Sick

I was sick a couple of weeks ago with a headache and a sore throat. Even when I'm sick, I'm not one to just lay up in the bed and do nothing. I tend to try to go ahead and work or do whatever and just push through it (not because I'm any kind of a trooper or anything, it's just that laying up in the bed is incredibly boring). Anyway, I was trying to do some work with the headache - and it just wasn't happening. I couldn't think straight. I was able to do some simple stuff, but anything that took some intelligent thinking I had to put off for another day.

It just so happened that at the time I was doing some research into other religions and what they believe for a class that I'm teaching. There is so much information out there on the Internet, but it takes a lot of compiling and organizing to get it into a presentable and understandable format. Anyway, let's just say that when your head and throat hurt and your head is all cloudy, compiling and organizing facts into a understandable format doesn't seem to work to well.

One of the things that has really astounded me about these other religions is their ability to believe things that are so far-fetched. Now I realize that I believe things that some would consider far-fetched (e.g. the Virgin Birth), but I believe them because the Bible tells me they are so. But they believe things that are far-fetched and have absolutely no scripture to back them up. So I ask myself, 'How can they be so deceived? How can they not understand the truth when it is right in front of them?" Even as I ask that question I realize it is not limited to other religions, but is true of all unbelievers.

But it's like me being sick. Everything I needed was right in front of me - but I just couldn't put my head around it. The knowledge was there but I couldn't compile it into an understandable format. It was like trying to see through a fog - you know that something is there but you just can't quite see it clearly.

That's what it's like being an unbeliever. The truth can be right in front of you, so close that it is staring you in the face - but you just can't quite understand it. Your mind can't compile the Scriptures into something understandable. The reason? You are spiritually sick - in fact, you are so spiritually sick that you are dead. You are trying to understand spiritual things with a natural mind - and that will never work.

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. - Romans 8:6-7

I'm not sure if I am supposed to learn a lesson from this or not. I just know that for one brief moment I got an understanding of how difficult it may be for someone to come to the Truth. For one moment I realized that without the Holy Spirit drawing us and illuminating the truth for us - we would be 'ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth'.

Love without Need

In the book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis has a quote. I won't take the time to look it up and quote it exactly, but the gist of it is as follows:

"Christians can love you more than anyone else, but they need you less".

When I first read that I wasn't sure what he meant. But the more I studied on it the more I understood what he was saying. As Christians, we are commanded to love everyone - not only our friends but our enemies as well. Now this is hard to do to begin with, but as we put on the Lord Jesus Christ we begin to find that it becomes easier. As we grow and mature we find that our capacity to love expands more and more. So I do believe it's true that Christians can love others more (and better) then anyone else can.

But what about the 2nd part of that statement - they need you less? Let's examine that more closely. Each of us has 3 areas of our lives in which we have needs and desires: physical, emotional and spiritual. In our society today, we are encouraged to fulfill these needs through relationships. In the moral parts of society, we are encouraged to fulfill them through marriage. In the immoral parts of society, we are encouraged to fulfill them through any relationship we so choose.

Now obviously I would encourage marriage over the other, but even in marriage there is a danger of putting marriage up as the answer that will meet all our needs. Anyone that has been married will tell you that is not true. Marriage is a wonderful thing, but if you are relying on your spouse to meet your emotional and spiritual needs, you are going to be sadly disappointed.

I'm not a marriage counselor, so I'm not an expert on the subject. But don't you think one of the main reasons that marriages fail is that one spouse doesn't feel that the other spouse is "meeting their needs"?

"Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." - Psalm 37:4

That is the truth: only in Christ can those needs be met. He is the only one that can truly fulfil those inward desires.

"But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." -Phillipians 4:19

My whole life I've heard that scripture quoted about material things, but it is so much more than that. "All your needs" are supplied by God - material, emotional and spiritual!

So now can you see what Lewis meant by his statement - "Christians can love you more than anyone else, but they need you less"? When Christ is first and foremost in our lives, we then have the ability to love our spouse - our family member - our friends - more than we ever could before. But we don't need them to make us content. We don't need them to fulfill those emotional and spiritual needs. They are fulfilled in Christ. And now we can really love, unencumbered.

Preach the Word!

We sometimes think that immorality couldn't be worse than it is in our day, but if you study history you'll see that there was a time when it was much worse than it is today. Homosexuality and sexual perversions were rife in the Roman Empire during the days of the Apostle Paul. In cities like Corinth and Ephesus immorality was not only rampant but was considered normal behavior by society in general. But that was just one form of wickedness that was being practiced - there were many others.

Paul described it this way in his 2nd letter to to Timothy:

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. - 2 Timothy 3:1-4

That's a pretty good list and I think most would agree that it pretty well describes our current society. A few verses later he adds one more ominous note - it won't get better.

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. - 2 Timothy 3:13

Paul was in prison and this would be his last letter to Timothy - his beloved son in the faith. What advice would he give him? What piece of wisdom would he impart to him to enable him to battle the forces of the enemy?

• Work with the Roman Senate to pass laws to legislate moral behavior?



• Open counseling centers to work with troubled people?



• Open faith-based ministries with the Roman government's money?



• Protest the bathhouses and other dens of iniquity?

No, he didn't say any of that. This is what he said:

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. - 2 Timothy 4:1-2

The Bible clearly teaches that the Word - the Truth - changes people. It alone is able to convince, rebuke and exhort. But for some reason we've lost our focus. Preaching doesn't seem to be good enough anymore. Even though you won't hear people admit it, it seems that there is a reliance on programs and buildings and ministries and stories and technology more than on the the simple preaching of the Word of God. Why? I'm not sure. For many, preaching seems "old fashioned". They feel like that in order to minister to today's culture, you have to be "culturally relevant" - not preach a message that sounds foolish to the world. But the Apostle Paul makes an amazing statement in his letter to the church at Corinth.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. - 1 Corinthians 1:18

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. - 1Corinthians 1:21

Preaching is God's plan. It may sound like foolishness to the flesh - but it is God's way. No matter what we try, we cannot improve upon it. John the Baptist preached, Jesus preached, the Apostles preached. There is no other way. In season and out of season - in good times and bad times - in a Christian society and in a pagan society - all the time and anytime - Preach the Word!

For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? - Rom 10:13-14

Teach Us To Pray

One of the things that we are commanded to do in Scripture is to pray. We all know that prayer is important, but I think that probably many of us struggle with how to pray. One of Christ's own disciples struggled with this as well. In fact, he asked Jesus to teach him to pray.

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” - Luke 11:1-4

Now I'm sure that Jesus gave this teaching many times throughout his ministry travels as He taught from village to village. In fact, we find a separate instance in the book of Matthew when Jesus gave this same teaching during the Sermon on the Mount.

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him."

"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" - Matthew 6:9-13

I grew up playing sports. And I can't tell you how many times we would kneel before a game and say the Lord's Prayer. We all knew it but I doubt any of us could explain what it meant. I've heard this prayer repeated over and over at different functions and gatherings throughout my life. It's sad that the very thing we were told not to do - to use vain repetitions - we have somehow taken the Lord's Prayer and made it into exactly that.

This prayer was never meant to be a mantra - it was meant to be a model. That's why it's important that we really look at it and see what we should be praying for. When I look at it, this is what I see (in my own words):

Holy Father,
I want your will to be done in my life.
Meet my daily needs.
Forgive my sins as I forgive those who have sinned against me.
Lead me away from temptation, and deliver me from the evil one when I fall into it.
For it's all about You, not me.

The other morning in Sunday School we were discussing our lives and how we tend to really pray only when we get in trouble. We pray that God would eliminate things that cause us discomfort like sickness, money troubles, family troubles, etc.. Now don't get me wrong; if I get in trouble in anyway I'm going to pray. The Apostle James put it this way:

Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. - James 5:13

But the funny thing is that I don't see anything in the Lord's prayer about health, wealth, prosperity, a good job or a trouble-free life. In fact It's a pretty simple prayer when you really look at it. The only thing in there about "material" things is asking God to meet our daily needs.
The Apostle James tells us that the problem with our prayers is that we are asking for the wrong things.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. - James 4:3

When I investigate my own prayer life, I find that it revolves around me. What we need to understand is that prayer - true prayer - is about His kingdom, His power and His glory.

If You Love Me

Saturday was a long day. We had our baseball fundraiser at the Rec Park and we were out there all day long. Sunday we went to church and then out to eat afterward. I had to be back at the church at 6:00 pm so as you can imagine, afterwards all I wanted to was get to the house and take a nap. I was only about 4 or 5 miles from the house. That's when I saw them. Two women on the side of road holding up a sign: "Need gas - trying to get home."

I'm sure you've all been there. You've got other things on your mind, things to do and places to go. You really don't want to stop. You know you should - but you don't want to. And that's when the internal struggle begins.

"Somebody else will help them."

"They'll probably do something else with the money."

"How could they let themselves get in that position, anyway?"

I drove at least 2 or 3 miles past them, arguing with myself before I decided to turn around. I went back and offered to fill their tank up if they drove just up the road to the gas station. As it turned out, they were completely out of gas and someone had already left to go and get a gas tank to bring them some gas. I gave them some money and left.

Now before you think I did anything worthwhile, let me just tell you that even when I went back - I didn't want to. Everything in me wanted to just go home. So what made me turn around and go back? With all that arguing with myself, one thing kept coming to my mind.

"If you love me, keep my commandments."

Why did I go back? I went back because I love Him. Did I feel "loving"? No, I didn't. Did I feel compassion for them? No, I'm sorry to say that I didn't. I want to be more compassionate. I want to be more loving. And I believe that if I continue to "put on Christ Jesus", continue to obey His commandments, continue to "walk as He walked", that in time I will become more and more like Him. But until then I'll still try and obey even when I don't feel like it. Because that's what love is.

For I was hungry, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me. - Matthew 25:35-36

P.S. I almost didn't write this blog because I thought it might come off as self-serving - a kind of "look what I did". I hope it didn't come across that way. In fact, I didn't feel good about myself at all. What kind of person goes by two women on the road and then has to drive miles past them before turning around and then coming back? I'm reminded of the lyrics of a song by D.C. Talk.

"What's going on inside me,

I despise my own behavior.

It only serves to confirm my suspicions

That I'm still a man in need of a Savior."

It Is Written

Awhile back I was reading in the Gospels about the temptation of Jesus. As I read, I was once again struck by the fact of how Jesus used the Scriptures to defend Himself against that attack. He didn't answer Satan with His own thoughts or His own beliefs or His own ideas - He only quoted the pure and undefiled Word of God. For Him, the Scripture was sufficient.

And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” *

* Quoting Deuteronomy 8:3

And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” *

* Quoting Deuteronomy 6:13

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you', and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’” *

Quoting Deuteronomy 6:16.

A few weeks ago I was listening to a sermon on the teachings of the Catholic Mass. This was a subject I had always been interested in because I wasn't really clear on the differences in beliefs between Catholics and Protestants regarding the Lord's Supper. As I studied, I also looked into other belief systems as well such as Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses. What became clear to me as I delved deeper was that they all had something in common with each other - they all believed in revelation beyond Scripture. They say they believe in the Bible, but they all have teachings or writings that they consider equal to the Bible or in some cases, revere even above the Bible. Or to put it another way - the Scriptures are not sufficient for them.

It seems to me that the biggest temptation of every generation is to veer away from Scripture - to add a little bit to it or take a little bit away from it. That is a dangerous game to play. One generation may add a little here, while another generation takes a little from there. After awhile, Scripture becomes unrecognizable. We like to think that this only occurs in cults and other religions, but turn on your Christian television station any night and watch a few of the health and wealth teachers. It is a travesty what is being done to Scripture in the name of Christ.

Even when people are well meaning, it still cannot be allowed to happen. Not too long ago I was having an email exchange with a friend of mine who is a Christian. My disagreement with him had nothing to do with his actions - the things he is doing are good things and are to be applauded. My disagreement was with the fact that I felt he was misusing Scripture in order to validate those good things he was doing. That can't be allowed to happen.

Scripture is not like Play-Doh. I can't mold it to fit my beliefs. It's the other way around - I have to mold my beliefs to fit Scripture. Scripture is like a diamond that's been passed down and it's each generation's responsibility to keep it pure and clean. It is our guide and our standard. It is the absolute truth by which we direct our lives. If it gets corrupted then we are lost. Trying to live with a corrupted standard as your guide is like trying to put something together with the wrong instructions.

Here's my point. It is easy for us to look at others - other religions or cults or even other Christians - and say 'Look how they are twisting the Scripture'. But if we are not careful, we'll do the same thing in our own life. We'll try and make Scripture fit our traditions by adding to it or twisting it or reading something into it that it doesn't really say. I know - I've done it.

Do we really believe that Scripture is sufficient? Most of us would probably answer in the affirmative. So here's a little food for thought.

- If your marriage is in trouble, where would you go? To the Bible or the latest best-seller in the Christian bookstore?

- If your finances are out of order, where would you go? To the Bible or the latest seminar?

- If your addiction is killing you, where would you go? To the Bible or the latest self-help group?

- If you need guidance, where would you go? To the Bible or to the world famous evangelist on the Christian television program?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not necessarily saying that books or seminars or group meetings are bad. I am saying they don't have the answers. The truth is found in the Word and only in the Word.

Do you believe that? Do you believe that the Word and It alone is sufficient for everything we need? I do. I believe that everything I need for guidance and direction is there. I believe that everything I need to know of how to be a godly man, a good husband and father is there. I believe the ability to love others is there. I believe that the way to eternal life is found there. I believe it is all sufficient - I believe perfection can be found there and only there.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

My Purpose

What is my purpose? That is a question I'm sure we all - Christians and non-Christians alike - ask ourselves from time to time. We want to make sure the lives we live are worthwhile, and part of that is knowing what our purpose here on earth really is.

As Christians, the question is even more important for us. We want to do the will of the Father, to walk in obedience to Him. As such, many of us worry and agonize over figuring out what the will of God is for our lives - what our purpose is in His plan.

I like things simple, so here's what I think stated as simply as possible - our purpose is to be like Christ. That's it. That is the sum and total of Christianity. To walk like Him, talk like Him and act like Him. In every way, in every aspect of our lives, to put on His character.

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. - 1 John 2:6

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. - Romans 13:14

I was speaking with a friend of mine a week or so ago. He was saved several years ago and was told by some that he was destined to be a preacher, while others told him he was destined to be a teacher or a prophet. You name it and it was probably laid on his shoulders. I know that he struggled with those expectations. As we were discussing this subject - that our only purpose is to be like Christ - he said to me " I wish someone had told me that six years ago".

As I was speaking with him I was reminded of the story in the Scriptures (John 6) where the people asked Jesus a question:

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

That's just like us, isn't it? We always seem to focus on the results - the works. If we're not careful, we'll get so caught up in our own and others expectations for our life that we'll miss what's really important. We'll put pressure on ourselves to fulfill those expectations and miss what it is that Christ really wants us to do. That's why I like this story so much, because Jesus' answer takes the pressure off.

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Just believe. Just focus on Him. Everything else will come as a result of that in His good time.

Are There Few Who Are Saved?

I've always been fascinated by the questions that people asked Jesus. What an opportunity - to be able to ask the Creator of the Universe any question that you want! Some tried to trick Him, others didn't understand Him, but there were some very sincere questions as well. One such question that was asked of Jesus has especially fascinated me.

According to Luke, it happened early in the week of His passion, as he was journeying on His way to Jerusalem. As He went through the cities and villages teaching, a certain man asked Him a question.

"Lord, are there few who are saved?”

Who was this man who asked the question and what were his reasons? The Scriptures don't give us this information, but what an astute question it was. What is fascinating to me is the answer. To put it bluntly, the answer is shocking.

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able."

The Greek word for "strive" is agonizomai, which is where we get our English word "agonize". It implies an agonizing, intense, purposeful struggle. It is the same word used in 1 Corinthians 9:25 of an athlete battling to win a victory. It is also used in Colossians 4:12 of Epaphras laboring fervently, and in 1 Timothy 6:12, of the Christian who "fights the good fight of faith."

We are told many times in the Gospels that Jesus taught everywhere He went, but obviously every teaching and every conversation is not recorded. However, we know He taught this same thing in the sermon on the mount as recorded by Matthew.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

If we look at these two passages together, we find the following:

• The way to eternal life is narrow, hard to find and difficult


• Only a few will find it


• Once found, we must strive or 'fight' to get in


• Many will try to get in and will not be able

If you're like me, when you read those items above you almost don't recognize that as the Gospel. We surely don't hear that preached by the majority of the well known preachers today. Most of what is taught today is an 'easy believism' - but that is a subject for another blog.

First of all, let me state unequivocally that I believe salvation is by grace and faith alone. There is absolutely nothing you can do to earn it or qualify for it. It is a gift from God. So how do we square that with the fact that we have to 'fight' to enter in? Let me make a couple of points.

First, for those of us that have been raised with the truth, the statement that the way to eternal life is hard to find seems a little odd. But that is only because it has been shown to us from the beginning - even from our childhood. But most are not as blessed. For those raised outside the truth, the truth is hard to find. Imagine yourself growing up a Buddhist or a Muslim or even an atheist. It would not be easy to find the truth.

Secondly, once it's been found we still must fight to enter in. This is true for all who find the narrow gate. There are people who sit in churches across America every Sunday and hear the truth. The way to eternal life is shown them again and again and again. And yet they do not enter in. What are they fighting? What is preventing them from making it in?

Self.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." - Jesus Christ

C.S. Lewis puts it this way:

“The natural life is each of us is something self-centered, something that wants to be petted and admired, to take advantage of others, to exploit the whole universe. And especially it wants to be left to itself: to keep well away from anything better or stronger or higher than it, anything that might make it feel small. It is afraid of the light and air of the spiritual world, just as people who have been brought up to be dirty are afraid of a bath. And in a sense it is quite right. It knows that if the spiritual life gets hold of it, its self centeredness and self will are going to be killed and it is ready to fight tooth and nail to avoid that.”

So it is a fight - a fight with your self - to even yield yourself to the grace and mercy extended to you by God. And even if you win that fight and decide to follow Jesus, self will show itself again the next day and the fight will be on - and the day after that, and the day after that and the day after that. That's why Jesus said to take up your cross 'daily' - we must crucify the flesh - the old nature on a daily basis.

The Apostle Paul put it this way:

Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Are there few that are saved? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Jesus clearly stated that as we discussed above. But here is an interesting thing. Remember the guy that asked the question? Here is the text in its entirety.

Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ - Luke 13:23-27

Here's what's interesting to me - notice that Jesus did not answer him - not directly. He said to them - to everyone - 'Strive to enter through the narrow gate'. His point was this: Don't worry about how many are saved - worry about whether YOU are saved.

What's In a Name?

Several people have asked me why I started this blog. The easy answer is that I've always had a lot to say, and this blog just gives me another way to say it. That is part of the reason, but another reason was born out of a Sunday School class that I was teaching. At the time I started the blog, I was teaching a class on discernment. As part of preparing for the class I was doing a lot of research on different movements and theologies. My idea was that I would come across information that I wanted to share with people through the blog - so I titled the blog "Truth Seekers".

What I didn't realize was that while teaching that class, God would begin to deal with me about "living the eternal life" (I blogged on that subject back on 12/11/08, so you can go back and read that if you want). For the first time in my life, I began to try and truly live the following scripture:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

I realized that even though I was a Christian and had been born again, I was not letting Christ completely run my life - in other words, I was still living my life and not letting Christ live in me. I wanted Him to change me - to make me into a better person - but in my inner being my personal happiness was still the driving force in my life. So I decided to yield to Him like never before - to truly let the 'eternal' life be the driving force behind my actions and decisions. As part of that, this blog took on a decidedly different flavor and began to be a way for me to exhort and encourage others to also take on the challenge of living the eternal life.

With that in mind, you may have noticed that I've changed the name of the blog. Don't get me wrong, I'm still seeking truth. But what I discovered is there is not much good in finding truth if you don't live it. And there are far too many of us out there who sit and learn truth but never get around to applying it the way we should to our lives. I don't want to do that anymore. I don't know how much time I have left here, but I want to spend it doing my best to yield my members to Him - to allow the Holy Spirit to make me into a Christian - a little Christ.

So let me encourage you - live the 'eternal life'. Take to heart our Savior's call to deny yourself and crucify the flesh. Only is this can we truly find our life.

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." - Jesus Christ

Where are the Christians?

Many of you may have heard about the Barna Research Group's survey. The survey was conducted just recently and then compared with the results of the same survey conducted in 1995, 2000 and then again in 2005. The purpose of the survey was to explore how many Americans have what might be considered a “biblical worldview.”

For the purposes of the survey, a "biblical worldview" was defined as believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. In the research, anyone who held all of those beliefs was said to have a biblical worldview.

Now if you are like me, those items listed above aren't even controversial. Those statements are basic to Christian doctrine. In fact, let me just get this off my chest and go ahead and state here for the record that I believe the following:

1. Absolute moral truth DOES exist
2. The Bible IS totally accurate in everything it teaches
3. Satan IS a real being
4. A person CANNOT earn their way into Heaven
5. Jesus Christ DID live a sinless life
6. God IS the all-knowing and all-powerful creator and still rules today

Overall, the current research revealed that only 9% of all American adults have a biblical worldview. Now that is bad enough, but it just gets worse from there. Out of the total group surveyed, a sub-group was defined by those who said they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is important in their life today and that they are certain that they will go to Heaven after they die only because they confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior. This sub-group was labeled “born again Christians". The study discovered that among born again Christians, less than one out of every five (19%) had such an outlook on life.

So 19% of people who said they were born-again Christians believe those six statements? How can that be? Although the numbers for the overall group are disheartening, the numbers for those who say they are born-gain are downright staggering to me. Here are some more findings for those who said they are born-again:

46% of born again adults believe in absolute moral truth.

79% of born again adults believe the Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches.

40% of born again adults are convinced that Satan is a real force.

47% of born again Christians strongly reject the notion of earning salvation through their deeds (this means that 53% believe you CAN earn salvation through your works!).

62% of born again adults believe that Jesus lived a sinless life.

93% of born again adults say that God is the all-powerful, all-knowing creator of the universe who still rules it today.

One other thing that is really frightening is what they found in young people. As I was writing this blog I texted my older son Joshua who is 21. I asked him if he believed in those six things. He said 'Yes'. I texted back that he could consider himself in the minority. The research data showed that one pattern emerged loud and clear: young adults rarely possess a biblical worldview. The current study found that less than one-half of one percent (1/2%!) of young adults (those aged 18 to 23) have a biblical worldview.

Why is this important? A person's worldview has a powerful impact on their life. A worldview serves as a filter through which a person makes decisions and choices with lasting impacts. By helping to clarify what a person believes to be important, a worldview has a dramatic influence on a person’s choices in any given situation. A person's worldview has a dramatic effect in behavior related to matters such as media use, profanity, gambling, alcohol use, honesty, civility, and sexual choices. When your worldview is corrupt, the conscience is defiled.

Where are the Christians - the true Christians? How have we come to a point in this society where a person can call themselves 'born-again' and not believe that their Savior lived a sinless life? Can call themselves Christians and still believe that salvation can be earned through works?

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Jesus Christ