We are the raise your hands and say a prayer people, a generation of church-goers who believe their eternal destiny is secure because we once prayed a simple prayer. We bought in because it was easy. The teaching was perpetuated because it removed so much responsibility from our lives. But what does the Bible, and specifically Jesus, have to say about being saved from eternal damnation? If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know there is no mention of the so-called “sinner’s prayer” in Scripture. There are, however, very clear instructions as to what we must do to inherit eternal life.
Archives for August 2013
What Do You Want?
What is it you really want out of life? Are you happy where you are or do you feel like you should be doing more? Walt Whitman said that, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation”. We put on a great façade, but inside we are secretly dying. Christians are particularly adept at this. We show up every Sunday determined to convince everyone gathered that we have it all together. Deep within us there is a curious but insistent longing. We know we were created for more but we can’t seem to put our finger on what that “more” looks like.
Doers of the Word
We live in a time where we have an unprecedented amount of knowledge available at our fingertips. Never before in the history of man have we had so many resources on hand from which to learn and study. The internet has leveled the playing field in many ways, providing rich content to people and countries that have been locked out of information sharing in the past. We can stream video of church services from around the globe anytime day or night. Podcasts make listening to sermons possible while we jog or drive. Hundreds of books are released each year containing fresh perspectives and spiritual insights. If you ever wanted to learn about Jesus, you certainly are now without excuse.
Why Are We Here?
So many Christians wander through life waiting to discover God’s will for their lives. I can’t help but believe one of the major reasons they can’t figure this out is because they are ignorant of the mission of Christ. How can you understand the call of God for your life if you don’t fully grasp the call of God on the life of Christ? If you are frustrated or confused as to what you think you should be doing, I humbly suggest you get back to the roots of your faith and dive a little deeper into the reasons the Son of God became one of us.
The Local Church
Bill Hybels has said, and I agree, that “The local church is the hope of the world.” In times of tragedy, it is often the local churches that come to the aid of those in need. For many, attending a weekend service is the only exposure they ever get to the teachings of Jesus and the love of God. Stories abound of people who, having reached the end of their rope, stumbled into a church service just to check out the “God thing”. Beyond all of this, the local church should be the launching point – and the refueling station – for believers to go about the great commission of taking the good news of Jesus throughout the world.