What is a Christian?

Posted on September 2, 2010 by jesustrek

TV/radio host and author Amy Goodman recently wrote a newspaper article in favor of the proposal to build an Islamic center near Ground Zero. In that article she asks, “Does anyone seriously say that there shouldn’t be a Christian church near the site of the Oklahoma City bombing, just because Timothy McVeigh was a Christian?”

What!? Timothy McVeigh was a Christian!? I thought that he was a hateful coward who murdered a large number of innocent people—including children—and never showed a hint of repentance or remorse. That doesn’t seem like the actions of a person who is a disciple of Jesus Christ!

Perhaps McVeigh had some water sprinkled on him when he was a baby (a practice that is foreign to Scripture). Maybe he attended church as a youth. He may have even had his name on the roll of a church somewhere. But it is utterly ridiculous to call him a “Christian”!

So what is a Christian?

Some insist that we believe President Obama when he professes to be a Christian. Never mind that he is the most pro-abortion person to ever occupy the office of president. Overlook the fact that he is in favor of special rights for those who practice homosexuality. It doesn’t matter that he followed a false teacher, Jeremiah Wright, for many years. Forget his arrogant, condescending attitude toward those of us “bitter people who cling to God and guns”. He says that he is a Christian, so we must accept that. So they say.

What is a Christian? The debate rages on in our society today, but there seems to be little consensus.

Here is the problem. For some people, “Christian” is nothing more than a box to be checked on a survey. It has nothing to do with your beliefs or your actions. It is simply a category that you choose to put yourself in.

I disagree. Being a Christian means that you model your life on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. You won’t ever perfectly achieve that goal, but you strive for it nonetheless.

What do you think? What is a Christian?

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Looks Like a Champion

Posted on September 1, 2010 by jesustrek
2008 Iowa State Fair Grand Champion Steer

Dan Piller recently wrote in the Des Moines Register about the steer that was named the 2010 Grand Champion in the Iowa State Fair. “Doc” looked a whole lot like “Wade”, the steer that won in 2008. There is a good reason for that. “Doc” is a clone of “Wade”. Both blue ribbon steers were shown by Tyler Faber, of Sioux Center. Tyler’s father, David Faber, is president of Trans Ova Genetics, a leader in advanced livestock genetic reproductive techniques. David Faber says, “The steer was cloned and shown at the fair to highlight cloning and what it can do.”

It’s not exactly the same thing as cloning, but the Bible says that we who follow Jesus Christ should look more and more like him over time. 2 Cor.3:18 says, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

When people look at you, do they see the likeness of a Champion?

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Emotions Transformed

Posted on September 1, 2010 by jesustrek

The two final contestants were competing for the top prize on a recent show of “The Price is Right”. They had both made their guesses for the showcase showdown, where you win valuable prizes if you guess the closest on the cost of your showcase without going over the actual price.

The first contestant was elated when host Drew Carey told her that her bid was only $483 under the actual amount of her showcase. Carey praised her enthusiastically and told her that if she had been within $250, she would have won both showcases. Anyone familiar with the show knew that she had done quite well, and that she was almost certain to be the big winner for the day.

However, the second contestant’s bid was only $151 under the actual value of her showcase. As a reward for her accuracy, she won both showcase prizes.

When the winner was announced, the emotions of the first contestant were transformed in an instant. She went from certain victory to ultimate defeat. Instead of winning, she was going home without the big prize. In the twinkling of an eye, she went from exuberant joy to stunned disbelief.

Sometimes life is like an emotional roller coaster. Remember how you felt that instant when life pulled the rug out from under you? You were confident that you did well on the exam, only to receive a poor grade. You thought you had a wonderful marriage, and then you found out something different. You were certain that you were going to get that job, but they chose someone else instead. You felt fine sitting in the doctor’s office, but the tests said that you weren’t fine.

Life often promises you joy and then gives you grief instead. But life with Jesus isn’t like that. Jesus turns grief into joy. In John 16:20 he says, “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”

If the world is giving you grief right now, just hold on; your day of rejoicing is coming!

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The Young Man and the Statue

Posted on August 31, 2010 by jesustrek

 

He had grown up in a Christian home and accepted Jesus as his savior when he was a young boy. However, as a teenager he rebelled against the faith, adopted a defiant attitude toward his parents and had to be forced to go to church.

His parents finally got to the point where they told him that the only college they would pay for was a Christian college. He would rather have gone to a secular university, but having no money, he grudgingly went off to the Christian school.

The young man went to class and chapel and all the required activities, but it was quite obvious to everyone that he was just going through the motions. They knew that he didn’t want to be there and that he professed not to share their beliefs.

A wise professor asked the boy to meet with him in his office. He said to the young man, “I hear that you have renounced your faith. Is that true?”

“Yes”, he replied.

“Then I have a challenge for you. Why don’t you go stand in front of the statue of Jesus at the entrance to our campus and declare, “Jesus, you died for me and I don’t care.”

The boy accepted the challenge. He went to the bigger-than-life statue and looked up into the eyes of Jesus. Thinking to himself that he could do this he started, “Jesus, you died…”

At that point, something got caught in his throat, so he tried again. “Jesus, you died ….” Again the young man encountered difficulty with his speech, and this time his eyes were tearing up.

In the end, the only part of the phrase the young man could utter was—“Jesus, you died for me!” From that point on, he lived like he believed it.

Jesus died for you. Do you care?

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Does She Know?

Posted on August 30, 2010 by jesustrek

I wasn’t scheduled to preach anywhere yesterday, so my wife and I visited a church in the next county. A lady with three young girls sat down next to us, and we began to worship.

Sometimes when I worship in a church service, it seems like it is just God and me. At other times, I am deeply aware of those around me. I think that the latter mindset is more biblical, and therefore more appropriate, for corporate worship.

 

Yesterday I began to notice the little girl to my right. She was maybe 8 or 9 years old. I wondered about her spiritual maturity. Did she come to church on a regular basis? Is she familiar with the well-known Bible stories that are taught in Sunday School? Does she know that Jesus died for her?

The time came for communion. Someone up front reminded us that we were doing this to remember the sacrificial death of Jesus. We started passing around the elements of the Lord’s Supper. My little friend eagerly reached for the trays of bread and grape juice as I passed them to her. But that didn’t answer my question. Does she know, I mean really know about Jesus?

A few seconds later, I stole a glance to my right. The little girl was gazing reverently and prayerfully at the small cup she held in her hands. Good! She knows!

Do you know?

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No Greater Joy

Posted on August 29, 2010 by jesustrek

Yesterday I attended an open house for some dear friends who were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. Perhaps the most amazing feat that this faithful Christian couple has accomplished in their years together is raising 6 children who are all faithful, productive Christians. In this world where God gives people freedom of choice and where the devil gives people so many opportunities to make bad choices, not many parents can point to such a track record.

3 John 4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” The apostle John was elated to know that his spiritual sons and daughters were remaining faithful to Jesus Christ. Christian parents today have no greater desire than to have their children follow Jesus. If you can say that your children are all obedient to the Lord, you are truly blessed!

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Confession is Good for the Soul

Posted on August 28, 2010 by jesustrek

My parents own a farm along the Ohio River. Sometimes when I go to visit, I take a walk down to the riverbank. I like to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation as the mighty river moves faithfully on toward its destination.

Not everyone appreciates the beauty of the river. This is apparent in the abundance of trash that floats in the water and litters the riverbank. Practically anything that can be thrown away can be found along the Ohio River. Besides the multitude of cans and bottles, you can see furniture, automobile parts, sporting equipment, household appliances, toys and much, much more—all thrown into the river when they have outlived their usefulness.

I suppose people think, “Out of sight, out of mind.” If they can’t see it, it must be gone forever. But it doesn’t work that way. The trash they thought they had gotten rid of still exists, even if they can’t see it. There are correct ways to recycle what we can and dispose of the rest. Mankind would be much better off if everyone went through the proper channels to get rid of our garbage.

The trash along the river is like the sin in many people’s lives. The only way to properly get rid of sin is to turn it over to Jesus. If we try to ignore the sin in our lives or have it absolved in some other way than through Jesus, the trash is still there, and it won’t go away.

1 John 1:9-10 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”

I don’t want my soul to look like a polluted riverbank. Perhaps we all should be more diligent in developing a habit of confession. What do we need to talk to Jesus about today?

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Don’t Oversleep!

Posted on August 27, 2010 by jesustrek

Professional golfer Jim Furyk overslept Wednesday and missed his tee time. Furyk’s cell phone alarm clock lost power overnight, and he had no backup plan. PGA officials had no choice but to disqualify him from the tournament. Furyk commented, “I’ve got no one to blame but myself.”

Jesus tells a story about some people who missed out on a wonderful blessing because “…they all became drowsy and fell asleep.” (Matt.25:5). He explained that his followers should always be ready for his return. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matt.25:13).

To the church at Sardis, Jesus had this warning—“…you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. (Rev.3:1-2).

Too many people are spiritually sleepwalking through life. They appear to be awake, but they are snoozing; asleep at the wheel.

Jim Furyk lost an opportunity to win a lot of money this weekend because he overslept. People who don’t wake up to the spiritual reality of Jesus Christ stand to lose a whole lot more.

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Celebrating Salvation

Posted on August 26, 2010 by jesustrek

A landslide at a gold-and-copper mine in Chile on August 5 trapped 33 miners more than 2,200 feet underground. 17 days later, all 33 men were found to be alive and in relatively good condition. Although it will be some time—perhaps as much as 4 months—before the miners can be tunneled out, friends and family members were elated that the men were found alive. The president of Chile said the nation was “crying with excitement and joy”.

Jesus says that there is rejoicing in heaven when a lost person repents and is saved. In Luke 15:32, the father of two sons explains to one of them the need to celebrate his brother’s return home—“But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

We need to anticipate the joy that our church will experience when lost people find salvation in Jesus. We ought to be helping them find their way home. And when they arrive, let’s celebrate like Jesus says we ought to!

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Star Light, Star Bright

Posted on August 25, 2010 by jesustrek

Scientists recently identified a star with perhaps as many as seven planets, resembling our own solar system. If confirmed, this planetary system—more than 100 light years away—would have the most planets ever found outside our solar system.

Mankind has always been fascinated by pondering the night sky. David wrote, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

Have you taken time lately to do some star-gazing? The next time you do, remember that the One who made them all cares for you very much!

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