Who Were the Wise Men?

I love Christmas and have made it a topic of study for many years. As a result, I have some opinions about common questions. Over the next few weeks, I will do just that, give my opinion. I say that because none of us can definitively prove things where the Scripture is silent. As our science teachers said, we can make an educated guess. Today I begin with the question, who were the wise men?

Before I dive into that topic, let’s look at a few common misconceptions or at least missed by most people. First, there were not necessarily three wise men. The Bible tells us that three gifts which led to the tradition of three wise men. Rightfully so, it would look odd to have fifteen guys crowded into our nativity scenes. I have no issue with the representation of three as long as we realize why that occurred.

Second, the wise men did not show up at the manger scene. Matthew states, “It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.” (Matt 2:9b NLT) The word used for the child means a young child, but not an infant. The next verse states that they came to the house, not the stable. We couple these with the fact that the star appeared two years before their arrival and the subsequent slaughter of male children in Bethlehem, and we get the picture that Jesus was probably more than a few hours old, but less than two.

So, who were these mysterious guys from the east? They are commonly believed to be Jewish converts from Persia, Babylon, Assyria, or perhaps even modern-day India. While each of these is plausible, my opinion is a little different. The books of II Kings, Daniel, Ezekiel, Esther, Ezra, and Nehemiah, describe the captivity of Judah by the Babylonians. We recognize from Daniel that God placed Jewish men in positions of authority during this time. Daniel and others carried the Jewish law and prophets (written at that time) into captivity. All the names I mentioned above lived in captivity; thus, the Babylonians had access to Jewish prophecy.

If we follow this line of thought, Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus would rise and allow His people to retune to Jerusalem. That is precisely what happened in Ezra and Nehemiah. History tells us that when Cyrus allowed the Jews to return, some did, and some did not. Thus we have the book of Esther, who lived after the time of Cyrus. Now, if you remember reading Daniel, you know that the Babylonian Kingdom fell to the Meads and the Persians. This is the story where the hand of God appears and writes on the wall.

All of these point to the traditional religion of the Persians. A monotheistic region called Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrians believe their God spoke to them through the stars. They studied the movement of celestial bodies. They were both early astronomers and astrologers. When we connect this with the fact that they also had access to prophecies such as, “I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth” (Num 24:17 NLT). We understand that a connection could easily be made.

These were not uneducated men but men of excellent knowledge. So, based on Scripture and the movement of the stars, they understood a King was born to the Jewish people. They probably had Jewish friends. And so, these men of wisdom fulfilled the prophecy found in Isaiah 60:3-5, “All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. “Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home. Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy, for merchants from around the world will come to you. They will bring you the wealth of many lands.” Certainly, these verses pertain to the nation of Israel as a whole, but I believe it is also Messianic.

Whoever these men were, the point for us is the same as it was for them. “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matt 2:11 NLT) God desires your worship and your gifts. Not your gold, but you. You are the gift He wants most. The question for you then is, are you willing to give your whole self to the child of the manger, Emmanuel, God with us?

The Weird and Spooky

Because of the season of life I currently find myself in, I have not blogged as often as I would like. It has given me time to think and process these very detailed thoughts. Indeed, in the length of this blog, I will only be able to scratch the surface on this topic. As we approach Halloween, everything is focused on the scare factor; from movies to candy. I must admit there is an aspect of all this I find fun, but this is not the weird and spooky I want to focus on. Instead, I want to focus on four common practices in churches and the lives of believers that are just flat-out wrong according to scripture.

The first weird and spooky idea is animism. Webster’s online dictionary defines animism as “the attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena.” This is a widely held theology among pagan religions. Cue Pocahontas singing Colors of the Wind. According to scripture, only humans reflect God. Only humans have a soul. I know I will make someone mad right now, but your pet does not have a soul, at least not in the spiritual definition. If you use the soul to define its character, loving nature, etc., perhaps. My pet will not attain salvation. Cap’s disobedience certainly illustrates this. This idea is dangerous to Christian theology and leads to the worship of nature rather than nature’s God.

Second, much is said of curses these days. Do I believe curses exist? Certainly. As a believer, am I under a curse, generational or otherwise? Certainly not! Gal 3:13 in the NLT states, “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” I am no longer under the curse of sin, so why would I want to profess generational curses over myself and my kids. NO!!! Instead, I will proclaim and declare freedom from every curse through Jesus Christ. What is the danger here? Constantly stating I’m under a curse does two things, it minimizes the power of God in my life and maximizes the enemy’s stronghold. Nope…get behind me, Satan!

Third, I’m sending good vibes. Keep your vibes. I want your blessing in the name of Christ. Vibes are a new age belief that you can change someone’s mood or outlook by sending your thoughts to them. I suppose telepathy is used? Now I am not stupid. I recognize the importance and power of a positive word in someone’s life and the destruction of a negative comment. Let’s be honest. You don’t need my good vibes. You need the blessing of my God. By the way, He made heaven and the earth, so there is that.

Last, not everything that goes wrong in your life is a demon. Some things that go wrong in your life are demonic. We must be full of the Spirit and His power to know the difference. If I twist my ankle, it could be because I put on the wrong shoes and stepped off the curb while not paying attention. Probably not a demon. If I have sprained my ankle seven times in the last five days, well, I might at a minimum need to pray through that. Why is this important? I, for one, am not going to give the Devil the satisfaction of blaming him for everything. But, I will recognize that he is active and fighting. I will live a life of prayer and devotion to God.

In all of these, solid Christian theology becomes weird and spooky. They put the focus on us rather than on God. Guard your thoughts. Put on the helmet of salvation. That protects our brains. Maybe you need to put that on more often. I know I do!

Do Denominations Divide Us?

This is a comment I hear often; “Denominations prove there is disunity in the body of Christ.” I take issue with this premise. Why are denominations often vilified for what they are not and never celebrated for what they are. In this blog, I want to explain why I believe denominations bring unity to the body of Christ, why they are essential, and why I choose to be a part of one.

First, let’s look at why denominations bring unity to the body of Christ. Denominations take differing theological approaches to things. If we were all in one organization, we would be fighting about it. Instead, God in His infinite wisdom separated us so that unity might abound in His Church. I do not hold to a reformed theological position, but I have great respect for those that do.

Many denominations emerged because of proximity, not division. As an example, the several Pentecostal fellowships formed in different locations. There was no internet to keep us connected in the early days. So, we have the Assemblies of God (AG) in Missouri, the Four Square in California, The Church of God in Tennessee. These three fellowships all hold to the same doctrine. Still, lack of proximity allowed three to develop in different areas of the nation near the same time, following Azusa Street.

Second, why I believe denominations are essential. There are many reasons I could point to here. Credibility and authority in ministry are significant. Denominations allow for a credentialing process so that we know a person is called. If someone calls my office and wants to speak, I can call the AG and ask if they know this person and if they are in good standing. Missions work is of vital importance. We can collectively accomplish what a single independent church cannot. Indeed, they can have an impact, but not at the same level. Without missions, there is no way the AG could have grown from 300+ in 1914 to more than 80 million today. Finally, I believe in the Biblical principle of a spiritual covering. Too often, fly-by-night ministers wreck the local church because they do not have to answer anyone. I am thankful for my district and national pastors. Both of which I am privileged to know.

Third, why did I choose to be a part of a fellowship/denomination? I love being a part of something bigger than myself. I love having spiritual mentors all over the world. I love being able to mentor others across the globe. I love the unity and common purpose among us. I love having authority over me. I love the opportunities that being a part of a denomination afford the church I pastor and me.

Let me close out this blog by sharing one final thought. Denominations can be wrong when they refuse to work with or support other ministers not from their own tribe. I believe in this last day, God is raising up multiple denominations to reach the lost. Let’s face it, no single one of us can accomplish it on our own. We in the AG will reach some that the Lutherans cannot reach. Anglicans will reach some that Southern Baptists cannot reach. It is a collective effort. I am thankful for my Apostolic, Baptist, Lutheran, and Methodist colleagues.  I am also grateful for my independent-minded colleagues. Though you have chosen a different path than I, we are all working to build Christ’s Kingdom together, not our own. So, let unity of mission and purpose abound as we disagree on some aspects of theology. You are still my friend and I need you!

The Land of Could Have Been

“It could have been” are perhaps the four saddest words in the English lexicon. The older I get, the more I see potential wasted and moments not seized. Speaking directly to my fellow Pastors, we live at the crossroads of “may be” and “could have been.” It is a life a death struggle that we live firsthand every day, not just in our own lives but also in those around us.

2020-2021 have been very difficult for, well, the world. Yet, there is a life-giving aspect here. We can’t control it. I try not to worry about what I cannot control. Admittedly that can be difficult at times. In these moments, our enemy, Satan, is there to discourage us and make us feel abandoned. He always likes to point the finger at God. Let’s be honest. We do too.

Statistics say that the seventh year of ministry is usually the most fruitful. Yup, you guessed it. My seventh year was 2020. The year of pandemic. The year of shut-down. The year of little to no growth as opposed to great growth. Now growth is a relative thing. Where I could easily look at what could have been, I can also see what was. Our church is experiencing the most powerful move of the Spirit I’ve ever been a part of. Sometimes, your “could have been” even develops into what is.

As difficult as 2020 was, 2018 was much harder for me. I thought I could control things that went in a direction I did not plan. It was personal. It hurt. It was the most challenging year I ever lived through. Three years later, I occasionally find my mind fixated on what could have been. It is easy to fall into that rabbit hole. If we are not careful, we never find our way back out. We descend into a life of self-pity, anger toward those around us, and perhaps most dangerous of all, anger at God. Which, of course, is what Satan wants. Now, I am just stubborn enough to not give him that satisfaction.

Could 2018 have turned out different, yes? It certainly could have been easier on me, but it wasn’t. I had choices that had to be consciously made coming out of that. Questions I asked myself and sought answers to. Do I trust God? Yes! Is God still in charge? Yes! Will He build His Kingdom? Yes! Am I God? No! Will I live in the “could have been” of the “may be”? The “may be” always brings a sense of hope to us.

Pastor, you may not know exactly what you are going through or why, but you do know that God is on your side. He never said it would be easy. In fact, He warned us of how hard it could be. I challenge you, do not allow yourself to live in the “land of could have been.” Satan wants nothing more than to make your life and ministry ineffective. This path will lead you there. Have faith and remember that God is in control. I do not understand all that He is doing. Let’s be honest. At times I don’t understand anything He is doing. That’s why He is God, and I am not.

Live a life of may be. That brings hope in a hopeless world. Your faithful God will uphold you and guide you. If you let Him, He will also keep you from living in the “land of could have been.”

Three Truths of the Kingdom

What has caught your attention most over the past year? We have lived through a tumultuous election cycle, a worldwide pandemic, earthquakes, a crisis in Afghanistan, wars, and rumors of wars. You see where I am going. Amid these crises, many believers have their focus in the wrong place. I understand the need to defend and uphold our liberty here in the US, but what if a restriction of our freedom brings about a mighty move of God. We would be fighting against the Kingdom if that were the case, though we think we are doing good.

In this blog, I want to cover three truths of the Kingdom. If you are a believer, none of these will surprise you. I think we have lost focus. So stay with me.

NUMBER ONE: Seek First the Kingdom

All too often, we get the cart before the horse. We seek everything but the Kingdom to bring the Kingdom. The Word tells us to seek the Kingdom first, then everything else will be added. I ask you, what are you seeking. Most of you have just answered, “the Kingdom, of course.” Ok, let me challenge that thought. Do you spend as much time in the Word and prayer as you troll the internet? No, Ok, what about your finances? Reaching those who have never heard of Jesus is a priority, even over things we enjoy doing. What about the last time you shared your faith…not wrapped in politics? Can I get a witness? I hear Madea in the back shouting, “Hallelujaher.” It’s really easy to think we have the Kingdom in our focus, but it has become an afterthought.

NUMBER TWO: God is Sovereign, I Am Not

What if all of the political angst and conspiracy theories are harming our witness? What if God wanted Trump and then Biden in the Whitehouse…see, now I’ve offended 100% of you. Well, at least the Americans. What if a tightening of our freedoms is God’s plan? What if God allowed the pandemic? What if all this is happening because the trumpet is rising to the angel’s mouth and Jesus is about to break through the clouds? What if the Church was fighting what God has already said would happen? Church, God is Sovereign! Yes, I believe in man’s free will. Man’s free will does not negate the sovereignty of my God. He is still in control.

NUMBER THREE: Faith in Christ MUST be Active

We live in a time where so many sit on their hands and wait for God to bring the fish. Peter, James, and John had to throw out the net so Jesus could fill them. Your faith and mine must be lived out through actions that will lead others to Jesus. We see our world spiraling out of control. Instead of being filled with fear, let us be filled with the Holy Spirit and Fire. Let us boldly push against the enemy and see the Kingdom of God increase. Be active in your faith.

Whether Jesus’ return is imminent or still hundreds of years in the future, we must remind ourselves, our God will never be defeated. His Church won’t either. I’m pretty sure He told us that in advance.

Who Are You Waiting For?

I was trolling Facebook the other night. Don’t judge me. You do it too. While on there, I saw a meme that dealt with waiting. It really made me think. Waiting is a part of the Christian faith. We can point to many characters in Scripture that waited. Abraham and Sarah waited for the promised child. Joseph waited to be released from prison. The Children of Israel waited to enter the Promised Land. Noah waited for rain. On and on, we could go.

We also wait. We wait for the Lord’s direction in a specific circumstance. We wait for the Spirit to move in our services and in the hearts of those around us. We wait for revival. We wait…we wait…we wait.

Most importantly, we wait for the return of Jesus. Here is where the meme comes in. It simply asked the question, are you waiting for Jesus or the anti-Christ?

That is a profound question that deserves an answer. Unfortunately, we wait for Christ with our words, but for the anti-Christ with our actions.  Please understand that I do not think there is anything wrong with being prepared, but I see a disconnect here. Many Christians have become what the world terms a “prepper.” I realize it is wise for earthquakes and other natural disasters. Yet, many I know talk about the end times and how that motivates them to prep.

Here is the rub with me. Jesus told the 70 to go out with nothing. No food. No money. Not even a clean robe. Why? The answer is simple yet vital to us. Jesus wanted His followers to trust Him for their needs. While it is great to be prepared, our preparedness must not take the place of faith. I have often told our church that God will have to multiply the bread and the fish if there are food shortages. If we can’t get medicines, Jesus will have to heal us or take us to heaven. Either way, we win on that one.

I think my greatest concern is the underlying thought here. We hold our own lives in too high of regard. We strive to live in such a way that we continue in safety and comfort. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Jesus never guaranteed us safety or comfort. In fact, He told us that if the world hated Him, it would hate us more. Jesus told us that days of tribulation would come. He even put an entire book centered on lament in our Bible.

Trials come, yes. It’s ok to be prepared, yes. Let us not value our lives to the point that we are unwilling to give it up for Jesus. I think of missionary friends that have left everything for the sake of reaching someone with the Gospel. In my faith tradition, there is an organization called “Live Dead.” They challenge us to live as though we were already dead. In other words, give it all to Jesus. Nothing else in this life truly matters.

As you ponder what the future might hold, don’t give in to fear. We are waiting on our Savior’s soon return, not the anti-Christ. For those that are in Christ Jesus, the anti-Christ cannot harm us. My personal theological belief (you may disagree, and that’s ok) is that we will be removed (raptured) before the anti-Christ is fully revealed. I do not live in fear of the future, but I rest in the promises of God’s Word.

Phil 4:19 “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

Next time you think about stocking up on TP and canned food, just ask yourself, “Who am I waiting for?”

Too Valuable Not to Be Used

A few weeks ago, I preached on “too valuable not to be used.” I had a second message prepared but have not been able to preach it. Today, I am putting it into a blog format.

God’s Kingdom increase is dependent on our willingness to provide additional time towards this cause. We do not know why He set it up this way, but He commissioned every believer to carry the Gospel. I don’t know about you, but I have always struggled with sharing my faith with others. Oh, there are moments and situations where it is easy, but it isn’t easy in most cases.

The closer that we move to the return of Christ, the more imperative it is for us to make ourselves available to be used. Time is running out. This fact calls us to set aside the frivolous pursuits of life and work together to build God’s kingdom. I’m sure each of you struggles as I do.

God has given each of us a story, testimony. No one can deny what God has done for us. We must press into the scripture we so often quote, “we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.”

I Peter 2:5-9 “5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests.[a] Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say,

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,[b]
    chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in him
    will never be disgraced.” [c]

7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him.[d] But for those who reject him,

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.” [e]

8 And,

“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
    the rock that makes them fall.” [f]

They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[g] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

Here you will see that we are all living stones and priests. This is where we will focus today. You are a living stone, a priest, and too valuable not to be used. Every one of us has a part to play in the growth of the Kingdom and this local body. If you solely leave it to full-time ministers, there may be growth, but it will be slow and inconsistent. When every one of us comes to a fresh realization that God wants to use us, we step into that, like the early church, we will see explosive growth. Let’s look more closely at our text.

Verse 5 indicates that we as living stones are cut to fit our perfect spot in the Kingdom. This is not random; this is intentional. God takes us and the gifts that He has given us, coupled with the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and He places us where He wants us. You are too valuable not to be used.

Verse 6 reminds us that we, living stones, are built on the Cornerstone Christ Jesus. Is 28:16 is quoted here, “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.” Both of these verses refer to the stone being in Zion or Jerusalem. This must be a reference to the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord in that city. This brings us salvation, and in this city, the cornerstone was laid down. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, He is living, and so are we. We are living stones, active in the work of the Kingdom of God. You are too valuable not to be used.

Verse 7 states that to the living stones, Jesus is precious. One interpretation of the original Greek indicates that we are honored because He has made us living stones in His temple. For those who reject Him, He is tossed aside like an unwanted stone. They see no value in Him or His sacrifice.

Verse 8 alludes to Is 8:14, where it says, “He will keep you safe. But to Israel and Judah, he will be a stone that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap and a snare.” Because they reject Him, they will not find salvation. This has occurred since the time we walked and worshiped in the physical temple. The religious leaders rejected Him. They denied His deity, though the prophets clearly said that He would come. This speaks of disobedience and unbelief. We are not called to save people, but to show them how to be a disciple. It is up to them to accept or reject Christ the Cornerstone.

Verse 9 moves us from the structure of the spiritual temple to the fact that we also serve as a kingdom of priests. All of us have a role to play in the construction and for His service. You are too valuable not to be used. Peter states here that we are chosen…that is not by accident. We are royal…we are part of the King’s family. We are holy…set apart for the work of God. We are special…not common. For this, we praise Him. This kingdom of priests do as the OT priests did; we serve Him, sacrifice for Him, and worship Him. This priesthood is made up of every believer. Oh, if the modern church could grasp the impact of this.

We are part of His temple; we are His priests; this results in Kingdom growth. There must be preparation for us to effectively serve as priests. We cannot usher others into the presence of God if we have not been there ourselves. It is time for us to rise in the name of our God and the power of the Spirit. It is time we take our rightful places in the Kingdom, setting aside distractions. It’s time to shut off the voice of the enemy and recognize our position in Christ.

You are called to be a priest.

You have a role to play.

You are too valuable not to be used.

You need to examine your life.

Ask yourself, where do I spend my time?

Where do I spend my money?

What distractions keep me from being used?

What lies have I believed that tell me I am not usable?

You are a priest of the Most High God…start acting like it.

Do your part.

When each of us fills our spot in the temple and works God’s priest, the Kingdom grows. Just think what would happen here, in this part of Christ’s body, if each of us would invite one person to church every week. What we began living like Jesus lived rather than how the world lives. Those around us would see a change in our language, our attitude, and our priorities. Each of these will impact those around us. What if God has called us to be a royal participant in his work rather than a common observer of His work? God has called you. It’s time to step up. You are too valuable not to be used.

Betrayed

September 21, 1780, changed the way American’s think and speak. At the height of the Revolutionary War, the commander of West Point met with British Major John Andre. This clandestine meeting was to discuss the turnover of America’s Military school to the British. This would be a decisive blow against the fledgling republic. Fortunately, the plot was discovered, and action was taken for the preservation of this institution.

Here we are 200+ years later, still referring to this day. You may not recognize the date, but you have heard someone called a Benedict Arnold. General Washington trusted Arnold and now pursued him because of his treason. Betrayal is hard. It is hurtful, and by both definition and nature, we are most affected when the betrayal is someone close to us. We all have our “Benedict Arnold.”

Fortunately for the US and Gen Washington, a gifted and loyal leader was waiting in the wings. General Nathanael Greene served his country with honor and distinction. His actions in the southern US helped bring about the monumental surrender of British General Cornwallis’s army at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.

A few weeks ago, our family vacationed in the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. Now, as a history guy, I loved all of them. But there was something about standing on the hill above the York River where the towering monument to this British surrender stands. From that spot, you can look out over the Chesapeake Bay and imagine its waters teeming with ships, men, and the fog of gun powder.

The betrayal of our nation and General Washington put into place a series of events that brought about the war’s end. As a result, an independent nation arose from the ashes—a strong nation devoted to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. No one can look back through the eyes of time and see what could have been had Arnold not committed treason. We can see the result.

Washington and the nation must have felt profound betrayal and dealt with bitter feelings and hatred towards Arnold. However, we must consider this; if Arnold had continued as he was, would the war have been won? If it was won, would it have ended when it did? The most likely answer is not.

Betrayal is always painful, but God has a way of taking our painful situations and making good come from them. In your life, dealing with your betrayals, you have a choice. You can fixate on the hurt or move on with your life. Can you imagine the dire effect if Washington sat at his desk and sulked for the next few years? We find this question ridiculous but is that not what we do in our personal lives.

The Word of God tells us that we have been set free by Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. (John 8:36) Yet, we place ourselves in servitude to those that harm us because we live with unforgiveness and refuse to move on. Yes, you have been hurt. Yes, you will be hurt again. That is human nature. Our hurt or offense does not rob God of His power to heal, set free, and bring good from a terrible situation.

I would ask you today, from what betrayal does God want to set you free? Just as important is the question, will you let Him? More betrayals will come, but what you do with them can change.

Out of Focus

Recently I have noticed my eyes moving out of focus. I look across a room, and it seems fuzzy. If I blink, they move back into focus. I am sure that this is a function of age or my negligence of wearing my glasses as often as I should. Whatever the reason, it is a funny feeling to see fuzzy when you know it should be clear. Our life of faith can be that way, except here, like actual eye issues, the progression usually is slow. We lose a little sight every few months or years, until one day we need bifocals.

I encourage everyone to read on, but I specifically want to address pastors and ministry leaders. I have now served in full-time ministry for 22 years: one year as a College/Worship Pastor, thirteen years as a Youth/Worship Pastor, and now eight years as a Lead Pastor. During these years, it is easy for things to lose their focus. Our calendar often drives our lives. Busyness is a way of life for us. That is not all bad. I would always rather be busy and accomplishing something than having little to do.

The longer we serve in ministry and perhaps the busier we are, the more likely we lose focus. We fall into a natural trap of building our churches rather than Christ’s Kingdom. I want to give you five things that shift our focus and then a few ways to correct or prevent it.

  1. Focus on others rather than Christ.

Every minister falls into the trap of comparing their work and results to someone else’s. Comparing is natural and easy to do, but it is very dangerous. When we compare ourselves to others, we are not looking at apples to apples but apples to oranges. The history of our place of ministry, its culture, and vision all contribute to how ministry is accomplished. If we are not careful, we will move toward envy. As the saying goes, the grass is not always greener. 

2. Focus on numbers rather than souls.

We all take attendance for obvious reasons. Yes, we all want our churches to grow, but we must remember that it is more important to see the Kingdom of God grow. I frequently state that I am less concerned if new followers of Christ join our church through our outreaches than I am about growing the Kingdom. I think we have to be careful not to put the cart before the horse here. God will help our churches grow, but we have to keep things in the correct order. Seek His Kingdom!

3. Focus on finances rather than faith.

Contrary to popular belief, most churches are not sitting on mounds of cash. Many are lucky to have a reserve at all. Churches are not run like a business. We do not have a profit margin based on the sale of goods or services. We are totally dependent on the generosity of those that attend. As such, it is easy to hold onto cash rather than living by faith. I once read a statement of David Wilkerson in which he described money in the church as a river flowing through our hands. As we all say a collective, “Let it flow, Lord!” 🙂

4. Focus on failings rather than God’s faithfulness.

They say that one of two things will cause a pastor to leave the ministry, pride or discouragement. These manifest themselves in different ways but have the same effect. I have to be honest. We are in a time of planting and growing our church. I sometimes deal with the fear that people will see it is not as healthy as it appears or that I am not as capable as I appear. At that moment, it will all collapse. I remind myself, it’s not my church; it’s God’s. It’s not simply about my ability but God’s faithfulness. He will build His Church!

5. Focus on foes rather than friends.

Serving in the Kingdom of God, in any facet, is spiritual warfare. There will always be detractors. There will always be those that fight against what you are building. Read Ezra and Nehemiah here. It is easy to focus on those that come against you, even if it is only one. Even if 300 stand with you. We must focus on the support God has given us. Elijah thought he was alone, but God had a remnant. I guarantee He has provided one for you too.

I am writing this partially out of support for you, my hurting friends. Over the past few years, God saw fit to bring many hurting pastors into my life. I love ministering to them and bringing them encouragement. So that brings us to a few things you can do to prevent the loss of focus.

  1. Be in the Word Daily. Seems obvious, but busyness can sometimes overtake us.
  2. Have a friend in the ministry with whom you can have open and honest discussions.
  3. Make integrity a priority. Find an accountability partner you trust and guard your mind. Put a filter on your phone and computer. Guard your attitude. Find someone you can go to and someone that can come to you.
  4. Expect the enemy to attack. He will!
  5. Build rest into your daily schedule. We are more susceptible to offense, temptation, and sin when we are tired.
  6. Eat well and exercise. If you don’t take care of yourself, you become sluggish and tired…reread #5 here.
  7. Wherever you serve the King, remember it’s all about Jesus, not about you! Repeat…repeat…repeat…rinse and repeat…repeat one more time.

These simple things help us to keep our focus on Christ. I pray that if you are walking through a season of pride or discouragement that God will place a trusted friend in your path. I am thankful for those God has placed in mine and am always honored when He allows me to be in someone else’s.

If you read this and are not in ministry, these principles apply to every believer. We all walk through the same valleys and up the same mountains. We even trudge through the same seemingly forsaken plateaus. UGH! Remember God is for you, not against you. He loved you enough to save you and trusted you enough to call you.

DON’T LOSE YOUR FOCUS!

The “Big Blah”

Have you ever been questioned because of a belief you hold? Of course, you have. All of us experience this on an ongoing basis.  We are questioned for our faith, politics, the color of the car we choose to buy, and pretty much every other decision in this life. For some, decisions are based on feeling; for others, science, and still others, faith. Science and faith seemingly conflict a lot these days. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am accused of not following science in one area and by following it another I am denounced. Let me run down a few areas this has occurred.

Global Warming: where others see man’s effect, I see God’s design. I do not deny the earth is getting hotter, only the reason for it. Another area is gender. We are told to follow the science on every issue but gender. Now whether you agree with me or not, I believe you have a right to be whatever you choose to be, from a legal standpoint. However, that does not change your DNA…science, if you will. If you cut yourself at a crime scene, your DNA will show that you are male or female. Science cannot show transgender. So, I acknowledge you have a right to be non-binary if you choose to be, but science will always show the gender of your birth…this could be an extensive blog, maybe another day.

The Big Bang Theory has always perplexed me. I do understand the premise, but according to the laws of nature, it does not make sense. I call this “The Big Blah.” I do so after discovering that “follow the science” is only followed when it advances a person’s opinion. This, of course, is counterproductive to the nature of science which is to prove something factual within nature, in this case. I have often said it takes more faith to believe in evolution, the Big Bang, than it does to believe in God.

Let me explain what I mean by this. We know that scientifically everything has a beginning. By definition, the Big Bang theory seeks to explain that beginning for our world. The problem lies in the theory. Over millions of years, gasses in space mixed and formed what we know to be earth and the planetary system through a big bang reaction. That is the beginning of our universe and every other one, for that matter.  I will admit that though I disagree with this approach, this aspect of the theory theoretically makes sense. What does not is the origin of the gases.

Where did the gases come from that caused the big bang? Were they eternally there, leading to the belief that everything in this life does not have a beginning? Alternatively, perhaps something else in nature caused the gases, which caused the big bang. What caused the “something else” that caused the gases that caused the big bang. This is a merry-go-round that would never stop. Eventually, something or someone had to have created the first thing that sparked the chain reaction.

What if I choose to argue that the universe is eternal but ever-changing? Fundamentally, if it is ever-changing, there is an end. If there is an end, then there must be a beginning. Stars die and stars are born, etc. This still does not address the causation of material being in our universe. I am not trying to prove God created in this blog, though I believe He did. At the foundation of that question is the summation that led to the “bang.”

I will readily admit that an astrophysicist somewhere will denounce me as an uneducated Christian zealot that understands nothing of the real world. So, I ask of them, will you stop hiding behind your degree and your egotism and answer the simple question, “where did the original elements come from.” What I have found is that they cannot. Thus “The Big Blah.” When we follow science, we are led to a beginning of everything, which means there is also an end. That blog, my friends, is for another day.