I read today about a recent development that the ACLU is demanding that the Harrison County Commission permanently end funding JesusFest. After pondering the news, I asked myself a better question many Christians probably wouldn’t consider. That question was, “Why does the ACLU even matter?”

The following take must be filtered through two prisms and one consideration.  One is the prism of frustration.  A frustration that stems from being one of the original planners and seeing what the festival has become today.  The other is prism is called Proverbs 27:17. Lastly, a consideration that I would like to see JesusFest succeed.

The question, “Why does the ACLU even matter?” is one that needs asked by all who are currently involved.  I know many of those who are on the JesusFest board and many are beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.  That is why one of the prisms is Proverbs 27:17.  Though much of what you will read is a rebuke of sorts, it’s meant in truth and love (Ephesians 4:15).  They are suggestions that are meant to be taken into consideration to properly answer the question, “Why does the ACLU even matter?”  By addressing the questions, one may very well arrive at the answer that I have which is simply, “They don’t”.

Disunity is the culprit of JesusFest and its funding, not the ACLU.

When I was part of the origins of JesusFest, the mission was simple, “bring the Gospel of Christ to the lost.” That’s a pretty simple mission that works for a number of reasons.  For one, it’s the Great Commission given to all Christians (Matthew 28:18-20) and it’s something all Christian denominations should agree on.  Granted there will be differences in any ecumenical adventure.  Yet the telling of the Gospel of Jesus Christ spans all denominational differences.

Sadly, over the past few years I’ve seen the simple vision of spreading the Gospel to the lost be replaced by all sorts of secular-like fanfare.  Instead of worrying about how to effectively proclaim the Gospel to the lost, homeless person, more worry is shed over how big of a headline act can be afforded.

On display in Clarksburg is the classic scenario of distraction, ironically as seen in many churches.  Distraction from the only thing that matters, the Gospel of Christ.  For example, last year’s top distraction was the “hula dancers for Jesus” (aka “Warriors Come Home” I believe).  In the name of diversity, they were brought in.  However, did anyone consider that even though they had modest dress, they probably weren’t the best way to minister to a person struggling with porn?  With dismay, I heard a young man about 18 yrs. old standing next to us from a local Christian band mockingly say after watching the dancers shake their butts around the stage at this Christian festival, “Oh I get it…Jesus died for my sins…”  How sad is that?  A teenager gets the silliness better than the elder event planners.  Another consequence of getting away from proclaiming the Gospel.

Add to the many distractions the lack of evangelism.  Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).  All the Christian music is great, but scripturally the vehicle we’re given to win the lost is preaching the Gospel to the lost. (This is not Bible-thumping or leading a stranger through some silly, man-centered prayer and popishly pronouncing them saved.)  This includes those of other religions and cults as well.  Case and point, two years ago I saw 4 Mormons (not a form of Christianity in any way) walking around the festival.  I then looked across and saw 2 folks in JesusFest “Staff” shirts.  They noticed them, whispered in one another’s ears, snickered, then pompously returned to their “worship”.  Very Christian-like huh? Where is the burden not only for the lost but those lead astray by false doctrines? Again, another consequence of getting away from proclaiming the Gospel.

Disunity is the culprit of JesusFest and its funding, not the ACLU.  It is the cause of plenty capable churches in the area avoiding support.  Take the two aforementioned considerations and add man’s desire to bring crowds based on his cleverness and not the sovereignty of God’s provision, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for disunity.  It’s easy to see as a bystander that every year JesusFest is evolving (Darwinian pun intended) into a festival of festivals.  By relying more on crowd-attractiveness strategies than the sovereignty of God, when someone’s involved ministry doesn’t get the spotlight they feel it deserves, it causes rifts within the ranks.  Why is it magnified? Look at my previous statement, “man’s desire to bring crowds based on his cleverness and not the sovereignty of God’s provision”.  When man is relying on his works to be the tangible reason for folks to come rather than trusting in God’s more-than-adequate provision of sovereignty, it becomes more critical that those supposed successful strategies are promoted.  Regardless how great some think their ministry and works may be, they need to remember on their best day their greatest works are nothing more than filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

There is hope.  I know that many who are still involved in leadership are more than capable of turning the ship around.  By putting to bed those involved who are more about their ministries and contributions than the Gospel, the board that leads JesusFest will show local churches that the Great Commission is number one on the hit parade and everything else is of lesser value.  This will in turn render the ACLU irrelevant to the success of JesusFest as it will be supported in whole by the local church body, as it was originally designed.

JS

One of the few absolutes that I want to accomplish is for my children to know Christ and see the Gospel transform them before I take my last breath (Ephesians 5:15-6:4). While, by God’s grace, my oldest is on her way, the two younger ones are in that stage where they are like sponge. They absorb and replay everything they see and hear from mom and dad. (Sometimes not a good thing.) As the Christmas season has approached, our 4-yr old has been asking questions about many of the secular things of Christmas that she sees and hears.

While she will be the first to tell you that Christmas is about Jesus and His birth, I began to realize that it was more of “what she should do because mom and dad said so.” As I was listening to one of my newfound favorite pastors, the Lord placed something on my heart that would drive home the meaning of this season.

As Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, many Christians will allow their love of culture to supersede the Savior they claim to worship. I can hear it now, “We’d go to church, but we have our traditions…” Perhaps Burk Parsons said it best in a Tweet earlier this week when he said:

If we skip congregational worship on Christmas day, we understand neither what worship is about nor what Christmas is about. – Burk Parsons

Think about that statement for a moment. I remember the last time Christmas fell on a Sunday and we blew off service without batting an eye to open our gifts. I look back in disgust and disbelief in that ignorance. It’s not the act of going to church, it’s the purpose. This time of year is to remember that our Savior came into our world fully God, fully man (Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-14).

So here we are. Another year that Christmas falls on a Sunday and another opportunity to make the right decision. This year, not only will our family be in service, but God has shown me a way to drive home the message of Christ’s importance in our lives. As we wake, our 4-yr old will no doubted be ecstatic to tear into her gifts under the tree. However, she will have to wait until we return from service, worshiping the King of Kings before she can open them.

Will this overshadow the “magic” of Christmas morning as culture teaches?
I hope so.

Will this quell the excitement as she tears down the stairs that morning?
Absolutely.

Will it get her attention?
You bet. And it will divert to the cause of the disruption, Christ. Just as our conversion disrupts our sinful lives at conversion, so too will this disrupt what the world tells us is important at this time of year.

Why would I be such a cruel parent to do such a thing? Because as a Christian father and the responsible party for my family, I must take every opportunity to direct focus to Christ at every turn. This one was easy. It was like God throwing me a lob ball and me swinging with an oversized, fat bat. Christmas won’t fall on Sunday again until 2016 and we’re not guaranteed our next breath and only here for a short time (James 4:14), so why hesitate?

JS

Look far and wide and you’ll easily find countries such as Canada, Ireland and others that toss pastors in jail for simply preaching the Bible because it is deemed offensive to the culture around.  The WV Department of Education has taken that leap in that very direction with Policy 4373.

Just like other misconstrued and misapplied hate crime laws, this policy opens up a door for those who are offended by the Bible to have open season on Christians in public schools of West Virginia. The door creaks open on page 19 of the policy.  It reads:

“Schools may limit vulgar or offensive speech inconsistent with the school’s responsibility for teaching students the boundaries of socially appropriate behavior.”¹

The terminology clearly gives homosexuals the opportunity to cry “harassment” or “discrimination” should they chose to find the Bible’s teachings unappealing.  Just like any other sin of fornication, drunkenness, adultery, etc., those who are enslaved to sin will find God’s word “offensive” until the Gospel crushes their heart of stone.

Another excuse I have heard is that, “Well that argument and fear are invalid because the Bible is not formally taught in school.”  To those misled individuals, I would submit this thought.

The Bible doesn’t have to be formally “taught” in school for such a scenario to occur. What if two individuals are talking about homosexuality and someone sitting next to them over hears the conversation and feels offended? Or what if someone asks about what the Biblical view is and is offended by the answer? What if a pastor is speaking at a Christian Club meeting and the topic comes up? Like I said, this is a Pandora’s Box with no specificity in tow.

Now let me clarify that Christians discussing homosexuality from a Biblical worldview is NOT the same as the idiotic, asinine miscreants at such places as Westboro “Baptist Church”. In fact, the Christian view is exactly the opposite of this bill. A Biblical view doesn’t include hatred, though some professing churches would give that impression. In the Christian faith, homosexuality is no different that any other list of sins that we are guilty of and should be handled accordingly with the Gospel (the only message with changing power). Yet, it’s my fear that such legislation will lead to misclassification of legitimate dialogue based on the Word of God Christians are called to believe.

Sadly, I truly believe that my children and their generation will see the days of pastors thrown in jail for preaching God’s truth.  This policy by the WV Department of Education is simply another step forward in that very direction.  God help us.

JS

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^{1 WV Department of Education Policy 4373, pg. 19. Emphasis added.}

Recently a beloved sister asked a question regarding the implications and potential effects of a bystander overhearing slander.  The gist of the question was, “Based on Proverbs 18:21, could someone overhearing the conversation be subjected to negativity as well?”  Here is the explanation I gave…

Your question was regarding Proverbs 18:21 and the effects by those who may overhear and not be the intended audience.  Let’s look at Proverbs 18:21

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

In general, when we read Proverbs, we need to understand that they are not necessarily promises, but general guidelines and great advice for life.  Though they do not guarantee any specific promise, following them will usually result for the better.  That said, we can deduct from this passage that the tongue is a powerful weapon that can be used for both good and bad.  And by the authors words, that it is effective in either way that it is used, “…those who love it will eat its fruits.”

Now, to get more specific to your question, we need to dig a bit deeper.  (You asked about the effects of someone overhearing a conversation.)  We can find an even more detailed description of the tongue in the book of James.

James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

James 3:7  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,

James 3:8  but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:9  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

James 3:10  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

(my emphasis added)

James takes it further than just describing what the tongue can do.  Notice he likens the tongue to “fire” in v.6.  If a fire started in your living room would it just stay there?  It would spread and uncontested engulf the entire house.  Not only would it spread, but a byproduct (and an example of “overhearing” that you asked) could be the smoke.  Because there was a fire, there was smoke.  Smoke is a byproduct of fire and contaminates even beyond the reach of fire.

For example, there was a structure fire on Thanksgiving evening near the local Interstate 79. Though the fire was not near I-79, it was to blame for the 13-car pile up.  You see that?  The smoke was the byproduct of the fire.  Likewise, when someone is speaking negatively, those who overhear it can absolutely be affected and I believe that interpretation from this passage Biblically allows for such an idea.  You can also see this towards the end of the same verse with the word “staining”.  This means “to pollute or contaminate” (like in Mark 7:20 where Jesus says, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.”).

So when you look at it in context and how James explains it with the attributes of a “fire”, you are correct in your assumption.

JS

Many folks wonder why I give pause to popular Christian radio stations and rarely ever listen to them.  From “theologian” Amy Grant declaring that there is something that is “Better Than A Hallelujah” (by the way which is the one word you can give God the most praise with) to other man-centered “it’s-all-about-me-and-what God-can-do-for-me” songs, to anyone with a Berean-like ear, they bring tears of sadness.

The latest offering comes from the group Mike’s Chair.  The title alone gives it away, “Someone Worth Dying For”.  Now call me skeptical, but I’m not sure of idea that Jesus came and died because of our worth.  So rather than take my word for it, let’s see what the Bible has to say…

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” – Romans 3:23-24

But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.‘ – John 15:25

In Romans 3:24 the Apostle Paul appears to be double-speaking when he says, “by his grace, as a gift”.  I mean grace is free, a gift is free.  What does he mean? However if we look at the Greek behind the translation, we start to see what he was ultimately saying.  The word ‘gift’ comes from the Greek word dōrean.  It is also the same Greek word we get the phrase “without a cause” in John 15:25.

Now let’s look at the lyrics from the chorus. “Yeah I wanna believe / Jesus help me believe that I /Am someone worth dying for…”  According to Mike’s Chair, we are asking Jesus to help confirm our self-worth.  Now, go back to Scripture and it all comes together.  The same Greek word used by Jesus telling that He was hated “without a cause” is the same word we get “gift”.  Just as Jesus was hated “without a cause”, so a loving God saved us “without a cause”!  That should make us rejoice and tremble at the same time.

Perhaps artists will take a closer look at their music before releasing it to the unsuspecting masses.  I pray for the day when songs are looked after to be Biblically sound (like this one) rather than popular but dumbed-down.

JS

One of the most detrimental practices to the Christian faith is the ever-popular, manipulative, non-Biblical, damning altar call.  What was once a time of counseling by our early church fathers when conviction fell on a lost soul, has now become a scoreboard for pastors to light up.  It ushers in bragging rights of how many “conversions” one can claim for the notches in his belt.  (Actually it’s all God, Jonah 2:9, but I digress.)

Understand friend that it was a heretic by the name of Charles Finney who invented the altar call.  Phil Johnson has a great read on Finney if you’ve never heard of him.  The altar call was the result of Finney trying to pressure people into believing on the spot.  Though Finney is well-documented as a heretic, I still see churches asking God to make them like him!  Likewise, the altar call is still a part of 95% of evangelical church services.

The video below does a phenomenal job of explaining just how bad and disingenuous these times of manipulation are.

JS

Today, Ray Comfort released a new short film entitled “180”. Short, and to the point, the film documents interviews with pro-abortion/pro-choice people who quickly change their mind.  What changes their mind?  Well, you’ll have to watch the film below to see, but I’ll give you a hint.  What magnificent tragedy occurred less than a hundred years ago that parallels the issue of abortion today?  Watch to find out.

The film itself overall is done well.  Unlike many documentaries with an agenda, the dialogue is open, honest and allows real responses from real people.  Whenever you can get a point across and allow the key elements of the film to speak for themselves, unscripted in real-world situations, there is an authenticity to the film that lends itself to believability.  The only blatant editing is for profane language or gestures.

The only criticism I could offer would be that it seems to try and squeeze two agendas into a timeslot built for one.  On one hand there is the goal of explaining why abortion is wrong.  On the other, is the Gospel of Christ to see the lost saved.  The Gospel is the only thing with the saving power to change people, not just clever dialogue.  I have always been a fan of Ray Comfort’s witnessing technique.  However, it is hard to squeeze all that piggybacked on to a strong pro-life stance into 33 minutes.  Perhaps a longer version, even another 15 minutes, would have remedied this for me.

Aside from the “rushed” feeling, this documentary is timely and spot on.  And with upcoming elections, it could not have come at a better time. 4 out of 5 stars.

If you like this film, be sure to check out this sermon entitled, “The Auschwitz Within” from Eric Ludy.  SEE SERMON HERE.

JS

Recently I’ve seen my Facebook page littered with posts similar to the following…

A little boy goes to school with his dog. As he approaches the doors he has to tie his dog up to a tree.  The dog begins sitting all sad-faced.  Then God appears and tells the dog, “Don’t be upset, I’m not allowed in there either.” Repost this if you are not ashamed of God…blah blah blah

At first glance, many Christians get all fired up and copy and paste away.  However, if we pause for a moment a take a step back, we can see how ridiculous this is the way it diminishes the mighty God we serve and how the blame may fall squarely on the shoulders of Christian parents.

An Impotent God?

“I’m not allowed in there…”  Really Christian?  Does the God of the Bible have to have permission to go somewhere?  Does He need finite man’s permission? Is the Creator of the Universe bound to man’s depraved Board of Education policies?

“Let me be clear, God did not stutter in the Bible. His word is adequate and needs no new revelations outside the canon to make teaching relevant to our children today.”

Point blank, God is omnipotent.  He has infinite or unlimited power.  He will do what He wants, where He wants, when He wants. He is all powerful and nothing, absolutely nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:17,27).  In fact, nothing is impossible for Him (Matthew 19:26, Luke 1:37).  Furthermore, if it be His will to reach the lost, which it is (2 Peter 3:9), He will bring His will to fruition (Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 14:24,27) regardless of our excuses to tell the lost the Gospel of Christ.  And that is really what statements like the aforementioned are.  Nothing more than excuses to lash out at the world rather than bring forth the Gospel.  It’s easier to do what comes naturally, than to bring forth a scandalous message impossible for the world to believe!

Look In The Mirror

If you know me or have read any of this blog, you’ll know that I’m no fan of 99% of what today’s evangelical church in America calls “youth ministry”.  It is for various reasons such as this issue of God in schools that it only multiplies. (Let alone the fact that there is no Biblical mandate for youth ministry as it exists today! Unless we convey the message that Jesus died for our salvation by eating peanut butter out of each other’s armpits.)

What? How? Simple. The majority of youth ministries today create a culture within the church that allows parents to abdicate their God-given, God-commanded responsibilities to some young hipster.  Furthermore this ends up usurping parental authority and amplifies the weak leadership in that church as rarely do pastors/elders hold parents responsible for the evangelism and discipleship of their children.  There are ways to minister to young ones, however it is a far cry from the majority of what happens every Sunday in America.

Let me be clear, God did not stutter in the Bible.  His word is adequate and needs no new revelations outside the canon to make teaching relevant to our children today.  He was crystal clear in Deuteronomy 6:1-10 and then in Ephesians 5:15-6:4 that it is the parents’ job to evangelize and disciple their children! A Biblical-church will come alongside Mom and Dad and help them to do their job (Ephesians 4:12).

Ballistic Missiles

Children are a blessing, the fruit of the womb, a reward (Psalm 127:3), yet often Christian parents don’t see them that way.  If they did, many daily routines of Christians shackled to the world and its schedule would be drastically rearranged.

How do you see your children?  As the psalmist continues in Psalm 127:4, children are likened to arrows in a quiver.  If we take this approach, we see this whole “poor ‘ol God’s not allowed in school” start to fall apart.  When we take God’s written word to heart and evangelize and disciple our children, that obedience opens our eyes further to God’s perfect, saving will.

The action? We take God as His word. We raise our children with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). We evangelize and disciple our children. We worship and pray with our children at home.  The result? We send not arrows, but ballistic missiles into the world, in this case public schools.  Instead of looking at public schools as the enemy of our children, and there’s plenty reasons to do so, we look at them as mission fields.  Instead of sending our kids armed with fear of speech, we equip them with the word of God and the Gospel of Christ, which the most ungodly school system in the world cannot stop!

JS

Every once and a while, a presentation of the Gospel of Christ comes along and shakes your Spirit and invigorates you.  It rekindles a fire to spread the Good News to the lost.

This is such a piece.  Speechless.

JS

Below is a link to a movie that you can watch online in its entirety until September.  As a father and former youth pastor, it addresses something very dear to me.  Children are our future of the church. If we are going to see the Christian faith carry on, we need to check our efforts against scripture.  The road to hell is paved with good intentions, let’s not gamble our children’s future on one.