Read Galatians 1:6-10.
I'd like to share one of my favourite YouTube clips. The speech audio is the voice of John Piper speaking about the "Prosperity Gospel". It sounds like an extract from a sermon; I'm not certain of the context. The music, images and text that have gone into the production of this video clip are very effective in driving home the core message.
I invite you to spend three minutes to watch this:
What are your thoughts? Please leave a comment.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Burn-a-Koran Evangelism Program
Read 1 Corinthians 9:1-23
Paul starts the chapter by asking the great rhetorical question,
Please read again 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
To the Jews, Paul became as a Jew, in order to win Jews.
How might we apply this passage to guide us in winning Muslims for Christ? I think it's a pretty simple exegesis: "To the Muslims, we should become as a Muslin, in order to win Muslims."
Afraid this may compromise your faith? Never! Paul never compromised his faith in Christ in any way to become "as a Jew" or "as one outside the law"; he simply adapted his behaviour - and diet - so as not to offend those people. Why would we ever put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ? Why would we ever allow ourselves to be that obstacle.
So let's turn now to the recent actions of some obscure preacher in Florida, USA. He attained international notoriety with his on-again-off-again plans to burn a whole pile of copies of the Koran, Islam's holy book. What was he thinking? What would any Christian be thinking that supports this?
Burning the Koran will win Muslims to Christ as quickly as using the Talmud as toilet-paper will win the Jews or barbequing beef-steaks on the lawns of the Taj Mahal will win the Hindus. In fact, even after the Koran-burning was cancelled, protesters in Afghanistan were still shouting "Death to America" and "Death to Christians" (Source).
Let's become all things to all people that by all means we might save some. And if we are wronged, and our Bible and our flag are burned, let's turn the other cheek, and continue in love.
Paul starts the chapter by asking the great rhetorical question,
"Am I not free?"In the "western world" (including Australia and the USA), we are immersed in a culture of freedom, and exercising our individual rights to do what we want. Paul has a different view (v. 15):
"But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision."Why doesn't Paul exercise his rights? For the gospel!
Please read again 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
To the Jews, Paul became as a Jew, in order to win Jews.
How might we apply this passage to guide us in winning Muslims for Christ? I think it's a pretty simple exegesis: "To the Muslims, we should become as a Muslin, in order to win Muslims."
Afraid this may compromise your faith? Never! Paul never compromised his faith in Christ in any way to become "as a Jew" or "as one outside the law"; he simply adapted his behaviour - and diet - so as not to offend those people. Why would we ever put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ? Why would we ever allow ourselves to be that obstacle.
So let's turn now to the recent actions of some obscure preacher in Florida, USA. He attained international notoriety with his on-again-off-again plans to burn a whole pile of copies of the Koran, Islam's holy book. What was he thinking? What would any Christian be thinking that supports this?
Burning the Koran will win Muslims to Christ as quickly as using the Talmud as toilet-paper will win the Jews or barbequing beef-steaks on the lawns of the Taj Mahal will win the Hindus. In fact, even after the Koran-burning was cancelled, protesters in Afghanistan were still shouting "Death to America" and "Death to Christians" (Source).
Let's become all things to all people that by all means we might save some. And if we are wronged, and our Bible and our flag are burned, let's turn the other cheek, and continue in love.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Improving the Rescue
Read Romans 5:20-6:2
First, a story:
George sat in the chopper, struggling to catch his breath. He struggled to comprehend what had happened to him. Only moments ago, he had been floating in the Pacific Ocean - just - a hundred and fifty kilometres from the coast, clinging to the EPIRB beacon from his recently sunken yacht. Now he sat in the Capricorn Rescue Helicopter, hovering above the sea.
George began to realise just how great his salvation had been. What made it so great, he realised, was how much trouble he had been in, and the consequent effort that had gone into the rescue. Being rescued this far out at sea was a big deal. He was so thankful for what had been done for him, he felt like bursting.
Then, he thought, if his rescue was a big deal now, how much greater would it be if his predicament only got worse? How could he do that? There was only one way. Before the other men in the chopper could react, he crawled to the door of the chopper and jumped back into the sea.
I enjoy writing fiction, but that was beyond belief, wasn't it? If the greatness of our salvation is proportional to the greatness of our sin, why don't we make our salvation even greater by sinning more? By no means! It's a nonsense - it's ridiculous - just as ridiculous as my little story. But then, don't we think that way sometimes anyway?
First, a story:
George sat in the chopper, struggling to catch his breath. He struggled to comprehend what had happened to him. Only moments ago, he had been floating in the Pacific Ocean - just - a hundred and fifty kilometres from the coast, clinging to the EPIRB beacon from his recently sunken yacht. Now he sat in the Capricorn Rescue Helicopter, hovering above the sea.
George began to realise just how great his salvation had been. What made it so great, he realised, was how much trouble he had been in, and the consequent effort that had gone into the rescue. Being rescued this far out at sea was a big deal. He was so thankful for what had been done for him, he felt like bursting.
Then, he thought, if his rescue was a big deal now, how much greater would it be if his predicament only got worse? How could he do that? There was only one way. Before the other men in the chopper could react, he crawled to the door of the chopper and jumped back into the sea.
I enjoy writing fiction, but that was beyond belief, wasn't it? If the greatness of our salvation is proportional to the greatness of our sin, why don't we make our salvation even greater by sinning more? By no means! It's a nonsense - it's ridiculous - just as ridiculous as my little story. But then, don't we think that way sometimes anyway?
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