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Are You Willing?

For a God who gave as our God gave, are you not willing to give all you may give, to Him? Are you willing to never have a home, a ‘real’ job, a family, or any form of security for this life? Are you willing to give up the praise of men, so easily received, though only by following this pattern of the ‘American Dream’? Are you willing to give up the pursuit of knowledge, the pursuit of your dreams, the pursuit of all earthly pleasures? Would you never feel the love of a spouse, never know the pleasures of sex, never to care for, never to be cared for, so tenderly? Will you have children, only to endanger their lives, to watch them bleed, to watch them die? For such was Jesus the child of God, bleeding and dying upon a cross, for your sake. Will you go, to bare the pain of watching you spouse and children die a painful death, that you may return to tell their story? Though unspeakable sorrows would surely be known, though a quick death, a quick end to such pain, would surely be desired, would you press on? Will you give up what you cannot keep, to gain what you cannot lose? Will you always, under all circumstances, rich or poor, loved or hated, in comfort or bleeding your very last drop of blood, will you always praise the Lord? At times of pain, at times of weakness, through depression and desperation, persecution and plague, will you look ahead to the eternity to come? Will you look upon the things of this world with disgust, by comparison to the everlasting things to come? Will you lose your life that you may save it? Will you now give all you can, your hobbies, your entertainment, your every little joy, that you may draw nearer to God? Will you give up food and drink and sleep, that you may feel the hunger, thirst, and desperate longing for your Father? Will you ask, will you seek, if such things may be His will? Will you wait, will you listen, for if you are called to such things? Are you truly willing?

Some Martin Luther quotes:

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."

"Faith is permitting ourselves to be seized by the things we do not see."

"If he have faith, the believer cannot be restrained. He betrays himself. He breaks out. He confesses and teaches this gospel to the people at the risk of life itself."

"You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say."

"Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God."

"I’m afraid what happens is that a focus on gaining information rather than on nurturing faith produces a rationally satisfying but secular Christianity, a Christianity where there is impressive growth in knowledge but little growth in the all-important relationship to God part. The essence of secularity is to miss the spiritual reality that can only be gained through intimacy with Christ—an intimacy of relationship in participation with Him in living the kind of life He modeled for us. Jesus was keenly conscious of the spirit world and spiritual reality. The Pharisees were at least conscious enough of the spirit realm to fast regularly and to deal with demons. The Sadducees appear to have been rather totally secularized. We may be somewhere between the two. But we’ve bought into a Greek knowledge-seeking approach, mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:22 where it is noted that Greeks were committed to the quest for knowledge...The Greeks had the theory that the thing wrong with humans is lack of knowledge. So their answer to human problems was to supply information, a system that should be seen to be bankrupt, especially by Christians. But our whole schooling system is based on this bankrupt theory plus its corollary, the assumption that if people have the right information, they will behave rightly.

Training programs and sermonizing that focus people’s attention on information rather than on behavior deaden faith. People lose their faith in evangelical seminaries and churches not because the knowledge is wrong or theologically off the tracks, but because an overload of knowledge without putting it into practice deadens relationships. Such overemphasis on doctrine also leads people (especially academics) to be suspicious of experience. This is strange, since it is precisely experience that is necessary to enable knowledge to be valuable. Virtually the only kind of knowledge advocated in Scripture is experiential knowledge (not simply theoretical or academic)...John 8:32 should be translated, "You’ll experience and obey the truth and the truth will set you free"" -Charles H. Kraft (Fuller Theological Seminary)

Beliefs of Worth

"The reason some folks don't believe in missions is that the brand of religion they have isn't worth propagating." - Unknown

Something to think about. Is what you believe not valuable enough to you to share it with the world? Perhaps if the truth of God’s mercy given to you were fully understood, you would live for nothing but revealing that mercy to the world. Perhaps if the church were something more than a social club, you would be so excited you would beg everyone in the world to come. Perhaps if Jesus were actually your best friend, with whom you communed daily, you would long to introduce him to the world. Maybe if what you believed was the greatest thing in your life, it would not be a chore to share it with others, but a joy from which you could not be held back. It’s something to think about.

Consumed by Tears

So often it seems am I consumed by these many tears. Tears of sorrow, that my brothers do not seek the strength they would need to follow the calling for which they are unwilling to live and die. Sorrows for my sisters worlds away, yet so near in heart, as they suffer under oppressive hands. Sorrows for myself that no man may be found to lead this weak and foolish child. Unutterable sorrows for the masses who continue down that wide road through the open gates of hell. Sorrows so many to count, as the stars in the heavens. Yet tears of joy overwhelm as often. Joy of the eternity to come, when I may gaze into my Fathers eyes. Joy in the hope that I may one day share in the sufferings of so many great men before, to be counted alongside these fellow martyrs. Joy in the hope that I may yet find one who shares my heart, and may weep by my side. Joy that my Father may use this broken man to save the lost and awaken His sleeping bride, whose beauty has now so greatly faded with time. May my tears never cease lest the fires of my love and passion be extinguished by the many comforts which surround me.

One Who Cared

“When Queen Victoria calls for volunteers for India, hundreds of young men respond, but, when King Jesus calls, no one goes…Is it true, that the fathers and mothers of Scotland have no more sons to give for India…Very well. Then, aged though I am, I’ll go back to India. I can lie down on the banks of the Ganges and I can die and thereby I can let the people of India know that there was one man in Scotland who loved them enough to give his life for them.” - Alexander Duff

None in the assembly would accept his challenge to go until his final words were spoken, at which point men began jumping to the feet calling out that they would go. It is my fear that men today would be the same, except they would remain silent and unmoved even but this old mans final words. Perhaps the younger men would say they are too inexperienced and must get an education and job and family and home before they could go. Perhaps the older men would say they have families to care for, and believe God would not ask them to endanger their lives. Perhaps the young women would believe it far too dangerous for them alone, and they could only go if their future husband would go. And all may say that haven’t had the ‘calling’ to go, though never having received a calling for their current or future careers and plans. Yes, men have gone, and men have died, and the world has seen there are a few who cared. But the blood of these few cries out to the millions who will not now arise to the calling of their King to show this lost world they love enough to give their lives.

Sights from a Rooftop

“last night was spent circling the rooftop of a house, looking across a sea of lighted houses before the darkening sky, filled with families now destined for hell. Surrounded by masses of people, held by but a thread over the flames of hell, at any moment to be loosed from the hand of God. Such a sight brought to me so great a pain and sorrow for the plight of these souls, where my prayers could be nothing more than groans given through tears. Surely no words could suffice at such a time. Surely a hint of the pain felt by God is too great a burden for any man to carry. Despite my sorrows, it seems there is still a greater sorrow which has not yet been made known to me. Perhaps I am not yet ready for it, but I will none the less continue to ask for the heart of God to be upon me.”

And as I walked home from that rooftop late in the night I had no greater desire but that men should come from the darkness to rob me and beat me, that I may have felt those deep pains within my heart somehow inflicted upon my body. So many months ago, in a land now so very far away, yet such pain could never be forgotten. And now, though I do not feel so intense a pain, I realize the fate of these men now surrounding me is the same. If you have not felt so great a sorrow for these abundant lost souls, I would ask that you pray God would enable you to feel some part of the pain he feels for His creations who do not glorify their creator. And may that pain then drive you save these souls from the fires of hell so very soon to be upon them.

The Absence of Persecution

The absence of persecution, of the church of Jesus Christ in America is a scandal. Something is grievously wrong that the world has not found sufficient offence with us, to hound us, harass us, to reproach us, rebuke us, and to persecute us, let alone to slay us, I will be far more comfortable, and heave a great sigh of relief when persecution returns to the church, for I will know by that symptom, that the church has returned to God. – Art Katz

We speak of persecution here in America as if we really had any idea what it meant to be persecuted. Oh yes, men may be mocked when sharing the gospel, or for not doing particular sinful things. Men may be snickered at or joked about for the life they live. But hardly do we face the persecution Jesus or his disciples faced. Hardly do we face the persecution of believers in parts of China or India or Iran or Saudi. It is an offence that we should belittle the suffering of such great men throughout history by comparing it to our infinitely smaller problems here today. Yet the Bible says we, as those who follow God, will absolutely be persecuted. What shall we then say? Are we just fortunate enough to live in a land tolerant of our faith? Or will we again say that our persecution is ‘just different’. Rather I would argue that the so-called persecution we say we face could be labeled nothing but an annoyance, and that we do not face persecution because we have done nothing deserving of persecution. If we would actually stand up and proclaim the gospel in this nation, men would then find offense in us. If we would stand up and decry the immorality of our nation and the world, rather than sitting back and saying it’s just too bad people are immoral today, we would know persecution. If we did as we ought to do, we would face the persecution we ought to face. And such persecution is then not the negative to our positive actions, but a further, and desperately needed, positive for us. For it is through such trials that we grow, it is when we are hated and beaten that our resolve grows strongest. If we wish to pray for help that we may grow, we ought to pray for persecution. If we wish to pray for churches to unite, we ought to pray for persecution. If we wish for the world to see us as men and women of God, through which He may shine, then it will be in our time of most dire need that they will see it. Pray that men will stand up as they are called to do, that persecution may come upon us as it is meant to do, that we may grow as we were meant to grow, that God may ever be glorified more.  

Did I firmly Believe

“Did I firmly believe, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another, religion would mean to me everything. I would cast away all earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as Follies, and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Religion would be my first waking thought, and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness. I should labor in its cause alone. I would take thought for the tomorrow of eternity alone. I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering. Earthly consequences should never stay my hand, nor seal my lips. Earth, its joys and its griefs, would occupy no moment of my thoughts. I would strive to look upon eternity alone, and on the immortal souls around me, soon to be everlastingly happy or everlastingly miserable. I would go forth to the world and preach it in season and out of season and my text would be, "what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"” - Written by an atheist in a tract received by C.T. Studd.

I see few writings so biblical and logical written by Christians, as what is here written by an atheist. These words caused Studd to give up everything in his life and take the gospel to China and Africa. Will you allow these words to change you?

What will we Give up?

This was written during a summer evangelistic trip I was on with about 30 other people. Unfortunately there have been a number of other situations where these words would be just as applicable.

“And now for this trip, for my brothers and sisters here. I am honestly sick of a great many things. Where is our excitement, where is our passion, where is our joy. We will spend a night swimming, at a birthday party, or just hanging out, yet not in prayer. I have been on that porch three times now, and there was only one who was man enough to give up some time to pray. We will have a day for water parks, for amusement parks, for shopping or movies, yet we will not devote a day to fasting and praying and reaching out to the people on this island. Evenings spent watching movies, evenings spent playing games, this beloved thing called fellowship, in which we can do whatever we please as long is it's with other people. What are we here for?!?! For fun? Can we not give up a summer completely to God??? Do we not seek to grow in our faith in such incredible ways??? Are we content with only learning some new bible teaching and evangelistic methods??? If that is all that occurs this summer, and I say nothing, than I have not fulfilled the task for which I was called here. I did not come on this summer trip for fellowship, and certainly not for fun. I am here to change lives. If I cannot do that quietly, I will begin to make noise. If I cannot do that subtly, I will do so bluntly. I will soon leave this trip, I will leave this country, and I will leave this world, in due time. I would rather have every one of you hate me, than to come here and not try to change lives. Why will we not mourn for this world?? Do we not see it is dying?? Will we not get serious with this life? Do you think the lives the apostles lived were only for them?? Or as an example to us? This life is not worth living for! The church of this nation is living in comfort and wealth and complacency, and it disgusts me! I am ranting because I do not know what else to say. I don't know how to get people to get this. How long must I sing this song?? Are we truly willing to live for God, to give up all, as we so passionately sing in our 'praise' songs? Will you go to another country knowing you would be arrested, tortured and murdered? Would you go with a family knowing they would suffer this fate? Would you get the best job you can find here, and live in the cheapest dump of a trailer park you can find to give away all that money to missions? Even with a family? What about inner-city? Harlem? If you have to sit on the floor because to many stray bullets come through the windows at night? Would you take a family? What if God called you to these things, are you willing to go? Are you truly joyful to go where He wants you to go, and die how he wants you to die? We sing it in song, we pray it in prayer, do we really mean it though? I am sick of so many things I see in Christianity here in this nation. I see so little hope of changing anything. Sometimes I think I mourn more for this nation and it's people than any other. Not because it is persecuted, not because it has never heard the name Jesus, but because it is a hopeless nation. We as Christians in this nation are so brainwashed by society that we cannot even imagine 'really' giving up everything. Could we give up every form of entertainment? You say it's not all bad, we don't have to. But do you even stop to think about that seriously before speaking?? To seriously ask God if you should never again watch a movie. Maybe I ask for to much. Maybe Americans cannot think so much. Maybe it's just not possible for you to understand these words I say. And so I continue in mourning prayer for you, for the men and women on this trip, and for the Christians of this nation. Maybe something I did this summer made a difference in someone’s life, maybe I changed someone in some small way. I hope and pray my efforts are not in vain.”  

What is your Message?

A good post by Jeremy (jwise) at ThinkChristian regarding the time spent discussing or debating peripheral matters such as evolution/creation, rather than focusing on the main gospel message. This is not to say such debates are of no use, or should never at any time be argued. Rather, it is only that there seems to be so much more time devoted to these efforts, rather than simply sharing the gospel with those who do not know it. The same could be said of our efforts in keeping the ten commandments publicly displayed, or keeping ‘under god’ in our pledge of allegiance. Noble pursuits perhaps, but certainly of far less value than sharing the gospel. Maybe it would be argued God uses such things as seeing the ten commandments in the court room to lead people to Him. That may be true, however, I fear such reasoning is more often given as an excuse to maintain comfort. For it is often much easier to send out some letters of complaint, or even to stand in a group of protesters, than it is to go to family or friend or stranger on the street and share the gospel. As well, to debate a matter of science is far easier than to tell a person they are going to hell if they do not accept Jesus. Perhaps the test would be whether or not you have shared this truth with friends or family who are not saved, while also fighting these many social issues today. If so it would be more likely you are following God’s will, if not I would dare to say you are choosing not the right path, but the easy path. Remember, there is no middle ground, there is only an eternity of heaven or hell. Remember, this life is pitifully short in light of that eternity to come, and to save a physical life is of much less value than to save a spiritual life.

Churches or Children

"We hear the cries of the needy saying, “Why doesn’t God provide for us? Doesn’t God care? Can God truly exist and not help us?” If we were to sell every church building built in the name of Christ at fair market value the interest on the amount returned would feed all the hungry on this planet now and until the day of Christ’s return." - Oswald J. Smith

"One poor American missionary felt the call of God to go to Mexico and there to attend to the physical and spiritual needs of the Mexican people in Juarez, just across the border from El Paso. In El Paso there could be found many beautiful church buildings that lay just on the other side of the Rio Grande; a literal stones throw away. An aerial view of El Paso with all its high church steeples would make El Paso appear like a spike bed. The missionary failed to understand how so many could go hungry so close to these so called houses of worship. The missionary was so troubled over this, that he found it affected his sleep, causing him to rest uneasily. One night as he slept he dreamed. He dreamed that he was standing in front of a large gray stone church building with a bell tower that rose high above the street below. All the stones of this structure were huge but varied greatly in size. Some stones were smaller than others, some were greater in size and still others even greater. In his dream the missionary saw a ladder extending from the street and reaching to the bell tower. At the top of the ladder, dressed in sandals and robe stood Jesus. He was writing something on each of the various stones which made up the structure. The missionary called to Him and asked what He was writing. Jesus looked down at him with tears in His eyes and explained that each stone in the wall was different in size and therefore different in value. Some stones were worth ten dollars, others twelve, still others twenty, etc. Then he explained that on each stone he was writing the name of a child that died for the want of the cost of the stone which bore the child’s name. In other words, if the stone cost ten dollars the child whose name appeared on it died for the want of ten dollars. If the stone cost twenty then the child whose name was inscribed on it died for the lack of twenty dollars etc. When the missionary awoke he couldn’t forget his dream and it changed him forever."

Children's Games

A question arose recently regarding whether or not sports are beneficial. A defense was given for such things as teamwork and discipline for those who play. For such things as good heroes or role models for those who watch. Yet in every defense given, I realized there exists a great divide between theory, and practice. In theory, certainly these things may be true. Yet in practice what do I see? Churches filled with men who hold a greater passion for such games, than the passion they hold for the lost or needy of this world. Men who hold a greater knowledge of these games than of scripture, or of the needs of this world. More excitement when announcing a basketball game, than when announcing a prayer meeting. A better turnout after announcing a football game, than after announcing an outreach. More interest when the conversation turns to baseball, than when the conversation turns to missions. This accepted addiction within the church of so many men today. It is sometimes said sports are a part of men, as God created men to face a challenge, to beat the odds, to fight for the prize. Indeed, God created man for such, yet would it not be more fitting that we should fulfill these needs in reaching the lost or caring for the needy, rather than in folly and games? Would these men not be better to hike the mountains of Iran, or cross the desert of Arabia, or search the streets in Harlem, to bring the gospel to these lost people? If it is a challenge men need, if it a prize these men need to fight for, then may they give up their worthless pursuits and give all to following Christ. May these men stand strong in the face of the weakness which surrounds them.