transport herself to her destination, so he jumped in. He found a wheelchair and took her to her destination. Someone caught it on camera, uploaded it online and it went viral. When the media picked up on the story, they called Jones a “Good Samaritan.”
  Are you a “Good Samaritan?” God has called us to reach our community and neighborhoods. Here are some questions that I believe you’ll find helpful to you as you partner with God on His mission.

  How am I loving others? That seems like a simple question. However, if we define love as putting others before ourselves and sacrificing our own resources for the sake of others, it’s worth asking. This helps us live a life that is not primarily about our own advantage, progress, and self-preservation or even our own family. Have I given recently to meet the needs of others even though it costs me money or time?

  How am I paying attention to “the least of these”? It’s easy to love those who are like us but harder to even notice or love those different than us. If we’re blessed with a life that reflects the results of a solid education, good health, strong relationships, comfortable shelter, and sufficient income, then how can we show hospitality to the least of these? Those words are found in Matthew 25, where they refer to the hungry, strangers, prisoners, or the sick. How am I paying attention to the weaker members in my neighborhood? Want a great place to start? Stop and listen. You’ll be amazed at how many long to share their story if we take the time to listen.

  Who am I eating with? Sharing food around a table, even if it’s dessert or soup helps us prioritize others in our community. If we’re always eating with those similar to us, it’s time to invite outside of our comfortable circle to our table so that relational growth can take place and respect for each other’s differences can grow. If you have underage children, work to make your home the safe, enjoyable place other kids want to come to.

  Am I inviting people to join me? As we work as a church family to grow, are we reaching out to others? When we embody this picture of God’s grace, peace, and reconciliation, we’ll have opportunities with others to share the gospel, the only hope for this world. God has called each Christ-follower to be a good neighbor. Are you obeying? If the Lord were handing out grades on this, what grade would you get?

Can we help you spiritually? 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.