by Tim | Apr 11, 2010 | God, Our Culture, The Church World, The Gospel |
I don’t think it does. I think it may once have had power, but largely it’s fizzling out. I think church growth experts out there recognize this. Simply sharing, spreading, teaching, exploring, reviewing, singing, articulating, living out the Gospel is largely ineffective. It is not enough to draw in droves of new people, and it is not enough to keep existing people from moving on. That’s because the Gospel holds no real power—unless it is met with faith. Without faith, the Gospel is powerless. It is just a theory among other theories to explain the human condition. Not only this, but it is a very distasteful theory. It describes the human condition as literally on a road to hell itself, and that we are all lost sinners. And it only offers one way out–a conversion that ends in utter selflessness where God gets His way, not me. More than this, the necessary, prescribed conversion is specific with regards to Whom you must turn to and what you must turn from. Make no mistake that indeed turning to Him requires turning away from everything else. Syncretism is not allowed. You cannot serve two masters. Sin is clearly spelled out, as is the way of holiness. He wants all of me. Without faith, this is too demanding for the masses. It is too intolerant of other people’s opinions. It is not relevant within today’s sensibilities. In other words, church leaders are recognizing Jesus was right all along—we have lost our first love. It has grown cold. We are lukewarm at best. Indeed, while the Gospel is becoming distasteful to us, Jesus...
by Tim | Apr 9, 2010 | My World, Youth Ministry |
H2O, the youth group at Wellspring Worship Center, invited me to speak this past Wednesday night. What a great youth group! Not so sure about the youth pastor, though… Actually Josh is a great friend of mine, and I appreciated him and his group inviting me. Josh, you guys have an awesome youth ministry! I was touched by the passion for God coming from the youth and the leaders. I had a blast–I hope everyone else did as well. When I arrived, I learned they made this video in honor of me, and I am honored to share it with you and the rest of the world. You guys are hilarious–and even somewhat talented in some twisted kind of way… This Wednesday, I’ll be speaking at Valley View Baptist Church youth group! I feel like a traveling evangelist. Now I just need a TV gospel show that takes old people’s money. Until then, enjoy this quality piece of...
by Tim | Apr 8, 2010 | My World |
That’s right–our third child due to arrive September 1 will be a girl, as confirmed by today’s ultrasound! I project that the estrogen levels at home these upcoming years will be quite a force for me to reckon with–I covet everyone’s prayers! đŸ™‚ We don’t have a name picked out yet, so we are open to all suggestions! We received a DVD of today’s ultrasound that includes the determination of gender and the ability to listen to the heartbeat, among other things. So without further ado, for your viewing pleasure, enjoy nine tantalizing minutes of baby movements and ultrasound tech...
by Tim | Apr 2, 2010 | God, The Gospel |
Today was such a horrible day in human history–the day we killed and executed God. If there is anything humans have ever done that would make us deserving of eternal hell, today fits the bill. If anyone needs proof that we are really a depraved people, the fact that we would kill the Son of God, the One who gave us life in creation and gives eternal life freely, demonstrates just how far we have fallen. Humanity cannot say that this day was a good day for our species. It is a paradox that the very event that makes us most deserving of hell is the event that must have happened to free us from it. Who can understand the mind of the Lord? How unsearchable are his ways! I believe God shows us through the cross that salvation cannot come by how moral we are. Salvation came through the most wicked event imaginable. How about for God? Was this a good day for him? He watched as the sons of men willfully and cheerfully destroyed his most precious gift to us. He painfully lost the only son He has ever begotten. God loved the world so much that He gave away his only begotten son. And that’s the only reason why we can call today “good.” Today happened out of God’s love for humanity and to restore all things to himself. As devastating as it was, it was happening for a wonderful purpose obscured to us. Even Jesus’ own disciples didn’t understand until after it all had happened. This was something only Jesus and His Father fully understood....
