A Christ-follower with a limp

Monday, April 17, 2017

Guilt Free!

God has dealt with our guilt. It is the best news in all the world. It is the only strategy that owns up to the truth of God's righteousness and the depth of our debt before Him…Jesus removes our guilt.” John Piper

William Shakespeare might have made a great psychotherapist. He accurately described guilt in Macbeth as “life’s fitful fever.” Anyone whose suffered pangs of guilt knows that the Bard nailed the essence of this spiritual malignancy. It contaminates our life and even invades our dreams. An obsessed Lady Macbeth sleepwalks, incessantly washing her hands, screaming, “Out damned spot. Out, I command you! … Why should we be scared, when no one can lay the guilt upon us?” All the soap and water in the universe couldn’t wash away the dirty guilt in her own heart.

What is guilt? It’s that awful feeling which hits us in the pit of the stomach when we know we’ve done wrong. We’ll do almost anything to get rid of it. It’s the dread of the past; a pain that wells up because we committed an offense or failed to do something right. It’s a phantom pain, a bit like amputees experience after a limb has been removed. Some experience this same kind of dread obsessed by the memory of some wrong committed years, even decades ago. It never quite leaves, crippling the enjoyment of life and relationships with others. They live in fear that someone may discover their past failure.

Guilt is the bane of human existence. It’s one of the most crippling maladies of the soul. Psychiatrists and doctors say that unresolved guilt is the number one cause of mental illness and suicide. Psychologist Roy Baumeister of Case Western Reserve University studied guilt, discovering that the average person spends approximately 2 hours a day feeling guilty.

Yet, guilt is God ordained and for the most part, guilt is constructive. It’s like an electric fence that gives us a jolt when we stray beyond our boundaries. Like pain, guilt tells us when something is wrong. When you feel it, you don't just sit there, you do something about it. It’s guilt that ultimately drives us to God, to the Cross and to Jesus Christ as our Savior.

Guilt cannot be ignored. We were not designed to handle guilt. Either it’s forgiven and we’re free from it, or we must attempt to escape it…but it can’t be escaped. Guilt is the “hound of heaven.” Yet many still try…

Some seek to blame game away guilt. Adam and Eve established a pattern continuing to this day – the Blame Game. They rationalized their choices, blaming others…even blaming God. We foolishly think that if we can blame someone or something, we’ll feel less guilty. It doesn’t work.

It’s why many are incessantly angry or critical. Those can be coping mechanisms for a guilty conscience. If you can aim anger toward parents, spouse, circumstances, job, ad nauseam, it’s a distraction from peering into the darkness of your own heart at your failures and personal responsibility.

Some attempt to relabel guilt as a disease. It’s common to relabel moral failure as a disease or some addiction, but calling sinful behavior a disease isn’t really helpful. If guilty behavior is a “disease,” isn’t it unjust to incarcerate someone for actions they did as a result of their addiction? We don’t lock up cancer victims. I can’t help it if I get sick, but I volitionally choose to have another drink or engage in some wrong behavior.

Some attempt to excuse guilt with a victim mentality. It’s the rational of “I’m poor. It’s why I steal.” Yet, what about individuals who are poor, yet never steal and even choose to work to change their economic situation? Being poor is not morally wrong; stealing is. It’s as silly as if I were to suggest that because I’m bad at math, I don’t have to pay taxes. Children are victims; adults are volunteers.

Some attempt to anesthetize guilt. Countless individuals seek to self-medicate, numbing the pain of guilt with substances or behaviors. The cure is frequently worse than the disease. Think about the myriad of “aholic” terms commonly used; workaholic, shopaholic, rageaholic, even chocoaholic. Some take medications to hopefully silence symptoms of guilt like paranoia, anger, stress or depression. (Please understand, not all mental health issues are guilt related). It’s why there may be seemingly no end to the treatment because the root problem is never addressed – guilt.

God gave us a conscience to make us aware of sin. There’s never been a civilization that didn't have laws…rules about right and wrong. The moral codes of every civilization prove there’s an objective authority who has set a standard. The human conscience is evidence of God's existence and His standards for behavior. As we violate His standards, we feel guilty.

Is there a cure for guilt? Yes! It’s the Easter story. Ultimately, God is the One we offend when we sin. That means only He can provide the remedy for guilt. It’s why Jesus came to earth to die. He’s our Substitute in that Jesus took the punishment for our sin so we could be forgiven and right with God. God wants us to be free from guilt. Through Christ, He’s wiped our record clean and wants us to live in freedom. “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14).

Jesus’ death on the Cross and His resurrection is God’s cure. When we trust Him, He forgives our sin, cleansing our conscience of guilt. When we trust Christ as Lord and Savior, sin and guilt are gone. In God’s courtroom, they’re eradicated, as if they’d never even happened. It’s why we begin a new life in Christ with a clean slate. As a new creation, God gives us His Spirit, empowering us so that we’re free from sin’s penalty, power, and ultimately in heaven, it’s very presence. Christ’s Cross is our emancipation proclamation from guilt!

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.

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Easter: Be Our Guest!

“During Easter a lot of people regret

not buying the clothing that was on sale.”

There aren’t many church or family traditions that I’m nostalgic about. One Easter tradition I’ve always enjoyed is when children got new clothes and dressed up for Easter. Today you’d be hard pressed to find a sport coat in a store for a young boy. We’ve become so practical and I understand, yet I always enjoyed seeing the girls in their Easter dresses with black patent shoes and the boys in sport coats and ties…for at least one Sunday.

When I was a child, Easter was a highlight of the year. It meant new clothes. Our whole family dressed up. My Mom and sisters would even have Easter hats. My Dad, brothers and I had new suits or sport coats. And we’d all pose for a family photograph on the front steps of our home.

Easter meant an Easter basket. On the Saturday before Easter we’d color hardboiled eggs. There might be an Easter egg hunt, though I never did figure out Easter egg hunts. Maybe the eggs they hunt today are better but the ones we hunted for were like rocks. Why someone wanted to “win” gathering the most of those repulsive things, I’ll never know. It seems to me the winner would be the one with the least Easter eggs.

Easter means many things to different people. Probably for most it’s an opportunity to get together as a family. Those are some special times. Yet, it’s so much more. As believers, we know that, or at least, we should.

I’ll never forget a lady many years ago telling me that she was going to have to skip church on Easter because her family was coming over and she had to make Easter dinner. Somehow she missed the point.

So please don’t miss the point. Easter is about Jesus and His resurrection. It’s about the fact a just and holy God sacrificed His own Son for our sin to pay our debt. Jesus suffered and died a horrible death. But it’s not the end of the story. It looked like evil had won. Jesus was dead. There was no hope…

But that was Friday and Sunday was coming. On Sunday, the One who was dead physically rose again and walked out of the tomb. It demonstrates that God was satisfied with His sacrifice. It gives us hope. Death is now a defeated foe. “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

Easter is about forgiveness, eternal life, victory, hope BUT do your lost family members, friends and neighbors know that? Or, do they think Easter is about family get-togethers, bunnies and Easter egg hunts? Unless you tell them there is so much more, how will they know? Sometimes in the church we’re so enjoying the victory of the Easter Celebration, we forget the many who are just enjoying the “celebration,” yet have no idea what they’re celebrating. Easter is also a time when many who’d never consider going to church will attend because it’s tradition or even out of curiosity.

So are you inviting guests to come with you to one of our Easter services? There are many people in your circle the Holy Spirit is already working on. They’re being drawn to the Lord. The Lord can use you—your words and courage—to bring someone within the sound of the gospel.

According to Thom Ranier, 82% of the unchurched are at least “somewhat likely” to attend church if they’re invited. That means more than 8 out of 10 of the unchurched would come to church if they were simply invited. But Ranier sadly points out, “Only 2% of church members ever invite an unchurched person to church.” When was the last time you invited someone to come to church? Easter is one of the times when people are more open to attend church than nearly any other time of the year. So how can you invite folk for Easter?

Pray for God’s help. Prayer is always the place to start. Creativity flows from God and so does the power to incline your neighbors toward Christ. Take some time with your family and ask the Father to help you with the ideas and the energy to do it. First, pray. Then, invite.

Have a time and a plan. The Enemy does not want you to invite anyone, so he’ll pull out the best in his bag of tricks: busyness. Easter will come and go, and you’ll be buying discounted chocolate bunnies before you know it. So once you land on an idea, put your plans on the calendar.

Ask if they’re planning to go to church this Easter. An easy place to start is with a casual conversation. Even in a passing chat about the weather, ask if they’re planning on attending an Easter service. Many are already thinking about it. Even if they’re not, going to church on Easter is still cultural enough to be an inoffensive topic. One of the most common hesitations potential visitors have is not knowing anyone at the church. Resolve that by offering to attend with them and to sit with them.

Make cookies and deliver them. Who doesn’t like cookies? Making Easter eggs is fun too, but they don’t quite go down as well with a glass of milk. Your neighbors will not only enjoy it, they’ll be impressed that you took the time to make it and share it. If cooking isn’t your thing, there’s nothing wrong with buying some candy to share. Deliver the goodies and then invite them to an Easter Service.

Take them some spring flowers. So candy isn’t your thing. After a hard winter, flowers are a breath of fresh air. Drop off a small bouquet. Send the kids. Who can resist a cute kid with a handful of flowers? Then, invite them to come as your guest.

We have invitations that you can use to invite folk. The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter how you do it, it just matters that you do it! Will you?

Sunday, April 2, 2017

The Church is the Hope for the City

“We need new churches if the body of Christ in a city is going to grow” Tim Keller

I grew up in the city. My childhood home was just inside the city of Atlanta limits. When my Dad built our home in the early 1960’s, it was a totally Caucasian neighborhood. Our church was seven miles away in a suburb called East Point. That small burb and our church were also Caucasian. But like many southern cities, Atlanta was changing. African-Americans began buying homes in white dominated areas. There was an ensuing panic and “white flight” began to take place. The neighborhood around our church also changed. Eventually, the church merged with another church, moving some 30 miles away to the suburbs.

It’s easy to second guess what churches and people did in the past because of neighborhood and ethnic changes. My concern is that while white churches followed their white congregations into the suburbs, often they didn’t leave a Gospel witness behind. While the ethnic and economic make-up of the church’s neighborhood may have changed, there were still people there – people who needed the Gospel. It’s a scene that’s been replayed in America countless times. Drive through any urban area and you’ll see empty church buildings or that have been transformed into something other than a church. The former church has ceased to have a ministry in that neighborhood.

Several years ago I read Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours? by Dr. Roland Allen. When Dr. Allen first wrote this book in 1962, it was considered revolutionary. Unlike other studies, he didn’t focus on Paul’s doctrine or character but on his missionary methodology. As you study Paul’s missionary journeys, you discover that Paul focused on urban areas.

There’s no question that Paul was the greatest missionary of all time. His missionary strategy was designed to reach the greatest number with the highest efficiency. What he did was also abhorrent to his own Jewish countrymen. While Paul didn’t neglect the Jews, he didn’t stop with the Jews. He did something that’s still rare even today – Paul reached out to people groups that were very different from him. Few churches take the initiative to reach out to those who are different than the majority of the congregation. Few Christians step out of their familiar circle across economic, ethnic, age or moral lines to reach someone with the Gospel.

Paul took the Gospel places it’d never gone before (2 Cor. 10:16), “not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation” (Rom. 15:20). Not only did he concentrate on the great cities, he concentrated on economic centers. He’d come from the large city of Tarsus himself and preached in world’s political capital, Rome, as well as in Athens, the world’s cultural center. Philippi was the “chief city” of Macedonia (Acts 16:12), as were Corinth in Achaia and Ephesus in Asia Minor. Antioch, Troas, Thessalonica—all were great seaport cities. Establishing solid churches in such cities provided centers for carrying the Gospel throughout the world. Over the course of his life, Paul traveled some 15,000 miles and preached to thousands of people.

Our own church was started by a church in the City of Racine, Calvary Memorial. The Pauline model of missions begins in an urban center and then reaches out to the regions beyond those urban centers.

Too often, evangelicals have abandoned the cities. The church I grew up in gave $200,000 annually to world missions. While they sent missionaries around the world, even to Africa, there was little concern for their African-American backyard. Churches pour missions money reaching the far ends of the globe, yet fail to consider needs a few miles away in the city. Too many of us see the problems in the city, yet overlook Gospel opportunities.

For example, a city is where you can do cross-cultural ministry without having to leave the States. Many are centers for universities and colleges with international students. When we reach international students with the Gospel, often we send back “missionaries” are already prepared for the culture. They know the language and because they have a degree, have the financial support they’ll need. With a college degree they’re respected members of society. It’s similar to the account of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch repeated in a contemporary setting (Acts 8:26-40).

We’ve lost the “War on Poverty.” Sixty years later our cities are worse than they were when President Johnson declared “war” in his State of the Union address in 1964. From a biblical worldview, it’s because we’ve used the wrong “weapons.” There’s no question the inner city needs jobs, housing and education. Sixty years later we know that merely adding those things fails to bring lasting change and does nothing for eternity. One can work hard, live in a nice home, even have a Ph. D and yet not know Jesus. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, a job is not the best social program.

Tim Keller who planted a powerful church in New York City points out neighborhoods stay largely the same if new types of residents (richer, poorer, or culturally different from the rest) comprise less than 5% of the population. But when the number of new residents reaches somewhere between 5% and 20%, the whole neighborhood ethos shifts. Perhaps if instead of planting more churches in white middle class America, we used our resources to plant churches in cities, we’d see transformational change.

This morning it’s a privilege to welcome Tom & Joanna Kubiak to Grace. The Kubiaks are planting their second church in the city of Chicago and we hope to partner with them in this wonderful Great Commission endeavor!

Stay in school...the school of life!

“True humility is staying teachable regardless of how much

you already know.”

There’s an old Taoist story about a student who comes to a master and asks the master to teach him. The master invites the student to sit with him and have tea. While they are sitting, the master starts to converse with the eager young student. But every time the master starts to explain a point, the student would interrupt him and say, "Oh, I know that, I do this when that happens, or I don't have that problem because…” Soon the master stopped talking and picked up the teapot. He began pouring tea into the student's cup. As the cup filled, he continued pouring until the cup overflowed and spilled out. The student shouted, “Stop! It is enough! My cup is full!” With that, the old master smiled and replied, “Yes, your cup is full, therefore I can teach you nothing until you empty your cup.”

The moral of the story is clear. The student was unteachable. Instead of listening to the master, he wanted to show how much he already knew. He wasn’t open to learning anything new that he believed he’d already learned. His cup of knowledge was too full and he had to empty that cup before he could learn from the new master. Emptying your cup does not mean you must give up all that you’ve learned or forget all that you know. That’s silly. To empty your cup simply means to adopt a teachable attitude.

The greatest enemy of a teachable spirit is pride. It’s not surprising in an unregenerate world. Pride is the first sin recorded, costing Satan heaven. Pride causes more to reject Christ and the need for the Cross than any other sin. It’s not surprising to find pride amongst those who don’t know Jesus.

What’s sadly shocking is to find pride among those who should be the most humble. We’re the ones who join John Newton in his well-known refrain, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” Wretches have no basis for pride. I love the encouragement found in Proverbs 9:9: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” Scripture teaches that a Christian is to have a very humble, teachable spirit.

Oftentimes, what we become most arrogant and opinionated about would be laughable if we weren’t so inflexible in our opinions. For example, much of what is adamantly purported as right or wrong when it comes to parenting is merely opinion. Scripture never tells us what educational choice is best, how active or inactive our children should be, what time they should go to bed or get up. About the only things the Bible is clear on is that we’re to teach our children biblical truth and our goal must be godly children, not “good” ones…or successful ones.

The same could be said of many other things that we’re sadly often so arrogantly adamant about: finances, food choices, career, vacation, time, athletic loyalty, entertainment options, politics…to name just a few.

But there’s one characteristic that separates the successful from the unsuccessful in every walk of life: teachability. Those who are teachable and are lifelong learners, usually succeed. The unteachable typically fail. You’ll observe this in education, career, business, marriage, parenting, ministry, Christian walk and nearly every other field. Most importantly, a teachable person will listen when God speaks via reading His Word or in a preaching/teaching setting, and then change their direction to obey Him.

In fact, arrogant believers (that’s a conundrum), hurt churches. It’s God’s grace when He protects a local church family from arrogant Christians who erroneously believe it’s their calling to “fix” a church. They leave a string of battered churches behind and believe all the churches out there “stink.”

Take a moment and picture the folk that you love to be around because they’re so Christlike. Spending time with them is a continual feast. They leave you feeling so refreshed! Probably each of them is humble and has a gracious, teachable spirit. So what does teachability look like?

Someone who is teachable listens more than they talk. When they listen, they’re engaged. They’re quiet, contemplating follow-up questions, seeking to really understand. They may even take notes. They read books or learn everything they can to be a better steward and glorify God.

Someone who is teachable asks questions, lots of them. They’re willing to appear ignorant or risk looking stupid. They accept responsibility for blunders and failures. They don’t make excuses or blame others. They seek and accept guidance or mentoring from mentors, coaches, parents, teachers, pastors, godly leaders, etc.

Someone who is teachable accepts criticism or correction without resentment or retaliation. They’re not defensive. They see criticism from those they trust as beneficial. They’re willing to move out of their comfort zones. They’re flexible and adapt to embrace change to be more effective.

Someone who is teachable is aware of their own limitations of their own knowledge and abilities. They openly admit their limitations, inability, and ignorance to others who can teach and help them grow.

Someone who is teachable regularly seeks out godly counsel. They ask for help, instruction, guidance and advice (before the event, not after disaster strikes). They learn from anyone and everyone they can. Usually, they realize that they can learn something from nearly everyone.

Someone who is teachable is willing to change. Whether it’s their views or habits when convincing evidence is presented to them. They’ll change even if it means admitting they’re wrong or causes a level of discomfort.
The teachable are a magnificent minority! May teachability be true of us!

Sunday, March 19, 2017

How to Prepare for Sunday Worship

“Fruitful and acceptable worship begins before it begins.”

Alexander MacLaren

When something is important to me, I prepare. I love to fish. I don’t seem to get enough opportunities but I love to fish. There’s just something exciting about seeing your bobber go down or feeling a tug, and then to fight to reel him in. I hate it when I know that I have to finally leave. I’ll think and talk about that fishing trip for days, even weeks to come.

But when I feel like something is an obligation, I procrastinate. I’m nearly listless. I shuffle around and get ready at the last minute. I often plan an exit strategy on how to leave as soon as politely possible. I go through the motions, but I really don’t want to be there.

Periodically, I’ll be invited to some social event where I don’t really know anyone and may not be particularly close to the person who invited me. But I feel obligated, so I go. I try to not complain to Jane, who often is dragged along with me. Checking my phone is gauche. Reading a book is just rude. So I try to appear interested, while in the back of my mind I’m wondering how long before I can politely escape.

When it comes to Sunday worship, most of us fall into one of those two categories. For some, it’s important and something they anticipate. It’s a highlight of their week. For others, it’s an obligation. The sooner, it’s over, the better. They look for a reason to either not go or to escape quickly.

Often you can look at someone’s face and know which category they fall into, particularly if you’re part of the worship team or preaching. If someone is an unbeliever or an easily bored young person, it’s not surprising to notice that worship isn’t something they particularly enjoy. What’s disconcerting is to see a believer with a look of boredom or worse, disdain. One wonders what’s going on in their heart when worshiping God or being with His people is something to endure, not enjoy.

The Christian life, in many ways, is lived from Lord’s Day to Lord’s Day. Corporate worship and being with our spiritual family is a high point of our week and the constant rhythm of our lives. We dare not “neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some” (Heb. 10:25). There’s nothing as meaningful, rich, and glorious on earth as a church family gathering together to worship the Lord. Most Christians believe this. But does it translate into our practice? Or, is the moment we’re sitting in the service the first time we’ve thought about corporate worship in our week?

If corporate worship is as significant as the Bible tells us it is, then shouldn’t we prepare for it? Can you imagine the worship team just showing up and it’s obvious they haven’t practiced? Or, the pastor stands up to preach and says something like, “I’m not sure what I’m going to talk about today. I think I’ll talk about _______.” If preparation is essential for the leaders in worship, isn’t it essential for the participants? How can we prepare for worship?

Prepare your heart. Remember, when you were growing up and your Mom told you not to eat junk food or it would ruin your dinner? Come to worship hungry. Feed your own soul during the week with private worship and even family worship, knowing it will help get your juices flowing for more spiritual food. Ask the Lord to lay His hand on the leaders as they prepare, and then to feed your soul and the souls of those around you. Don’t let Satan distract you with a petty, critical spirit over an off key note or an error in the bulletin or a song that perhaps you’re not familiar with.

Practice quietness beforehand. After you sit down, take a moment to pray and quiet your soul. Our world is loud and busy. To spiritually dine takes contemplation. It’s why quiet and the call to worship is important.

Be a little boring. Go to bed at a reasonable time on Saturday night. Sleepy heads make for foggy minds and drowsy worshipers.

Plan Ahead. Lay out your Sunday clothes and those of your family on Saturday night. Know where your Bible and other materials you might need are. Gas the car and clear the seats for the family. Get up at a decent time so you don’t have to rush, or worse, come in late. Leave home with plenty of time to spare. What does it say about our values when we’re early for a movie or ball game, yet late for worship?

Anticipate it with joy. Cultivate a kind and joyful spirit on Sunday mornings. If it’s the highlight of our week, let’s act like it. Talk about how wonderful the day will be, wake the kids up with excitement. Turn on Christian music for the whole family to listen to. Put a smile on your face. Refrain from turning on the TV or catching up on Facebook on Sunday mornings. We’re so easily distracted. Safeguard your soul.

Whet your own spiritual appetite. Read and prayerfully think through the Sunday morning text earlier in the week. We should seldom be surprised at the passage we hear preached. Working our way through a passage before the worship service provides a more fertile soil for the Spirit to work.

Converse on the ride. On the way to church talk about the passage being be preached. Talk about the things of God. On the way home, use the discussion questions on the insert to more deeply interact with the message.

At the worship service, we’re meeting with our Heavenly Father and our brothers and sisters. Shouldn’t the worship be a highlight of the week? It’s a time to re-charge our souls for the coming week. It’s an opportunity to glorify God and minister to others. Yet, because it’s a weekly activity, it’s tempting to let it become routine. One of the ways to ensure that it’s not is to prepare our own hearts and minds for corporate worship each week.

Monday, March 13, 2017

Hollywood, Hypocrisy and Pink Hats

“Jenny was hosting Junior League parties
And having dinner at the country club
Everyone thought they were Ken and Barbie
But Ken was always getting way too drunk
Saturday night, after a few too many
He came home ready to fight
And all his money could never save Jenny
From the devil living in his eyes”

Carrie Underwood in Church Bells

Carrie Underwood’s new hit song, Church Bells, is a powerful account about the epidemic of domestic violence. It tells the story of a young girl who marries a rich man. But after their wedding, this young wife finds herself trapped in a violent marriage with an abusive alcoholic husband.

Domestic violence is everywhere; rich, poor, ethnic, Caucasian, religious, non-religious. Statistics indicate it occurs more often in cohabitation relationships than married ones. That’s one more reason, besides the fact that marriage is God’s plan and His best, why we in the Church must be strong advocates of marriage. We’re naïve though to believe abuse doesn’t happen in Christian homes. Sadly, it does and it’s far too common.

Like you, I was nauseated when the recording of the lewd remarks of then presidential candidate Trump was released. It was deplorable. Though it was crude “talk,” what concerned me the most was that talk, as in the case of former President Bill Clinton, often results in abusive behavior.

By now we’ve all seen the ubiquitous pink hats. Hollywood is behind much of their popularity. What I find repugnant is the blatant hypocrisy by the Hollywood elite. Recently, author Sady Doyle, wrote in Elle (02-27-17) that men in entertainment can seemingly get away with anything. Mel Gibson threatened to kill and rape his ex-girlfriend, yet he sat in the front row racking up awards at the recent Academy Awards for Hacksaw Ridge. Casey Affleck took home the prize for Best Actor, yet he’s been accused of sexually terrorizing female colleagues on the set of his 2010 mockumentary, I’m Still Here, referring to women as “cows,” insisting that one female employee share his hotel room, then deluged her with abusive text messages after she refused. Another says she woke up in a hotel room to find Affleck in her bed with her. (The rest is too repulsive to share.) After she managed to get him out of her room, he rallied crew members to bully her until she quit. All that didn’t keep him from winning an Oscar this year. Though Roman Polanski raped a 13-year-old girl (a 13-year-old!) which he’s admitted, still no one in the Academy felt it should pose an obstacle to his filmmaking career. When he won the Oscar for Best Director in 2003 for The Pianist, he received a standing ovation, including Meryl Streep. A beaming Harrison Ford accepted the award for him. Polanski couldn’t attend because if he comes back, he’ll be arrested. Woody Allen is still a Hollywood darling despite the fact that his adult daughter, Dylan Farrow, published an open letter in The New York Times, repeating her 1992 allegation that Allen raped her when she was as young as 7. She specifically cited the fact that “actors praised [Allen] at awards shows” as a source of extreme trauma. Eminem’s musical career includes emotionally abusing and threatening his wife won an Oscar for 8 Mile. Allegations of domestic violence trail other nominees like Michael Fassbender and Johnny Depp and two-time Best Actor winner, Sean Penn.

Ever since it became mainstream, as far back as the 1980s, hip-hop artists and rappers have continually objectified, demeaned and promoted violence and sexual abuse against women in their music. Where’s the outrage! What about professional athletes? According to a recent article, over 40 NFL players currently playing, have been accused of sexual or physical assault. Players like Jameis Winston, Ben Roethlisberger, Brandon Marshall…to name just a few. Add other professional athletes from other sports to the list of rich, famous and powerful who abuse women and it’s a pandemic.

Men who abuse women should be pariah, much like Bill Cosby has become. With abusers like Mel Gibson, Casey Affleck and Woody Allen being honored, instead of designer dresses, the most prominent feature on the red carpet should be pink hats. Each time he runs out of the tunnel, Ben Roethlisberger, should face a sea of them.

But don’t hold your breath. These same Hollywood elitists and others who rightfully bewail the perversity of President Trump rationalize away the debauchery of Bill Clinton and were willing to once again give him unlimited access to our nation’s daughters. The condoning of physical and sexual abuse reveal these evil behaviors, at least for Hollywood elites, aren’t the issue. Apparently, if you’re ideology leans left, you get a pass, even awards and adulation. Crimes against women whether by someone in the White House, a star of the stage or athletic field cannot be tolerated! It’s evil! It’s criminal and should be punished to the full extent of the law.

The Church of Jesus Christ must be the safest place for women and children. We’re accountable to King Jesus, not fickle social mores. We must hold people, even pastors, accountable. Success does not give one a free pass. We must speak out against abuse, be willing to intervene and protect the innocent. We need a new generation of John the Baptists to rise up, willing to pay the price as he did when he called out King Herod for perversity. We don’t need pink hats. We need godly men and women with courage and character, protecting those who cannot protect themselves!

Sunday, March 5, 2017

You're never to old to learn more...about the Bible

“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the Book widens and deepens with our years.” Charles Spurgeon

Next Sunday our women’s ministry is launching something that’s been a burden on my heart for some time – a Sunday morning Women’s Bible study. We’re just trying this. We don’t know if it will work. Our goal is to have something more convenient for women, particularly those in the workplace or who homeschool. We do know that if we never try it, it’s certain that it will never work. This new study on the Sermon on the Mount will meet each Sunday at 9:30 am, beginning March 12^th in the big classroom downstairs.

Currently, we have one morning women’s Bible study and two evening ones. But if a woman is employed outside the home or homeschools, those can be very difficult times. Some 70% of women work outside the home. While many husbands today have stepped up and do more of the housework, the bulk of the work around the house still falls on the wife. For many reasons then a week day or night Bible study is tough to fit in.

At Grace we are committed to group Bible study. Why? Why do we believe that studying the Bible as a group is so important?

Jesus never intended for Christianity to be a spectator sport. Group Bible study is invaluable. Small group study is so effective that Jesus used it to train His own disciples. They, in turn, modeled it with having their own Bible studies. Churches first met in homes.

Christianity was never meant to be individualistic. All of us know that Jesus died for me…somehow we miss He died for us, He died for the Church. God’s plan is for Christianity to be relational—first, in a relationship between ourselves and God. Then, horizontally, in relationships between ourselves and those around us. Group Bible studies move us from being spectators in a weekly church service to more active participants in a like-minded community committed to spiritual growth.

As we dig into God’s Word together, the Holy Spirit can open our eyes as a group to God’s Truth that He has written there for us. It provides an opportunity for us to share different perspectives and insights. It’s an opportunity to stretch and broaden us because of the interaction. Studying God’s Word with others causes friction – and that’s a good thing. As iron sharpens iron, the Spirit begins to grind off our sinful rough edges. The Book of Proverbs says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). More information is also retained when there’s active engagement and involvement. Biblical literacy is enhanced.

Application and accountability bring understanding that moves God’s Word from the mind to the heart. Transformation is encouraged (Romans 12:2) and our lives are changed by the work of the Spirit. It’s cumulative. When we grow in grace and our lives are changed, the lives of those around us are changed as well.

But relationships don’t just happen. They must be intentional. They must be planned and scheduled. Be honest. How many times have you said to a friend, “We have to get together some time?” It’s a good thing that neither of you waits by the phone because it probably never happened. Intention is not the same thing as investment. The only thing that God said was NOT GOOD, prior to sin, was “it is not good for man to be alone.”

We all need a cadre of friends to help weather the storms of life. But friends require an investment of time and a level of vulnerability and trust. As Hebrews 10:24-25 says we should, “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.” Where better to accomplish this than in a group Bible study setting?

It’s in a group Bible study where we can celebrate life’s victories, find prayer support (we all need that), be encouraged in tough times, and keep ourselves accountable in our personal growth. Group Bible studies offer a structured time to focus on topics that address our needs as well as our interests. They offer an enlivening arena to help carry us from Sunday to Sunday and a safe place to work out the challenges we all face. The bottom line is God created us for each other and we need each other.

We are the Body of Christ. We’re Jesus’ hands and feet on earth, the ones who are to continue His work. Group Bible study is not so we know more and fill our heads with information. It’s to be life-changing. It’s so we can serve each other and serve together. One of the best ways that we can get to know each other and become deeper friends is by serving together.

Recently, my friend, Amy Zott, succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Jane and I became lifelong friends with Amy and Jeff Zott but it started as the four of us worked on a project together. Rotary assigned us to help a shut-in with some yardwork. Working together on this elderly man’s yard birthed a great friendship. So please never do a project at church alone. I’d encourage you to ask someone from church to help you with a personal project. Then, you could help them with one of their projects…and we will all grow together in His grace and love.

And if this new Bible study doesn’t fit you, we have several other choices. Bill King and Rich Benson are teaching a great study on the Book of Colossians, The Born Supremacy. Ron Strelow and I are beginning a new study, “Where is God? He’s closer than you think.” If you’re not yet a member of Grace Church, attend the New Member’s class. It’s a way to find out what makes us tick at Grace, to understand our DNA.

So please, join a SML (Sunday Morning Live) class! God designed us to need Him and each other. What better place for that to happen than in a small Bible study group? Sign-up today!