Congratulations P-P-P-P-Peyton ... There I said it

I grew up in Los Angeles during the 80’s. At that time the rivalry between the LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics was as intense as any rivalry that exists today. At the heart of the rivalry was the relationship of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Johnson and Bird not only played against each other in the 1979 NCAA finals, they went on to compete in three NBA Finals. I was a Magic guy through and through. I had Magic posters, video games, t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, sweats, glasses, … you get the picture. They say that kind of love can’t exist without hate. They might be right, because I hated Larry Bird with an intense and burning hatred. I once met the entire Celtic team at the LA airport. My parents had to force me to ask them for their autographs. I threw the autographs away.

For me, hating Mr. Bird included never giving him an ounce of credit for being a good basketball player. As I grew up a little (very little) I realized I had missed enjoying one of the greatest players of all time. I regret not taking the time to enjoy Bird’s career.

I have to admit I have done the same thing with Peyton Manning. I have never given him credit for being a great quarterback because I really don’t like him, his college, his brother, his commercials, his long neck, his happy feet, his incessant audibles, his … you get the picture. Anyway, Peyton shut me up and won a big game tonight. I realize I need to quit hating him and learn to enjoy watching one of the all time greats. There is a small (I mean microscopically small) part of me that is happy for him. He is not a bad guy. He has worked hard and deserves to be in the Super Bowl.

Those of you who have talked football with me know that this post is nothing short of a miracle.

Go Bears.

The Nashville Predators and Modern Evangelism

“To be sure, some people insist with great bravado that they are neither sinful or guilty, and that they do not need Christ. It would be quite wrong to seek to induce guilty feelings in them artificially.”

“Our Christian duty is rather, through prayer and teaching to bring people to accept the true diagnosis of their condition in the sight of God.” - John Stott from his commentary on Romans

If the Nashville Predators win their game at Detroit tonight they will be the number one team in the National Hockey League. The Predators are having a great season. The only part of the season that hasn’t been great is ticket sales. Last week Predators owner Craig Leipold announced ticket sales are low and without more support from the community the Predators might have to consider relocation. Callers flooded local radio shows with one basic idea – if people would just try hockey they would love it. There is a push amongst Predator fans to convince people who haven’t been to a game to give it a try. Many callers called to tell of their “conversion” experiences. Story after story was told about going to one hockey game and being hooked forever. I can tell the same story. I went to the last game of the Predators first season and have been a huge fan ever since.

I think trying to get people in the seats is a great strategy to grow support for a hockey team. However, it is not a biblical approach to evangelism. Sadly, it is the strategy most commonly used by churches today. There is a theory modern evangelicals ascribe to that says people would love Jesus if they could just get to know him. It is taught that what unbelievers are basically lacking is the “right” exposure to the Christ.

This belief has led to many churches inventing and reinventing a version of Jesus in order to get people in the seats. New versions of Jesus are popping up all over the place. Jay Baker (son of Jim and Tammy Fay) has recently announced that God told him homosexuality is not a sin. Joel Osteen has recently stated that he doesn’t know if those who do not profess faith in Christ will be kept out of heaven. Last month I read of a pastor calling Jesus casual. Casual men do not find themselves nailed to crosses!

In regard to evangelism the business of the church is to love all people the way Christ has loved us. Jesus loved in word and deed. We are called to lay down our lives for all, including those who have different beliefs than our own. He died for us while we were his enemies. Surely, those who he has called his own will love their enemies as well. However, this “deed” love is incomplete without “word” love. Jesus always told the people he loved about their more pressing spiritual need. Truly loving people includes telling them of their need for a Savior. I love the quotes from John Stott that I began the post with. Our duty is to lead people to accept the true diagnosis of their condition. Before the gospel is good news it is bad. The bible tells us we are spiritually dead in our sin. Without Christ, (the only life) we are destined to spend an eternity experiencing the wrath of God in hell. The wrath of God has been put on Christ for all of those who are saved. This isn’t cheap tolerance. This is the voluntary suffering of true forgiveness that comes from the God who is completely loving and completely just. To quote the angels, He is “Holy! Holy! Holy!”

The biblical version of Christ may not fill an auditorium, but it is our only option in telling the world about him and his gospel. Our duty is to pray, preach, and inform unbelievers (and believers) about our great need for Christ. After that is done we allow the Holy Spirit to convict the hearts of those who have heard the gospel. As John Stott says, "it would be quite wrong to seek to induce guilty feelings in them artificially." Only the Holy Spirit is able to do such miraculous work.

1 Corinthians 2:2
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Our Older Brother

"There was already a deep black wordless conviction in him that the way to avoid Jesus was to avoid sin."

I read this line from Flannery O’Connor’s novel, ‘Wise Blood’ last night and it reminded me of the older brother from the prodigal son parable.

Luke 15:25 - 30

25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

The older brother was no more interested in intimacy with the father than the younger son. He wanted his inheritance and the way to get it was to stay at home and in his own words “slave and never disobey.” This was not the obedience of a grateful heart, but rather the manipulative obedience of a hard heart. At least the younger brother was honest about his bad intentions. The older brother avoided the father by obeying.

Sadly, the O’Connor quote didn’t just remind me of the older brother. I see myself in it as well. How quickly did I think of someone else who needed to read the quote? How quickly did I put on my older brother judgmental lenses? Too quickly.

My heart is broken and humbled by the true and greater older brother, Jesus. He didn’t obey out of manipulation but out of love and honor for the Father. This older brother not only welcomes us home to the feast but runs out to carry us to the Father. He gladly gives us his calf and robe. He emptied himself so we could be restored and made full.

I am the prodigal. I am the older brother. I need a Savior. I am thankful to know I have one.

Mark 2:17

17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Mystery of Mercy

by Caedmon's Call

I am the woman at the well, I am the harlot

I am the scattered seed that fell along the path

I am the son that ran away

And I am the bitter son that stayed

My God, my God why hast thou accepted me

When all my love was vinegar to a thirsty King?

My God, my God why hast thou accepted me

It's a mystery of mercy and the song, the song I sing

I am the angry man who came to stone the lover

I am the woman there ashamed before the crowd

I am the leper that gave thanks

But I am the nine that never came

My God, my God why hast thou accepted me

When all my love was vinegar to a thirsty King?

My God, my God why hast thou accepted me

It's a mystery of mercy and the song, the song I sing

You made the seed that made the tree

That made the cross that saved me

You gave me hope when there was none

You gave me only your Son

My God,My God,Lord you are my God.

My God,My God,Lord you are my God.

My God,My God,Lord you are my God.

My God,My God,Lord you are...my God.

Our Filthy Best

One of the biggest breakthroughs in my life was when God taught me that my best wasn’t good enough for him. I was in college and a lot of things I had put a lot of trust in (including my own ability to be “good”) were collapsing all around me. I have a friend named Greg (the most Christlike man I knew) who was always telling me about his righteousness being a filthy rag before God (Isaiah 64:6). At the same time there were two songs that filled my thoughts.

The first was Steven Curtis Chapman’s ‘Miracle of Mercy’

If the truth was known and a light was shown
On every hidden part of my soul
Most would turn away, shake their head and say
he still has such a long way to go
If the truth was know you'd see that the only good in me
Is Jesus, oh it's Jesus

If the walls could speak of the times I've been weak
When everybody thought I was strong
Could I show my face if it weren't for the grace
Of the one who's known the truth all along
If the walls could speak they'd say that my only hope is the grace
Of Jesus, the grace of Jesus

But, oh the goodness and the grace in Him
He takes it all and makes it mine and causes his light in me to shine
And he loves me with a love that never ends
Just as I am not as I do
Could this be real, could this be true
This could only be a miracle
This could only be the miracle of mercy

The second was ‘Clumsy’ by Chris Rice

You think I’d have it down by now
Been practicin’ for thirty years
I should have walked a thousand miles
So what am I still doin’ here
Reachin’ out for that same old piece of forbidden fruit
I slip and fall and I knock my halo loose
Somebody tell me what’s a boy supposed to do?

I get so clumsy
I get so foolish
I get so stupid
And then I feel so useless
But You’re sayin’ You love me
And You’re still gonna hold me
And that You wanna be near me
‘Cause You’re makin’ me holy
You’re still makin’ me holy, yeah

I’m gonna get it right this time
I’ll be strong and I’ll make You proud
I’ve prayed that prayer a thousand times
But the rooster crows and my tears roll down (again)
Then You remind me You made me from the dust
And I can never, no never, be good enough
And that You’re not gonna let that come between us

From where I stand
Your holiness is up so high I can never reach it
My only hope is to fall on Jesus

I had never been taught the truth that Christ had not only taken away my sin but at the same time given me all of his righteousness. I didn’t hear a voice, but it couldn’t have been any more real. The Spirit put truth in my heart and made me know my best would never be good enough but God’s grace is sufficient.

I have learned so much since then. I am so thankful for an uncompromising, just and holy God. I am so thankful he doesn’t bend the rules. The irony of trusting in my own goodness was how far I lowered the bar in order to measure up. God doesn’t demand less than perfection, but in his goodness and justice he provides all he demands. We have been given perfect obedience through our faith in Jesus Christ. I am thankful for his righteousness, goodness, and beauty. I am broken by the lyric and know it is true “the only good in me is Jesus.”

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.