Fix it before it breaks you

Beaver Bottom Church had a problem. Actually, they had lots of problems but this one stood out more than any of the others. It seems that the new pastor, Rev. Donald Doorite, was wanting to nix the canine evangelism program that had been run out of their fellowship hall for the past 17 years.

The distinguished Mr. Harold Winston Higgenbotham, lifelong member and self-proclaimed top tither at Beaver Bottom Church, started and initially funded the canine evangelism program after his daughter came home from a Disney movie convinced that dogs could - and should - go to heaven. Because Mr. Higgenbotham was such a faithful giver and dominant voice in the church, no one really opposed the idea. Besides, maybe dogs do go to heaven, they reasoned.

Now almost two decades later, Mr. Higgenbotham and his immediate family was long gone, having left Beaver Bottom Church in a huff after a disagreement over the color of the new carpet in the sanctuary. Yet the canine evangelism program was still funded in the church budget even though not one pooch had yet to be baptized on a Sunday morning. Something had to give.

When Rev. Doorite looked over the church budget items in his first few weeks on the job, the canine evangelism line item immediately caught his eye. "What in the name of potluck dinners is this?" he half whispered, unable to believe what his eyes were seeing on the spreadsheet before him. His ire was further stoked when he realized that more money went to saving the souls of dogs than it did to seeing that men and women in the community had a chance to hear the gospel. Something had to change!

At the next deacon's meeting, Rev. Doorite waited until the regular church business was discussed before broaching the subject of the canine evangelism program. He began by expressing how much he enjoyed the companionship of his own rescued golden retriever, Goldie Locks, and that the humane treatment of animals was very important to him. "However," said Rev. Doorite, "I do not see how we can continue to fund and staff a ministry with volunteers that simply doesn't work. We are in the business of human souls, not doggie goals."

To the Reverend's surprise, the backlash he received at the suggestion of redirecting all the canine cash was immediate. "We can't cut that program!" hollered Edgar Needlemeyer. "The dogs really like it and we've had at least one family join the church as the result of the program." Marion Twopence chimed in, "We can't end that program! Sure, puppy proselytizing may not be popular in most churches, but what would Mrs. Mary Swanson do without it? She's been volunteering every week since it began. What will SHE do now?"

On and on came the dissent and angry protests. Rev. Doorite could almost feel the mutiny in the room and he knew he had to act quickly before he lost what little control he had. "Gentlemen, please! Let's table this matter for next month's meeting when we can come back together for what I hope will be perhaps a more helpful - and less contentious - discussion. In the meantime, I urge each of you to look over the church budget and see how these doggie dollars can be better served in other ministry areas." While this suggestion calmed the crowd for the moment, the grunts, glares, and mumbles of the deacons as they left the room let Rev. Doorite know that he had more than his work cut out for him.

Okay, so this story didn't really happen. And if your church does have a canine evangelism program in place then, well, I simply have no words. But I think you get my over-exaggerated point. Whether it is in a ministry setting such as today's churches or the business world, there will always be those programs that have either run their course or no longer effectively meet the needs or vision of your organization. When that happens, it takes forethought and courage to realize that it's time to shut it down.

"But we've always done it this way!" "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" "But we can't cancel this program because, well, we just can't!" All of these protests and more will be heard when ministers and other leaders see the value in redirecting the resources that unneeded programs can drain from an organization. When that happens, it can be very difficult to resist the naysayers in favor of maintaining the status quo, but resist you must.

Let me share with you what takes real courage for leaders to say when faced with a deficient pet-program that many in the organization still hold onto with a desperate grasp - "We tried, but it didn't work, so let's move on to something that will work." It is this mentality that is missing in so many churches and business organizations, yet it can be the most freeing and innovating concept that they can grasp.

Vision was never intended to be static. It is meant to grow and flourish as we nourish it with our passion for seeing others benefit from our efforts. If you are in the business world and you refuse to adapt and retool your vision to match the industry, your doors won't stay open much longer. In a ministry context, if our programs are not intentionally either pointing people to faith in Jesus or growing men and women to be more faithful followers of Jesus, then it's time to pull the plug on them, even if they are still popular and draw interest among our people.

Failure isn't the worst thing that can happen to your business or ministry. Being unwilling to admit it just might be. And that's the doggone truth.

A not-so-political guide to the November election

This election season is turning out to be a doozy, isn't it? I make it a habit to not write or post about politics in a way that is confrontational or leaning towards the endorsement of a particular candidate, and this will be no different. Most people that I know and speak with are frustrated, and with good reason. Not once in my 46 years here on earth have I seen such an electorate so divided yet also so hesitant to cast a vote.

Many of my pastor buddies have turned to social media to express their views and distribute their advice and wisdom to those who would receive it. Honestly, I have more often been disappointed by what I have read than encouraged. It's very apparent that my evangelical friends are taking stances against both presidential candidates, and in doing so they are inviting some pretty ridiculous feedback from their parishioners who feel the need to comment while offering no real direction for them to take. When that happens, things just get down right silly.

A common belief that I see being proposed is that voting for a third-party candidate essentially means casting a vote against a better qualified candidate that actually has a chance to win. While I cannot debate the truth or error in this statement, I do want to point out how one person commented on that belief: "Just because you refuse to eat at McDonald's doesn't mean that Burger King gets your money." Clever, huh? The problem with this analogy is that there are hundreds of fast-food options out there, not just two or three. I may choose to eat at home, but someone is going to get my money, whether it is a grocery store or some other establishment. Besides, who we elect for President of the United States (POTUS) carries a lot more weight than where I choose to eat a greasy burger.

So where do I stand? Who will I vote for? I'm not going to tell you. But I do want to spend the rest of this post pointing you down a path that I hope that you will take however you choose to cast your ballot in November. Regardless of who is the next President of the United States there will be certain areas in your life that will always be true and cannot be taken away.

• If you are concerned about your rights to free speech being taken away, then you can still respect the rights of others in your life to speak freely, even if they disagree with you. 
• If you are worried that the POTUS will disregard even more the life of the unborn, that doesn't stop you from continuing to be an advocate for those who have no voice, does it?
• Think that the next POTUS will take away your guns and your right to protect yourself? Even if that does happen, that alone shouldn't keep you from loving your neighbor and looking out for each other.
• Concerned that the new POTUS will shut all the borders, prohibit immigration, and racism will now officially be institutional and rampant? Pretty sure the court systems won't allow that, but even if they did, isn't it on YOU how you view and treat your fellow man? Will YOU still choose to respect all people regardless of color, gender, and orientation in spite of what laws could possibly be passed?
• Can't believe that someone so immoral could actually hold the highest office in the land? This is nothing new. Don't look to the POTUS as your moral compass or to be a role model for your children. That is your job.

Long story short - the world is not going to end after Tuesday November 8, 2016, no matter who wins this election. Yes, things will change in America but they always do. New policies will be implemented and new policies will get shot down. Some of the changes that will take place in this country will delight some while at the same time infuriate others. That's just how it is.

I want what's best for America and so do you. For me, that means more Jesus, but we all know that on this next ballot the only names that appear will be those of mere mortals like you and me. That being the case, if you are a follower of Jesus then live like one. The government cannot pass legislation that can keep you from loving people, caring for the needy, honoring others, respecting peoples' rights, or standing up for what is just. Go out and vote and then do what you know that you must do to point others in the direction of our great God and His salvation which is only found in Jesus.  

Do it here before you do it there

Recently while I was killing time (i.e., procrastinating) on Facebook, I came across some pictures of a family that I had not seen in a long, long time. This family lives overseas as missionaries and when I connected with them over ten years ago they were serving in northern Africa. Scrolling through their pictures brought back cool memories of playing with their three younger sons, walking dusty streets, and eating strange and exotic foods.

As my mind reminisced over those almost two weeks that I spent with that family, I began to process all that went into that trip. The cost of airline tickets, lodging, food and passports was a staggering amount, but it had all been worth it. At least, I believe it was worth it. Come to think of it, this amazing trip halfway across the world - as exciting as it was - left me with memories of an incredible cultural experience but little else. I was instantly reminded of how little I knew of the opportunity that awaited for me when I got there.

I just assumed that when I arrived I would dive right in and do what the other missionaries were doing, seeing people come to faith in Jesus and traveling the countryside like Jesus did. If I had just done more of my homework and interacted with the missionaries a bit more, I would have learned that in countries like this where Christianity is a minority religion, those opportunities to share my faith are not only rare but are also illegal. For the missionaries serving in this kind of environment, their goal was to assimilate into the culture over a period of time while creating relationships that they could nourish over several years. There was no way I could accomplish something like that in ten days.

Was it a waste of time for me to go on this trip? I wouldn't say that, for I learned a lot about a foreign culture and the challenges that missionaries face in countries that are closed to Jesus. Plus, I hope that my presence there was a blessing to this family and their kids, whom I have a blast entertaining. But when it was all said and done, I didn't really DO anything that could be counted as missions. Years later I have to ask myself, "Was this really a mission trip?"

I have had the opportunity to go on numerous short-term mission trips during my lifetime - Orlando, Bahamas, Turkey, New York City, and Antigua to name a few. All of them provided me with hundreds of memories, pictures, and souvenirs and there were even a few long-lasting relationships formed along the way. But if I can be totally honest with you, I am left with more troublesome thoughts and questions than I care to admit. Maybe you've had the same concerns.

• Instead of gearing up to paint a church in South America, would it have been a better idea to send the funds to the local missionaries who in turn could hire local workers to do the painting, thus offering much needed employment and putting money back into their economy?
• As we train to reach lost people living in foreign cultures, are we as passionate about reaching lost people in the neighborhood across the street?
• When you prepare for a mission trip by volunteering in a local community center or other nonprofit, do you continue that local ministry when you return home or do you view it as necessary pre-trip training and nothing more?

Let me go ahead and say what some of you might be thinking - no, I do not believe that short-term mission trips are a waste of time. God has used opportunities in other states and countries to grow me in my faith and give me a zeal for the nations to hear the gospel. But I also believe that on many occasions I have been guilty of participating in nothing more than Christian tourism, a multi-billion dollar industry that provides us with amazing experiences that can be devoid of real missionary value (see Toxic Charity for more on this subject).

As a result of all of these experiences that I have had - and the opportunity to take a good, hard look at mission opportunities as a whole - I have come up with a rule of thumb for myself when it comes to participating in any sort of short-term mission project that I want to share with you:

Before I travel there, I have to look at what needs to be done here.

For me, I can't justify spending all of my time and resources helping out over there unless I first am invested in reaching people for Jesus here. If I ignore the lost or the poverty-stricken down the road, then how can I as a follower of Jesus put so much energy somewhere else? This does not mean that I will never take another short-term mission trip but rather it ensures that my view of missions doesn't become so narrow that others around me become marginalized.

The conclusion for me is that the lens through which I view missions must be panoramic in nature. It starts at home and then necessarily extends to the nations. Because of the opportunities to serve overseas or in other states that are often placed before us, it is easy to have our heart strings pulled in that direction before we can even gain a firm footing on the needs that exist right now in front of us. Let's not be so consumed with traveling over there before we have first loved our community in Jesus' name right here.

Pass that red cup over here, please

Much has been said and rehashed in the past week about the whole Starbucks red cup fiasco, and it's my turn to express an opinion or two on the whole debacle. Yes, I think that the guy who makes his name "famous" by ranting and offending people with his "Jesus Christ t-shirt" is a bit off his rocker. Telling the barista that your name is "Merry Christmas" so that she will write it on the cup? Juvenile genius, I guess. And I chuckle at the irony of just how much business he is generating for Starbucks with his crusade against the company all because they won't put reindeer or Christmas trees on their cups this year.

But if I ran into this guy today and had the chance to tell him how I really feel about his stance against the "Starbucks Antichrist" company, here is what I would tell him to his face: Thank you!

Yes, this self-proclaimed advocate for all things Christian has actually done Christianity a favor. He has single-handedly tipped the cup (pardon the pun) so that the rest of the Christian world can see just how ridiculous things have gotten. Over the years there have been many (self) righteous causes that Christian organizations have adopted in an effort to boycott or protest businesses that they deem as unChristian. For their effort, all they have received is scorn and skeptical looks from the masses who might actually need to hear about Jesus' love and sacrifice for them instead of how evil a Disney roller coaster is.

Here is the point: If you need a secular institution or business to promote the name of Jesus for you, then you are failing at the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). I could care less if Starbucks puts a Christmas picture on their cups or if sales clerks tell me "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." Why? Because it is MY call to spread the gospel of Jesus to the world, not theirs.

So the next time you plan to go out for coffee with your offensive Christian t-shirt on and your six-shooter strapped to your hip, pause for moment before walking out the door and ask yourself one very important question: Why am I doing this? Is it because you want to prove a point and stick it to the man in Jesus' name? If that's the case, then have at it. But please know, the rest of the Christian world is getting fed up with these antics. They aren't effective because they don't point people to the truth of Jesus. And if this your true motive, then I have one more suggestion for you: Repent.

Deep-fried worship

The Dixie Classic Fair used to be the one event that I anxiously anticipated every year. It's not nearly as big as the State Fair in Raleigh, NC, but when the Dixie Classic rolled into Winston-Salem every fall, I made sure that I had saved up a little bit of cash and had purged my system with a semi-fast so that I could indulge in as much fried decadence as my body could take. No one had to tell me to go the fair - I knew it was coming and it was where I wanted to be.

When the fair came to town, one thing I did not expect to see was the fair workers at my front door. I mean, they were busy getting the rides ready and their tents and booths set up. Why would they come to my house to see me? I knew where the big show was going to be so it was up to me to make the time to go. They were the attraction, I was the spectator.

Oh my, did I just describe many churches today?

Let me preface my remarks by saying that I think it is great that we have so many different modes of worship expression in our churches today. Sure, there are many things that are over the top that make me cringe, but no more so than the stale and dead liturgies that plague many of our houses of worship. My concern is not so much with the stylistic methodology of worship but rather with the mission of the church.

When we pride ourselves in our worship services and believe that what we've got going is good enough to fill the seats, we have betrayed the purpose of our assembling together. When Jesus charged His church to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), this was not an invitation to merely come and see. Our worship gatherings are not to be a show or a spectacle - they are the avenue by which the body of Christ assembles for biblical instruction, corporate worship, prayer, fellowship, and mutual giving (Acts 2:41-47). I prefer an energetic and engaging style of worship, yet it is important to remember that our worship services are a means, not the end.

Far too many leave a service on Sunday morning coming off the high of the wow factor. The pastor "brought it", the music was "on point", the atmosphere was "electric", and now it's time to go an take a nap after beating the crowds to Chili's so that we can process what it is that we've just seen and heard. It's almost like we leave on Sundays with a worship hangover, much like that feeling you get when you leave the fair after having one too many deep fried Oreo's. The big question that needs to invade your brain is this: Did you leave changed and challenged by the gospel? If so, then you will do more than process what you have seen and heard - you will be unable to escape the reality of what the gospel compels of you.

The goal of the church is not for others to simply come and see. It is for us to go and live and tell. The gospel does not invite you to gather into special groups once a week so that you can indulge in self-absorbed Christianity. No, the gospel compels us to live out the expression of grace that has transformed us through the cross of Jesus. Most lost people will not come to our church gatherings to see or hear this. The world is unimpressed (and maybe a bit amused) at our flashy church services that cater only to the believer. Thus we are the ones who must show up on their door steps to announce that the kingdom of God is here, that the gospel is life-changing and satisfying.



 

Hash tag Jesus

Like many of you, I have a love/hate relationship with social media. On the love side, I think it's great catching up with old friends and seeing pictures of their beautiful families and cool family vacations. On the flip side, I will roll my eyes like a middle school girl at every single rant I am forced to endure about politics, mean people in your life, or how unfair Facebook is being with your privacy, even though you are choosing to use Facebook publicly and of your own free will. #Icansmelltheironyamileaway

Within the Christian culture, social media has become a platform that has been used extensively to express and abuse one's spiritual perspective. I, for one, truly enjoy posting Bible verses that have moved my soul, believing that sharing them is but one way for the truth of God to be proclaimed. Yet I have also been guilty in the past of using the internet to pick a fight with those who do not share my same faith-based perspective. Nothing like a good ol' online argument with an atheist about the existence of God, eh? #you'regoingtohell

Where should we draw the line with social media and our faith? Better yet, what would Jesus Tweet? #WWJT

As I pondered these questions I was in the midst of reading through Jesus' Sermon on Mount in the gospel of Matthew. In Matthew 6, Jesus gives warning to His disciples when it comes to how they express the spiritual disciplines, specifically giving, prayer, and fasting. In these verses, Jesus does not give a lecture on the nature of these spiritual disciplines but rather delivers a prescription on how we are to use them.

When you give, do so in secret so that only God sees what you are giving. When you pray, do so in secret so that only God hears you. When you fast, do so discretely so that your heaven Father is the only one who truly sees. The reasoning is clear: our devotion to God is for His glory and enjoyment, not so that we can receive the accolades of man. Do so in secret so that "your heavenly Father who sees in secret will reward you."

That kinda turns things around for us, huh? Obviously, if you Tweet or post anything about your faith, then it is not in secret (even if you have your privacy settings on "friends only"). So is it okay for us to post Bible verses or share intimate "God moments" online? Yes, but there are exceptions. #YesBut

I believe the issues rests on the attitude in which we post. In Matthew 6, we see Jesus taking specific exception with those who expressed their devotion to God for the sole purpose of being seen as more spiritual than they actually were. Seen in this light, if I post a verse of Scripture with the mindset that everyone who sees it on my page will think that I am some super-spiritual dude, then I am guilty of seeking personal devotion from others and not the glory of God. But if I post the same Scripture with the intent that it has spoken to my heart and I cannot keep it to myself, praying that it bolsters the soul of someone else or brings light in a dark place, then I am free to express that. #it'smorethansemantics

To this end I have to conclude that, although I cannot measure the heart and intent of anyone, I know that God can. If your goal is to see how many likes your pithy spiritual quote can get, then I believe you have your answer. Social media can be a wonderful tool to proclaim the beautiful truth of the gospel, but it can also be a powerful method to get more people to gather and worship at the altar of you. #postwisely

Taking food from the hungry

Not long ago I shared a conversation with a young man in high school who had lots of questions about God and faith. I mean some really, really good questions. He wanted to believe - he knew that there was more "out there" - but he wasn't buying into the picture that had been painted for him over the years. The whole "Everyone I know who claims to be a Christian is such a hypocrite" was in full display, and I was certainly sympathetic to his story. It's one we hear all too often and it makes it much more challenging to point others to the beauty and truth of Christ when all of His self-professed followers are acting like a bunch of boneheads.

But what struck me the most in our conversation - what left me scratching my head - was the treatment this young man said that he received whenever he expressed his doubts from other Christians that he was close to. They got angry with him. They became hostile towards him because he didn't believe like they did and it drove him father away.

I believe I'm gonna need a little bit of help understanding this approach to evangelism.

I've got a little bit of a confession to make. There were several years early in my ministry, years where I spent a lot of time in seminary classes having animated discussions with my classmates about all sorts of theological issues, that pointed me in a rather negative direction. I could call these my "zealous years" but perhaps they were more like my "arrogant years". I thought that I had figured it out all. In fact, I was convinced that I was right. About everything. As a result, my tolerance level for those who didn't believe or practice their faith in the same way that I did plummeted to dangerously low levels. The results of this were predictable: I became someone who was angry and hostile to others who did not follow Jesus.

I could totally understand where this young man was coming from because I had been one of those people that he was describing. Sure, I wanted people to know Jesus and love and serve Him all of their days, but my version of Christianity became more important than the Jesus who saves. And I'm not proud of that period of my life. I was coming into contact with people who were hungry for truth and purpose, people who were desperate for Jesus, but I was taking their food away because they didn't see things the same way that I do.

This is a huge problem in the church today. Give it any name you want - traditionalism, church politics, denominationalism, whatever - many believers are convinced that their way is the right way and all others be damned. And when that line of thinking takes root, the results are predictable. While we say that our goal is to draw men and women to Christ, what we are really doing is repelling those same people because of our arrogance and obstinance.

There really aren't a whole lot of arguments left to sift through when we talk about how to "do church the right way." Most people gravitate toward a style or methodology that caters to their own desires, and that's not always a bad thing. But the key that is often missing is Jesus. Yes, Jesus. A reading of the New Testament reveals to us a Jesus who hung His hat on the same message over and over again: repentance, faith, and love. Wash, rinse, repeat. Methodology took a back seat. Every word, every action was driven by these principles. It wasn't about whether your way or my way was better. There was only one way, and that way was Jesus. The one way is still Jesus.

I am grateful to say that my conversation with this young man led to him being convinced that Jesus is worth it. It wasn't really anything I said or didn't say but rather a realization on his part that Jesus died for him and wants a real, life changing relationship with him that knows no boundary or end. He still had lots of questions after we talked and prayed together, but his journey of faith with Christ has begun. And there was no anger or malice involved. The young man was simply hungry and was waiting for someone - anyone - to show him where he could get a bite to eat without being angry with him for having an appetite.

Jesus ain't afraid to get a little dirty

The hitchhiker was sitting in the shade on the side of the highway on a brutally hot day. I had a million things to do that day and as I sped past him I gave him only a casual glance. Maybe someone else will give him a ride to where he's going, I thought to myself. But before those words were even fully formed in my brain I realized that I was that someone.

After a few exit ramp maneuvers I was back to where I had seen the hitchhiker, seeing him still sitting there in the shade. He had long matted hair, was dirty from head to toe, and his outfit looked like it hadn't been changed in days. I rolled down the window and asked if he needed a lift - as if he was just hanging out on the side of the road for fun - and he happily jumped in. Introducing himself as Michael, he told me that he was trying to get back to Boone, NC, after spending a long weekend in Wilmington to see a girl he was interested in. I told him I couldn't take him that far but I could get him a little ways down the road. He was grateful to accept my offer.

I'm not gonna sugarcoat this - the dude stank. Really bad. He'd been hitching for two days and had slept outside overnight. The heat was unbearable and he was wet with sweat and grime. Showering had not been an option for this guy, but truthfully that might not be so abnormal for him. You see, Micheal was a 21st Century version of a hippie. He was working at a primitive farm, which he explained was a farm where no electricity used for anything. This applied for living conditions as well. He had spent the past few years traveling, sleeping where he could find shelter, and basically living off of others. He and I couldn't have been any different.

Strange as it may sound, I really, really liked this guy.

Long story short, I took him to KFC to buy him lunch, ran a quick errand, and then came back to pick him up so that I could drive him as close to Boone as I could before heading to an afternoon appointment. Along the way we talked about all sorts of things - music, life, relationships - and I had the chance to share with him about my relationship with Jesus Christ. Salvation did not visit Michael that day, but I am grateful for the chance God gave to me to share the gospel with him. Oh, and when he got out of my car, the smell stayed in the fabric of my seats for weeks!

Jesus never had a second notion about spending time with those who were less than desirable to the rest of the culture. Matthew 8:1-4 records the account of Jesus being approached by a leper who begged for healing. This was noteworthy because lepers and non-lepers did not mix. There was this huge fear of contracting the dreaded leprosy skin disease and often lepers would be isolated in colonies so that they could be separate from everyone else. If a leper did need to venture into town for any reason, he was required to shout "Unclean! Unclean!" as he walked down the road so that people would know that he was coming and could stay as far away as possible.

So here's Jesus, confronted by a man with leprosy, begging Him to make him "clean". This word "clean" is loaded with meaning. Jewish tradition forbade anyone to worship in the temple or synagogue if they had a skin disease or any other ailment that labeled them as ceremonially "unclean" (such things as touching a dead body or a woman having her menstrual cycle also led to the label of being unclean). Unless the afflicted was able to overcome his disease and therefore be declared clean by a priest, he was regulated to the sidelines for as long as his condition persisted. Since there was no known cure for leprosy, this man who approached Jesus was asking for a miracle.

And that's exactly what he received from Jesus.

But it's what precipitated the actual healing of the leprosy that was just as incredible as the miracle itself. Matthew 8:3 says that Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man with leprosy. I'm sorry, but in Jesus' day, you did not do that - otherwise you were considered unclean too. Add to that the fact that Jesus was a Rabbi (Jewish teacher) and that made it all the more incredible that He would have anything to do with this diseased man.

By reaching out and touching this man afflicted with leprosy, Jesus was telling him that He did not consider him unclean or an outcast. This is the same thing that Jesus screams out to the world today: "I can handle your imperfections, inconsistencies, and your junk! I'm not afraid to love you with a love that defies all comprehension!" Indeed, Jesus handled all of our junk on the cross, dying to redeem and renew us.

Jesus is still reaching into peoples' lives to make the dirty clean. He's not afraid of what you've done or where  you've been. The leper knew he wasn't worthy to approach Jesus and neither are we. Yet Jesus never laid out a prerequisite that we be good enough to come to Him - that could never happen. No, Jesus simply asks us to come. He can more than handle  your life-dirt.

I've got "those" friends and so do you

Not a day goes by that I don't check up on what's happening on Facebook or Twitter. That doesn't mean that I post something all the time because I don't, but I do try to share at least one inspiring or funny thought or picture a day. That being said, there is rarely a time that I log off of my social media pages when I am not shaking my head at some of the crazy stuff I read online.

I have well over a thousand Facebook "friends" but in real life I hardly have that many. Nevertheless, I enjoy keeping up with long-time acquaintances and people I have become familiar with through mutual friends. While it's doubtful that even a fraction of these people will ever become an integral part of my daily life, I find that it can be beneficial and good to join them in their daily life via social media.

Most of the time.

I just can't stomach all of the rants, posts filled with disinformation, and outright keyboard hostility that I witness on a daily basis. The saying "The kitchen table is no place for talk of religion and politics" still rings true, it's just that the conversation has just moved to the internet and it is a free for all.

Now I'm certainly not against discussing personal beliefs on any level - it is what I do for a "living." But with the advent of social media, everyone is issued their own superhero power that they can use to be as obnoxious and inflammatory as they want without the fear of physical reprisal. In other words, we've become pretty tough behind our computer keyboards.

Just today I've been accosted with posts warning me about what I should and shouldn't believe, what is acceptable politically/socially/environmentally, and if I dare to disagree, how narrow-minded and deficient I am. All this without even posting anything to draw such ire. People have opinions - I get that - but social media (especially Facebook) have made them downright caustic.

Before I start fussing at the guilty I have to admit that I have been in that camp before and there's no guarantee that I won't slip again in the future. I've had to delete posts and blog entries before, and I am not proud of how I have handled some of my opinions in the past. As a result, I have set some parameters that I try to follow pretty strictly and I want to share them with all of you who regularly venture into the world of social media.

First, I know you have an opinion and you are absolutely entitled to that opinion, but that doesn't mean that the rest of the world needs to know your opinion.

Second, there is nothing manly or gracious about picking fights in a social media forum. If you aren't man or woman enough to sit across from someone and have the same exchange, then keep it off the internet. If something you have said is misinterpreted - and this does happen from time to time - take it to a private forum where you can discuss it with the offended party away from the maddening crowd (i.e., email, private messages, perhaps even a phone call or a conversation over coffee).

Third, please, please, please get your facts straight before you start bashing some political candidate or expressing your world view. Nothing is more frustrating than watching somebody melt down over faulty information.

The next few are specifically for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Fourth, by all means express your faith and defend it against falsehoods, but do so in a way that would honor Jesus. If you want to know how Jesus did that, read the New Testament. Yes, He could be downright pithy with the religious elite of His day but notice that He kept it contained in that context. He wasn't all about bashing those who did not know Him or follow his teachings - to them He extended grace. It was religious people that He called out and He did so in the proper forum. You aren't Jesus and I'm almost positive that He didn't use Facebook, so don't use social media as an excuse to engage people for your own religious agenda.

Fifth, ask yourself before you post something, "What is my goal here? What do I hope to accomplish with my words?" If your answer is not something like "I want to see peoples' lives changed for the glory of God and for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ," then perhaps your true motive is to prove how right you are or to make sure others realize just how wrong they are. If that's the case, then I can confidently categorize you as "one of those guys" and will happily unfriend you or block you altogether, and so will most of your "friends" eventually.

Finally, stand on truth and do not waver. The teachings of Jesus are pretty clear: Nowhere do we read that it's okay to condone sin. Nowhere do we read that it's okay to shirk our Christian responsibilities to care for "the least of these." If you are going to bash someone for holding to a belief that you believe is unbiblical, then you better check yourself first. Are you quick to throw stones at someone's theology while at the same time you are are not willing to dispense grace to those who need Jesus? There's a word for that - hypocrisy - and to be blunt, it sucks.

I realize that these points will not be popular with many, especially those who believe that they have every right to wield and swing the sword of the Lord at those who need to be smacked with it. But ask yourself this: Is picking a fight while hiding behind a keyboard with those who don't believe as you do the best way to show them that they ought to believe as you do? Instead of hiding behind a keyboard, bask in the shadow of the cross and build relationships with those who need to know the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

I just want to hear the truth

It's that time again. Elections are around the corner and every candidate is doing his or her best to win your vote. Before you continue reading this post please understand something - this is not going to be about politics or who I am or am not voting for. I try to stay away from all that chaos. However, I do find it slightly maddening when candidates are asked a question and are incapable of giving a direct answer.

For instance, last night a local news station had two candidates on who are running against each other for a state office in North Carolina. Each candidate was asked what he planned to do to bolster education in North Carolina. Both men bemoaned the sad state of public education in North Carolina and each went on to boast that his plan would help to turn the education crisis around, but neither of them would tell us what their plan actually was. They didn't say anything. I felt like I wasted a good five minutes of my life listening to them. Please, just answer the question and tell me the truth!

Whether it's trying to wade through the muck of a political debate or you are simply trying to get to the bottom of which kid broke your favorite vase, the truth can often be hard to come by. Everyone seems to have an opinion about everything but it seldom seems as if anyone really has an answer.

Christians have long been criticized for being intolerant and exclusive when it comes to their faith. One of the major objections from those who do not follow Christ is with the statement, "Jesus is the only way." (read John 14:6)  That offends people and it makes believers uncomfortable so we declare that to be true when we are gathered together but we seek to avoid it amongst mixed company. Besides, you don't talk about religion and politics when you are at the dinner table, right?

Not exactly. Jesus did. When He sat at the table with disgruntled Pharisees or unbelieving average Joe's, He always discussed what was true. He didn't start a fight but He also didn't back down where the truth was concerned. It's pretty obvious that He wasn't seeking to win popularity contests. He came to seek and save the lost. (read Luke 19:10)

There are a lot of men and women who have been given the awesome responsibility and privilege of leading God's people, yet when they have the chance to stand before them all that they can think of to say is the equivalent of, "God loves you, so do good to someone else today." God does love us and we should seek to do good, but that is hardly the full extent of the truth of the gospel message. Jesus never ducked the issue of sin and the need for repentance.

If you are a follower of Christ then you too have been given the awesome responsibility and privilege of speaking God's truth. You may not stand before a congregation week after week but you do have a voice. Almost daily you will be faced with a situation that challenges what you know to be true and you will have a choice to make: Will you speak truth or will you acquiesce and pour sugar on it?

Jesus did not die on the cross for a good cause. He died to pave the only way to the Father. There's no hemming and hawing around that one. There are men and women all around us who simply want to hear the truth. Are you prepared to share it with them?

Anger Evangelism?

I am writing these words both to my friends who share my faith in Jesus Christ and for my friends who don't. My reasons are twofold. First, I want to encourage and instruct my believing friends in the way we desire to see the lost come to faith in Christ. Second, I want to explain to any of my unbelieving friends out there why it is that it seems so many Christians don't like them.

To my Christians brothers and sisters. We've all seen the absolute junk that is grossly displayed in our culture and it has made us feel nauseated as we cling a little tighter to our kids. The world seems to be full of smut peddlers, users of profane language, advocates of deviant lifestyles, and those who mock our Jesus whom we so passionately follow. Some of these people we are at work or school with, others live next door, and a few might even be our family members.

Let's face it, when we see things that are morally foul and that run aground of what we know brings glory to God, we have every right to be repulsed if not even angered by it. We are not going to join those who participate in such activities and we are most certainly going to point our children in a different direction.

But should we hate those people that do these things? I mean, if I see a guy that has a foul language problem and likes to brag about his supposed sexual exploits, shouldn't I want to see him of all people come to know the hope and peace that only Jesus can bring? Admittedly, I probably won't ask him to babysit my kids anytime soon but I also should not put him on my blacklist and hope that my path never crosses with his. They need to hear about Jesus, right?

But how can they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14)

I know what some of you are thinking. That verse talks about a preacher going to tell lost people about Jesus, not you. Oh really? The word "preacher" here means "one who proclaims." Those who don't know Jesus need to hear the gospel. I can be totally angry with someone's sinfulness but that gives me no right to withhold the gospel from them.

Some Christians have become so angry with sin in the world that they have redefined their personal feelings as "righteous indignation" towards others as an excuse to basically write them off spiritually. That's a shame and that's also sinful.

Now, for my unbelieving friends (if any read this blog, that is). Let me tell you two things. First, I am sorry if you have come across people who claim to be Christians who also appear to be incredibly mean. Maybe your lifestyle to them is pretty nasty, but that doesn't give them an excuse to treat you as if you are not worthy of God's grace. That leads me to the second thing I want to tell you. Regardless of how imperfect me or my brothers and sisters in Christ may be, Jesus is not. He's the real deal. And He Himself said that, apart from a relationship with Him, your life will not be what it was intended to be, which is to know and be fully satisfied in God (John 14:6). Let me put it another way. If you don't know Christ, then I can't think of anything greater that you need than a relationship with Him.

Let's face it, anger evangelism doesn't work. Lost people aren't coming to faith in Christ because you rage against their immoral lifestyle. There is a difference between standing up for purity and the holiness of God and rejecting the baby with the bathwater. Loving the sinner does not condone his sin but rather it extends to him the grace of God.